With the CAT 2025 exam scheduled for November 30, a review of 10 years of CAT papers (2015-2024) shows clear data patterns in how the exam’s difficulty has changed.
Across these 10 years, the DILR section has been the hardest in nearly 70–80% of the years. In difficult years like CAT 2015 and CAT 2023, DILR scores for the 99 percentile fell by 20-25% compared to moderate years, while VARC score requirements changed by less than 8-10%, making it the most stable section.
Previous year analysis also shows that CAT difficulty follows a 2-3 year cycle, where a moderate paper is usually followed by a slightly tougher one. Since CAT 2024 was moderate, experts anticipate that CAT 2025 may see a 10-15% rise in overall difficulty, with expected tougher DILR sets.
CAT 2024 Exam Analysis Slot-Wise
| Slot | Analysis |
|---|---|
| CAT 2024 Slot 1 Analysis | Check Here |
| CAT 2024 Slot 2 Analysis | Check Here |
| CAT 2024 Slot 3 Analysis | Check Here |
This article analyses 10 years of section-wise CAT difficulty level data to predict the expected difficulty of CAT 2025, helping you to understand how each section will be on exam day.
Also Read:
- CAT Score Vs Percentile: Check Section-Wise, Slot-Wise & Previous-Year Detailed Analysis
- CAT 2025 Score Calculation, Marking Scheme, Percentile, and Raw vs Scaled Score Explained
CAT Exam Difficulty Over the Past 10 Years
The overall difficulty level of the exam is not random. Years conducted by IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta are usually associated with tougher papers (e.g., CAT 2015, CAT 2018, CAT 2023), whereas IIM Kozhikode and IIM Indore tend to keep the difficulty at a more moderate level.
| Year | Conducting IIM | Total Questions | Overall Difficulty Level | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | IIM Calcutta | 68 | Easy-Moderate | Manageable QA; Inference RCs in VARC |
| 2023 | IIM Lucknow | 66 | Difficult | Algebra-heavy QA; Volatile DILR |
| 2022 | IIM Bangalore | 66 | Moderate | Choosable DILR Sets; QA eased slightly |
| 2021 | IIM Ahmedabad | 66 | Moderate - Difficult | Steady across slots; narrative RCs |
| 2020 | IIM Indore | 76 | Moderate | Shortened to 2 hours; Covid era balance |
| 2019 | IIM Kozhikode | 100 | Moderate to difficult | Tough DILR set; length QALast CAT exam with 100 questions |
| 2018 | IIM Calcutta | 100 | Moderate to difficult | Challenging DILR |
| 2017 | IIM Lucknow | 100 | Moderate | VARC was slightly easier |
| 2016 | IIM Bangalore | 100 | Difficult | One of the difficult papers overall |
| 2015 | IIM Ahmedabad | 100 | Difficult | Surprise in the DILR section complexity |
Also Read:
Ques. Which was the toughest CAT paper in the last 10 years?
Ans. Based on the analysis, CAT 2015, 2016, and 2023 were tough with DILR and heavy Quant.
Ques. Is it true that the CAT exam becomes tough when Ahmedabad or Calcutta conducts it?
Ans. Mostly, yes. In the last 10 years, IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta have given tough papers.
Predicting the CAT 2025 Difficulty Level
Based on the 10-year trend, CAT 2025 should be moderate overall, slightly tougher than the 2024 easy vibe. IIM Kozhikode's history suggests balance, but DILR may spike to difficult. VARC and QA stay moderate, aligning with recent CAT exam patterns.
