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The CAT 2025 exam is being conducted today, 30th November, and thousands of aspirants across the country are currently appearing for this crucial test. The CAT 2025 Slot 1 exam has concluded at 10:30 AM. With Slot 1 wrapped up, we move into a complete slot-wise analysis. After the conclusion of each slot, live slot-wise analysis is updated on this page to give you a clear picture of the paper pattern, overall difficulty level, and section-wise performance. This page will provide detailed CAT slot-wise analysis as each session concludes, helping aspirants understand the difficulty level, question patterns, and section-wise insights from expert evaluators.
Here's the step-by-step procedure to convert CAT score into percentile:
Step 1: Calculate the total number of candidates (N) who are likely to appear in both sessions.
Step 2: Allot Rank (r) based on the scaled score obtained in the VARC section to all the candidates who appeared in the CAT. If two or more candidates score the same marks in the section, then assign identical ranks to the candidates.
Step 3: Calculate the percentile score (P) of a candidate with rank (r) in the VARC section as:

Step 4: Now, round off the calculated percentile score (P) of a candidate up to two decimal points only. For example, all percentile scores greater than or equal to 89.995 are rounded off to 90.
Follow the same methodology for computing the overall CAT percentile scores and for the percentile scores of other sections.
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As per the CAT aspirants, this MBA entrance exam is on the tougher side. All three slots of the CAT exam demonstrate a similar level of difficulty. This year, the CAT 2025 exam is expected to be moderate to difficult. A detailed CAT sectional analysis and overall CAT 2025 exam analysis will be provided here after the test concludes.
CAT exam 2025 will be held on Sunday, November 30, 2025, at 380+ test centres spread across 170 cities in India. Check out below the number of candidates who appeared and registered last year.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Total number of candidates registered for CAT | 3.29 lakh |
| Total number of candidates who appeared for CAT | 2.93 lakh |
| Appeared female candidates for CAT | 1.07 lakh |
| Appeared male candidates for CAT | 1.86 lakh |
| Appeared transgender candidates for CAT | 5 |
| Overall attendance for CAT | 89% |
Application deadline: 4th Dec | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.8 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2025
IBSAT 2025-Your gateway to MBA/PGPM @ IBS Hyderabad and 8 other IBS campuses | Scholarships worth 10 CR
| CAT Analysis | Download Link | CAT In-depth video analysis |
|---|---|---|
| CAT slot 1 analysis | Download now | Watch here |
| CAT slot 2 analysis | Download now | Watch here |
| CAT slot 3 analysis | Download now | Watch here |
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section
One of the data interpretations was based on the intersection of 3 horizontal lines and 3 vertical lines, while another data interpretation question was based on a bar graph. One more data interpretation question was asked in the exam, and that was based on the GDP per capita of 8 countries. One set was based on a line graph.
Quantitative Aptitude Section
A question based on the remainder theorem was also asked in the CAT Slot 3 paper. One question was based on a chord. A question based on time, speed, and distance was asked, one on an average topic, and one question was based on profit and loss.
| Section name | Number of questions | Difficulty level |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 24 | Moderate to difficult |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 22 | Easy to moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | Easy to moderate |
| Total | 68 | Moderate |
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The CAT slot 2 was concluded at 2.30 PM. As per the reviews from the CAT exam takers, the CAT slot 2 was moderate to difficult, and the pattern of the CAT exam was similar to that of slot 1. Also, the DILR section of slot 2 of the CAT exam was felt to be difficult. The main highlights of the CAT slot 2 exam analysis are mentioned below.
As the CAT slot 1 examination concluded at 10.30 AM, it was observed that there were some noticeable changes in the exam when compared to slot 1 of the 2023 examination. The highlights of the CAT 2024 slot 1 examination are given below:
CAT 2025 Quantitative Aptitude Analysis
Overall Quantitative Aptitude section of Slot 1 was easy in terms of difficulty.
CAT 2025 VARC Analysis
Given below are the expected overall CAT score vs percentile, along with the sectional score vs percentile CAT 2025.
Percentile | Score VARC | Score DILR | Score QA | Overall Score |
99.5 | 42 | 30 | 30 | 86 |
99 | 36 | 25 | 25 | 74 |
95 | 30 | 20 | 22 | 52 |
90 | 24 | 14 | 13 | 42 |
80 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 35 |
70 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 30 |
What is a slot in the CAT exam?
The slot in the CAT exam refers to the three shifts in which the exam will be conducted: slot 1 (morning) from 8:30 am to 10:30 am, slot 2 (afternoon) from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm, and slot 3 (evening) from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Refer to this article for a section-wise CAT exam review.
Which slot in CAT is toughest?
In last year's CAT, according to students, Slot 2 was said to be slightly more challenging compared to Slot 1 and Slot 3.
