CAT 2025 Exam Analysis: Difficulty Level & Good Attempts

CAT 2025 Analysis: Overview

Let’s first know about the important details about the CAT exam:

Particulars	Details
Exam Name	Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025
Conducting Body	IIM Kozhikode
Exam Date	30 November 2025 (Sunday)
Number of Slots	3 (Morning, Afternoon, Evening)
Exam Duration	120 minutes (2 hours)
Mode of Exam	Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Sections in Exam	1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) 2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) 3. Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
Time per Section	40 minutes each
Test Cities	Around 170 cities across India
Official Website	iimcat.ac.in

Upcoming CAT Exams:

• CAT 2026
• CAT 2027

CAT 2025 Analysis: Slot 1

Find the CAT exam slot 1 analysis:

Section	No. of Questions	Difficulty Level	Key Highlights
VARC	24	Moderate	4 RC passages (16 questions), VA included para-jumbles, para-summary and odd sentence out; RC passages slightly lengthy but manageable
DILR	22	Difficult	5 sets of DI & LR; sets involved arrangements, graphs and logical puzzles; calculation intensive and time-consuming
QA	22	Moderate to Difficult	Arithmetic-dominated questions (Percentages, Time & Work, Ratio), along with Algebra, Number System and a few Geometry questions

• Overall Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
• Impact on Cut-Offs: Slightly lower cut-offs compared to an easier year, mainly due to tough DILR. Good attempts for a competitive percentile were around 40–43 questions overall.

CAT 2025 Analysis: Slot 2

Find the CAT exam slot 2 analysis:

Section	No. of Questions	Difficulty Level	Key Highlights
VARC	24	Moderate	4 RC passages (16 questions) with topics from philosophy, social science and business; VA included para-jumbles, para-summary and odd sentence out; RC slightly inference-based
DILR	22	Moderate to Difficult	5 sets including tables, arrangements and caselets; 2 sets were doable while others required heavy logical reasoning and calculations
QA	22	Moderate	Arithmetic dominated (Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time & Work), with Algebra and a few Geometry questions; mix of conceptual and calculation-based problems

• Overall Difficulty: Moderate
• Impact on Cut-Offs: Cut-offs expected to be similar or slightly higher than Slot 1 because VARC and QA were relatively manageable while DILR remained time-consuming.

CAT 2025 Analysis: Slot 3

Find the CAT exam slot 3 analysis:

Section	No. of Questions	Difficulty Level	Key Highlights
VARC	24	Moderate to Difficult	4 RC passages (16 questions) with inference-based questions; VA included para-jumbles, para-summary and odd sentence out; RC passages slightly denser compared to Slot 2
DILR	22	Difficult	4 RC passages (16 questions) with inference-based questions; VA included para-jumbles, para-summary and odd sentence out; RC passages slightly denser compared to Slot 2
QA	22	Moderate	Arithmetic dominated (Time & Work, Percentages, Profit & Loss) along with Algebra and a few Geometry questions; mix of conceptual and calculation-based problems

• Overall Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
• Impact on Cut-Offs: Cut-offs expected to be similar to Slot 1, slightly lower than Slot 2 due to tougher DILR sets.

CAT Exam Analysis 2024

Slot 1

Section	No. of Questions	Difficulty Level	Key Highlights
VARC	24	Moderate	RC-heavy, para-summary tricky
DILR	20	Difficult	Lengthy sets, time-consuming
QA	22	Moderate	Arithmetic dominated, algebra manageable

• Overall Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
• Mentor Insight: Students found DILR to be the most challenging, making overall attempts lower.

Slot 2

Section	No. of Questions	Difficulty Level	Key Highlights
VARC	24	Moderate	Balanced RC and VA, few tricky inferences
DILR	20	Difficult	Slightly easier than Slot 1 but still lengthy
QA	22	Moderate	Arithmetic easy, geometry and algebra tough

• Overall Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
• Mentor Insight: Slot 2 was slightly easier in QA compared to Slot 1, but DILR remained tough.

Slot 3

Section	No. of Questions	Difficulty Level	Key Highlights
VARC	24	Moderate	Similar to Slot 1, reading comprehension focus
DILR	20	Difficult	No easy sets, heavy calculations
QA	22	Moderate	Arithmetic scoring, algebra tough

• Overall Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
• Mentor Insight: Consistent with Slot 1; QA saved many students as DILR was again the toughest.

CAT Exam Analysis 2023

Slot 1

Section	Total Questions	Difficulty Level	Good Attempts
VARC	24	Moderate	16–18
DILR	20	Moderate to Difficult	10–12
QA	22	Difficult	12–13
Overall	66	Moderate to Difficult	38–43

Mentor’s Insight: Slot 1 was challenging, especially for QA, which leaned heavily on advanced arithmetic and algebra. DILR had tricky sets that tested patience. VARC was balanced but demanded strong comprehension. Students who managed time across QA and DILR gained an edge.

