CAT 2025 exam date is November 30, 2025. CAT Registration 2025 has begun on official CAT website iimcat.ac.in from August 1, 2025. CAT 2025 exam fees has been increased from Rs 2500 to Rs 2600 for general candidates and from Rs 1250 to Rs 1300 for SC, ST and PwD category candidates. IIM Kozhikode is conducting the CAT 2025 exam. CAT exam scores are accepted by 21 IIMs, 7 IITs, and almost all top B-schools. Read this in-depth article for complete guide on CAT 2025 exam dates, eligibility, registration, pattern, syllabus, preparation, coaching, IIMs and non-IIM CAT accepting colleges, and a lot more.
CAT Registration 2025 has begun on official CAT website iimcat.ac.in from August 1, 2025. CAT 2025 registration dates are from August 1 till September 13, 2025. CAT 2025 registration fees is Rs 2600 for General Candidates and Rs 1300 for reserved category candidates. CAT official website iimcat.ac.in has been updated with many important information. Here are the key highlights from CAT official website.
1. IMPORTANT DATES
CAT official website has confirmed the following dates for CAT 2025 exam.
2. CAT 2025 IN THREE SESSIONS
CAT website has confirmed that “the Indian Institutes of Management will conduct a computer-based Common Admission Test 2025 (CAT 2025) on November 30, 2025 in three sessions”.
3. CAT REGISTRATION FEES
CAT Exam Fees is as follows:
CAT Notification 2025 informs that “a candidate needs to pay the registration fees only once, irrespective of the number of institutes he/she is applying for. Fees once paid cannot be refunded under any circumstances.”
4. TEST CENTRES:
CAT will be conducted in test centres spread across around 170 test cities. Candidates can select five preferred cities during registration. Check list of CAT 2025 Test Centers.
Continue reading this article for complete guide on CAT exam introduction, eligibility, registration, pattern, syllabus, preparation, coaching and a lot more. All information has been updated based on CAT official website 2025.
Conducted by one of the top IIMs every year by rotation, Common Admission Test is the largest MBA entrance exam for MBA admission in 21 IIMs and other top B-schools. So, it is the mandatory entrance exam for MBA admission 2026 in all the 21 IIMs, FMS Delhi, IIFT Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi and hundreds of other top B-schools in India. Total number of candidates who registered for CAT 2024 exam was 3.29 lakhs. However, total number of candidates who appeared in CAT 2024 exam was 2.93 lakhs only. Salient Points about the CAT Exam are:
CAT 2025 will be conducted by IIM Kozhikode. CAT 2025 will be held on November 30, 2025. Check complete details about CAT exam 2025.
CAT Exam Particulars | Key Details |
---|---|
CAT Exam Full Form to CAT Full Form | Common Admission Test, popularly known as ‘CAT’ |
Who Conducts CAT Exam? | One of 6 old IIMs conducts CAT every year |
Who is conducting CAT 2025? | IIM Kozhikode |
What is the date of CAT 2025? | Sunday, November 30, 2025 |
What is CAT exam timing? | Slot 1: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM; Slot 2: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM; Slot 3: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
How many questions are expected in CAT 2025 paper? | 66-68 Questions |
How many sections will be there in CAT 2025 paper? | Three Sections; Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability |
What is the Scoring Pattern for CAT 2025 exam? | CAT marking scheme is +3 for every correct and -1 for incorrect. There was no negative marking for TITA Questions. |
How many CAT 2025 exam slots will be there? | CAT 2025 will be conducted in 3 slots: Morning, Afternoon and Evening |
What is the duration of CAT 2025 Exam? | CAT 2025 exam duration is 2 hours |
What is the time limit for each section? | CAT 2025 Sectional Limit is 40 Minutes for each Section |
Can I choose which section to attempt first? | No, candidates must answer the sections in pre-defined order from section 1 to 3. |
What is the Testing Mode of CAT 2025? | CAT 2025 will be held as Computer based exam at test centres across the country. |
