CAT 2025 Exam Analysis: Slot-Wise Difficulty, Expert Insights, Answer Key Date & Score–Percentile Trends

CAT 2025 Exam Analysis: The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode on November 30, witnessed nearly 2.95 lakh registered candidates and around 2.58 lakh actual test-takers across 170 cities and 350–375 test centres. Spread across three slots, CAT 2025 maintained a structure of 68 questions in a computer-based format. 

Early responses from students and expert evaluations indicate that the exam was moderately difficult overall, with DILR emerging as the toughest section of the day and QA turning sharply challenging in Slot 3. Slot-wise patterns remained largely similar to CAT 2024, though candidates observed a higher emphasis on calculation-heavy and logically dense questions.

Key Takeaways from CAT 2025 (Slot-Wise & Section-Wise Performance)

• CAT 2025 was moderately difficult across all slots, with Slot 3 considered the toughest due to a demanding QA section.
  
• VARC remained easy to moderate, and passages across slots required careful inference-based reading.
  
• DILR was moderately difficult to difficult, featuring several time-consuming sets and a high TITA count.
  
• QA difficulty fluctuated, with Slot 3 recording the most challenging version of the Quantitative section.
  
• Official answer key and response sheet are expected around December 5, with the result tentatively by December 26.
  
• Score vs Percentile estimates show tighter scoring bands due to the elevated difficulty of DILR and QA across slots.
  

CAT 2025 Exam Overview: Structure, Pattern & Timings

CAT 2025 followed the same structure across all three slots, with no change in pattern from CAT 2024:

Slot Timings:

• Slot 1: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
  
• Slot 2: 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
  
• Slot 3: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
  

All three slots concluded smoothly, with students reporting moderate to tough questions in at least one or more sections.

Slot 1 Analysis: Manageable but Slightly Tougher Than CAT 2024

Slot 1 candidates described the exam as moderate to tough, noting that while VARC and DILR were manageable, QA involved lengthy calculations. Experts from T.I.M.E. and Career Launcher confirmed the following:

VARC (Easy to Moderate)

• 4 RC passages × 4 questions each
  
• RC topics: Income Inequality & Growth, Electronic Music, Law & Mental Health, Noise & Social Order
  
• Parajumbles returned after a year’s gap
  
• Density of passages required focused reading
  
• 10–12 questions were realistically doable
  

DILR (Moderately Difficult)

• 22 questions across 5 sets
  
• Spider + Bar graph was the must-attempt, easiest set
  
• Other sets included Train Tickets, Feet Tapping, Seating Arrangement, Employee Ratings
  
• 10 questions counted as good attempts
  

QA (Moderate; Arithmetic-Dominant)

• Majority from Arithmetic & Algebra
  
• Questions spanned SICI, TSD, Mixtures, Profit & Loss, Quadratics, Logs
  
• Geometry had 3 questions
  
• 11–12 attempts were strong
  

Slot 1 Score vs Percentile Estimate (IMS):

Slot 2 Analysis: Moderate Difficulty, Closely Mirroring Slot 1

Slot 2 was described as moderate to slightly difficult, aligning closely with Slot 1. Students compared difficulty levels with CAT 2022 and CAT 2023, especially in DILR and QA.

Also Read: Delhi Police Constable Exam Schedule 2025 Released by SSC: Check Dates, Vacancies and Shift-Wise Timeline

VARC (Moderate)

• RC themes included Tetrafish Evolution, AI Bias, Place in Literature, Science & Culture
  
• Optimal attempt range: 10–12 questions
  
• Passages required deeper inference building
  

DILR (Moderate to Difficult)

• 22 questions; time-consuming and dense sets
  
• Topics included Pollution Index (Weighted averages), Authors–Books, Scatter Plot indices, Ranking puzzles, Musicians
  
• 8–9 doable questions
  

QA (Moderately Difficult, Intensive)

• Heavily tilted towards Arithmetic and Algebra
  
• 8 TITA questions required precise calculation
  
• 6–7 correct answers = ~90 percentile
  
• 10–11 correct answers = ~99 percentile
  

IMS Slot 2 Score–Percentile Estimate

Slot 3 Analysis: QA Emerges as the Toughest Section of the Day

Slot 3 was reported as moderate to difficult, with QA being the toughest across all three slots.

