CAT 2025 Exam Analysis by TIME Slot 1, 2 and 3 (DILR, VARC & QA)
Common Admission Test 2026 ( CAT )
CAT 2026 admit card download
4 Nov '26 - 29 Nov '26
CAT 2025 exam analysis is out for first slot. Overall, the question paper was moderate. Read below CAT 2025 analysis by T.I.M.E. for Slot 1, Slot 2 and Slot 3.
CAT 2025 difficulty level
CAT 2025 Exam Analysis by T.I.M.E. – Today is the day of Common Admission Test or CAT. The exam is being conducted at across India for admission to IIMs and other top MBA colleges India. Shiksha will be sharing below CAT analysis for Slot 1, Slot 2 and Slot 3. The CAT 2025 question paper review for Slot 1 is out. According to T.I.M.E, the exam was moderately difficult. Check below section wise analysis and expected CAT exam cut off
- CAT 2025 slot 1 answer key PDF question paper analysis
- CAT 2025 slot 2 answer key PDF question paper analysis
- CAT 2025 slot 3 answer key PDF question paper analysis
- CAT 2025 analysis and expected cut offs by CATKing
- CAT 2025 response sheet and answer key PDF download
- CAT 2025 question paper PDF download slot 1, 2 and 3
- CAT 2025 Exam Analysis: Sectional Break Up
- CAT 2025 analysis: VARC
- CAT 2025 analysis: DILR
- CAT 2025 analysis: Quantitative Aptitude
CAT 2025 Exam Analysis: Sectional Break Up
Check below the sectional break up of CAT question paper.
| Section |
Number of Questions |
Sectional Time |
|---|---|---|
| VARC |
24 |
40 Minutes |
| DILR |
22 |
40 Minutes |
| QA |
22 |
40 Minutes |
| Total |
68 |
120 Minutes |
Commonly asked questions
CAT has 68 questions. Each question carries three marks. There is negative marking of minus one for incorrect attempts. There is no deduction of marks for unanswered questions. Total marks in 204.
In CAT exam, each candidate gets 120 minutes to solve the paper. There are three sections, all three sections have a fixed sectional time limit of 40 minutes.
Difficulty level in CAT exam is not specific to any of the three slots. The difficulty level across slots may vary every year. Know how the CAT scores are normalised: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/understanding-cat-normalization-process-blogId-9386.
CAT question papers are released within a week of the exam in the form of a PDF as a response sheet and answer key. Response sheet hosts CAT exam questions and answers.
CAT 2025 analysis: VARC
VARC section of CAT exam had maximum questions from RC. The Verbal Ability questions were moderate. There were 2 parasummary questions, 2 parjumbles, 2 odd sentence, 2 paracompletion.
| Sr No. |
RC Passages |
Number of questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Income Inequality & Economic Growth |
4 |
| 2 |
Electronic Music |
4 |
| 3 |
Law & Mental Health |
4 |
| 4 |
Noise & Social Order |
4 |
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CAT 2025 analysis: DILR
DILR questions of CAT 2025 were as usual in sets. The Spider + bar set was easy, but others were slightly tricky and 2 sets were tough.
| Set |
Area |
Topic |
Number of questions. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
DI |
Spider + Bar |
4 |
| 2 |
LR |
Seating Arrangement |
4 |
| 3 |
LR |
Quant-Based Reasoning (Train tickets) |
5 |
| 4 |
LR |
Quant-Based Reasoning (Feet tapping) |
4 |
| 5 |
LR |
Distribution Puzzle plus rank arrangement (Employee rating) |
5 |
Commonly asked questions
In CAT 2025, the following changes were seen:
- The fee amount increased from INR 2,500 to INR 2,600 for General category candidates and from INR 1,250 to INR 1300 for Reserved category candidates.
- In DILR section, number of questions increased from 20 to 22.
- Total marks of CAT DILR section increased from 60 to 66.
- Total marks of CAT exam increased from 198 to 204.
- Candidates can select five cities instead of six.
Candidates should practice CAT mock test during the day. Once, CAT admit card is released, they should practice CAT mocks at the same time as their exam slot. This will help them align their mind and body to 2 hours of rigorous test so that they can utilize their time in the CAT exam well. For example, CAT exam starts are early as 8:30 am. So, those who are not used to studying early morning will face difficulty in performing optimally if they get morning slot.
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CAT 2025 analysis: Quantitative Aptitude
Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT 2025 was dominated by Algebra and Arithmetic, as usual.
| Topics |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Number System |
3 |
Easy to Moderate |
| Algebra |
6 |
Moderate |
| Arithmetic |
8 |
Moderate |
| Modern Math |
1 |
Easy |
| Geometry & Mensuration |
4 |
Moderate |
Read More:
- CAT score vs percentile
- CAT normalisation process
- MBA colleges accepting CAT score range of 50-60 percentile
- MBA colleges accepting CAT score range of 60-70 percentile
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 days ago
Yes, for some of them. Bahra lists scholarships based on JEE Main marks and CLAT rank, along with BUSET, CAT, MAT, and CUET percentile scores. I am not sure about NEET, so confirm that with the admissions office.
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 days ago
In case of mistakes in the fields mentioned on the CAT admit card, candidates must contact the official CAT helpdesk via email or phone to get it rectified before the exam date.
R
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 days ago
Candidates need to log in using their CAT User ID and Password to download CAT admit card. These login credentials are generated at the time of registration.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 days ago
No, the Common Admission Test (CAT) admit card cannot be obtained offline. Candidates have to download CAT 2026 admit card from the official website.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 days ago
Yes. Candidates must preserve their admit card safely. It is a mandatory document required for identity verification during the Writing Ability Test (WAT), Personal Interview (PI) rounds, and final admission stages at the institutes.
J
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 days ago
No. The examination authorities do not accept any requests to change the allotted exam venue, test city, or timing slot. The details printed on your CAT admit card are final.
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, you can download the PDF on your smartphone. However, it is better to use a laptop or desktop computer to prevent any layout errors and to ensure you can print a clean copy easily.
V
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 days ago
Candidates can log back into the official CAT portal using your registered User ID and password to download the PDF again. The download link remains active until the exam day. Candidates are allowed to download a fresh copy whenever needed
L
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 days ago
No. The CAT 2026 admit card release date remains the same irrespective of the slot. It is not split or delayed based on assigned slot or exam city.
R
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, one can join an IIM without taking the CAT exam, but this alternative route depends entirely on the type of programme. CAT exam remains mandatory for the flagship two-year full-time MBA (PGP/PGDM) programs. However, some courses may not need a valid CAT score for IIM admission.
N
Contributor-Level 7
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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