CAT 2025 Question Paper PDF (Slot 1, 2, 3) Download with Solutions & Analysis

Overview: The CAT 2025 Question Paper was conducted by IIM Kozhikode on November 30, 2025 across 3 slots. This page gives you direct PDF downloads for all three slots, slot-wise difficulty analysis, section-wise deep dive for VARC, DILR and QA, score vs percentile benchmarks, and exam strategy for CAT 2026 - all in one place.

Overview of CAT 2025 Exam

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 is the gateway to 21 IIMs and hundreds of prestigious B-schools - FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai, and IIT business schools. Over 2.5 lakh candidates appear every year for limited management seats. CAT 2025 was conducted by IIM Kozhikode on November 30, 2025 across 170 cities. The CAT 2025 results were declared on December 24, 2025.

Parameter	Details
Exam Name	Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025
Conducting Body	IIM Kozhikode
Exam Date	November 30, 2025
Mode	Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Number of Slots	3 (Morning, Afternoon, Evening)
Total Questions	68
Total Marks	204
Exam Duration	120 minutes (40 min per section - no switching)
Sections	VARC, DILR, QA
Marking Scheme	+3 correct MCQ, -1 wrong MCQ, 0 wrong TITA
Result Date	December 24, 2025
Total Candidates	Approximately 2.58 lakh

Also Check: CAT Exam Pattern 2026 - Complete Section-Wise Breakdown

Download CAT 2025 Question Paper PDF - All Slots

Click the slot below to directly download the official CAT 2025 question paper PDF. All links are verified and route to the exact slot-specific paper:

CAT 2025 Question Paper Slot 1	Download Now
CAT 2025 Question Paper Slot 2	Download Now
CAT 2025 Question Paper Slot 3	Download Now

Access Previous CAT Question Papers

Year	Conducting IIM	Total Questions	Link
CAT 2024	IIM Calcutta	68	View Paper
CAT 2023	IIM Lucknow	66	View Paper
CAT 2022	IIM Bangalore	66	View Paper
CAT 2021	IIM Ahmedabad	66	View Paper

Also Check: CAT Previous Year Papers - All Years Free PDF Download

CAT 2025 Question Paper Structure

The paper is divided into three sections with 40 minutes per section and no option to switch or carry over time. Understanding this structure is the foundation of any strong CAT strategy.

Section	Full Name	Questions	MCQ	TITA	Total Marks
VARC	Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension	24	~16	~8	72
DILR	Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning	22	~11	~11	66
QA	Quantitative Ability	22	~14	~8	66
Total		68	~41	~27	204

Also Check: CAT Syllabus 2026 - Complete Topic-Wise List

CAT 2025 Slot-Wise Analysis - Difficulty and Good Attempts

All three slots used the same structure and marking scheme, but difficulty varied. Here is the complete slot-wise breakdown based on expert analysis and student feedback collected after the exam.

Slot 1 Analysis (8:30 AM to 10:30 AM)

Slot 1 set a moderate to difficult tone. Students reported a balanced paper with no major surprises in pattern, though content was demanding across all sections.

• VARC (Moderate): Four RC passages - Income Inequality, Electronic Music, Mental Insanity, Complex Systems. Parajumbles made a comeback after a one-year absence.
• DILR (Moderate to Difficult): Sets on Candlestick-Ticket, Circular Arrangement, Radar Graph (Import-Export), Taps, and AR-Based Arrangement. High TITA count (~11) made set selection critical.
• QA (Moderate to Difficult): Covered Factors, Digits, Set Theory, Log, Linear Equations, Functions, Inequality, TSD, Time and Work, SICI, Percentage, Ratio, P&C, Circle, and Coordinate Geometry.

Section	Good Attempts	Target Accuracy
VARC	17 to 18	80%+
DILR	9 to 10	85%+
QA	13 to 14	80%+
Overall	40 to 43	80%+

Slot 2 Analysis (12:30 PM to 2:30 PM)

Slot 2 was considered the most difficult slot of the day by multiple coaching institutes, particularly due to a tougher DILR and more calculation-intensive QA. VARC however was the most accessible of the three slots.

• VARC (Moderate): Passages covered Blind Fish, Importance of Place in Literature, Use of Language in AI, and Ecology. Similar VA structure to Slot 1.
• DILR (Difficult): Sets on Point Graph (Sustainability Index), Bar Graph (Set Theory), Hoops and Balls, Training-Based Ordering, and Polling-based set. Three LR sets and two DI sets.
• QA (Moderate to Difficult): Arithmetic 7 questions, Algebra 4, Modern Math 4, Geometry 3, Number System 4. Algebra and Geometry were conceptually demanding.

