CAT 2025 Repeated Topics & Question Trends: Section-Wise Weightage, Difficulty Level & Prep Tips

LRDI Topic Combination Expected in CAT 2025 Exam

The CAT Exam 2025 includes sets combining Bar Graphs with three-variable Venn Diagrams, Data Interpretation with Mathematical Reasoning, and complex Scheduling, Distribution, and Ranking problems. Aspirants must accurately analyse and organise data, deduce missing information, and apply logical reasoning. Practising CAT repeated questions improves efficiency and accuracy for the CAT 2025 exam.

Bar Graph/Table Data + Venn Diagram

In this type of set, CAT aspirants often face a combination of Bar Graphs and a three-variable Venn Diagram. While Venn Diagrams are a familiar topic in the CAT Exam, the twist comes when they are linked with Bar Graphs. This format requires careful analysis to identify patterns, draw accurate conclusions, and organise data efficiently. Such sets are representative of what candidates can expect in the CAT 2025, particularly in challenging slots where CAT repeated questions appear in new formats.

Data Interpretation + Mathematical Reasoning

This set merges Data Interpretation with Mathematical Reasoning. Unlike traditional DI sets, the tables often have missing details, compelling aspirants to deduce and structure the data logically. Solving such questions tests your analytical and mathematical reasoning abilities simultaneously. Questions like these mirror the style of the CAT Exam 2025, emphasising why aspirants need a structured approach to tackle CAT repeated questions effectively.

Scheduling + Distribution + Ranking

Some of the toughest DILR questions in the CAT Exam combine Scheduling, Distribution, and Ranking. These require aspirants to go beyond conventional strategies, carefully planning and evaluating multiple layers of information. Mastery of such sets is essential for anyone targeting a 99 percentile in CAT 2025. Recognising patterns from previous CAT repeated questions can provide an edge, but clear logical reasoning and strategic problem-solving remain key to success.

Most Commonly CAT Repeated Questions

While analysing the CAT previous year question papers, it can be noted that there exist a few important CAT 2025 topics that the candidates should prioritise during their CAT 2025 preparation. This is an important preparation CAT 2025 toppers strategies. The candidates can find that most of the CAT repeated questions are also asked from these topics. After conducting a thorough analysis of the CAT's previous year question papers, the most commonly repeated CAT 2025 questions are asked from the following topics in the examination.

CAT Questions in Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

As far as the CAT 2025 VARC sample questions are concerned, the greatest weightage is given to the reading comprehension section. As per the CAT 2024 exam analysis, 16 questions were asked solely from this section under the CAT VARC section. This CAT repeated questions almost 67% of the total VARC weightage. The CAT 2025 VARC Syllabus will consist of topics such as para summary, para completion, odd one out and so on.

CAT Questions in Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

The CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning questions of late have shown an increased difficulty. The analysis of the CAT 2024 examination had suggested that CAT DILR questions were more tricky and time-consuming when compared to the previous year. Hence, CAT 2025 DILR preparation with the help of mock tests and CAT sample papers 2025 is at an all-time high. The candidates should focus on studying the CAT DILR previous year questions to shortlist the various important CAT repeated questions, which will help the candidates to score better in the examination.

CAT Questions in Quantitative Aptitude

The quantitative aptitude section is considered to be the most challenging section of the CAT examination, with a lot of candidates complaining about the length of the CAT quantitative aptitude sample questions as well as the limited time to solve them, making it more challenging. The CAT 2025 quantitative aptitude syllabus of the CAT examination is also very broad and demands complete conceptual clarity. Go through the table below to know about the CAT repeated questions from the Quantitative Aptitude section.

How to Find and Practice CAT Repeated Questions?

How to Find and Practice Repeated Questions? This is one of the most commonly asked questions by candidates in the CAT 2025 examination. There are various sources from which the candidates can note down the list of the most repeated CAT 2025 topics. Below are a few techniques that the candidate can use to successfully find the CAT repeated questions and practice accordingly.

Practice with Topic-Wise Previous Year PDFs

The previous year's CAT question papers are the best source for the repeated CAT questions. The candidates should not just solve the CAT previous year question papers; they should also perform a proper analysis of the CAT previous year question papers, which will help the candidates to note down the important CAT 2025 concepts from which the most questions get repeated in the CAT question paper.

