CAT 2025 Question Paper PDF: Slot 1, 2 & 3 Download + Difficulty & Good Attempts

Overview: If you’re targeting CAT 2026, the CAT 2025 Question Paper is your best reality check. It tells you exactly what IIMs tested this year difficulty level, section-wise weightage, question types, traps, and what counted as a good attempt.

In this guide, we’ll walk through:

• Slot-wise and section-wise overview of the CAT 2025 official question paper
• Difficulty level and good attempts
• Topic-wise trends in VARC, DILR & QA
• How to use the CAT 2025 Question Paper PDF effectively for CAT 2026
• Quick links to detailed Toprankers analyses for each slot

CAT Percentile Predictor 2025 [Check your Score Here]

We’ll also keep all major headings in question format, just like the kind of questions you see in “People Also Ask” about the CAT 2025 exam paper.

What is the CAT 2025 Question Paper and Why is it Important?

The CAT 2025 Question Paper is the official question set asked across three slots on 30 November 2025. Each slot had the same structure:

• 3 sections – VARC, DILR, QA
• 68 questions in total
• 40 minutes per section, with a strict sectional time limit

As per the official pattern followed in the CAT 2025 exam analysis by Supergrads, the section-wise question distribution was

Section	No. of Questions	Section Duration
VARC	24	40 minutes
DILR	22	40 minutes
QA	22	40 minutes
Total	68	120 minutes

Understanding this structure from the CAT 2025 question paper helps you plan attempts, manage time, and benchmark yourself correctly. For a live, slot-wise breakdown, you can always refer to the detailed CAT Exam Analysis 2025 by Supergrads. 

Download Free CAT 2025 Official question Paper PDF

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How Many Questions Were There in the CAT 2025 Question Paper?

The number of questions remained constant across all three slots and matched the pattern given above:

• VARC – 24 questions
• DILR – 22 questions
• QA – 22 questions

For Slot 1, for example, the official analysis shows:

Section	Questions	MCQs	TITA	Difficulty (Slot 1)	Good Attempts (Slot 1)
VARC	24	20	4	Moderate to Hard	18–19 questions
DILR	22	11	11	Moderate	2–2.5 sets
QA	22	15	7	Moderate	15–17 questions
Total	68	46	22	Moderate	15–17 questions overall

A similar distribution was observed in Slots 2 and 3, with minor variations in difficulty and the number of “good attempts”.

Was the CAT 2025 Question Paper Difficult?

Short answer: Overall Moderate, but with sections and slots that definitely stung.

From the consolidated CAT 2025 exam analysis, the difficulty level across slots looked like this:

Parameter	Slot 1	Slot 2	Slot 3
VARC LOD	Moderate to Hard	Moderate	Moderate
DILR LOD	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate to Hard
QA LOD	Moderate	Moderate to Hard	Moderate to Hard
Overall	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate to Hard

Key takeaways:

• VARC felt trickier in Slot 1 due to lengthy options and inference-based questions.
• DILR was labelled “Difficult” in Slot 2 due to puzzle and Venn-diagram-based sets that demanded careful set selection.
• QA in Slots 2 & 3 leaned towards Moderate to Hard, with arithmetic dominating but loaded with calculation traps and slightly tougher Geometry/Algebra questions.

So, if you’re looking at the CAT 2025 Question Paper PDF for prep, expect a moderate but trap-heavy paper, especially in DILR and QA.

How Did the CAT 2025 Question Paper vary across Slot 1, Slot 2 and Slot 3?

Even though the pattern remained the same, the content and feel across slots varied.

Slot-wise flavour of the CAT 2025 official question paper

Feature	Slot 1	Slot 2	Slot 3
Overall difficulty	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate to Hard
VARC difficulty	Moderate to Hard	Moderate	Moderate
DILR difficulty	Moderate	Moderate to Difficult	Moderate to Difficult
QA difficulty	Moderate	Moderate to Hard	Moderate to Hard
VARC	Inference-based RCs and close options	Balanced mix of fact and inference RCs	Idea and argument-driven RCs
DILR	Mix of tables, charts and puzzles	Venn diagrams and puzzle-heavy sets	Graphs, arrangements and mixed logic sets
QA	Arithmetic is heavy with geometry traps	Arithmetic and algebra with time-consuming questions	Arithmetic plus strong algebra and geometry presence
Ideal overall strategy	Aim for balanced attempts in all 3 sections	Strong DILR selection and time control	High accuracy, focus on Q,A and careful set selection in DILR

How was the VARC Section in the CAT 2025 Question Paper?