Slot 2

Section	Total Questions	Difficulty Level	Good Attempts
VARC	24	Moderate	17–19
DILR	20	Difficult	10–12
QA	22	Difficult	10–12
Overall	66	Difficult	37–42

Mentor’s Insight: Slot 2 turned out to be the toughest of the day. Both DILR and QA were demanding, leaving little margin for error. VARC was slightly easier compared to Slot 1 but still required sharp accuracy. This slot tested resilience more than speed.

Slot 3

Section	Total Questions	Difficulty Level	Good Attempts
VARC	24	Easy–Moderate	16–18
DILR	20	Moderate	10–11
QA	22	Difficult	12–14
Overall	66	Moderate to Difficult	38–43

Mentor’s Insight: Slot 3 gave some relief in VARC, which was easier compared to the first two slots. DILR was manageable but time-consuming, while QA remained tough. Students who had a calm approach could perform better here compared to Slot 2.

CAT Exam Analysis 2022

Slot 1

Sections	Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Good Attempt
VARC	Moderate	24	16–18
DILR	Difficult	20	10–12
Quants	Moderate	22	14–16

Mentor’s Insight: Slot 1 tested logical stamina, especially in DILR, which was the toughest of the day. Students who approached VARC with smart selection and kept calm in Quants could score well. For aspirants, this slot shows the importance of not over-committing to one tough section.

Slot 2

Sections	Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Good Attempt
VARC	Moderate to Difficult	24	15–17
DILR	Moderate	20	12–14
Quants	Difficult	22	10–12

Mentor’s Insight: In Slot 2, Quant turned into the main challenge with tougher problem-solving. Those who stayed calm and picked the right questions had the edge. This slot reminds us that practicing a wide variety of Quant problems from past CAT papers is non-negotiable.

Slot 3

Sections	Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Good Attempt
VARC	Moderate to Difficult	24	15–17
DILR	Moderate	20	10–11
Quants	Difficult	22	12–14

Mentor’s Insight: Slot 3 balanced out with moderate DILR but pushed aspirants harder in Quant again. VARC was reading-heavy, testing patience and comprehension skills. The key learning is that you must prepare to adapt quickly—if Quant feels heavy, secure your score in VARC and DILR.

CAT Exam Analysis 2021

Slot 1

Sections	Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Good Attempt
VARC	Moderate to Difficult	24	15–16
DILR	Difficult	20	10–12
Quant	Difficult	22	12–14

Slot 2

Sections	Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Good Attempt
VARC	Moderate	24	16–18
DILR	Moderate to Difficult	20	10–12
Quant	Difficult	22	10–12

Slot 3

Sections	Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Good Attempt
VARC	Moderate	24	15–17
DILR	Difficult	20	10–11
Quant	Moderate	22	13–15

Explore additional free resources for CAT Exam:

CAT DILR Mock Test	CAT VARC Mock Test
CAT Quant Mock Test	CAT Study Material

CAT Exam Analysis 2020

Slot 1

Sections	Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Good Attempt
VARC	Moderate	26	17–19
DILR	Difficult	24	10–12
Quant	Moderate to Difficult	26	12–14

Mentor’s Insight: Slot 1 was tricky, especially with a challenging DILR section. Many students struggled to find sets worth attempting. Quant demanded conceptual clarity and careful selection of problems. VARC was moderate and became the scoring area. For you, the lesson is to always identify safe scoring zones and avoid over-investing in puzzles.

Slot 2

Sections	Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Good Attempt
VARC	Moderate to Difficult	26	15–17
DILR	Moderate	24	11–13
Quant	Difficult	26	10–12

Mentor’s Insight: Slot 2 balanced things slightly, with DILR becoming more approachable compared to Slot 1. However, Quant turned out to be the real hurdle, with many calculation-heavy questions. VARC was mixed, testing comprehension depth. For aspirants, this slot highlights the importance of adapting your section strategy depending on difficulty on exam day.

Slot 3

Sections	Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Good Attempt
VARC	Moderate	26	16–18
DILR	Difficult	24	12–14
Quant	Moderate	26	13–15

Mentor’s Insight: Slot 3 was relatively more manageable compared to the first two. Quant was moderate and scoring for those with strong basics. VARC maintained balance with approachable RCs, while DILR still carried a higher difficulty. The key takeaway: if one section feels tough, stay calm and maximize attempts in the others.

