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CAT 2025 Exam Analysis Slot 1, 2 and 3 Available: Difficulty, Good Attempts & Score vs Percentile
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The Common Admission Test (CAT) is known for putting every aspirant’s reasoning, aptitude, and problem-solving skills to the test. CAT 2025 was held on November 30 across three slots, with thousands of students taking this big leap toward their MBA dreams. Since all three slots are over, the official answer key is set to be released today, on 4th December. Meanwhile, students can go through the slot-wise analysis for Slot 1, Slot 2, and Slot 3 to understand how the exam played out. These analyses break down the difficulty level, question trends, CAT percentile-versus-score expectations, and even memory-based question papers to help aspirants gauge their performance more clearly before the answer key goes live.
LiveIIM CAT 2025 Result (OUT) LIVE: MBA admission criteria for IIMs; CAT score weightage, cut-offsDec 26, 2025 | 11:01 PM ISTRead More
IIM Kozhikode will retain its three-stage admission process for the MBA (PGP) 2026–28 batch, with CAT 2025 scores carrying a final weightage of 35 percent. The minimum overall CAT cut-off for general category candidates remains at 85 percentile, with sectional qualifying scores required in VARC, DILR, and QA. Shortlisting of candidates will be based on CAT performance, academic record, and personal interview rounds.
This Story also Contains
- CAT 2025 Exam Analysis
- CAT 2025 Slot 3 Highlights
- CAT 2025 Slot 1 Highlights
- CAT Score Vs Percentile
- CAT Answer Key 2025
- CAT 2025 Question Paper
- CAT All Slots Analysis
CAT 2025 Exam Analysis
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 is provided below.
CAT Stats: Registered & Appeared
The CAT 2025 exam has concluded on November 30, 2025, at over 380 test centres 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 | 2.95 lakh |
| Total number of candidates who appeared for CAT | 2.58 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% |
CAT 2024 All Slot Analysis YouTube Video Link
CAT 2025 Slot | YouTube Video Link |
CAT 2025 Slot 1 - Paper Analysis with Memory-Based Questions and Expected Cutoff | |
CAT 2025 Slot 2 - Paper Analysis | Memory-Based Questions & Expected Cutoff | |
CAT 2025 All Slots Analysis and Overall Expected Percentile |
CAT 2025 College Predictor
Use CAT 2025 College Predictor to check your chances for IIM and top MBA calls based on CAT percentile, profile, work experience and cut-off trends.
Use NowCAT 2025 Slot 3 Highlights
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section
As per the students, DILR was easy to moderate with questions from circular arrangement, Scatter-plot-based, and two double sets. In addition to this, the Incoming/outgoing call-based DI sets were time-consuming.
Quantitative Aptitude Section
The topics that came up in the QA section were Logarithms, Percentages, Time, Speed & Distance (very straightforward), Time & Work, Triangles (very easy), Inequalities, Surds, A dedicated number system question, and around 8–9 Arithmetic questions, but many required multi-step. calculations.
CAT 2025 Slot 3: Section-wise analysis
| Section name | Number of questions | Difficulty level |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 24 | Easy to Moderate |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 22 | Easy to Moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Total | 68 | Easy to Moderate |
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CAT 2025 Slot 2 Highlights
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.
- There were four passages, and overall, it was manageable for candidates
- Two para jumbles, two odd ones out, and two summary questions were there. Overall VARC section was manageable.
CAT 2025 Slot 2: Section-wise analysis
| Section name | Number of questions | Difficulty level |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 24 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 22 | Difficult |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | Moderate to Difficult |
CAT 2025 Slot 1 Highlights
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.
1 question was based on Surds and Indices
2 questions were based on Coordinate Geometry
1 question was from Quadratic Equations
1 question from Logarithms
1 question of Profit and Loss was based on the marked price, and another was based on Investment
1 question was from Mixture and Alligation
1 question from Permutation and Combination
1 question was from Time and Work
1 question from Time, Speed, and Distance
2 questions were asked from Linear Equations
CAT 2025 VARC Analysis
There were 4 para-jumbles in the section
2 para-summary questions were asked
4 Reading Comprehensions were there (each with 4 questions)
Reading Comprehension passages were short and easier to read
CAT 2025 Slot 1: Section-wise analysis
| Section name | Number of questions | Difficulty level |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 24 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 22 | Difficult |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | Lengthy and Difficult |
CAT Score Vs Percentile
Given below are the expected overall CAT score vs percentile, along with the sectional score vs percentile CAT 2025.
