Common Admission Test 2025 ( CAT )
According to CAT 2021 exam analysis by T.I.M.E. the exam was of moderate difficulty level. Check out more details on CAT exam analysis and question paper review.
Overall, the CAT 2021 question paper was of moderate difficulty level
CAT 2021 exam held today was on the same lines as last year with the only difference being reduction in the total number of questions. This year, there were only 66 questions in total to solve in 120 minutes. Here's an in-depth CAT 2021 analysis by T.I.M.E.
The overall question paper was moderately difficult. According to CAT 2021 analysis by T.I.M.E., the Reading Comprehension passages were not easy to crack. Out of the four passages only one was easy thus candidates faced a tough time viz. choosing which passages to attempt. In the DILR section, there were four sections and again it was difficult to choose as only one set was easy. In fact, the set on bar-graphs was the easiest across the CAT DILR over the past few years. The Quantitative Aptitude section on the other hand was a complete surprise with easy and straightforward questions.
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Given below is the section-wise difficulty level of CAT 2021 exam:
| CAT 2021 Sections |
Questions |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
24 |
Moderate To Tough |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning & (DILR) |
20 |
Moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) |
22 |
Easy |
| Total/Overall |
66 |
Moderate |
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VARC section of CAT 2021 was dominated by RC, as usual. According to CAT 2021 analysis by T.I.M.E. , all the four passages challenged the students as only one of them was easy. The readability of the passages was not easy either. All of the passages were inference-based. Many of the questions required candidates to choose the options "except". The options were close and many of them were difficult to relate directly to the question.
The VA part of this section was easier but had only eight questions. There were three Parajumble questions which were moderately difficult, two Odd One Out questions which were difficult and three parasummary questions were moderately difficult.
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Difficulty levels of RC passages in slot 1 of CAT 2021:
| Passage |
Number of Questions |
Readability |
Overall Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayan Civilisation |
4 |
Difficult |
Difficult |
| Utopia and Dystopia |
4 |
Difficult |
Very Difficult |
| Marshmallow experiment |
4 |
Moderate |
Difficult |
| Evolution of Tea as a drink |
4 |
Moderate |
Moderate |
A score of 21-23 can fetch 85 percentile (sectional cut-off) in this section of CAT 2021.
Difficulty levels of RC passages in slot 2 of CAT 2021:
| Passage |
Number of Questions |
Readability |
Overall Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language/ Indigenous people |
4 |
Difficult |
Difficult |
| Why Fiction Trumps Truth |
4 |
Moderate |
Moderate |
| Colonialism/Nationalism |
4 |
Difficult |
Difficult |
| Knowledge and problems of knowledge is a scandal to philosophy |
4 |
Very Difficult |
Very Difficult |
A score of 20-22 can fetch 85 percentile (sectional cut-off) in this section of CAT 2021.
Difficulty levels of RC passages in slot 3 of CAT 2021:
| Passage |
Number of Questions |
Readability |
Overall Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nanotechnology |
4 |
Moderate |
Moderate |
| Language Instinct |
4 |
Moderate |
Moderate |
| Time Accuracy Entropy |
4 |
Moderate |
Difficult |
| Unconscious and Psychoanalysis |
4 |
Difficult |
Very Difficult |
A score of 23-25 can fetch 85 percentile (sectional cut-off) in this section of CAT 2021.
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According to CAT 2021 analysis by T.I.M.E., the DILR section was as difficult as that of last year. There were only 20 questions divided into four Sets. Two Sets had six questions each and the other two has four questions each. The reduction Sets from five last year to four this year may have posed a challenge in choice of sets available to the students. Moreover, only one set was easy.
Difficulty levels of DILR Sets slot 1 of CAT 2021:
| DILR |
Set Type |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar graph on sales |
DI |
4 |
Moderate |
| Friends & Acquaintances |
LR |
6 |
Difficult |
| Smoothies |
DI |
4 |
Difficult |
| Journals |
LR |
6 |
Very Difficult |
If a student can score 16-18 in this section, they would be able to get 85 percentile (sectional cut-off).
Difficulty levels of DILR Sets in slot 2 of CAT 2021:
| DILR |
Set Type |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar graph on Delivery times |
DI |
4 |
Easy-Moderate |
| Games & Tournaments/Distribution |
LR |
4 |
Moderate-Difficult |
| Pizza delivery ratings |
LR |
6 |
Difficult |
| Objects, Bundles & Values |
DI |
6 |
Very Difficult |
A net score of 17-19 would fetch 85 percentile (sectional cut-off).
Difficulty levels of DILR Sets in slot 3 of CAT 2021:
| DILR |
Set Type |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar graph on Employee Schedules |
DI |
4 |
Easy-Moderate |
| Purity of Solutions |
LR |
4 |
Moderate |
| Javelin Throw |
LR |
6 |
Very Difficult |
| Question Evaluation |
DI |
6 |
Moderate-Difficult |
A score of 17-19 can fetch 85 percentile (sectional cut-off) in this section of CAT 2021.
In the CAT 2021 exam, the Quantitative Aptitude section surprised students with a lesser number of questions than VARC section. In the last few years, the number of QA section has been same as VARC.
Out of 22 questions, 11 were from Arithmetic, According to CAT 2021 analysis by T.I.M.E., many questions seemed doable but demanded conceptual clarity for solving them. The questions were cleverly framed to test candidate’s conceptual clarity and approach. A few questions also allowed substitution from the options to help students save time.
