BIMTECH PGDM Admissions 2026
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CAT Slot 3 exam 2025 was held on November 30, 2025 in the evening session. The CAT 2025 slot 3 exam was held from 04.30 PM to 06.30 PM. As per the candidates, the level of the exam was similar to earlier slots. Candidates who have appeared for the exam or will be writing CAT 2026 must go through the detailed CAT 2025 slot 3 analysis. It will provide enough insight into the difficulty level of the questions asked along with the right approach.
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.
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We have also provided the slot 3 analysis of CAT 2022, 2023 and also CAT 2024 for the reference. This article will provide a detailed section-wise breakdown, expert insights on difficulty levels, and highlights of the questions asked in CAT 2025.
As per the CAT 2025 slot 3 analysis, the exam structure was similar to the earlier slots. There were a total of 68 questions in total. Overall, the CAT slot 3 2025 was of moderate level. Know more about the detailed exam analysis in the section below.
| Topic | Total Number of Questions |
|---|---|
Number System (Remainders, Floor Function, Integers, Factors and Exponents) | 1 |
Logarithms | 1 (Easy) |
Inequalities and Linear Equations | 1 |
Percentages | 1 |
Time and Work | 1 |
Profit, Loss and Interest (SI, CI, P&L) | 1 |
Geometry (Triangles, Circles, Mensuration) | 2 (Easy) |
Progressions and Series (AP, Sequences) | 1 |
Functions and Graphs (Modulus, Sets, Functional Eq.) | 1 |
Time, Speed and Distance | 2 |
Sr. No. | Category | Theme | Difficulty Level | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Reading Comprehension | Artificial Intelligence | Doable | 4 |
2 | Reading Comprehension | Science | Medium | 4 |
3 | Reading Comprehension | – | – | 4 |
4 | Reading Comprehension | – | Difficult | 4 |
5 | Para Summary | – | 1 Easy, 1 Difficult | 2 |
6 | Para Completion | – | Doable | 2 |
7 | Odd One Out | – | Tricky | 2 |
8 | Para Jumbles | – | – | 2 |
| Set Number | Set Theme | Type of Set | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Circular Arrangement | Logical Reasoning Based | Easy |
2 | Scatter Plot Graph | Data Interpretation Based (DI) | Easy |
3 | Puzzle | Logical Reasoning Based | Medium |
4 | Set Based on Import & Export | Logical Reasoning Based (LR) OR Data Interpretation Based (DI) | Difficult |
A total of 68 questions were asked in CAT 2024 Slot 3, with 24 questions from VARC, 22 from Quant, and 22 from DILR. The question paper included a mix of question types, and candidates can refer to the CAT 2024 Slot 3 memory-based paper for a better understanding of the pattern. For additional practice, the memory-based questions are also available.
VARC Section: The VARC section was easy to moderate. While summary questions proved to be challenging, the passages were generally easy but slightly lengthy.
Quantitative Aptitude: This section was considered the toughest among all. Key highlights include:
A higher number of TITA questions
Questions from topics such as Remainder Theorem, Chords, Time, Speed & Distance, Profit & Loss, and Averages
Overall, the quantitative section posed significant challenges as per the CAT 2024 Slot 3 analysis
DILR Section: The DILR section was moderate to difficult, featuring 3 DI sets:
One set of 5 questions and two sets of 3 questions each
A DI based on intersections of 3 horizontal and 3 vertical lines representing ATMs, with only 6 ATMs and 3 blanks
A bar graph DI with 4 questions
A GDP comparison DI involving 8 countries, with 2 additional countries and values for comparison
A line graph DI representing temperature trends
IIM Calcutta has officially released the CAT 2024 answer key and response sheet for slots 1, 2, and 3 on its official website. To get the complete answer key, click on Download CAT 2024 Slot 3 Answer Key

The CAT 2024 slot 3 question paper consisted of 68 questions in total. The CAT 2024 slot 3 analysis suggests that the pattern for all slots remains the same. The VARC, DILR, and QA sections consisted of 24, 22, and 22 questions, respectively. The CAT 2024 slot 3 highlights include a time duration of 2 hours for the exam, with 40 minutes allotted per section.
