CAT 2025 Exam Analysis by TIME Slot 1, 2 and 3 (DILR, VARC & QA)
Common Admission Test 2025 ( CAT )
Result - 19 Dec '25
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 2025 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 cut off 2025.
Latest:CAT 2025 answer key soon @iimcat.ac.in - live updates
- 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 2025 question paper.
| Section |
Number of Questions |
Sectional Time |
|---|---|---|
| VARC |
24 |
40 Minutes |
| DILR |
22 |
40 Minutes |
| QA |
22 |
40 Minutes |
| Total |
68 |
120 Minutes |
CAT 2025 analysis: VARC
VARC section of CAT 2025 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 |
Also read:
- CAT 2025 cut offs: college-wise
- CAT 2025 answer key and response sheet
- CAT 2025 result: when and where?
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 |
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 2025
- CAT normalisation process 2025
- MBA colleges accepting CAT score range of 50-60 percentile
- MBA colleges accepting CAT score range of 60-70 percentile
- MBA colleges accepting CAT score range of 70-80 percentile
- MBA colleges accepting CAT score range of 80-90 percentile
- MBA colleges accepting CAT score range above 85 percentile
Explore colleges based on CAT
Want better recommendations?
There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
- Chat with our counselor
- Get your personalised list of colleges & exams matching your preferences
Explore more MBA exams with upcoming dates
XAT
SNAP
3 Dec '25 - 6 Dec '25
13 Oct '25 - 7 Dec '25
23 Oct '25 - 7 Dec '25
30 Sep '25 - 10 Dec '25
1 Aug '25 - 16 Dec '25
1 Jul '25 - 19 Dec '25
21 Dec '25
31 Dec '25
There is no difference between slot 1, 2 and 3 of CAT exam paper in terms of structure and patten. The sectional break up, marking scheme and time limit are the same in all slots. However, due to unique sets of questions in each slot leads to difference in difficulty levels. There is usually a slight difference in the CAT question papers of different slots. Sometimes, topic wise weightage of the questions also vary. To negate advantage or disadantage to candidates due to difference in difficulty level of slots, CAT scores are normalised for result preparation.
In CAT exam, each candidate gets 120 minutes to solve the paper. There are three sections in CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. For each section 40 minutes are allotted as sectional time limit. For PwD candidates, the sectional time limit is 53.20 minutes per section. Candidates have to complete each section within the given time limit. Since the CAT is an online mode exam, the test screen will move from first section to the next section automatically as soon as the time limit gets over. Thus candidates have to be mindful of the on-screen timer and pre-decide the number of questions to solve in each section. The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section of CAT has 24 questions, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section has 22 questions and Quantitative Aptitude section has 22 questions. It is not mandatory to solve all the questions in CAT so candidates can devise a strategy to use 40 minutes per section as per their strength and weakness.
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.
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
20 Dec '25 | XAT 2026 admit card download s... |
4 Jan '26 | XAT 2026 Exam |
6 Dec '25 | SNAP 2025 session 1 |
28 Nov '25 - 6 Dec '25 | SNAP 2025 admit card session 1... |
28 Oct '25 - 16 Dec '25 | NMAT 2025 Admit Card Issuance |
1 Aug '25 - 16 Dec '25 | NMAT 2025 Rescheduling Window |
17 Oct '24 - 5 Dec '24 | IIFT 2025 registration and app... |
23 Oct '25 - 7 Dec '25 | MAT PBT Registration 2025 (Dec... |
23 Oct '25 - 15 Dec '25 | MAT CBT Registration 2025 (Dec... |
1 Jul '25 - 19 Dec '25 | IBSAT 2025 Registration |
5 Nov '25 - 27 Dec '25 | IBSAT Slot Booking 2025 |
25 Jan '26 | CMAT 2026 exam |
26 Nov '25 - 28 Nov '25 | CMAT 2026 form correction |
16 Apr '26 - 18 Apr '26 | MAH MBA CET 2026 exam |
9 May '26 | MAH MBA CET 2026 exam 2 |
Jan '26 | Publication of TANCET notifica... |
Jan '26 | TANCET registration window |
Mar '25 | IRMASAT 2025 Final Result Anno... |
Feb '25 | IRMASAT Personal Interviews |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
GIBS does not have an additional reservation policy for students applying through CAT or MAT. Admission is based entirely upon merit, and students can apply using their scores from the national level entrance exams: CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, ATMA, GMAT and GIBS 's own entrance exam. Each student will be
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
GIBS has a placement cell that strongly supports student placement and career direction by working with all types of recruiters. The placement cell offers training for students in communication, aptitude, and interviewing to prepare them for recruitment programs. To help students discover their stre
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
Vishwakarma University will have different cutoffs for its programs and exams in 2024, depending on which programme or exam. The cutoff percentile for General category students needing an MBA admission via CAT exams was approximately 50. Cutoffs for other types of programs, such as BArch that use NA
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
Candidates looking to apply to the School of Hospitality and Tourism (SHT) at Dnyaan Prasad Global University's MBA programme are welcome to submit scores from national-level examinations that are approved by the university. There are many types of national-level examinations from the list below tha
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
The Institute of Management, in comparison to other institutions such as IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta, looks at the overall percentile rather than implementing sectional cutoffs. As such, GIBS has a more flexible admission process and does not exclude potential applicants who may have performed po
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
Manipal University CAT Cutoff 2024 was released for admissions to its MBA/PGDM programme. For the General AI category, the CAT Cutoff 2024 was 25 overall as well as sectional. Students who want to know more about the CAT Cutoff 2024 for admissions at Manipal Univeristy Jaipur, can click here.
N
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 3 days ago
Nirma University CAT Cutoff 2024 for students belonging to the General AI category was 60 percentile overall and 40 percentile for Quants, VA-RC, and DI-LR sections. Nirma University CAT Cutoff 2025 will be available when the CAT exam results 2025 get declared. Students can refer to the table belo
N
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 4 days ago
Christ University CAT Cutoff 2025 has not been released yet. The results are expected to be out in December. However, going as per the last yeat CAT Cutoff 2024 for the General AI category, the cutoff was 60 for admissions to MBA course. It can be said that the cutoff for this year could fall somewh
N
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, you can wear jeans in CAT exam. Outfits with big pockets are not allowed. Candidates can also not wear jackets, coat, hoodies, caps, hats, headgears. It is recommended to wear simple outfit.
J
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 6 days ago
In general, as per available education sources, the CAT cutoff for FLAME University lies around 70–75 percentiles for the 2025 admissions. Though this score helps the candidates qualify for the shortlisting stage, FLAME follows a holistic selection process; hence, the final admission also depends on
M
Contributor-Level 7
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.