CAT 2025 exam will be conducted on the last Sunday of November 2025. Registration process for the CAT exam 2025 will begin in the first week of August 2025. Check here all about CAT 2025.
CAT 2025 exam
CAT 2025 will be conducted most likely on November 30, 2025. The official announcement will be made by July 30, 2025. MBA aspirants planning to pursue the course in 2026, must appear for CAT 2025 as the score is accepted by 21 IIMs, other top B-schools as well as 1,300 MBA colleges in India.
CAT is a business aptitude test in which candidates are assessed on Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. Check here all about CAT 2025 exam.
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There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.Q: What is the IIM selection criteria through CAT?
IIM selection criteria for all the 21 campuses is same and includes selection of candidates through three stages. CAT score Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion GD and Personal Interview (PI) Academic record, work experience Academic and gender diversity CAT exam score is the first parameter on which candidates are shortlisted for admission. In the first state of IIM admission, the institutes shortlist candidates for WAT, GD and PI on the basis of their CAT score and class 10, 12 and graduation marks. The cut offs for shortlisting of candidates is between 95-100 percentile (for SC/ST/PwD candidates the cut offs are lower). These shortlisted candidates have to then appear for What, GD and PI round. Those who clear this round are considered for final admission. For the final selection, every IIMs takes into consideration the following aspects: CAT score What, GD and PI performance Class 10 and 12 marks Graduation marks Work experience Academic diversity Gender diversity.
Q: What is the age limit to appear for CAT?
Q: What is the process to select CAT test city for exam centre allotment?
There are over 170 cities where CAT exam is held. These 170 cities are spread across India consist of metropolitan cities, capital cities, Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Candidate can select up to five cities for allotment of test centre. The process of test city selection is a part of CAT application process. In the CAT application form, there is a field in which candidates have to select the cities. They need to select the city of preference in order of 1 to 5. The examination authorities will try to allot the test centre in the city of first preference. Thus, candidates must fill all the five cities carefully. They must choose their home city of city of current residence as the first preference. The test city option can only be changed during the form correction window. After that, the request for change of the city will not be accepted by the exam authorities.
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CAT 2025 Highlights
CAT is the most popular national level MBA entrance exam in India. Check below key highlights of CAT 2025 exam.
| CAT Exam Particulars |
CAT 2025 Details |
|---|---|
| CAT Full Form |
Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Conducting Institute for 2025 |
To be announced |
| Exam Level |
National |
| Exam Frequency |
Once a year |
| CAT 2024 Exam Date |
November 30, 2025 (tentative) |
| CAT Exam Timings |
Slot 1: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Slot 2: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM Slot 3: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
| CAT Exam Fees |
INR 2,500 (General category) and INR 1,250 (Reserved category) |
| Number of Test Takers |
3.29 lakh (in 2024) |
| CAT exam mode |
Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| No. of test cities |
170 |
| CAT exam website |
https://iimcat.ac.in |
| Exam helpdesk no. |
1-800-210-1088 (Toll Free) |
CAT 2025 eligibility criteria
CAT is an entrance exam for PG management courses, thus the minimum eligibility criteria is graduation. Check below details:
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- Candidate must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized university. Minimum marks required in 50 per cent (45 per cent for SC/ST/PwD candidates).
- Candidates in their final year of bachelor’s degree course or awaiting result can also appear in CAT exam.
- Candidates having professional degrees such as CA/CS/ICWA/FCAI are also eligible for CAT.
CAT 2025 Exam Dates
The CAT 2025 exam date and full schedule will be announced by July 30, 2025. Check here tentative CAT 2025 dates.
| CAT Exam Events |
CAT Exam Date 2025 (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| CAT 2025 notification out |
30-July-2025 |
| CAT exam 2025 registration dates |
First week of August to Third week of September 2025 |
| CAT form correction |
Last week of September 2025 |
| CAT admit card 2025 download starts |
First week of November 2025 |
| CAT exam 2025 date |
30-Nov-2025 |
| CAT answer key release |
First week of December 2025 |
| Declaration of CAT 2024 result |
Last week of December 2025 or First week of January 2026 |
Also Read: CAT exam dates 2025
CAT Registration 2025
Q: I am in 2nd year 4th semester of BBA. Can I write CAT Exam this year and get into MBA college next year?
