CAT 2025 Slot 1 Exam Pattern Overview
The CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis shows that the overall exam pattern remained consistent with previous years, featuring 68 questions divided across VARC, DILR, and QA, with 40 minutes allotted to each section.
The structure included a mix of MCQs and TITA questions, maintaining the same marking scheme: +3 for correct MCQs and -1 for incorrect MCQs, with no negative marking for TITA.
Slot 1 continued the established section-wise distribution, allowing students to plan time strategically. This stable format helped aspirants approach the paper with familiarity and confidence.
CAT 2025 Slot 1 Question Distribution
| Section | MCQs | TITA | Total Questions | Duration |
| VARC | 20 | 4 | 24 | 40 mins |
| DILR | 11 | 11 | 22 | 40 mins |
| QA | 14 | 8 | 22 | 40 mins |
| Total | 45 | 23 | 68 | 120 mins |
Overall Difficulty Level Summary
The CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis indicates that the overall paper was Moderate to Difficult, slightly tougher than the CAT 2024 across all three sections.
- VARC presented lengthier options and more profound inference-based questions, making it Moderate–Difficult.
- DILR emerged as the toughest section of Slot 1, with multi-layered puzzles and a higher proportion of TITA questions.
- QA was Moderate–Difficult, dominated by Arithmetic but containing several trap-based problems that demanded careful selection.
This difficulty trend suggests that accuracy and smart question selection played a crucial role in maximising scores in CAT 2025 Slot 1.
- VARC Section Analysis
The CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis reveals that the VARC section was notably more challenging than previous years, combining dense Reading Comprehension passages with a revamped Verbal Ability mix.
The section featured 16 RC questions and 8 VA questions, maintaining the familiar structure while introducing a new twist: vocabulary-based application questions within RC, a format not previously seen in CAT.
Among the four passages, the one on “Alienists and the art of diagnosing mental disorders” was the easiest. The passages on income inequality and economic growth, and objections to electronic music, required deeper interpretation and sat at a moderate difficulty level.
The toughest passage in CAT 2025 Slot 1 VARC was on complex systems and tail events, featuring dense theoretical content and lengthy answer choices. Overall, 10–12 RC questions were realistically attemptable with high accuracy.
In Verbal Ability, parajumbles returned after a year, accompanied by 2 Summary, 2 Paragraph Completion, 2 Odd Sentence, and 2 Jumbled Paragraphs (TITA + MCQ mix).
Here, 5–6 accurate attempts were achievable. Overall, the CAT 2025 Slot 1 VARC section was tougher than the CAT 2024, with RC difficulty comparable to advanced CAT mock levels.
CAT 2025 Slot 1 VARC — Topic-Wise Breakdown
Reading Comprehension (16 Questions | MCQ | Overall: Medium)
| RC Topic | No. of Qs | Type | LOD |
| RC-1: Alienists and the art of diagnosing mental disorders | 4 | MCQ | Easy |
| RC-2: Income inequality and economic growth | 4 | MCQ | Medium |
| RC-3: Objections to Electronic Music as a musical genre | 4 | MCQ | Medium |
| RC-4: Complex Systems and the dynamics of tail events | 4 | MCQ | Difficult |
Verbal Ability (8 Questions | MCQ & TITA | Overall: Medium)
| VA Topic | No. of Qs | Type | LOD |
| Paragraph Completion | 2 | MCQ | 1 Easy, 1 Medium |
| Summary | 2 | MCQ | 2 Medium |
| Odd Sentence Questions | 2 | TITA | 2 Medium |
| Jumbled Paragraphs | 2 | TITA | 1 Easy, 1 Medium |
- An attempt of 12–13 questions with roughly 60% accuracy is likely to yield a VARC percentile of around 85.
- Attempting 16–17 questions with about 70% accuracy should be sufficient to secure a 95+ percentile in VARC.
- DILR Section Analysis
The CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis indicates that DILR was the most challenging section of the exam, with a clear shift toward complexity, multi-layered conditions, and a higher cognitive load.
The section retained its 22-question structure, divided into five sets, but the presence of 11 TITA questions significantly increased difficulty, as students had no option to rely on elimination.
The sets covered a mix of Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning formats—employee performance ratings, import–export data tables, circular arrangement with seven seats, a yes/no inference puzzle, and train movement from stations A–E.
