CAT 2025 Question Paper with Solutions Released: Slot 1, 2 & 3 PDF, Answer Key, Analysis

CAT 2025 Question Paper with Solutions Released: Slot 1, 2 & 3 PDF, Answer Key, Analysis

Komal MiglaniUpdated on 24 Dec 2025, 05:47 PM IST

CAT 2025 Question Paper with Solutions: The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, conducted by IIM Kozhikode, has officially wrapped up across all three slots for admission to MBA and other management programmes for the 2026–2028 batch. Now, the IIM has released the CAT result 2025 online along with the scorecard. Candidates who have appeared for the exam can download CAT scorecard 2025 with their login credentials. Earlier, we have shared the CAT 2025 question paper with solutions as well. Candidates can download the CAT 2025 Slot 1, Slot 2, and Slot 3 along with the official answer key.

This Story also Contains

  1. CAT 2025 Question Paper with Solutions
  2. CAT 2025 Answer Key
  3. CAT 2025 Slot-wise Question Paper with Solutions
  4. CAT 2025 All Slot Analysis
  5. CAT 2025 Overview
CAT 2025 Question Paper with Solutions Released: Slot 1, 2 & 3 PDF, Answer Key, Analysis
CAT 2025 Question Paper with Solutions

The official answer key is also provided below, aspirants can also use this article to go through the detailed slot-wise analysis, memory-based questions, and solutions to calculate their scores and get a fair idea of their expected percentile.

CAT 2025 Question Paper with Solutions

The CAT 2025 Slot 1 question paper with solutions has now been released. This page has been updated with memory-based questions, and expert solutions from Slot 1 to help candidates evaluate their performance accurately.

CAT 2025 Answer Key

This section will give you quick access to the official answer key for CAT 2025 Slot 1, helping you verify your responses and estimate your scores with confidence.

CAT 2025 Slot 1 Answer Key
Download Now

CAT 2025 Slot-wise Question Paper with Solutions

The CAT 2025 exam will be conducted across multiple slots on the same day. Although the level of difficulty may vary slightly across slots, the overall paper pattern and structure remain the same. Reviewing the CAT 2025 slot-wise question paper is extremely important as it helps candidates evaluate:

  • Section-wise difficulty levels

  • Types of questions asked in each slot

  • Areas where mistakes were made

  • Comparison across slots

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The CAT 2025 question paper and solutions for all three slots are being updated here. Slot 1, Slot 2, and Slot 3 have now been successfully concluded, and memory-based questions along with detailed solutions are being added slot-wise. Candidates are advised to bookmark this page and check back regularly for the latest PDFs, answer keys, and expert solution updates.

feeling overwhelmed:

CAT 2025 Slot 1 Question Paper with Solutions (Memory-Based Questions)

Q 1. The number of distinct pairs of integers satisfying
x>y≥3 and x+y<14 is __.

Solution:

We need integer pairs (x,y) with y≥3, x>y, and x+y<14, i.e. x+y≤13.

For a fixed y we need integers x satisfying y+1≤x≤13−y.

This requires y+1≤13−y, so 2y≤12 and hence y≤6. Thus y=3,4,5,6.

Number of x values for each y is (13−y)−(y+1)+1=13−2y:

y=3: 13−2⋅3=7 pairs → (4,3),(5,3)…(10,3)
y=4: 13−2⋅4=5 pairs → (5,4)…(9,4)
y=5: 13−2⋅5=3 pairs → (6,5),(7,5),(8,5)
y=6: 13−2⋅6=1 pair → (7,6)

Total 7+5+3+1=16.

Q 2. Arun, Tarun and Varun work for 24, 21 and 15 days and get paid Rs. 2160, Rs. 2400 and Rs. 2160 respectively.
If the work has to be completed within 10 days, what is the minimum amount to be paid?

Solution:

Daily pay:

Arun = 2160/24=90 per day, rate = 1/24
Varun = 2160/15=144 per day, rate = 1/15

Tarun costs more, so ignore him.

