CAT Full Form: What CAT stands for?

The CAT exam full form is Common Admission Test, and it is conducted by various IIMs each year. The CAT exam for MBA admissions is an online test consisting of multiple-choice questions and type-in-the-answer questions. Over 1,000 MBA colleges in India accept CAT exam scores for admissions.  

You can register online for this exam through the CAT official website to apply for an MBA program across various prominent B-schools, including all IIMs. The CAT exam fee for General candidates is ₹2,400, and that for SC/ST/OBC candidates is ₹1,200. The typical category-wise CAT cutoff percentiles range from the 45th percentile to the 100th. 

The CAT exam pattern consists of three major sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. The official CAT exam date is on 30 November 2025 as per the latest update. Read on to know the CAT exam full form and other important details related to the exam.  

CAT Exam Full Form: Quick Highlights

The table below shows the key highlights related to the CAT exam 2025. 

CAT Exam Date 2025

The following are the important dates related to CAT 2025 and their respective dates. 

CAT Exam Full Form: Exam Pattern

The table below provides an understanding of the CAT exam pattern. 

CAT Exam Full Form: Syllabus

The CAT exam syllabus for each section of the question paper is given in the table below. 

CAT Exam Full Form: Marking Scheme

Below is the marking scheme for each type of response in the CAT exam. 

CAT Exam Full-Form: Marks Distribution

The marks distribution across the various sections in the CAT question paper is shown in the table below. 

CAT exam Full Form: Typical Category-Wise Cutoff

Check the table below for the typical category-wise CAT cutoffs and the expected CAT cutoff requirements for 2025 that you must fulfill. 

CAT Exam Full Form: Eligibility Criteria

Check the CAT eligibility criteria in the table below. 

Also Check: Is CAT Exam Tough?

CAT Exam Full Form: Registration Steps

You can complete the CAT exam application process in the following steps:

• Open the official website for the CAT exam. 
• Opt for new registration and enter the required details to register yourself. 
• Log in with the ID and password you have created.
• Fill out the application form with your personal and academic details. 
• Upload the required scanned documents and recent passport-sized photographs. 
• Select your preferred institution, course, and exam centre.
• Pay the application fee. 

CAT Exam Full Form: Exam Fee

The CAT exam fee varies with the candidates’ categories. Here are the category-wise fees that candidates from each category must pay during the CAT registration process:

• General candidates must pay an application fee of ₹2,400. 
• SC/ST/OBC candidates must pay ₹1,200 for the CAT exam registration. 

Also check: CAT 2025 Exam Fees

CAT Exam Full Form: Selection Process

IIMs and other B-schools conduct written ability tests (WATs) and personal interviews to select students. The merit list is based on the combined performance in the entrance exam, qualifying exam, and the institution-specific selection process. Thus, your selection for an MBA seat will be based on the following steps:

• Consideration of your CAT score/rank. 
• Conducting a written test and a personal interview.
• Selection based on the candidates’ CAT scores, academic record, work experience, and performance in the WAT and PI.

CAT Exam Full Form: Documents Required

You must present the following documents after your selection to an MBA course via CAT 2025:

• Qualification certificates from 10th to graduation (original and copies). 
• Certification of achievement of 50% score (45% for reserved category) in the latest exam from your institution’s Principal/Director/Registrar (if appearing for final year exam). 
• Caste/disability/EWS certificate (if applicable). 

Read more: Documents Required for CAT Exam

CAT Exam Full Form: Important Preparation Tips

Consider the following tips to complete your CAT exam preparations effectively:

• Start practicing the CAT previous year papers and mock tests. 
• Refer to study materials and books based on expert recommendations. 
• Give more time and effort to subjects where you still need improvement. 
• Create a timetable for each remaining day, week, and month before the exam to complete your preparation on time. 
• Focus more on regular practice and revision to ensure the best performance as the CAT exam draws near. 

CAT Exam Full Form: FAQs

Ques: What is the comparison of the difficulty and structure of CAT against XAT?

Ans: The comparison of difficulty between the CAT and the XAT exam depends on the specific section of the question paper. CAT has more difficult verbal questions than XAT. On the other hand, XAT has more difficult quantitative sections than CAT. Moreover, each section in the CAT exam has a time limit of 40 minutes, while the XAT exam does not have section-specific time limits. 

Ques: What is the IIM Ahmedabad admission process after CAT?

Ans: IIM Ahmedabad conducts a written test and interview for students who have cleared the CAT cutoff. The selection will be based on your performance in the interview, written test, and CAT exam, along with your academic records and work experience. 

Ques: Is the CAT exam harder for non-engineers?

Ans: Engineers will have an advantage in the Quantitative section of CAT over graduates from other streams. Other than that, the exam does not necessarily have a harder difficulty level for non-engineers. 

Ques: What is the comparison of CAT vs GMAT for Indian MBA admissions?

Ans: The CAT exam provides you with opportunities to study at top MBA institutions in India. On the other hand, you will gain better opportunities for international MBA programs through the GMAT exam. 

Ques: How to prepare for the CAT exam while working full-time?

Ans: Online resources can be very helpful to you in creating a flexible CAT preparation timetable if you are a working professional. Look for reliable online mock tests and study materials to enable your preparation. Make sure to give at least 2 to 4 hours each week to prepare effectively for CAT.  

Ques: What is a good CAT percentile for IIMs?

Ans: General candidates must aim to be in the 99th percentile to get into top IIMs. Depending on the institution, this can be lowered to the 95th percentile in some cases. 

Ques: What is the average salary after an MBA from IIMs through CAT?

Ans: You can earn a starting salary of ₹25 LPA to ₹30 LPA or more after an MBA from an IIM through the CAT exam. The specific salary range will depend on the specific institution, its reputation, and its placement records. 

Ques: Which one is better: MBA in Finance vs MBA in Marketing after CAT?

Ans: The right choice between an MBA in Finance and an MBA in Marketing after CAT depends on your specific areas of interest. Marketing courses will include communication, consumer behaviour, branding, and other such topics. On the other hand, an MBA in Finance will include topics like data analysis and financial planning. 

Ques: Is coaching necessary for the CAT MBA exam?

Ans: No, coaching is not necessary for the CAT exam, and you can prepare by yourself through study materials, books recommended by experts, and practicing on previous years’ question papers. However, you must consider coaching if you need constant expert guidance with your CAT preparation. 

Ques: What are some other MBA entrance exams besides CAT?

Ans: Other national-level MBA entrance exams besides CAT include XAT, CMAT, MAT, and NMAT. You can consider these entrance exams as alternatives for gaining admission to MBA courses in India's prominent B-schools, depending on their acceptance of these exams.