Here are the details about the VARC section of the CAT 2025 question paper: 

Parameter	Value
Total questions	24
RC questions	16
VA questions	8
VA pattern	2 Para Jumbles, 2 Odd One Out, 2 Para Completion, 2 Para Summary
Section time	40 minutes
Overall role	The primary scoring section for many aspirants

Aspect	Slot 1	Slot 2	Slot 3
Overall difficulty	Moderate to Hard	Moderate	Moderate
RC themes	Inequality, normal distribution, and electronic music debate	AI and technology, astronomy, and literature	Ethics and AI, dams, tribal inspiration, public acts
RC challenge type	Inference-heavy with close answer options	Some passages are denser and abstract	Focus on the main idea and argument-based questions
VA mix	Standard CAT pattern, medium difficulty	Similar pattern, slightly easier than RC	Balanced and mostly moderate
Good attempts (approx)	18 to 19 questions	15 to 17 questions	16 to 18 questions

For in-depth RC and VA breakdowns, refer to the slot-wise pages linked above and the main CAT Exam Analysis 2025.

How was the DILR section in the CAT 2025 Question Paper?

DILR remained the make-or-break section.

CAT 2025 official question paper Overall DILR structure & difficulty

Parameter	Value
Total questions	22
Number of sets	4 to 5 sets per slot
Section time	40 minutes
Question types	MCQs and TITA
Role in score	High impact, strong differentiator

CAT 2025 Question Paper: DILR highlights

Aspect	Slot 1	Slot 2	Slot 3
Overall difficulty	Moderate	Moderate to Difficult	Moderate to Difficult
Typical set types	Arrangement, mixed charts, ticketing, games	Venn diagram, puzzles, tabular LRDI, quant-heavy LRDI	Line graphs, call-based set, circular arrangement, general arrangement
Nature of the challenge	Required a correct set selection, more than brute force solving	Time-consuming logic puzzles and data-heavy sets	Logical reasoning plus data interpretation blend
Good attempts	Around 2 to 2.5 sets (11 to 12 questions)	Around 13 to 14 questions with good accuracy	Around 2 to 2.5 sets (11 to 12 questions)
Ideal strategy	Start with visually simpler or shorter sets	Quickly identify one or two doable sets first	Avoid getting stuck on one difficult set

How was the QA section in the CAT 2025 Question Paper?

If you open any CAT 2025 QA memory-based question paper, you’ll immediately notice one thing: Arithmetic ruled.

CAT 2025 official question paper QA structure and topic-wise trends

Parameter	Value
Total questions	22
MCQ vs TITA mix	Around 15 MCQs and 7 TITA
Section time	40 minutes
Dominant area	Arithmetic
Supporting areas	Algebra, Geometry, Number System, Miscellaneous

Topic	Difficulty	Approx. No. of Questions	Remarks
Arithmetic	Easy–Moderate	8–9	Trap-based calculations in some Qs
Geometry	Difficult	2–3	Needed strong conceptual clarity
Number System	Moderate	1–2	Mostly factor-based
Algebra	Moderate	3–4	Max–min, inequalities, logarithms, etc.

QA in Slots 2 & 3 followed similar trends – arithmetic-heavy, but with lengthy calculations and a tricky Geometry/Algebra layer, making the overall section Moderate to Hard.

What are Considered Good Attempts in the CAT 2025 Question Paper?

