CAT 2025, conducted by IIM Kozhikode, commenced today across three slots. The first session, held from 8:30 am to 10:30 am, has concluded, with early student feedback indicating that the exam was slightly tougher than CAT 2024, particularly in the DILR section.
According to initial reactions and expert assessments, Slot 1 featured a total of 68 questions to be attempted within 120 minutes, adhering to the traditional three-section pattern—VARC, DILR, and QA.
Section-Wise Analysis of CAT 2025 Slot 1
VARC: Manageable but Dense
The VARC section remained largely similar to last year’s paper in terms of difficulty.
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24 questions (20 MCQs + 4 TITA)
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Dense reading passages but straightforward questions
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Heavy focus on central-idea and comprehension-based items
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Difficulty level aligned with CAT 2024 Slot 1
DILR: Slightly Tougher
This section saw a marginal increase in difficulty.
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22 questions
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Around 11–12 TITA questions
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A “good attempt” is estimated at 10 questions
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Students found the sets more time-consuming and complex compared to last year
QA: Comparable to 2024, Number-Focused
The Quantitative Ability section maintained a similar profile to last year’s paper.
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22 questions
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Strong emphasis on number system and arithmetic-based questions
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10+ attempts considered comfortable; 11–12 may provide an advantage
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Overall feel was moderately tricky
Overall Takeaway
CAT 2025 Slot 1 was moderately tougher than CAT 2024, primarily due to a challenging DILR segment. As CAT remains the primary entrance test for admission to the country’s premier B-schools, including the 21 IIMs, Slot 1’s difficulty level sets expectations for the remaining slots.
Slot 2 and Slot 3 analysis will be updated as the exam progresses.
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