CAT 2025 Mock Test

The candidates can attempt the official mock test designed by Careers360 for enhancing their CAT 2025 preparation. This online mock test is designed to assess the current preparation level of the candidates. This computerised CAT 2025 mock test comes with a lot of features, such as the overall attempts summary, the topic-wise analysis of the candidates, score analysis and also includes the complete answer key written by the experts of Careers360. The link to attempt the CAT mock test 2025 is provided below.

Why IIM Repeats CAT Questions from Core Topics Every Year?

The IIM CAT exam 2025 is designed to test your conceptual clarity and analytical thinking, not memorisation. That’s why repeated CAT questions from core topics like Arithmetic, Algebra, Reading Comprehension, and Logical Reasoning appear every year. These topics form the backbone of the CAT exam pattern, ensuring fair evaluation and balanced difficulty across all aspirants.

Focus on Core Conceptual Understanding

The IIM CAT exam consistently repeats questions from fundamental Quant and VARC topics to assess true conceptual strength. Topics like percentages, ratios, geometry, and data interpretation measure logical clarity. This repetition helps identify candidates with deep analytical understanding rather than surface-level memorisation, making it a key part of every CAT preparation strategy.

Ensures Fairness Across CAT 2025 Attempts

Repeating question patterns helps maintain a consistent CAT exam difficulty level each year. Since lakhs of candidates appear for CAT 2025, a focus on core areas ensures fairness for everyone. It allows IIMs to measure aptitude evenly across batches, helping serious aspirants who have built strong foundations through regular CAT topic-wise practice.

Makes CAT 2025 Predictable Yet Competitive

While CAT repeated questions make the paper predictable in topic trends, they don’t reduce competitiveness. The framing of questions changes every year, testing adaptability. Practising repeated CAT Quant and VARC questions helps students master speed, accuracy, and question interpretation, essential for achieving a 99+ percentile in CAT 2025.

Maintains Consistency in Assessment Standards

IIMs repeat core questions to maintain consistency in CAT scoring standards and percentile benchmarks. It ensures the CAT exam pattern 2025 remains reliable and fair for all. This also helps coaching institutes and students align their CAT preparation with real exam trends, improving readiness for high-scoring performance.

Most Frequently Asked CAT Repeated Questions in DILR

The DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning) section in CAT 2025 often features certain topics more frequently than others. Identifying and practising these high-yield areas can give aspirants a strategic advantage. Focusing on these recurring question types not only saves preparation time but also builds speed, accuracy, and confidence.

1. Seating Arrangements

Questions on linear, circular, or complex seating arrangements are consistently tested. Practising these improves your ability to visualise positions, deduce relationships, and solve puzzles quickly. Focus on identifying fixed positions, conditional placements, and applying elimination techniques effectively.

2. Blood Relations & Family Trees

These Blood Relation question test logical deduction and pattern recognition. Repeatedly appearing in CAT 2025, they require careful attention to relationships like parent, sibling, cousin, or spouse. Regular practice helps in solving these efficiently without confusion under time pressure.

3. Puzzles & Grids

Grid-based Puzzle Reasoning, floor puzzles, and arrangement puzzles are high-frequency topics. They train you to organise information systematically and identify constraints step by step. Developing a structured approach is key to solving them quickly.

4. Data Interpretation (Tables & Graphs)

Questions involving bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, and tables appear every year. Practising these enhances your ability to extract information, perform quick calculations, and compare data accurately under timed conditions.

5. Venn Diagrams & Set Theory

These Venn Diagram questions test logic, grouping, and exclusion principles. Repeated practice helps you quickly interpret intersections, unions, and complements, reducing calculation errors and improving speed in the CAT 2025 exam.

Most Frequently Asked CAT Repeated Questions in Quantitative Aptitude

Quantitative Aptitude in CAT 2025 may look unpredictable on the surface, but when analysed closely, certain topics repeat almost every year with remarkable consistency. Focusing on these areas not only saves time but also gives aspirants an edge in maximising their score.

Arithmetic

Arithmetic remains the backbone of the Quant section. Questions from percentages, ratios, Averages, profit and loss, and time-speed-distance never fail to appear, often forming nearly one-third of the section. The reason is simple—these concepts mirror real-world applications, and CAT 2025 ensures candidates have strong fundamentals here.