Section-Wise Score Vs Percentile CAT 2025
CAT Percentile | CAT 2025 Slot 1 Score Vs Percentile | CAT slot 2 score vs percentile | CAT slot 3 score vs percentile |
99.95 | 110+ | 110+ | 112+ |
99.9 | 100-104 | 102-105 | 102-104 |
99.5 | 90-92 | 89-91 | 88-90 |
99 | 78.-82 | 77-79 | 76-78 |
97 | 66-68 | 65-67 | 65-67 |
95 | 56-58 | 55-57 | 54-56 |
90 | 45-48 | 44-46 | 44-45 |
85 | 40-42 | 38-40 | 38-40 |
80 | 35-36 | 34-35 | 34-35 |
75 | 32-33 | 31-32 | 30-32 |
70 | 30-31 | 29-30 | 29-30 |
60 | 25-26 | 24-25 | 24-25 |
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 the CAT 2025 exam, according to students, Slot 1 was said to be slightly more challenging compared to Slot 2 and Slot 3.
CAT Answer Key 2025
The aspirants who appeared in the CAT 2025 exam can refer to the CAT answer key and solutions to calculate their probable marks. The official CAT answer key has been 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.
| TITLE | CAT 2024 Answer Key Download Link | CAT 2025 Answer Key Download Link |
| CAT Official Answer Key | Download Now | CAT 2025 Slot 1 Answer Key |
CAT 2025 Question Paper
The candidates can refer to the question papers from all the slots of the CAT examination using the links provided in the table below.
CAT Question Paper | Download Link |
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CAT All Slots Analysis
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 2025 examination. The links to the ebooks are provided below.
TITLE | DOWNLOAD LINK |
CAT 2024 All Slot Paper Analysis |
CAT Analysis - Changes in the Question Paper
| 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 | CAT 2025 VARC Analysis180 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)
Q: What are the key sections in CAT 2025 and their weightage?
A:
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.
Q: How to prepare for VARC in CAT effectively?
A:
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.
Q: What is the best strategy for DILR section in CAT?
A:
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.
Q: How to tackle the Quantitative Ability (QA) section in CAT?
A:
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.
Q: Which section is considered as the toughest in the CAT exam?
A:
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.
Q: Is there negative marking in CAT?
A:
Yes, 1 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer in MCQ questions. There is no negative marking for TITA and unattempted questions.
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Questions related to CAT
On Question asked by student community
Have a question related to CAT ?
With 84.91 percentile in CAT (General, male, no work experience), top colleges like IIMs, IITs, FMS, MDI, etc. are not possible. You may get calls from private institutes such as IMT Nagpur/Hyderabad, IMI Bhubaneswar, XIME, SDMIMD, Welingkar (some programs) and similar colleges. Universities like Amity or LPU are also options.
It’s better to choose carefully, as placements and ROI may be average. Reattempting CAT or trying XAT/CMAT could improve options.
Hello,
With a CAT percentile of 88.77 and a strong CGPA of 9.0, you are in a competitive range for newer IIMs (like IIM Amritsar, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Nagpur) and several top non-IIM B-schools such as TAPMI, BIM Trichy, Great Lakes, IMI Delhi, FORE School of Management, and KJ Somaiya. You may not reach the older IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, etc.) since they usually require 98+ percentile, but you have excellent chances at mid-tier and emerging institutes.
For more details access mentioned link below:
Hope it helps.
Hello
The expected cutoff for the JAP (Joint Admission Process) is around 90 to 95th percentile, with a minimum sectional cutoff of around 75 percentile in Quantitative Ability. You have scored 82.2% which is very low; that's why you are unlikely to meet the minimum criteria for the JAP IIMs in the general Category.
I hope this information helps you.
Thank you.
Hello,
Here is your IIM Cutoff for Gen/OBC/SC/ST, CS Score Cut Off. I am providing you the link. Kindly open and check it out. From here you can get all the details.
I hope it will help you.
Thank you.
With a CAT score of around 80 percentile and about 2 years of work experience, getting a call from the top IIMs (IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore) is extremely difficult, as their cutoff percentiles are usually much higher, even for reserved categories. These institutes typically shortlist candidates above 95–99 percentile depending on category, academic profile, and diversity factors.
However, you may still have some chances at a few of the newer or baby IIMs, especially if you belong to a reserved category (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) and have a decent academic background. IIMs such as IIM Jammu, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Sambalpur, IIM Nagaland, IIM Amritsar, and IIM Vizag have historically called candidates in the 75–85 percentile range for certain categories. Your 2 years of work experience can also work in your favour, as most IIMs give weightage to professional experience during shortlisting and final selection.
That said, selection does not depend on CAT percentile alone. Factors like your 10th and 12th marks, graduation score, academic consistency, gender and academic diversity, work experience quality, and performance in the personal interview play a very important role. Even with an 80 percentile, a strong interview and profile can improve your chances at newer IIMs.
You should also keep strong non-IIM options open. At this percentile, good colleges like newer IIT MBA programs, some NITs, and reputed private B-schools can offer better and more realistic opportunities. Applying broadly and preparing seriously for the interview stage is very important.
In summary, while top IIMs are unlikely at 80 percentile, you may still have a realistic chance at some of the newer IIMs depending on your category and overall profile.
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