From the consolidated CAT 2025 exam analysis, here’s what counted as good attempts in each slot:

Section	Slot 1 Good Attempts	Slot 2 Good Attempts	Slot 3 Good Attempts
VARC	18–19 questions	15–17 questions	16–18 questions
DILR	2–3 sets	2–2.5 sets / 13–14 Qs	2–2.5 sets
QA	15–17 questions	10–12 questions	9–10 questions
Overall	~15–17 Qs (balanced)	Moderate overall	Moderate to Hard

Remember: good attempts ≠ raw score. It assumes high accuracy (80%+). When you solve the CAT 2025 Question Paper PDF, time yourself and track both attempts and accuracy.

What Score in the CAT 2025 Question Paper is Needed for 99+ percentile?

Based on the CAT 2025 expected cut-off analysis by Supergrads, the approximate scores for 99+ and 95+ percentiles were:

Section	Score for 99+ %ile	Score for 95+ %ile
VARC	48–54	42–45
DILR	30–36	24–27
QA	27–30	21–24

Use this while you attempt CAT 2025 slot-wise question paper PDFs as mocks:

• Convert your raw score using the marking scheme
• Compare with these bands to see where you stand

For detailed slot-wise difficulty and expected cut-offs, refer again to the master CAT Exam Analysis 2025 page.

How can you use the CAT 2025 Question Paper PDF for CAT 2026 preparation?

Here’s how to squeeze maximum value from the CAT 2025 slot-wise question paper:

✅Take it as a full mock

• Simulate real exam conditions: 40 minutes per section, no pause.
• Maintain the MCQ/TITA mix and marking scheme.

✅Do a section-wise post-mortem

• Check which RC topics, DILR set types, or QA chapters hurt the most.
• Compare your experience with the official slot analyses:
  • CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis 
  • CAT 2025 Slot 2 Analysis 
  • CAT 2025 Slot 3 Analysis 

✅Build a “high-value questions” folder

• Collect tough RCs, non-routine DILR sets, and trap-heavy QA questions from the CAT 2025 paper.
• Revisit them periodically instead of endlessly solving random, easy sets.

✅Align your mocks to the 2025 pattern

• Use the section-wise distribution and difficulty trends from the CAT Exam Analysis 2025 to design or choose CAT mocks that mimic the actual exam.

✅Track improvement against 2025 benchmarks

• Aim to gradually move from:
  • 50–60% of “good attempts” → 80%+ “good attempts”
  • Scores far below 95+ range → close to or beyond 99+ expected cut-offs

Which Topics and Question Types were Most Important in the CAT 2025 Question Paper?

Based on the official analysis of all three slots, the high-impact areas in the CAT 2025 exam paper were:

✅VARC

• 4 RC passages per slot (16 questions) core scoring area.
  • Themes: inequality, consumer behaviour, electronic music, AI & ethics, dams, science, literature, etc.
• VA mix: Para jumbles, para summary, para completion, odd-one-out  2 questions each.

Prep takeaway:
Focus on dense, argumentative RCs and strengthen para-based VA skills.

✅DILR

• Sets based on:
  • Arrangements (linear & circular)
  • Venn diagrams
  • Tabular LRDI
  • Games & tournaments
  • Data-heavy charts and hybrid quant-logic sets

Prep takeaway:
Practise a variety of set types, but more importantly, learn set selection – knowing what to leave is as important as what to attempt.

✅QA

• Arithmetic as the backbone – SICI, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, TSD, ratio-based questions.
• Supporting roles from:
  • Algebra (inequalities, maxima-minima, logs)
  • Geometry (2–3 questions, but trickier)
  • Number System & a few miscellaneous topics

Prep takeaway:
You can’t dodge Arithmetic. Make it your strongest section, then build comfort in Algebra & Geometry.

What are the best tips for CAT 2026 aspirants based on the CAT 2025 question paper?

The CAT 2025 question paper gives a very clear picture of what serious aspirants should focus on for CAT 2026.

The paper was overall moderate in level and aligned with the CAT syllabus, but featured trap-heavy questions, a strong emphasis on Arithmetic in QA, RC-heavy VARC, and set-selection–dominated DILR..

If you use the CAT 2025 paper smartly, it can become a blueprint for your CAT 2026 strategy rather than just another mock.

