CAT Exam 2025: Date, Registration, Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus, Preparation Tips, Cut Off
Summary: With CAT 2024 wrapped up, all eyes are set on CAT exam 2025 now. Registrations for CAT 2025 should begin in August and in September as per past year trends. The exam will be held in the last week of November 2025 with results out soon in December. If you’re looking to sit for CAT 2025, then this blog is for you. All the most important information – key dates, syllabus, pattern, cutoffs – are mentioned here.
The CAT exam 2025 will be conducted in November 2025. This exam is an important step in facilitating admission to 21 IIMs and other MBA colleges in India. IIM Kozhikode, one of the oldest IIMs in India, is expected to conduct the exam this year. Most years, the official CAT notification is released at the end of July, and this year should be no different. The registration process for the exam will begin in August 2025 and will conclude by September 2025 end.
Remember, it is crucial to start preparing early for the CAT exam 2025 since it will be quite a challenging test. If you are aiming to take the CAT exam in 2025, it is best to kick off your preparation at least nine to ten months in advance, which makes this the best time to begin your CAT prep. If you want to understand the best strategies to start your prep on the right note, then this blog is for you:
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Many students also choose to begin their CAT prep after June. While that approach also works, a lot depends on your current skill set. Our mentors suggest sitting for a diagnostic test to map out your skills and the gaps you need to address. You can sign up for the IMS CAT Zero Fee program here – CAT Zero Fee – and attempt a free mock test. Once that is done, use the analytics and performance reports to benchmark yourself. From there on you’ll have a much clearer picture of the amount of work you need to put in to ace CAT exam 2025.
CAT exam 2025 – Overview
The CAT exam is highly competitive and is widely recognised by over 1300 MBA colleges in India. The exam will be conducted in three sessions at approximately 375 examination centres in almost 170 cities in India. If you are aiming to enrol in a top MBA institute, it is important to start preparing early for the CAT exam 2025.
CAT 2025 exam: Highlights
| CAT Full Name | Common Admission Test |
| Conducting Body | Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (Expected) |
| Exam Date | November 2025 |
| Eligibility Criteria | Graduation with an overall 50% score (45% for SC/ST candidates) |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Exam Format | CBT |
| Marking Scheme | +3 for each correct answer
-1 mark for each inaccurate answer |
| Application Form Fees | INR 2,500 for General category |
| INR 1,250 for SC/ST/PwD | |
| CAT Syllabus 2024 | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | |
| CAT Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
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CAT Exam 2025 – Important Dates
IIM Kozhikode is expected to oversee the CAT exam 2025. The important dates for CAT 2025, including the CAT exam registration date, application deadline, exam date, and result date, can be found below in the table:
| CAT 2025 Important Dates | |
| CAT Exam Events | CAT Exam Dates 2025 |
| CAT Exam 2025 notification date | July 2025 |
| Beginning of CAT 2025 Registration | August 2025 |
| CAT Exam 2025 registration last date | September 2025 |
| CAT Exam 2025 date | November 2025 |
| CAT Exam 2025 result date | December 2025 |
Read More – CAT Score vs Percentile 2025 – Section-wise analysis of CAT scores and percentiles
CAT Exam 2025 Registration Date
The CAT exam 2025 registration begins in August 2025, and ends in September 2025.
| Event | Expected Date |
| CAT 2025 Registration Date | August 2025 |
| CAT 2025 Registration Last Date | September 2025 |
| CAT 2025 Exam Date | November 2025 |
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CAT Exam 2025 Eligibility Criteria
The following are the eligibility criteria for CAT 2025:
- Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate or an equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST, and PwD/DA category) from a recognised university.
- Candidates in the final year of their bachelor’s degree or those awaiting results are also eligible to apply for the CAT exam 2025.
Note:
- Candidates with professional degrees such as CA/CS/ICWA are eligible to apply for CAT 2025 as long as they meet the minimum acceptable percentage.
- There is no upper age limit, allowing working professionals to apply for CAT 2025.
- Although work experience is advantageous for admission to IIMs, it is not compulsory for CAT application.
To read more about CAT 2025 eligibility criteria and get answers to questions like ‘How many backlogs are allowed to sit for CAT’ click here – CAT Eligibility Criteria 2025.
CAT Exam 2025 Registration Process
The registration forms for CAT 2025 will be accessible on the IIMCAT website from the designated date. To sign up for the exam, follow these steps:
- Go to the official website: iimcat.ac.in
- Click on ‘new registration.’
- Enter your name, date of birth, nationality, phone number, and email ID.
- Complete the CAPTCHA code and verify registration with the OTP received.
