The second shift of CAT 2025 has brought mixed but strong reactions from students, with one clear highlight: the Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section was tougher and lengthier than expected. As soon as Slot 2 ended, many candidates shared that the QA difficulty felt higher than CAT 2024, and some even compared it to the 2022–2023 level of toughness.
This early feedback is important for aspirants waiting for the third slot and for anyone tracking the CAT 2025 difficulty level, section-wise analysis, and exam trend.
Also check: CAT 2025 Exam Centre 2025 Live Updates
Overall Difficulty: Moderate Paper but Tough QA
Slot 2 maintained the same CAT exam pattern as Slot 1, with the same number of questions and no structural changes. However, the difficulty distribution was different:
- Overall paper: Moderate
- VARC: Moderate
- DILR: Moderate
- Quant: Most difficult section of Slot 2
Students said that while VARC and DILR were manageable, Quant stood out as the section that required maximum time and concentration.
Also check:CAT 2025 Exam Analysis
Why Quant Felt Harder in CAT 2025 Slot 2
Students described the QA questions as:
- Lengthy to read
- Time-consuming
- Requiring multiple steps of logic
- Based on topics that needed deep conceptual clarity
The section also included several questions from Ratios and Algebra, which many test-takers found tricky under time pressure. According to multiple candidates, the overall feel of QA was tougher than last year’s CAT and closer to the older CAT difficulty style seen in 2022–2023.
Also check: CAT College Predictor
What Students Said About VARC and DILR
While Quant dominated the conversation, the other sections had a more balanced response.
VARC (Moderate)
Slot 2 included four RC passages, each with four questions.Topics included:
- Income Inequality & Economic Growth
- Electronic Music
- Law & Mental Health
- Noise & Social Order
Passages were readable, but answer choices required careful interpretation.
DILR (Moderate)
DILR continued the same trend from Slot 1 with:
- Data charts
- Spider/Radar diagrams
- Bar graphs
- Analytical reasoning sets
Most candidates found DILR moderate, with no major surprises.
Key Takeaways for CAT 2025 Slot 3 Candidates
Slot 3 students should note the main trends emerging across the first two shifts:
- Quant may remain the toughest section, so selecting the right questions is important
- VARC is consistent with decodable RCs, but tricky options
- DILR is stable, with moderate-level sets
- Overall difficulty is moderate, but QA can impact the time distribution
- No pattern change, so focusing on accuracy is the best strategy
Also check: The Impact of CAT Exam Pattern Changes on Student Performance
Final Thoughts
CAT 2025 Slot 2 stayed true to the standard structure but surprised many students with a demanding Quant section. As LIVE updates continue, the pattern indicates a balanced exam overall, but with QA emerging as the key differentiator.