Check:
- DILR Score vs Percentile in CAT 2025 Slot-Wise Predictions, Past-Year Trends & IIM Cutoff Comparison
- CAT Cutoff 2025- Check Category-wise Cutoff for IIMs
- Highest Score in CAT 2024
Section-wise Breakdown: VARC Trends in the CAT Exam
VARC has been the most stable section over the last 10 years, usually of moderate difficulty. The section is now heavily RC-focused with few VA question types, such as para jumbles, para summary, and odd one out.
| Year | VARC Difficulty level | Question Count | Key focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Easy - Moderate | 24 | Easier than usual |
| 2023 | Moderate to difficult | 24 | Challenging RCs |
| 2022 | Moderate | 24 | Consistent pattern. A mix of topics. |
| 2021 | Moderate | 24 | Balanced, but RCs are often lengthy |
| 2020 | Moderate | 26 | Stable section |
| 2019 | Difficult | 34 | Dense RCs, Complex vocab |
| 2018 | Easy | 34 | Lighter RCs, fewer Inference |
| 2017 | Moderate | 34 | Narrative Passages, verbal reasoning |
| 2016 | Moderate-difficult | 34 | Inference RCs, Para summary |
| 2015 | Moderate | 34 | Moderate RCs, Para jumbles, odd-one out |
Also Read:
- List of top colleges in India based on CAT results 2025
- CAT 2025 Cutoff: Check Category-wise Cutoff for IIMs and Top MBA Colleges
Ques. Are 450-500-word RCs really coming nowadays in the CAT exam?
Ans. Yes, CAT 2021 onwards, almost every slot has 3 - 4 passages of 450-550 words
CAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions PDF (VARC)
| CAT Previous Year Question Paper (2024) | Question Paper PDF | Solution PDF |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 1) – VARC | Download PDF | Click Here |
| CAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 2) – VARC | Download PDF | Click Here |
| CAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 3) – VARC | Download PDF | Click Here |
CAT 2023 Question Paper with Solutions PDF (VARC)
| CAT 2023 Question Paper | Question Paper PDF | Solution PDF |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 2023 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 1) – VARC | Download PDF | Click Here |
| CAT 2023 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 2) – VARC | Download PDF | Click Here |
| CAT 2023 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 3) – VARC | Download PDF | Click Here |
Check:
DILR Challenges in the CAT Exam for the Last 10 Years
- The DILR section is the most volatile and unpredictable part of the CAT exam. It is also the toughest section in any given year. The DILR section has been the deciding factor for a high percentile.
- Trends show that DILR is moving from calculation-heavy DI towards heavily induced logical reasoning.
- The Challenge is often selecting the right sets to attempt under pressure. If you pick the right set to solve, you already won half of the CAT game.
| Year | Difficulty Level | Sets(Questions) | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Moderate | 5(22) | Easier than usual |
| 2023 | Difficult | 4(20) | Highly complex and time-consuming sets |
| 2022 | Difficult | 4(20) | Logic and arrangement-based sets |
| 2021 | Moderate to difficult | 4(20) | Required excellent set selection skills |
| 2020 | Moderate to difficult | 8 (24) | High complexity |
| 2019 | Difficult | 8(32) | High LR and Complex DI |
| 2018 | Difficult | 8(32) | Tricky logic, fewer calculations |
| 2017 | Difficult | 8(32) | Extreme logic, Calculation light |
| 2016 | Difficult | 8(32) | Reasoning puzzles, data graphs |
| 2015 | Difficult | 8(32) | Logic Heavy caselets, Arrangements |
Also Read:
CAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions PDF (DILR)
| CAT Previous Year Question Paper (2024) | Question Paper PDF | Solution PDF |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 1) – DILR | Download PDF | Click Here |
| CAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 2) – DILR | Download PDF | Click Here |
| CAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 3) – DILR | Download PDF | Click Here |
CAT 2023 Question Paper with Solutions PDF (DILR)
| CAT 2023 Question Paper | Question Paper PDF | Solution PDF |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 2023 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 1) – DILR | Download PDF | Click Here |
| CAT 2023 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 2) – DILR | Download PDF | Click Here |
| CAT 2023 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 3) – DILR | Download PDF | Click Here |
Check:
QA Patterns in the CAT Exam Over the Years
The QA section’s difficulty is often closely tied to the overall paper’s tone, and is usually moderate. QA is generally dominated by arithmetic and algebra. Geometry and number systems still appear, but their weightage and complexity have been reduced significantly.
