CAT 2025 Exam: Slot 2 Begins at 12:30 PM; Slot 1 Analysis Out

Published: Sunday, November 30, 2025, 12:38 [IST]

The CAT 2025 exam continues with Slot 2 starting at 12:30 PM today, following the completion of Slot 1 earlier in the day. Early reports and student feedback from Slot 1 suggest that the exam was moderate to slightly difficult, with the Quantitative Ability (QA) section being the toughest.

CAT 2025 Exam: Slot 2 Begins at 12:30 PM; Slot 1 — PTI Images

Experts have released a detailed Slot 1 analysis, including section-wise difficulty, number of questions, and expected cut-offs. Slot 2 candidates can use this analysis to strategize their attempt.

CAT 2025 Exam: Slot 2 Begins at 12:30; Detailed Analysis of Slot 1 Out!

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, one of India's most prestigious MBA entrance exams, is currently underway, with Slot 2 commencing at 12:30 PM. Earlier, Slot 1 concluded successfully, providing valuable insights into the difficulty level, question types, and sectional trends that candidates can use to optimize their preparation for the next session.

CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis

According to student feedback and expert analysis, the first slot had the following observations:

Overall Difficulty: Moderate to Slightly Tough

Quantitative Ability (QA): Most challenging, requiring strong calculation speed and problem-solving skills. Topics like Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry dominated.

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR): Moderate, with a mix of puzzles, charts, and tables. Time management was crucial as some sets were lengthy.

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC): Moderate, with 4-5 reading comprehension passages and some tricky grammar-based questions.

Experts have highlighted that QA was time-consuming, while DILR required careful strategy, as candidates had to select the easiest sets first. VARC was manageable for candidates strong in reading comprehension, though some questions tested critical reasoning skills.

Slot 1: Number of Questions & Sectional Weightage

Quantitative Ability (QA): 24 questions
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR): 20 questions
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC): 22 questions
Total Questions: 66 questions
Duration: 120 minutes

This distribution aligns with the standard CAT pattern, with QA often considered the most challenging section, while VARC acts as a scoring section for well-prepared candidates.

Expected Cut-Off Trends

While CAT 2025 results will be declared later, experts predict that:

A 90+ percentile may require 50-55 correct attempts in Slot 1.
High-performing candidates in QA and DILR can maximize scores, as these sections have a higher difficulty weightage.
VARC can act as a differentiator among candidates with similar QA-DILR scores.

Slot 2 Strategy

With Slot 2 starting at 12:30 PM, aspirants should consider:

Time Management: Allocate time based on personal strengths; QA may require longer.
Attempt Easy Questions First: In DILR, solve simpler sets first to secure quick marks.
Maintain Accuracy: Negative marking (-1 for wrong answers) requires careful selection of questions.
Stay Calm & Focused: Stress can reduce accuracy, particularly in puzzles and quantitative problems.

Key Tips for Slot 2 Candidates

Read the instructions carefully before beginning.
Skip very lengthy sets initially; return if time permits.
Monitor your pace using the on-screen timer.
Keep calm during VARC; focus on comprehension rather than speed.

Expert Opinions

CAT experts believe that Slot 2 will likely have similar difficulty levels as Slot 1. However, slight variation in passage topics and DILR sets can change the perceived difficulty. Candidates who can efficiently manage time and avoid guesswork will have an edge.

Conclusion

With Slot 1 analysis available, candidates appearing in Slot 2 of CAT 2025 can plan their approach and maximize scoring opportunities. Staying calm, managing time, and leveraging insights from the earlier slot can make a significant difference in overall performance.