Download 2025 All Three Slots, Complete Analysis, Strategies & Preparation for CAT 2026
The Testfunda Team | April 2026
Hello CAT aspirants!
If you’re preparing for CAT 2026 (or even CAT 2027), the single most valuable resource you can get your hands on right now is the actual CAT 2025 question paper. The papers that 2.95 lakh candidates faced on 30 November 2025 across three slots conducted by IIM Kozhikode.
The best way to crack CAT is to study like the toppers do: solve every official paper, analyse it threadbare, and then practise with mocks that mirror the exact difficulty and pattern. Exact exam pattern and slot-wise difficulty of CAT 2025
CAT 2025 Question paper: What Changed & What Remained
CAT 2025 maintained the familiar structure-
Total Questions: 68
| Sections: |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) – 24 questions |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) – 22 questions |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) – 22 questions |
| Time: 120 minutes (exactly 40 minutes per section) |
| Marking: +3 for correct MCQ, –1 for wrong MCQ, 0 for TITA (non-MCQ) and unanswered |
| Mode: Computer-based test (CBT) |
No major surprises in pattern, but the difficulty curve was noticeably steeper than CAT 2024, especially in DILR and QA in certain slots. Overall, experts rated CAT 2025 as Moderate to Difficult - slightly tougher than 2024, with tighter score-to-percentile mapping in DILR and QA.
Why does this matter for you? Because CAT keeps evolving subtly every year. The 2025 paper showed a clear preference for application-based questions, longer RCs with close options, calculation-intensive DILR sets, and QA problems that tested conceptual depth rather than formula recall. Solving the actual 2025 papers will give you the exact flavour of what IIMs are testing today.
CAT 2025 Question paper: Slot-Wise Difficulty Analysis
Slot 1 (Morning – 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM)
Overall Difficulty: Tricky, marginally tougher than CAT 2024 Slot 1
VARC: Moderate (24 Qs) – 4 RCs on topics like Income Inequality & Economic Growth, Electronic Music, Law & Mental Health, Noise & Social Order. VA had Para Jumble, Summary, Sentence Placement, Odd One Out. Good attempts: 10–12
DILR: Moderate-Difficult (22 Qs) – Five sets including Spider plus Bar graph, Seating Arrangement, Quant-based Train Tickets, Feet Tapping, Employee Rating puzzle. Highly time-consuming. Good attempts: 8–9
QA: Moderate (22 Qs) – Heavy on Arithmetic & Algebra, Geometry easier than expected. Good attempts: 11–12
Common experience by the exam takers: “VARC was reading-heavy but doable. DILR was the real killer - you had to pick sets very carefully.”
Slot 2 (Afternoon – 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM)
Overall Difficulty: Moderately challenging, slightly more balanced than Slot 1
VARC: Moderate (24 Qs) – RCs included ChatGPT-themed and animal behaviour passages. Good attempts: 10–12
DILR: Moderate-Difficult (22 Qs) – Scheduling, routes/pathways, network-graph sets. Two easier sets visible after quick scan. Good attempts: 8–9
QA: Moderate (22 Qs) – Lengthy Algebra questions, strong focus on Time & Work and Geometry. Good attempts: 10–11 (some reports said 6–7 for very high accuracy)
Common experience by the exam takers: “More approachable than Slot 1 if you had practised mixed DI sets.”
Slot 3 (Evening – 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM)
Overall Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult (QA was the toughest of the day)
VARC: Easy-Moderate (24 Qs) – Most student-friendly VARC of the day. Good attempts: 12–13
DILR: Moderate (22 Qs) – Predictable structure but higher logical depth. Good attempts: 8–9
QA: Difficult (22 Qs) – Multi-step reasoning, calculation pressure at its peak. Good attempts: 8–9
Common experience by the exam takers: “By evening fatigue hit hard. QA felt like a different league.”