Section	Good Attempts	Target Accuracy
VARC	16 to 18	80%+
DILR	9 to 11	85%+
QA	11 to 14	80%+
Overall	35 to 38	80%+

Slot 3 Analysis (4:30 PM to 6:30 PM)

Slot 3 was the toughest of the three - calculation-intensive QA and time-consuming DILR sets made it the most demanding slot of the day across all three sections.

• VARC (Moderate to Difficult): Passages were primarily around environmental science, slightly more difficult than other slots for candidates with limited diverse reading habits.
• DILR (Difficult): More number-logic-driven LR questions than DI. Variable DI to LR distribution made it challenging compared to the fixed pattern seen in previous years.
• QA (Difficult): Arithmetic remained dominant at 10+ questions, but Geometry and Algebra layers added complexity. Most calculation-heavy slot of the day.

Section	Good Attempts	Target Accuracy
VARC	16 to 17	80%+
DILR	9 to 10	85%+
QA	12 to 14	80%+
Overall	42 to 48	80%+

Slot-Wise Difficulty Comparison

Slot	VARC	DILR	QA	Overall
Slot 1	Moderate	Moderate to Difficult	Moderate to Difficult	Moderate to Difficult
Slot 2	Moderate	Difficult	Moderate to Difficult	Moderate to Difficult
Slot 3	Moderate to Difficult	Difficult	Difficult	Difficult

Also Check: CAT 2025 Slot 3 Detailed Analysis - Expert Review

Attempt Free CAT Mock Test - Simulate Real Exam Conditions

CAT 2025 Section-Wise Deep Dive

VARC - Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

VARC followed a consistent structure across all three slots. RC carried the maximum weightage - four passages per slot with four questions each - totalling 16 RC questions out of 24. No grammar or vocabulary questions appeared for the fourth consecutive year.

Slot	RC Passage Topics
Slot 1	Income Inequality, Electronic Music, Mental Insanity, Complex Systems
Slot 2	Blind Fish, Importance of Place in Literature, AI and Language, Ecology
Slot 3	Environmental Science (primary focus), Tribal Art, Technology Themes

VA Question Types across all slots: Para Jumbles (TITA) returned after a one-year gap, Para Summary (MCQ), Para Completion (MCQ), Odd Sentence Out (TITA). No grammar or vocabulary - continuing a multi-year trend.

Also Check: Free VARC Practice Questions for CAT 2026

DILR - Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

DILR was the make-or-break section across all slots. CAT 2025 saw a variable DI to LR distribution, with some slots being heavily LR-dominant - unlike CAT 2024's fixed 3 DI to 2 LR ratio.

Parameter	Detail
Sets per slot	5 (mix of 4-question and 5-question sets)
Typical structure	2 sets x 5 questions + 3 sets x 4 questions
TITA questions	~10 to 11 out of 22
Set types observed	Candlestick Charts, Circular Arrangement, Radar Graphs, Scheduling and Ordering, Polling-based LR, Bar Graph Set Theory, Hoops and Balls

Also Check: Free DILR Practice Questions for CAT 2026

QA - Quantitative Ability

Arithmetic dominated with 7 to 10 questions per slot. Candidates with strong Arithmetic fundamentals could secure 6 to 8 marks quickly, freeing time for harder topics across Algebra, Geometry, and Number System.

Topic	Approx. Questions	Difficulty
Arithmetic (SICI, TSD, Time and Work, P&L, Ratio)	7 to 10	Easy to Moderate
Algebra (Equations, Inequalities, Log)	4 to 5	Moderate to Difficult
Modern Math (P&C, Probability, Sets)	3 to 4	Moderate to Difficult
Geometry and Mensuration	3 to 4	Moderate
Number System	3 to 4	Moderate to Difficult

Also Check: Free QA Practice Questions for CAT 2026

Arithmetic Questions	Time & Work Questions	Profit & Loss Questions
Averages Questions	Time-Speed-Distance	VARC Questions Bank
DILR Questions Bank	Games & Tournaments	Free CAT Mock Tests

How to Download the Official CAT 2025 Question Paper

IIMs do not publicly release the official CAT question paper PDF. The response sheet and answer key - which together constitute the full paper, are accessible via the official portal. Follow these steps:

Step	Action
Step 1	Visit the official CAT website at iimcat.ac.in
Step 2	Click the Login button on the homepage
Step 3	Enter your CAT Registration Number and Password
Step 4	Navigate to the Response Sheet section in your dashboard
Step 5	View and download your slot's question paper via the response sheet
Step 6	Cross-reference with the official answer key to evaluate your performance

Also Check: CAT 2025 Results - Score, Percentile and Scorecard Download Guide

CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile Expected Benchmarks

Based on expert analysis, here are the approximate score-percentile benchmarks for CAT 2025. Use these as planning references - actual percentiles are officially determined by IIM Kozhikode after normalisation.