- Login using the CAT 2025 ID received via email to complete the form.
- Provide personal and academic details.
- Upload a recent passport-size photo and a scanned signature.
- Select preferred IIMs, courses, and test cities.
- Pay the CAT application fee using a credit/debit card or net banking.
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CAT Exam 2025 Registration Important Documents
Photo
- Max 6 months old, white/off-white background
- Dimensions: 30mm x 45mm
- Max size: 1 MB
- Format: JPEG, JPG
Signature
- Size: Max 80KB
- Dimensions: 80mm x 35mm
- Format: JPEG, JPG
Category Certificate (if applicable)
Disability Certificate (if applicable)
Academic Details
- 10th
- 12th
- Graduation
- Masters/Professional Degree details
P.S. Convert CGPA/Grades to percentage.
Work Experience
- Full-time experience after graduation until 31 July 2025.
Important Note
Use a scanner for documents; do not use mobile devices for scanning photos/signatures/certificates.
CAT exam 2025 – Key pointers to remember while filling out the form
Step 1: Create an Account (Register for User ID & Password)
- Register through New Candidate Registration using your details and create an account.
- After validation, you will be able to submit the registration form and receive the User ID and Password at the registered email address or mobile number.
- Verify all the details, select the check box & move to the next step.
Step 2: Personal Details
- Click on “Registered Candidate Login” > Enter “User Name” and “Password”> Click on “Go to Application Form”.
- The category details to be mentioned are: Category (General/SC/ST/NC-OBC/EWS) >>State/Union Territory of Category >>Serial/Entry/Certificate Number of Category >>Caste/Tribe Name.
Read More – CAT Form Filling Guidelines
CAT Exam 2025 Syllabus
The CAT 2025 syllabus is divided into three main sections: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Aptitude. The table below summarises important topics for candidates’ CAT 2025 preparation.
| CAT 2025 Syllabus | |
| Section | Topics |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) |
|
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
|
For a more extensive outlook on the CAT exam 2025 syllabus, the most important topics, and what kinds of questions to expect, read here – CAT Syllabus – Section-wise important topics and types of questions
CAT 2025 Exam Pattern
The exam follows an MCQ and non-MCQs format and a duration of 120 minutes. Candidates need to answer 66 questions (May vary) from the VARC, DILR, and QA sections during the CAT exam. The important details of the CAT exam pattern are as follows:
– The CAT exam is conducted in three sessions, the duration of the sessions is 120 minutes.
– The exam paper is divided into three sections – VARC, DILR, and QA.
– The total number of questions in the exam is 68, with a sectional time limit of 40 minutes for each section.
– Candidates receive three marks for every correct answer and lose 1 mark for each incorrect answer.
– There is no negative marking for non-MCQs or penalty for skipping questions.
– The maximum achievable score in the exam is 204, and attempting all questions is not mandatory.
Latest changes in the CAT exam pattern
- The total number of questions went up from 66 to 68.
- The number of questions in the DILR section was increased from 20 to 22. Instead of 4 sets of 5 questions each, as has been the norm, CAT 2024 had 3 sets of 4 questions and 2 sets of 5 questions.
- According to the CAT 2024 exam analysis by our expert mentors, the overall difficulty level of CAT exam 2024 was lower than that of CAT 2023, especially in the DILR and Quant sections.
- The difficulty level across the three slots was also varied. Slot 1 was the easiest, and slot 3 was the hardest.
- The difficulty level of VARC was largely the same as last year, while the DILR and Quant sections were easier.
- According to our expert mentors, CAT 2024’s overall difficulty level was similar to that of CAT 2021.
- The overall cutoffs for the top colleges are expected to go up, and the CAT score vs. percentile report will also change. The 90%ile and 95ile benchmarks are expected to climb to 47-51 marks and 58-61 marks, respectively.
To get more details about the latest CAT 2025 exam pattern along with the marking scheme, time limits, and weightage, read here: CAT Exam Pattern 2025
What was the final admission CAT cutoff 2024-26 (lowest score to get admission) for top IIMs?
Before beginning your CAT exam 2025 preparation, it is important to have a target score for yourself. Based on your college and degree preferences, strive to score more than the cutoffs mentioned here.
| Name of the IIMs | Final Admission CAT Cutoff 2024 Percentile (Lowest Score to Secure Admission) (General – Overall) |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 93.76 |
| IIM Bangalore | 91.97 |
| IIM Calcutta | NA |
| IIM Lucknow | NA |
| IIM Indore | 92.92 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 88.14 |
| IIM Vizag | 82.03 |
| IIM Rohtak | 96 |
| IIM Nagpur | 94 |
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What was the minimum qualifying overall CAT cutoff 2024 for all IIMs?
