CAT Exam Analysis 2025: Difficulty Level of the Exam, Get the Slot-wise Analysis

CAT Exam Analysis 2025: Difficulty Level of the Exam, Get the Slot-wise Analysis

Table of Contents

  1. CAT Exam Analysis 2025 (Expected)
  2. CAT Exam 2024 Sectional Analysis
  3. CAT Score vs Percentile 2025 (Expected)
  4. CAT Exam Analysis 2023
  5. CAT Exam Pattern 2025

IIM Kozhikode will administer the CAT exam in 2025. The exam will be conducted in 3 different slots. CAT exam 2025 is India's one of the top MBA entrance tests, accepted by all the IIMs and other institutes. The difficulty level and the format of the question paper will not have any significant change compared to the last year. The total number of questions will be 68 and for each correct answer, +3 marks will be rewarded. The overall difficulty level of the CAT exam 2024 slot 1 was moderate.

CAT Exam Analysis 2025 (Expected)

With the CAT exam analysis, you will be familiar with the attempts, level of difficulty, and number of questions.

SubjectSlot 1Slot 2Slot 3
Good AttemptsLevel of DifficultyGood AttemptsLevel of DifficultyGood AttemptsLevel of Difficulty
VARC10-12Moderate13-15Moderate12-14Moderate
DILR9-11Moderate9-12Moderate10-12Moderate
QA15-18Easy-Moderate14-17Moderate-Difficult13-16Moderate
Overall40-49Moderate36-44Moderate35-42Moderate

CAT Exam 2024 Sectional Analysis

Here is the analysis of all three sections as mentioned below:

CAT 2024: VARC Section Analysis

Here is the VARC sectional analysis of CAT 2024:

Topic NameNo. of Questions Asked
1st Shift2nd Shift3rd Shift
Reading Comprehension161616
Para Jumbles33NA
Odd Sentence Out00NA
Para Summary32NA
Fill in the Blanks22NA

CAT 2024: QA Section Analysis

Here is the QA sectional analysis of CAT 2024:

Topic NameNo. of Questions Asked
1st Shift2nd Shift3rd Shift
Percentage111-2
Algebra659
Time & Work20-11-2
Ratio Proportion10-10-1
Average10-11-2
Time, Speed, Distance20-11-2
Number System111
Logarithms00-10
Functions200-1
Simple Equations300-1
Permutations & Combinations10-10
Progression100
Geometry334

CAT 2024: DILR Section Analysis

Here is the DILR sectional analysis of CAT 2024:

Topic NameNo. of Questions Asked
1st Shift2nd Shift3rd Shift
Data Interpretation5510
Logical Reasoning151510

CAT Score vs Percentile 2025 (Expected)

You should know that MBA admission through the CAT examination is based on percentile and not the raw score. That means, your performance should not only be optimum, rather be better than other test takers. Check out the table below for the CAT score vs percentile 2025 (expected):

CAT PercentileVARC ScoreDILR ScoreQA ScoreOverall Score
99.9483640102
99.544323089
9940282780
9836252371
9530191857
9025161549
8521131240
8019111036
751710931
70159829

CAT Exam Analysis 2023

CAT 2023 was conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow across various locations in the country. The exam took place in three slots. Overall, the difficulty level of CAT 2023 was moderate, with the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section being challenging, followed by the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) sections, which were considered tough. You can find the section-wise analysis of CAT 2023 exam in the table below:

SectionTopicNumber of Sets/ Questions
DILRMisc11
Reasoning-based DI10
Matrix and Grid7
Matrix Arrangement7
Venn Diagram7
Scheduling and Matrix6
Unconventional and Hybrid Games and Tournaments6
Mathematical AR4
Order and Ranking3
Arithmetic Caselet3
Logic Based Table3
Routes and Networks3
Missing Data3
Maxima-Minima Concept2
Algebra Caselet2
Arithmetic Based DI2
Gantt Chart2
QAArithmetic8-9
Algebra4-9
Geometry & Mensuration3-4
Number System1-3
Modern Math0-3
Overall22
VARCReading Comprehension16
Para Jumbles3
Para Summary3
Odd One Out/Para Completion2