Algebra

Algebra is another segment that consistently finds space in the paper. Whether it is quadratic equations, inequalities, functions, or logarithms, algebra demands a fine balance between speed and conceptual clarity. It often acts as a bridge between pure calculation and logical reasoning, which is why CAT 2025 repeatedly leans on it.

Geometry & Mensuration

Geometry and mensuration also carry significant weightage. From triangles and circles to coordinate geometry and three-dimensional figures like cones or cylinders, these problems test both spatial reasoning and formula application. Though fewer in number compared to arithmetic, they are typically tougher and serve as the true differentiators for high scorers.

Number System

Number system questions, though smaller in proportion, remain a recurring feature. Factors, multiples, remainders, and base systems may appear less frequently, but they reward those who prepare thoroughly, since many candidates tend to neglect this area.

Most Asked CAT Repeated Questions in Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section, or VARC, has evolved over the years, yet certain question types continue to appear with striking regularity. Understanding these recurring areas helps aspirants prepare with precision rather than relying on scattered practice.

Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension dominates the section, often making up nearly two-thirds of the marks. While passages may vary across disciplines such as science, philosophy, politics, or literature, the underlying skills remain constant. Questions repeatedly focus on inference, tone identification, critical reasoning, and the ability to grasp main ideas. Since CAT 2025 recycles these skills rather than specific topics, aspirants benefit from practising strategies like active reading, note-taking, and summarising.

Para-Jumbles

Para-jumbles are a permanent fixture in VARC. These questions challenge candidates to arrange sentences into a coherent paragraph, testing their grasp of logical sequencing. The recurrence of this question type reflects CAT’s emphasis on structural and contextual understanding of language.

Odd-Sentence-Out

Odd-sentence-out questions consistently appear as well, asking aspirants to identify sentences that break the logical flow. This area directly overlaps with skills needed in Reading Comprehension, reinforcing CAT’s preference for reasoning and cohesion over isolated grammar or vocabulary knowledge.

Section-Wise Weightage Expected in CAT 2025

The section-wise weightage in CAT 2025 is expected to be similar to the last few years, allowing aspirants to prepare according to topic importance. This estimated distribution covers all three sections, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA), along with CAT 2025 topic-wise question trends.

Difficulty Level Analysis of Previous CAT Exams

The difficulty level analysis of previous CAT exams helps aspirants understand question trends, section-wise challenges, and time management needs. Based on CAT 2024 difficulty level, VARC was moderate, DILR was the toughest section, and QA was of moderate to high difficulty. Candidates must analyse the CAT previous year question papers to understand the same.

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

Quantitative Aptitude

Tips to Maximise Your Score With CAT Repeated Question

The best way to maximise your score in repeated CAT 2025 question types is to identify high-frequency topics, practise them strategically, and focus on accuracy over guesswork. Analysing the CAT previous year papers reveals consistent patterns in VARC, DILR, and QA, enabling candidates to strengthen their weak areas and score higher with preparation.

1. Analyse CAT Previous Year Question Papers Thoroughly

Go through at least the last 5–7 years of CAT papers to spot patterns. Identify recurring topics in VARC (Reading Comprehension, Para Summary), DILR (Table-based DI, Logic Puzzles), and QA (Arithmetic, Algebra). Note which question types appear in almost every paper and make them a top priority.

2. Focus on High-Weightage Topics First

Since not all topics carry equal marks, direct more effort towards high-weightage areas. For example, Reading Comprehension dominates VARC, Arithmetic rules QA, and DI sets carry big scoring potential in DILR. Strengthening these first will give you a major percentile boost.

3. Practise Topic-Wise Question Sets Regularly

Instead of jumping between topics, dedicate practice sessions to one topic at a time. Solve at least 20–30 questions from the same topic in one go. This builds topic mastery and ensures repeated CAT 2025 question types become automatic to solve.

4. Revise Formulas and Shortcuts for QA

Maintain a quick-reference CAT 2025 formula sheet. Revise it at least twice a week and immediately apply shortcuts while solving. This habit makes you faster in CAT Quantitative Aptitude, especially for time-consuming topics like Algebra and Geometry.

5. Develop Strong RC and Puzzle-Solving Strategies

For RC, practise skimming, scanning, and quickly identifying keywords. For puzzles in DILR, use grid-based solving and elimination techniques to cut down on unnecessary work. These strategies will make repeated CAT 2025 question formats easier and quicker to crack.

