CAT 2025 Exam Analysis: A Test of Discipline and Strategy

New Delhi, December 1, 2025: The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, conducted by IIM Kozhikode in three slots on November 30, has once again proven to be a rigorous and demanding gateway to India’s top B-schools. Expert analysis suggests the overall paper was Moderate to Difficult, slightly more challenging than CAT 2024, with the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) section emerging as the primary differentiator.

The exam adhered to the pattern established in recent years: a two-hour computer-based test (CBT) with 68 questions divided into three sections, each with a 40-minute time limit.

• Total Questions: 68
• Total Time: 120 minutes (40 minutes per section)
• Marking: $+3$ for correct MCQs, $-1$ for incorrect MCQs, and $+3$/$0$ for Type-In-The-Answer (TITA) questions.

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

The VARC section, with 24 questions (16 from Reading Comprehension and 8 from Verbal Ability), was generally rated Moderate.

• Reading Comprehension (RC): The section featured four RC passages. Passages were often dense and lengthy, testing candidates’ ability to read quickly and comprehend complex ideas from topics like economics, AI, and social sciences. However, experts noted that many questions focused on the central idea and were solvable through careful reading and elimination.
• Verbal Ability (VA): A significant change was the return of TITA-based Para Jumbles alongside Para Summary, Para Completion, and Odd-One-Out questions. The VA part required precision, as TITA questions carry no penalty for incorrect attempts but offer no multiple-choice hints.

Key Takeaway: The time spent reading and understanding dense passages proved crucial. A net correct score of around 40-42 marks is expected to be competitive for a 99+ percentile.

2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

DILR, with 22 questions distributed across five sets, was widely considered the toughest section of the exam, maintaining its reputation as the most volatile part of CAT. It was rated Moderate to Difficult across all slots and was notably more challenging than CAT 2024.

• Structure: The section typically contained five sets (often three sets of 4 questions and two sets of 5 questions), with a high number of TITA questions (around 10-12).
• Set Types: Questions were a mix of standard CAT set types, including Spider/Radar charts, Venn diagrams, arrangement puzzles, and quant-based reasoning (like routes, networks, or distribution).
• Challenge: The difficulty stemmed not just from the complexity of the sets but from the sheer time required to decipher them. The key strategy was set selection: quickly identifying 2-3 genuinely solvable sets out of the five was the difference between a good and poor sectional score.

Key Takeaway: This section was a test of cool-headed decision-making. Target attempts were low, and an estimated net correct score of 24-27 marks is projected for a 99+ percentile.

3. Quantitative Ability (QA)

The QA section, with 22 questions, was rated Moderate overall, though its difficulty fluctuated slightly between the slots.

• Topic Dominance: The section was heavily dominated by Arithmetic and Algebra, which together accounted for the majority of the questions. Topics like Time, Speed, Distance, Percentages, Ratio, and Linear/Quadratic equations saw a high weightage.
• Geometry and Modern Math: Geometry had a relatively smaller representation (typically 2-4 questions). Some slots saw a reduced focus on Number Systems and Modern Math (P&C, Probability).
• Nature of Questions: Many questions in Arithmetic and Algebra were conceptual but involved lengthy or tricky calculations, rewarding candidates who had mastered the on-screen calculator and time management.

Key Takeaway: The ability to move past calculative traps and focus on conceptually clear questions was vital. A net correct score of 30-33 marks is considered ideal for a 99+ percentile.

Overall Assessment

CAT 2025 was a test of accuracy, selection, and time discipline. The absence of major structural surprises (like changing the number of sections or time) allowed well-prepared candidates to stick to their strategy. However, the slightly increased difficulty, especially in DILR, suggests that percentile scores will be driven by accuracy on a lower number of total attempts rather than sheer volume. Experts predict that a total net correct score of 80 to 90 marks could potentially land a candidate in the 99th percentile bracket.