CAT 2025 Exam Date - Notification, Eligibility, Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Registration & Preparation Tips

What Is CAT Exam?

The Common Admission Test, or CAT, is a nationwide exam in India, conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) for individuals seeking admission to MBA programs and other postgraduate courses at its 21 campuses (including NITIE Mumbai, which is part of the IIM cluster).

It is one of the most popular entrance exams and is considered one of the toughest among all the top management entrance exams in India. Every year, more than two lakh (200,000) candidates register for the CAT exam. In 2024, there were 3.29 lakh registrations, while in 2023, a record 3.30 lakh candidates applied. The CAT 2025 will allow students to apply for the batch of 2025-27. However, the CAT exam does not guarantee admission to the IIMs, as each institute has its own admissions process, which includes interviews and discussions.

The CAT exam is primarily an aptitude test designed to assess candidates’ analytical skills and their ability to handle pressure. It mainly consists of three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). The questions are generally considered to be of moderate to high difficulty.

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CAT 2025 Exam - Key Highlights

CAT, or Common Admission Test, is a management entrance test conducted by the Indian Institute of Management. Candidates who successfully pass the CAT exam in 2025 will be admitted to the top MBA colleges in India. A basic overview of CAT 2025 is given below:

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CAT Notification 2025

The CAT 2025 exam date is expected to be released in July 2025 with the release of the CAT 2025 Notification that entailed all the important information like CAT 2024 registration window dates, CAT eligibility criteria, CAT exam dates, CAT syllabus, CAT exam fee, and more.

Every year it is one of the top IIMs, the conducting body for CAT, that prescribes these important information.

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CAT 2025 Exam Date & Schedule (Tentative)

Based on the important announcements for CAT 2024, we have curated the table below representing the tentative timeline for the CAT 2025 exam dates for your reference. Keep this timeline in mind and kickstart your CAT 2025 preparation with a bang.

*Generally, CAT takes place on the fourth Sunday in November. Going by that logic, the CAT 2025 exam date should be November 23, 2025. However, since CAT 2020 took place on the fifth Sunday, it can be concluded that CAT 2025 will take place on November 30, 2025.

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CAT Eligibility Criteria 2025

CAT 2025 will be open to candidates who meet the criteria. These are the requirements of the CAT eligibility criteria 2025 based on past trends:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree: You need a Bachelor's degree from a recognized university in any discipline.

Minimum Marks

• General and NC-OBC category: At least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• SC, ST, PWD/DA category: The minimum requirement is 45% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• Final Year Students: If you're in the final year of your bachelor's degree or awaiting results, you can also apply for CAT exam. However, you must complete your graduation with the required percentage by the time of admission.
• Professional Degrees: Professional degrees such as CA, CS, ICWA, or FIAI with the required percentage are also eligible for CAT exam.

Other Criteria

• There is no upper or lower age limit for appearing in the CAT exam.
• Work Experience is not mandatory for applying for CAT 2025, but is advantageous for IIM admissions.

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CAT 2025 Registration Process

Registrations for the CAT 2025 exam will be online on the official CAT website- iimcat.ac.in. Based on the process of previous years, here is an expected understanding of the fees and documents required for registration-

CAT Application Form 2025

The CAT 2025 application form will be out in somewhere first week of August 2025, candidates can fill up the application form by following the steps below.

• Select ‘New Candidate Registration’ on the official website and fill in your basic details.
• After submission, you will receive an OTP to verify your registration.
• After the verification is complete, on the email and mobile number registered, you will get a unique ID and password to log in.
• Now you can begin entering the required details in the application form.
• You will also be required to choose the programs of your choice along with the Interview City.
• You are allowed to pick 6 preferred test cities for the CAT 2025 exam.

List of Documents Required for CAT 2025 Registration

While filling out the CAT application form 2025, you must also upload the required documents in the given format-

• Photo
• Signature
• NC-OBC/SC/ST certificate
• PwD certificate

Note: You will be required to present your mark sheets and degrees in person.

