CAT 2025 Exam Analytics – Question Paper Insights

1. Exam Structure & Key Updates

• Total Questions: 68 (VARC: 24 | DILR: 22 | QA: 22) 
• Duration: 120 minutes (40 minutes per section), no change in time allocation 
• Marking Scheme: +3 for correct MCQs, –1 for wrong, no penalty for TITA answers 
• Pattern Changes:
  • DILR expanded to 22 questions (previously 20), structured as 3 sets of 4 + 2 sets of 5 questions 
  • Increase in proportion of TITA questions across all three sections 
• Difficulty Trend: CAT 2024 was moderately difficult overall, but easier than 2023, particularly in QA and DILR. Slot 1 was generally easiest, Slot 3 the toughest 

2. Section-Wise Insights

VARC (24 Q)

• Difficulty remained similar to 2023 levels; reading comprehension dominated (up to 16 of 24 questions) 
• Para jumbles were completely absent in 2024, shifting focus to inference-heavy RCs and vocabulary/grammar questions 

DILR (22 Q)

• Structures and types changed; increased complexity with mixed-style sets and more TITA inclusion 
• In CAT 2024, DILR was easier than previous years, especially Slot 1, where 3 of 5 sets were considered easy and high accuracy attempts possible 
• Quantitative Ability (22 Q)
• Sustained focus on arithmetic and algebra – accounting for 50+% of section weightage, topics remain critical for CAT 2025 

3. Slot-Wise Difficulty Trends from CAT 2024

Section	Slot 1	Slot 2	Slot 3
VARC	Moderate	Moderate–Easy	Moderate–Difficult
DILR	Easy–Moderate	Moderate	Moderate–Difficult
QA	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate–Hard

• Slot 1 & 2 were generally easier in DILR & VARC, whereas Slot 3 was the toughest—especially in DILR and QA Reddit echoed that Slot 3 felt notably more difficult, particularly in DILR and Quant 

4. Key Insights & Prep Strategy for CAT 2025

• Stick to Fundamentals: Focus on speeding up arithmetic/algebra and practicing TITA response techniques.
• Prioritize DILR TITA Practice: With more DS and mixed-type sets, smart time allocation matters.
• Slot Variability: Be aware that Slot 3 is expected to be tougher—plan accordingly if you’re in the afternoon/evening shift.
• Score Cutting Trends: Easier overall difficulty in 2024 may push 90–95 percentile raw score thresholds higher 

CAT 2025 Difficulty Heatmap (Focus Edition)

 Section Overview

Section	No. of Qs	Core Focus Areas	Difficulty Snapshot
VARC	24	Reading Comprehension (RC), Critical Reasoning, Para-summary	Moderate (Inference-heavy RCs)
DILR	22	Data Sets (Tabular, Games & Tournaments, Venn), Logic Puzzles	Moderate–Tough (More TITA & mixed sets)
Quant (QA)	22	Arithmetic (Time, Work, SICI, Ratio), Algebra (Equations, Progressions), Geometry	Moderate (Algebra & Arithmetic dominate)

🔹 Slot-Wise Heat Levels (CAT 2024 Benchmark)

(CAT 2025 expected to follow similar slot-wise gradient with new TITA emphasis)

Section / Slot	Slot 1	Slot 2	Slot 3
VARC	Moderate	Easy–Moderate	Moderate–Tough
DILR	Easy–Moderate	Moderate	Moderate–Tough
QA	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate–Hard

🔹 Topic-Wise Heatmap (Focus Edition)

Section	Key Topics	Heat Level 2025
VARC	RC (Inference, Tone, Critical Analysis)	Moderate–Tough
	Para-summary / Odd-sentence-out	Moderate
	Vocabulary/Grammar (new TITA insertions)	Easy
DILR	Games & Tournaments	Moderate–Tough
	Venn / Set Theory Puzzles	Moderate
	Tabular Data & Arithmetic-based Sets	Easy–Moderate
QA	Arithmetic (SICI, Time-Speed-Distance, Work)	Moderate
	Algebra (Equations, Inequalities, Progressions)	Moderate–Tough
	Geometry & Mensuration	Moderate
	Number System & Modern Math	Easy–Moderate