Percentile | Slot 3 | |||
VARC | DILR | QA | Overall | |
99 | 42-43 | 28-29 | 30-32 | 93 |
95 | 34-35 | 23-24 | 24-25 | 68 |
90 | 27-28 | 19-20 | 17-18 | 58-60 |
85 | 24-25 | 16-17 | 14-15 | 46-48 |
80 | 22-23 | 13-14 | 12-13 | 42-44 |
70 | 18-19 | 12-13 | 11-12 | 37-38 |
Titles of the Questions | Number of Questions | Difficulty level |
RC 1 - The Story of the Success of liquor brand Moutai | 4 | Easy |
RC 2 - Space Contamination | 4 | Medium to Difficult |
RC 3 - RC on Endangered Languages | 4 | Medium |
RC 4 - The need for A regulations | 4 | Medium |
Sections | Number of Questions | Type | Difficulty Level |
Verbal Ability | 8 | MCQ & TITA | Medium |
Paragraph Completion | 3 | MCQ | Medium - Difficult |
Summary | 3 | MCQ | Medium - Difficult |
Odd Sentence | 2 | TITA | Medium - Difficult |
Title | Number of Questions | Type of Questions | Difficulty Level |
App subscription | 4 | 4 MCQs | Easy |
Room temperature based on line graph | 5 | 2 MCQs, 3 TITA | Easy-Moderate |
ATMs based question on Network of roads and | 5 | 3 MCQ, 2 TITA | Medium to Difficult |
Proteins-Carbohydrates in food items | 4 | 4 TITA | Easy-Moderate |
The GDP of 10 countries | 4 | 3 MCQs, 1 TITA | Moderate |
Area | Number of Questions |
Arithmetic | 8 |
Algebra | 7 |
Geometry | 3 |
Modern Maths | 3 |
Numbers | 1 |
Before going for CAT slot 3 analysis, you need to know about CAT paper pattern and marking scheme.
CAT 2024 Exam Components | CAT 2024 Pattern |
Test duration | 2 hrs (120 Minutes) |
Test sessions/ Slots | 3 (Morning, Afternoon and Evening) |
CAT Slot 3 timing | 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
Total Questions | 68 |
Number of Sections in CAT question paper | 3 (VARC; DILR; QA) |
Time allotted for each section in the CAT exam | 40 Minutes |
As per the released official notification of the CAT exam, there is no change in the CAT exam marking scheme, check out the same given below.
For each wrong MCQ answer, a -1 mark is deducted from the candidate’s overall score
For each correct MCQ or TITA answer, +3 marks are awarded to the candidates
There is no negative marking for TITA Questions
According to last year's CAT aspirants, the VARC section was easy to moderate, the DILR was moderate to difficult, and the QA was slightly more difficult than slots 1 and 2.
Verbal Ability Reading Comprehension: The CAT VARC section in slot 3 has 16 RC passages with 400-450 words. In it 3- Doable, 1- Difficult. It has Odd Sentence, Para Jumble, and Summary in a total of 8.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning: The DILR section has 20 questions with 8-10 Questions Doable. It has topics from Route Based Diagram, Online Sites, Girls / Boys (LR Caselet) Tests, and Caselet- Window/ Split AC.
Quantitative Aptitude: The QA section has 22 questions with a level of difficulty. This section in CAT slot 3 has topics in Factors, Indices, Integral Values, Log, Equations, Functions, Sequence and Series, Algebraic Expression, Circle, Polygon, Triangle, and Arithmetic.
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Section Name in CAT Exam Slot 3 | Number of questions in CAT Slot 3 | CAT Slot 3 Difficulty Level |
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 24 | Moderate |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 20 | Difficult |
Quantitative Ability | 22 | Moderate to Difficult |
Total | 66 | Moderate to Difficult |
According to the CAT 2022 slot 3 analysis, the paper has a total of 66 questions, and the average attempt made by the candidates was 35 to 40. Ankush Surin, a CAT aspirant, said that the paper was relatively tough in comparison to last year. "The CAT paper appeared tough to me. I can hardly attempt 35 to 40 questions, as the questions in DILR were tough and time-consuming," he said.
Another candidate, Ritushree Roy, reviewed the paper as moderately difficult, with questions in the reading comprehension section found to be easy, while the DILR and VARC sections were a bit difficult. "I could hardly attempt 25 to 30 questions and was not satisfied with the exam. I will appear for the CAT next year."