Key Takeaway Across Slots: DILR emerged as the biggest differentiator. The sets rewarded students who could quickly identify the “easy to moderate” combination rather than attempting everything. QA punished guesswork. VARC rewarded pure reading speed and accuracy.
Direct Download Links: Actual CAT 2025 Question Papers (All Slots)
Here are the official-style actual papers compiled and verified by top coaching institutes (with detailed solutions). These are the closest you will get to the real exam interface.
CAT 2025 Slot 1 Actual Paper (Morning) Download Slot 1 Paper (PDF)
CAT 2025 Slot 2 Actual Paper (Afternoon) Download Slot 2 Paper (PDF)
CAT 2025 Slot 3 Actual Paper (Evening) Download Slot 3 Paper (PDF)
Download all three. Print them if possible. Or else, you can experience a real computer based exam at testfunda.com. Attempt each paper in one sitting under exact 120-minute timed conditions. Then spend double the time analysing.
CAT 2025 Question paper: How to Analyse CAT 2025 Papers Like a Toppers
Phase 1: Raw Attempt (Day 1)
Attempt the paper exactly like the real exam. No peeking.
Phase 2: Deep Analysis (Day 2–3) For every question you got wrong or left:
- Topic Classification – Was it Arithmetic, Algebra, RC Inference, LR Set selection?
- Error Type – Silly mistake ? Conceptual gap? Time trap ? Misread?
- Difficulty Level – Easy-Medium-Hard (as per 2025 standard)
- Time Spent – Did you spend greater than 2.5 mins on a question that should have been 1.5 mins?
Phase 3: Concept Mapping Create a Google Sheet or Excel:
- Column A: Question No.
- Column B: Section & Topic
- Column C: Your Score
- Column D: Ideal Time
- Column E: Revision Note / Formula / Shortcut
Phase 4: Weak Area Drill If DILR was your bottleneck in Slot 1, solve 50 similar sets from our Testfunda DILR before moving to Slot 2.
Free CAT Mock Test CLICK HERE
Do this for all three slots and you will see your accuracy jump 15–20% within 3 weeks.
CAT 2025 Question paper- Section-Wise Strategy for CAT 2026 Based on 2025 Insights
VARC Strategy
- 2025 taught us that reading speed + option elimination is king.
- Practice 4 RCs daily from Testfunda’s RC 500+ bank (topics exactly like 2025 — Economics, Sociology, Tech, Environment).
- VA (Para Jumbles, Summary, Odd One Out) — focus on 100% accuracy. No guesswork.
- Target: 17–19 attempts with 85%+ accuracy → 99+ percentile possible.
DILR Strategy
- The biggest lesson of 2025: Set selection is 70% of the game.
- Train your eye to spot “easy sets” in the first 3 minutes (Spider-Bar, simple scheduling).
- Our Testfunda DILR mocks now include 2025-style mixed graphs + calculation-heavy sets.
- Target: 2.5–3 sets (10–12 questions) with high accuracy.
QA Strategy
- Arithmetic & Algebra still dominate (almost 14–16 questions combined).
- Geometry and Modern Math are low weightage but high reward if prepared.
- Learn “smart calculation” techniques — Testfunda’s QA shortcut modules are built exactly for 2025-level questions.
- Target: 13–15 attempts with 90% accuracy.
Why Testfunda Mocks Are the Closest to Actual CAT 2025
- TestFunda mocks are reverse-engineered of the actual paper.
- Our 25 Full-Length Mocks for CAT 2026 have the exact same difficulty distribution as CAT 2025 slots.
- Every mock comes with video solutions .
- Adaptive difficulty engine that adjusts based on your performance (just like the real CAT percentile curve).
- Detailed analytics dashboard showing your section-wise percentile vs actual CAT 2025 toppers.
- Students who joined our CAT 2025 batch and followed the “Actual Paper + Testfunda Mock” cycle saw an average improvement of 28 percentile points.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on CAT 2026
When will the official CAT 2026 notification be released?
The notification is expected in the last week of July 2026 on iimcat.ac.in.
