Introduction: CAT 2025 Overview

CAT 2025 is set to take place on November 30, 2025, with IIM Kozhikode expected to organize the exam. The application procedure will be executed online. On exam day, the test will be administered in over 150 cities across India, divided into three separate time blocks.

What is the CAT Exam?

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is an entrance exam at the national level conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for the purpose of admitting students into their MBA programs. The CAT exam is known for its speed-based format, composed of three main sections: 

• VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)

• DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning)
• QA (Quantitative Ability)

The difficulty usually ranges from moderate to advanced. Every year nearly two lakh students take the CAT examination. In 2023, registrations reached 3.30 lakh, while in 2024, estimated registrations clocked in at 3.29 lakh. Successful CAT scores allow admission into the IIMs and more than 1300 associated MBA institutions across India.

Courses Offered by CAT at IIMs

Beyond a full-time MBA, scores from the CAT exam can also be used when applying to various programs at IIMs and other B-schools, such as Executive MBA, PhD, and FPM. Candidates who are graduates, postgraduates, or working professionals can all take the CAT exam. A snapshot of the courses offered at selected IIMs is given below:

IIM	Courses Offered
IIM Ahmedabad	PGP, PGP-FABM, ePGP, PhD
IIM Amritsar	MBA, EMBA, MBA-Business Analytics, MBA-HRM, PhD
IIM Bangalore	PGP, PGPEM, PGPBA, PhD
IIM Bodh Gaya	PGP, PhD (FPM)
IIM Calcutta	MBA, PhD
IIM Indore	PGP, PGP-HRM, FPM
IIM Jammu	PGP, PhD
IIM Kashipur	MBA, MBA (Analytics), MBA (WX), PhD, EFPM
IIM Kozhikode	PGP, PGP-BL, PGP-F, PGP-LSM, PhD, PhD (PT)
IIM Lucknow	PGP, PGP-ABM, PGP-SM, FPM
IIM Nagpur	PGP, PhD
IIM Raipur	PGP, FPM/PhD, EFPM
IIM Ranchi	PGP, PGP-HRM, PGP (BA), PhD, EPhD
IIM Rohtak	PGP, EPGPX, EPGDSM, PhD, Part-Time FPM
IIM Sambalpur	MBA, PhD, E PhD
IIM Shillong	PGP, PGPEX, PGPWE, PhD, PhDWP
IIM Sirmaur	MBA, MBA (T&HM), PhD
IIM Tiruchirappalli	PGPM, PGPM-HR, PGPBM, FPM, E-FPM
IIM Udaipur	MBA, PhD
IIM Visakhapatnam	PGP, PGPEx, PGPDGM, Ph
IIM Mumbai (NITIE)	MBA, MBA in Sustainability Management, MBA-Operations & Supply Chain Mgmt

Exam Date and Schedule for CAT 2025

Below is a tentative schedule outlining the main events for CAT 2025:

Dates	Upcoming Exam Events
Aug ’25 – Sep ’25	Registration for CAT 2025
Sep’ 25	Form correction process
Nov ’25	Admit card download
30 Nov ’25	CAT 2025 Exam Day
Dec ’25	Window to challenge answer key
Dec ’25	CAT 2025 result announcement

CAT 2025 Exam Highlights

Official announcements about CAT 2025 (including dates, fees, and programs) are expected by July 2025. Summary of CAT 2025 main features:

• Full Name: Common Admission Test (CAT)
• Conducting Institute (2025): IIM Kozhikode
• Exam Frequency: Once a year
• Exam Date: November 30, 2025
• Test Timings:

• Session 1: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM

• Session 2: 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM

• Session 3: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
  

• Exam Charge: INR 2,500 for Primarily Selected Groups; INR 1,250 for Reserved Classes
• Number of Applications (2024): 3.29 lakh
• Candidates Appearing (2024): Approximately 2.93 lakh
• Programs Covered: MBA/PGDM
• Key Sections in Syllabus: VARC, DILR, QA
• Exam Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT) featuring MCQs and non-MCQs
• Test Cities: 170
• Official Website: iimcat.ac.in
• Helpdesk (Toll-free): 1-800-210-1088

CAT has the most MBA applicants in India. The number surpassed 3.30 lakhs in 2023, with approximately 2.88 lakh actually taking the test.