VARC (Easy to Moderate)

• Structure identical to earlier slots
  
• RCs included Ill Effects of Dams, AI & Ethics, Forest Act 1982, Tribal Art
  
• 8–9 questions were safely doable
  
• VA included summaries, para completions, odd-sentence-out, and jumbles
  

DILR (Moderately Difficult)

Set descriptions included:

• 6 friends calling each other
  
• Puzzle-solving chart
  
• Circular seating of 7 students
  
• Currency exchange
  
• Trade balance of import–export
  5–6 good attempts were typical.
  

QA (Difficult; Most Challenging of the Day)

• Heavy mix of Arithmetic, Algebra, Modern Math, Geometry, Numbers
  
• Multiple multi-step questions
  
• Only 5–6 questions doable for many
  
• Experts estimate 25–27 net correct across sections ≈ 99 percentile
  

IMS Slot 3 Score–Percentile Estimate

Answer Key & Response Sheets: Expected Release Timeline

As confirmed in multiple expert reports, the CAT 2025 answer key and response sheets are expected to be released by December 5, 2025 on the official IIM Kozhikode portal. Candidates will be allowed to:

• Download individual response sheets
  
• Match answers with provisional answer key
  
• Raise objections during the official window
  

Final answer key and CAT 2025 results will be prepared after evaluating objections. Some sources indicate December 26, 2025 as the tentative result date, though official confirmation is awaited.

Spiritual Insight: Understanding the Transformative Knowledge Shared by Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj

Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj emphasizes a path of devotion grounded in true scriptural understanding, ethical conduct, and inner discipline. His teachings highlight the need for spiritual clarity through correct knowledge rather than ritual complexity. 

Followers believe that his guidance brings a deeper awareness of one’s purpose, encourages moral living, and offers a structured approach to attaining lasting peace. His message continues to attract seekers who look for a meaningful direction beyond material achievements.

A Broader View on CAT 2025: What This Year’s Pattern Indicates

CAT 2025 maintained its reputation as a competitive, reasoning-driven entrance test with tight scoring margins. All three slots showed consistent patterns with CAT 2024 in terms of structure, yet sections like DILR and QA clearly marked a rise in complexity. 

Candidates noted that strategic selection of sets, control over TITA questions, and efficient time usage were key differentiators this year. Experts also highlighted that even students with strong preparation found Slot 3 QA significantly demanding, leading to conservative attempt patterns.

The uniformity in structure across slots ensures fairness in normalization, while the elevated difficulty in certain sections may slightly lower the overall score requirements for top percentiles. As the MBA admission cycle progresses, aspirants now await the official response sheets to evaluate performance with accuracy and prepare for the next stages of selection.

FAQs on CAT 2025 Slot-Wise Analysis & Answer Key

1. When will the official CAT 2025 answer key and response sheet be released?

The CAT 2025 answer key and response sheets are expected by December 5, 2025, followed by an objection window for candidates.

2. What was the overall difficulty level of CAT 2025 across all three slots?

CAT 2025 was moderately difficult overall, with VARC easy to moderate, DILR moderately difficult, and QA toughest in Slot 3.

3. How many questions were asked in CAT 2025 in each section?

CAT 2025 had 68 questions: 24 in VARC, 22 in DILR, and 22 in QA, with 40 minutes allotted per section.

4. Which section was toughest in CAT 2025 according to experts?

DILR was the toughest across slots, while Slot 3 QA was reported as the most challenging section of the entire exam day.

5. What is the expected percentile range for top scores in CAT 2025?

Early estimates suggest 99 percentile around 83–90 marks, while 99.9 percentile ranges near 115–122, depending on slot normalization.