While the import–export table was relatively more straightforward, most sets required deep analysis, with the yes/no puzzle and circular arrangement being notably time-consuming.
Expert feedback confirms that CAT 2025 Slot 1 DILR was one notch tougher than CAT 2024, making smart set selection crucial. A realistic performance benchmark was 8–10 accurate attempts, typically translating to 2–2.5 solvable sets, depending on accuracy.
CAT 2025 Slot 1 DILR — Set Breakdown
| Set Type | No. of Qs | Difficulty | Key Highlights |
| Employee Ratings | 5 | Medium | Pure DI with layered data; 4 TITA |
| Import–Export Table | 4 | Easy–Medium | Direct DI; fully MCQ |
| Circular Arrangement | 5 | Medium | 7 seats, 4 people; sequencing logic (4 MCQ, 1 TITA) |
| Yes/No Puzzle | 4 | Medium–Difficult | Inference-heavy; 2 MCQ, 2 TITA |
| Train Movement | 4 | Medium | 4 TITA-heavy; logical constraints |
- Attempting around eight questions with approximately 80% accuracy is expected to yield a DILR percentile close to 85.
- Attempting around 12 questions with an accuracy of about 85% should be enough to achieve a percentile of 95+ in DILR.
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Section Analysis
The CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis shows that the QA section was Moderate–Difficult, with several questions designed to trap students through lengthy calculations or unusual values.
The section retained its usual 22-question format, consisting of 14 MCQs and 8 TITA questions, making accuracy and question selection crucial.
Arithmetic continued to dominate the paper with 8–9 questions, covering SICI, Time & Work, TSD, Profit & Loss, Mixtures, and Ratio-based problems. While many Arithmetic questions were straightforward, others had hidden complexities requiring extra caution.
Algebra consisted of 4–5 questions on quadratic equations, logarithmic inequalities, and maxima–minima. Geometry also appeared tougher than in previous CAT editions, with 2–3 questions on circles, quadrilaterals, and coordinate geometry.
Modern Math and Number Systems had 3–4 questions each, adding to the diversity of problem types. Expert analysis confirms that an ideal performance in CAT 2025 Slot 1 QA would be 13–14 accurate attempts, given the section’s trap-heavy nature.
CAT 2025 Slot 1 QA — Topic-Wise Distribution
| Topic | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level | Remarks |
| Arithmetic | 8 | Easy–Moderate | Dominant but trap-based |
| Algebra | 5 | Moderate | Quadratics, logs, inequalities |
| Geometry | 3 | Difficult | Concept-heavy questions |
| Modern Math | 3 | Moderate | Progressions, permutations |
| Number System | 3 | Moderate | Factor-based problems |
Choosing the right questions made all the difference. While scoring 16–18 marks was reasonably achievable, reaching 30+ marks proved significantly more challenging.
- Attempting 7–8 questions with around 80% accuracy should result in a QA percentile of approximately 85.
- Attempting 12–13 questions with about 85% accuracy is likely to secure a 95+ percentile in QA.
Good Attempts for CAT 2025 Slot 1
Based on the overall difficulty level in CAT 2025 Slot 1, good attempts varied across sections due to the mix of dense RCs, complex DILR sets, and trap-heavy QA questions. Students who selected questions wisely and maintained accuracy had a clear advantage. The table below provides the ideal attempt range to target competitive percentiles across all three sections.
CAT 2025 Slot 1 — Ideal Good Attempts
| Section | Good Attempts | Difficulty Level |
| VARC | 16–17 | Moderate–Difficult |
| DILR | 8–10 | Difficult |
| QA | 13–14 | Moderate–Difficult |
| Overall | 40–43 | Medium–Difficult |
These ranges assume 70–85% accuracy, which is essential for crossing key percentile thresholds.
CAT 2025 Expected Percentile vs Score
Based on expert feedback, difficulty trends, and score patterns similar to previous years, the CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis suggests that the overall score-to-percentile mapping will remain close to CAT 2024, with slight upward adjustments due to a tougher DILR and denser RC passages.
Aspirants aiming for top percentiles will require strong accuracy, given the higher proportion of TITA questions and trap-heavy quantitative problems.
