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CAT 2025 Question Paper
The CAT 2025 exam was conducted by IIM Kozhikode on November 30, 2025. It was held across 170 cities in three slots on the same day. A large number of candidates appeared for the exam, making it one of the most competitive years in recent times. The CAT 2025 question paper followed the same format as CAT 2024, with a total of 68 questions spread across three sections and a total exam duration of 120 minutes.
For aspirants targeting CAT 2026, going through the CAT 2025 question paper is one of the most useful steps in preparation. It gives a clear picture of the exam pattern, types of questions asked, topic weightage, and overall difficulty level.
Here is a quick overview of the CAT 2025 exam pattern:
Section | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Time (Minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|
VARC | 24 | 72 | 40 |
DILR | 22 | 66 | 40 |
QA | 22 | 66 | 40 |
Total | 68 | 204 | 120 |
Note: Each correct MCQ answer carries 3 marks. For each wrong MCQ answer, 1 mark is deducted. TITA (Type In The Answer) questions carry no negative marking.
CAT 2025 Slot-Wise Question Papers
CAT 2025 was conducted in three slots on a single day. Each slot had 68 questions with the same section-wise structure, but the difficulty level and topic mix varied slightly across slots. IIM colleges do not release a separate official CAT question paper PDF. However, candidates who appeared in the exam can access their questions through the official response sheet available on iimcat.ac.in. Memory-based question papers from all three slots are also made available by various coaching institutes shortly after the exam.
Slot wise qUESTION PAPER | Overall Difficulty |
|---|---|
Moderate to Difficult | |
Moderate to Difficult | |
Moderate |
Slot 1 (Morning): The paper was rated moderate to difficult. DILR was found to be the tougher section, while VARC was on similar lines to the previous year.
Slot 2 (Afternoon): This slot was considered moderately difficult overall. DILR featured time-intensive puzzle sets and complex data interpretation problems. QA also leaned on the tougher side in this slot.
Slot 3 (Evening): Slot 3 was slightly more manageable compared to the other two, with VARC being more approachable. QA had moderate to difficult questions, but students generally found this slot comparatively less stressful.
Since the exam is held in three slots, IIM Kozhikode uses a CAT normalisation process to ensure that candidates are not penalised for appearing in a tougher slot. The final percentile is based on the normalised score.
CAT 2025 Difficulty Level and Section-Wise Analysis
Based on expert reviews and student feedback collected after the exam, the overall difficulty of CAT 2025 was rated as moderate to difficult. DILR emerged as the toughest section across all three slots, which is consistent with the trend seen in recent CAT exams. Here is a section-wise breakdown:
Section | Difficulty Level | Key Topics Covered | Good Attempts (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
VARC | Moderate | RC Passages, Parajumbles, Para Summary | 17-18 |
DILR | Difficult | Puzzles, Venn Diagrams, DI Sets | 9-10 |
QA | Moderate to Difficult | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number System | 13-14 |
VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension): VARC was largely moderate across all three slots. Each slot had four RC passages of medium length, with four questions each. A key highlight of CAT 2025 was the return of Parajumble questions after a gap of one year. No grammar or vocabulary-based questions appeared for the fourth consecutive year. Para Summary, Odd Sentence Out, and Para Completion questions were also part of the section.
DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning): DILR was the most challenging section across all slots. Sets were multi-layered and time-intensive, requiring careful selection. In Slot 2, a singing competition-based set was widely discussed by students as one of the trickiest of the day. Candidates who were selective and focused on solvable sets were able to manage the section better.
QA (Quantitative Ability): Arithmetic dominated the QA section, with roughly 7 to 10 questions per slot. Topics such as Algebra, Geometry, Number System, Time Speed Distance, and Functions were also covered. Slot 3 saw calculation-heavy questions in QA, making time management crucial.
How to Download CAT 2025 Question Paper PDF?
IIM Kozhikode does not release a separate official question paper PDF for CAT. The questions are made available through the candidate response sheet on the official portal. Here is the step-by-step process to access it:
- Visit the official CAT website at iimcat.ac.in
- Click on the Login button on the homepage
- Enter your CAT registration number and password to sign in
- Navigate to the Response Sheet and Answer Key section in your dashboard
- Download the response sheet PDF, which contains all the questions from your slot along with your marked responses
- Cross-check your answers using the official answer key available in the same section
For candidates who want to access question papers from all three slots, memory-based papers compiled by coaching institutes are available on various educational platforms. These papers include questions recalled by students and are regularly used for practice purposes.
The official CAT answer key for CAT 2025 was released by IIM Kozhikode on December 4, 2025, and the final answer key was published on December 17, 2025. Results were declared on December 24, 2025.
How to Use CAT 2025 Question Paper for Preparation?
Solving the CAT 2025 question paper is one of the most effective ways to prepare for CAT 2026. Here is how you can get the most out of it:
- Attempt under exam conditions: Simulate the actual exam by attempting each section with a strict 40-minute limit. Do not take breaks between sections, as the real exam does not allow section switching.
- Analyse your performance section-wise: After each attempt, identify which topics cost you the most marks. Check whether your errors are conceptual, calculation-based, or due to time pressure.
- Focus on DILR set selection: DILR was the toughest section in CAT 2025. Practise picking the right sets quickly. Spending too much time on one difficult set can hurt your overall score.
- Strengthen Arithmetic for QA: Arithmetic dominated the QA section. Topics like percentages, time and work, time speed distance, and averages appeared frequently. Build a strong base here before moving on to harder topics.
- Re-attempt after a few weeks: Revisit the paper after 3 to 4 weeks of preparation to track your improvement in speed and accuracy.
- Use TITA questions to your advantage: TITA questions carry no negative marking. Always attempt them, even if you are not fully confident, as they can add meaningful marks to your score.
- Compare slot-wise trends: Solving papers from all three slots of CAT 2025 gives exposure to different difficulty patterns and question types, helping you stay adaptable during the actual exam.
Practising the CAT 2025 question paper along with papers from previous years gives a well-rounded understanding of how the exam has evolved. Pair this with regular mock tests and sectional practice for the best results in CAT 2026.
