The date of CAT 2025 is set for November 30, 2025. By July 30, 2025, the formal announcement will be made. It is anticipated that IIM Kozhikode would administer the CAT exam this year. As the CAT 2025 exam is accepted by 21 IIMs, other prestigious B-schools, and 1,300 MBA institutes in India, candidates who intend to study an MBA in 2026 must take it. The first week of August 2025 will mark the beginning of CAT 2025 registration, which will run through the third week of September. The CAT 2025 is open to those who have graduated or are in their last year of a bachelor’s degree program.
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CAT 2025 Exam Highlights
| Exam Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| CAT Full Form | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Conducting Institute | IIM Kozhikode |
| Exam Date | November 30, 2025 (Tentative) |
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Test |
| Slots | 8:30-10:30 AM, 12:30-2:30 PM, 4:30-6:30 PM |
| Test Cities | 170 |
| Application Fee | INR 2,500 (General), INR 1,250 (Reserved) |
| Exam Website | iimcat.ac.in |
CAT 2025 Eligibility
- Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD)
- Final-year students can apply
- CA/CS/CMA qualification also accepted
CAT 2025 Exam Schedule (Tentative)
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | July 30, 2025 |
| Registration Window | Aug – Sep 2025 |
| Form Correction | Last Week of September 2025 |
| Admit Card Release | First Week of November 2025 |
| Exam Date | November 30, 2025 |
| Answer Key Release | First Week of December 2025 |
| Result Announcement | Late Dec 2025 or Early Jan 2026 |
CAT 2025 Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Time (min) |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 40 |
| DILR | 22 | 40 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 40 |
- Total Duration: 2 hours
- Total Questions: 66
- Marking: +3 for correct, -1 for incorrect, no negative for TITA
CAT 2025 Syllabus Overview
- Quantitative Aptitude: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number System
- DILR: Logical Puzzles, Bar Graphs, Tables, Series, Venn Diagrams
- VARC: Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Summary, Odd Sentence
CAT 2025 Cut Offs (Expected – Qualifying for IIMs)
| IIM | Qualifying Percentile |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Kozhikode | 85 |
| IIM Lucknow, Indore | 90 |
| IIM Nagpur, Udaipur, Trichy, Ranchi, Raipur, Bodhgaya, Sirmaur | 94 |
| IIM Rohtak | 95 |
| IIM Shillong | 75 |
| IIM Vizag | 80 |
CAT 2025 Selection Process
- Shortlisting based on CAT score
- Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI)
- Final selection based on academic profile, work experience, diversity, and CAT score
CAT 2024 Cut Offs: Key Highlights
- Meeting the minimum CAT cut off is mandatory for MBA admission shortlisting.
- Sectional cut offs must also be met to qualify for the WAT-PI round.
- For top IIMs, CAT cut offs typically range between 98 to 100 percentile for General category.
- For Reserved category candidates, IIM cut offs are slightly lower at around 95 to 98 percentile.
- Non-IIM top MBA colleges like FMS, MDI, SPJIMR have cut offs ranging from 90 to 99 percentile.
Types of CAT Cut Offs
- Qualifying Cut Off: Released before result declaration; meeting this is required for consideration.
- Final Cut Off: Higher than qualifying; used for actual shortlisting. Not publicly disclosed.
Important Notes
- Final cut offs are accessible only through candidate login post result announcement.
- Other MBA colleges accepting CAT scores also have their own minimum cut off criteria.
- While filling CAT form, candidates must select their IIM and course preferences for PI shortlisting.