CAT 2025 Eligibility Criteria

1. Academic Requirement
   All applicants should possess at least a bachelor’s degree with an aggregate of 50% and/or equivalent CGPA. For candidates in categories such as SC, ST, and PwD/DA, the requirement is 45%.
2. Final Year Students or Those Awaiting Results
   Undergraduates in their final year or awaiting results can still apply for CAT 2025, provided their marks so far meet the threshold. Provisional admissions require submission of relevant certificates within set deadlines.
3. Professional Degrees
   Individuals with professional certifications (CA, CS, ICWA, FCAI) who meet the minimum percentage criteria are eligible to sit for the exam.
4. Recognized Institution
   Degrees must be earned in regular or distance mode from a UGC-recognized university or institution, typically spanning at least three years.
5. No Age Limit
   There is no upper age restriction for taking the CAT, so it is also appropriate for executive-level programs, doctorates, and FPM courses.

Registration Process for CAT 2025

Iimcat.ac.in is the CAT 2025 registration portal. Follow these steps:

1. Go to iimcat.ac.in.
2. Select “New Registration.”
3. Provide key details (Name, DOB, Nationality, Phone Number, Email).
4. Use the registered email to log in.
5. Fill out academic and personal information.
6. Upload a recent passport-sized photo and signature.
7. Choose your preferred IIMs and the programs of interest.
8. Select up to five exam centers.
9. Pay the application fee via card or net banking.

CAT 2025 Syllabus

The CAT syllabus is centered on testing analysis, computation, and language skills for proficiency. Three main sections structure the exam:

1. VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension): Reading comprehension passages, paraphrasing, para jumbles, summary-based questions, odd sentence out.
2. DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning): Puzzles, data analysis, coding-decoding, series identification, and set-theory-based problem-solving.
3. QA (Quantitative Ability): Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, and fundamental math operations.

CAT 2025 Exam Pattern and Test Structure

The test is two hours long, divided into three sections (40 minutes each). PwD candidates receive extra time. Key elements of the format:

CAT Paper Pattern 2025	Details
Mode of Exam	Computer-Based Test
Duration	120 minutes (40 minutes/section)
Exam Slots	1 slot: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM, 2 slot: 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM, 3 slot: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Number of Questions	68
Total Marks	204
Language	English
Question Types	MCQ & non-MCQ

CAT Previous Year Papers

Solving past exam papers provides insight into the CAT exam’s difficulty, section-wise weightage, and question patterns. Practice with previous papers to increase familiarity with the test layout.

Preparation Tips for CAT 2025

1. Cover All Topics Thoroughly
   Aim for comprehensive understanding of every topic within each section.
2. Regular Mock Tests
   Increase speed and accuracy through frequent mock exams.
3. Consistent Revision
   Retain knowledge by scheduling regular review sessions, especially for formulae and key concepts.
4. Develop Reading Skills
   Work on reading comprehension passages from prior exams to enhance speed and accuracy.
5. Leverage Online Forums
   Join study groups and online forums to learn problem-solving shortcuts and interact with fellow aspirants.

CAT 2025 Admit Card

The admit card is very important for entry; without an admit card, there is no entry  into the test center. Steps to get an admit card:
1. Visit iimcat.ac.in.
2. Log in with your CAT 2025 credentials.
3. Open the “Admit Card” section.
4. Click “Download” to save a copy.

All candidates must bring color or black and white printed copies of their admit card (with photo) and a valid photo ID to the exam center.