The minimum qualifying cutoff is only used to determine eligibility for the GDPI process. But clearing these cutoffs won’t guarantee a place on the shortlist. This is merely the minimum score you need to clear even to be considered for the GDPI process.
| IIMs | Qualifying CAT cutoff 2024 percentile (Minimum criteria) |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 80 |
| IIM Bangalore | 85 |
| IIM Calcutta | 85 |
| IIM Lucknow | 90 |
| IIM Indore | 90 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 85 |
| IIM Mumbai | 85 |
| IIM Tiruchirappalli | 95 |
| IIM Shillong | 75 |
| IIM Raipur | 95 |
| IIM Ranchi | 95 |
| IIM Kashipur | 95 |
| IIM Rohtak | 96 |
| IIM Tiruchirappalli | 95 |
| IIM Udaipur | 95 |
| IIM Nagpur | 94 |
| IIM Visakhapatnam | 82 |
| IIM Amritsar | 90 |
| IIM Bodhgaya | 92 |
| IIM Jammu | 92 |
| IIM Sirmaur | 95 |
| IIM Sambalpur | 95 |
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IIM CAP cutoff 2024
9 colleges out of the 21 IIMs participate in the Common Admission Process or CAP rounds. Every year, the CAP cutoff is changed on the basis of the same factors mentioned above. For 2024, the IIM CAP cutoff was 95%ile.
| IIM CAP Participating Colleges | IIM CAP Cutoff 2024 (Percentile) |
| IIM Bodhgaya | 95 |
| IIM Jammu | 95 |
| IIM Sirmaur | 95 |
| IIM Sambalpur | 95 |
| IIM Ranchi | 95 |
| IIM Raipur | 95 |
| IIM Trichy | 95 |
| IIM Udaipur | 95 |
| IIM Kashipur | 95 |
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IIM SAP cutoff 2024
After the CAP rounds are over, a few IIMs also initiate a Supplementary Admission Process or SAP round in case seats aren’t filled. This year, only 2 colleges participated in the SAP round and the IIM SAP cutoff as set at 92%ile.
| IIM SAP Participating Colleges | IIM SAP Cutoff 2024 (Percentile) |
| IIM Bodhgaya | 92 |
| IIM Jammu | 92 |
What was the final admission CAT cutoff 2024-26 (lowest score to get admission) for top non-IIM colleges?
Like the best IIMs, other colleges, such as FMS and MDI, post extremely high cutoffs. These colleges are as reputed as IIM ABC and provide students with excellent career opportunities.
| Institute | CAT cutoff 2024-26 (GEM) |
| FMS | 99+ |
| IIT Delhi | 90+ |
| IIM Mumbai | 97 |
| MDI Gurgaon | 94 |
| IIT Madras | 84.99 |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 90 |
| SPJIMR | 85 (profile-based calls) |
| IIT Bombay (SJMSoM) | 94.73 |
| IIFT | 95.7 |
| IIT Kharagpur | 90 |
| TISS | 93 |
| MICA | 85+ |
| XIMB | 92 |
Apart from these colleges, many others accept scores above 85%. There’s IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, MICA, IIT Roorkee, JBIMS, Great Lakes, TAPMI, XIMB, and GIM.
CAT score vs percentile 2024
The CAT score vs percentile data changes every year based on the overall difficulty level and the number of students sitting for the test. CAT 2024 was of a lower difficulty level which is reflected in the higher CAT score vs percentile ratio.
| PERCENTILE | VARC SCORE | DILR SCORE | QA SCORE | OVERALL SCORE |
| 80.00 | 18.00 | 17.00 | 11.00 | 43.00 |
| 85.00 | 20.00 | 19.00 | 14.00 | 49.00 |
| 90.00 | 24.00 | 22.00 | 17.00 | 57.00 |
| 95.00 | 30.00 | 27.00 | 22.00 | 70.00 |
| 98.00 | 36.00 | 34.00 | 29.00 | 85.00 |
| 99.00 | 41.00 | 38.00 | 33.00 | 96.00 |
| 100.00 | 59.00 | 63.00 | 57.00 | 151.00 |
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CAT Exam Admit Card 2025
It is important to remember that the admit card for CAT 2025 will be available for download on the official website from November 2025.
– The admit card is a crucial document for appearing in the CAT exam.
– All candidates must bring the CAT admit card to the exam centre on the examination day.
Additionally:
– Only candidates who have completed registration and paid the CAT processing fee can download the CAT 2024 admit card.
-To download the admit card, candidates must log in to the official website of IIM CAT – iimcat.ac.in —using their ID and password.
