CAT 2025 Notification Out: Exam Dates, Registration, Eligibility, Fees

CAT 2025 Notification was released by IIM Kozhikode on July 27, 2025, through the official website at iimcat.ac.in. As per the announcement, the Common Admission Test (CAT) will be held on November 30, 2025, and the registration process will begin on August 1, 2025.

This year’s notification covers key details including the revised application fees, eligibility conditions, exam pattern, and the list of participating IIMs and institutions. The application fee was revised, with general category candidates required to pay INR 2,600 and SC/ST/PwD candidates INR 1,300. Candidates are advised to check all updates carefully before applying. Read the article further to know more about the CAT 2025.

CAT 2025 Important Dates

CAT 2025 Dates have been released by IIM Kozhikode along with the notification. The registration will start from August 1, 2025, and the exam is scheduled for November 30, 2025. The timeline also includes key events such as admit card release, answer key, and result declaration.

CAT 2025 Eligibility Criteria

CAT 2025 Eligibility Criteria remain the same as in previous years. Candidates must fulfil the academic qualifications and other basic conditions set by IIM Kozhikode to be considered for the exam. The official notification outlines the following requirements:

• Educational Qualification: A bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university with at least 50% aggregate marks (or 45% for candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwD categories).
• Final Year Students: Candidates appearing for the final year of their bachelor's degree (or awaiting results) are also eligible to apply. However, they must submit proof of qualification by the deadline set by the respective IIM during admission.
• Age Limit: There is no upper age limit to appear for CAT 2025.
• Professional Degrees: Candidates holding professional degrees such as CA, CS, or ICWA with the required percentage are also eligible.

All qualifications must be obtained from universities or institutions recognised by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

CAT 2025 Registration Process

The CAT 2025 Registration Process is a one-time activity that begins with creating a login ID on the official website – iimcat.ac.in. Once registered, candidates can use the same login credentials for all future activities related to the exam, including application form submission, admit card download, and result checking. Follow the steps below to apply for CAT 2025:

• Visit the official CAT 2025 website.
• Click on the ‘New Registration’ tab on the homepage.
• Enter basic details – full name, date of birth, nationality, mobile number, and email ID.
• Click on ‘Generate OTP’ to receive a one-time password on the registered mobile number.
• Verify registration by entering the OTP.
• Once verified, the CAT 2025 application form will open.
• Fill in personal, academic, and work experience details.
• Upload a recent passport-size photograph and signature as per specifications.
• Select preferred exam cities, programmes, and IIMs.
• Pay the applicable application fee through online payment modes.

Candidates must review all details before final submission, as only limited corrections will be allowed later during the CAT form correction window.

Application Fees of CAT 2025 (Revised)

The CAT 2025 application fee must be paid online through debit card, credit card, UPI, or net banking after filling out the application form. The fee structure has been revised this year, with different amounts applicable based on the candidate’s category. The CAT 2025 application fee has increased by 4% in 2025. Candidates can refer to the table below for the application fees.

Important Documents for CAT Exam 2025 Registration

Candidates who are going to register for CAT 2025 must keep certain documents ready in the prescribed format for the application process. These documents are required for uploading, verifying eligibility, and entering accurate academic and professional details. Below are the documents that should be provided by the students during the registration process.

1. Passport-Sized Photograph

• Must be recent (taken within the last 6 months)
• Background: White or off-white
• Dimensions: 30 mm (width) × 45 mm (height)
• File Size: Maximum 1 MB
• Format: JPEG or JPG

2. Signature

• Should be clear and scanned properly
• Dimensions- 80 mm (width) × 35 mm (height)
• File Size: Up to 80 KB
• Format: JPEG or JPG

3. Caste or Category Certificate (If Applicable)

• Required for candidates applying under SC, ST, NC-OBC, or EWS categories
• The certificate must be in the specified format provided on the official CAT website
• Ensure the certificate is signed and stamped by the issuing authority

