The Common Admission Test 2025 kicked off today with Slot 1 presenting a more challenging experience for management aspirants compared to previous years. Conducted by IIM Kozhikode, the first session ran from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, setting the tone for what experts describe as a marginally tougher examination.
Overall Difficulty Level Increases
According to initial feedback from students and education experts, CAT 2025 Slot 1 proved to be more difficult than last year's equivalent session. The paper contained 66 questions distributed across three sections, with candidates having 120 minutes to complete the test. The marking scheme followed the standard pattern of +3 for correct answers, -1 for incorrect attempts, and no penalty for unattempted questions.
Gautam Puri, Co-founder and MD of Career Launcher, confirmed that the total number of questions was actually 68, and he characterized the overall paper as "quite tricky" compared to CAT 2024. While two sections maintained similarity with previous patterns, one particular segment saw a noticeable increase in complexity.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
VARC Section: Manageable Despite Dense Passages
The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section comprised 24 questions with 4 TITA and 20 MCQ type questions. Students had 40 minutes to complete this segment. Although the reading passages were described as dense, the questions primarily focused on central ideas rather than complex inferences, making the section broadly doable for prepared candidates.
The verbal ability portion was reportedly easier than expected, providing some relief to test-takers. Experts noted that this section maintained consistency with last year's difficulty level, offering a stable starting point for aspirants.
DILR Section: The Game Changer
The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning segment emerged as the most challenging part of CAT 2025 Slot 1. With 22 questions including 11-12 TITA items, this section required careful time management and strategic thinking. The increased difficulty stemmed from time-consuming sets and complex interlinked data that demanded higher analytical skills.
According to expert analysis, approximately 10 serious attempts in DILR would constitute a strong performance. The marginal jump in difficulty compared to last year made this section the differentiating factor for many candidates.
Quantitative Ability: Number-Heavy but Doable
The QA section featured 22 questions that followed patterns similar to CAT 2024. Students reported a dominance of number-based problems, many of which were considered solvable with adequate preparation. Gautam Puri noted that attempting 10 or more questions would be considered good, while 11-12 accurate attempts could potentially be "a game-changer" in determining overall percentile outcomes.
Strategic Implications for Remaining Slots
With Slot 2 scheduled from 12:30 PM and Slot 3 later in the day, the early analysis from Slot 1 provides valuable insights for subsequent test-takers. The consensus among students attempting the first session highlighted the need for careful question selection and tighter time management throughout the examination.
The trickier DILR segment particularly emphasized the importance of not getting stuck on complex sets and moving strategically between questions. As the day progresses, education experts will continue to monitor whether the difficulty pattern remains consistent across all three sessions of this crucial management entrance examination.
CAT 2025 marks another significant milestone in the journey of thousands of management aspirants across India, with IIM Kozhikode successfully conducting the examination amid high expectations and competitive spirits.
