CAT Exam Analysis 2025 – Difficulty Level, Expected Cutoffs, Types of Questions
The crucial exam day is almost here. After the CAT exam 2025 wraps up on November 30, you will get a full analysis to help you understand how you did. Stay with us for an expert breakdown of CAT 2025. This blog delves into the details, examining the overall difficulty of the paper, the specifics of each section, and providing detailed reviews for Slots 1, 2, and 3.
The cat exam will be held in three shifts across various centres nationwide:
- Morning Shift: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
- Afternoon Shift: 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
- Evening Shift: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
IMS mentors will be analyzing the exam across these different time slots. Following the exam, we will provide a detailed analysis of the CAT 2025 exam for all three shifts, including the expected cutoff scores.
The CAT Exam Analysis 2025 will be updated soon…
CAT Exam Analysis 2025
The CAT 2025 examination will likely maintain the structure of previous years, evaluating candidates across three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Following the exam, we will analyze the level of difficulty, the relative weight of each section, and the projected cutoffs.
Achieving a high score requires candidates to prioritize both accuracy and effective time management.
Upon completion of the CAT 2025, we will provide a comprehensive post-exam analysis, detailing the difficulty of each section, recommending good attempts, and outlining expected percentile trends. Check back frequently for the latest analysis updates concerning the CAT 2025 exam.
| Slot-Wise CAT 2025 Analysis | Date and Time | Slot-Wise CAT 2025 Analysis Details |
| CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis | Nov 30, 2025 | Updating Soon |
| CAT 2025 Slot 2 Analysis | Nov 30, 2025 | Updating Soon |
| CAT 2025 Slot 3 Analysis | Nov 30, 2025 | Updating Soon |
CAT Exam Analysis 2025 – CAT 2025 exam pattern
The exam pattern is expected to be the same as CAT 2024.
| Section Name | Number of MCQs | Number of TITAs | Total |
| VA-RC Section | 22 | 2 | 24 |
| DI-LR Section | 12 | 10 | 22 |
| QA Section | 14 | 8 | 22 |
| Total | 48 | 20 | 68 |
CAT 2025 Analysis – Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
| Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | |
| Easy | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| TBA | TBA | TBA | |
| TBA | TBA | TBA | |
| Medium | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Read More – CAT 2024 Slot 1 Analysis – Difficulty level, expected cutoffs
CAT Exam 2025 Analysis – Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
| Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | |
| Easy | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| TBA | TBA | TBA | |
| Medium | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Difficult | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| TBA | TBA | TBA |
Read More – CAT 2024 Slot 2 Analysis – Difficulty level, expected cutoffs
CAT Exam 2025 Analysis – Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
| Area | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
| Arithmetic | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Algebra | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Modern Math | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Geometry | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Numbers | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Read More – CAT 2024 Slot 3 Analysis – Difficulty level, expected cutoffs
CAT Exam Analysis 2025 – Initial Score vs. Percentile Estimates
Overall
| Percentile | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
| 99.9%ile | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| 99.5%ile | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| 99%ile | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| 98%ile | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| 95%ile | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| 90%ile | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| 85%ile | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| 80%ile | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Read More – IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria
Key Information Regarding CAT Performance Estimates:
- Revised Estimates: Updated performance estimates will be published 2-3 days following the release of the CAT Response Sheet, as they will incorporate actual student performance data.
- Initial Estimates Caution: The initial estimates provided are only a preliminary indicator of likely performance. Please refrain from making any final B-School application decisions based on this first estimate.
CAT Exam 2025 sectional score vs percentile estimates will be added soon.
CAT Exam 2024 Analysis – Sectional score vs percentile estimates
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
| Percentile | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
| 99.9%ile | 48 | 50 | 48 |
| 99.5%ile | 40 | 46 | 40 |
| 99%ile | 36 | 42 | 36 |
| 98%ile | 25 | 38 | 25 |
| 95%ile | 20 | 32 | 19 |
| 90%ile | 17 | 26 | 16 |
| 85%ile | 15 | 22 | 14 |
| 80%ile | 13 | 20 | 12 |
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
| Percentile | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
| 99.9%ile | 49 | 46 | 46 |
| 99.5%ile | 43 | 40 | 40 |
| 99%ile | 40 | 37 | 37 |
| 98%ile | 33 | 30 | 30 |
| 95%ile | 29 | 27 | 27 |
| 90%ile | 23 | 21 | 21 |
| 85%ile | 21 | 19 | 19 |
| 80%ile | 19 | 17 | 17 |
Quantitative Aptitude
| Percentile | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
| 99.9%ile | 48 | 46 | 48 |
| 99.5%ile | 43 | 41 | 43 |
| 99%ile | 35 | 33 | 35 |
| 98%ile | 24 | 22 | 24 |
| 95%ile | 18 | 16 | 18 |
| 90%ile | 14 | 13 | 14 |
| 85%ile | 13 | 12 | 13 |
| 80%ile | 11 | 10 | 11 |
Read More – CAT Answer Key Download Link
CAT 2024 Exam Analysis: Overview and Key Changes
The CAT 2024 examination was conducted on 24 November 2024, across various centres nationwide, with over 3 lakh students participating in the three slots (Slot 1, Slot 2, and Slot 3). Our initial analysis indicates a lower overall difficulty level compared to CAT 2023, coupled with a few unexpected pattern changes.
Key Highlights and Pattern Changes:
- The number of questions rose from 66 to 68. In the DILR section, the number of questions increased from 20 to 22.
- As for difficulty, expert mentors noted that CAT 2024 was easier than CAT 2023, especially in the DILR and Quant sections.
- However, not all slots were equal; Slot 1 felt the easiest, while Slot 3 was the toughest.