CAT 2025 Exam Day Guidelines

• Report to the Center Early: Arrive by the reporting time mentioned on the admit card.
• CCTV Monitoring: Strict invigilation with cameras ensures a fair exam process.

Carry Mandatory Documents:

• CAT Admit Card (two copies with photos affixed)
• Photo ID (college ID, employer ID, driving license, passport, PAN card, voter ID, Aadhaar)
• Name Change Document (if your ID name differs from registration name)
• PwD/Scribe Certificate (if applicable)
• Ballpoint Pen (black or blue)

Restricted Items:

• Electronic devices (phones, smartwatches, iPads, calculators)
• Handbags/backpacks
• Food and drinks
• Jewelry containing metal
• Upper garments with pockets
• Closed shoes (sneakers, boots)
• Papers, books, or notebooks

Candidates with pacemakers or other medical implants must bring supporting medical documents.

CAT 2025 Answer Key

A preliminary exam answer key for the CAT 2025 will be made available on the official website a few days after the test has been administered. To see or download it, do the following actions:

1. Go to iimcat.ac.in.
   2. Log in using your CAT credentials.
   3. When result get released Click to see the answer key for CAT 2025.

You can estimate your potential CAT score by matching your responses with the answer key. If you find discrepancies, you can challenge specific answers by paying a fee (INR 1200 per question). Refunds apply only if your objection is upheld. In the final results of CAT 2025, any objections that are deemed to be genuine will be taken into consideration.

CAT 2025 Exam Analysis

Exam analysis from the previous year (CAT 2024) points to some patterns: – Total questions increased from 66 to 68.

• DILR carried 22 questions instead of 20.
• VARC and QA question counts remained consistent.
• The level of difficulty was largely moderate, with some advanced questions sprinkled throughout.

Below is a quick difficulty snapshot from CAT 2024:

Section	No. of Questions	Good Attempts	Level
VARC	24	14-16	Moderate-Tough
DILR	22	10-11	Moderate
Quantitative Ability	22	~10	Moderate-Tough

CAT 2025 Result and Scorecard

The public access of the CAT 2025 results and scorecard PDF will only be available through an online login. 

1. Log in to your CAT account on the official site.
2. Access the “Scorecard” section.
3. Save and print out your own CAT 2025 scores for future reference.

Most IIMs and top MBA colleges only accept CAT results for a certain academic cycle. Admission choices need a minimum CAT percentage for ultimate selection into the following rounds: Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview. 

IIM Admission Process

1. Release of Admission Criteria: Every IIM specifies its CAT-based cutoffs, admission standards, and evaluation methodologies before results are out.
2. Screening: Candidates meeting the cutoff advance to the next step.
3. Final Selection: The process includes WAT/GD/PI, followed by a composite score calculation.

Most non-IIM institutes also run GD and PI rounds for their MBA and PGDM admissions but may weigh CAT scores differently.

Top Colleges Accepting CAT Scores (Besides the IIMs)

• NIT Trichy DOMS
• IIFT Delhi
• FMS, Delhi University
• MDI, Gurgaon
• IIT Kanpur-IME
• IIT Delhi – DoMs
• IIT Kharagpur
• Great Lakes Institute of Management
• IMI-Kolkata
• ITM-University
• IIITM-Gwalior
• Woxsen University, Hyderabad
• Asian Business School Noida
• SOIL Institute of Management
• SPJIMR, Mumbai
• IMT, Ghaziabad
• IMI, Delhi
• IIT Bombay-SJMS
• IIT Roorkee-DoMs
• Dhanbad-ISM
• IMT-Nagpur
• IPE-Hyderabad
• Nirma University
• GIM, Goa
• New Delhi Institute of Management
• KIIT KSOM
• JK Business School Gurgaon

Disclaimer: The information provided here is paraphrased to remove plagiarism and maintain clarity. Always refer to the official CAT website (iimcat.ac.in) for the most accurate, up-to-date details.