Which was the toughest Slot in CAT 2025: CAT 2025, conducted by IIM Kozhikode, presented a well-balanced yet demanding paper across all three slots. While the structure and pattern remained consistent with recent years, several shifts in question framing, reading load, and reasoning complexity made the exam more application-driven this time. Students across slots found certain sections more time-consuming than expected, requiring sharper decision-making and accuracy.
This analysis breaks down which sections felt relatively tougher in each slot and how the difficulty varied across the day. This slot-by-slot overview will guide future aspirants in identifying trends and preparing smarter for the next exam cycle.
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Table of Contents
Overall Slot-Wise Difficulty Summary
| Section | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | Overall (Comparative Toughness) |
| VARC | Moderate | Moderate | Easy-Moderate | Slot 1 & 2 Tougher than Slot 3 |
| DILR | Moderate-Difficult | Moderate-Difficult | Moderate | Most demanding section across all slots |
| QA | Moderate | Moderate | Difficult | Slot 3 toughest; Slot 1 & 2 more manageable |
Interpretation
- No slot was uniformly “the toughest,” but each slot had a section that spiked difficulty.
- DILR remained tough across the board, QA peaked in Slot 3, and VARC was smoothest in Slot 3.
Also Read: Game Changer Section in CAT 2025
Slot 1: Section-Wise Breakdown
VARC
- VARC in Slot 1 was largely manageable. The passages from RCs were dense compared to last year.
- The RCs passage seemed difficult at first glance; however options were easier to eliminate and the answer can be reached.
- Many reported that central-idea & main-point questions were doable; some inference-type questions demanded careful reading, but nothing overly twisted.
Verdict 2025: VARC – Moderate
Why it wasn’t too tough: Stability in question framing and predictable structure.
DILR
- This was the section that added pressure. Many found the logical-reasoning / data sets a little tougher than expected – slightly more time-consuming than last year.
- In terms of difficulty level CAT 2025 DILR was similar to CAT 2023.
- Though not “very hard,” the demand on reasoning, accuracy, and time-management made DILR the trickiest in this slot.
Verdict 2025: DILR – Moderate to Slightly Tougher.
What made it tough: Slightly longer logic chains + sets that needed structured thinking.
QA
- Quant in Slot 1 remained balanced. In terms of difficulty level QA was similar to CAT 2023
- Arithmetic dominated the section, followed by Algebra.
- For well-prepared students, QA was attemptable with decent accuracy.
Verdict 2025: QA – Moderate.
Why it stayed moderate: No big surprises in question types.
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Slot 2: Section-Wise Breakdown
VARC
- The VARC section of CAT 2025 Slot 2 was easy to moderate in difficulty level.
- The passages remained readable, but the questions were tougher than in Slot 1.
- Many aspiring candidates felt comfortable with the reading and comprehension flow, though a couple of inference-heavy questions required attention.
Verdict 2025: VARC – Moderate.
Why it stayed moderate: Smooth readability prevented spikes in complexity.
DILR
- CAT 2025 DILR was tougher compared to the CAT 2024 DILR section in terms of difficulty.
- DILR in Slot 2 was reportedly moderate to difficult, with some sets described as time-consuming and logic-heavy.
- Students mentioned sets with complex data/logic combinations, requiring more time per set than usual.
Verdict 2025: DILR – Moderate to Difficult.
What made it tough: Time-consuming sets + more complex logic structures.
QA
- The QA section of CAT 2025 was comparatively more challenging than last year’s paper in terms of difficulty level.
- Some questions were more tricky, and calculation load was slightly higher.
- As expected, arithmetic and algebra dominated the section.For those strong in arithmetic/algebra and quick at calculations, QA was still manageable. But for others, time pressure was real.
Verdict 2025: QA – Moderate
What made it tough: Trickier framing in a few questions.
Slot 3: Section-Wise Breakdown
VARC
- Among all slots, VARC in Slot 3 was reportedly the most friendly. Passages were easy to read but options were lengthier.
- Many felt pace and comprehension in VARC were on their side: moderate reading load, clear questions.
Verdict 2025: VARC – Easy to Moderate.
What made it easy: High readability + predictable flow.
Also Check: Easiest Slot in CAT 2025
DILR
- DILR was slightly more difficult compared to CAT 2024 but similar to CAT 2025 Slot 1.
- The overall difficulty level of the Slot 3 DILR section was moderate: sets were generally doable, with a fair mix of easy-to-medium difficulty sets.
- Time management remained key. For students who skipped tricky sets and picked simpler ones, the section was fairly manageable.
Verdict 2025: DILR – Moderate.
What made it moderate: Sets required planning but were solvable with the right selection.
QA
- QA was slightly more difficult than CAT 2024.
- Quant was the toughest section of Slot 3. Many reported heavy calculation load and some tricky problem framing, making QA the most challenging section in this slot.
- For aspirants good at fast calculation and shortcuts, QA remained attemptable, but overall, this section demanded both speed and accuracy.
Verdict 2025: QA – Difficult.
What made it tough:
- Higher calculation load
- Tricky question framing
- Time-intensive problems
Conclusion – Toughest Slot in CAT 2025
CAT 2025 maintained a structured and balanced pattern across all three slots, but each slot carried its own challenges. Slot 1 felt steady, with DILR adding the most pressure. Slot 2 leaned slightly heavier due to its logic-intensive DILR sets and a few tricky QA questions. Slot 3 offered the most comfortable VARC of the day and a manageable DILR, but its QA section was clearly the most demanding.
While these variations shaped the exam experience, the overall difficulty remained in the moderate to moderately tough range.
CAT 2025 as a whole was slightly more challenging than last year, but not drastically so.
FAQs
Q: Was any slot officially the toughest in CAT 2025?
A: No. There is no official confirmation on which slot was the toughest. The perceived difficulty varied section-wise across slots. For example, some aspirants found DILR demanding in all slots, while QA felt toughest in Slot 3. These impressions differ based on individual strengths.
Q: Why do students experience the same slot differently?
A: Difficulty perception depends on:
- a student’s comfort with RCs, QA topics, or LR sets
- familiarity with question types
- time management
- individual strengths and weaknesses
This is why the same slot can feel “easy” to one student and “tough” to another.
Q: Was DILR difficult across all three slots?
A: DILR generally leaned towards the moderate to difficult side in all slots. Slot 1 and Slot 2 had more time-consuming sets, while Slot 3 offered slightly more approachable ones. However, the overall reasoning load remained high throughout the day.
Q: Did QA feel tougher in any particular slot?
A: Yes. QA in Slot 3 was widely described as the most demanding of the day, with heavier calculation load and trickier problem framing. Slot 1 and Slot 2 had more balanced QA sections.