The aspirants who will appear in the CAT 2025 exam can refer to the CAT answer key and solutions to calculate their probable marks. The official CAT answer key will be released by CAT, conducting IIM, giving the answers to the CAT exam questions for each section and slot. Candidates can avail themselves of the CAT answer key and use it to calculate their scores in the CAT exam. In this CAT exam analysis 2025, we will also discuss the answer key and sectional score slot-wise after the conclusion of CAT 2025.
| TITLE | DOWNLOAD LINK |
| CAT 2024 Official Answer Key | Download Now |
The candidates can refer to the question papers from all the slots of the CAT examination using the links provided in the table below.
| TITLE | DOWNLOAD LINK |
| CAT 2024 Question Paper | Download Now |
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In addition to all the information given in the article, the candidates can download and go through the comprehensive ebook designed by Careers360 experts that consists of an analysis of all the slots of the CAT 2024 examination. The links to the ebooks are provided below.
TITLE | DOWNLOAD LINK |
CAT 2024 All Slot Paper Analysis |
| Year | CAT exam conducting IIM | CAT exam time duration | Section name | CAT exam date |
| CAT 2014 | IIM Indore | 170 Minutes | 2 Sections: 1. Quantitative Ability 2. Data Interpretation | November 16 & November 22, 2014 |
| CAT 2015 | IIM Ahmedabad | 180 Minutes | 3 Sections: | November 29, 2015 |
| CAT 2016 | IIM Bangalore | 180 Minutes | 3 Sections: | December 4, 2016 |
| CAT 2017 | IIM Ahmedabad | 180 Minutes | 3 Sections: | November 26, 2017 |
| CAT 2018 | IIM Calcutta | 180 Minutes | 3 Sections: | November 25, 2018 |
| CAT 2019 | IIM Kozhikode | 180 Minutes | 3 Sections: | November 24, 2019 |
| CAT 2020 | IIM Indore | 120 Minutes | 3 Sections: | November 29, 2020 |
| CAT 2021 | IIM Ahmedabad | 120 Minutes | 3 Sections: | November 28, 2021 |
| CAT 2022 | IIM Bangalore | 120 Minutes | 3 Sections: | November 27, 2022 |
| CAT 2023 | IIM Lucknow | 120 Minutes | 3 Sections: | November 26, 2023 |
| CAT 2024 | IIM Calcutta | 120 Minutes | 3 Sections: 1. Quantitative Ability 2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning 3. Verbal and Reading Comprehension | November 24, 2024 |
| CAT 2025 | IIM Kozhikode | 120 Minutes | 3 Sections 1. Quantitative Aptitude 2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning 3. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | November 30. 2025 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
CAT 2025 consists of three major sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Each section is equally important, with varied difficulty levels across slots, making sectional strategy essential for top percentile scoring.
Focus on improving reading speed, comprehension accuracy, and vocabulary. Practicing RC passages, para jumbles, and verbal reasoning questions daily enhances performance in the VARC section. Slot-wise analysis provides insights into trending question types and passage difficulty.
Time management and practice are key for DILR. Analyze previous years’ slot-level questions to identify patterns in puzzles, tables, and graphs. Developing a quick assessment skill helps in attempting high-scoring sets under limited time.
Focus on fundamentals of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and modern math. Practice sectional mocks and previous years’ questions to identify frequently tested topics. CAT 2025 slot analyses highlight which topics were calculation-heavy or tricky, aiding targeted preparation.
The Quantitative Aptitude section of the CAT examination is considered as the most difficult section because this section involves calculations. Candidates need to work on learning shortcut techniques to crack this section.
Yes, 1 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer in MCQ questions. There is no negative marking for TITA and unattempted questions.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
If your CAT admit card DOB is different from your Aadhaar card DOB, here is what you should do step by step:
If the error is in Aadhaar, apply for correction at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra.
If the error is in CAT application/admit card, only IIM CAT authorities can correct it. That’s why contacting them is essential.
Hope you undserstand.
Hello,
Here are Documents Required for CUSAT CAT (NRI Quota):
To know more access below mentioned link:
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/cusat-cat-application-form
Hope it helps.
You can get the previous year's CUSAT CAT papers in pdf format sample papers from careers360 article. Follow the link given below from careers360 to get the the CUSAT CAT previous years question papers.
Link- https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/cusat-cat-sample-papers
Hello,
Since the CAT application form correction window is closed, you must contact the CAT help desk immediately to explain the situation, as you can't edit a wrong date of birth after submission. If it's a major error like date of birth, you may need to go to the exam center with proof and the correct admit card, although getting it corrected before the exam date is the most important first step.
I hope it will clear your query!!
Hi there,
You have to apply separately for each symbiosis college, like SIBM Pune, as they as not automatically included. The CAT form automatically includes many IIMs, but the SNAP exam is a separate test that is given for admission to Symbiosis Institute, which requires its own separate application and fee.
Hope it helps!!!
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