MICAT 2025 Exam Analysis: In Detail MICAT 1 Analysis

The MICAT I 2025 for the PGDM and PGDM-C 2026-2028 batch was conducted on December 6, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 11:10 AM.  In this post, we present a comprehensive analysis of the MICAT-1 2025-26 exam, including an overview of the overall difficulty level and a breakdown of each section. The exam was divided into three major sections: the Psychometric Test, the Descriptive Section (essays), and the Aptitude Section, with a total duration of 130 minutes.

Generally, the MICAT exam is conducted twice a year for admission into the upcoming batch. MICAT-I takes place in December, while MICAT-II is held in January for the batch starting a few months later in June or July.

MICAT Exam Pattern: Test Structure and the IMS estimate of good attempts:

• Navigation between sections is not allowed
• Section III carried 1 mark per question. 0.25 for each incorrect response. TITA questions carried 1 mark per question, 0 negative marks.
• No Negative Marks for the Psychometric Test and the Descriptive Test
• The psychometric test is compulsory, and performance in the test is used as a qualifying criterion for the next stage. Candidates must attempt all the questions in the Psychometric Test to ensure that their paper is evaluated accurately. However, the marks or the assessment criteria of the test are not revealed to the candidates.

Students who have successfully completed the Psychometric Test and achieved a total score of 25 in Sections C (i) to C (iv) may anticipate receiving an invitation for the GE-PI round, provided they meet the additional criteria specified at: https://www.mica.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/PGP-Eligibility-Criteria-Selection-process-Batch-2026-2028.pdf

MICAT 1 Analysis 2025 By Section

Section  I: Psychometric Test

This section included 68 questions, a significant reduction from last year’s 150 questions. In a psychometric test, it’s important to note that there are no right or wrong answers. Each question was designed to assess a specific personality trait. Candidates were asked to choose from one of seven response options

• Strongly Disagree
• Moderately Disagree
• Disagree
• Neither agree nor disagree
• Agree
• Moderately Agree
• Strongly Agree

With 68 questions to attempt in 25 minutes, it was essential to work quickly and mark answers rapidly.

Section II: Descriptive Test 

• Tested analytical thinking, creativity, and descriptive writing ability.
• Question 1 & 2  – Topic: “Employment engagement is shifting from traditional employer-employee relationships to a ‘situationship’ model (e.g., gig workers, freelancers).”
• Students had to list three negative outcomes (Q1) and three positive outcomes (Q2).
• 10 marks each → Total 20 marks.
• Question 3:
• • • Write a 300-word answer discussing three ways this transition will affect society.
    • Points should not repeat those mentioned in Q1 & Q2.
    • 20 marks allotted.
• Question 4:
• • • A story-writing task of around 300 words based on four given pictures:
      • A herd of donkeys
      • Two parked cars on the street
      • An open-air restaurant
      • A food plate
    • Candidates could use any sequence/order of images (e.g., A-B-C-D or D-B-A-C) and mention the chosen order before writing.
    • 30 marks allotted.
• Total time for the section: 25 minutes
• No negative marking applied.

Section III: Aptitude Test 

• The aptitude test consisted of four sub-sections, comprising a total of 70 questions that needed to be completed within 80 minutes. 
• This year, the majority of the questions were multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with four answer options, except for one question, which had six options. This particular question was part of the Divergent-Convergent reasoning section. Out of the 70 questions, approximately six were Type In The Answer (TITA) questions.

(i) Sub-section: Divergent And Convergent Thinking 

The Reasoning section consisted of 20 questions, including word association, analogies, statement-assumption, data sufficiency, puzzles, numerical series, odd one out, circular arrangement, and visual reasoning questions.

In this section, achieving 90% accuracy on 10-12 questions within approximately 25 minutes would be considered a good attempt.

(ii) Sub-section: Verbal Ability

This section included jumbled paragraphs, odd sentence questions, analogies, summaries, paragraph completion (last sentence), cloze passages (fill in the blanks), sentence correction, and three Reading Comprehension passages.

In this section, achieving 8-10 questions answered in about 15-20 minutes with 90% accuracy would be considered a good attempt.

(iii) Sub-section: Quantitative Ability And Data Interpretation 

• The section comprised 20 questions, with 14 related to quantitative ability and 6 focused on data interpretation. In the Quantitative Ability portion, there were 6 questions centered on Arithmetic and 4 concerning Modern Math.
• The overall difficulty level of the section was classified as Easy to Medium, and it was found to be simpler compared to the corresponding section from the previous year.
   
• Unlike last year, when most questions had eight options, all questions this time offered four options. There were 2 Tita (Type In The Answer) questions included.

• In the Data Interpretation section, there was one calculation-intensive set featuring two questions based on a table with data from three colleges and four companies, which was relatively easy. A Screen Calculator was available for use.
• The second set included a pie chart and a bar graph, totaling 4 questions, and was straightforward. Each set contained one Tita question, resulting in a total of four Tita questions in the entire section.

