CAT 2025 Exam Analysis: Slot 1, Slot 2, Slot 3 Paper Review (Representative Image/AI Generated)CAT 2025 Exam Live Highlights: The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode) conducted the Common Admission Test (CAT 2025) on Sunday, November 30, 2025. The test was held in three slots. Slot one commenced at 8:30 am and concluded at 10:30 am. Subsequently, slot two began at 12:30 pm and went on till 2:30 pm; slot three began at 3:30 pm and concluded at 5:30 pm.
As reported by the conducting body, approximately 2.58 lakh candidates appeared for the exam out of 2.95 lakh registered, eligible candidates. The overall attendance was approximately 86 per cent.
The results are tentatively expected in the first week of January 2026. This year, the examination will be conducted across approximately 170 cities, and candidates have the opportunity to choose up to five preferred cities while selecting their test centres.
CAT 2025 serves as an entrance gateway for admission to postgraduate as well as fellow/doctoral programmes offered by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other participating institutions.
CAT 2025: Do’s and don’ts for the exam day
For more updates on CAT 2025, check the IE Education portal. The CAT 2025 exam will be held in three sessions across designated centres nationwide. The two-hour test will be evaluating candidates across Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). About 2.95 lakh candidates have registered for CAT 2025.
Across Slot 1, Slot 2, and Slot 3, CAT 2025 maintained a moderately difficult profile, slightly tougher than CAT 2024. VARC remained relatively consistent and accessible, but DILR and QA stood out as the most challenging sections. Preliminary calculations indicate that scoring 25–27 net correct in Slot 3 may place a candidate around the 99 percentile mark.
The QA section in Slot 3 was widely regarded as the most challenging across all three slots of CAT 2025. With 22 questions and a heavier focus on multi-step arithmetic and algebra, many students found the section demanding under time pressure. Estimates show that even 5–6 correct answers may be sufficient for a 90 percentile, reflecting the steep rise in difficulty.
DILR in Slot 3 continued the day’s trend of moderate to difficult levels. The 22-question section required careful prioritisation, as some caselets were time-intensive and required deeper logical processing. Early indicators suggest that 5–6 accurate attempts could place candidates around the 90 percentile band, pointing to the difficulty of the sets this session.
In Slot 3, the VARC section carried 24 questions to be completed in 40 minutes. Candidates reported the difficulty as easy to moderate, matching the earlier slots. The mix of RC and VA questions remained similar to the established CAT pattern. Student estimates indicate that around 8–9 net correct attempts may align with the 90 percentile mark.
The last session of CAT 2025 ended at 6:30 PM, closing the three-slot exam cycle conducted by IIM Kozhikode. Early reactions show Slot 3 was moderate to difficult, with many comparing it to CAT 2024 in overall pattern but slightly tougher in certain sections. Students said VARC was manageable, DILR required steady effort, and QA turned out to be the most demanding part of the exam.
The retention of the 24-22-22 question structure and section-wise timing helped maintain fairness across slots. Students emphasized that familiarity with prior CAT formats benefited their approach despite higher difficulty levels.
The second slot preserved CAT’s signature balance across sections, yet the heightened complexity—especially in DILR—kept the exam firmly in the moderate-to-difficult zone when compared with the last few editions.
Candidates noted that QA’s moderately difficult nature required them to filter out time-consuming items early. This strategy was particularly important due to the blend of non-MCQs and calculation-heavy questions.
The retention of the 24-22-22 question structure and section-wise timing helped maintain fairness across slots. Students emphasized that familiarity with prior CAT formats benefited their approach despite higher difficulty levels.
With both Slot 1 and Slot 2 reporting DILR as the trickiest segment, early indications suggest that the section may be the strongest determinant of percentile shifts for CAT 2025. Candidates across sessions described it as the heaviest part of the paper.
A comparison of both sessions shows notable consistency across structure and distribution of questions. Test-takers indicated that the overall balance of difficulty in VARC and QA was similar to the morning slot.
Based on early estimates, candidates achieving around 6–7 correct answers in QA may fall near the 90 percentile mark, whereas 10–11 correct answers could align with the 99 percentile range. Accuracy and selectivity remained central to scoring.
The QA portion featured 22 questions, including 8 non-MCQs. Several students compared its difficulty to CAT 2023, noting that arithmetic and algebra-heavy items required both precision and time management, making the section moderately challenging.
Across multiple student accounts, 8–9 accurate attempts were considered a strong DILR performance in Slot 2. The distribution of difficulty across the five sets echoed the trend observed in Slot 1.
With 22 questions and 40 minutes allocated, DILR was described as moderate to difficult. Students highlighted that selecting the correct first set significantly influenced performance, as some caselets consumed disproportionate time.