CAT Application Fee 2025 (Tentative)

The CAT 2025 application fee must be paid at the time of enrollment; without paying the fee, the CAT 2025 registration process will not be completed. The details are as follows:

• The fee can be submitted online only.
• You will also have the option to preview the application before making the payment and submitting the application form.
• You will receive a confirmation email a few minutes after paying successfully.

There has been a revision in the CAT 2024 application fee, which is expected to carry over to CAT 2025, as given below for your reference:

Post CAT 2025 Registration Events

Once the candidate submits their CAT application form, the convening IIM will send them alerts regarding all future events associated after the successful completion of CAT 2025 registration process, which may include events like:

• Instructions and changes related to CAT 2025 (if any)
• CAT Application Form Correction Window 2025
• Download of the CAT Admit Card 2025
• Release of the number of applicants for CAT 2025
• Release of the official CAT 2025 sample paper

Post CAT 2025 Exam Events

• Post CAT media release of number of CAT takers
• Release of provisional CAT response sheet 2025
• Opening of Objection Window for CAT 2025
• Release of CAT answer key 2025
• Declaration of CAT result & release of CAT scorecard
• Receive calls based on your achieved CAT percentile

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CAT Syllabus 2025

The conducting body for CAT 2025 does not publish or mention the syllabus for CAT. However, based on previous year's papers and a general pattern some important topics stand out more than others. CAT syllabus 2025 contains three prominent sections, namely:

• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
• Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

Due to the lack of a defined CAT 2025 syllabus, CAT aspirants largely focus on studying school-level mathematics and English. The important topics for each section are mentioned in the table below.

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CAT Exam Pattern 2025

CAT exam pattern is nothing but the paper pattern for CAT 2025 which is usually released by the conducting authority of CAT. There is no fixed CAT paper pattern authorized by any supreme authority. However, based on past trends, the table below shows the overview of the CAT 2025 exam pattern for your reference:

CAT Marking Scheme 2025

Similar to the previous year's exam pattern, the CAT 2025 marking scheme for both MCQ and TITA questions is different. Here is an overview of the CAT marking scheme 2025-

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CAT Admit Card 2025

The CAT admit card 2025 is expected to be released in the first week of November 2025. Here are a few details that must be kept in mind for the same-

• Registered candidates will be able to access and download the admit card by logging into their account from the official website.
• Details such as the test center, date, and time of the exam will be provided on the admit card.
• Candidates have to carry their admit cards for the exam on the day of the examination.

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How To Download CAT 2025 Admit Card?

Once the CAT admit card becomes available you can download it by following the steps given below.

• Step 1: Go to the official website of CAT - iimcat.ac.in.
• Step 2: Access your CAT account by entering your CAT Login ID and password.
• Step 3: Click on the Login Button.
• Step 4: After successfully logging in, click on the Download Admit Card option.
• Step 5: Download and print your CAT Admit Card / Hall Ticket.

CAT Helpdesk

As stated before, any discrepancy in the information on the admit card should immediately be corrected by contacting the CAT exam authorities using the helpdesk section on the official website. You can also contact officials using the information below.

• E-mail: cathelpdesk@iimcat.ac.in
• Phone: 1800-2108-720 (Toll-Free)

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How To Start Preparing For CAT 2025?

MBA is one of the most sought-after master’s degrees, and the 2 lakh+ candidates applying for CAT is a testimony to this statement. So to stay ahead of the competition, candidates must study and strategize effectively.

The most frequent question that comes into the mind of the majority of CAT aspirants is, “How To Start Preparing For CAT 2025?”. Here are some preparation tips to help you score well in CAT 2025:

• Build a Study Plan: Identify a preparation strategy that suits you and allot hours on a daily basis for your CAT study to maintain discipline. Monitor your daily progress and areas of improvement.
• Develop your Basics: Devote time to the topics you are not entirely familiar with as establishing the basics is essential. Before moving to revisions and tests, ensure that your foundation for all the concepts is strong.
• Practice Regularly: Most sections and topics are dependent on your ability to practice regularly and extensively. Familiarizing with multiple types of questions that are frequently asked.
• Preparation Mode: The mode of preparation you choose will also change the strategy you might follow to achieve the goals for the CAT exam. Ensure that you consider your pros and cons before choosing to study by yourself and taking coaching.
• Give Mock Exams: Mock exams are an essential and effective way to identify your weaknesses and strengths.

