CAT 2025 – Slot 3 Test Analysis
(Sunday, November 30 – 4:30 to 6:30 pm)
The third slot of CAT 2025 (4:30 to 6:30 pm) had the same pattern as Slots 1 and 2. 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 were adjusted.
- 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 MCQ questions
QA
- The number of questions remained unchanged at 22
- Total 8 TITA questions and 14 MCQ questions
| 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 third 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 | 53 | 44 | 45 | 119 |
| 99.5 | 46 | 37 | 37 | 101 |
| 99 | 41 | 32 | 30 | 87 |
| 98 | 34 | 29 | 27 | 77 |
| 95 | 30 | 24 | 23 | 66 |
| 90 | 23 | 18 | 17 | 52 |
| 85 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 43 |
| 80 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 37 |
| 75 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 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 Reading Comprehension section featured the addition of vocabulary-based application questions — a question type which appeared in CAT 2025 Slot 1 as well. The passage on ill-effects of dams was easy. The passages on AI and ethical decision-making and The Forest Act 1982 were of moderate difficulty and featured some tricky questions and lengthy options. The passage on tribal art was dense and challenging with some tough questions. About 10 to 12 RC questions could be attempted with high accuracy. Parajumbles were reintroduced in verbal ability after the gap of a year. So, the section had 2 questions each of Summary (MCQ), Paragraph Completion(MCQ), Odd Sentence questions (TITA), and Jumbled Paragraphs (TITA). In VA, 5 or 6 attempts with high accuracy were possible. Overall, the VARC section was moderate in difficulty, at par Slots 1 and 2. The LOD of the VARC section, specially the RCs, was comparable to the VARC of several SimCATs.
| Area / Questions | No of Qs. | Type | LOD |
| Reading Comprehension | 16 | MCQ | Overall: Medium |
| RC-1: Ill-effects of dams | 4 | MCQ | Easy |
| RC-2: AI and ethical decision-making | 4 | MCQ | Medium |
| RC-3: The Forest Act 1982 | 4 | MCQ | Medium |
| RC-4: Tribal art | 4 | MCQ | Difficult |
| Verbal Ability | 08 | MCQ & TITA | Overall: Medium |
| Paragraph completion | 2 | MCQ | 1 Easy, 1 Difficult |
| Summary | 2 | MCQ | 1 Easy, 1 Difficult |
| Odd Sentence Questions | 2 | TITA | 1 Easy, 1 Difficult |
| Jumbled Paragraphs | 2 | TITA | 1 Easy, 1 Difficult |
An attempt of 12 or 13 questions with an accuracy of approximately 60% will fetch around 85%ile score in VARC.
An attempt of 16 or 17 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 higher than slot 1 but less than slot 2 of CAT 2025.
| Set No. | Area | Set Description | No. of Questions | Question Type | LOD |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 22 | MCQ and TITA | Medium to Difficult | ||
| 1 | Logical Reasoning | 6 friends calling each other | 4 | 1 MCQ and 3 TITA | Easy to Medium |
| 2 | Data Interpretation | Four friends solving puzzles – chart | 4 | 2 MCQ and 2 TITA | Easy |
| 3 | Logical Reasoning | Circular Arrangement( 7 students) | 4 | 4 MCQ | Easy to Medium |
| 4 | Data Interpretation | Currency Exchange – 4 countries | 5 | 2 MCQ and 3 TITA | Medium to Difficult |
| 5 | Data Interpretation | Trade Balance – Import & Export | 5 | 2 MCQ and 3 TITA | Difficult |
An attempt of about 7-8 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 slightly more difficult in terms of level of difficulty as compared to CAT-2024. This section was dominated by Arithmetic (7 questions), followed by Algebra (4 questions), Modern Math (4 questions), Geometry(3 questions) and Numbers (4 questions). 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 Averages, Time and Work, Time-Speed-Distance, Ratio Proportion, Mixtures & Alligations, and Profit & Loss. In Algebra, the questions were on Quadratic Equations and Linear Equations. In Modern Math, the questions were on Progressions, Functions, Set Theory and Logarithm. In Geometry, the questions were on Trapezium – Circle and Triangles.
Overall there were 8 Easy, 8 Medium and 6 Difficult questions. Some questions were highly calculation intensive and time consuming.
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: MEDIUM |
| Arithmetic | 7 – 2E, 5M |
| Algebra | 4 – 3E, 1D |
| Geometry | 3 – 1E, 2M |
| Modern Math | 4 – 1E, 3D |
| Numbers | 4 – 1E, 1M and 2D |
Attempting the right questions was the key. In general, it would be relatively easier to score about 15-17 marks but slightly tougher to score 30+ in this section.
An attempt of 7 – 8 questions with an accuracy of approximately 75- 80% will fetch around 85 %ile score in QA.
An attempt of 10-11 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.