Difficulty levels of Quantitative Aptitude questions in slot 1 of CAT 2021:
| Topic |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| ERPV |
3 |
Moderate |
| Percentages, Profit & Loss |
2 |
Moderate |
| SI-CI |
1 |
Easy |
| Time & Distance |
1 |
Easy |
| Time & Work |
2 |
Moderate |
| Numbers |
1 |
Moderate |
| Geometry |
3 |
Easy - Moderate |
| Progressions |
2 |
Difficult |
| Logarithms and Indices |
1 |
Moderate |
| Functions & Graphs |
1 |
Moderate |
| Quadratic Equations |
2 |
Moderate - Difficult |
| Inequalities & Modulus |
1 |
Moderate |
| AMA |
2 |
Moderate |
A score of about 21-23 would fetch the test taker 85 percentile (sectional cut-off) in this section.
Difficulty levels of Quantitative Aptitude questions in slot 2 of CAT 2021:
| Topic |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Time & Work |
2 |
Easy-Moderate |
| Time & Distance |
1 |
Moderate |
| Logarithms |
1 |
Easy |
| Progressions |
2 |
Moderate-Difficult |
| Mensuration |
3 |
Moderate |
| Quadratic Equations |
1 |
Moderate |
| Functions & Graphs |
1 |
Moderate |
| Inequalities & Modulus |
1 |
Moderate |
| Percentages, Profit & Loss |
3 |
Moderate |
| Indices |
1 |
Difficult |
| Miscellaneous |
1 |
Difficult |
| AMA |
3 |
Easy-Moderate |
| P&C |
1 |
Difficult |
| Special Equations |
1 |
Difficult |
A score of 22-24 can fetch 85 percentile (sectional cut-off) in this section of CAT exam.
Difficulty levels of Quantitative Aptitude questions in slot 3 of CAT 2021:
| Topic |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| AMA |
1 |
Moderate |
| Averages |
1 |
Moderate |
| ERPV |
4 |
Moderate - Difficult |
| Function |
1 |
Moderate |
| Geometry & Mensuration |
4 |
Moderate-Difficult |
| Indices & Logs |
2 |
Difficult |
| Inequalities |
1 |
Difficult |
| Special Equations |
1 |
Difficult |
| Percentages |
2 |
Moderate |
| sequence |
1 |
Difficult |
| SI CI |
1 |
Difficult |
| Time & Work |
2 |
Moderate |
| Time & Distance |
1 |
Moderate |
A core of 19-21 can fetch 85 percentile (sectional cut-off) in this section of CAT 2021.
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Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 days ago
GIBS accepts scores from all major management entrance exams, including:
CAT
XAT
MAT
CMAT
GMAT
ATMA
State CET
This gives students multiple options to apply. Along with entrance exam scores, GIBS also looks at the overall profile, communication skills, and interest in management, which makes the admission pr
A
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 2 days ago
At GIBS Bangalore, the admission process for CAT and MAT candidates is kept simple and transparent.
GIBS follows a general merit-based admission approach. This means selections are mainly based on:
Entrance exam scores (CAT/MAT)
Academic background
Personal interaction and overall profile
There is no rig
A
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 3 days ago
No, CAT scores are not compulosry for admissions to MBA course at Techno India University. Because the university considers scores from other entrance exams too, likewise, CAT/ MAT/ XAT/ CMAT/ GMAT/ JEMAT/ TNJEE scores. Thus, you can get enrolement with CAT scores. However, it is not compulsory.
C
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
In CAT 2025, 26 candidates scored 99.99 percentile. 14 are from engineering background and 12 are from non engineering background. And among them 4 are female candidates.
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 4 days ago
In CAT 2025, the number of 100 percentilers was 12. Maximum toppers were from Delhi (3). IIM Kozhikode had released the state wise toppers data along with CAT 2025 result on December 24, 2025.
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 4 days ago
A total of 2.58 Lacs candidates appeared for CAT 2025. Check below gender wise break up.
Category | Number of registrations | Number of test takers |
|---|---|---|
Female | 1.10 lakh | 0.97 lakh |
Male | 1.85 lakh | 1.61 lakh |
Transgender | 9 | 9 |
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
In CAT 2025, two female candidates have scored 100 percentile in CAT 2025. Number of 99.99 percentile scorer females in 4 and the number of 99.98 percentile scorer females in 5.
E
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 4 days ago
Yes, there is a 10% scholarship for those who have scored 80 percentile and above in the CAT exam. Scholarship based on CAT is offered based on document verification once you join the program. There are limited scholarship seats which are offered on first-cum-first-serve basis. This scholarship is v
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
In 2024, the CAT cutoff percentile for the Shiv Nadar University Chennai was 60 for the students belonging to the General AI quota. The is the overall sectional cutoff. More details are below:
| Section | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Overall | 60 |
| Quants | 40 |
| VA-RC | 40 |
| DI-LR | 40 |
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
| Exam | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| CAT (percentile) | 88 | 88 |
| XAT (percentile) | 85 | 85 |
With these cut off details, students can decide the kind of preparation they will have to do.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Vipra Shrivastava is MA in English Literature from Delhi University with extensive experience in content writing of over 14 years. She has been handling content for Management, Accounting and Commerce streams for 8
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