🔹 Key Takeaways for CAT 2025 Prep

• VARC: RC is the game-changer – inference-based sets dominate, para jumbles absent last year.
• DILR: Expect mixed-set logic puzzles with higher TITA weightage; solving 3/5 sets cleanly could ensure 95+ percentile.
• QA: Arithmetic + Algebra = >50% weight. Target high accuracy here to offset tough DILR.
• Slot Trend: Slot 3 tends tougher – mental stamina and adaptive strategy critical.

CAT 2024 Exam Analytics – Question Paper Insights

1. Overview of CAT 2024

• Total Questions: 68 (VARC: 24 Q | DILR: 22 Q | QA: 22 Q)
• Duration: 120 minutes (40 minutes per section); fixed section order
• Marking Scheme: +3 for correct MCQs, –1 for wrong MCQs; no penalty for TITA questions Key Changes: PARAJUMBLES removed from VARC; DILR expanded to 5 sets (22 Q instead of 20) 

2. Slot-wise Section Difficulty

Slot 1: Balanced & Favorable

Section	Difficulty Level
VARC	Easy–Moderate
DILR	Easy–Moderate (noticeably easier than 2023)
QA	Easy–Moderate (Arithmetic-heavy)

 

Slot 2: Moderate Across the Board

• VARC: Moderate, similar to Slot 1 
• DILR: Moderate; at least 2 sets were manageable 
• QA: Moderate; algebra was tougher, others manageable 

Slot 3: Slightly Difficult

• VARC: Moderate–Difficult (RCs with tougher inference) 
• DILR: Moderate–Difficult (some challenging sets) 
• QA: Moderate–Hard; somewhat tougher than Slot 2 

3. Difficulty Heatmap (Slots 1–3)

Section	Slot 1	Slot 2	Slot 3
VARC	Easy–Moderate	Moderate	Moderate–Hard
DILR	Easy–Moderate	Moderate	Moderate–Hard
QA	Easy–Moderate	Moderate	Moderate–Hard

4. Section-wise Insights

• VARC: Easier than previous years, with removal of para jumbles easing the section for many aspirants 
• DILR: Notably easier, especially in Slot 1—2–3 sets were attemptable with confidence 
• QA: More approachable across slots; Slot 2 had deeper algebraic challenges but still within moderate difficulty 

5. Key Takeaways & Strategy

• Manageable Overall Difficulty: CAT 2024 was easier than CAT 2023, especially in DILR and QA 
• Slot Variation Matters: Slot 3 proved to be more challenging—aim to master core questions early.
• Heatmap Strategy:
  1. Slot 1: Attempt broadly—strength across sections pays off
  2. Slot 2 & 3: Focus on accuracy in DILR and QA
• Good Attempts Range (Slot 1):
  1. VARC: 15–18 | DILR: 10–14 | QA: 14–15 

CAT 2024 Difficulty Heatmap (Focus Edition)

1. Exam Overview

• Structure: Three sections — VARC (24 Q), DILR (22 Q), QA (22 Q); total of 68 questions, 40 minutes each; overall duration 120 minutes. 
• Changes from CAT 2023:
  1. VARC: No para jumble questions in any slot. 
  2. DILR: Now 22 questions across 5 sets (4–5 questions each). 
• Overall Difficulty: CAT 2024 was rated easier than CAT 2023 but still moderate overall. Slot Variations:
  1. Slot 1 & 2 were more manageable; Slot 3 was reported as more challenging. 
  2. Reddit feedback:“Slot 3 was tough,DILR was tough, Quant was tough too.
      “Slot 1 DILR was easy, quant doable, VARC tougher.”