– The admit card contains necessary information such as the test centre, exam date, and other important details related to the examination.
– Candidates should ensure that all the information on the admit card is accurate. If there are any discrepancies, candidates should contact the authorities promptly.
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CAT 2025 Answer Key
After the CAT exam 20025, IIM Kozhikode will release the answer key along with candidate response sheets about a week after the exam. To download the answer key, follow these steps:
- Visit the official CAT website.
- Click on ‘login’ and enter your CAT login ID and password.
- Click on the displayed ‘CAT answer key’.
- Download the key as a PDF using the ‘download’ link.
Once the answer key is released, you have three to four days to address any errors by filling out an online form. IIM will then review the objections and make necessary revisions to the answer key.
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CAT Exam Result 2025
After releasing the official answer key, IIM will announce the CAT 2025 results, which will contain every candidate’s normalised scores and corresponding percentiles. The anticipated CAT result date for 2025 is in the last week of December.
To access the result, candidates must visit the official website, find the provided link for the CAT 2025 result, and enter their login credentials, including ID and password. The CAT scorecard will remain valid for one year. Candidates must apply to MBA colleges using their CAT 2025 results within this time frame.
CAT Exam 2025 Preparation Tips
CAT is recognised as one of the most challenging MBA entrance exams. Therefore, candidates must follow a strategic preparation plan to excel in the CAT exam with a high score. Candidates can adopt the following tips for adequate preparation:
- Remember to break down the syllabus into small sections and allocate time accordingly. Focus on improving weaker areas while maintaining proficiency in sections where your strength lies.
- Take expert guidance from IMS Mentors. Succeeding in the CAT exam 2024 requires an effective preparation plan, thorough guidance, and reliable resources.
- Set realistic study goals and stick to a well-structured schedule.
- Take regular mock tests to track progress and improve time management skills.
- Solve CAT papers from the previous year to understand the exam pattern and boost confidence.
- Keep yourself informed about current events, especially for the general awareness section.
- Maintain a positive mindset and believe in your abilities.
- Review concepts, engage in question practice, and stay committed to the study plan.
In this blog – CAT Preparation with the Top IMS Mentors – We’ve collated some of the best tips and strategies to get you started on your CAT prep. Read it to find tips for approaching each section and formulating a solid exam-day strategy for the CAT exam 2025.
CAT Exam Analysis 2024
Don’t forget to go through our detailed analysis of each of the three slots of CAT 2024. There were many surprises this year, making for an interesting paper, to say the least. Analysing past years’ papers will give you insights into what to expect from CAT 2025.
| Section Name | Number of MCQs | Number of TITAs | Total |
| VA-RC Section | 22 | 2 | 24 |
| DI-LR Section | 12 | 10 | 22 |
| QA Section | 14 | 8 | 22 |
| Total | 48 | 20 | 68 |
- Paragraph Jumbles questions completely disappeared from this year’s CAT.
- LRDI – Total 5 sets- 2 sets of 5 questions and 3 sets of 4 questions.
- QA was one notch less difficult compared to CAT 2023
To get into more detail, including the exact questions and difficulty level of each section, read here – Detailed Analysis of CAT 2024.
CAT Exam Centres 2025
The CAT exam centres for 2024 are located in almost 170 cities across India, providing candidates with multiple test centre options in nearly every city for added flexibility. The exam will likely be conducted in three slots. More details about the CAT exam centres can be found on the official website – iimcat.ac.in.
Final Thoughts on CAT 2025
The exam is still a few months away, giving you more than enough time to study hard enough to get the best results possible. Apart from the information contained in this blog, you can also click on any of the links to get into more detail. Additionally, you’ll also find the BSchoolZone link at the bottom. It’s a one-stop solution for all things CAT, IIM, and MBA. Install it and get all the information about CAT exam 2025 at your fingertips.
CAT 2025 FAQs
- When is the exam scheduled for CAT 2025?
The CAT exam 2024 will be conducted in the last week of November 2025.
2. When is the expected release date for notification of CAT 2025?
The notification for CAT 2024 was released in July 2025.
3. What is the application process for the CAT 2025 exam?
You must complete the application process online to apply for the CAT exam. This includes registering, filling out the form, paying the processing fee, and uploading the required documents. You can complete your CAT application by visiting the official IIM CAT website.
4. Which IIM is responsible for conducting CAT 2025?
The IIMs conduct the CAT exam on a rotational basis. While there is no official information yet available, we expect IIM Kozhikode to conduct CAT 2025.
Note: The details mentioned above for the CAT examination are subject to change as per the official notification.
