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CAT Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 13 Sep' 25
CAT 2025 official notification has been released in leading newspaper. IIM Kozhikode will also release the official notification on its official website- iimcat.ac.in. IIM Kozhikode will conduct the CAT 2025 exam on November 30, 2025, in 3 slots at 170 test cities all over India as per the previous year's trends. The actual CAT 2025 exam details will be available once the CAT notification 2025 pdf is released. The preferred CAT score is 98+ for old IIMs and 85+ for new IIMs. Check out all the latest updates on registration, admit card, exam date, and result for CAT 2025 on this page.
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CAT exam eligibility/ CAT qualification includes a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for reserved categories) or being in the final year of a UG program. There are no age or attempt limits to apply for CAT 2025. Common Admission Test (CAT) is a gateway to admission at 21 IIMs and other top MBA colleges in India. But to fill out the CAT application 2025, the aspiring candidates must meet the CAT eligibility criteria, which will also be announced in the IIM CAT notification.
CAT notification 2025 also includes:
CAT 2025 Official Notification Snapshot
CAT exam 2025 will be held as a computer-based test in around 170 cities across the country. The list of CAT exam centres will be released later by the CAT conducting body. Besides IIMs, the CAT exam is accepted by more than 500 B-schools in India for admission into the MBA/ PGDM program.
The list of CAT participating institutes will be released by the exam-conducting IIM. Candidates must check the CAT official notification 2025 thoroughly before they apply for the exam.
The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) will release the CAT 2025 official notification on its official website- iimcat.ac.in. IIM CAT official notification will be available in the form of PDF to download.
Events | Particulars |
Name of the exam | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
Conducting body | IIM Kozhikode (Expected) |
Type of exam | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
CAT exam registration mode | Online |
Number of CAT test cities | 170 test cities |
CAT exam registration fees |
|
Course offered | MBA/ PGDM |
Exam section |
|
Time duration | 2 Hours (120 Minutes) - 40 Minutes for Each Section |
CAT 2025 official website | iimcat.ac.in |
CAT notification includes CAT important dates for CAT registration, exam date and timing, CAT admit card download date and so on. For now, candidates can check out the tentative CAT 2025 exam date.
Events | CAT Exam Dates 2025 (Tentative) |
CAT 2025 notification release date | July 30, 2025 |
CAT 2025 application form date | August 1, 2025 |
CAT 2025 registration last date | September 13, 2025, 5 pm |
CAT application form correction window | To be announced |
Availability of CAT admit card 2025 | November 5, 2025 |
CAT 2025 exam date | November 30, 2025 |
CAT result date 2025 | Third/ fourth week of December 2025 |
The CAT notification pdf comprises all the details, such as the CAT exam 2025 eligibility criteria, reservation details, CAT registration fee, important dates pertaining to the exam, and the number of CAT test centres.
The CAT announcement, in short, specifies the CAT exam eligibility criteria/ CAT exam qualification, which candidates must check before filling out the application form on or before the CAT 2025 form date. This allows the candidates to know who can apply for the CAT exam 2025. The CAT official notification states that fulfilling the qualifications for the exam will not guarantee them a place in the Indian Institute of Management.
*SC/ ST/ PwD candidates should have a minimum of 45%. For General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates, the minimum is 50%.
For more details on eligibility, students are advised to visit the “CAT 2025 eligibility” section of the CAT official website.
The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) will start the CAT registration process in online mode on August 1, 2025. Candidates can submit their CAT online application form from the IIM official website, iimcat.ac.in. The last date to submit the CAT registration form will be announced along with the CAT 2025 notification.