4. PwD Certificate (If Applicable)

• It is required for the candidates applying under the PwD category
• Acceptable formats: PwD Form V, Form VI, or Form VII, as applicable
• The certificate must mention the type and percentage of disability

5. Academic Qualification Documents

• Candidates need to provide the Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
• Graduation mark sheets or consolidated academic transcript
• Master’s or professional degree details, if applicable

Note: If the score is in CGPA or grade format, convert it to percentage as per the respective university’s conversion criteria

6. Work Experience Certificate (If Applicable)

• Only full-time experience after graduation is considered.
• The experience should be counted up to 31 July 2025
• Provide company name, designation, duration, and nature of work

CAT 2025 Syllabus

The CAT 2025 Syllabus has remained the sme as per the previous year. As confirmed by IIM Kozhikode, the exam will consist of the three core sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Each section is prepared to check the analytical thinking, reading comprehension, and problem-solving ability of the candidates. Here’s a breakdown of the key topics included in the syllabus:

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

Students can see the key topics of the Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) below.

• Reading Comprehension (RC passages from diverse topics)
• Para Jumbles
• Para Summary
• Odd Sentence Out

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

The below-mentioned topics cover the significant key areas of the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

• Caselets involving Set Theory and Variables
• Puzzle-based Data Interpretation
• Logical Puzzles with Conditions
• Series and Sequences
• Coding-Decoding

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

The important topics that are covered in the Quantitative Aptitude (QA) are given below.

• Number System
• Arithmetic (Percentages, Time-Speed-Distance, Profit & Loss)
• Algebra (Equations, Inequalities)
• Geometry
• Mensuration

The syllabus remains the same as the previous year, but the difficulty level and question pattern can vary slightly from year to year. A balanced preparation strategy across all three sections is essential to perform well in CAT 2025.

CAT 2025 Exam Pattern

The CAT 2025 exam will be conducted in CBT mode with a total duration of 2 hours. The paper is divided into three sections; each section should be given 40 minutes. The exam includes both MCQ and non-MCQ questions, with a mix of quantitative, reasoning, and verbal-based problems. A total of 68 questions will be asked, carrying 204 marks in total. Students can refer to the table below for the CAT 2025 Exam Pattern.

Will There Be Major Changes in the CAT 2025 Exam Pattern?

After the release of the CAT 2025 notification, candidates are thinking about the changes in the CAT 2025 exam pattern. While the overall format—three sections and a two-hour duration—has remained largely consistent, subtle tweaks have often been introduced over the years.

Take CAT 2024, for example. The total number of questions was bumped up to 68 from 66, and there were slight changes in how questions were spread across the VARC and DILR sections. These minor shifts, though not drastic, can influence how candidates approach the paper.

Over the past ten years, CAT has steadily evolved—from a three-hour test with 100 questions to a compressed version with 68 questions in 120 minutes. The table below outlines how the structure has changed year by year.

CAT 2025 Participating IIMs

The CAT 2025 exam will be accepted by all 20 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to MBA and other postgraduate management programmes. These institutes use CAT scores for shortlisting candidates for the next stages of selection, which typically include Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI). Candidates can refer to the table below to see the participating IIMs.

CAT 2025 Admit Card

CAT 2025 Admit Cards will release on November 5, 2025, at the official website iimcat.ac.in. Candidates will be able to download their admit card. It includes the important details such as the exam date, reporting time, test centre address, and essential exam-day instructions. Entry to the test centre will not be allowed without this document.

How to Download CAT 2025 Admit Card?

Students can refer to the steps below for downloading the admit card.

• Visit the official CAT website – iimcat.ac.in
• Click on the ‘Login’ tab for registered candidates
• Enter User ID and Password
• Students should click on the ‘Download Admit Card’ link.
• Candidates should save the PDF for further processing.

CAT Exam 2025 Answer Key: Release Date and Objection Window

IIM Kozhikode is expected to release the CAT 2025 Answer Key and individual response sheets. Both are expected to be released in one week after the completion of the examination. This provisional answer key allows candidates to estimate their scores and raise objections if they find any.