To have a detailed preparation strategy for each section, you can also check: Preparation Tips for CAT QA | Preparation Tips for CAT DILR | Preparation Tips for CAT VARC

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Best Books For CAT 2025 Preparation

A plethora of books are available in the market for CAT preparation 2025. There are no specific books suggested by any supreme authority conducting CAT; however, many coaching centers and authors also publish various preparatory materials for the CAT exam which you can access by enrolling in these CAT 2025 online coaching classes.

Candidates appearing for CAT can use these best books for CAT preparation, for each section of the exam.

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Free Resources For CAT 2025 Preparation

If you want to prepare for CAT without spending any money, you're at the right place! Open CAT is a FREE CAT resources portal for students interested in taking the exam but prefer to prepare at their own pace and from the comfort of their homes.

If you are a CAT 2025 aspirant who is looking for tests to check your readiness and need guidance on specific topics, consider signing up for Open CAT and take your CAT preparation 2025 to the next level.

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CAT Exam Analysis 2025

Based on the trends observed in the CAT 2024 exam, the CAT 2025 exam is anticipated to be of moderate to difficult level. In recent years, all three slots of CAT exam have been deemed highly challenging. The final CAT exam analysis will rely on the feedback of our students and top CAT experts who will take CAT 2025 exam.

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CAT Answer Key 2025

CAT exam response sheet, or CAT 2025 answer key, is usually released by the conducting body of CAT 2025 around 8-10 days after the exam. It includes recorded responses for the candidates who appeared, allowing them to get a tentative idea of how they performed in the exam and helping to boost their preparation for further rounds.

Candidates can view and download their recorded responses and answers from the official CAT website at iimcat.ac.in. Students can access their response sheets and question papers. By utilizing the provided answer key, students can estimate their probable scores for the examination.

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CAT Results 2025

The CAT results 2025 will be released on the official website tentatively in the month of December. Soon after the results and cut-offs are announced, the IIMs and other B-schools will begin their interview and discussion rounds for admissions to the 2025-27 batch.

There is no centralized counseling for the CAT exam, as all the IIMs have their own procedure for interviews and further admission rounds.

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IIM CAT Selection Process 2026

The IIMs will select candidates based on their CAT 2025 scores for the MBA admission batch of 2026. The admission process includes a Written Ability Test (WAT) and a Personal Interview (PI). Below are the stages of the IIM admission process through CAT:

• Stage 1: Shortlisting of candidates based on their CAT score
• Stage 2: Candidate evaluation in the WAT-GD-PI round
• Stage 3: Final selection and offer for MBA/PGDM admission

Note: Most of the B-schools will also consider candidates' marks from Class 10, Class 12, and their undergraduate degree, as well as their work experience, when making selection decisions.

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CAT Cutoff 2025

Admission to all top B-schools, including both IIMs and non-IIMs, is determined by the overall CAT cutoff, which is the minimum score required for eligibility to different B-schools. Most of the IIMs announce their qualifying CAT cutoff prior to the CAT exam, while the final cutoffs are released after the CAT results are published.

The table below showcases the qualifying CAT cutoff 2025 based on the previous years’ cutoff for different IIMsfor your reference:

Also Check: CAT Score vs Percentile 2025

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CAT Exam Centers 2025

The CAT 2025 exam centers list will be released soon before the commencement of the exam. Every year, the exam authorities release a fresh list of CAT exam centers. For the academic year 2025-27, the list of CAT exam centers is as follows:

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Changes Over The Years In The CAT Exam

The CAT exam structure has evolved significantly in the last decade or so, with notable alterations in the number of sections, questions, and duration of the exam. Below is a summary table illustrating these important modifications: