CAT 2025 Slot 2 Analysis by IMS: Difficulty Level, Section-Wise Review & Expected Good Attempts

CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis by IMS:  Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, is conducting the Common Admission Test CAT exam today, Sunday, November 30, 2025. The CAT 2025 Slot 1 exam has concluded successfully. Students who have taken the test in the first slot and those preparing for the exam in the third slot can now check here the detailed CAT exam slot 1 analysis by IMS along with a panel discussion by experts on the exam.

The CAT 2025 Slot 2 exam has officially commenced at 12:30 PM. The slot will end at 2:30 PM, following which candidates will be provided with the initial response and detailed analysis of the CAT 2025 Slot 2 exam. 

CAT 2025 Slot 2 to conclude at 2:30 PM

Shortly after each slot concludes, candidates will be provided with the details of the CAT examination slot analysis and the overall analysis by IMS. Students can check here the difficulty level, sectional details, and the number of good attempts, as well as the overall estimated cutoff required to qualify for further admission procedures.

CAT 2025 Slot Timings

Candidates can check here the CAT exam timings, reporting time and status of the exam.

CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis

The first slot of CAT 2025 took place today between 8.30 am and 10:30 am. The structure of the CAT 2025 had no major changes compared to that of the 2024 CAT, with a total of 68 questions.

Section-wise details:

Verbal Ability (VA)

• Segmentation and question-type distribution were adjusted.

• Paragraph Jumbles were reintroduced, marking their return after a gap.

• Breakdown of non-RC questions: 2 Summary questions (MCQ), 2 Paragraph Completion questions (MCQ), 2 Odd Sentence Out questions (TITA), 2 Paragraph Jumbles (TITA)

DILR

The section also showed refinements in segmentation and the MCQ vs TITA mix

• Overall structure of the section remained unchanged: 2 sets with 5 questions each and 3 sets with 4 questions each.

• Total 11 TITA questions and 11 MCQ questions

QA

• The number of questions remained unchanged at 22

• Total 8 TITA questions and 14 MCQ questions

The marking scheme was +3 for every correct and -1 for incorrect. There was no negative marking for TITA Qs.

Based on the feedback received from several candidates who have appeared in the first slot, our initial estimate of the percentiles and scores*** is as follows. These estimates will be suitably revised soon after the CAT releases the response sheets. 

Students are advised not to take any B-School application decision based on these initial estimates. They serve only as the first indicator of likely performance.  

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension 

The VA-RC section consisted of 16 Reading Comprehension questions and 8 Verbal Ability questions. The Reading Comprehension section featured the addition of vocabulary-based application questions — a question type not previously seen in the CAT. The passage on “Alienists and the art of diagnosing mental disorders” was easier. The passages on “Income inequality and economic growth” and “Objections to Electronic Music as a musical genre” were of moderate difficulty and required careful reading. The passage on “Complex Systems and the dynamics of tail events” was tough to read, had difficult questions and lengthy options. About 10 to 12 RC questions could be attempted with high accuracy. Verbal Ability questions reintroduced parajumbles after the gap of a year. So, the section had 2 questions each of Summary (MCQ), Paragraph Completion (MCQ), Odd Sentence questions (TITA), and Jumbled Paragraphs (TITA). In VA, 5 or 6 attempts with high accuracy were possible. Overall, the VARC section was more difficult than that of CAT 2024 Slot 1. The LOD of the VARC section, especially the RCs, was comparable to the VARC of several SimCATs. 

An attempt of 12 or 13 questions with an accuracy of approximately 60% will fetch around 85%ile score in VARC.  

An attempt of 16 or 17 questions with an accuracy of approximately 70% will fetch 95+ percentiles in VARC.  

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

Overall structure of the section remained unchanged with 22 questions spread over 5 sets- 2 sets with 5 questions each and 3 sets with 4 questions each. However, one important deviation was that half the section (11 questions) was TITA.   

Overall, the Level of difficulty of the section was Medium to Difficult and it was one notch more difficult in comparison with the DILR Section of CAT 2024.

An attempt of about 8 questions with an accuracy of approximately 80% will fetch around  85 %ile score in DILR.  

An attempt of about 12 questions with an accuracy of approximately 85% will fetch 95 + percentiles in DILR . 

Quantitative Ability

This section was similar in terms of level of difficulty as compared to CAT-2024 and was dominated by Arithmetic (8 questions), followed by Algebra (4 questions) and Numbers (4 questions). There were 3 questions each on Geometry and Modern Math. The questions on Arithmetic were relatively on an easier side. The questions on Algebra were somewhat complex.   In Arithmetic, the questions were from different topics such as SICI, Time and Work, Time-Speed-Distance, Ratio Proportion, Mixtures & Alligations, and Profit & Loss. In Algebra, the questions were dominated by Quadratic equations, Inequality with logarithms etc. In Modern Math, the questions were on Progressions, Permutations etc. In Geometry, the questions were on Circles-Quadrilaterals, and Coordinate Geometry. 

Number of TITA (8 questions) and MCQ (14 questions) in this section

Attempting the right questions was the key. In general, it would be relatively easier to score about 16-18 marks but slightly tougher to score 30+ in this section. 

An attempt of 7 - 8  questions with an accuracy of approximately 80% will fetch around 85 %ile score in QA.  

An attempt of 12-13 questions with an accuracy of approximately 85% will fetch 95 + percentiles in QA . 

The scores and percentiles mentioned in this analysis are indicators based on the feedback from students and IMS experts. They are in no way related to the results that IIMs are expected to declare in January 2026. You are advised to wait for the results.

CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis IMS

The CAT 2025 slot 1 examination will conclude at 10:30 AM. Candidates can check here the immediate reaction of students after the exams conclude and the detailed analysis of the CAT 2025 slot 1 exam from IMS below. Keep refreshing this page for the latest updates.

Check here the CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis and discussion by experts from IMS

CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis: Initial Response

According to reports, those who have appeared for the CAT 2025 exams in the first slot have mentioned that the CAT 2025 slot 1 was moderate to tough in terms of the difficulty level. Candidates have mentioned that the VARC, DILR sections were easy, while the Quants section was moderate. No change has been seen in the exam pattern as compared to last year.

As per responses from candidates, there were a total of 66 questions in three sections. The exam pattern was similar to CAT 2024, with VARC sections containing 24 questions - four reaching comprehension. Quants in the Arithmetic section were tricky, while DLRI was doable.

CAT 2025 Slot 1 Exam Pattern

CAT 2025 Answer Key and Response Sheets

According to the details provided, the CAT 2025 response sheet and answer key are expected to be released by December 5, 2025. Candidates who have appeared for the exams can check the CAT 2025 answer key and compare it to their individual response sheet, which will be available for download on the candidate login. Candidates will also be provided with a window to raise objections to the answer key. Based on the objections raised, IIM Kozhikode will issue the CAT 2025 final answer key and CAT Results. 

Also Read: CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis by T.I.M.E: Difficulty Level, Section-Wise Review & Expected Good Attempts