Q: What is the CAT eligibility criteria?
Q: How much CAT score is required for IIM Amritsar?
Candidates seeking admission to the MBA programme must meet the minimum CAT percentile specified in the cutoff list released by IIM Amritsar. As per the IIM Amritsar cutoff list for admission to the MBA programme, the minimum percentile for overall and section-wise categories in CAT was 95 in the year 2023. So, if trends are to be trusted then the minimum percentile for overall as well as section-wise category in the CAT exam should be near 95. Hence, students are advised to prepare well for the CAT exam.
Q: Am I eligible to appear in CAT after completing my graduation from School of Open Learning, DU?
CAT 2025 registration process will be online. Candidates will have to follow the below given process to apply for the CAT exam:
- Go to iimcat.ac.in
- Click on ‘new registration’
- Enter personal details to create a login
- Go to application form and fill in all the details
- Upload scanned photo and signature
- Select test cities, courses and IIM campuses
- Pay CAT application fee to submit the form
CAT registration fee is INR 2500 for unservered categories and INR 1250 for reserved categories of students. The CAT application fee is non-refundable thus candidates must fill the CAT application form carefully.
Check: CAT Test Cities and Centres List
CAT 2025 Syllabus
CAT exam syllabus 2025 is expected to remain same as CAT 2024, i,e. Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC). Check below important CAT topics included in the syllabus.
Quantitative Aptitude: Number System, Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry and Mensuration
DILR: Set Theory (Variables), Set Theory + Puzzles, Puzzles with Additional Data, Coding-Decoding and Series
VARC: Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Para Summary and Odd Sentence Out
Also Read:
CAT Exam Pattern 2025
Check the below table for CAT exam pattern highlights:
| CAT Pattern Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| Exam mode |
Computer Based Test |
| Exam duration |
2 hours |
| Sectional time limit |
40 minutes per section |
| Number of sections |
3 – VARC, DILR, Quantitative Aptitude |
| Number of questions |
66 |
| Section wise questions |
VARC - 24 DILR - 20 QA - 22 |
| Marking scheme |
+3 for every correct attempt -1 for every incorrect attempt |
| Total marks |
198 |
CAT Preparation 2025
CAT preparation is tough and requires long time. One must start CAT exam preparation at least 9 months before the exam. If you wish to appear for CAT 2025, you have two ways to prepare. Either join a coaching institute or prepare by self-study. If you choose the latter, you will have to put in extra hard work and dedication for focused study. Before starting CAT 2025 preparation check its syllabus and analyse which are the topics you are familiar with and which are alien to you. Check below some top CAT preparation article for assistance.
| Tips and Tricks for CAT preparation 2025 |
|
|---|---|
CAT Admit Card 2025
CAT admit card 2025 will be issued to registered candidates 20 days before the exam. Here is the process to download CAT 2025 admit card.
- Go to iimcat.ac.in website
- Click on login option
- Enter CAT ID and password
- Click on CAT admit card tab
- Download the CAT 2025 admit card PDF
CAT Answer Key 2025
The official CAT answer key 2025 will be released 3-4 days after the exam in the form of candidate response sheet. The CAT response sheet cum answer key will contain name, roll number, exam slot, questions, correct answers and options selected by the candidate.
The CAT 2025 answer key challenge window will allow candidates to challenge the official answers to the questions asked in the exam. If any of the objections raised by the candidates is found to be valid, the official CAT answer key 2025 will be revised.
CAT Result 2025
CAT result 2025 will be prepared and announced after the answer key objections have been analysed. Check below how to download CAT result cum scorecard 2025:
- Visit iimcat.ac.in website
- Click on login/scorecard option
- Enter CAT ID and password
- Click on CAT scorecard tab
- Download the CAT 2025 scorecard PDF
Also Read:
CAT Cut Offs 2025
MBA admission to all B-schools including IIMs and non-IIMs is based on CAT cut off, which is the minimum score requirement. IIMs release qualifying CAT cut offs before the exam and final cut offs after the result. Check below qualifying CAT cut offs, for previous years for reference.
