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CAT Exam Day Guidelines 2025: This year, the CAT exam timings were 7 AM, 11 AM, and 3 PM for the CAT slot timings of Morning, Afternoon, and Evening. In addition to this, candidates must note the CAT shift timings of 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM, and 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM for all three CAT 2025 slots. With its long list of CAT exam guidelines 2025, it can be a daunting task! Candidates should note that the CAT exam is a mind-based, time-sensitive entrance exam that can easily be cracked by applying the right strategy on exam day. The CAT 2025 exam was conducted on November 30, 2025, at 170 test cities across India. Read on to find out what you should and shouldn’t carry with you on the big day so that you can ace your CAT test with flying colours.
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In this article on CAT guidelines and 10 Dos and Don'ts for the exam day, Careers360 will help and guide candidates through the quick CAT 2025 exam day tips to be followed on IIM Entrance Test day to score better. Read the complete article to know the CAT guidelines 2025 and all that it takes to crack the entrance exam and convert to IIMs or other top B-schools.
Candidates appearing for the CAT 2025 are advised to follow the CAT guidelines below. If any of you do not follow the CAT exam guidelines 2025, they will be sent out of the centre.
Candidates who appear for the exam must be aware of the timings for the CAT 2025 exam so that they do not miss anything. This is the foremost CAT 2025 exam day tip. In the wake of increasing number of candidates appearing in the CAT exam, candidates are advised to reach the CAT 2025 exam centre well in advance, so that the authorities get enough time to check their documents.
All female MBA aspirants planning to take the CAT 2025 exam must be aware of some of the basic guidelines that must be followed. Ignoring either of the guidelines could lead to damaging consequences on the exam day. Take a look at the following CAT exam guidelines that must be followed by all female candidates.
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All candidates who will be appearing for the CAT 2025 exam must know that showing materials is not the traditional exam day theme for CAT 2025. Instead, candidates must follow minimalist clothing and simple footwear. Check out the following points, which mention the CAT 2025 dress code for a smooth entry into the examination hall.
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Let us look at each point one by one to understand what is mandatory and should be done by candidates on the day of CAT 2025:
Carry an Admit Card and a Valid Photo ID Proof
Important CAT 2025 exam day tip- Carry a hard copy of the CAT 2025 admit card. Note that candidates without a hard copy of the hall ticket of CAT will not be allowed to enter the exam centre at any cost. A duly filled CAT 2025 exam admit card is a mandatory document. Test takers must ensure that the signature and photograph printed on the admit card is legible. Candidates are requested to check the following information on their admit card beforehand:
As an important do's of CAT 2025, along with the CAT admit card, candidates have to carry at least one photo ID as proof. Candidates must keep in mind that the photograph and signature provided on the ID proof should be visible and not be smudged or damaged by any means. Candidates who have (a) a pacemaker or (b) implants (metal) or (c) other devices (s) for Medical reasons (s) are required to produce a medical certificate for the same. Any of the documents can be used by candidates as photo ID proof on exam day:
Note- No candidates were allowed inside the exam hall without an admit card, valid ID proof, and proper frisking. Frisking will be carried out without touching the body through a Handheld Metal Detector (HHMD).
Read more- Know CAT evolution over the years
Be On-Time
As per the previous records, candidates are required to report to the exam centre one and a half hours before the exam. Time management is very important in the CAT 2025 exam, be it in reporting time or completing the questions accurately. The last entry stops 15 minutes before the exam time.
CAT Slot Timings and Reporting Time 2025 (will be correctly mentioned in the admit card):
Sessions | cat shift timings | Last Entry Time | Reporting Time |
Morning | 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM | 8:15 AM | 7:00 AM |
Afternoon | 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM | 12:15 PM | 11:00 AM |
| Evening | 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM | 4:15 PM | 3:00 PM |
Check Seating Arrangements In Advance
Once candidates reach the CAT 2025 exam centre, the first thing they need to do is find their respective seats. Lab numbers will not be displayed outside the centre to avoid any crowding at any one place in any situation. At the time of entry, barcode readers were available to scan the CAT admit card. Details about the hall/lab number will be communicated to candidates at the same time.
Verification of Documents
After getting inside the exam centre, an important CAT 2025 exam day tip is that the candidates must get their documents verified. This is an important process because it is only after the verification of the documents that candidates will be allowed to proceed to their respective exam labs to take the test. Candidates are required to paste passport-size photographs and sign on the attendance sheet.
Rough Work On Scratch Sheet
Upon reaching the exam lab, candidates will be provided with five rough sheets to do the calculation work. Candidates will not be allowed to leave before the total duration of two hours is complete. Candidates who answer the questions on the desk, hand, or anywhere else are subject to being penalised. Do your rough work only on the sheets provided by the invigilator. It is directed by the invigilator that candidates should write their names and registration ID on the rough sheets.
