CAT 2025 to be Set by IIM Kozhikode: What to Expect Based on CAT 2019 Pattern & Difficulty

CAT 2025 to be Set by IIM Kozhikode: What to Expect Based on CAT 2019 Pattern & Difficulty

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Malvika ChawlaUpdated on 27 Jul 2025, 11:16 AM IST

CAT 2025 will be conducted by IIM Kozhikode and this year the CAT 2025 Convenor is Prof. Ram Kumar P.N. The last time IIM Kozhikode conducted the CAT paper was 2019 — a year widely remembered for its surprisingly balanced but tricky paper. With CAT 2025 expected to be conducted on November 30, 2025, MBA aspirants are eager to find out what IIM Kozhikode might throw at them this year.

This Story also Contains

  1. What Happened in CAT 2019 Paper?
  2. CAT 2025 vs CAT 2019: Exam Structure
  3. Why CAT 2025 Could be Tougher than 2019?
  4. What Reddit Has to Say about CAT 2025?
  5. How to Prepare for CAT 2025 Under IIM K?
CAT 2025 to be Set by IIM Kozhikode: What to Expect Based on CAT 2019 Pattern & Difficulty
CAT 2025 to be Set by IIM Kozhikode

To further get an idea about what one can expect in the upcoming CAT 2025 paper, it would be best to go back and see the CAT paper pattern that was set by IIM Kozhikode in 2019.

What Happened in CAT 2019 Paper?

In 2019, IIM Kozhikode conducted the CAT paper across three slots with the traditional 100-question format which candidates had to complete within 180 minutes.

Section

Total number of questions

MCQs

TITA

Time Limit

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

34

27

7

60 minutes

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

32

24

8

60 minutes

Quantitative Ability (QA)

34

23

11

60 minutes

Total

100

74

26

180 minutes

CAT 2025 vs CAT 2019: Exam Structure

With IIM Kozhikode all set to conduct CAT 2025 exam, CAT aspirants are revisiting CAT 2019 paper, the last time IIM Kozhikode set the paper. Since 2019, a lot has changed — from question patterns to sectional time limit. If you are serious about taking the CAT 2025 exam, it is crucial that you go through the CAT 2019 exam structure and what you can expect for 2025.

CAT 2025 Exam Structure (Expected)

Based on CAT 2024 exam trends, the expected exam structure for CAT 2025 could be as follows:

CAT Section

Number of Questions

Duration of the Exam

MCQs

TITA

VARC

24

40 minutes

20

4

DILR

20

40 minutes

14

6

QA

22

40 minutes

16

6

Total

66

120 minutes

-

-

  • Unlike other national exams, there is no fixed CAT syllabus.

  • All questions in the CAT exam test students for their conceptual clarity and application and not rote learning.

  • No options are available for TITA questions.

  • Each section has a strict time limit and candidates can’t switch midway.

CAT 2019 Exam Structure

Here is how the CAT 2019 exam looked like when IIM Kozhikode last conducted it:

CAT Section

Number of Questions

Duration of the Exam

MCQs

TITA

VARC

34

60 minutes

27

7

DILR

32

60 minutes

24

8

QA

34

60 minutes

23

11

Total

100

180 minutes

-

-

  • Like every year, the CAT 2019 paper was conducted in an online mode.

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Why CAT 2025 Could be Tougher than 2019?

Could CAT 2025 be even harder than the CAT 2019 paper? This is one question that every aspirant is worried about. To answer this question: Yes and here’s why.

Less Number of Questions, Higher Pressure

The CAT 2019 paper had 100 questions which had to be solved in 180 minutes (more time to think). CAT 2025 is expected to have just 66 questions which need to be answered in 120 minutes, based on recent trends.

This means that in 2025, one will get 1.8 minutes per section to solve but accuracy expectations are higher. One must keep in mind that even a small error can drastically impact one’s percentile due to the tight normalisation process.

Rising Competition & Higher Cutoffs

This year, it is anticipated that a higher number of applicants will take the CAT 2025 exam which means there will be a tougher percentile battle. As compared to previous years, CAT aspirants are now well-coached and prepared, therefore increasing the standard of cracking the CAT 2025 with a 99+ percentile.

IIM-K’s Paper Style

To get a rough idea about how IIM Kozhikode will set the paper for 2025, one can go over past year’s paper pattern. Here are some of the key insights that have come out:

  • The DILR section includes non-traditional sets such as puzzles, games and caselets.

  • The VARC section, on the other hand, leans towards inference-heavy and ambiguous RC options.

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However, in CAT 2025, one can expect more abstract, reasoning-based problem sets.

What Reddit Has to Say about CAT 2025?

As CAT 2025 is approaching, the anxiety among MBA aspirants is building — and Reddit has become one of the loudest platforms to put out their thoughts. From heated arguments about IIM Kozhikode’s tough history as a paper setter to brutally honest prep advice from 99 percentiles, r/CATPreparation on Reddit has constantly been buzzing with CAT 2025 insights.

While some aspirants fear a repeat of CAT 2019’s CAT paper, others share hacks and free resources. Here are some instances of when Reddit users put out their voices.

1753364062911

Source: r/CATPreparation (Reddit)

1753364063575

Source: r/CATPreparation (Reddit)

How to Prepare for CAT 2025 Under IIM K?

To prepare effectively for the CAT 2025 exam under IIM Kozhikode’s convenorship, all candidates must focus on having a balanced and conceptual approach across all three sections — VARc, DILR and QA. Furthermore, the institute is known for maintaining a moderate to a slightly higher reading-intensive VARC and non-conventional DILR sets.

To further prepare for the CAT 2025 exam, the candidate must focus on understanding the syllabus and exam pattern, strengthening fundamentals, consistent practice, mock test analysis and having proper time management.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Which IIM is known for setting the toughest CAT paper?
A:

IIM Lucknow is known for setting the toughest CAT paper. They are mostly associated with setting more challenging Quantitative Aptitude (QA) sections. IIM Lucknow had conducted the CAT in 2017 and 2023, and in both cases, the QA section was noted for its difficulty.

Q: Which IIM is setting the CAT 2025 exam?
A:

CAT 2025 exam will be conducted by IIM Kozhikode this year. CAT 2025 exam will be conducted on November 30, 2025.

Q: What is the structure of CAT exam 2025?
A:

The CAT 2025 exam structure is expected to remain similar to the previous year. The exam pattern features three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA). Each section has a time limit of 40 minutes each and will be conducted in computer-based test mode. 

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Hello

The CAT 2025 exam is a national-level MBA entrance test for IIMs and top B-schools in India. It will be held on 30th November 2025 in computer-based mode across ~170 cities.
The registration is open from 1st August to 13th September 2025 on iimcat.ac.in .
Admit cards will be available from 5th November 2025 onward.
Graduates with at least 50 marks (45 for SC/ST/PwD) are eligible to apply.
The exam tests English, Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude in three timed sections.