CAT Exam Analysis 2025 Live (Slot 1,2,3) – Difficulty Level, Expected Cutoffs, Types of Questions
CAT 2025 Analysis: The crucial exam day, November 30, one of the most anticipated CAT 2025 exams, is here, and our slot-wise analysis is completed. 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.
IMS mentors have analyzed the exam across these different time slots. And we have provided a detailed analysis of the CAT 2025 exam for all three shifts, including the expected cutoff scores.
CAT Exam Analysis 2025 – Slot-wise Analysis
| Slot | Time | Total Questions | Verbal Ability (VARC) | DILR | Quantitative Ability (QA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slot 1 | 8:30–10:30 AM | 68 | Paragraph Jumbles returned. Non-RC questions included Summary MCQs, Paragraph Completion MCQs, Odd Sentence Out TITA, and Paragraph Jumbles TITA | 5 sets: 2 sets of 5 questions, 3 sets of 4 questions; 11 MCQs + 11 TITA | 22 questions; structure unchanged |
| Slot 2 | 12:30–2:30 PM | 68 | Paragraph Jumbles, Summary MCQs, Paragraph Completion MCQs, Odd Sentence Out, and PJ questions | 5 sets with balanced MCQs and TITA | 22 questions; 14 MCQs + 8 TITA |
| Slot 3 | 4:30–6:30 PM | 68 | Paragraph Jumbles returned; Summary, Paragraph Completion, Odd Sentence Out, and PJ questions | 5 sets: 2 sets of 5 questions, 3 sets of 4 questions; 11 MCQs + 11 TITA | 22 questions; 14 MCQs + 8 TITA |
CAT Exam Analysis 2025 – Exam Pattern
| 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 answer and -1 for every incorrect one. There was no negative marking for TITA Qs.
CAT 2025 Analysis – Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
CAT Slot 1 2025 Analysis:
The CAT Slot 1 2025 VARC Analysis are as follows:
Reading Comprehension Breakdown
| Area / RC Passage | No. of Qs | Type | LOD |
| Reading Comprehension (Total) | 16 | MCQ | Overall: Medium |
| RC 1 – Alienists & diagnosing mental disorders | 4 | MCQ | Easy |
| RC 2 – Income inequality & economic growth | 4 | MCQ | Medium |
| RC 3 – Objections to electronic music | 4 | MCQ | Medium |
| RC 4 – Complex systems & tail events | 4 | MCQ | Difficult |
Verbal Ability Breakdown
| Area | No. of Qs | Type | LOD |
| Verbal Ability (Total) | 8 | MCQ & TITA | Overall: Medium |
| Paragraph Completion | 2 | MCQ | 1 Easy, 1 Medium |
| Summary | 2 | MCQ | 2 Medium |
| Odd Sentence Out | 2 | TITA | 2 Medium |
| Jumbled Paragraphs | 2 | TITA | 1 Easy, 1 Medium |
Attempts & Percentiles (VARC)
- 12–13 attempts with ~60% accuracy can give you around 85 percentile.
- 16–17 attempts with ~70% accuracy can secure a 95+ percentile.
Read More – CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis – Difficulty level, expected cutoffs
CAT Slot 2 2025 Analysis:
The CAT Slot 2 2025 VARC Analysis are as follows:
Reading Comprehension Breakdown
| Area / RC Passage | No. of Qs | Type | LOD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (Total) | 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 Breakdown
| Area | No. of Qs | Type | LOD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability (Total) | 8 | MCQ & TITA | Overall: Medium |
| Paragraph Completion | 2 | MCQ | 1 Easy, 1 Medium |
| Summary | 2 | MCQ | 2 Medium |
| Odd Sentence Out | 2 | TITA | 2 Easy |
| Jumbled Paragraphs | 2 | TITA | 1 Easy, 1 Medium |
Attempts & Percentiles (VARC)
- 13–14 attempts with ~60% accuracy can give you around 85 percentile.
- 17–18 attempts with ~70% accuracy can secure a 95+ percentile.