The following table summarises the expected score range for key percentiles in CAT 2025:
CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile (Expected)
| Percentile | VARC Score | DILR Score | QA Score | Overall Score |
| 99.9 | 51 | 46 | 48 | 122 |
| 99.5 | 44 | 39 | 40 | 103 |
| 99 | 40 | 34 | 33 | 90 |
| 98 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 81 |
| 95 | 30 | 26 | 25 | 70 |
| 90 | 23 | 19 | 18 | 53 |
| 85 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 45 |
| 80 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 40 |
| 75 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 34 |
These estimates may shift once the official CAT 2025 response sheet is released.
*Students should avoid making any B-school application decisions solely based on these early estimates. They are meant only to provide an initial indication of expected performance.
Key Takeaways for CAT 2026 Aspirants
The CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis offers valuable insights for future aspirants.
- VARC is moving toward dense, inference-heavy RCs.
- DILR is consistently becoming the toughest section with complex, multi-layered sets.
- QA continues to be dominated by Arithmetic but includes traps that demand precision.
For CAT 2026, focus on accuracy, brilliant selection, and profound conceptual clarity, especially in DILR and RC-based reasoning.
Note: The scores and percentile estimates mentioned in this analysis are based on student feedback and expert interpretation. They are indicative only and may differ from the official results expected in January 2026.
Conclusion
The CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis highlights a paper that was more demanding than previous years, with tougher DILR sets, denser RCs, and a strategically challenging QA section. Brilliant selection and accuracy were crucial for maximising scores.
As aspirants await the official response sheet and final results, platforms like Tarkashastra continue to support students with expert guidance, in-depth analysis, and structured preparation for future CAT attempts.
| Why Choose Tarkashastra for Your Next CAT Exam? Cracking the CAT requires more than just hard work—it demands a strategic approach, guidance, and consistent practice. Tarkashastra provides structured learning, mentor-driven support, and exam-focused resources to help aspirants navigate challenging sections such as VARC, DILR, and QA with confidence. Whether you are analysing CAT performance or starting your preparation journey, Tarkashastra ensures you stay ahead with expert insights and a proven approach. |
FAQs — CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis
1. What was the overall difficulty level of CAT 2025 Slot 1?
CAT 2025 Slot 1 was Moderate to Difficult, with DILR being the toughest section, followed by VARC and QA. Students reported longer RC passages, multi-layered puzzles, and trap-heavy quantitative questions.
2. Which section was the toughest in CAT 2025 Slot 1?
DILR was considered the toughest due to complex logic structures, heavy TITA presence, and time-consuming puzzles. Many students could solve only 2–2.5 sets accurately.
3. How many good attempts are considered safe in CAT 2025 Slot 1?
A strong attempt strategy would include 16–17 in VARC, 8–10 in DILR, and 13–14 in QA, totalling around 40–43 good attempts with solid accuracy.
4. What were the key changes in CAT 2025 Slot 1?
There were no changes in pattern, but RCs included vocabulary-based application questions for the first time, parajumbles returned, and DILR featured more TITA-heavy sets.
5. What raw score is needed for the 99th percentile in CAT 2025?
Based on expected trends, a score of around 95–103 should fall near the 99th percentile, depending on accuracy and slot-normalisation.
6. Were the CAT 2025 Slot 1 RC passages difficult?
Yes, RC difficulty varied: one passage was easy, two were moderately difficult, and the passage on complex systems and tail events was the toughest, with dense content and lengthy options.
7. What was the difficulty level of QA in CAT 2025 Slot 1?
QA was Moderate–Difficult, dominated by Arithmetic but filled with hidden traps. Algebra and Geometry questions also required deeper conceptual application.
8. Were there many TITA questions in Slot 1?
Yes, CAT 2025 Slot 1 had a significant number of TITA questions—11 in DILR and 8 in QA —increasing the challenge, since TITA offers no elimination advantage.
9. How did CAT 2025 Slot 1 compare to CAT 2024?
Slot 1 of CAT 2025 was slightly tougher overall, particularly in DILR and RCs, making accuracy more critical than in CAT 2024.
10. How can Tarkashastra help with CAT preparation?
Tarkashastra offers structured CAT coaching, expert faculty, in-depth analysis, and personalised mentorship. Their guidance helps students strengthen concepts, master test-taking strategies, and perform confidently across all CAT sections.