CAT Exam Pattern 2025

CAT exam pattern 2025 will be determined by the IIM Kozhikode. There are a few changes that have been made to the exam pattern last year. Check out the table below for an overview of the CAT 2025 exam pattern:

ParticularsDetails
Total No. of Sections3
Name of the Subjects

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

Time Duration

Total: 120 minutes

Sectional Time: 40 minutes each

Question Paper LanguageEnglish
Types of QuestionsMCQs & TITA
No. of Questions68
CAT Total Marks204
Medium of CAT 2025English
Type of QuestionsMCQs & non-MCQ

FAQ - CAT

Ans: The CAT 2025 exam analysis will play a significant role in shaping your preparation strategy. Here's how:

  • Understanding Sectional Difficulty: If the analysis indicates a particular section (VARC, DILR, or QA) was tougher, it suggests the need for enhanced focus on that section. For example, if Quantitative Aptitude is challenging, dedicating more time to problem-solving and concept clarity would be beneficial.
  • Question Pattern Insights: Exam analysis often highlights changes in question types, the number of questions, or difficulty trends. Based on this, you can prioritize topics that are frequently tested.
  • Time Management: Evaluating how candidates managed their time in the previous exam will help you practice better time management during mocks. Focus on accuracy and speed through sectional tests.
  • Adapting to Trends: If reasoning-based or unconventional sets in DILR were dominant, practicing a variety of puzzles and logic-based questions becomes crucial. Similarly, if there were more abstract Reading Comprehension passages, increasing reading diversity will be helpful.
  • Mock Test Strategy: After analysing trends, you can simulate actual exam conditions by attempting mocks that mimic the latest patterns. Adjust your test-taking approach based on feedback from these mocks.
  • Targeted Practice: If analysis reveals specific topics that are frequently tested, such as Arithmetic in QA or Logical Reasoning in DILR, then targeted practice in those areas is key.

Ans: CAT exam analysis helps in predicting percentile scores by providing insights into various factors that influence score normalization and percentile calculation. Here's how it works:

  • Understanding Difficulty Level: If a particular slot of the CAT exam is more difficult, candidates in that slot may need fewer marks to achieve a high percentile. Score normalization ensures fairness, so even with lower raw scores, candidates can achieve a higher percentile if the exam was tough.
  • Slot-Wise Comparison: Since CAT is held in multiple slots, the difficulty level may vary. Exam analysis compares these slots to ensure fairness, adjusting scores if one slot was harder than the others.
  • Score vs. Percentile Trends: Exam analysis shows how raw scores translate into percentiles. Higher scores generally mean higher percentiles, but the exact score needed for a specific percentile can vary based on the exam's difficulty.
  • Sectional Performance: Exam analysis checks how candidates performed in each section. If one section was easier, you might need a higher score in that section to get a good percentile.
  • Normalization Impact: Since CAT is held in different slots with varying difficulty, scores are adjusted to ensure fairness. If your slot was harder, your score might be increased to balance it out.
  • Benchmarking Against Previous Data: Exam analysis compares this year's scores with previous years to estimate how many marks are needed for a certain percentile.

Ans: CAT exam analysis helps improve your mock test strategies in the following ways:

  • Identify Weak Areas: Find out which sections were tough in the actual exam and focus more on them during mocks.
  • Time Management Practice: Learn how top scorers managed their time and practice similar timing in your mocks.
  • Adjust Difficulty Levels: If the exam was tough, include harder questions in your mocks to prepare better.
  • Sectional Strategy: Test different approaches in mocks to see whether solving easy or moderate questions first works best for you.
  • Score and Percentile Prediction: Use score trends to estimate your percentile in mocks and track your progress.
  • Build Stamina and Accuracy: Practice solving tricky and lengthy questions in mocks to improve focus and accuracy.

Ans: There are mainly three sections in the CAT 2025 exam, that is Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning.

Ans: CAT 2025 exam is expected to be scheduled for November 30, 2025. The official notification confirming the exam date is expected to be released by July 30, 2025.
The exam will be administered in three shifts across approximately 375 test centers in 170 cities throughout India. Candidates can select up to six preferred cities for their test center allocation during the application process.

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