CAT Slot 3 2025 Analysis:
The CAT Slot 3 2025 VARC Analysis are as follows:
Reading Comprehension Breakdown
| Area / RC Passage | No. of Qs | Type | LOD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (Total) | 16 | MCQ | Overall: Medium |
| RC 1 – Ill-effects of dams | 4 | MCQ | Easy |
| RC 2 – AI & ethical decision-making | 4 | MCQ | Medium |
| RC 3 – The Forest Act 1982 | 4 | MCQ | Medium |
| RC 4 – Tribal art | 4 | MCQ | Difficult |
Verbal Ability Breakdown
| Area | No. of Qs | Type | LOD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability (Total) | 8 | MCQ & TITA | Overall: Medium |
| Paragraph Completion | 2 | MCQ | 1 Easy, 1 Difficult |
| Summary | 2 | MCQ | 1 Easy, 1 Difficult |
| Odd Sentence Out | 2 | TITA | 1 Easy, 1 Medium |
| Jumbled Paragraphs | 2 | TITA | 1 Easy, 1 Medium |
Attempts & Percentiles (VARC)
- 12–13 attempts with ~60% accuracy can give you around 85 percentile
- 16–17 attempts with ~70% accuracy can secure a 95+ percentile
CAT Exam 2025 Analysis – Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
CAT Slot 1 2025 Analysis:
The CAT Slot 1 2025 DILR Analysis are as follows:
| Set No. | Area | Set Description | No. of Qs | Type | LOD |
| — | DILR (Overall) | — | 22 | MCQ & TITA | Medium to Difficult |
| 1 | Data Interpretation | Performance rating of 6 employees | 5 | 4 TITA | Medium |
| 2 | Data Interpretation | Import–Export data of 5 countries | 4 | 4 MCQ | Easy–Medium |
| 3 | Logical Reasoning | Circular arrangement: 4 persons & 7 chairs | 5 | 4 MCQ, 1 TITA | Medium |
| 4 | Logical Reasoning | Five persons tapping yes/no | 4 | 2 MCQ, 2 TITA | Medium–Difficult |
| 5 | Logical Reasoning | Train movement from A to E | 4 | 4 TITA | Medium |
Attempts & Percentiles (DILR)
- 8 attempts with ~80% accuracy can give you around 85 percentile.
- 12 attempts with ~85% accuracy can secure a 95+ percentile.
Read More – CAT 2025 Slot 2 Analysis – Difficulty level, expected cutoffs
CAT Slot 2 2025 Analysis:
The CAT Slot 2 2025 DILR Analysis are as follows:
| Set No. | Area | Set Description | No. of Qs | Type | LOD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | DILR (Overall) | — | 22 (11 TITA) | MCQ & TITA | Medium to Difficult |
| 1 | Data Interpretation | Pollution Index – Weighted Average | 5 | 5 TITA | Difficult |
| 2 | Data Interpretation | Authors & Number of Books (2 Bar Graphs) | 4 | 4 MCQ | Easy |
| 3 | Data Interpretation | Scatter Plot – Index Calculations (3 Years) | 4 | 4 MCQ | Difficult |
| 4 | Logical Reasoning | Ranking – 6 Balls & 4 Holes | 4 | 4 TITA | Easy |
| 5 | Logical Reasoning | Musicians | 5 | 5 TITA | Difficult |
Attempt vs Percentile (DILR)
- 7 attempts with ~75–80% accuracy can give you around 85 percentile.
- 10–11 attempts with ~80–85% accuracy can secure a 95+ percentile.
CAT Slot 3 2025 Analysis:
The CAT Slot 3 2025 DILR Analysis are as follows:
| Set No. | Area | Set Description | No. of Qs | Type | LOD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | DILR (Overall) | — | 22 | MCQ & TITA | Medium to Difficult |
| 1 | Logical Reasoning | 6 friends calling each other | 4 | 1 MCQ & 3 TITA | Easy to Medium |
| 2 | Data Interpretation | Four friends solving puzzles (Chart) | 4 | 2 MCQ & 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 & 3 TITA | Medium to Difficult |
| 5 | Data Interpretation | Trade Balance – Import & Export | 5 | 2 MCQ & 3 TITA | Difficult |
Attempts & Percentiles (DILR)
- 7–8 attempts with ~75–80% accuracy can give you around 85 percentile
- 10–11 attempts with ~80–85% accuracy can secure a 95+ percentile
CAT Exam 2025 Analysis – Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
CAT Slot 1 2025 Analysis:
The CAT Slot 1 2025 QA Analysis are as follows:
| Area / Type | No. of Qs | LOD |
| Quantitative Ability (Total) | 14 MCQs, 8 TITA | Overall LOD: Medium |
| Arithmetic | 8 | Easier |
| Algebra | 5 | Somewhat Complex |
| Geometry | 3 | Medium |
| Modern Math | 3 | Medium |
| Numbers | 3 | Medium |
Topics Covered:
Arithmetic included SICI, Time & Work, Time–Speed–Distance, Ratio–Proportion, Mixtures & Alligations, and Profit & Loss. Algebra featured Quadratic Equations and Logarithmic Inequalities, making it relatively complex.