Sections - As per the CAT 2022 slot 3 analysis, there were three sections, namely Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI & LR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
Sectional Duration - In slot 3 of CAT 2022, candidates got 40 minutes per section. No candidate was allowed to switch between sections. Once the 40 minutes are over, the next section appears on the screen automatically.
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension: The VARC section in CAT 2022 Slot 3 was comparable in difficulty across all slots. Most questions were medium to difficult in nature, with very few simple questions. There were 4 passages in total: 2 passages with 4 questions each and 2 passages with 5 questions each. Most questions were argumentative and application-based. Summary, Odd Sentence, and Paragraph Jumble questions were comparatively easier to handle.
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR): The DILR section was considered the most challenging. There were 5 DI/LR sets: 2 sets with 6 questions each and 3 sets with 4 questions each. The difficulty varied, with two sets being simple and fast, while one set was particularly tough. The 6-question sets were tricky and tested candidates’ analytical and time management skills.
Quantitative Aptitude (QA): Mild in difficulty, unlike CAT 2022 Slot 3, where the quantitative section was trickier and time-consuming, often affecting the attempt strategy for other QA questions.
DILR Analysis Table:
Area | Set Description | Number of Questions | Level of Difficulty | Question Type |
Data Interpretation | Four facilities in a school | 4 | Easy to Medium | 2 TITA + 2 MCQ |
Organization delivering groceries | 4 | Medium to Difficult | 4 MCQ | |
Logical Reasoning | Game of six rounds | 6 | Medium to Difficult | 4 TITA + 2 MCQ |
Farmer and four daughters | 6 | Medium to Difficult | 6 MCQ | |
Patients undergoing a blood test | 4 | Easy to Medium | 4 MCQ |
Quantitative Ability: The QA segment of Slot 3 of CAT 2021 was also dominated by Arithmetic, like Slots 1 and 2 (10 questions). The focus was, however, significantly lower on Algebra than in the first two slots. For Algebra, there were 4 questions. There were also 5 questions about modern mathematics, 4 questions about geometry, and 3 questions about numbers. Slot 3 also had a range of questions about time, like the first two slots, Velocity-Distance.
This year there were 8 TITA Qs. Overall, this segment was at a medium difficulty level. The trick was choosing the right questions to try. Good students in the given period should have been able to try around 16 to 18 questions.
QA Analysis Table:
Area/Q Type | No of Questions | LOD |
Numbers | 3 | Medium |
Arithmetic | 10 | Easy to medium |
Algebra | 4 | Medium to difficult |
Geometry | 4 | Medium |
Modern Maths | 5 | Medium |
Based on the feedback received from IMS students, we estimate the CAT scores vs percentiles for Slot 3 as follows:
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 |
If a candidate finds the above analysis of the CAT 2024 slot 3 examinations, they are advised to download the elaborated ebook designed by Careers360 that includes a variety of questions asked in the CAT 2024 slot 3 examination. This will help the candidates understand the exam trends and the varying exam difficulty among the various slots within the CAT 2024 examinations.
TITLE | DOWNLOAD LINK |
CAT 2024 Slot-3 Paper Analysis |
This section provides access to the CAT 2024 question paper in PDF format, allowing aspirants to review the complete set of questions asked in the exam. Students can use it for practice, understanding the pattern, and analysing the types of questions across VARC, DILR, and Quant sections.
TITLE | DOWNLOAD LINK |
CAT 2024 Question Paper |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The CAT 2025 slot 3 will be held from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Similarly, there are 3 slots for each day.
As per the analysis of CAT 2024, Slot 3, the difficulty level was moderate to difficult.
Coaching is optional, but it facilitates organized learning and receiving expert advice. Most candidates crack CAT without coaching through self-study with online materials, books, and mock tests. But those facing concept or discipline issues can gain from coaching classes.
Read editorials, opinion articles, and articles of The Hindu, The Economist, and Aeon Essays to increase understanding. Practice RC passages every day, concentrate on the author's tone and main idea, and enhance speed through timed practice tests.
To achieve 99+ percentile, the candidates need to excel in all three sections, improve time management skills, and attempt 30–40 full-length mocks with a thorough analysis. Consistency, revising weak points, and implementing an exam-day strategy for each section are the essentials to achieve a high percentile.
On Question asked by student community
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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