Explore the ultimate CAT exam 2025 guide with official dates, registration process, eligibility, exam pattern, detailed syllabus, cut-off trends, and expert strategies. Learn how to prepare effectively using top resources and crack admission into IIMs and India’s leading MBA institutes.
| Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Official Notification Release | July 27, 2025 | IIM Kozhikode responsible |
| Registration Opens | August 1, 2025 (Fri) 10 AM IST | Active until Sept 13, 2025, 5 PM IST |
| Registration Closes | September 13, 2025 | — |
| Correction Window | September 22–25, 2025 | Limited edits allowed (test cities, photo, signature) |
| Correction Window | September 22–25, 2025 | Limited edits allowed (test cities, photo, signature) |
| Admit Card Release | November 5,2025 | Download starts online via login |
| Exam Day | November 30,2025 (Sun) | CAT conducted in three sessions across ~170 cities |
| Result Announcement | ~First week of Jan 2026 | Valid until December 31; available on iimcat.ac.in |
Educational Qualification
- Bachelor’s degree with minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD)
- Final-year students eligible (must produce proof by deadline)
Age Limit
- No age restriction
Nationality
- Must be an Indian citizen or a valid foreign national eligible through GMAT/GRE (for some IIM programs)
- Visit Official Website: https://iimcat.ac.in
- Click on ‘Register’ under “New Candidate Registration”
- Enter basic details: Name, DOB, Email, Mobile, Country
- Receive OTP & Login credentials
- Log in and fill detailed application:
- Personal details
- Academic history
- Work experience (if applicable)
- Program & IIM preferences
- Exam city preferences
- Upload documents:
- Passport-size photo (recent, colored, 30–50 KB)
- Signature (10–20 KB)
- Caste/PwD certificates (if applicable)
- Pay Application Fee:
- General/EWS/OBC: ₹2,400
- SC/ST/PwD: ₹1,200
- Submit & download confirmation page
MECE Framework: Exhaustive, Non-Overlapping Breakdown
| Section | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| 1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | - Reading Comprehension - Paragraph Summary - Paragraph Jumbles - Sentence Completion |
| 2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | - Bar/Line/Pie Charts - Caselets - Data Tables - Logical Puzzles - Arrangements - Blood Relations |
| 3. Quantitative Ability (QA) | - Arithmetic (Time-Speed, Profit-Loss, SI-CI) - Algebra (Equations, Inequalities) - Geometry (Circles, Triangles) - Number System - Modern Math (Permutations, Probability) |
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | 120 minutes |
| No. of Sections | 3 (VARC, DILR, QA) |
| Time per Section | 40 minutes (each section) |
| Total Questions | 66 (tentative) |
| Types of Questions | MCQs & TITA (non-MCQ) |
| Marking Scheme | +3 for correct, -1 for wrong (MCQ), 0 for TITA |
| Mode | Online (Computer-Based Test) |
| Language | English |
| Section | Questions | Time Allotted | Includes MCQ & TITA |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 40 minutes | Mostly RCs + VA items |
| DILR | 22 | 40 minutes | Caselets, puzzles, tables |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 40 minutes | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number System, Modern Maths |
Total Duration: 120 minutes | Total Qs: ~68 (based on trends)
- Conducted by one of the IIMs (to be announced)
- Used for admission to 20 IIMs + 1,200+ other B-schools
- Score valid for 1 academic year
- Adaptive difficulty based on slot-wise normalization
| Slot | Time |
|---|---|
| Slot 1 | 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM |
| Slot 2 | 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM |
| Slot 3 | 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM |
- Name, DOB, CAT ID
- Exam Date & Slot
- Test Center Name & Address
- Reporting Time & Instructions
- Emergency Contact
Documents to Carry on Test Day:
- Admit Card (printout)
- Government ID proof (Aadhaar/PAN/Voter ID/Passport/Driving License)
List of 20 IIMs Accepting CAT
| Older IIMs | Newer IIMs |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | IIM Trichy |
| IIM Bangalore | IIM Udaipur |
| IIM Calcutta | IIM Rohtak |
| IIM Lucknow | IIM Kashipur |
| IIM Kozhikode | IIM Ranchi |
| IIM Indore | IIM Raipur |
| IIM Shillong | IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Nagpur, IIM Sambalpur, IIM Jammu, IIM Amritsar |
| Institute | General | EWS/OBC | SC/ST |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 99–100 | 96–98 | 80–85 |
| IIM Bangalore | 99–100 | 94–97 | 75–85 |
| IIM Calcutta | 99–100 | 94–97 | 75–85 |
| IIM Lucknow | 98–99 | 90–92 | 70–75 |
| Baby IIMs | 90–95 | 75–85 | 55–70 |
- FMS Delhi
- MDI Gurgaon
- IMT Ghaziabad
- SPJIMR Mumbai
- IITs: Bombay, Delhi, Kharagpur, Roorkee, Kanpur
- TAPMI, XIMB, GIM, Great Lakes
| Score (out of 198) | Approx. Percentile |
|---|---|
| 105+ | 99.9+ |
| 90–100 | 99 |
| 75–85 | 95 |
| 60–70 | 90 |
| 50–55 | 85 |
Q1. Can I edit CAT Exam form after submission?
Yes, a short correction window will open post-registration deadline.
Q2. How many attempts allowed for CAT Exam?
Unlimited. You can appear as many times as you want.
Q3. Is there a sectional cutoff in CAT Exam?
Yes, each IIM sets individual section-wise cutoffs.
Q4. Can final-year students apply?
Yes, provided they submit a valid certificate from college/university.
Q5. What is a good attempt in CAT Exam?
Good attempt varies by slot and difficulty but aiming for 50–55+ correct answers generally yields 98+ percentile.