Together in 10 days:

10⋅124+10⋅115>1

So Arun + Varun can finish within 10 days.

Since both cost ₹2160 per job, using only them costs ₹2160.

Q 3. The number of integer values of k for which
x2−5x+k=0 has real roots is __.

Solution:

Real roots require b2−4ac≥0:

(−5)2−4(1)(k)≥0
25−4k≥0
−4k≥−25
k≤25/4
k≤6.25

So integer k≤6.

All integers k≤6 → infinitely many.

Q 4. The number of non-negative values of n for which
log1/4⁡(n2−7n+14)>0 is __.

Solution:

Base 1/4<1, so:

log1/4⁡(x)>0⇒0<x<1
Here x=n2−7n+14.

We need:

0<n2−7n+14<1

Step 1: Check n2−7n+14>0

Discriminant: (−7)2−4(1)(14)=49−56=−7<0
So it is always positive.

Step 2: Solve:

n2−7n+14<1
n2−7n+13<0

Discriminant: 49−52=−3<0
Quadratic is always positive → cannot be < 0.

Answer: 0

Q 5. In a cafeteria, there are 5 breads. One can choose 1 bread (small or large) and up to 2 sauces from 6 sauces.
How many orders ?

Solution:

Bread choices = 5
Size choices = 2
Sauce choices:

(60)+(61)+(62)=1+6+15=22

Total orders:

5×2×22=220

Answer: 220

Q 6. A rhombus has side 36 cm and area 396 cm². Find |d1−d2|.

Solution:

Area:

d1d22=396
d1d2=792

Side formula:

362=(d1/2)2+(d2/2)2
1296=d12+d224
d12+d22=5184

Now:

(d1−d2)2=d12+d22−2d1d2
(d1−d2)2=5184−1584=3600

|d1−d2|=3600=60

Answer: 60 cm

Q 7. Shopkeeper gives 22% discount, gives 13 chairs for price of 12, wants 26% profit.
CP = 100. Find market price.

Solution:

Required SP:

100×1.26=126

After discount, revenue per chair:

0.78M×1213

Set equal to 126:

0.78M⋅1213=126
0.72M=126
M=1260.72=175

Answer: 175

CAT 2025 Slot 2 Memory-Based Question Paper with Solutions

Q1. If N=23×37×57×79×10!, how many factors of N are perfect squares and also multiples of 420?

First compute prime exponents in 10!:
,v2(10!)=⌊102⌋+⌊104⌋+⌊108⌋=5+2+1=8.
,v3(10!)=⌊103⌋+⌊109⌋=3+1=4.
,v5(10!)=⌊105⌋=2,v7(10!)=⌊107⌋=1.

Note 57=3×19, and 23,37,79 are primes, so multiplying by 23,37,57,79 adds +1 to exponents of 23,37,79,3,19. Thus
,N=28⋅34+1⋅52⋅71⋅191⋅231⋅371⋅791=28⋅35⋅52⋅71⋅191⋅231⋅371⋅791.

Prime factorization of 420 is 420=22⋅31⋅51⋅71.

Let a divisor d of N have exponent ep at prime p. Requirements for d:
,d∣N⇒0≤ep≤ exponent in N.
,d a multiple of 420⇒e2≥2, e3≥1, e5≥1, e7≥1.
,d a perfect square⇒ every ep is even.

Look at prime 7: exponent of 7 in N is 1. There is no even integer e7 with 1≤e7≤1. Hence it is impossible to satisfy both “perfect square” and “multiple of 420” simultaneously.

Therefore the number of such divisors is 0.

Q2. Adam’s savings = Ben’s expenditure = Mary’s savings =50,000. Incomes are in ratio 3:1:4, so let incomes be 3k, k, 4k.

Then
,Adam's expenditure=3k−50,000,Ben's expenditure=50,000,Mary's expenditure=4k−50,000.