Percentile	Approximate Raw Score
99.5+ Percentile	110 to 120+
99 Percentile	95 to 105
95 Percentile	75 to 85
90 Percentile	60 to 70
85 Percentile	50 to 60

Attempts and Accuracy Needed for 99 Percentile

Section	Attempts Needed	Minimum Accuracy
VARC	17 to 18	80%
DILR	9 to 10	90%
QA	13 to 17	80%

Also Check: CAT Cut Off for IIMs 2026 - Category-Wise Percentile Requirements

Key Trends from the CAT 2025 Question Paper

Five clear patterns emerged from CAT 2025 that directly shape what CAT 2026 aspirants should prioritise:

Trend	What It Means for CAT 2026
DILR remains the section differentiator	Two well-solved sets can mean a massive percentile jump. Practice set selection before solving.
Arithmetic is non-negotiable in QA	10+ Arithmetic questions across every slot. TSD, SICI, Profit and Loss, Time and Work are must-master topics.
No grammar or vocabulary - fourth consecutive year	All VARC questions test inference and logical coherence. Stop investing time in vocabulary books.
Parajumbles returned after one-year absence	Include dedicated Parajumble practice in your weekly VARC plan - at least 5 to 10 sets per week.
High TITA count in DILR (~10 to 11 out of 22)	After partially solving a set, always attempt TITA questions - no penalty means only upside.

Also Check: CAT 2025 Exam Analysis - Complete Slot-Wise Expert Review

Preparation Tips Based on CAT 2025 - Section-Wise

VARC Preparation Tips

• Read daily from The Economist, Harvard Business Review, Aeon Magazine, and The Hindu Opinion page - target 8 to 9 minutes per RC passage
• Master all four para-based question types: Para Jumbles, Para Summary, Para Completion, Odd Sentence Out - practice at least 10 sets per week
• Re-engage specifically with Parajumbles - their return in CAT 2025 makes them a high-priority topic for CAT 2026
• Never skip TITA VA questions - no negative marking means every attempt has positive expected value

DILR Preparation Tips

• Practice set selection first - spend 2 minutes reading all 5 set headings before attempting any; attempting 2 to 3 sets completely beats partially attempting all 5
• Build familiarity with all key set types: Scheduling, Arrangements, Games and Tournaments, Charts, Logical Grids, Venn-based reasoning
• Solve all DILR sets from CAT PYQs 2019 to 2025 - nothing else replicates actual exam set style as accurately
• Never leave a TITA question blank after spending time on a set - there is no penalty

QA Preparation Tips

• Make Arithmetic your strongest domain first - SICI, Profit and Loss, TSD, Time and Work, Mixtures, and Ratio are the highest-ROI topics in CAT QA
• Build Algebra fundamentals next: quadratic equations, logarithmic inequalities, and functions appear regularly across all slots
• Do not ignore Modern Math - P&C, Probability, and Sets account for 3 to 4 questions per slot every year
• Practice mental math and approximation to save crucial seconds per question under exam pressure

Overall Exam Strategy

• 90-second rule: If a question shows no progress within 90 seconds, move on immediately without hesitation
• Accuracy over attempts: 35 correct out of 40 attempts beats 40 attempts with 70% accuracy due to negative marking - always prioritise quality
• TITA is risk-free: No negative marking means every TITA attempt has positive expected value regardless of your certainty level

Also Check: CAT Study Plan 2026 - Month-Wise Preparation Roadmap

Also Check: Best CAT Books 2026 - Section-Wise Picks for QA, VARC and DILR

CAT 2025 vs Previous Years - Pattern Evolution

The CAT 2025 paper maintained the 68-question format introduced in CAT 2024, confirming this as the stable pattern for CAT 2026. The key shift was DILR growing from 20 to 22 questions in 2024 - now consolidated.

Year	Total Questions	VARC	DILR	QA	Duration
2019	100	34	32	34	180 min
2020	76	26	24	26	120 min
2021	66	24	20	22	120 min
2022	66	24	20	22	120 min
2023	66	24	20	22	120 min
2024	68	24	22	22	120 min
2025	68	24	22	22	120 min

Also Check: CAT Previous Year Papers - Download Free PDF (All Years)

Conclusion

The CAT 2025 Question Paper is the most powerful preparation tool available for anyone targeting CAT 2026. By studying the actual paper, you gain direct insight into the question types IIMs value, the difficulty patterns that define strong percentile scores, and the time management strategies that separate 95 percentile from 99 percentile candidates.

Download the slot-specific PDFs above, simulate real exam conditions, and use the analysis in this guide to identify your gaps. Pay special attention to DILR set selection, strengthen Arithmetic for QA, and read widely daily to build the deep comprehension VARC demands.

Reviewing the CAT 2025 Slot 3 analysis will offer additional insights into the toughest slot's difficulty and question patterns - essential reading for every CAT 2026 aspirant.

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