CAT 2025 (Slot 1, 2 & 3) Live: Question Paper Analysis (OUT), Answer Key PDF, Score vs Percentile, Cutoff

CAT 2025 response sheet will be available for download at iimcat.ac.in website through login. Test takers will have to login with user ID and password to download it.

CAT 2025 answer key is expected to be released by December 3, 2025. The exact date has not been communicated as of now.

Check the table below for to know how much percentile will 50-55 marks fetch.

Check the table below for to know how much percentile will 70 marks fetch.

Check the table below to know how much marks is required in CAT 2025 to get 99 percentile.

Check the table below to know how much marks is required in CAT 2025 to get 99.9 percentile.

There are over 1600 MBA colleges in India that accept CAT score for admission. These include Tier 1,Tier 2 and Tier 3 colleges.

CAT 2025 slot 3 was also on the same lines as Slot 1 and Slot 2. Overall, difficulty level was moderate.

IIM Kozhikode is expected to release CAT 2025 response sheet and provisional answer key by December 3, 2025. Exact date has not been announced yet.

CAT 2025 Slot 3 will get over at 6:30 pm. It is the third and last slot of the Common Admission Test for this year. CAT 2025 Slot 3 analysis will be shared soon.

Q: If N = 2³ x 3⁷ x 5⁷ x 7⁹ x 10!, then how many factors of N are there which perfect squares as well as multiples of 420?

Q: Adam's savings are equal to Ben's expenditure, which in turn is equal to Mary's savings. If Mary's savings are 50,000 and the incomes of Adam, Ben, and Mary are in the ratio 3:1:4, Mary's expenditure is less than thrice of Adam's expenditure and twice of Adam's expenditure is less than two times Ben's income, then which of the following could be true about Ben's income?

Check the table below for IIM CAT cut offs for 2026 admission.

According to experts, about 81 marks in CAT 2025 slot 1 will convert into 98 percentile. 

CAT 2025 slot 3 has started. The test paper for this slot is expected to be on the same lines as slot 1. Slot 2 was tougher than slot 1.

The third and final slot of CAT 2025 will start at 4:30 pm. This last slot will complete about 2.95 lakh candidates' month long preparation for MBA admission.

CAT 2025 Slot 2 Analysis for VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude.

Entry for CAT 2025 slot 3 has started. Check timings.

• Spider/Radar Chart + Bar Graph : Doable
• Circular arrangement with movement : moderate, required careful tracking
• Traditional table-based analytical puzzle : moderate
• Routes and Network puzzle : classic CAT-style set

CAT 2025 slot 2 is also over. As per initial reports, the second session was also easier than last year. We will share slot 2 question paper analysis soon.

CAT 2024 Slot 1 VARC: 4 Passages

• • Music-based (More direct questions)
  • Criminal/Alien-themed passage (doable)
  • Income inequality & economic growth (moderate, inference-heavy)
  • Nature of Physics (left by many due to length)

Q: The no. of non-negative integer values of k for which the quadratic equation x² - 5x + K = 0 has only integer roots is? 

Q: 200l volume, with 30% Acid and 70% water. if 20% is replaced with water and 10% replaced with acid. What will be the percentage approximate of acid.

Q: Find values in two equations

• 2a - 5b + 11c = 0, 11a + 10b - 2c = 5

Q: Stocks A, B and C, at 120, 90 and 80 rs respectively. A trader holds a portfolio consisting 60 shares of A, 20 of B and C together. If total value is 3300 what is the number of shares he holds.

Going by the difficulty level of CAT 2025 slot 1, it is estimated that nearly 102 marks will be required to get above 99 percentile.

Check below number of doable questions in CAT 2025 slot 1:

CAT 2025 slot 2 has started. Usually it has been seen that the second slot of CAT is tougher than first and third slot. However, candidates should go with open mind, as IIM Kozhikode in known to set easier tests.