What is CAT 2025 Notification Release date? | CAT 2025 Notification was released on Sunday, July 27, 2025 |
Which are top MBA Colleges accepting CAT 2025? | Top MBA colleges accepting CAT 2025 are 21 IIMs, FMS, IIFT, MDI, SPJIMR, IITs, IMI |
How to Apply for CAT 2025? | CAT Application process can be done online on CAT official website iimcat.ac.in |
What will be CAT 2025 Fees? | CAT 2025 Exam Fees is Rs. 2600 for general candidates, and Rs. 1300 for reserved category candidates. |
What is CAT Official Website for Form Filling? | CAT official website is iimcat.ac.in |
How many candidates are expected to register for CAT 2025 exam? | About 3.15 lakhs candidates are expected to register for CAT 2025 exam. |
CAT 2025 Exam Date is November 30, 2025. CAT exam important dates for registration, admit card and other events are given below:
CAT 2025 Important Dates & Timeline | CAT 2025 Timeline |
---|---|
CAT Notification Release Date 2025 | July 27, 2025 |
CAT 2025 Registration Start Date | August 01, 2025 (10:00 am) |
CAT 2025 Registration Last Date | September 13, 2025 (5:00 pm) |
CAT Admit Card Release 2025 | November 5, 2025 |
CAT Exam Date 2025 | November 30, 2025 |
CAT Answer Key Release Date | December 3, 2025 (Tentative) |
CAT Result Release Date | First week of January, 2026 (Tentative) |
Below are the important points regarding CAT 2025 eligibility criteria:
Note that IIMs have different CAT exam eligibility criteria for MBA Admissions
Also Read: CAT Eligibility Criteria 2025
CAT registration process has started on iimcat.ac.in. CAT 2025 registration start date is August 1, 2025. CAT 2025 registration last date is September 13, 2025. How to Apply for CAT 2025? CAT registration 2025 process can be completed by following these simple steps:
Step 1: Registration for User ID and Password
Visit the CAT official website iimcat.ac.in and register for getting your User ID and password.
Step 2: Login to CAT 2025 Website
After receiving your User ID and password, login to CAT website and enter the same to login to your account.
Step 3: Fill Application Form
This is the main step for CAT registration. CAT Application Form is categorized into the following six sections:
List of Documents Required for CAT Registration
Read Guide to CAT 2025 Registration Process covering all the above steps in detail.
CAT registration highlights are presented in table below. CAT 2025 registration link is given below.
Key Highlight | Details |
---|---|
CAT Registration Start Date | August 1, 2025 |
CAT Registration Last Date | September 13, 2025 |
CAT Registration Link | CAT 2025 Registration Direct Link |
CAT Registration Fees | Rs. 2600 for General/EWS /OBC Candidates; Rs. 1300 for SC/ST/PWD candidates |
Time Required to Fill CAT Form | 1 Hour |
CAT Registration Documents Required | Educational qualification details; Work experience details; Valid email address & mobile number; Passport size Photograph; Scanned Signature; Valid EWS/NC-OBC/SC/ST/PWD certificate/s (if applicable) |
CAT 2025 exam scores will be accepted by 21 IIMs for more than 50 general and specialized MBA programs. Check list of IIMs accepting CAT scores with their Post Graduate Programmes in Management (PGP) programs and website in table below. Please note that Admission process for each IIM is independent of CAT exam. While performance in the CAT 2025 examination is an important component for consideration in IIM admission process, each IIM has their own eligibility criteria (including academic cut-offs and relative weights) and follow different selection processes. IIMs may also use the previous academic performance of the candidates, relevant work experience and other similar inputs in short-listing of candidates. Each IIM will release their own admission policy in coming months.
CAT Cut Off for IIM admission is fixed by each IIM by category. While the qualifying CAT cut offs range between 80 and 90 percentile (General category), the final cut offs are much higher. For the top IIMs, the final CAT cut offs for general candidates are usually between 98-100 percentile, whereas for other IIMs, the cut offs range between 92-97 percentile.