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CAT Particulars | CAT 2025 Pattern (Expected) |
CAT exam duration | 2 hours |
Test slots | 3 slots |
Total number of questions | 68 questions |
Total marks of CAT exam | 204 marks |
No. of questions in VARC section | 24 questions |
No. of questions in DILR section | 22 questions |
No. of questions in QA section | 22 questions |
* As per CAT exam marking scheme, candidate will get +3 marks for every correct answer and 1 mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
Year | Number of questions | Sections | Marking scheme | Exam duration | Exam conducting body |
2024 | Total 68 questions (24 in VARC, 22 in DILR, and 22 in QA section) | Verbal & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude |
| 120 minutes (2 hours) | |
2023 | Total 66 questions (24 in VARC, 20 in DILR, and 22 in QA section) | Verbal & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude |
| 120 minutes (2 hours) | IIM Lucknow |
2022 | Total 66 questions (24 in VARC, 20 in DILR, and 22 in QA section) | Verbal & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude |
| 120 minutes (2 hours) | IIM Bangalore |
2021 | Total 66 questions (24 in VARC, 20 in DILR, and 22 in QA section) | Verbal & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude |
| 120 minutes (2 hours) | |
2020 | Total 76 questions (24 in one section and 26 in the rest two sections) | Verbal & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude |
| 120 minutes (2 hours) | |
2019 | Total 100 questions (32 in one section and 34 in the rest two sections) | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, Verbal & Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Aptitude |
| 180 minutes (3 hours) | |
2018 | There were a total of 100 questions (32 in one section and 34 in rest two sections) | Quantitative Ability (QA), Verbal & Reading Comprehension, and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning |
| 180 minutes (3 hours) |
When completing the CAT 2025 application form on or before the CAT online form date, candidates should make sure to fill in the appropriate category as no change will be allowed once the CAT registration process is complete. This will be stated in the CAT exam notification 2025.
Category | Percentage |
Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
Other Backward Classes (NC-OBC) | 27% |
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | 10% |
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) | 5% |
The categories of disability are:
Note- For the purpose of being considered for reservations, the applicable Central Government list as of the last date of CAT registration shall be binding. No subsequent changes will be effective for CAT 2025 and any subsequent selection process of the IIMs. For an updated central list of state-wise OBCs eligible for availing of the benefit of reservation and information in respect of the creamy layer, visit the website http://www.ncbc.nic.in
The CAT advertisement 2025 also mentions registration fees for candidates belonging to different categories. The fee for the CAT application form will have to be paid only once in online mode and it is non-refundable. The CAT 2025 exam fee can be increased by Rs. 100 for the general category and Rs. 50 for the reserved category as per the previous trends.
Particulars | CAT Exam Fees (Expected) |
SC, ST, and PwD candidates | Rs 1300 |
Other candidates | Rs 2600 |
NOTE: SC, ST, and PwD candidates are required to upload a copy of their SC/ ST/ PwD certificates at the time of CAT registration.
More details will be available in the CAT registration guide. When registering, candidates must select six test cities of their choice from a drop-down menu. Candidates will be able to download the CAT admit card till the CAT 2025 exam day.
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CAT 2025 exam centres also include cities where the entrance exams will be held. When completing the CAT application form, candidates should select the test centre of their preference. There are six cities where candidates have to choose when registering.
The CAT 2025 will be conducted at centres spread across approximately 170 test cities. The test cities are mentioned on the CAT 2025 official website, and the test centre name will be mentioned on the admit card of the CAT exam. To know the complete list of exam centres, visit the CAT notification download link from the CAT 2025 official website.
NOTE: IIM reserves the right to change or cancel any test centre/ city and/ or change the test time and date of their choice.
Know more about; CAT Sample Paper
The candidate’s CAT 2025 score will be accessed on the CAT official website. Candidates will also be notified individually via SMS. CAT results will be announced probably in the third week of December. The CAT score will be valid until December 31, 2026, and accessible on the website accordingly. After that, any questions regarding the issuance of CAT 2025 scorecards will not be entertained.
Remember that each IIM is independent in setting its own qualifications (including academic cutoffs and relative weights) and follows different selection procedures. Performance in the CAT exam 2025 is an important component to consider in the selection process.
IIMs may also use candidates' previous academic performance, relevant work experience, and other similar entries in the shortlist of candidates at various stages of the CAT selection process. For more information, see the enrollment policies of individual IIMs on their respective websites.
NOTE: Candidates must declare and maintain a valid email account and a mobile phone number throughout the selection process.
