VERDICT: TOUGHER THAN 2024 | DILR & QUANT PLAY SPOILSPORT
By Dhrubajyoti Banik
Date: November 2025
Subject: Comprehensive Analysis of CAT 2025 Slot 1 & Slot 2
Verdict: Moderate to Difficult (Higher difficulty than CAT 2024)
Executive Summary
CAT 2025 has concluded, bringing immediate negative reactions from the student community and experts alike. The overall paper structure remained consistent with the previous year, maintaining the familiarity of the exam format. However, the difficulty level has seen a tangible spike, particularly in the DILR and Quantitative Aptitude sections.
Meanwhile, Media Release for Common Admission Test 2025 (CAT 2025) (Dated, Day: 30.11.2025, Sunday) by IIM Kozhikode said:
Common Admission Test 2025 (CAT 2025) was conducted on 30 November 2025 (Sunday) at 339 test centres spread across 170 cities in India. The duration of the test was 120 minutes (160 minutes for PwD candidates). The time allotted for each section was 40 minutes (53 minutes and 20 seconds for PwD candidates). The following table represents section-wise breakup of number of questions: Section No. of questions Section I: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) 24 Section II: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) 22 Section III: Quantitative Ability (QA) 22 Total 68 Around 2.58 lakh candidates appeared for the exam out of 2.95 lakh registered eligible candidates. The overall attendance was approximately 86%.
Contrary to fears raised by the official sample paper, the on-screen calculator was available to students during the main exam, providing some relief for calculation-intensive sets.
Below is the sectional breakdown and analysis based on the first two slots.
Our CAT / XAT Expert Dhrubajoyti Writes :
Sectional Analysis
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Total Questions: 24
- Split: 20 MCQ | 4 TITA (Non-MCQ)
- Difficulty Level: Moderate (Comparable to last year)
Key Observations: The VARC section felt familiar to those who attempted last year’s papers. The “saving grace” for many aspirants was the Verbal Ability segment, which was largely doable. Para Jumbles made a comeback with an Easy to Medium difficulty level, offering scoring opportunities.
However, the Reading Comprehension (RC) passages were dense and heavy on reading. The questions were inference-heavy, frequently asking candidates to identify the “Central Idea,” requiring a strong grasp of the passage’s core theme rather than just fact-finding.
- Good Attempts: 18-20 questions
- Target Accuracy: 75%+
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Total Questions: 22
- Split: 11 MCQ | 11 TITA (Non-MCQ)
- Difficulty Level: Difficult (Harder than CAT 2024)
Key Observations: This section proved to be the toughest hurdle for many. The difficulty level has risen compared to CAT 2024. The sets were characterized by tricky conditions and, in several instances, lengthy data that consumed significant time just to assimilate. The high number of TITA questions (50% of the section) added to the challenge, removing the option to eliminate choices for half the section.
- Good Attempts: 10-12 questions
- Target Accuracy: 75%+
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
- Total Questions: 22
- Split: 18 MCQ | 4 TITA (Non-MCQ)
- Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult (Harder than last year)
Key Observations: Quant continues to evolve into a more challenging section. The difficulty level was noticeably higher than the previous year. We observed a distinct variation in topic weightage between slots:
- Slot 1: Dominated by Algebra and Arithmetic.
- Slot 2: Saw a high frequency of Number Properties questions.
Detailed conceptual clarity was required to navigate this section successfully.
- Good Attempts: 10-12 questions
- Target Accuracy: 75%+
Overall Verdict & Cut-Off Predictions
Overall Experience: The general consensus is that CAT 2025 (Slots 1 & 2) was more difficult than CAT 2024. While VARC remained stable, the increased complexity in DILR and Quant has shifted the exam towards the “Difficult” end of the spectrum.
Impact on Cut-Offs: Given the rise in difficulty and the likely decrease in the number of attempts across the board, cut-offs are expected to drop compared to last year. Students should not panic if their raw attempt numbers are lower than their mock averages; normalization will play a significant role.
Summary
| Section | Questions | Good Attempts (75% Acc) | Difficulty vs Last Year |
| VARC | 24 | 18 – 20 | Same |
| DILR | 22 | 8 -10 | Higher |
| Quant | 22 | 8 – 10 | Higher |
| Total | 68 | 38 |
Update Slot 3 : As expected Slot 3 wasn’t any different with LRDI and Quant both being quite difficult. English is the same. No change in structure.
TREND ALERT: Attempts Down, Cut-offs Set to Drop
In 2024, approximately 2.93 lakh students appeared for the CAT 2024 exam out of the 3.29 lakh registered candidates with turnout rate of about 89%.
- Total appeared: 2.93 lakh
- Total registered: 3.29 lakh
- Attendance rate: Approximately 89%
CAT Results Date 2025: Going by the past years’ trends, CAT result is expected to be announced between Dec 22 to 26.
