CAT Exam 2025 - Know All About Common Admission Test

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a highly competitive test in India, primarily for admission to MBA programs at Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top business schools. Here are the basic eligibility criteria for the CAT exam:

• Educational Qualification: Candidates must have a bachelor's degree from a recognized university or institution.
• Minimum Marks: Candidates need to have secured at least 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST, and PWD candidates).
• Final Year Students: If candidates are in their final year of a bachelor’s degree or awaiting their results, they are also eligible to apply for CAT exam, provided they meet the qualifications within the specified timeline set by the institution.
• Professional Degrees: Those with a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA/FCAI) with the required percentage of marks can also apply.
• Working Experience: The CAT exam is open to both fresh graduates and working professionals. However, work experience is an advantage during admissions after the CAT.
• Age Limit: There is no specific upper age limit for appearing in the CAT exam. As long as students fulfill the educational qualifications and other qualifications, candidates can take the CAT exam irrespective of their age.

NOTE: This is just the CAT exam eligibility. However, eligibility for admissions will differ and involve various parameters.

The CAT 2025 exam application form will open in the first week of August 2025. The application process for the CAT exam usually involves several steps. Here's a detailed guide to help you navigate through it:

1. CAT Registration:

• Visit the official CAT exam website.
• Create a new user profile by providing your email ID, phone number, and other necessary details.
• You will receive a user ID and password after successful registration.

2. Filling the CAT Application Form:

• Log in with your user ID and password.
• Fill out the CAT exam form with your personal details, academic qualifications, work experience (if any), and other relevant information.
• Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and necessary documents in the prescribed format.

3. Selecting Test Centers:

• Choose your preferred CAT exam cities from the given list. You can select up to six cities based on your convenience.

4. Payment of CAT Fee:

• Pay the CAT application fee online using a credit card, debit card, or net banking.
• The fee is Rs 2500 for general and NC-OBC candidates.
• For SC, ST, and PWD candidates, the fee is Rs 1250.

NOTE: Make sure to get confirmation of successful payment.

5. Confirmation of CAT Application:

• After submitting the CAT exam application form and paying the fee, review your application thoroughly.
• Submit the application and take a printout of the confirmation page for future reference.

Check out the detailed explanation on How to fill CAT exam application form

The CAT exam pattern is designed to test various skills required for management courses. Here is a detailed breakdown of the CAT 2025 exam pattern:

1. CAT Exam Sections

The CAT exam consists of three sections:

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC):

• Number of Questions: 24
• Types of Questions: Reading comprehension passages, sentence correction, jumbled sentences, and critical reasoning.
• Skills Tested: English language proficiency, grammar, and comprehension skills.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR):

• Number of Questions: 22
• Types of Questions: Data interpretation sets (charts, graphs, tables), logical reasoning puzzles (arrangements, blood relations, series).
• Skills Tested: Analytical and logical thinking, data interpretation skills.

Quantitative Ability (QA):

• Number of Questions: 22
• Types of Questions: Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number system, and modern math (permutations, combinations, probability).
• Skills Tested: Mathematical ability, problem-solving skills.

NOTE: The total number of questions in the CAT exam is 68. The total marks in the CAT exam are 204.

2. CAT Exam Duration

• The total duration of the CAT exam is 120 minutes (2 hours).
• Each section is allotted 40 minutes, and candidates cannot switch between sections during the CAT exam.
• For PwD, the duration of the exam will be 160 minutes (2 hours and 40 minutes). Each section is allotted 53 minutes and 20 seconds.

3. CAT Exam Question Types

• The CAT exam consists of both multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and non-MCQs (TITA—Type In The Answer).
• MCQs have four options, and candidates have to select the correct answer.
• For non-MCQs, candidates have to type the correct answer using the on-screen keyboard.

4. Marking Scheme

• Each correct answer carries 3 marks.
• There is a negative marking of 1 mark for each incorrect answer in the MCQs.
• No negative marking for non-MCQs.

5. Mode of CAT Exam

• The CAT entrance exam is conducted in a computer-based format.
• The CAT exam is usually held once a year in various test centers across India.

IIM will activate the CAT mock test link on its official website, iimcat.ac.in. The mock tests are an essential part of CAT exam preparation. They help you simulate a real CAT exam environment, assess your performance and identify areas for improvement. Here are some important features of CAT mock tests:

Previous Year CAT Exam Mock Tests Link

• CAT Mock Test Link: CAT Mock Test Link
• CAT Mock Test Link—For PwD Candidates (Blindness and Low Vision): CAT Mock Test Link
• CAT Mock Test Link—For Other PwD Candidates: CAT Mock Test Link

Avail yourself of the free CAT Mock Test by Careers360 here

1. Importance of CAT Mock Tests

• Familiarization: Mock tests familiarize you with the CAT exam pattern, types of questions, and time management required during the actual CAT exam.
• Performance Analysis: By taking mock tests, candidates can analyze their performance, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and work on improving them.
• Stress Management: Regular practice with CAT exam mock tests can help candidates manage exam-related stress and anxiety, making them more confident on the CAT exam day.
• Time Management: Mock tests teach candidates how to efficiently allocate time to each section and question, ensuring they complete the CAT exam within the given time frame.

