CAT 2025: Exam Date (Nov 30), Form Correction (Soon), Registration (Closed), Syllabus, Pattern, Previous Year Papers, Prep Tips

Latest Updates 

• CAT Exam 2025 will be held on November 30, 2025, and will be conducted by IIM Kozhikode in three 2-hour shifts.

The CAT Exam 2025 Registration Process is over, while the form correction process is expected to start soon. Approximately 3 lakh aspirants have applied for the exam this year. As per the CAT Exam Notification 2025, the Exam is scheduled on 30th November 2025. The CAT 2025 Result will likely be announced in the third week of December 2025, or around December 19-21, 2025

The IIM Kozhikode is conducting the CAT Exam this year. The CAT Examination will be conducted in 3 (morning, afternoon, and evening) shifts in 170 cities this year. Is CAT Exam tough 2025? Based on previous year trends and SYU’s Expert Team, the predicted difficulty level for CAT exam 2025 is moderate to tough overall.

Percentile cutoffs for CAT 2025 are predicted to be higher than CAT 2024 but lower than CAT 2019. For the 99th percentile, candidates should aim for a score in the 95–120 range this year.

The CAT 2025 Exam Syllabus and Pattern consists of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA), a total of 68 questions, and a total exam duration of 120 minutes (2 hours) with sectional limits.  Candidates who will clear the CAT Exam 2025 will be eligible for admission to all Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and numerous prestigious non-IIM institutions. Read all about the CAT Exam 2025 below in the SYU Expert Exam Guide including eligibility, syllabus, fees, pattern, preparation, and previous year question papers PDF. 

CAT Exam Quick Highlights

The table below shows a quick overview of the CAT Exam 2025.

What is CAT Exam?

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 is a national-level examination conducted by IIMs to facilitate admission to Top CAT Accepting Colleges in India.  The CAT Exam Syllabus 2025 consists of three sections i.e, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability, each with a 40-minute time limit, for a total exam duration of 120 minutes (2 hours). The CAT Exam 2025 Eligibility Criteria requires a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate from a recognised university, or equivalent.

Around 3 lakh candidates appear for the CAT Exam every year. A record 3.30 Lakhs candidates have registered for the CAT Exam in 2023, which was the highest since the CAT Exam started. Last year, approximately 3.29 Lakh candidates applied for the examination. The CAT Exam difficulty level generally lies between the moderate to high categories.

Read More: CAT Full Form

CAT 2025 Exam: Admit Card

The CAT 2025 Admit Card will be available on iimcat.ac.in from the 5th of November 2025. The CAT Admit Card 2025 will have key details like the allotted exam centre address, date, time, guidelines, and more. All candidates will have to present their CAT 2025 admit card along with an original, valid ID proof at the exam centre. Students are highly encouraged to keep a regular eye on official websites for the latest updates. Below are the key steps to download the CAT Admit Card 2025.

1. Go to iimcat.ac.in and log in using required credentials.
2. On the homepage, find the ‘Download Admit Card’ link.
3. The CAT admit card will be displayed on the screen. Check details like name, exam date, time, and venue.
4. Download the admit card and take a clear printout for future reference. A hard copy is required on the exam day.

CAT 2025 Exam Pattern

The CAT 2025 Exam Pattern will include three sections i.e, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. Each section is provided with a time limit of 40 minutes, for a total exam duration of 120 minutes (2 hours). The table below shows a detailed overview of the CAT Exam Pattern 2025.

CAT Exam Registration 2025

The CAT Exam Application Form for 2025 has been closed, while the form correction window is expected to be released soon. The detailed CAT Exam 2025 registration process is explained below:

Step 1: Go to the official website i.e. iimcat.ac.in, there you have to click on the new registration option, then sign in with your phone number and email id.

Step 2: After registering on the website, you have to fill out the CAT 2025 application form. In the application, you have to fill in all the details and submit all the documents, including your passport-size photograph, signature, academic certificates, etc.

Step 3: After uploading the documents, students will have to fill in the preferred exam centers and select the order of courses and IIMs according to their preferences.

Step 4: After filling out the application form, you will have to pay the examination fee online and submit the form. 

Note: Candidates must note that they have to select up to five cities for the allotment of CAT exam centre in the application form. Allotment of CAT test city and centre will be mentioned on the CAT admit card.

Read More: CAT 2025 Exam Fees

CAT Exam Eligibility

CAT 2025 Exam Eligibility includes a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST/PwD) from a recognized university, or equivalent, and those in their final year or awaiting results are also eligible. The detailed eligibility has been shown in the table below.

Read More: Documents Required for CAT Exam 2025

CAT Exam Syllabus

The CAT Entrance exam syllabus includes a total of 3 sections, i.e, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. Understanding and analysing the syllabus not only helps students to understand the exam pattern and difficulty but also allows them to figure out their weak areas. Below is the CAT EXAM section-wise syllabus and important topics.

CAT 2025 Exam Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Syllabus

The CAT Exam VARC syllabus is shown in the table below.

CAT 2025 Exam Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Syllabus

The CAT Exam DILR important topics are listed below in the table.

CAT 2025 Exam Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

The CAT Exam QA important topics are listed below in a table.

Evolution of CAT Exam

The CAT Exam 2025 has evolved a lot over the last decade. The key changes in the CAT exam pattern and syllabus from 2014 to 2024 include adjustments to exam duration, question distribution, section focus, and minor syllabus refinements, with significant changes during the pandemic period (2020–2021) and more stability in recent years. The table below shows certain key changes observed over the last decade.

CAT Exam 2025:  Difficulty Trends Over the Past 5 Years 

CAT exam difficulty over the past 5 years has fluctuated between moderate and difficult, with only occasional exceptions. By analysing the CAT Exam difficulty level students may predict the difficulty level of CAT Exam 2025. The table below shows difficulty trends of CAT 2020 to CAT 2024. 

Read More: CAT Exam Analysis 2025

CAT 2025 Exam: Previous Year Question Paper

To get a decent percentile in the CAT Examination, students need to analyse the CAT Exam previous year question papers. By solving the CAT Exam previous year question paper, students can get an idea of the exam pattern and syllabus. Students may download the CAT Exam Previous Year Question papers listed below.

Read More: CAT 2024 Question Paper with Answer Key

CAT 2025 Exam: Mock Test

A CAT mock test is a copy of the actual CAT 2025 Exam, which features questions with a similar difficulty level and time limit. CAT mock tests are available online. Many websites offer a number of free and paid test series. Some of the coaching institutes also provide CAT mock test series for practice. Apart from all this, there are several books available in the market featuring CAT Exam mock tests.

CAT 2025 Exam: Centres

All applicants have to select their preferred CAT Exam Centres while filling out the application form. The CAT Exam centres are shown in the table below.

CAT 2025 Exam: Result

The CAT 2025 results will be released on iimcat.ac.in. The result will be declared after the commencement of the final examination, and is expected to be released by December 2025. The CAT 2025 results will feature percentiles that will be considered for the CAT 2025 counselling process. To access and download the CAT scorecard 2025, the candidates will have to log in using their application number and password. Candidates are advised to keep a regular eye on the official website for the latest updates regarding the CAT 2025 Exam.

CAT 2025 Exam: Answer Key 

The CAT 2025 answer key will be released by IIM Kozhikode. The CAT 2025 answer key will feature the correct responses to the questions asked in the examination. Students can match their answer in the CAT 2025 response sheet. Students may also challenge the answer key with a valid document if they find anything wrong. The detailed process to download CAT 2025 answer key is written below.

• Visit the official website of CAT 2025 (iimcat.ac.in)
• Click on the 'login' tab
• Enter CAT login ID and password
• Click on 'CAT 2025 answer key' will see on the screen
• Click on the 'download' icon to save it as a PDF

CAT 2025 Counselling Process

CAT 2025 counselling is the process through which qualified candidates secure admission to IIMs and other management institutes in India. This process involves shortlisting based on CAT scores, followed by a Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD) (optional), and a Personal Interview (PI), with final admission decisions based on a combination of these factors and academic/work experience. A detailed step-by-step guide to the counselling process is shown below.

1. Shortlisting and Call Letters: IIMs and other B-schools shortlist candidates based on their CAT scores and other criteria like academic performance and work experience.  Shortlisted candidates receive call letters from the respective IIMs or B-schools, informing them about the dates, venues, and slots for the WAT and PI rounds. 

2. WAT & GD: After shortlisting candidates are required to clear written ability test (WAT) and group discussion (GD)

3. PI: After WAT & GD candidates have to go through a personal interview. PI round is a crucial part of the selection process, and candidates are evaluated on their general knowledge, business acumen, and communication skills. 

4. Finalised Score: After the completion of WAT, GD (if applicable), and PI, the IIMs and B-schools make final admission decisions based on a weighted score that considers CAT scores, WAT/GD performance, and PI performance.

5. Final Admission and Reporting: Once the seat is confirmed, candidates must report to the allotted campus within the given timeline.

Read More: CAT 2025 Reservation Policy

IIM CAT 2025 Number of Seats

Students may check the most accurate predicted colleges based on their CAT 2025 Score through SYU CAT College Predictor 2025. The list below shows the number of seats in the MBA/PGP programs of IIM campuses.

CAT 2025 Exam: Preparation Tips

To get a decent score in this CAT 2025 exam, both strong conceptual understanding and time management is required. Some of the key expert curated tips for the CAT 2025 exam preparation are:

1. Syllabus: Cover the full CAT syllabus thoroughly. Try to save time to revisit your weak areas.
2. Mock Test: Attempt as many CAT mock tests as possible.
3. RC: Practice a good number of reading comprehension, to manage Time and accuracy.
4. Revision: Allocate time for quick revisions to retain important formulas, theories, and shortcuts.
5. Manage Time Effectively: Allocate fixed time per question and avoid spending too much time on tough problems.

CAT Exam 2025 Preparation Through AI Tools

AI tools can greatly enhance CAT 2025 preparation by offering personalized study plans, adaptive concept explanations, targeted practice questions, robust performance analytics, and progress tracking tailored to individual strengths and weaknesses. The following are the key ways AI tools can assist in CAT 2025 preparation.

• Personalized CAT Study Schedules: can analyze your past performance and automatically generate a dynamic, highly-detailed weekly study plan. 
• Concept Clarification: If you struggle with complicated topics, AI tutors can break them down into simpler, easy-to-understand lessons or summaries.
• Custom Practice Questions: AI can generate practice questions aligned with the current syllabus from your notes or uploaded PDF books.
• Mock Test Analysis: Advanced AI apps dissect your mock test performance in detail, showing accuracy by section, average time per question, strengths, weaknesses, and attempt-to-score ratios.
• Efficient Note-making: Tools like ChatGPT can turn lengthy notes into concise summaries and flashcards, making revision more efficient and quicker.

CAT 2025 Exam: Best Books

Selecting the perfect books for CAT Exam preparation is key to scoring a high percentile. However, there are several books available in the market. The table below shows some best-selling books for the CAT Exam recommended for different subjects, along with their authors.

Top Colleges Accepting CAT Exam Score

Along with IIMs about 1300 B-schools in India accept CAT Exam scores for admission. The list of some of the key institutions with CAT 2024 Cutoff is given below.

Read More: Top Colleges Accepting CAT 2025 Scores Across India

The CAT Exam 2025 is organised by IIM Kozhikode this year. Candidates seeking admission to the top management colleges in India, including IIMs, must fill the CAT Application Form 2025 at iimcat.ac.in. The CAT 2025 Exam Application Process has been officially closed on 20th September 2025, while the form correction window is expected to be open soon.

CAT Exam Important Dates

The table below shows some of the key dates concerning the CAT Exam 2025.

IIMs will release the CAT Exam cutoff. CAT Exam Cut Off generally displays the minimum percentile requirement for admission to IIM for various courses. The qualifying cutoff for IIM generally lies between 80 to 90(for general category)percentile, while the final cutoff of top IIMs may go upto 98-100 percentile. Here below in the table is the expected CAT 2025 Cutoff for 21 IIMs.

CAT Exam 2025: FAQs

Ques: What is the provided time for CAT Exam?

Ans: Tiphe time given for the CAT Exam 2025 is 120 minutes with a sectional time limit of 40 minutes for each section. Like every year CAT Exam 2025 will be conducted in 3 slots. 

Ques: Who can give CAT exam?

Ans: The CAT 2025 Exam is for admission to MBA courses in the top MBA colleges in India including IIMs. The students who have completed their graduation or are appearing in the final year can give the CAT exam. The students who have completed any type of professional courses(like CA) may also appear for the CAT exam for MBA. 

Ques: How does the CAT 2025 exam compare to other major MBA entrance exams in India (e.g., XAT, GMAT, NMAT)?

Ans: The CAT 2025 exam is considered the most challenging MBA entrance exam in India. When compared to other major MBA entrance exams like XAT, GMAT, and NMAT, several key differences emerge in terms of pattern, content, difficulty, and selection use.

Ques: Can we use calculator in CAT exam?

Ans: Yes, an on-screen calculator is available to use during the CAT exam, but you are not allowed to bring your own physical calculator. The on-screen tool is provided within the exam software to assist with calculations in the quantitative aptitude and data interpretation sections. 

Ques: Is there any reservation in CAT exam?

Ans: Yes, there is a reservation policy for Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) admissions, which is applied after the CAT exam. The reservation percentages, as per the Government of India, are 15% for Scheduled Castes (SC), 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes (ST), 27% for Other Backward Classes-Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL), and 10% for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). 

Ques: What are the demographic trends of CAT applicants over the past decade, and how might these trends influence the 2025 exam?

Ans: Over the past decade, CAT registrations have risen significantly, hitting a new high of approximately 330,000–350,000 applicants by 2023–2025, with especially sharp increases in recent years. The trend also shows the growth in female participation in the CAT Exam.

Ques: What are the accessibility features provided by the CAT 2025 exam for candidates with disabilities?

Ans: The CAT 2025 exam provides several accessibility features for candidates with disabilities (PwD), ensuring an inclusive testing environment in accordance with official guidelines.

Ques: What is the ROI of investing in different CAT coaching institutes?

Ans: The median ROI for professional coaching, including exam preparation, is around 3.4x to 7x the initial investment. Top CAT Coaching Institutes include Ekoching, T.I.M.E., IMS, and Career Launcher.