Updated on 24th June, 2025 by Sundararajan

About CAT 2025

CAT 2025 exam notification is scheduled to be released by July last week at the official website - iimcat.ac.in. IIM Kozhikode is expected to conduct CAT exam 2025. Registrations for CAT 2025 exam can be expected to start by August 1 (tentative) immediately after the CAT exam 2025 notification is released.  Around 3 lakh+ students are expected to apply and try their hand at clearing CAT exam 2025 for admissions to IIMs as well as other MBA admissions. CAT 2025 exam is the gateway to the 21 IIMs and more than 1000 B-schools in India. CAT exam date 2025 is expectedly November 30. ead the articles to get an idea about the CAT 2025 exam.

Use Careers360's CAT College Prediction Tool to predict your interview and admission chances  from IIMs and top MBA colleges. 

CAT 2025 Exam - Key Points

To apply for PGDM/MBA admission in IIMs or top MBA colleges, qualifying in CAT exam is mandatory. The scores of the CAT 2025 exam will be used to shorlist applicants for the IIM admissions as well as other MBA and PGDM admissions. CAT exam will be held across 170 cities.  CAT exam 2025 will be held in 3 shifts where candidates will be tested in three sections (Section I: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Section II: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Section III: Quantitative Ability). The CAT 2025 exam notification will give all key dates of CAT exam such as registration, admit card release date, CAT exam date 2025 as well as the result date. R

Key statistics for CAT Exam (2024):

  • Around 3.29 lakh candidates registered and applied in 2024 for the CAT exam 
  • About  2.93 lakh candidates appeared for the CAT 2024 exam across 170 centres which means 89% of the registered candidates appeared for CAT exam in 2024.
  • Duration of CAT exam was 120 minutes for regular candidates while it was 160 minutes for PwD candidates. Each section was allotted 40 minutes (53 minutes and 20 seconds for PwD candidates). 
  • Section I: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) had 24 questions, Section II: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) had 22 questions and Section III: Quantitative Ability (QA) had 22 questions. So total questions asked in CAT exam in 2024 were 68.

Overview of the CAT entrance exam:

All about CAT exam

Check CAT Exam Related Videos for answers to all CAT related questions


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CAT 2025 Highlights

Full Exam Name
Common Admission Test
Short Exam Name
CAT
Conducting Body
Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
Frequency Of Conduct
Once a year
Exam Level
National Level Exam
Languages
English
Mode Of Application
online
Application Fee
Online : 2500
Mode Of Exam
online
Mode Of Counselling
online +1 more
Participating Colleges
1262
Exam Duration
2 Hours

Who is eligible for CAT 2025? Any candidates who holds a bachelor's degree with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD)  can apply for CAT exam 2025. With more than 3 lakh students applying, the Common Admission Test (CAT) is a highly competitive test in India. This is more so on account of CAT exam scores being used for MBA admissions to the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top business schools. 

Detailed Eligibility Criteria for CAT Exam:

  • Educational Qualification: A bachelor's degree from a recognized university or institution is the minimum criteria. Final year degree students can also appear for CAT 2025. They will need to submit their degree results at the time of admissions.
  • Minimum Marks: A minimum of 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA is needed to be eligible for CAT 2025. The minimum marks for SC, ST, and PWD candidates is 45%.
  • Professional Degrees: Candidates who possess a professional degree like CA/CS/ICWA/FCAI can also apply for CAT exam.
  • Working Experience: It is not mandatory to have work experience to appear for CAT 2025.  However, work experience is an advantage during MBA admissions.
  • Age Limit: There is no specific upper age limit for appearing in the CAT exam. 

Eligibility Criteria for MBA Admissions

This is much different from the prescribed eligibility criteria for CAT exam 2025. This varies from institute to institute as well as specialisation. Students who have secured a good score in CAT exam must draw a list of the good bschools and then check for the eligibility criteria.


Background wave

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Registrations for CAT exam 2025 will likely start in the first week of August 2025. Here's a detailed guide to help you apply for CAT exam:

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 5 preferred CAT exam cities from the given list of 170. 

4. Payment of CAT Exam Fee:

  • Pay the application fee for CAT 2025 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:

  • Submit the application for CAT exam after reviewing thoroughly.
  • Take a printout of the confirmation page for future reference.

How to fill CAT exam application form is the detailed step by step explanation with examples and screen shots to help candidates fill the fomr for CAT 2025 exam. 

CAT Exam - Correction Window 

IIM Kozhikode will open the correction window for CAT 2025 in the last week of September. The correction window is opened right after registrations for CAT exam end and is active for three days. Candidates can change their photo, signature, and city during this time. Email or mobile number, name etc are not editable.


CAT 2025: VARC, DILR, and Quant MCQs & Weightages

Comprehensive CAT prep guide with focused practice on Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude.

Download Now

Documents Required at Exam CAT 2025

Common Admission Test 2025

  • CAT 2025 admit card
  • Original Photo ID Proof (Aadhar Card, Driving License, Voter ID, College ID, PAN Card, Passport)

CAT 2025 Exam Centers

StateCity
West Bengal
Kolkata
Asansol
Bankura
Burdwan
Durgapur
Hooghly
Kalyani
Siliguri
Tamil Nadu
Chennai
Coimbatore
Madurai
Salem
Tirunelveli
Tiruchirappalli
Vellore
Kerala
Kannur
Ernakulam
Kollam
Kottayam
Kozhikode
Thrissur
Thiruvananthapuram
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Port Blair
Andhra Pradesh
Guntur
Kakinada
Kurnool
Nellore
Rajahmundry
Tirupati
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
Vizianagaram
Anantapur
Chittoor
Srikakulam
Assam
Dibrugarh
Guwahati
Jorhat
Silchar
Tezpur
Bihar
Arrah
Bhagalpur
Darbhanga
Muzaffarpur
Patna
Gaya
Samastipur
Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Chhattisgarh
Bhilai
Bilaspur
Raipur
Gujarat
Ahmedabad
Anand
Gandhinagar
Mehsana
Rajkot
Surat
Vadodara
Haryana
Ambala
Hisar
Faridabad
Gurgaon
Himachal Pradesh
Shimla
Bilaspur
Hamirpur
Kangra
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu
Srinagar
Jharkhand
Bokaro
Dhanbad
Hazaribagh
Jamshedpur
Ranchi
Karnataka
Belagavi
Bangalore
Dharwad
Hubballi
Kalaburagi
Mangaluru
Mysuru
Shivamogga
Udupi
Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal
Gwalior
Indore
Jabalpur
Sagar
Satna
Ujjain
Maharashtra
Amravati
Ahmednagar
Aurangabad
Jalgaon
Mumbai
Kolhapur
Nagpur
Nanded
Nashik
Pune
Raigad
Satara
Solapur
Thane
Palghar
Navi Mumbai
Bhiwandi
Boisar
Vasai-Virar
Meghalaya
Shillong
Mizoram
Aizawl
Nagaland
Kohima
Odisha
Balasore
Berhampur
Bhubaneswar
Cuttack
Dhenkanal
Rourkela
Sambalpur
Puducherry
Puducherry
Punjab
Amritsar
Jalandhar
Ludhiana
Mohali
Pathankot
Patiala
Sangrur
Bathinda
Rajasthan
Ajmer
Alwar
Bikaner
Jaipur
Jodhpur
Kota
Sikar
Udaipur
Telangana
Hyderabad
Karimnagar
Warangal
Uttar Pradesh
Agra
Aligarh
Bareilly
Gorakhpur
Jhansi
Kanpur
Lucknow
Meerut
Moradabad
Muzaffarnagar
Varanasi
Ghaziabad
Noida
Greater Noida
Prayagraj
Uttarakhand
Dehradun
Haldwani
Roorkee
Arunachal Pradesh
Itanagar
Naharlagun
Goa
Panaji
Madgaon
Manipur
Imphal
Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Silvassa
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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.

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CAT 2025 Syllabus

CAT Common Admission Test Syllabus

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

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 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.

CAT Exam Preparation Months 

CAT Exam Preparation Pointers 

CAT Exam Mocks

May to June 2025

  • Focus on building your basics for all three sections in CAT
  • Dedicate these two months to understanding the fundamentals in Quants and LRDI section
  • Try to do level 1 and level 2 questions  from each chapter
  • For CAT VARC, try increasing your reading speed and improving your critical reasoning. You can practice critical reasoning questions from CAT official guide or any coaching material
  • You can start by giving lots of sectional tests. 
  • Give at least 2 sections each week

July to August 2025

  • In these two months, solve advanced-level CAT questions
  • Solve all the CAT exam previous year's questions
  • Focus on improving your speed while solving DILR sets and reading comprehension  

Give sectionals as well as mocks 

September to November 2025

  • These months would be solely dedicated to solving CAT exam mocks and revisions 
  • Give lots of mocks and analyse them carefully 
  • These months should be dedicated to preparing you for any type of question that comes up in the CAT exam.

Give at least 20 mocks in these months 



Tips and Tricks for CAT Exam

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

People also search for

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 sections

Number of questions

Break up

Difficulty level

VARC

24

4 passages having 4 questions each, 2 para-summary questions, 2 para-jumble questions, 2 para-completion questions and 2 odd one out questions

Moderate

DILR

20

4 sets of 5 questions each

Moderate to difficult

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

22

7 Algebra questions, 3 Geometry questions, 4 Number System questions, 7 Arithmetic questions, and 1 Modern Maths question

 

Difficult

Total

66

--

Moderate to difficult

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:

List of IIM'sCAT Cutoffs (Qualifying)

IIM Ahmedabad

85

IIM Bangalore

85

IIM Calcutta

85

IIM Lucknow

90

IIM Kozhikode

85

IIM Indore

90

IIM Rohtak

95

IIM Visakhapatnam

80

IIM Trichy

92

IIM Udaipur

92

IIM Ranchi

92

IIM Amritsar

85

IIM Shillong

75

IIM Kashipur

92

IIM Sambalpur

92

IIM Jammu

92

IIM Sirmaur

92

IIM Nagpur

85

IIM Raipur

92

IIM Bodhgaya

92

Documents Required at CAT 2025 counselling

Common Admission Test 2025

  • Class 10, Class 12, graduation, and professional (if applicable) mark sheets
  • Class 10, Class 12, graduation, and professional (if available) degree certificates
  • Proof of date of birth (DOB)
  • Caste certificate (if applicable)
  • Admission letter
  • CAT admit card
  • Address proof of parents
  • Passport size photographs (colour/black & white)
  • CAT Scorecard
  • Others

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.

CAT Question Paper Download Link—Year Wise
CAT 2022 question paper pdfCAT 2021 question paper with solutions pdf
CAT 2020 question paper with solutions pdfCAT 2019 question paper with solutions pdf
CAT 2018 question paper with solutions pdfCAT 2017 question paper with solutions pdf
CAT 2016 question paper with solutions pdfCAT 2015 question paper with solutions pdf
CAT 2014 question paper with solutions pdfCAT 2013 question paper with solutions pdf
CAT 2012 question paper with solutions pdf

General Information

Contacts

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Relevant Links

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Has anyone cleared a CAT without coaching?

Yes, it is possible to crack CAT without practice, but it requires a well-structured self-study plan and dedication. Many candidates have successfully cleared CAT through self-preparation using proper study materials like books and online resources.

2. What is the pass mark for CAT exam?

There are no designated pass marks. In fact, CAT exam scores are in the form of percentiles, which are used by various BSchools including IIMs, for admission purposes.

3. Is IIM CAT exam tough?

This is always dependent on the preparation, but in general, the CAT exam is not very tough. There is a lot of competition, but with a good amount of dedication and preparation, its easy to crack the CAT exam.

4. Can I switch between questions in CAT?

Although switching between sections is not allowed in the CAT exam, switching between questions within a section can reduce your chances of scoring. By dividing each section of the CAT exam into three rounds, the process can be made more streamlined.

5. Do CAT questions get repeated?

IIM develops new and innovative questions every year to assess candidates' problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, and aptitude. Questions may not be exactly repeated in the CAT exam, and similar concepts or patterns may be found in different years.

6. Is CAT for Engineering?

CAT is not only for engineering students. Traditionally, engineering students write CAT in large numbers. Also, CAT's exam pattern, which includes VARC, QA, and DILR, is designed to test candidates' problem-solving skills.

7. Is CAT online or offline?

CAT is conducted online in CBT mode by IIMs every year to start the MBA admission process in top B-schools in India.

8. Is CAT done after 12th?

No, 12th-grade student is not eligible for CAT. Since CAT is an MBA entrance exam, a candidate must have a Bachelor's degree.

9. Who is not eligible for CAT?

Applicants who have not completed their undergraduate degree. Graduates with less than 50% marks are not eligible to apply for the CAT exam 2025.

10. Can I join IIM without a CAT?

No, the CAT exam is a requirement for admission to the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), where one can pursue an MBA.

11. Can I use a calculator in a CAT exam?

During the CAT exam, candidates are only allowed to use an on-screen calculator. No other calculator will be allowed to be taken inside the CAT examination hall.

12. How many attempts are allowed for a CAT?

There is no limit on the number of CAT entry attempts as determined by the CAT exam authority. An aspirant can attempt multiple times to crack the CAT exam.

13. Is CAT for MBA only?

No. It is not mandatory to appear in CAT for MBA. Candidates can join Bschools by appearing in other entrance tests or through direct admission, minimum graduation marks, or reserved category.

14. How much is the fee for a CAT exam?

The CAT exam application fee is Rs 2,500 for General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates. For SC/ ST/ PWD candidates, the fee is Rs 1,250.

15. How can I eligible for CAT exam?

Any candidate who has completed graduation with 50% (45% for SC/ST candidates) can apply for the CAT exam. Final-year candidates are also eligible and there is no age limit to apply for the CAT exam.

16. Who Organises CAT exam? Who will conduct CAT 2025?

Every year an IIM conducts the CAT exam on a a rotational basis. This year, the CAT 2025 exam is expected to be conducted by IIM Kozhikode.

17. What is the CAT exam given for?

CAT is a national-level management aptitude test conducted by IIMs for PGP/PGDM/MBA admission offered by its 21 campuses.

E-books and Sample Papers

Colleges Accepting CAT

Questions related to CAT

Have a question related to CAT ?

GIBS Business School in Bangalore accepts multiple national and state-level entrance exam scores for admission to its PGDM program. You can apply using scores from exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, ATMA, or various state-level CETs.

The admission process typically considers your entrance exam score along with your academic record, performance in the group discussion and personal interview, and any work experience you may have. For the BBA program, admissions are generally based on your Class 12 marks and do not require entrance exam scores.

If you're planning to apply, it's a good idea to keep your exam score, academic documents, and personal statement ready for the selection rounds.

If your son’s first preference is CSE, then Amrita Bangalore clearly leads among the three, simply because CSE opens more doors in terms of placements, internships, and future-proof careers. Amrita is also NAAC A++ and has a strong reputation, especially for CSE. Category 2 is also manageable fee-wise compared to higher categories.

VIT Chennai is a decent campus, and their ECE program is solid, but Category 5 means much higher fees and very low chance of branch upgrade later. CSE at VIT Chennai would have been more competitive here — but ECE at that fee tier is not as strong a deal unless your son has a strong interest in core electronics.

Manipal Bangalore (MIT Bengaluru campus) is a newer campus. ECE there is still developing in terms of placements and faculty compared to the main Manipal campus. Unless your son strongly prefers Bangalore or is getting some advantage here like scholarships or internship access, it doesn't stand out above Amrita.

So, recommendation: Go with Amrita Bangalore CSE (Category 2). It balances a strong branch with a decent campus and better long-term potential in the tech industry. If your son is open to core electronics and you’re okay with the higher cost, VIT Chennai is fine, but still comes second to CSE at Amrita.

All the best!

hi,

Yes, with a NEET score of 317 and being from Bihar with OBC category, you still have chances to get a seat. For BDS, getting a government seat may be difficult because the cutoffs are usually higher. But you can try for private BDS colleges, especially in the mop-up and spot rounds.You can get a seat in private BAMS colleges in Bihar, and maybe in semi-government colleges if cutoffs drop this year.

Hi aspirant,

The IIM admissions procedure is multifaceted .

  1. You must excel in the CAT exam, aiming for a high percentile (often 98-99+ for the top IIMs, though this varies by category and institute).
  2. Your academic profile, which includes your 10th, 12th, and graduation results, is important in addition to the CAT.
  3. Many IIMs also evaluate academic diversity (giving preference to non-engineering students) and gender diversity.
  4. Finally, shortlisted candidates are subjected to a Written Ability Test (WAT) or Group Discussion (GD), followed by a Personal Interview.
  5. If you have any work experience, it would also help you fetch additional points.

Cracking the CAT demands a smart and systematic strategy .

  1. Begin by completely comprehending the exam design and syllabus for each of the three sections: VARC, DILR, and QA.
  2. Frequently take mock examinations to imitate exam settings, assess your skills and limitations, and improve your time management.
  3. Analyze your performance after each mock to determine where you are losing marks and to improve your strategy.
  4. Consistent preparation with previous year's papers and targeted questions for weak areas is critical.
  5. Reading widely (newspapers, articles, novels) is vital for increasing VARC capabilities, whilst completing puzzles and various problem sets improves DILR and QA abilities.

Success relies on discipline , dedication , and a good outlook .

All the best!

Hey Paridhi ,

I hope you are absolutely fine. As per your mentioned query , you have to understand the exam pattern first. Its syllabus, the type of questions and so on. Here i am mentioning some tips i hope this will be helpful for you.

  • Analyse the exam pattern first and read the syllabus thoroughly. So you will get to know what subjects and topics asked in the exam.
  • Collect the resources which will be beneficial for you. Like some standard books , mock papers .
  • Make your foundation strong so that you can solve the standard questions easily. As foundation is important to solve difficult questions.
  • Current affairs also plays important role in this exam so make yourself update by knowing the current things in environment.
  • Practice mocks so that your speed will also enhance.
  • Give PYQs so you will have idea of questions coming in exam.
  • Do revision weekly if you not revise whatever you study then you will forget the things. So revise weekly.

To know more you can refer this :

https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/cat-preparation-strategy

Revert for further query!

Good luck !

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