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CAT 2025 will be conducted by IIM as a prerequisite for joining various management programs of IIMs. These programmes are:
Institutes | Programmes | Official Website |
PGP, PGP-FABM, ePGP | iima.ac.in | |
PGP, PGPEx, PGPDGM | iimv.ac.in | |
MBA | iimu.ac.in | |
PGPM, PGPM-HR, PGPBM | iimtrichy.ac.in | |
MBA, MBA (T&HM) | iimsirmaur.ac.in | |
PGP, PGPEX, PGPWE | iimshillong.ac.in | |
MBA | iimsambalpur.ac.in | |
PGP, EPGPX, EPGDSM | iimrohtak.ac.in | |
PGP, PGP-HRM, PGP (BA) | iimranchi.ac.in | |
PGP | iimraipur.ac.in | |
PGP | iimnagpur.ac.in | |
PGP, PGP-ABM, PGP-SM | iiml.ac.in | |
PGP, PGP-BL, PGP-F, PGP-LSM | iimk.ac.in | |
MBA, MBA (Analytics), MBA (WX) | iimkashipur.ac.in | |
PGP | iimj.ac.in | |
PGP, PGP-HRM | iimidr.ac.in | |
MBA | iimcal.ac.in | |
PGP | iimbg.ac.in | |
PGP, PGPEM, PGPBA | iimb.ac.in | |
MBA, EMBA, MBA-BA, MBA-HRM | iimamritsar.ac.in | |
IIM Mumbai | MBA | iimmumbai.ac.in |
Before a prospective candidate can decide on appearing for CAT 2025, he/ she should visit the website and/ or read the program advertisement of the relevant IIM and specific programs to confirm the accurate and up-to-date information about the programs he/ she want to apply for.. Including the CAT exam 2025 eligibility requirements and the CAT admission processes.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The CAT registration will take place from August 1 onwards and the same will be available till September 13, 2025.
IIM Kozhikode will conduct CAT 2025 exam.
No, the CAT 2025 notification in online mode is yet to be announced.
Candidates can be able to apply for CAT 2025 from August 1 and the same will be available till September 13, 2025.
Yes, in the official CAT notification, candidates can check the entire list of CAT exam cities.
The Common Admission Test is a computer-based test for admission in a graduate management program. The IIMs started this CAT entrance exam and use the test for selecting students for their business administration programs like MBA/PGDM
The criteria to apply for the CAT 2025 exam is:
Interested and eligible candidates can fill out the CAT 2025 registration form from August 2. Preparing from the right set of study materials is imperative to crack highly competitive exams like CAT. A vital parameter to choose the best CAT study material is to go for the tried and tested resources.
The details related to the CAT exam pattern are notified in the CAT notification and also on the official website.
The official website of CAT 2025 is iimcat.ac.in.
On Question asked by student community
Yes, you can fill the CAT form even if you currently have a backlog. CAT eligibility requires you to be in your final year of graduation or already graduated backlogs don’t stop you from applying.
While filling the form:
Enter the aggregate percentage/CGPA of marks you have obtained up to the latest semester for which results are declared (in your case till 4th semester).
There will be an option to mention that you have a backlog.
If you clear the backlog later, you’ll just need to show the updated marks during admission.
Hello Aspirant,
Yes, you can apply for the CAT exam as a final-year student. You must declare your backlog on the online application form. You do not write about it on the final-year student certificate; that document is to certify your enrollment status. You must clear all backlogs before the final admission process to any MBA college.
Hello,
Thank you for your question!
KL- MAT syllabus: Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English/Verbal Ability, and General Awareness (similar to MAT/CMAT pattern).
CAT scores are valid in many private universities including KL University, but always check the year’s admission notification.
CAT vs other exams: CAT is toughest (IIMs + top B-schools), while MAT/CMAT/ATMA are relatively easier and accepted by many mid-level private universities.
Hello it will clear your doubt!
Hello Aspirant,
I saw a cat. The cat found an old map inside a drawer of the king's palace.
Here's why:
"a cat": It's the first time we mention the cat, so it's indefinite.
"The cat": Now we're talking about that specific cat we just mentioned, so it's definite.
"an old map": It's the first time we mention a map, and "old" starts with a vowel sound, so "an."
"a drawer": It's one of possibly many drawers, not a specific one known to us yet.
"the king's palace": This is a specific, unique place, so "the."
Hello Kapish
You can find the last 5 year questions of DILR for CAT at Careers360 website. Moreover, you can find the previous year papers of all the subjects i.e. DILR, Quants and VARC. I am attaching the link through which you would be able to access the same.
Here's the link:
CAT Previous Year Papers by CAREERS360
Sample paper of DILR:
CAT Sample Paper (DILR) by CAREERS360
Thank You!!!
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