2. Where to Find CAT Mock Tests

• Official CAT Website: The official CAT website often provides sample/mock tests for practice. Make sure to check their resources section.
• CAT Coaching Institutes: Many coaching institutes offer comprehensive CAT mock test series specifically designed for CAT preparation. Some popular ones include TIME, IMS, and Career Launcher.
• CAT Online Platforms: Several online platforms and websites provide free and paid mock tests for CAT. Examples include Careers360, TestFunda, Oliveboard, and Cracku.

Preparing for the CAT exam is very challenging, but with proper strategy and dedication, you can achieve great results. The preparation for the CAT exam should start nine months before the CAT exam date. CAT exam preparation includes completing the CAT syllabus phase-wise, mock test practice, and revision.

Candidates can join a coaching institute for the CAT exam or study on their own with the help of online study groups, books, and resources. Check the table below for important articles about CAT exam preparation. Here are some detailed tips to help you prepare effectively:

CAT month-wise preparation plan

• CAT exam: Last month's preparation tips
• How to Prepare for CAT in 6 Months
• How to Prepare for CAT in 3 Months

CAT Exam Preparation from May to November 2025

May is the month when every CAT exam aspirant gets serious about their preparation. If you haven't started your CAT exam preparation yet, May is the best time to start your preparation. We have created a detailed map of your CAT exam preparation from May to November.

Tips and Tricks for CAT Exam

• CAT: How to prepare without quitting your job
• How to prepare for CAT without coaching
• What is the best time to start CAT preparation?
• CAT: One-year study plan to ace the exam on the first attempt
• How to approach CAT question paper: Tips by Toppers

Benefits of Preparation through CAT Coaching

• Thinking Beyond
• Troubleshooter
• Focus & Motivation
• Interaction with peer group

CAT exam preparation without coaching or self-study mode

• Join online study groups across the internet, such as Handakafunda, iQuanta, and many more on Quora, Facebook, Telegram, and YouTube.
• Obtain online CAT exam study material and subscribe to various online free CAT test series from coaching institutes.
• Download MBA entrance exam preparation apps
• Buy the best books for CAT exam preparation

• Set CAT exam preparation timetable

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IIM will release the CAT exam 2025 admit card in the month of October 2025. The CAT exam admit card is an essential document that candidates need to download and carry on the day of the CAT exam. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to download the CAT admit card:

• Visit the CAT Official Website: Go to the official CAT exam website (iimcat.ac.in).
• Login: Click on the "Registered Candidate Login" button. Enter your CAT login ID and password.
• Download CAT Admit Card: After logging in, click on the "Download Admit Card" link. Your admit card will be displayed on the screen.
• Print: Download and print the CAT exam admit card in color. Make sure to take a color printout, as it will be required on the CAT exam day.
• Check Details: Verify the details on the CAT exam admit card, such as your name, exam date, time, venue, and other important information. If you find any discrepancies, contact the CAT helpline immediately.

Remember to carry the CAT exam admit card along with a valid identity proof to the examination centre. It is advisable to reach the examination center early to avoid last-minute problems.

Take a look: CAT Exam Day Guidelines: 10 Dos and Don'ts for the Exam Day

The CAT answer key is released by the conducting body (usually one of the IIMs) after the exam is conducted. It helps the candidates to estimate their CAT exam score before the official results are declared. Here are important details about the CAT answer key:

How to Access the CAT Exam Answer Key?

• Visit the official CAT website: https://iimcat.ac.in.
• Click on the "CAT Answer Key" link.
• Log in using your CAT ID and password.
• Download the CAT answer key for your exam slot.

1. Release of CAT Exam Answer Key

• The official CAT answer key is typically released 7-10 days after the exam.
• It is published on the official CAT website: https://iimcat.ac.in.

2. Types of CAT Answer Keys

• Unofficial CAT Answer Keys: Coaching institutes and educational portals often release CAT unofficial answer keys immediately after the CAT exam. These are based on inputs from test-takers and are not official but can give a rough idea of your performance.
• CAT Provisional Answer Key: Released first, allowing candidates to raise objections if they find discrepancies.
• CAT Final Answer Key: Released after considering all objections raised by candidates. This is used to calculate the final scores.

3. Challenging the CAT Answer Key

• If candidates find any errors in the provisional CAT exam answer key, they can raise objections within a specified time frame.
• A fee is usually charged for each question challenged.
• The conducting body reviews the objections and releases the final answer key.