2. Difficulty Heatmap (All Slots – Simplified)

Highlights:

• VARC: Overall moderate, with slightly tougher passage-based tasks in Slot 3
• DILR:
  1. Slot 1: Easy–Moderate sets. 
  2. Slot 2: Moderate difficulty overall. 
  3. Slot 3: Challenging sets reported by test-takers. 
• QA: Consistently moderate; Slot 3 might feel slightly tougher due to tricky questions. 

3. Section-Level Insights

• VARC:
  1. No para jumbles—replaced by para completion, odd-one-out, para summaries. 
  2. Good attempts: ~14–16 in Slot 1. 
• DILR:
  1. Slot 1 was easier than prior year; sets included straightforward puzzles and DI. 
  2. Slot 2 had a mix—with easy LR and moderate DI. 
  3. Slot 3 had at least 1 or 2 challenging sets. 
• QA:
  1. Moderately difficult across slots; arithmetic-heavy with some tricky algebra/geometry. 

4. Summary Table

Section	Slot 1	Slot 2	Slot 3
VARC	Moderate	Moderate	Medium–Difficult
DILR	Easy–Moderate	Moderate	Hard
QA	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate–Hard

5. Key Takeaways for CAT 2024

• VARC was stable—with changes in format shifting focus to comprehension and critical reasoning.
• DILR became the key differentiator, especially in Slot 3.
• Quant remained reliable—accuracy and calculative speed were critical.
• Variation Exists: Slot 3 posed notably more difficulty, particularly in DILR and VARC.
• Heatmap Advantage: Helps visualize where to focus efforts across sections and slots.

CAT 2023 Exam Analytics – Question Paper Insights

1. Exam Overview

• Total Questions: 66
• Total Duration: 120 minutes (40 min/section, no switching allowed)
• Marking Scheme: +3 (correct), –1 (wrong MCQ), 0 (TITA)
• Sections:
  • VARC – 24 Questions
  • DILR – 20 Questions
  • QA – 22 Questions

Key 2023 Change: Difficulty balance shifted → DILR remained hardest, VARC moderately difficult, QA varied by slot (Slot 1 toughest).

2. Section-Wise Question Paper Insights

🔹 VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)

Distribution:

• RC: 16 Q (4 passages × 4 Q each)
• VA: 8 Q (Para Summary, Para Jumble, Odd Sentence Out)

Question Paper Insights:

• RC passages were denser than in 2022 (science, economics, sociology).
• Inference & tone-based questions dominated → accuracy became key.
• VA questions had higher risk of error; para jumbles remained non-MCQ.

Verdict: Moderate to moderately difficult strong readers had advantage.

🔹 DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning)

Distribution:

• 4 Sets × 5 Questions each

Question Paper Insights:

• Only 1 set in each slot was relatively easy.
• 2 sets were highly calculation-intensive / puzzle-heavy.
• Caselet-style questions required multi-step reasoning.
• Smart selection (choosing 2 solvable sets) was the only strategy.

Verdict: Hardest section across all slots.

🔹 QA (Quantitative Aptitude)

Distribution:

• Arithmetic (8–9 Q), Algebra (6–7 Q), Geometry (3–4 Q), Numbers/Modern Math (2–3 Q).

Question Paper Insights:

• Arithmetic remained scoring (time, work, percentages, ratios).
• Algebra was tricky (inequalities, functions).
• Geometry & number system had high difficulty in Slot 1.
• Slot-wise variation: Slot 1 was hardest, Slot 2 & 3 relatively moderate.

Verdict: Moderate overall, but slot-dependent.

3. Slot-Wise Analytics (CAT 2023)

Section	Slot 1	Slot 2	Slot 3
VARC	Moderate–Hard	Moderate	Moderate–Hard
DILR	Hard–Very Hard	Hard	Hard
QA	Hardest (Slot 1)	Moderate–Hard	Moderate

4. Key Takeaways – Question Paper Insights

1. VARC: RC passages became more challenging → inference & critical reasoning skills critical.
2. DILR: Selectivity was key; only 2 sets were realistically solvable in time.
3. QA: Arithmetic was the scoring area; advanced algebra/geometry acted as differentiators.
4. Slot Effect: Slot 1 QA toughest; DILR tough across all slots; VARC showed mild variation.
5. Overall: CAT 2023 favored students with strong time management, accuracy, and selective attempt strategy.