Obey The Invigilators
The examiner who is there to assist candidates before, during, and after CAT 2025 is the invigilator. Candidates will have to follow their CAT exam guidelines if they do not wish their candidature to be cancelled. In case of any issues, like finding a seat while logging in, any hamper during the exam, submitting issues, etc., candidates can ask for the help of the invigilator. If you have any issues, ask for clarity.
Use the Washroom Beforehand
Since time management is an important aspect, candidates are requested to carefully plan everything before the exam. If candidates are feeling uneasy due to sensitivity/exam day pressure, they are advised to use the washroom before the exam starts. As CAT is considered to be the toughest of all MBA entrance exams, candidates are not allowed to use the washroom during the exam duration.
Submit Admit Card, Writing Pad
On completion of the CAT exam 2025, the candidates are advised to follow this CAT 2025 tip: candidates must move out in an orderly manner, one candidate at a time. While leaving the exam lab/hall, candidates will have to submit the rough sheets provided by the invigilator along with a hard copy of their admit card for security reasons. Candidates not abiding by the CAT exam rules may face severe consequences.
Note: Test Day Exception Forms: In case any exceptional situation arises on the day of CAT, candidates will be required to sign an Exception Form.
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Let us look at each point one by one to understand what is mandatory and should not be done by candidates on the day of CAT 2025:
Say Bye to Personal Belonging
To ensure proper safety measures, no candidate should keep any personal belongings with him/her. Personal belongings refer to the following items:
Do Not Sign the Admit Card Beforehand
One of the important CAT 2025 exam day tips is not to sign the admit card for CAT without the presence of an invigilator. Sometimes candidates don’t read the CAT exam guidelines and make the mistake of signing the admit cards beforehand. Note that, it is strictly required that candidates sign the CAT 2025 exam admit card in the presence of the invigilator only.
Any candidate’s admit card that is signed before the entry would be considered invalid. Also, candidates must ensure that the signature they provide matches the printed signature, i.e., the one they uploaded at the time of registration.
No Unfair Practices
In CAT 2025, no candidate should use unfair practices to crack the test and get good results. Carrying short notes, writing on hands with a pen/henna, or any such means are strictly prohibited. Any candidate found guilty will not be allowed to carry forward with the test, and their candidature will be cancelled immediately.
Seat Change Request
In no case, seat change requests made by candidates entertained at the end. Candidates were required to sit only in the seat allotted to them. Before each shift started, the seating area was thoroughly cleaned: monitor, keyboard, mouse, webcam, desk, and chair.
No Bio-Breaks
Any request related to bio-breaks while inside the exam lab will not be entertained by the invigilators. Unless it is a medical emergency, candidates have no option left. Those suffering from diabetes or any other ailment must carry a medical certificate and produce it to the invigilator if any need arises.
Do Not Peek Into Fellow Test Taker’s Screen
No candidate should look or be interested in what other/fellow candidates are doing. Keep your posture straight and look only at the computer screen provided. Do not peek into what others are doing or which answers they are marking. In case of any confusion/doubt, candidates should only clarify those doubts with the invigilators or test centre officials.
Do Not Apply Mehndi/Henna
This instruction is especially important for female candidates. Usually, in CAT, candidates have to do biometrics, and if mehndi/henna is applied on the hand, it may create issues in completing the biometric process.
Don’t Wear Restricted Items
A complete list of items that are restricted/prohibited for candidates to carry/wear in CAT will be soon released by IIM Ahmedabad. Candidates must not wear jackets, jewellery, watches, electronic gadgets, or shoes. If candidates are wearing or carrying any of these items, you will have to deposit them at the entrance gate.
Do Not Waste Rough Sheets
Before starting the exam, the invigilator will provide a writing pad to the candidates, which has to be submitted back once the exam is over.
No Companion Allowed
Until and unless a candidate is a PwD candidate and has asked for a scribe, no friends/companions/relatives accompanying you were allowed to enter beyond the gates of the test centre.
