Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of the most prestigious MBA entrance exams in India. Conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM), every year a target audience of candidates appear for this entrance exam, which intensifies the level of competition, hence understanding the difficulty level of the exam becomes an important part of preparation.
Knowing the expected difficulty level of CAT exam 2025 helps candidates plan their preparation strategy wisely. It helps candidates focus on high-importance topics, manage time efficiently, and avoid surprises during the actual exam. Since the CAT entrance exam has three major sections - VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension), DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning), and QA (Quantitative Aptitude) - a section-wise analysis of the difficulty trends is crucial for success. Below is a section-wise analysis, discussing the trends of the past years for each subject in detail.
To know the difficulty level of CAT exam in 2025, it is essential to know the CAT exam pattern so that candidates can easily get the difficulty level of this year as compared to other previous years. Although the CAT exam pattern of 2025 is not yet given on the official website. However, it is expected that the same exam will be conducted this year as in previous years. The expected exam pattern of 2025 is described in detail in the table below.
| Section | No. of Questions | Time Limit | Total Marks | Question Types | Marking Scheme |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 minutes | 72 | MCQ + Direct Answer (No Options) | +3 for correct, -1 for wrong MCQ, 0 for Direct Answer |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 40 minutes | 66 | MCQ + Direct Answer (No Options) | +3 for correct, -1 for wrong MCQ, 0 for Direct Answer |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 40 minutes | 66 | MCQ + Direct Answer (No Options) | +3 for correct, -1 for wrong MCQ, 0 for Direct Answer |
| Total | 68 | 120 minutes | 204 |
| Parameter | Details |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Language Medium | English |
| Total Duration | 120 minutes (40 minutes per section) |
| Question Types | Multiple Choice (MCQ) & Direct Answer (Type Without Options) |
| Negative Marking | -1 for wrong MCQs only; No negative marks for Direct Answer type |
| Expected Exam Slots | Morning (8:30?10:30), Afternoon (12:30?2:30), Evening (4:30?6:30) |
CAT exam difficulty level for the last five years section wise, VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension), DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning), and QA (Quantitative Aptitude) is given here. So that the candidates can easily understand what the difficulty level of CAT exam in 2025 might be like, it is described in detail below.
| Year | Total Questions | Section-wise Distribution | Exam Duration | Marking Scheme | Overall Difficulty Level |
| 2024 | 66 | VARC: 24 DILR: 20 QA: 22 | 120 minutes (40 min/section) | +3 for correct -1 for incorrect | Difficult |
| 2023 | 66 | VARC: 24 DILR: 20 QA: 22 | 120 minutes (40 min/section) | +3 for correct -1 for incorrect | Moderate to Difficult |
| 2022 | 66 | VARC: 24 DILR: 20 QA: 22 | 120 minutes (40 min/section) | +3 for correct -1 for incorrect | Moderate to Difficult |
| 2021 | 76 | VARC: 26 DILR: 24 QA: 26 | 120 minutes (40 min/section) | +3 for correct -1 for incorrect | Moderate to Difficult |
| 2020 | 100 | VARC: 34 DILR: 32 QA: 34 | 180 minutes (60 min/section) | +3 for correct -1 for incorrect | Easy to Moderate |
Ans: The Common Admission Test (CAT) exam is conducted in three slots. Each slot has a unique question paper, Common Admission Test has unique questions. The Common Admission Test exam authorities prepare the question paper keeping in mind that no slot is harder or easier than the other. However, it may happen that one or two questions are more difficult in a particular slot.
Ans: For the last three years, 66 questions were asked in CAT Exam, the CAT 2024 question paper had 68 questions. There were 24 questions in Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section, 22 questions in Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and 22 questions in Quantitative Aptitude section. The total duration is 120 minutes and there is a section time limit of 40 minutes for each section.
Ans: Since Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning is a reasoning-based section, one might think that practicing sample question papers would be enough, but to build a strong foundation for solving any type of puzzle, it is very important to understand the fundamentals of Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning topics. This can also be achieved by solving various sample questions.
Ans: To do well in the VARC section, start reading English novels and all kinds of books from the initial stage of CAT preparation. This will improve your vocabulary, grammar and reading comprehension. Along with reading, you should also focus on grammar and vocabulary as these help in solving gap-filling type questions.
Ans: To prepare for the QA section, strengthen your basic concepts in mathematics and practice solving different types of problems. Focus on time management while attempting this section.
Get College Notifications, Exam Notifications and News Updates