CAT 2023 Difficulty Heatmap (Focus Edition)

1. Overall Structure (CAT 2023)

• Total Questions: 66 (MCQ + TITA)
• Total Time: 120 minutes (40 min/section, no switching)
• Sections:
  • VARC – 24 Q
  • DILR – 20 Q
  • QA – 22 Q
• Marking Scheme:
  • +3 for correct, –1 for wrong (MCQ), 0 for TITA.

2. Section-Wise Difficulty Analytics

🔹 VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension – 24 Q | 40 min)

Distribution (2023):

• Reading Comprehension (RC): 16 Q (4 passages × 4 Q each)
• Verbal Ability (VA): 8 Q (Para Jumbles, Para Summary, Odd-One-Out)

Difficulty Heatmap – VARC:

Question Range	Difficulty Trend	Notes
Q1–6	Medium	RC passages started with humanities / social science topics.
Q7–12	Medium–Hard	RC inference-based, some dense scientific passages.
Q13–18	Hard	Critical reasoning style RC + tricky para summary.
Q19–24	Medium–Hard	Para jumbles + odd sentence out were accuracy traps.

Insight: CAT 2023 VARC was moderately difficult, with tougher RC compared to 2022. Accuracy > Attempt mattered more.

🔹 DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning – 20 Q | 40 min

Distribution (2023):

• 4 Sets × 5 Q each
• Mix of logical puzzles, arrangement, data tables, Venn-diagrams.

Difficulty Heatmap – DILR:

Set Position	Difficulty Trend	Notes
Set 1	Medium	Games & tournaments / basic tabular set.
Set 2	Hard	Complicated Venn diagram with conditions.
Set 3	Hard–Very Hard	Heavy calculation-based arrangement puzzle.
Set 4	Medium–Hard	Caselet with data sufficiency-style reasoning.

Insight: CAT 2023 DILR was the toughest section again, with at least 2 very hard sets. Most candidates could solve 1 easy + 1 medium set fully.

🔹 QA (Quantitative Aptitude – 22 Q | 40 min)

Topic Mix (2023):

• Arithmetic: 8–9 Q (time, work, ratio, percentages, mixtures)
• Algebra: 6–7 Q (equations, inequalities, functions)
• Geometry: 3–4 Q
• Modern Math & Numbers: 2–3 Q

Difficulty Heatmap – QA:

Question Range	Difficulty Trend	Notes
Q1–7	Medium	Arithmetic-heavy, approachable.
Q8–14	Medium–Hard	Algebra inequalities, quadratic traps.
Q15–18	Hard	Geometry & tricky numbers problems.
Q19–22	Hard–Very Hard	Mix of advanced arithmetic + algebra (elite differentiator).

Insight: QA was moderate, easier than DILR but trickier than VARC in Slots 2 & 3. Slot 1 QA was reported as the toughest.

3. Slot-Wise Difficulty Comparison (CAT 2023)

Section	Slot 1	Slot 2	Slot 3
VARC	Moderate–Hard	Moderate	Moderate–Hard
DILR	Hard–Very Hard	Hard	Hard
QA	Hardest (Slot 1)	Moderate–Hard	Moderate

Key Observation:

• Slot 1 candidates faced tougher QA, while Slot 2 & 3 had relatively balanced QA.
• DILR was uniformly difficult across slots.
• VARC had only slight slot variation.

4. Key Takeaways – CAT 2023

• VARC: Reading Comprehension drove difficulty; inference-based traps were common.
• DILR: The hardest section – time-consuming sets, selective solving required.
• QA: Arithmetic was scoring, algebra & geometry tricky; Slot 1 toughest.
• Overall: CAT 2023 rewarded accuracy, time management, and smart selection of sets/questions.