The following was the breakdown of the questions in the Quantitative Ability section:

In this section, an attempt to answer about 10-11 questions in approximately 30 minutes with an accuracy of around 90% would be considered good.

(iv) Sub-section: GENERAL AWARENESS

• The General Awareness section consisted of 10 questions. Out of these, 7 were of the “match the column” type, 2 required the test-taker to identify correct statements, and 1 was a straightforward question asking for the correct option. 
• The Static General Knowledge (GK) contributed 2 questions, while the remaining 8 questions were based on current affairs. This section covered a variety of topics, including sports, brands, logos, and awards.
• In this section, attempting 5 to 6 questions in approximately 5 to 7 minutes, with an accuracy of 70 percent, would be considered a good performance.

MICAT I 2025 for the CCC (1-year) and CCC Advanced (2-year) programmes- 2026–2028 batch

This program was conducted for the first time this year, as these are newly introduced courses at MICA. The test took place on December 6, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 10:25 AM.

Test Structure and the IMS estimate of good attempts:

• Students who successfully pass the Psychometric Test and the Creative Aptitude and Potential (CAP) Test may be shortlisted for the CCC–Electronic Subjective Test (CEST). This test assesses creative thinking, articulation, and problem-solving skills. 

• Candidates who are shortlisted based on the CEST results will be invited for a Personal Interview (PI). 
• For detailed criteria for invitations, please refer to the provided resource. https://www.mica.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CCC-Advanced-TwoYear-Eligibility-Criteria-Selection-process.pdf

Analysis By Section- Section I: Psychometric Test 

Section II: Creative Aptitude And Potential (CAP) Test 

 Read More: MICAT Syllabus
MICAT 2024 Analysis

FAQs: MICAT I Analysis 2025

What is MICAT I 2025 and why is it important for PGDM-C/PGDM aspirants?

MICAT I 2025 is the first phase of MICA’s entrance exam conducted online for admission into PGDM and PGDM-C programmes for the 2026–2028 batch. It is crucial as it evaluates creative ability, psychometrics, divergent thinking, and aptitude — skills needed for strategic communication and marketing careers.

When was MICAT I 2025 conducted and what was the exam duration?

MICAT I 2025 was held on December 06, 2025 (9 AM – 11:10 AM). The test was 130 minutes long (for PGDM/PGDM-C format) and 85 minutes long for CCC & CCC Advanced creative tracks.

What was the exam pattern and section-wise breakup for MICAT I 2025?

The exam consisted of three parts:

• Psychometric Test (68 questions | 25 min | compulsory | no negative marking)
• Descriptive Test (4 questions | 25 min | no negative marking)
• Aptitude Test: DCT + VA + QA-DI + GA (70 questions | 80 min | 1 mark MCQs + 0.25 negative; TITA no minus)
  Good attempts as per IMS analysis:
• DCT: 10–12 | VA: 8–10 | QA-DI: 5–6 | GA: 5–6

Is the Psychometric Test in MICAT I 2025 qualifying in nature?

Yes. The Psychometric Test is mandatory and acts as a qualifying filter for evaluation. Candidates must attempt all 68 questions to be considered. Scores are not disclosed publicly.

What was new or different in MICAT I 2025 compared to previous years?

The number of Psychometric questions reduced from 150 to 68, and the Descriptive section emphasized employment–situationship trends. Visual reasoning dominated DCT, and QA was easier than last year with fewer options (4 instead of 8).

How difficult was the MICAT I 2025 exam overall?

The difficulty level ranged from easy to moderate. Creative and psychometric parts required clarity of thought, whereas DCT demanded analytical reasoning. Aptitude sections required speed and accuracy, especially reasoning and RC-heavy verbal.

What is considered a good score/attempt to get a GE-PI shortlist?

According to IMS insights, candidates who clear the Psychometric Test and score 25+ marks overall in Aptitude (sections C1–C4) have a good chance of receiving a GE-PI call, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria.

What is the marking scheme for MICAT I 2025?

• Psychometric & Descriptive: No negative marking
• Aptitude MCQs: +1 mark for correct, –0.25 for incorrect
• TITA: +1 mark, zero negative
  In the CCC Creative Aptitude format: +4 marks per correct with no negative marking

What types of questions were asked in the MICAT descriptive section?

Candidates wrote on employment models shifting to gig/situationship, analysed outcomes, and wrote a 300-word essay on societal impact. A visual creative story task (image-based) was included.

How to prepare for MICAT II 2026 using MICAT I 2025 analysis?
Focus on:

• Time-bound psychometric consistency practice
• Creative writing, RCs, and story-based articulation
• Reasoning-heavy DCT practice (mirror images, puzzles, analogies)
• QA basics + arithmetic + DI pie-table interpretations
• Daily branding + current GK revision