IIM | Programmes | Website |
---|---|---|
IIM Ahmedabad | PGP, PGP-FABM, ePGD-ABA (ePost Graduate Diploma in Advanced Business Analytics) | www.iima.ac.in |
IIM Amritsar | MBA, MBA-Business Analytics, MBA-HRM, EMBA, M.Sc. in Data Science (MSDSM) jointly offered with IIT Ropar | www.iimamritsar.ac.in |
IIM Bangalore | PGP, PGPEM, PGPBA, PGPPM | www.iimb.ac.in |
IIM Bodh Gaya | MBA, MBA (Digital Business Management), MBA (Hospital and Healthcare Management), Executive MBA (EMBA) | www.iimbg.ac.in |
IIM Calcutta | MBA | www.iimcal.ac.in |
IIM Indore | PGP, PGP-HRM, MSDSM (Master of Science in Data Science and Management), PGPMX | www.iimidr.ac.in |
IIM Jammu | MBA, MBA (Healthcare), Executive MBA | www.iimj.ac.in |
IIM Kashipur | MBA, MBA (Analytics), EMBA, EMBA (Analytics) | www.iimkashipur.ac.in |
IIM Kozhikode | PGP, PGP-BL, PGP-FINANCE, PGP-LSM, EPGP-IL, EPGP Kochi | www.iimk.ac.in |
IIM Lucknow | MBA, MBA-ABM, MBA-SM, PGPWE, Blended MBA | www.iiml.ac.in |
IIM Mumbai | MBA, MBA (Operations and Supply Chain Management), | www.iimmumbai.ac.in |
IIM Nagpur | MBA, Executive MBA(Hybrid) | www.iimnagpur.ac.in |
IIM Raipur | MBA, MBA in Public Policy and Governance | www.iimraipur.ac.in |
IIM Ranchi | MBA, MBA-HRM, MBA (Business Analytics) | www.iimranchi.ac.in |
IIM Rohtak | PGP, EPGDSM, PGPx | www.iimrohtak.ac.in |
IIM Sambalpur | MBA, MBA-BA, Executive MBA, MBA for Working Professionals | www.iimsambalpur.ac.in |
IIM Shillong | PGP, PGPEX, PGP(WE) | www.iimshillong.ac.in |
IIM Sirmaur | MBA, MBA (Tourism Management), MBA (Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Management), ExMBA, PGPEX-LSM, ExMBA (Digital Transformation & Analytics) | www.iimsirmaur.ac.in |
IIM Tiruchirappalli | PGPM (MBA), PGPM-HR (MBA-HR), PGPBM (MBA for Working Executives in Chennai) | www.iimtrichy.ac.in |
IIM Udaipur | MBA, MBA-DEM (Digital Enterprise Management), MBA-GSCM (Global Supply Chain Management), Executive MBA (Online) | www.iimu.ac.in |
IIM Visakhapatnam | PGP, EMBA, PGPMCI, EPGDPM, PGDMEx | www.iimv.ac.in |
CAT Exam pattern is divided in three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. Each section can be further divided into sub-sections. Since CAT exam is held in three slots, there are minor changes in the exam pattern for each slot. Also, from year to year, there are minor changes in CAT pattern, but the overall structure has remained the same.
Overall, the exam pattern has become more focused on conceptual clarity, time efficiency, and reasoning ability. Over the last five years, the CAT pattern has undergone several notable changes in its pattern, number of questions, and difficulty level. Check key changes in exam pattern below.
1. Total Number of Questions:
2. Time Duration:
3. Sectional Pattern & Difficulty Level:
4. Question Types – MCQ vs. TITA:
5. Slot-wise Variations & Normalization:
CAT 2025 Exam pattern (expected) and CAT previous year paper pattern is given below.
CAT 2024 Exam Pattern
CAT 2024 Exam Pattern was same across all the three slots. Check table below. However, there were minor changes in section wise compositions. Check complete CAT 2024 exam analysis for details.
CAT Section wise Paper Pattern
The CAT exam pattern is divided into three sections, each of which can be further categorized into sub-sections. Since the exam is conducted in three different slots, there are minor variations in the exam pattern within the sections across slots. Check CAT Sectionwise composition for Slot 1 of CAT 2024 exam.
Check CAT 2024 exam analysis for details.
CAT EXAM PATTERN 2025
Read more about CAT 2025 Syllabus for different sections.
CAT EXAM SYLLABUS 2025
CAT 2025 exam date is November 30, 2025. So, can you crack CAT in 5 months or less? Yes, it is possible to prepare for CAT in less than five months. However, right CAT preparation strategy and focused execution is needed. Check tips on how to prepare for CAT 2025 exam.