CAT 2025 slot 1 candidate Abhishek said his exam went pretty good. "The exam was not that difficult, we just needed preparation. It was my first attempt and I was pretty easy based on my preparation. Even the quants section was easy compared to previous years. I saw similarity in DILR questions from previous years. The strategy I applied was basic common knowledge," he said.

CAT 2025 slot 2 will start at 12:30 pm. Entry has been closed for everyone at the test centres.

The candidates Shiksha spoke to said that the CAT 2025 slot 1 was easy to moderate. So, if compared to last year, the cut offs can rise, as the CAT 2024 was tougher.

CAT 2025 Slot 2 timing is given below. Candidates must reach the test centre on time.

There was no change in the CAT exam pattern or test structure. All three sections had number of questions similar to last year.

CAT 2025 slot 2 will start at 12:30 pm. Entry of candidates has started for the same at the test centres. Candidates of Slot 2 can expect an easy paper. 

Moderate

VARC was easy. passages were decodable

It had questions from:

• Para summary
• 2 odd one out questions 
• 2 para jumble
• 4 RC, 4 questions each
• Code for a paragraph

DILR had questions from:

• Spider chart, bar graph, analyse data

Quants was lengthy, tricky

According to the candidates Shiksha spoke to, the CAT 2025 slot 1 was moderate to tough. There was no change in pattern from last year.

CAT 2025 slot 2 will start at 12:30 pm. Candidates of slot 2 are required to be present at the test centre by 11 am.

CAT 2025 slot 1 will end at 10:30 am. This year, 2.95 lakh candidates are appearing for the exam in three shifts.

CAT DILR difficulty level is usually easy to moderate. Questions are mostly in sets. Only one or two questions are standalone.

CAT 2025 VARC difficulty level is moderate to high, every year. RC passages are long and inference based. The questions are also confusing.

The CAT 2025 question paper will be divided into three sections:

• VARC will have 24 questions
• DILR will have 22 questions
• QA will have 22 questions

CAT exam 2025 slot 1 has started. The exam is being held in over 350 test centres in 170 cities in India.

CAT 2025 slot 1 will start at 8:30 am. Entry gates will be closed soon. Last entry is allowed till 8:15 am.

CAT 2025 test forms are prepared by IIM Kozhikode so the difficulty level is expected to be moderate to high.

CAT 2025 slot 1 entry has started. The exam will start at 8:30 am and conclude at 10:30 am.

CAT 2025 slot 1 to start at 8:30 am. Candidates who have been allotted first slot have to reach their test centres by 7:00 am.

CAT 2025 exam will be conducted today nation wide. 2.95 lakh candidates will be appearing for the test in three shifts.

CAT 2025 result can be expected to be announced by the third week of December 2025.

CAT 2025 answer key release date has not been announced by IIM Kozhikode, but the response sheets are expected to be released by December 3, 2025.

Application process of many CAT accepting colleges such as IIFT, IMT, MDI, SPJIMR, FMS, GLIM and others is underway.

Total marks of CAT is 204. Check below section wise marks.

• VARC is of 72 marks
• DILR is of 66 marks
• Quants is of 66 marks

• VARC: Reading comprehension, para completion, para jumble
• DILR: Tables and bar graphs, syllogism, coding-decoding, number system
• Quants: Arithmetic, algebra and geometry

There will be an onscreen calculator on every candidate’s computer terminal. They will also be given sheets for rough work.

To mark the answers in CAT 2025 test form, candidates will get three options:

• • Save and Next
  • Clear Response
  • Mark for Review and Next

1. Once the answer option has been submitted (save and next)it cannot be changed.
2. There an option 'mark for review and next' for questions you’re not sure of.
3. If the answer option is not saved, it will be reported as unanswered and 0 mark will be awarded.

CAT has sectional time limit of 40 minutes for every section so it is critical to solve every section within the time limit. Do not spend too much time on a question. If you don’t get the answer in two attempts move on to next one. You can come back to that question later.