Modern Math covered Progressions and Permutations. Geometry included questions from Circles, Quadrilaterals, and Coordinate Geometry.
Attempts & Percentiles (QA)
- 7–8 attempts with ~80% accuracy can give you around 85 percentile.
- 12–13 attempts with ~85% accuracy can secure a 95+ percentile.
Read More – CAT 2025 Slot 3 Analysis – Difficulty level, expected cutoffs
CAT Slot 2 2025 Analysis:
The CAT Slot 2 2025 QA Analysis are as follows:
| Area / Type | No. of Qs | LOD |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability (Total) | 14 MCQs, 8 TITA | Overall LOD: Difficult |
| Arithmetic | 8 | Medium–Easy |
| Algebra | 5 | Difficult |
| Geometry | 3 | Medium |
| Modern Math | 4 | Medium–Difficult |
| Numbers | 2 | Medium |
Topics Covered
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 focused on Progressions, logarithms, and other topics. In Geometry, the questions focused on Circles, Tangents, Hexagons, and Triangles.
Attempts & Percentiles (QA)
- 7–8 attempts with ~75–80% accuracy can give you around 85 percentile.
- 9–10 attempts with ~80–85% accuracy can secure a 95+ percentile.
CAT Slot 3 2025 Analysis:
The CAT Slot 3 2025 QA Analysis are as follows:
| Area / Type | No. of Qs | LOD |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability (Total) | 14 MCQs, 8 TITA | Overall LOD: Medium |
| Arithmetic | 7 (2 Easy, 5 Medium) | Easy–Medium |
| Algebra | 4 (3 Easy, 1 Difficult) | Easy–Difficult |
| Geometry | 3 (1 Easy, 2 Medium) | Medium |
| Modern Math | 4 (1 Easy, 3 Difficult) | Medium–Difficult |
| Numbers | 4 (1 Easy, 1 Medium, 2 Difficult) | Medium–Difficult |
Topics Covered
The Arithmetic questions such a Averages, Time & Work, Time–Speed–Distance, Ratio & Proportion, Mixtures & Alligations, and Profit & Loss. Algebra had Quadratic Equations and Linear Equations.
Modern Math included questions on Progressions, Functions, Set Theory, and Logarithms.
Geometry questions focused on Trapezium–Circle concepts and Triangles.
Attempts & Percentiles (QA)
- 7–8 attempts with ~75–80% accuracy can give you around 85 percentile
- 10–11 attempts with ~80–85% accuracy can secure a 95+ percentile
CAT Exam Analysis 2025 – Initial Score vs. Percentile Estimates
CAT Slot 1
| Percentile | VARC Score | DILR Score | QA Score | Overall |
| 99.9 | 51 | 46 | 48 | 122 |
| 99.5 | 44 | 39 | 40 | 103 |
| 99 | 40 | 34 | 33 | 90 |
| 98 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 81 |
| 95 | 30 | 26 | 25 | 70 |
| 90 | 23 | 19 | 18 | 53 |
| 85 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 45 |
| 80 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 40 |
| 75 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 34 |
CAT Slot-2
| 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 |
CAT Slot-3
| 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 |
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 are only a preliminary indicator of likely performance. Please refrain from making any final B-School application decisions based on this first estimate.
Read More – CAT Overall Analysis 2025
CAT Answer Key Download Link
FAQs: CAT Exam Analysis 2025
What was the difficulty level of CAT 2025 Slot 1?
Students felt that CAT 2025 Slot 1 was moderate overall. VARC was slightly tougher due to the presence of dense RCs and the comeback of Parajumbles. DILR had the same structure as last year, but felt tricky due to more TITA questions. QA was similar to 2024 with a balanced mix of easy and moderate questions.
How many attempts are good for 95 percentile in CAT 2025 Slot 1?