With a structured approach, consistent practice, and regular mock tests, aspirants can significantly improve their chances of scoring well in CAT 2025.
CAT Mock Test - 2024 Slot-1
Toppers recommend that taking Mocks is of utmost importance as it is a very important preparation tool. If you are seriously preparing for the exam and wish to score high percentile, it is necessary to attempt more and more Mock Tests to get ready for the exam day. IMS, TIME, and Career Launcher (CL) are most popular paid mock test series.
If you are looking for free high quality CAT Mock Tests, check MBAUniverse.com CAT Mock Tests. They are based on last 10 Years’ actual CAT papers (based on CAT 2024, CAT 2023, CAT 2022, CAT 2021 and other previous year’s CAT paper). You can take them free online after a simple registration.
Should I enroll for CAT 2025 coaching? This is a common question in the minds of CAT aspirants. Read the advantages and disadvantages of CAT coaching.
If you decide for coaching, selecting the right CAT coaching institute is an important step. Check key details to help you decide.
a) Top National CAT Coaching Institutes
Top three CAT coaching institutes with national presence are TIME, IMS and Career Launcher. They offer both offline and online CAT coaching course with fees ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 75,000. TIME is known for tough Mocks. Career Launcher Mock Tests was appreciated by CAT 2024 toppers. IMS Learning has strong online courses.
b) Top Regional CAT Coaching Institutes
Many coaching institutes have strong presence in some cities or states like MBA Guru in Delhi NCR.
c) Top Online CAT Coaching Institutes
Cracku has emerged as a strong alternative to traditional coaching institutes like TIME and IMS. Similarly, many YouTube channels like Rodhas are also popular.
d) Specialized Verbal or Quantitative Coaching Institutes
CAT Coaching Fees
The cost of CAT coaching varies based on the mode and institute:
Selecting the Right Institute
When choosing a coaching institute, consider the following:
Read this article on CAT coaching for complete details.
Over the years, the number of CAT exam registrations has seen a fluctuating trend, with a significant increase in last two years. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 led to a slight decline in registrations and appearances, but the numbers rebounded in 2022 and 2023.
Total number of candidates who registered for CAT 2024 exam was 3.29 lakhs. However, total number of candidates who appeared in CAT 2024 exam was 2.93 lakhs only. Below is the year-wise breakdown of CAT registrations and appearances.
CAT exam 2025 will be held in 170 test cities and 400+ exam centers across the country. You can select five centers of your choice that are most convenient for you. CAT authorities will try to give you the closest available center. Last year, for CAT 2024, the number of CAT test cities were increased to 170 from 160 last year. The choice of CAT 2024 Test Cities was reduced to 5 from earlier 6 cities. Check List of CAT Exam Test Cities
CAT 2025 help desk has been set up at IIM Kozhikode. Candidates can contact and share any queries at: [email protected]. CAT helpdesk number is 1800 210 017. IIM Kozhikode has also said that is a candidate encounters any fraudulent websites or suspicious request, they should report them immediately to the CAT help desk.
CAT Exam 2025 Do’s and Don’ts are important guidelines and instructions that are issued by IIMs for candidates to ensure smooth conduct of the exam.
Dos: Recheck Admit Card details, Print and Carry CAT Admit Card Hard Copy, Keep Specified Photo ID Ready, Locate and Visit CAT Exam Centre in advance and Ensure to Mark Attendance.
Don’ts: Don’t carry Prohibited Articles in CAT Exam Centre, Follow Dress Code, Do Not Carry Electronic Gadgets, Don’t Apply Mehndi (Henna) on Palm Side.
CAT 2025 results are expected to be released in the third week of December. Registered candidates can view their results by visiting the official CAT website. Candidates have to use their login details, namely CAT ID and password, to access their CAT result 2025.
In conclusion, CAT exam date is November 30, 2025. CAT 2025 registration dates are from August 1 till September 13, 2025. CAT Convenor is IIM Kozhikode. CAT Exam Pattern is divided into three key areas: VARC, DILR, and QA. CAT preparation requires building a strong foundation and mastering the art of test-taking through CAT mock test. Above article is a complete guide on CAT exam dates, eligibility, registration, pattern, syllabus, preparation, coaching and a lot more. Stay focused, trust yourself, and aim for excellence in CAT exam 2025!