Feasibility requires Ben's income ≥ Ben's expenditure, so
,k≥50,000.(1)

Given: Mary’s expenditure is less than thrice Adam’s expenditure:
,4k−50,000<3(3k−50,000).
So ,4k−50,000<9k−150,000⇒100,000<5k⇒k>20,000.(2)

Given: Twice Adam’s expenditure is less than two times Ben’s income:
,2(3k−50,000)<2k.
So ,6k−100,000<2k⇒4k<100,000⇒k<25,000.(3)

From (2) and (3): ,20,000<k<25,000.

This contradicts (1) k≥50,000. Hence no k satisfies all conditions. The data are inconsistent, so the correct choice is D: Data Inconsistent.

Q 3. A and B can complete a work in 12 days and 18 days respectively. They start together, but A leaves after 4 days. How many more days will B take to finish the remaining work?

A's rate is 1/12 work/day and B's rate is 1/18 work/day.
Together their rate is 1/12+1/18=5/36 work/day.

Work done in 4 days =4⋅(5/36)=20/36=5/9.
Remaining work =1−5/9=4/9.

B's rate is 1/18, so days for B to finish =(4/9)÷(1/18)=(4/9)⋅18=8.

8 days

Q 4. If the quadratic ax2+bx+c=0 has roots that differ by 4, and a+b+c=12, what is the value of b2−4ac?

For a quadratic ax2+bx+c=0 the difference of roots satisfies |r1−r2|=b2−4ac|a|.
Given |r1−r2|=4, we have 4=b2−4ac|a|, so

b2−4ac=16a2

Thus the discriminant is b2−4ac=16a2.
(Using a+b+c=12 alone does not fix a unique numeric value for a, so the discriminant is expressed in terms of a.)

Q 5. In a triangle ABC, the sides are in the ratio 3:4:5. If the area of the triangle is 96 sq units, what is its perimeter?

Let the sides be 3k,4k,5k. This is a right triangle, area =12⋅3k⋅4k=6k2.

Given 6k2=96⇒k2=16⇒k=4.
Perimeter =(3+4+5)k=12k=12⋅4=48.

48 units

CAT 2025 Slot 3 Memory-Based Question Paper with Solutions

The CAT 2025 Slot 3 question paper is often perceived as time-pressured due to mental fatigue by the evening. This section will give you brief about CAT Slot 3 analysis. This section will be updated soon with the memory-based questions.

CAT 2025 - Slot 1 vs Slot 2 vs Slot 3 Expected Score Vs Percentile

PercentileCAT 2025 Slot 1 (Prediction)CAT 2025 Slot 2 (Prediction)CAT 2025 Slot 3 (Prediction)
99.95115+110+112+
99.9103–106101–105102–104
99.590–9289–9188–90
9978–8077–7976–78
9766–6865–6765–67
9556–5855–5755–57
9045–4844–4644–45
8540–4239–4139–40
8035–3634–3534–35
7532–3331–3231–32
7030–3129–3029–30
6025–2624–2524–25
CAT 2025 College Predictor
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CAT 2025 All Slot Analysis

The CAT 2025 exam analysis for all slots has been updated on this page. The complete slot-wise analysis for all sessions of CAT 2025 is given below.

CAT 2025 Analysis: Slot 1

CAT 2025 Slot 1 Exam Analysis

Section

Total Questions

Difficulty Level

Good Attempts

VARC

24

Moderate to Difficult

16 - 18

DILR

22

Difficult

8 - 12

QA

22

Lengthy and Difficult

10 - 12

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CAT 2025 Analysis: Slot 2

CAT 2025 slot 2 detailed analysis is provided below with their difficulty level and number of questions in each:

CAT 2025 Slot 2 Exam Analysis

Section

Total Questions

Difficulty Level

Good Attempts

VARC

24

Moderate to Difficult

16 - 18

DILR

22

Difficult

8 - 9

QA

22

Moderate to Difficult

12 - 13

CAT 2025 Analysis: Slot 3

We have given below the slot 3 analysis of CAT 2025, along with the number of questions and difficulty level of each section:

