CAT 2025 Exam Day Checklist: Documents, ID Proofs & Items to Carry at Test Centre

Forbidden Items at CAT Exam Centre

Apart from carrying important documents to the CAT exam centre, there are some documents and items which are banned and are not allowed at the exam centre. These include:

• Watches

• Cameras

• Mobile phones

• Calculators

• Pen/Pencil Box

• Metal Jewellery

• Headphones/Earpiece

• Electronic Gadgets

Since the CAT 2025 exam will be conducted in online mode, therefore, all candidates are requested to carry minimal stationery. Candidates are only allowed to carry pens, pencils a scale for rough work. While the examination centre will provide rough sheets.

*Make sure you do not carry these forbidden items, which will lead to the disqualification of the candidate.

Special Provisions at CAT Exam Centre: Affidavit, Medical Certificates & more

• PwD candidates must carry a valid medical certificate indicating their disability. Candidates requiring a scribe must carry the prescribed scribe affidavit.

• Those candidates who have name changes due to marriage or other reasons must bring with them respective legal and government-stamped proofs.

• All these documents will be verified at the exam centre before being allowed entry.

CAT 2025 Exam: General Instructions

1. Admit Card: Print on A4 paper using a laser printer. Affix the same photograph used during registration.
2. ID Proof: Carry one valid government-issued photo ID. No damaged or smudged IDs are accepted.
3. Items Not Allowed: No phones, gadgets, watches, stationery, or jewellery. Thick-soled shoes and large-buttoned clothes are prohibited.
4. Reporting Time: Arrive as per the time mentioned on the admit card. Late entry is not allowed.
5. Test Centre: Visit the centre a day before to ensure timely arrival. No change in the test centre is allowed.
6. Rough Work: Writing pad and pen provided. Return them after the test.
7. Bio-breaks: Only in emergencies. Re-frisking is required and no extra time is given.
8. Test Day: No candidate shall be permitted to leave the Test Centre before the end of the CAT exam. No re-entry after the exam starts.
9. Travel & Stay: Candidates must arrange their own travel and accommodation.

Do not forget to Carry CAT Admit Card 2025

The CAT admit card is one of the most important documents that candidates must carry for the CAT exam. Make sure to affix your passport-size photograph on the admit card same as the one uploaded in the CAT form. It must also be ensured that the application number is printed on the CAT admit card as it is the primary reference identity of the candidate.

Furthermore, the authorities would not take into consideration the soft copy of the CAT admit card, instead, it must be printed on A4 size paper. Recheck the following details mentioned on the CAT 2025 admit card:

• Name of the candidate
• Application Number
• PwD status
• Date and day of the test
• Test time and session
• Reporting/ Entry time at Centre
• Gate Closing Time of Centre
• Test City
• Test Center address

CAT 2025 Dress Code Guidelines

The CAT conducting body has established specific CAT dress code regulations that CAT aspirants have to adhere to on the CAT exam day at the allotted test centre.

• Simple and comfortable clothes
• Sandals or slippers with thin soles
• Female candidates must opt for simple t-shirts, jeans, leggings, and Kurti
• Male candidates can wear formal pants, jeans, shits, and T-shirts

What are the Documents to Carry for CAT exam?

The first thing to appear for the CAT exam is to download the admit card and check the CAT test centre. Read the instructions mentioned in the CAT admit card carefully. Also, check whether the exam centre mentions the required conditions for the CAT exam. Following is the list of things and documents to carry in CAT exam 2025:

Photo Identity Proof

Along with the CAT admit card another important document to be carried at the CAT exam centre is the photo ID proof issued by the Government of India. This is done so that the test centre authorities can keep a check on the imposters. Also, carry two passport-size photographs to the CAT test centre.

As a photo identity proof, a candidate can carry any of the following:

• PAN Card
• Voter ID
• Passport
• Aadhar Card
• UID
• Employer ID
• Driving License
• College ID( must be supported with a valid debit/credit card)

It must be noted that the original photo ID proof has to be carried instead of the Xerox copy of the photo ID.

Stationery Items

As per the CAT paper pattern 2025, the entrance exam is conducted in a computer-based mode. Moreover, a pen and paper are provided to the candidates at the CAT exam centre itself. So, stationary items are not necessarily needed.

Authorization Form

Candidates must carry an IIM-provided authorisation form to carry any prohibited or exceptional items inside the exam lab due to medical reasons. Candidates need to contact the CAT centre to get such authorisation (if any).

Medical Certificate and Scribe Affidavit

Candidates belonging to the PWD category are required to carry a medical certificate supporting the disability claim and a scribe affidavit (on the prescribed form by IIMCAT) to the exam centre. Candidates must be thinking of the scribe affidavit meaning. It is basically for the candidates for whom someone else will write the CAT exam question paper. All the documents are verified by the officials at the CAT exam centre post-frisking. No candidate is allowed to proceed to their computer system without document verification.

Name Change Document

Candidates are required to carry a name change document that supports the name change in case their name has been changed due to any event (like marriage, legal name change). The list of such documents includes marriage certificates, decrees, etc. To support these documents, carry a notarized copy.

What not to Carry at CAT 2025 Test Centre?

There is an entire list of prohibited items, mentioned by the CAT conducting authorities, which are not allowed to be carried to the test centre of CAT 2025. These items are:

• Bags/ Mobile/ Calculator/iPads/ IPOD/ Bluetooth/ Headset/ Digital Wrist Watch/ Laptop/ Camera are not allowed inside the CAT exam hall.
• Do not carry any electronic gadgets such as beepers, electronic devices, or scanner devices.
• Candidates with a metal implant, pacemaker, etc. in their body will be required to bring a medical certificate of the same at the CAT exam centre.
• Candidates are not allowed to wear jewellery that contains metal.
• Beyond the frisking point, candidates are not allowed to wear footwear, metal headpins or clips inside the examination hall.
• Do not carry pencil boxes inside the examination hall. Candidates are required to make their own arrangements for personal belongings at the CAT exam centre 2025.

Note: Socks, plain pullovers/sweaters/cardigans (without any pockets) are allowed inside the exam lab.

CAT Exam Centre 2025: Additional Instructions for Candidates

• Reach the CAT exam centre 2025 an hour before the commencement of your slot’s timing.
• If the candidate has to travel a long way to reach the examination hall, the candidate is requested to make necessary arrangements for travel, accommodation, food and any other expenses.
• Follow the instructions for biometric attendance and seating arrangement, etc.
• Do not apply henna or mehndi on the palm side.
• Cooperative behaviour with the test centre staff is highly requested from the candidates during the document verification process and frisking.