CAT 2025 – Slot 2 Test Analysis
(Sunday, November 30 – 12:30 to 2:30 pm)
The second slot of CAT 2025 (12.30 pm and 2:30 pm) had the same pattern of Slot 1. The structure of CAT 2025 had no major changes compared to that of the 2024 CAT, with a total of 68 questions.
Section-wise details:
Verbal Ability (VA)
- Segmentation and question-type distribution remained the same as in Slot 1.
- Paragraph Jumbles were reintroduced, marking their return after 2023.
- Breakdown of non-RC questions: 2 Summary questions (MCQ), 2 Paragraph Completion questions (MCQ), 2 Odd Sentence Out questions (TITA), 2 Paragraph Jumbles (TITA)
DILR
The section also showed refinements in segmentation and the MCQ vs TITA mix
- Overall structure of the section remained unchanged: 2 sets with 5 questions each and 3 sets with 4 questions each.
- Total 11 TITA questions and 11 MCQs
QA
- The number of questions remained unchanged at 22
- Total 8 TITA questions and 14 MCQs
| Section No. | Section Name | Duration | MCQs | TITA | Total |
| I | VARC | 40 min | 20 | 4 | 24 |
| II | DI and LR | 40 min | 11 | 11 | 22 |
| III | QA | 40 min | 14 | 8 | 22 |
| Total | 120 min | 45 | 23 | 68 |
The marking scheme was +3 for every correct and -1 for incorrect. There was no negative marking for TITA Qs.
Based on the feedback received from several candidates who have appeared in the second slot, our initial estimate of the percentiles and scores*** is as follows. These estimates will be suitably revised soon after the CAT releases the response sheets.
| Percentile | VARC Score | DILR Score | QA Score | Overall |
| 99.9 | 52 | 42 | 43 | 115 |
| 99.5 | 45 | 35 | 35 | 97 |
| 99 | 41 | 30 | 28 | 83 |
| 98 | 36 | 27 | 25 | 75 |
| 95 | 32 | 23 | 20 | 65 |
| 90 | 25 | 17 | 15 | 51 |
| 85 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 41 |
| 80 | 18 | 11 | 12 | 37 |
| 75 | 17 | 10 | 10 | 33 |
*** Students are advised not to take any B-School application decision based on these initial estimates. They serve only as the first indicator of likely performance.
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
The VA-RC section consisted of 16 Reading Comprehension questions and 8 Verbal Ability questions. The passages on how tetrafish adapted and evolved and biases of AI were easier. The passages on the role of ‘place’ in literature and science and culture were difficult and required careful reading. Some of the RC questions tested critical reasoning and others featured complex question stems. About 10 to 12 RC questions could be attempted with high accuracy. Verbal Ability questions were easier. The section had 2 questions each of Summary (MCQ), Paragraph Completion(MCQ), Odd Sentence questions (TITA), and Jumbled Paragraphs (TITA). In VA, 5 to 7 attempts with high accuracy were possible. Overall, the VARC section was moderate, similar to that of CAT 2025 Slot 1. The LOD of the VARC section, in both the slots, was comparable to the VARC of several SimCATs.
| Area / Questions | No of Qs. | Type | LOD |
| Reading Comprehension | 16 | MCQ | Overall: Medium |
| RC-1: How tetrafish adapted and evolved | 4 | MCQ | Easy |
| RC-2: Biases of AI | 4 | MCQ | Easy |
| RC-3: The role of “Place” in literature | 4 | MCQ | Difficult |
| RC-4: Science and culture | 4 | MCQ | Difficult |
| Verbal Ability | 08 | MCQ & TITA | Overall: Medium |
| Paragraph completion | 2 | MCQ | 1 Easy, 1 Medium |
| Summary | 2 | MCQ | 2 Medium |
| Odd Sentence Questions | 2 | TITA | 2 Easy |
| Jumbled Paragraphs | 2 | TITA | 1 Easy, 1 Medium |
An attempt of 13 or 14 questions with an accuracy of approximately 60% will fetch around 85%ile score in VARC.
An attempt of 17 or 18 questions with an accuracy of approximately 70% will fetch 95+ percentiles in VARC.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
Overall structure of the section remained unchanged with 22 questions spread over 5 sets- 2 sets with 5 questions each and 3 sets with 4 questions each. However, one important deviation was that half the section (11 questions) were TITA.
Overall, the Level of difficulty of the section was Medium to Difficult and it was slightly more difficult in comparison with the DILR Section of CAT 2025 slot 1.
| Set No. | Area | Set Description | No. of Questions | LOD |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 22(11 TITA) | Medium to Difficult | ||
| 1 | Data Interpretation | Pollution Index – Weighted average | 5 | Difficult |
| 2 | Data Interpretation | Authors and Number of Books (2 Bar Graphs) | 4 | Easy |
| 3 | Data Interpretation | Scatter Plot (Index calculations of 3 years) | 4 | Difficult |
| 4 | Logical Reasoning | Ranking (6 balls and 4 holes) | 4 | Easy |
| 5 | Logical Reasonings | Musicians | 5 | Difficult |
An attempt of about 7 questions with an accuracy of approximately 75-80% will fetch around 85 %ile score in DILR.
An attempt of about 10-11 questions with an accuracy of approximately 80-85% will fetch 95 + percentiles in DILR .
Quantitative Ability
This section was more difficult in terms of level of difficulty as compared to CAT 2025 slot 1 and was dominated by Arithmetic (8 questions), followed by Algebra (5 questions), Modern Math (4 questions), Geometry(3 questions) and Numbers(2). The questions on Arithmetic were relatively on an easier side. The questions on Algebra were somewhat complex. In Arithmetic, the questions were from different topics such as Average, Time and Work, Time-Speed-Distance, Ratio Proportion, Mixtures & Alligations, and Profit & Loss. In Algebra, the questions were dominated by Quadratic equations, Inequality with logarithms etc. In Modern Math, the questions were on Progressions, logarithms etc. In Geometry, the questions were on Circles-Tangents, Hexagon and Triangles.
Number of TITA (8 questions) and MCQ (14 questions) in this section.
| Area/Q Type | No of Questions |
| Quantitative Ability | 14 MCQs, 8 TITA Overall LOD: Difficult |
| Arithmetic | 8 |
| Algebra | 5 |
| Geometry | 3 |
| Modern Math | 4 |
| Numbers | 2 |
Attempting the right questions was the key.
An attempt of 7 – 8 questions with an accuracy of approximately 75-80% will fetch around 85 %ile score in QA.
An attempt of 9-10 questions with an accuracy of approximately 80-85% will fetch 95 + percentiles in QA .
THE PROCESS
At many centers, shoes and metallic objects (including metal jewelry) were not allowed. Only the admit card and the ID proof were allowed. As in the previous years, the authorities took possession of the admit cards. The candidates were given a small pad with IIM CAT Logo on the cover for rough work, and a pen – which were also taken away at the end of the exam.
TEST INTERFACE
The test interface was user-friendly and exactly the one provided in the official CAT Mock Test. A simple calculator was provided, and not a scientific one. There was an arrow provided near the question palette which when clicked expanded the question window to full-screen view by hiding the question palette & vice versa
At the end of the test, a summary of the number of questions attempted, visited, and not visited was displayed for each section.
There was a button marked ‘Question Paper’ that opened up a screen containing all the questions of the section. This was used by students for planning their approach for the section.
*** The scores and percentiles mentioned in this analysis are indicators based on the feedback from students and IMS experts. They are in no way related to the results which IIMs are expected to declare in January 2026. You are advised to wait for the results.