| IIM |
Qualifying CAT cut offs |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad |
85 |
| IIM Bangalore |
85 |
| IIM Calcutta |
85 |
| IIM Lucknow |
90 |
| IIM Indore |
90 |
| IIM Kozhikode |
85 |
| IIM Amritsar |
90 |
| IIM Nagpur |
94 |
| IIM Sambalpur |
94 |
| IIM Trichy |
94 |
| IIM Raipur |
94 |
| IIM Ranchi |
94 |
| IIM Kashipur |
94 |
| IIM Vizag |
80 |
| IIM Udaipur |
94 |
| IIM Bodhgaya |
94 |
| IIM Shillong |
75 |
| IIM Sirmaur |
94 |
| IIM Rohtak |
95 |
| IIM Nagpur |
85 |
| IIM Jammu |
94 |
| IIM Mumbai |
94 |
Also Read:
- IIM cut off for MBA admission
- MBA colleges accepting CAT score 50-60 percentile
- MBA colleges accepting CAT score 60-70 percentile
- MBA colleges accepting CAT score 70-80 percentile
- MBA colleges accepting CAT score 80-90 percentile
- MBA colleges accepting CAT score 85 percentile and above
IIM CAT Selection Process 2026
The IIMs will shortlist candidates on the basis of CAT 2025 score of MBA admission batch 2026. Admission process includes Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI). Check below the stages of IIM admission through CAT:
- Stage 1: Shortlisting of candidates on the basis of CAT score
- Stage 2: Conduct of WAT-PI round
- Stage 3: Final selection and offer of admission
The institute will also take into consideration, candidate’s class 10, class 12 and graduation marks a swell as work experience for selection.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 20 hours ago
The expected CAT/XAT percentile for GLIM G is about 80+
Scholar-Level 18
Answered 2 days ago
IILM University helps MBA Specialization studentss stay update with the latest developed reesources. they offer industry visit and seminor in your specialisation by the expert in related field . althrough faculty incourage the student to develope there skills . The university have the good connectio
A
Beginner-Level 3
Answered 3 days ago
With a 70 percentile in CAT and 58% in graduation, admission to BITS Pilani for MBA may be difficult, as they typically have high cut-offs and look for strong academic performance. BITS Pilani usually requires a higher CAT score (above 90 percentile) and a solid academic record. However, it's worth
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
The CAT result date for SIES College of Management Studies typically follows the official CAT result release date, which is usually in the first week of January. Once the results are out, SIES College will shortlist candidates based on their CAT scores for further rounds like Group Discussion (GD) a
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
With a 50-60 percentile in CAT, top IIMs may be out of reach, but there are still several good options for you. Consider institutes like IMS Noida, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Indira Institute of Management, and ITM Business School. Other options include BIMTECH, UPES, and Lovely Professional
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
With a 68 percentile in CAT, getting into one of the new IIMs (like IIM Kashipur, IIM Rohtak, IIM Trichy, etc.) could be challenging, even under the OBC category. While new IIMs generally have slightly lower cut-offs compared to the older ones, they still maintain high academic and professional stan
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
With a CAT percentile of 44.28, getting into top-tier B-schools may be tough, but there are still good options available. You can consider institutes like IMS Noida, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Amity Business School, ITM Navi Mumbai, and LPU Punjab. Other options include Welingkar Institute, B
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
With a 98.07 percentile in CAT, you're in a strong position for calls from top B-schools in India. Based on your profile (Gen CAT, Non-Eng Male, 22 months work experience, 84% in Xth, and 91% in XII), you can expect calls from prestigious institutes like:
- IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Luckn
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
With an 87 percentile in CAT, you have some good B-school options in India. Consider institutes like IILM University (New Delhi, Gurgaon), which offers a strong MBA programme with industry exposure, or Xavier Institute of Management (XIMB), Bhubaneswar, known for its solid curriculum and placements.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, IILM University offers opportunities for MBA students, including those with a single specialization, to showcase their work at various events like conferences and seminars. These platforms allow students to present their research and projects to industry professionals and academicians. The univ
R
Contributor-Level 10
What is the CAT/XAT cutoff of GLIM-G for 2024 Intake?