CAT 2025 Dress Code: IIM Official Instructions, Best Dress for Male and Female Candidates

Table of Contents

1. CAT 2025 Dress Code: Official Instructions by IIM Kozhikode
2. CAT 2025 Dress Code Suggestions by Toppers
3. CAT 2025 Dress Code for Female Candidates
4. CAT 2025 Dress Code for Male Candidates
5. CAT Dress Code 2025 for North India: Take Note of Cold Weather
6. Follow CAT 2025 Exam Day Guidelines
7. Free CAT Resources: CAT Cut Offs, Score Vs Percentile, Predictor

1. CAT 2025 Dress Code: Official Instructions by IIM Kozhikode

IIM Kozhikode, the CAT 2025 convening IIM, has issued official CAT 2025 dress code instructions for candidates. Check details in the article below. Any breach in following the CAT dress code can cost the candidates denial of entry to the test centre. 

1. Garments with Large Buttons are NOT permitted.
2. Shoes/footwear with Thick Soles are NOT permitted.
3. Candidates must NOT wear any jewellery or other items containing metal.
4. Mobile phones, electronic gadgets, watches, calculators, stationery items, papers, wallets, goggles, etc. will NOT BE ALLOWED inside the Test centre.
5. There is no facility for safekeeping of candidates’ personal belongings outside the Test Hall. The Test Conducting Authority is not responsible for its damage or loss if any.

In addition to these official IIM CAT dress code instructions, past CAT toppers who are now studying at IIMs and other top B-schools, have also shared recommendations with MBAUniverse.com for the best CAT exam day dress. Read the details below and follow them on the exam day.

2. CAT 2025 Dress Code Suggestions by Toppers
Previous CAT toppers who have taken the exam suggest following simple dress code recommendations for CAT exam Day:

• Wear simple clothing without large buttons, metal attachments, or heavy designs.
• Avoid jackets, hoodies, coats, or heavy garments.
• Do not wear shoes with thick soles; prefer plain slippers or light footwear.
• No jewellery, metal accessories, smartwatches, or wearable tech.
• Avoid clothing that may trigger additional frisking, such as layered outfits.
• Ensure attire is comfortable, suitable for sitting 2 hours during the exam.
• Candidates should comply with biometric scanning requirements. Avoid mehndi on fingerprints.

After this overview, check CAT Dress Code for Females and CAT Dress Code for Males. 

3. CAT 2025 Dress Code for Female Candidates

This section explains CAT exam dress code for females. Choosing the right dress for CAT 2025 is important for female candidate as certain clothing and accessories are restricted due to security protocols. The goal is to be comfort and compliance so you can focus fully on the exam without facing entry issues. Follow these guidelines to ensure both comfort and compliance during the CAT exam:

• Wear simple clothing without large buttons, metal work, sequins or heavy embroidery.
• Avoid jewellery such as earrings, rings, nose pins, bangles, chains, bracelets, anklets, smartwatches, or wristwatches.
• Prefer light, flat footwear—avoid shoes with thick soles or heels.
• Avoid wearing layered clothing like jackets, hoodies, shrugs, stoles, or scarves unless medically approved.
• Keep hair accessories simple — avoid metal clips, pins, heavy bands, or decorative hair accessories.
• Carry no prohibited items (handbag, mobile, calculator, pen, paper, cosmetics, etc.) inside the exam hall.

4. CAT 2025 Dress Code for Male Candidates

This section explains CAT Exam Dress Code for Males. For male candidates, wearing the right dress for CAT 2025 is important to avoid any last–minute stress at the test centre. Follow these guidelines to ensure both comfort and compliance during the CAT exam:

• Wear simple clothing such as a plain shirt or t-shirt without large buttons, zippers, metal detailing, or layered pockets.
• Avoid jackets, hoodies, sweaters with metal chains/zips, or multiple layers unless medically approved.
• Do not wear watches, smartwatches, fitness bands, rings, chains, bracelets, kada, or any other accessories.
• Prefer simple footwear like sandals or lightweight shoes. Avoid thick sole footwear, boots, or heavy sneakers.
• Keep pockets empty. Do not carry wallets, keys with metal chains, or electronic devices.
• Do not carry any prohibited items such as mobile phones, pens, calculators, earphones, papers, or stationery into the exam hall.

5. CAT Dress Code 2025 for North India: Take Note of Cold Weather 
While at warm places you can wear shorts or half shirts, but since Winter season has set in entire North India you will need to make changes in your dress code for CAT exam day. CAT Toppers suggest following dress code slot wise to appear in CAT exam:

Slot 1 CAT 2025 Dress Code: You need to report at CAT centre at 7 AM. The States like Delhi and areas of NCR, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Punjab, Western UP, parts of Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh among others not only have very low temperature in morning hours but are also suffering from Smog causing low visibility. As such you may take note of these following suggestions for CAT 2025 exam day dress code for Slot-1:

• Wear Warm but plain pullovers without deep pockets and anything carved on them
• Wear simple shoes or Chappals over socks
• Start early and allow sufficient extra time to reach the CAT Centre as the visibility may be low enroute

Slot 2 CAT 2025 Dress Code: The reporting time is 11 AM. The cold is not so much and visibility has also improved.  You may opt for following dress code for CAT Slot 2:

• Only if you feel cold, use the warm cloths. Half sweater or only full sleeves shirt can be alright
• You can wear shoes or chappals depending upon your choice
• Since traffic must have also increased, allow extra time to reach the Exam centre and start a bit early

Slot 3 CAT 2025 Dress Code: The reporting time for Slot-3 is in afternoon at 3 PM. Except some increased traffic condition, you may not face other cold problems as temperature by this time would have gone up and no fog or smog would be there. However, while returning after 6.30 PM you may face some cold. So better to use the same dress code with provision of light warm cloths as below:

• Half sweater or only full sleeves shirt can be alright
• You can wear shoes or chappals depending upon your choice
• Allow extra time to reach the Exam centre and start a bit early as you may find good volume of traffic

6. Follow CAT 2025 Exam Day Guidelines 
CAT Exam Day Dos and Don’ts 2025 are important guidelines and instructions that are issued by IIMs for candidates to ensure smooth conduct of the exam. Read important CAT 2025 Exam Day Dos and Don’ts, and CAT 2025 Exam Day Guidelines in this article. Also check things to carry and things not to carry to CAT exam center, how to locate your exam center, seat and other important details. You can also download CAT 2025 exam day Dos & Don’ts PDF and CAT 2025 Exam Day Guidelines PDF from the links above.

7. Free CAT Resources: CAT Cut Offs, Score Vs Percentile, Predictor
MBAUniverse.com has launched free CAT 2025 resources to help you set clear CAT targets and optimise your preparation and college applications. First, check the required CAT Cut Offs 2025 percentiles for shortlisting at 21 IIMs and top Non-IIMs. Next, check the required score using CAT Score vs Percentile 2025. Finally, estimate your percentile before and after the exam using the CAT Percentile Predictor 2025. All tools are free to use and live now. 

In summary, candidates taking the CAT exam should note that there is no official CAT dress code. However, IIMs have issued some important instructions for candidates taking CAT 2025 exam that relate to dress. Keep these CAT 2025 Exam Dress Code instructions in mind, candidates should wear a dress that will keep them comfortable throughout the CAT exam day and is appropriate for the city’s weather. 

Also Read: CAT 2025 Exam, CAT Mock Test 2025, CAT Percentile Predictor 2025, CAT Score Vs Percentile 2025, MBA Admission 2026, Top MBA Colleges in India, MBA Entrance Exam 2025-26