How to Score 99 Percentile in CAT 2025 with Repeated Questions?

Scoring 99 percentile in CAT 2025 isn’t only about solving tough questions, it’s about spotting patterns that repeat and using them to save time. Analysis of CAT papers from 2019 to 2024 shows that nearly 40–45% of questions follow familiar structures, especially in QA and VARC. If you study these recurring question types strategically, you can maximise accuracy and reach top percentiles.

Identify High-Frequency Topics

Past-year data reveals that Arithmetic (35%) and Algebra (25%) dominate the QA section every year. Similarly, Reading Comprehension (70%) consistently rules VARC. Build your study plan around these repeated topics. Solve at least 100–150 questions from these areas across past papers and mock tests to internalise their logic and structure.

Decode Pattern Variations

Repeated CAT questions don’t appear word-for-word, they appear as pattern variants. For example, a time–speed–distance question may change numbers but retain the same logic chain. Note the “core formula” behind each question type. Create a topic-wise sheet noting the logic trigger (ratio, remainder, geometry relation, etc.) to decode similar problems faster in the exam.

Use Data Trends in Practice

Data from CAT 2023 shows that top 99-percentilers solved around 45–50 questions with 90% accuracy. Use this benchmark to guide your mocks. Prioritise repeated question categories, like Para Summary, Caselets, and Arithmetic, to achieve accuracy consistency. Practising 500+ repeated-pattern questions can raise your percentile by 8–10 points.

Apply Smart Revision Cycles

Repeated question practice isn’t a one-time task. Revise these sets in weekly micro-cycles. For instance, revisit your previous errors after every 3 mocks, focusing on repeated logic types. A spaced-repetition sheet for common question patterns, like “circular arrangements” or “profit-loss ratio tricks”, helps retain speed memory and reduces exam fatigue.

Benchmark Against Past Cut-offs

In CAT 2024, the 99 percentile cut-off was around: VARC 45 marks, DILR 34 marks, and QA 41 marks. Use these real cut-offs as your score targets. By mastering repeated concepts, you can attempt 3–4 extra accurate questions per section, pushing your score above the 99 percentile mark.

Why CAT Repeated Questions Matter in Exam Preparation

Analysing repeated questions in CAT helps uncover topic frequency, recurring patterns, and question difficulty trends. Data from past years shows that certain question types appear consistently across sections, making them high-yield areas. Understanding these patterns helps you plan smarter, optimise accuracy, and reduce surprises on exam day.

Analyse Topic Frequency

Study the last five years’ CAT papers to see which topics dominate. In Quantitative Ability, Arithmetic and Algebra together form over 60% of total questions every year. Create a data sheet with topic counts per year, e.g., Arithmetic: 10–12 Qs, Algebra: 7–9 Qs, and focus preparation time proportionally.

Track Common DILR Formats

Certain Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation formats repeat with slight variations. Sets involving Venn diagrams, scheduling, and distributions appear almost every year. Maintain a tracker of question formats, type, variable count, and logic used, so you can master these recurring templates instead of solving random sets.

Use Data-Based Attempt Targets

Good attempt data from previous CAT exams gives you clear benchmarks. For instance, the average good attempts in CAT 2024 were: QA 15–18, DILR 9–11, VARC 10–12. Set similar numeric goals for mocks to simulate real-exam pacing. Tracking scores this way is far more effective than guesswork or generic time goals.

Focus on Low-Variance Topics

Some topics stay structurally constant across years, Geometry and Mensuration in QA or Para Summary in VARC, for example. These areas rarely change in logic or presentation, making them ideal “sure-score” zones. Regularly revising and automating such topics improves your accuracy percentage and boosts your overall percentile stability.

Log Repeated-Question Errors

Collect repeated-pattern questions from previous papers and mocks, then record your accuracy. Mark reasons for each error, conceptual gap, misread condition, or calculation error. Analysing this data helps you eliminate weak spots scientifically. A well-maintained error-tracker is one of the most powerful technical tools for CAT success.

CAT 2025 Preparation Resources by Careers360

Careers360 offers a comprehensive collection of ebooks perfect for CAT 2025 preparation, covering all essential topics like Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, Verbal Ability, and Reading Comprehension. These CAT 2025 ebooks provide in-depth theory, practice questions, and previous year papers, making them ideal for focused self-study.