Overall Preparation and Exam Strategy Tips

CAT 2025 reinforced that accuracy and smart selection matter more than attempting everything. Difficulty varied slightly across slots, but the pattern and section structure remained consistent.

For CAT 2026, your focus should be on building a stable base in all three sections, practising with strict sectional timing, and training yourself to stay calm even if one section feels tougher than expected.

• Focus on accuracy first, rather than making blind attempts.
• Prepare for a range of difficulty levels, not just one fixed pattern.
• Take regular sectional tests with a 40-minute limit per section.
• Aim for sensible attempts with high accuracy rather than trying to answer every question.
• Treat each section independently in the exam and avoid carrying stress from one section into the next.

VARC-specific tips from CAT 2025 Question Paper

In CAT 2025, VARC was heavily driven by Reading Comprehension, with para-based questions forming a stable pattern in Verbal Ability.

As per the CAT exam pattern, the questions were largely inference-based with close answer options, which means that for CAT 2026, you must improve the depth of your reading and your ability to differentiate between similar options.Consistent reading and focused practice on para-based tasks will make VARC a strong scoring section.

• Read one or two quality articles daily from diverse areas like economics, science, technology and social issues.
• Practise RC sets regularly with strict time limits and review why the wrong options are wrong.
• Make a daily exercise for jumbles, summaries, and completion problems.
• Train yourself to understand tone, central idea, and author intent, rather than just scanning for keywords.
• After every VARC practice set, write down one or two key learnings about mistakes in option selection.

DILR-specific tips from CAT 2025 Question Paper

The DILR section in CAT 2025 ranged from moderate to difficult, clearly showing that set selection is the real game-changer.

Many sets were solvable but time-consuming, while others looked complex but were actually structured and approachable.

For CAT 2026, you should learn to quickly scan all sets, pick two or three that suit your strengths, and avoid falling into the trap of spending too long on one puzzle.

• Practice scanning all sets in a mock before deciding which ones to attempt.
• Build comfort with common patterns such as arrangements, Venn diagrams and tabular data sets.
• Regularly solve fewer but tougher sets in depth so that your stamina and patience improve.
• Analyse every mock to identify which set types you handle best and which you should avoid in the exam.
• Learn to walk away from a set if you are stuck for too long, even if you have already invested effort in it.

QA specific tips from CAT 2025 Slot-wise Question Paper

CAT 2025 QA confirmed that Arithmetic is the backbone of the section, supported by Algebra, Geometry and a few Number System questions.

Many questions were of moderate difficulty but calculation-intensive. For CAT 2026, it is essential to build a rock-solid Arithmetic base first, then layer it with conceptual clarity in Algebra and Geometry, and finally increase calculation speed so that moderate questions do not eat up your time.

• Master core Arithmetic topics like ratio, percentage, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, time and work, and time, speed and distance.
• Once Arithmetic is strong, systematically cover Algebra and Geometry with a chapter-wise schedule.
• Practise mental calculations and approximations to handle calculation-heavy questions faster.
• Use TITA questions wisely for educated attempts when there is no negative marking risk.
• In mocks, clearly mark questions that you could have solved but missed due to speed or panic and revisit them later.

How should CAT 2026 Aspirants use the CAT 2025 Question Paper in their Preparation?

The CAT 2025 question paper, along with the CAT previous year question paper, should not be treated as just another mock test; it is a benchmark that reflects the actual exam difficulty, topic mix, and question style.

For CAT 2026, you can use this paper at different stages of your preparation to assess your level, sharpen your strategy and build a personal bank of high-value questions that you revise multiple times.

• In the early phase, solve selected questions from the paper, topic-wise, to understand the pattern and difficulty of each chapter.
• In the mid phase, take the complete CAT 2025 paper as a timed mock with section-wise time limits.
• In the later phase, revisit only the toughest and trickiest questions from all three sections and re-solve them.
• After every attempt, classify each mistake as a concept error, a speed issue, or an exam temperament issue, and plan targeted improvement.
• Compare your scores and attempts against realistic benchmarks derived from the CAT 2025 analysis to measure progress.