CAT 2025 Slot 3 Exam Analysis

Section

Total Questions

Difficulty Level

Good Attempts

VARC

24

Easy to Moderate

Will be updated

DILR

22

Easy to Moderate

Will be updated

QA

22

Moderate to Difficult

Will be updated

Total

68

Easy to Moderate

Will be updated

CAT 2025 Overview

AB






The CAT 2025 exam pattern remained the same as last year. As there was no official notification regarding any change in the pattern, the exam followed the same structure and marking scheme as previous year. Below is the CAT 2025 exam pattern and marking scheme.



Particulars

CAT Exam Pattern

CAT exam time duration

2 Hours (120 Minutes)

Name of the Section

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

CAT slot timings

CAT slot 1 timing: 8:30 am - 10:30 am (Morning Session)

CAT slot 2 timing: 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm (Afternoon Session)

CAT slot 3 timing: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm (Evening Session)

No of Questions

68 Questions

Total marks of CAT exam

204

Mode of the CAT 2025 exam

Computer-Based Mode (CBT)

CAT Marking Scheme

For every right answer, +3 will be given

For every wrong answer in MCQs, a negative mark of -1 will be deducted

Non-MCQs do not have any negative marks


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How important are mock tests for CAT?
A:

Mocks are essential. They help you understand real exam pressure, identify weak areas, and fine-tune your strategy.

Q: Do I need coaching to prepare for CAT?
A:

Coaching is optional. Many students prepare on their own with books, online resources, and mock tests. What matters most is consistency and practice.

Q: What is the best way to start preparing for CAT?
A:

Begin with understanding the syllabus and pattern, strengthen your basics in quant and reading comprehension, practice regularly with sectional tests, and take full-length mocks to improve speed and strategy.

Q: When will the official CAT 2025 answer key and response sheet be released?
A:

The official CAT 2025 answer key and response sheet are usually released within a few days after the exam by the conducting authority, the Indian Institute of Management.

Q: Are memory-based questions for CAT 2025 reliable?
A:

Yes, the CAT 2025 memory-based questions are compiled from multiple student inputs and verified by experts. While minor variations may exist, they give a very close representation of the actual exam and are useful for analysis and score estimation.

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Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

Hello,

Here are some top colleges accepting XAT and CAT exams :

Top colleges accepting CAT:

  • IIMs (All Indian Institutes of Management)

  • FMS Delhi

  • SPJIMR Mumbai

  • MDI Gurgaon

  • IIT Bombay (SJMSOM)

  • IIT Delhi (DMS)

  • IIFT

  • IMT Ghaziabad

  • JBIMS Mumbai

Top colleges accepting XAT:

  • XLRI Jamshedpur

  • XIMB Bhubaneswar

  • IMT Ghaziabad

  • Great

Hi there,

A female candidate with a CAT percentile of 67.97 and low sectional scores should target private and tier-2/3 B-schools that accept overall CAT scores in the 60–70 percentile range and have flexible sectional criteria.

Some suitable options include AIMS Institute Bangalore, Doon Business School Dehradun, Christ Institute of

Hi there,

Yes, you are eligible for XISS Ranchi with a CAT percentile of 67.60.

According to recent admission trends, the CAT cutoff for the PGDM in Human Resource Management for the general category has been around 60 percentile. For other programs such as Marketing, Finance, and Rural Management, the

Hi there,

Careers360 offers a wide range of eBooks and study materials to assist with CAT preparation. You can access past CAT question papers with solutions to understand the exam pattern and difficulty level. Additionally, there are quantitative aptitude handbooks, cheat sheets, and section-specific practice sets for arithmetic, algebra, and

Hi there,

The minimum eligibility criteria for a general candidate to receive a call from IIM Sambalpur are as follows:
VARC: 65%ile
QUANTS: 65%ile
LRDI: 65%ile
Overall: 90%tile
Keep practising and aim to improve your score. You can also focus on other management exams where you may secure a strong