While the overall pattern remained unchanged, the weight of dense passages meant that maintaining speed became crucial. No unexpected question formats appeared in Slot 2, reinforcing CAT’s trend of consistency in VARC design.
The VARC section featured 24 questions to be completed in 40 minutes, with difficulty levels similar to those seen in CAT 2022. Students found 10–12 questions doable, although dense RC passages required careful reading to maintain accuracy.
Test-takers widely agreed that DILR was the most demanding part of Slot 2. The section required sharper judgement in choosing caselets, as several sets were reported to be time-intensive and comparable in complexity to CAT 2023.
Slot 2 maintained the same structure as earlier in the day, comprising 68 questions to be attempted in 120 minutes. The familiar three-section, three-slot pattern ensured consistency across the day, although many felt the difficulty curve remained on the higher side.
CAT 2025 Slot 2 ended at 2:30 pm, with initial reactions suggesting a moderately difficult paper broadly aligned with the morning session. Students reported that the slot felt tougher than CAT 2024 and more comparable to the difficulty levels seen in CAT 2022 and CAT 2023.
According to T.I.M.E.’s Ramnath Kanakadandi, CAT 2025 did not introduce structural changes in Slot 1. The traditional distribution of 24 questions in VARC, 22 in DILR, and 22 in QA was retained, with each section allotted 40 minutes.
Gautam Puri of Career Launcher noted that Slot 1, with 68 questions and a two-hour duration, felt “quite tricky” and slightly more difficult than last year. VARC and QA were broadly similar to previous editions, while DILR recorded a noticeable hike in difficulty.
This year’s exam comprises 66 questions distributed across VARC, DILR and QA, following the standard three-marks-per-correct and one-mark-per-incorrect marking pattern. No penalties apply for non-attempted questions, continuing CAT’s recent trend of mixed MCQ and TITA formats.
T.I.M.E.’s analysis confirmed that the QA section did not introduce unexpected question types. Candidates encountered the traditional CAT mix, allowing those familiar with recent trends to navigate the section confidently.
Initial student feedback suggests Slot 1 of CAT 2025 was “manageable but slightly more difficult” than the previous year’s first slot. Candidates reported marginal increases in complexity, especially in sections requiring deeper reasoning and time optimisation.
Student responses indicated that even familiar patterns felt demanding due to time pressure. Many test-takers stressed the importance of identifying scoring sets early, especially in DILR, to maintain pace across sections.
With Slot 2 now concluded, insights suggest Slot 1 set a moderately challenging tone for the day. Analysts noted that despite predictable patterns, careful planning and strategic execution were key differentiators for performance.
Initial student reactions from test centres suggest a paper that was “manageable but slightly more difficult” than last year’s Slot 1. This year’s test comprises 66 questions across Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). As per the marking scheme, candidates will receive three marks for each correct answer, lose one mark for every incorrect answer, and face no penalty for unattempted questions.
In CAT 2025 Slot 1, there were a total of 68 questions. Students had 120 minutes to attempt all the questions. Based on the CAT 2025 slot 1 analysis by experts, the section-wise difficulty level can be summed up as follows:
--VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension): Similar to the previous year
--DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning): Marginally more difficult compared to the previous year
--QA (Quantitative Ability): Similar to the previous year.
According to the initial responses of the students, the difficulty level of the CAT 2025 - Slot 1 was manageable but slightly more difficult compared to the CAT 2024 Slot 1 paper.
The paper was quite tricky, and compared to the previous year, the CAT 2025 - slot 1 paper was more difficult.
– CAT 2025 hall ticket printed on A4-sized paper
– An original ID proof like Aadhaar card, PAN card or the Indian passport
– Scribe affidavit, if applicable
The CAT 2025 hall tickets mention details of the candidates including the names, application numbers, date and day of the test, CAT exam time and session of the exam, reporting time and entry time, gate closing time. CAT exam centre details and exam day guidelines are also mentioned on the CAT 2025 admit card.
Slot one ends, slot 2 to start at 12: 30 pm
The first slot will end 10.30 am
CAT slot 1 begins at 8.30 am. The second slot will be held from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm and the third from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
Candidates can download their CAT 2025 admit card by visiting iimcat.ac.in, clicking on the ‘Download Admit Card’ link, and logging in with their application ID and password. The admit card will appear on the screen and can be saved and printed for future use. Candidates should retain multiple printed copies for safety and ensure all details are correct.
Milan Morais (CAT 2023, 99.79 percentile, currently at FMS Delhi) said he had completed the syllabus well before the exam and had shifted fully into mock-taking mode by October.