To score around 95 percentile, students needed roughly:
- VARC: 16–17 attempts with good accuracy
- DILR: About 12 attempts
- QA: Around 12–13 attempts
What was the CAT 2025 Slot 1 MCQ–TITA breakup?
CAT 2025 Slot 1 had a total of 68 questions, divided as:
- VARC: 24 questions (20 MCQs, 4 TITA)
- DILR: 22 questions (11 MCQs, 11 TITA)
- QA: 22 questions (14 MCQs, 8 TITA)
What was the overall CAT 2025 Slot 2 difficulty level?
- CAT 2025 Slot 2 had a moderate to difficult overall difficulty level.
- The exam structure remained the same as Slot 1, with 68 questions in total and no changes in the MCQ–TITA breakup.
What are good attempts for CAT 2025 Slot 2 for 85–95 percentile (section-wise)?
Based on student feedback and slot difficulty levels, here are the recommended attempts:
| Section | CAT Slot 2 85%ile | CAT Slot 2 95+%ile |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | 13–14 (~60% accuracy) | 17–18 (~70% accuracy) |
| DILR | 7 (~75–80% accuracy) | 10–11 (~80–85% accuracy) |
| QA | 7–8 (~75–80% accuracy) | 9–10 (~80–85% accuracy) |
These attempts reflect the moderate–difficult nature of Slot 2, especially in QA and DILR.
What was the CAT 2025 Slot 2 QA topic-wise breakup?
The QA section had 22 questions, including 14 MCQs and 8 TITA, and was more difficult than Slot 1.
Topics Covered:
- Arithmetic: Average, Time & Work, TSD, Ratios, Mixtures & Alligations, Profit & Loss
- Algebra: Quadratic equations, Log-based inequalities
- Modern Math: Progressions, logarithms
- Geometry: Circles–Tangents, Hexagon, Triangles
- Numbers: Basic properties and number manipulation
Was QA tougher in CAT 2025 Slot 1 or Slot 2?
- CAT QA was challenging in Slot 2, as the percentile–score table indicates a 3–5 mark lower requirement across levels.
- Slot 2’s QA had trickier Algebra and Geometry, leading to lower raw scores for 99, 95, and 90 percentiles compared to Slot 1.
Which slot had tougher DILR in CAT 2025 (Slot 1 or Slot 2)?
CAT 2025 Slot 2 had tougher DILR, reflected by consistently lower raw scores. Slot 1 required 46 marks for 99.9 percentile, while Slot 2 needed only 42. Similar gaps continue at 99, 95, and 90 percentiles, indicating more time-consuming sets in Slot 2.
How difficult was the CAT 2025 Slot 3 VARC section?
- The VARC section was of medium difficulty. RC passages ranged from easy (ill-effects of dams) to medium (AI & ethical decision-making, The Forest Act 1982) to difficult (tribal art).
- About 10–12 RC questions and 5–6 VA questions could be attempted accurately.
How many questions were in the CAT Slot 3 2025 QA section, and what topics did they cover?
QA had 22 questions (14 MCQs + 8 TITA). Topics included Arithmetic (7 questions), Algebra (4), Modern Math (4), Geometry (3), and Numbers (4). Arithmetic questions were easier, while Modern Math had the most difficult problems.
What are the estimated CAT 2025 Slot 3 percentiles and scores?
Based on student feedback:
- 99.9 percentile: VARC 53, DILR 44, QA 45, Overall 119
- 95 percentile: VARC 30, DILR 24, QA 23, Overall 66
- 85 percentile: VARC 19, DILR 15, QA 14, Overall 43
Which CAT 2025 slot was the toughest overall – Slot 1, Slot 2, or Slot 3?
- The CAT exam had three slots. Slots 1 (8:30–10:30 AM) and 3 (4:30–6:30 PM) were generally rated Moderate. Slot 1 had tougher VARC (dense RCs, Parajumbles) and tricky DILR (more TITA).
- Slot 3 was similar, with medium VARC and slightly easier QA than Slot 2.
- Slot 2 (12:30–2:30 PM) was the most difficult overall (Moderate-to-Difficult), featuring tougher, time-consuming DILR and a slightly harder QA section, especially in Algebra and Geometry.
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 that IIMs are expected to declare in January 2026. You are advised to wait for the results.