CAT Exam Analysis 2019

Slot 1

Sections	Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Good Attempt
VARC	Moderate to Difficult	34	22–24
DILR	Difficult	32	16–17
Quant	Moderate to Difficult	34	18–20

Mentor’s Insight: Slot 1 was challenging with Quant being heavy and concept-driven. VARC was slightly tricky, requiring careful reading, while DILR tested logical stamina with complex sets. For aspirants, this slot highlights the need to balance accuracy over attempts and not panic when multiple sections feel demanding.

Slot 2

Sections	Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Good Attempt
VARC	Moderate	34	23–25
DILR	Difficult	32	16–17
Quant	Moderate to Difficult	34	21–22

Mentor’s Insight: Slot 2 was slightly more approachable in VARC, offering scoring opportunities. However, DILR remained tough across the board, and Quant again demanded precision. The key lesson for aspirants is to quickly identify easy wins in VARC and secure marks before tackling tougher DILR and Quant questions.

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CAT Coaching in Jaipur	CAT Coaching in Nagpur
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Key Takeaways & Trends from CAT Exam Analysis

• Shift from 3 Hours to 2 Hours: CAT moved from 180 minutes (2019) to 120 minutes (2020 onwards). This added more time pressure and required faster question selection.
• Reduction in Number of Questions: The paper dropped from 100 questions (2019) to 76 in 2020, and then 66 from 2021 onwards. Despite fewer questions, difficulty per section remained high.
• DILR Became the Toughest Section: From 2020 onwards, DILR consistently emerged as the hardest section. Many students struggled to find even one fully solvable set.
• VARC Remained Moderate: Reading Comprehension (RC) continued to dominate VARC. While passages were lengthy, accuracy was possible with good comprehension skills.
• Quantitative Aptitude Saw Mixed Trends: QA was toughest in 2019, became manageable in 2020–22, and stayed moderate in 2023–24 with arithmetic dominating.
• Overall Difficulty Stable but Time Pressure High: Although the total questions reduced, the relative toughness stayed moderate to difficult. Time management became the key differentiator.
• Cut-Offs Influenced by DILR: Year after year, DILR determined cut-offs, as QA and VARC were relatively more approachable.

Practice with CAT PYQs:

CAT 2025 Question Paper	CAT 2024 Question Paper
CAT 2023 Question Paper	CAT 2022 Question Paper
CAT 2021 Question Paper	CAT 2020 Question Paper
CAT 2019 Question Paper

Mentor Tips for CAT 2026 Preparation

1. Master Time Management

CAT is now a 2-hour exam with strict sectional limits. You need to practice solving under time pressure. Attempt mocks regularly and build speed while maintaining accuracy. Focus on leaving time-consuming questions early and maximizing attempts in your strong areas.

2. Prioritize Sectional Balance

Many aspirants ignore weaker sections, but CAT demands balanced performance. Work equally on VARC, DILR, and QA. Online CAT coaching programs often provide structured study plans to ensure you don’t neglect any section while building consistent improvement week after week.

3. Practice with Quality CAT Mock Tests

Mocks are your best preparation tool. Take at least 20–30 full-length CAT mock tests and analyze them deeply. Focus on accuracy, time spent per question, and weak areas. Treat mocks as rehearsals of the real exam to avoid surprises on the test day.

4. Treat DILR as the Game Changer

DILR has been the toughest section since 2020, making it a cut-off decider. Practice multiple sets daily from different difficulty levels. Learn to quickly identify solvable sets in mocks. The ability to crack even one strong set can boost your percentile significantly.

5. Strengthen Basics in QA

Quantitative Aptitude is mostly arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. Don’t chase rare advanced topics. Instead, ensure your basics are rock solid. Solve a variety of level-wise problems and revise formulas regularly. This approach ensures accuracy and saves time during the actual exam.

6. Read Daily for VARC Improvement

Reading comprehension dominates VARC. Build a reading habit across diverse topics like business, science, history, and literature. Focus on understanding arguments and tone. Combine this with practice from CAT previous year question paper and sectional VARC tests to boost comprehension and inference skills.

7. Leverage Online CAT Coaching Resources

Online CAT coaching offers flexibility, expert mentor guidance, and access to live/recorded lectures. With LPT’s coaching programs, you also get doubt-solving and peer learning, which keeps you on track. 

India’s Top CAT/MBA Prep Programs:

• Online XAT Coaching
• Online SNAP Coaching
• Online OMET Coaching

More important resources for CAT exam:

CAT Syllabus	CAT DILR Syllabus
CAT VARC Syllabus	CAT Quant Syllabus
CAT Admit Card	CAT Answer Key
CAT Score vs Percentile	CAT Eligibility Criteria
CAT Exam Pattern	Best books for CAT
CAT Practice Questions	CAT Quant Questions
CAT VARC Questions	CAT Verbal Ability Questions
CAT Reading Comprehension Questions	CAT Cut Off
CAT Results