Which Is the Easiest CAT 2025 Slot? Slot 1 vs Slot 2 vs Slot 3

Which Is the Easiest CAT 2025 Slot? Slot 1 vs Slot 2 vs Slot 3

Komal MiglaniUpdated on 02 Dec 2025, 05:45 PM IST

The CAT 2025 was conducted on November 30, 2025, for all three slots. Now, one question is once again dominating every discussion among aspirants: Which was the easiest CAT 2025 slot? Aspirants believe that getting the “right” slot can make a huge difference to their final percentile. Some students are desperate to avoid Slot 3, while others pray to get Slot 1. But does a so-called “easy slot” really exist? Based on the student experience and input from MBA experts, let’s break this down using logic, past trends, and how CAT 2025 will actually be evaluated so that you can stop worrying about slot myths and start focusing on what truly matters.

LiveCAT 2025 Result LIVE: IIM Kozhikode to announce scores soon on iimcat.ac.in; cut-off, normalisationDec 23, 2025 | 12:27 PM IST

The CAT 2025 results are expected to be announced soon by IIM Kozhikode. Candidates can check their results and download the scorecard from the official website iimcat.ac.in by logging in with their CAT ID and password. The results will reflect section-wise scaled scores and overall percentile, which will be used for shortlisting in various B-school admission processes.

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This Story also Contains

  1. Why Does CAT Have Multiple Slots?
  2. Was Slot 1 the Easiest Slot in CAT 2025?
  3. The Biggest Myth: “I Am Competing With Other Slots”
  4. Does Slot 1 Have a Disadvantage Because It Goes First?
  5. So, Which Is the Easiest CAT 2025 Slot?
Which Is the Easiest CAT 2025 Slot? Slot 1 vs Slot 2 vs Slot 3
Which Is the Easiest CAT 2025 Slot

Why Does CAT Have Multiple Slots?

CAT is conducted in multiple slots due to the enormous number of candidates who appear for the exam. It is not possible to test everyone at the same time, so the exam is divided into different sessions, such as Slot 1, Slot 2, and Slot 3.

Each slot has:

  • A different question paper

  • Different arrangements of questions

  • Possible minor variation in difficulty levels

To avoid unfair advantage or disadvantage, scores across different slots are adjusted through a scientific CAT normalisation process, which is handled by the Indian Institutes of Management. This means you are never punished or rewarded simply because you got a particular slot.

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Was Slot 1 the Easiest Slot in CAT 2025?

Based on observations from previous years, many aspirants and mentors expect Slot 1 to be slightly more manageable compared to the other slots. However, this does not mean that Slot 1 was necessarily “easy” in CAT 2025. Over the years, Slot 1 has usually shown fewer sudden changes in question style and paper structure, which makes it feel less stressful for many test-takers.

Every year, the CAT exam pattern evolves, and what was true in previous years may not hold the same way again. The variation in difficulty between slots is generally small, and no slot becomes dramatically harder or easier than the others.

A common misunderstanding is that Slot 1 is always safe and Slot 3 is always risky. In reality, the gap between slots is often exaggerated after the exam. If Slot 1 feels easier, it is usually by a minimal margin—not enough to decide anyone’s percentile on its own.

Aspirants should treat Slot 1 the same way as any other slot, prepare for all levels and patterns instead of depending on expectations. At the end of the day, your score and percentile will depend far more on your readiness than on which session name is printed on.

The Biggest Myth: “I Am Competing With Other Slots”

One of the most common and dangerous misunderstandings among CAT aspirants is the belief that they are competing with students from other slots. This creates unnecessary pressure, especially when students hear that another slot was easier or tougher than their own. In reality, this assumption is completely wrong.

In CAT 2025, you are ranked only against candidates who appear in the same slot as you. You are not directly compared with students who write the paper in other sessions. This means that if your slot turns out to be difficult, it affects everyone in your group equally.

After the exam, the Indian Institutes of Management apply a normalisation process to balance differences in slot difficulty. If one slot is tougher, scores from that slot are adjusted upward. If one slot is easier, scores are adjusted slightly downward. This ensures that no candidate is penalised or favoured due to the slot alone.

So, whether you got Slot 1, Slot 2, or Slot 3 in CAT 2025, your final percentile reflects how well you performed compared to others who faced the same paper as you — not students from different slots. Once you understand this, worrying about slot difficulty becomes completely pointless.

Does Slot 1 Have a Disadvantage Because It Goes First?