How to Download the CAT 2025 Answer Key

Follow the steps below to access and download the official answer key:

• Visit the official CAT website at iimcat.ac.in
• Click on the ‘Login’ button and enter your CAT user ID and password.
• Select the link for ‘CAT 2025 Answer Key’ displayed on your dashboard.
• Download the PDF file using the available download option.

CAT 2025 Answer Key Objection Process

When the provisional answer key is released, candidates will be provided with a correction window of three to four days to challenge any answer they believe is wrong with the valid documents supporting their answer. Objections must be submitted through the official portal using the prescribed online form. Each challenge may require a nominal fee.

Once all challenges are submitted, IIM Kozhikode will evaluate them. If valid objections are found, the answer key will be revised accordingly before releasing the final version.

CAT 2025 Result

The CAT 2025 Result is expected to be announced in the last week of December 2025 or the first week of January 2026, on the official website – iimcat.ac.in. Candidates will be able to download their CAT scorecard using their login credentials. The result will be available in the form of a scaled score and percentile for each section, along with the overall performance.

Steps to Check CAT 2025 Result

Students can follow the simple steps mentioned below to check the CAT 2025 results.

• Go to the official CAT website – iimcat.ac.in
• Click on the ‘Login’ option for registered candidates
• Enter your User ID and Password
• Click on the ‘Scorecard’ tab
• Download and save the CAT 2025 scorecard in PDF format

The CAT result is accepted by all 20 IIMs and several other top B-schools across India for further selection rounds.

Final CAT 2024 Admission Cutoff (Lowest Percentile for General Category – Overall)

Before setting a CAT 2025 target, it’s helpful to understand the minimum percentile that secured final admission into top IIMs for the 2024–26 batch. These figures reflect the actual lowest score among selected candidates in the General category.

Minimum Qualifying CAT 2024 Cutoff for GDPI Shortlisting

These are the minimum overall CAT percentiles required just to be considered for the GDPI (Group Discussion and Personal Interview) process. Meeting these doesn’t guarantee a shortlist, but it’s the basic eligibility threshold.

IIM CAP 2024 Cutoff Percentile

Nine IIMs participated in the Common Admission Process (CAP) in 2024. A consistent cutoff of the 95th percentile was observed across all participating institutions.

IIM SAP 2024 Cutoff Percentile

The Supplementary Admission Process (SAP) is held if seats remain after CAP. In 2024, only two IIMs participated, with a slightly lower cutoff of the 92nd percentile.

Final CAT 2024 Cutoffs for Top Non-IIM Colleges (GEM Category)

Several top B-schools outside the IIM ecosystem maintain high CAT cutoffs. These institutions are highly competitive, offering exceptional placements and academic rigour.

CAT Score vs Percentile 2024: Section-wise and Overall Scores

Understanding the relationship between the CAT score and percentile is crucial for setting realistic score targets. Since the difficulty level of CAT 2024 was slightly lower than the previous year, candidates needed higher raw scores to achieve the same percentiles. The following table shows the approximate section-wise and overall scores required to reach each percentile in CAT 2024.

CAT 2025 Preparation Tips

CAT 2025 is one of the toughest MBA entrance exams. It requires a well-planned preparation strategy. Candidates can improve their performance by following the CAT 2025 Preparation Tips given below.

• Candidates should divide the syllabus into smaller parts and should give extra importance to the weaker sections.
• Seek expert guidance and use trusted resources for conceptual clarity.
• Set achievable daily study targets and follow a steady routine.
• Take mock tests regularly to monitor progress and build time management.
• Practice past year CAT papers to understand exam trends and difficulty.
• Stay updated on current affairs to improve reading and comprehension.
• Maintain a positive mindset and avoid last-minute panic.
• Revise key topics frequently and practice them regularly.

CAT 2025 FAQs