• Focus on questions from your strength areas.
• Use mental calculation to save time
• Don’t do guess work. There is negative marking
• Keep calm. If there is a surprise question, it is a surprise for all candidates.
• If you have practiced enough mock tests, you will comfortably complete the test.
• Trust your abilities.

There are a total of 22 IIMs now. IIM Mumbai was added to the list of 20 campuses three years ago and from the year 2026,IIM Guwahati will be operational.

CAT is a national level entrance exam and the scores are accepted by over 1600 MBA colleges in India, as listed on Shiksha. These include government, private as well as government aided colleges.

Based on last year’s question paper, here is an estimation of what type of questions will be asked in CAT 2025.

It is not mandatory to attempt all questions in CAT but candidates should aim to attempt about 2/3^rd of the total questions. Here is an estimation of number of good attempts:

Every question carries 3 marks. CAT 2025 has negative marking so candidates must be very careful in selecting the answer option. For every incorrect attempt 1 mark is deducted. However, there is no negative marking for TITA questions

CAT 2025 is a 2 hour test in which candidates will be required to solve 68 questions. The questions will be MCQ and TITA type. For MCQs, 4 options will be given to choose the right answer from.

If you still haven’t practiced the official CAT mock test 2025, do it now, but with an open mind. Only to check the test flow and process of online examination.

With just a few hours to go for CAT 2025, candidates must not stress themselves over preparation. They should just revise the important concepts and formulae once with the help of their own notes.

Candidates must not carry the following items to exam centre:

• Phone
• Calculator
• Watch
• Ipad
• Bluetooth device
• Earphone
• Notebooks
• Bag
• Valuables
• Snacks and food items

CAT 2025 exam day identification will consist of document verification, frisking and biometric registration. Candidates must cooperate with test centre staff during these activities.

Candidates cannot request for change of test centre. They will have to appear for CAT 2025 at the test centre mentioned in their admit card.

Candidates will have to carry any one of the following photo IDs to the CAT examination centre tomorrow:

• Aadhaar card
• Voter ID card
• Passport
• PAN card
• Driving License

There is no specific dress code for CAT, but candidate should avoid the following:

• Jackets and coats
• Hoodies
• Outfits with large pockets
• Boots and closed shoes
• Caps, hats and headgears (religious headgears are allowed with due permission)
• Outfits and accessories having metal

Candidates will be required to carry the following:

• Blue/black ball point pen
• 2 copies of admit card
• Photo ID card
• Relevant documents (PwD)

Candidates have to carry two copies of the CAT admit card 2025. They must affix a recent passport size photo on both on the space indicated.

CAT 2025 download link is active till tomorrow. Those who have still not downloaded their hall ticket must do so now. Do not leave it for tomorrow.

CAT 2025 question paper will be divided into 3 sections:

• VARC: 24 questions
• DILR: 22 questions
• QA: 22 questions

CAT 2025 slot 1 will start at 4:30 pm and end at 6:30 pm. Reporting time is 3:00 pm. Last entry will be allowed till 4:15 pm.

CAT 2025 slot 1 will start at 12:30 pm and end at 2:30 pm. Reporting time is 11:00 am. Last entry will be allowed till 2:15 pm.

CAT 2025 slot 1 will start at 8:30 am and end at 10:30 am. Reporting time is 7:00 am. Last entry will be allowed till 8:15 am.

On the CAT exam day, candidates are required to carry 2 copies of the CAT 2025 admit card and a photo ID such as,

• Aadhaar card
• Passport
• PAN card
• Voter ID card
• Driving License

PwD candidates need to carry scribe certificate to avail scribe certificate. Test takers with medical condition need to carry relevant documents attested by competent authority.

Those whose name do not match the CAT admit card and ID, need to carry name change certificate or appropriate affidavit.

Test takers must do the last minute revision at night and not in the morning, as tomorrow is the day to be fresh and calm. Those who will be appearing for CAT 2025 in morning slot, must sleep well.