Post-exam analysis from leading coaching institutes shows that the CAT 2025 QA section was moderate in difficulty, so a shift of 2-3 marks in QA can translate to 8-10 percentile points.
- If you scored in the 28-35 mark range, you can expect a 99-99.5 percentile depending on slot normalisation.
- The CAT 2025 Quantitative Aptitude section had 22 questions, a mix of multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank types. Arithmetic was big, with about 8-10 questions.
- Algebra had 4-5, and Geometry showed up with 3-4 questions. Overall, it was moderately tough, mainly because of all the calculations you had to do.
Also Read:
- CAT Score Vs Percentile: Check Section-Wise, Slot-Wise & Previous-Year Detailed Analysis
- What 75 marks in CAT mean for your percentile and MBA college options.
CAT 2025 Quant Question Paper PDF
| CAT Quant Question Paper | Question Paper | Answer Key |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 2025 Quant Slot 1 Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
| CAT 2025 Quant Slot 2 Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
| CAT 2025 Quant Slot 3 Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
QA Score vs Percentile in CAT 2025 - Post-Exam Analysis
Based on post-exam analysis by leading coaching institutes, including IMS, Career Launcher, and Cracku, here's the actual QA score vs percentile for CAT 2025:
- In QA, if your score ranged from 20 to 29 marks, you can expect the shift in your percentile from the 95th percentile to 99 percentile, showing how critical accuracy is in this section.
- Scoring 33-40 marks requires solving 13-15 questions with 85-90% accuracy, achievable when candidates identify solvable questions quickly and maintain high accuracy on moderate-difficulty problems.
- Percentiles below 90 can be secured with 13-16 correct attempts with accuracy around 70-75% for the QA section.
| Percentile | Expected Score (Marks) | Approximate Attempts Needed | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9+ | 40-42 | 15-16 questions (90%+ accuracy) | Moderate-Difficult |
| 99-99.5 | 29-33 | 12-14 questions (85%+ accuracy) | Moderate |
| 95-98 | 20-22 | 9-10 questions (80%+ accuracy) | Moderate |
| 90-94 | 15-17 | 7-8 questions (75%+ accuracy) | Easy-Moderate |
| 85-89 | 13-15 | 6-7 questions (70%+ accuracy) | Easy-Moderate |
| 80-84 | 10-13 | 5-6 questions (65%+ accuracy) | Easy |
| 70-79 | 9-11 | 4-5 questions (60%+ accuracy) | Easy |
Also Read:
- How to Score 99+ Percentile in CAT QA Section
- What 70 marks in CAT mean for your percentile and MBA college options.
- What 100 marks in CAT mean for your percentile and MBA college options.
Ques: How many questions should you attempt in QA for CAT 2025?
Ans: Accuracy matters more than attempts; solving 12-14 questions with 85% accuracy can fetch 99 percentile. Focus on attempting the right questions - especially Arithmetic and basic Algebra - rather than attempting all questions with errors.
QA Score vs Percentile in CAT 2025: Post-Exam Slot-wise Analysis
The CAT 2025 QA section returned to moderate difficulty over the course of three sessions, following the pattern where CAT 2024 was among the easiest papers:
- So, here's the deal: throughout the day, some slots got tougher. Slot 2 was the real challenge, needing higher scores to get to each level, while Slot 1 was a bit easier – you could get away with a few fewer points and still hit the same spot.
- Also, nailing the questions you pick is your key. The difference in scores between the top levels stayed pretty steady, which shows that getting the right answers consistently matters most
Slot 1 (Morning Session) - Post-Exam Analysis
| Percentile | Score Needed | Difficulty Level | Question Breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 41-42 | Moderate | Arithmetic: 8-9, Algebra: 4-5, Geometry: 3-4 |
| 99 | 29-30 | Moderate | Arithmetic dominant, straightforward |
| 95 | 20-21 | Moderate | Good scoring opportunities |
| 90 | 15-16 | Easy-Moderate | Arithmetic solvable |
| 85 | 13-14 | Easy-Moderate | Basic concepts tested |
Slot 2 (Afternoon Session) - Post-Exam Analysis
| Percentile | Score Needed | Difficulty Level | Question Breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 40-42 | Moderate-Difficult | Arithmetic: 8-9, Algebra: 4-5, Geometry: 3-4 |
| 99 | 29-31 | Moderate-Difficult | Calculation-intensive problems |
| 95 | 21-22 | Moderate-Difficult | Time-consuming questions |
| 90 | 17-18 | Moderate | Multi-step Arithmetic |
| 85 | 15-16 | Moderate | Conceptual Algebra questions |
Slot 3 (Evening Session) - Post-Exam Analysis
| Percentile | Score Needed | Difficulty Level | Question Breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 35-37 | Moderate | Arithmetic: 8-10, Algebra: 4-5, Geometry: 3 |
| 99 | 25-27 | Moderate | Balanced difficulty |
| 95 | 17-19 | Easy-Moderate | Arithmetic scoring opportunities |
| 90 | 13-15 | Easy-Moderate | Straightforward questions |
| 85 | 13-14 | Easy | Basic application questions |
Check: CAT 2025 Slot-Wise Performance Comparison
Ques: Which CAT 2025 QA slot was the toughest?