The CAT exam analysis will be released separately after the conclusion of each CAT exam slot. CAT is known for its unpredictability in terms of difficulty. The analysis often categorizes the exam as:

• Easy to Moderate
• Moderate to Difficult
• Tough

The difficulty level for the CAT exam varies each year, and it impacts the overall percentile and cutoffs. After the conclusion of the CAT 2025, the paper analysis will be released.

Previous Year CAT Exam Analysis

According to last year's CAT analysis, the overall paper's difficulty level was moderate to tough for all the slots. Slot 3 was tougher than CAT exam slot 1 and slot 2. In all three CAT slots, the QA section was tougher than the VARC and DILR sections.

CAT Exam Analysis by Aspirants

Check out below the slot-wise CAT exam analysis by CAT aspirants.

 CAT Exam Analysis for Slot 1

Rounak Tikmani (CAT aspirant) took the first slot and said it went quite well. The English section of the CAT exam was moderate, and DILR was quite time-consuming. The QA section was a bit long and time-consuming as well. As per him, the VARC was easy, and DILR & Quant were difficult. VARC had 24 questions, and the remaining two sections had 20 & 22 questions, respectively.

CAT Exam Analysis for Slot 2

As one of the students, Pulkit Daga, who took CAT slot 2, said, "The VARC section had 2 RCs, and some of the VA was easy to moderate. For LRDI, he says, "I don't think there was any easy set; it was moderate or tough. (I hardly did one set.)". He also said that QA questions were not very straightforward; you really have to search for easy targets.

CAT Exam Analysis for Slot 3

According to Suvam Debnath, who appeared in last year's CAT exam slot 3, the overall difficulty level was moderate when compared to CAT exam slot 1 and slot 2. Candidates who took CAT exam slot 2 said, "The CAT exam was moderately difficult. The quant was easy but tricky.". As per the slot 3 paper, the verbal and DILR were moderately difficult. No surprises were there in the number of questions.

The CAT 2025 results will be declared in the second week of January 2026. According to last year's announcement, the CAT exam result will be announced in the last week of December 2025. You can access your scorecard and other details by logging into the official CAT exam website using your credentials.

CAT Result Declaration

• CAT results are typically declared 6-8 weeks after the exam date.
• The CAT exam results are announced online on the official CAT website: https://iimcat.ac.in.
• Candidates need to log in using their CAT ID and password to access their scores.

How to Check CAT Results

• Go to the official CAT website: https://iimcat.ac.in.
• Click on the "CAT Result 2025" link.
• Enter your CAT login ID and password.
• Download and save your CAT exam scorecard for future reference.

Also Check: CAT Percentile Predictor

Validity of CAT Score: The CAT exam score is valid only for the current admission cycle. For example, the CAT 2025 score is valid for admissions in 2026-2027.

NOTE: Keep a printed or digital copy of your CAT exam scorecard for admission processes.

The CAT cutoff for IIM admission will be fixed by each institute category-wise. While the qualifying cut-offs are between 80 and 90 percentiles (general category), the final cut-offs are much higher. Below are the qualifying CAT cut off percentiles of 20 IIMs:

IIM selection process and admission include shortlisting of candidates based on CAT exam score and Written Ability Test (WAT) / Group Discussion (GD) / Personal Interview (PI). Each IIM sets a minimum CAT exam cutoff percentile to participate in the next round of the IIM admission process. Below is an overview of the selection process for IIMs and non-IIMs:

IIM MBA Selection Criteria:  The CAT selection procedure for IIM admissions starts with shortlisting based on scores in CAT exam before being called for a GD and PI. Each IIM has its own parameters and different weightage for each. Students are advised to check the same before applying or putting in their preferences. Check out the IIM selection process given below:

IIMs release the admission criteria and selection process for PGP/ MBA before the CAT exam result declaration. The documents contain parameters, processes, cutoffs, etc. for MBA admission. The selection process through the CAT exam for all IIMs includes:

• Screening of candidates on the basis of their CAT exam score
• WAT/ GD/ PI
• Computation of Composite Score followed by final selection

Note: Candidates do not apply to the IIMs. All CAT qualified candidates are issued call letters if they meet the criteria for the respective IIM in the order of their preference in CAT application form.

Check out  all about the IIM Common Admission Process

Non-IIM Selection Process through CAT exam

Other than IIMs, institutions accepting CAT exam score conduct GD/ PI for admission to their MBA/ PGDM programmes. However, a few colleges admit students only based on CAT exam scores without conducting a personality assessment round.

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Candidates willing to appear in the CAT exam should solve the previous year's CAT exam paper, as it is the best study source and also helps in effective preparation. Understanding the types of questions asked, the marking scheme, the weightage of various sections, and, most importantly, learning how to solve a problem quickly, which will help in the CAT exam, are just a few advantages of solving the previous year's CAT exam paper.

CAT Exam Paper with Solution PDF (2012-2022)

Take a look at below the year-wise CAT exam question paper.