What is the expected CAT 2026 exam date?
The exam is likely to be held on 29 November 2026 (last Sunday of November).
Who conducts CAT 2026?
One of the older IIMs (expected IIM Indore) will conduct the exam on a rotational basis.
Is there any change expected in the CAT 2026 exam pattern?
No major changes are anticipated. It is expected to remain 68 questions with 120 minutes duration and three sections.
What is the total number of questions in CAT 2026?
Total questions are expected to be 68 (VARC: 24, DILR: 22, QA: 22).
What is the duration and marking scheme of CAT?
The exam lasts 120 minutes. Each correct answer carries +3 marks; wrong MCQ answers attract -1 mark. TITA questions have no negative marking.
Can final-year students apply for CAT 2026?
Yes, final-year graduation students are eligible provided they complete their degree requirements before IIM admission.
What is the minimum percentage required for eligibility?
General/EWS/NC-OBC candidates need 50%, while SC/ST/PwD candidates need 45% in their bachelor’s degree.
Is there any age limit for appearing in CAT 2026?
There is no age limit for the exam.
How many times can a candidate appear for CAT?
There is no restriction on the number of attempts.
What is the application fee for CAT 2026?
Rs. 2,600 for General/EWS/NC-OBC and Rs. 1,300 for SC/ST/PwD categories.
Can the application fee be paid offline?
No, payment is accepted only through online modes like net banking, cards, or UPI.
How many test cities are available for CAT 2026?
The exam is expected to be conducted in 170+ cities across India.
Can I change my test city preference after submitting the form?
Changes are generally not allowed after the registration window closes. Limited correction window may be available.
When will the CAT 2026 admit card be released?
The admit card is expected in the first week of November 2026 on iimcat.ac.in.
What documents should I carry to the CAT exam centre?
Printout of the admit card and a valid original photo ID proof (Aadhaar, Passport, Driving Licence, etc.).
Is a physical calculator allowed in the exam?
No. Only the on-screen virtual calculator provided in the exam interface can be used.
How many slots is the CAT exam conducted in?
The exam is held in three slots on the same day.
Is there negative marking for all questions?
Negative marking of -1 applies only to wrong MCQ answers. TITA and unattempted questions carry zero penalty.
How is the CAT percentile calculated?
Percentile is calculated on the basis of relative performance compared to all candidates who appeared in the exam.
What is the validity period of the CAT 2026 score?
The score is valid for one year only (for admissions in 2027-29 batch).
Do all IIMs have the same selection process after CAT?
No. Each IIM has its own shortlisting criteria, including CAT score, academic profile, work experience, and diversity factors, followed by WAT/PI rounds.
Can international candidates apply for CAT 2026?
Yes. NRIs, PIOs, and foreign nationals can register and appear for the test in India.
What should I do if I face technical issues during registration?
Contact the official helpdesk mentioned on iimcat.ac.in or check the FAQ section on the portal.
When will the CAT 2026 result be declared?
The result is expected in the third or fourth week of December 2026.
Is there any provision for PwD candidates in CAT?
Yes. PwD candidates get extra time and scribe facility (subject to approval and documentation).
Can I apply to non-IIM institutes through a CAT score?
Yes. More than 1,300 B-schools accept CAT scores for their MBA/PGDM programmes.
Other Important Information
Test Cities: Candidates can select up to 5 cities in order of preference. Major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad are usually included along with many Tier-2 and Tier-3 locations.
Admit Card: Download the admit card from the official website using login credentials. It contains the exact test centre, slot, and reporting time. Carry a printed copy to the centre.
Conclusion
CAT 2026 offers a significant opportunity for management aspirants across India to secure admission into top IIMs and premier B-schools. With the notification expected soon, candidates should stay updated through the official website iimcat.ac.in and prepare systematically by understanding the pattern and syllabus thoroughly.
All the best to every CAT 2026 aspirant!
Related Blogs:
