One possible reason behind this shift could be how CAT 2025 played out section-wise.

Quants usually seen as the “safe scoring ground” for engineering backgrounds turned out to be brutally difficult this year. The paper didn’t just level the field; it dragged down performance across the board, engineers and non-engineers alike.

That neutralized what is normally a clear advantage.

In contrast, VARC and DILR, where non-engineers traditionally hold an edge due to reading intensity, interpretation, and comfort with ambiguity, behaved more predictably. Many non-engineers seem to have capitalized there, as expected.

So instead of one section pulling a group ahead, two sections quietly did the job.

It doesn’t mean background stopped mattering but it does suggest that exam design mattered more than usual this year.