Ans: People say Slot 2 was harder. You needed around 29–31 marks to score in the 99th percentile. Slot 3 was a bit easier, needing 25–27 marks. To keep things fair, they use normalisation between slots.
Ques: How many QA questions were there in CAT 2025?
Ans: The CAT 2025 QA part had 22 questions. About 14 were multiple-choice, and 8 were TITA questions. Arithmetic had the most questions (8-10), then algebra (4-5), and geometry (3-4).
Also Read:
- CAT 2025 Exam Analysis - Complete Post-Exam Review
- CAT Marks Vs Percentile 2025: Complete Section-Wise Analysis
QA Score vs Percentile in CAT 2024 vs CAT 2025 Comparison
Okay, so in the CAT 2024, the QA part had 22 questions. You probably needed around 35 to 38 marks to hit the 99th percentile. That's way lower than the 33 marks you needed in 2023. Seems like the 2024 paper was one of the easier ones.
Also Check:
- What 50 marks in CAT mean for your percentile and MBA college options.
- What 90 marks in CAT mean for your percentile and MBA college options.
Here's the actual performance comparison:
| Percentile | CAT 2024 Score (Marks) | CAT 2025 Score (Marks) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9+ | 46-48 | 40-42 | 2024 was easier |
| 99-99.5 | 35-38 | 29-33 | 2025 moderately tougher |
| 95-98 | 18-21 | 20-22 | Similar difficulty |
| 90-94 | 14-17 | 15-17 | Similar difficulty |
| 85-89 | 13-15 | 13-15 | Similar difficulty |
| 80-84 | 11-13 | 10-13 | Similar difficulty |
| 70-79 | 10-12 | 9-11 | Similar difficulty |
Check: CAT 2024 vs CAT 2025: Complete Comparison
Ques: Was CAT 2025 QA harder than CAT 2024?
Ans: Yeah, CAT 2025 QA was a bit harder than CAT 2024. The 99th percentile cutoff went from 35-38 marks in CAT 2024 to 29-33 marks in CAT 2025. The change is because of how the scores are normalised, not just the raw score. Plus, everyone thought 2024 was super easy.
Also Read: List of top B Schools accepting admission without Sectional Cutoffs
CAT 2025 vs CAT 2024: Complete QA Section Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison between the 2025 and 2024 QA patterns:
| Parameter | CAT 2025 (Actual) | CAT 2024 (Actual) | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Questions | 22 questions | 22 questions | No change |
| MCQs vs TITA | 14 MCQs, 8 TITA | 14 MCQs, 8 TITA | Same distribution |
| 99 Percentile Score | 29-33 marks | 35-38 marks | 5-7 marks difference |
| 95 Percentile Score | 20-22 marks | 18-21 marks | Slight increase |
| 90 Percentile Score | 15-17 marks | 14-17 marks | Similar range |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate | Easy-Moderate | More challenging |
| Arithmetic Questions | 8-10 questions | 8-9 questions | Slightly more |
| Algebra Questions | 4-5 questions | 4-5 questions | Same |
| Geometry Questions | 3-4 questions | 3-4 questions | Same |
| Time Pressure | Moderate-High | Moderate | More challenging |
| Calculation Intensity | High | Moderate | More intensive |
| Organizing IIM | IIM Kozhikode | IIM Calcutta | Different approach |
| Registrations | 2.95 lakh | 3.28 lakh | 10% drop |
Check: Complete CAT Score vs Percentile Analysis
Ques: Did the questioning pattern change in CAT 2025 QA?
Ans: The pattern stayed the same as before; 22 questions (14 MCQs + 8 TITA) but they were more computation-heavy than in 2024. The arithmetic questions required multi-step processes instead of mere application of formulae.
Section-wise Cutoffs for Top IIMs (2025 Expected vs 2024 Actual)
Based on CAT 2025 post-exam analysis and historical patterns, here are the expected QA cutoffs for top IIMs:
| IIM | CAT 2024 QA Cutoff | CAT 2025 QA Cutoff (Expected) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 70+ (Sectional) | 70+ (Sectional) | No change |
| IIM Bangalore | 70+ (Sectional) | 70+ (Sectional) | No change |
| IIM Calcutta | 75+ (Sectional) | 75+ (Sectional) | No change |
| IIM Lucknow | 85+ (Sectional) | 85+ (Sectional) | No change |
| IIM Indore | 80+ (Sectional) | 80+ (Sectional) | No change |
| IIM Kozhikode | 75+ (Sectional) | 75+ (Sectional) | No change |
Want to know which top MBA Colleges accept low Scores in CAT? Check Here
Note: These are sectional percentiles, not raw scores
Check: IIM Cutoffs 2025 - Complete List
CAT 2025 QA Mock Tests:
As candidates wait for the CAT 2025 results, many are now realising that success in QA ultimately depends on a few core elements. Smart question selection often mattered more than attempting all 22 questions, and those who maintained 85%+ accuracy are likely to get a good percentile in this section.
Read More: What 80 marks in CAT mean for your percentile and MBA college options.
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