“I had finished my portions around October and was attempting 2–3 mocks a week. In the last 2–3 days, I decided it was time to rest. I just solved the PYQs I hadn’t done yet to keep my mind sharp. And as a stress-buster, I hit the gym every day.”
For him, the final phase was not about pushing harder but about staying mentally steady.
His advice to aspirants: Milan emphasises clarity about strengths and weaknesses — and the courage to skip.
“Focus on knowing what you know. Don’t waste time on ‘interesting’ questions if they’re not your strength. Quant was my weakest section, and since I knew that, I ended up with only around three negative marks in the entire paper.”
He suggests that aspirants work actively on avoiding the sunk-cost fallacy.
“Be extremely comfortable skipping questions. It’s the BEST thing you can do at such a late stage to drastically improve your percentile.”
What to avoid:
— Stress — “as it only breeds mistakes.”
— “During the exam, I spent time singing in my head. While waiting to enter, I took a walk around the centre and joked with friends. I wanted to keep my mind light.”
How he attempted the paper:
— A disciplined and well-thought-out strategy guided his approach across all three sections.
— “Before the exam, I thoroughly read the instructions. That gave me a heads-up about the format change.”
VARC: He had trained his reading speed to ensure he finished the RCs early. “I made sure I’d have around 12–15 minutes left for VA. That made the section much easier to handle.”
DILR: He spent the initial few minutes analysing the sets. “I took 5–10 minutes just reading the questions. That helped me choose the right sets and improve accuracy.”
Quant: As his weakest area, his goal was simple. “I targeted every single easy question and then used the remaining time to solve 2–3 medium-level ones. I always had a time range in mind for each question across sections.”
His approach, he says, was built on one principle: “Choose the battles that matter — and skip the ones that don’t.”
Read More | How IIM-CAT toppers spent the last day before the exam
– Candidates will be required to verify and carry their original ID proof and the printed CAT 2025 admit card
– A recent photograph will have to be affixed on the CAT hall ticket 2025. The photograph pasted on the admit card should be the same as that uploaded at the CAT 2025 application form.
– Candidates will be required to drop the CAT admit card at the drop box provided after the end of the exam.
– Candidates will be provided with one pen and one scribble pad. These will also have to be deposited after the exam ends.
– Candidates cannot use the keyboard at any point in time while appearing for the CAT 2025 online. They will only have to use the mouse. Using the keyboard while taking the CAT 2025 test online will lock the computer system.
– Candidates will not be allowed to carry mobile phones, electronic gadgets, watches, calculators, their own stationery items, pens, wallets, and goggles
– Mobile phones
– Bluetooth devices
– Electronic devices
– Watches
– Jewellery containing metal or any other metal item
– Shoes and footwear with thick soles
– Garments with large buttons
– CAT 2025 hall ticket printed on an A4 size paper
– An original ID proof like Aadhaar card, PAN card or the Indian passport
– Scribe affidavit, if applicable
Candidates will be allotted exactly 40 minutes for answering questions in each section and they will not be allowed to switch from one section to another while answering questions in a section.
Also Read | CAT 2025: How to master the 40-minute race per section
The CAT 2025 test will have the following three sections:
Section I: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Section II: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Section III: Quantitative Ability (QA)
Read More | CAT 2025: Section-wise strategy for VARC, DILR and QA
Yes, CAT 2025 admit cards are out. The CAT hall tickets are available for download using the login ID and password at the official website – iimcat.ac.in.
The official website of CAT 2025 is iimcat.ac.in. The convenor of CAT 2025, Prof PN Ram Kumar of IIM Kozhikode, has been urging MBA aspirants to use only the official website — iimcat.ac.in — for all application-related activities. This is the sole authorised portal for the exam and has been consistently publicised across official channels, including leading national newspapers, the CAT convenor said.
As per IIM Kozhikode data, CAT will be taken by 2.95 lakh candidates this year. Last year, 2.93 lakh candidates appeared for the exam, of them as many as 1.07 lakh were female candidates, 1.86 lakh were male candidates and five were transgender candidates.
The CAT 2025 exam will be held on November 30 in three sessions across designated centres nationwide. The first slot will be conducted from 8.30 am to 10.30 am, the second will be held from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm and the third from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
IIM Kozhikode is conducting CAT 2025. Prof PN Ram Kumar of IIM Kozhikode is the Convener for CAT 2025.
The CAT 2025 exam will be held on November 30.
Last year, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta conducted the exam, wherein 14 candidates had scored 100 percentile, of which only one was a woman. Moreover, 13 aspirants were from an engineering background, while only one was a non-engineer. Of the 2.93 lakh candidates who appeared for the exam in 2024, 1.07 lakh were female candidates, 1.86 lakh were male candidates, and 5 were transgender candidates.