Many students think Slot 1 is risky because there is no prior information about the paper. However, knowing the pattern does not reduce difficulty or improve performance. Such feedback is often incomplete and misleading.

In fact, Slot 1 candidates avoid unnecessary stress from rumours and overanalysis. Entering the exam without outside noise had often helped candidates stay calm and focused. Going first is not a disadvantage in CAT 2025. Your preparation matters far more than the timing of your slot.

So, Which Is the Easiest CAT 2025 Slot?

The CAT past year papers show that Slot 1 often feels more manageable and Slot 3 sometimes brings surprises; the actual difference is always minor. But if you are looking for one fixed answer, it does not exist. However, experts have suggested that the CAT 2025 slot 2 exam was easier than other slots.

Every slot is designed to be fair. Your success will depend on how you perform in your own paper, not on which session you got. Instead of worrying about the slot, focus on the admission process and preparing for the personal interview ahead of time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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

The official answer key and response sheet will be released by the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode a few days after the exam.

Q: Where can I access CAT 2025 memory-based questions PDF?
A:

You can download memory-based questions and solutions from this page once each slot concludes.

Q: When will CAT 2025 memory-based questions be available?
A:

Memory-based questions for CAT 2025 will be shared after each slot concludes on 30th November 2025. The article will be updated in real-time with memory-based questions and solutions.

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Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

CAT does not restrict eligibility based on stream. Candidates from commerce, arts, science, engineering or any other background can appear for CAT and apply to MBA programmes offered by IIMs and other top B-schools.

The basic eligibility criteria for CAT are:
You must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university with at least 50 percent marks (45 percent for SC, ST and PwD categories). Final-year graduation students are also eligible to apply.

Being a commerce graduate can actually be an advantage in areas such as accounting, finance, economics and business studies, especially during MBA coursework in finance, marketing and operations.

After qualifying CAT, admission depends on multiple factors including CAT percentile, academic background, work experience (if any), performance in GD, WAT and personal interview rounds. Many IIMs and B-schools follow a diverse academic background policy, which means non-engineering candidates, including commerce graduates, often receive additional weightage.

Apart from IIMs, several reputed institutes such as FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IMT Ghaziabad, and many state and private universities also accept CAT scores for MBA admissions.

So, as a commerce graduate, you are fully eligible to appear for CAT and pursue an MBA, provided you meet the minimum academic requirements and perform well in the selection process.

If you want, I can also help you with realistic CAT percentile targets based on your academic profile or suggest suitable MBA colleges.


Hello aspirant,

With a CAT 2025 raw score of 84 and strong sectionals, your expected percentile may fail in the high 98 range , depending on scaling. Your excellent academics and 2 years of work experience strengthen your profile .IIM Lucknow calls are possible but competitive for EWS engineers , while FMS Delhi looks mainly at CAT score and VARC , so you have a reasonable chance there . Final calls depend on cutoffs and composite score.

FOR REFERENCE : https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/cat-cutoff

Hope the details will help you.

THANK YOU

Hello aspirant ,

For MANAGE Hyderabad MBA , the OBC cutoff in CAT 2024 was generally around 85-90 percentile for shortlist consideration , tough exact figures vary by section and profile . For CAT 2025, if fewer candidates appeared , the cutoff might slightly adjust , but percentile based cutoffs dont change drastically year to year. A minor decrease is possible , but you should still aim for 90+ percentile to be competitive. Factors like VARC, QA-LRDI and overall profile influence the final shortlist.

FOR REFERENCE : https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/cat-cutof f

Hope the details will help you.

THANK YOU

Hello,

For a raw score of 56 in CAT 2025 Slot 3, your expected overall percentile is likely to be in the range of the 90th-95th percentile. The exact percentile can vary slightly on the final normalization process and the process and performance of all test-takers. In this article you'll find more about the CAT result.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hello,
With a projected CAT percentile of 87% but not clearing sectional cutoffs, your chances at top IIMs are limited because they require both overall percentile and sectional minimums. However, you still have a good shot at other reputed management institutes and non-IIM B-schools. Consider colleges like NMIMS, SPJIMR, IMT, TAPMI, Great Lakes, and other well-ranked private or state-level B-schools that accept CAT scores and weigh your profile holistically. Your academic record, BSc in Animation with 80%, and 5 years of work experience at Ubisoft India are strong points and may help in institutes that value work experience in their selection process. Also, explore institutes that accept XAT, MAT, or CMAT, where your profile can be competitive.
Hope this helps you.