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| CAT Exam Timings | Activities | Approximate time for the activity | Remarks | ||
| Shift 1 | Shift 2 | Shift 3 | |||
| 7:00 a.m | 11:00 a.m | 3:00 p.m | Arrive at the Test centre (candidate’s reporting time) | - | The gate closes 15 minutes before the test starts time. |
| 7.05 AM | 11.05 AM | 03.05 PM | Locate your Test Lab number | 1-5 minutes | The candidate checks the location of the Exam Lab from the Barcode Desk. |
| 7.10 AM | 11.10 AM | 03.10 PM | Scrutiny of the admit card | 1-5 minutes. | The first scrutiny of the documents is done at the Entry gate. |
| 7.15 AM | 11.15 AM | 03.15 PM | Deposit personal belongings (mobile phone, bag, etc.) | 1-10 minutes. | Candidate deposit their personal belongings at the entry gate |
| 7.25 AM | 11.25 AM | 03.25 PM | Frisking of the candidates | 3-5 minutes. | Assigned Security staff to frisk candidates. |
| 7.30 AM | 11.30 AM | 03.30 PM | Document (ID card and admit card) checking at the Test Lab entrance | 1-10 minutes | Document verification is done. |
| 7.40 AM | 11.40 AM | 03.40 PM | Candidates reach their Test Labs | 1-10 minutes | Candidate reaches Exam Lab. |
| 7.50 AM | 11.50 AM | 03.50 PM | Candidates go to the registration desk and sign (manual) on the attendance sheet | 1-5 minutes | Candidate signs the Attendance Sheet available at the Registration Desk. |
| 7.55 AM | 11.55 AM | 03.55 PM | Registration Process | 1-10 minutes. | Candidate photograph and IRIS captured as per process. |
| 8.05 AM | 12.05 PM | 04.05 PM | Candidates check their photo in the registration terminal to ensure it is their photo | 1-5 minutes. | The candidate verifies the captured photo at the Registration Terminal. |
| 8.10 AM | 12.10 PM | 04.10 PM | The candidate receives the scribble pad from the invigilator and sits at the terminal | 1-5 minutes. | The candidate checks the allotted Console in the Exam Lab and collects the Writing Pad from the Invigilator |
| 8.15 AM | 12.15 PM | 04.15 PM | Login to the Test screen | 1-5 minutes | The candidate completes the first login. |
| 8.20 AM | 12.20 PM | 04.20 PM | Verify & confirm the profile information | 1-5 minutes | The candidate verifies and confirms the profile Information, which he/she had filled in during the CAT 2025 Registration. |
| 8.25 AM | 12.25 PM | 04.25 PM | Read & agree to the Declaration | 1-5 minutes | The candidate reads all the instructions given for the Exam and clicks on “Accept”. |
| 8.30 AM | 12.30 PM | 04.30 PM | Test Starts | 120 minutes | Exam starts |
| 10.30 AM | 02.30 PM | 06.30 PM | Test concludes & the candidate shares the feedback | 1-5 minutes. | After 120 minutes. The exam is over and the feedback page is displayed on the screen. The candidate shares his feedback. |
| 10.35 AM | 02.35 PM | 06.35 PM | Return scribble pad | 1-5 minutes. | The candidate returns the Writing pad to the Invigilator. |
| 10.40 AM | 02.40 PM | 06.40 PM | Exit the test Lab and collect the deposited belongings | 1-5 minutes. | The candidate exits the Exam Lab and collects belongings (if any) |
| 10.45 AM | 02.45 PM | 06.45 PM | Exit the CAT 2025 Test Centre | The candidate leaves the Test Center. | |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Candidates are required to carry personal ID proof, the CAT 2025 admit card, two passport-size photographs, a transparent ballpoint pen, and a water bottle if they want. The first three are mandatory for CAT 2025 exam.
If your fingerprints cannot be digitally scanned due to the use of mehndi/henna/ any cosmetic colours, you will not be allowed to take the test.
Each candidate is given a rough paper before the examination begins. It is usually a few pages bound together, and additional sheets can be requested if needed.
No, Items such as glasses, handbags, belts, hats, wallets, mobile phones, electronic gadgets, calculators, own stationery, and pens are prohibited.
Yes, CAT is a computer-based test with a duration of 2 hours.
On reaching the examination laboratory, candidates will be given five rough sheets to perform the calculation tasks.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
Here are some top colleges accepting XAT and CAT exams :
Top colleges accepting CAT:
IIMs (All Indian Institutes of Management)
FMS Delhi
SPJIMR Mumbai
MDI Gurgaon
IIT Bombay (SJMSOM)
IIT Delhi (DMS)
IIFT
IMT Ghaziabad
JBIMS Mumbai
Top colleges accepting XAT:
XLRI Jamshedpur
XIMB Bhubaneswar
IMT Ghaziabad
Great
Hi there,
A female candidate with a CAT percentile of 67.97 and low sectional scores should target private and tier-2/3 B-schools that accept overall CAT scores in the 60–70 percentile range and have flexible sectional criteria.
Some suitable options include AIMS Institute Bangalore, Doon Business School Dehradun, Christ Institute of
Hi there,
Yes, you are eligible for XISS Ranchi with a CAT percentile of 67.60.
According to recent admission trends, the CAT cutoff for the PGDM in Human Resource Management for the general category has been around 60 percentile. For other programs such as Marketing, Finance, and Rural Management, the
Hi there,
Careers360 offers a wide range of eBooks and study materials to assist with CAT preparation. You can access past CAT question papers with solutions to understand the exam pattern and difficulty level. Additionally, there are quantitative aptitude handbooks, cheat sheets, and section-specific practice sets for arithmetic, algebra, and
Hi there,
The minimum eligibility criteria for a general candidate to receive a call from IIM Sambalpur are as follows:
VARC: 65%ile
QUANTS: 65%ile
LRDI: 65%ile
Overall: 90%tile
Keep practising and aim to improve your score. You can also focus on other management exams where you may secure a strong
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