| Year | Difficulty Level | Questions count | Hot Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Moderate - tough | 22 | 70% Arithmetic |
| 2023 | Difficult | 22 | Algebra, Number system |
| 2022 | Easy-moderate | 22 | Dominated by arithmetic and algebra |
| 2021 | Moderate | 22 | Arithmetic focus, Geometry |
| 2020 | Moderate | 26 | Basic algebra, easy sums |
| 2019 | Moderate | 34 | Lengthy, modern math |
| 2018 | Moderate | 34 | Standard, Arithmetic heavy |
| 2017 | Moderate - difficult | 34 | Advanced algebra, Numbers |
| 2016 | Moderate | 34 | Algebra mix, Geometry light |
| 2015 | Moderate | 34 | Arithmetic (TSD, work), Basic |
Also Read:
Ques. Is geometry decreasing in the CAT exam?
Ans. Yes, drastically! From 8-10 questions pre-2020, now it's only 2 -4 questions max.
CAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions PDF (QA)
| CAT Previous Year Question Paper (2024) | Question Paper PDF | Solution PDF |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 1) – QA | Download PDF | Click Here |
| CAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 2) – QA | Download PDF | Click Here |
| CAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 3) – QA | Download PDF | Click Here |
CAT 2023 Question Paper with Solutions PDF (QA)
| CAT 2023 Question Paper | Question Paper PDF | Solution PDF |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 2023 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 1) – QA | Download PDF | Click Here |
| CAT 2023 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 2) – QA | Download PDF | Click Here |
| CAT 2023 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 3) – QA | Download PDF | Click Here |
Check:
Key Factors Shaping CAT Exam Difficulty
What makes the CAT exam tough one year and easy the next year? Conducting IIMs play a big role.
- Ahmedabad and Calcutta usually set the hardest, while Kozhikode keeps it moderate.
- Slot variations also have an impact: slot 1 is often easiest, slot 3 is toughest.
- External factors such as registration drops (3.28 lakh in 2024 to 2.95 lakh in 2025) won’t change difficulty but may boost percentile.
Here is the table of the top factors and their impact on the CAT exam difficulty.
| Factor | Impact on difficulty | Example years affected |
| Conducting IIM | High: Ahmedabad/Calcutta tougher paper | 2015, 2018 |
| Slot Variations | Medium: Later slots are harder | 2024 (Slot 3) tough QA |
| Previous Year Balance | High: Easier CAT after the Tough Year | 2022(Easy QA post 2021) |
| Question format | Low: Stable since 2020 | All years post 2019 (TITA questions reduced) |
| External Events | Medium: COVID shortened | 2020 (Moderate overall) |
Check:
Ques. Does the morning slot (slot 1) always remain the easiest in the CAT exam?
Ans. 8 out of 10 times, yes. Slot 1 is usually the easiest to moderate; slot 3 is the toughest.
Ques. Will fewer registrations make CAT 2025 easier?
Ans. No, the difficult level is decided much before the registration closes. But lower registration means you may get a higher percentile for the same marks.
Reddit's Discussion on How Tough the CAT 2025 Will Be.
One user on a Reddit thread predicted the CAT 2025 difficulty level as, “Based on past trends, CAT 2025 might be moderately tougher than 2024.”
Another user also guessed that, “I think CAT 2023 was tough and CAT 2024 too easy, so between them mostly.” implying that CAT 2025 might be moderately difficult and tougher than CAT 2024.
Another user on the Reddit thread used ChatGPT to predict CAT 2025, and the prediction is,
“Overall Difficulty Level
- The overall exam is expected to be moderate in difficulty.
- VARC might feel a little tougher due to tricky answer choices.
- DILR and QA should be balanced, not too tough or too easy.”
The CAT exam’s 10-year trends show it's all about balance. The most informed prediction is that the CAT 2025 will be moderately difficult. The CAT exam authority shows the increasing difficulty after an easy paper. Since CAT 2024 was generally on the easier side, CAT 2025 is likely to go back to a tough paper.
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