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CAT 2025: Latest Updates, Eligibility, Dates, Registration, Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Preparation Strategy

By: Sunil Kushwaha

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CAT Admission Exam

Latest Applications Open 2024:

The CAT 2025 notification is anticipated to be released in June or July 2024. The Online Registration will be Started from August 2024 onwards. According to sources, it is speculated that CAT 2025 will be administered by IIM Calcutta. CAT, a national-level entrance examination, serves as a prerequisite for admission to PG and fellow/doctorate programs offered by IIMs.

The CAT is an entrance exam that is held annually every year by the official authorities. The CAT entrance exam will be held as a national-level entrance exam. The official representatives who will be responsible for organizing the CAT 2025 entrance exam will be the IIMs. The IIMs are also known as the Indian Institutes of Management. Applicants who want to get admission to different courses in the field of Management can apply for the CAT 2025 Entrance Exam.

The CAT is also fully known as the Common Admission Test. The Common Admission Test is an MBA entrance exam that is held to provide admission to deserving applicants into the top Business Schools located across the country like the IIMs. The official authorities will also provide admission to eligible applicants in Management Schools at different IITs, FMS, NITIE, MDI, SP Jain, and many others based on the performance of the applicants in the CAT 2025 entrance exam.

CAT 2025 Highlights

Exam NameCAT
Exam Full FormCommon Admission Test
Exam TypesPG Level
Exam LevelNational
Exam CoursesMBA/ PGDM Courses Management
Conducting BodyIndian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
Application ModeOnline
Exam ModeOnline (CBT)
Exam Date4th week of November 2024
Exam Duration03 Hours
Official Websitewww.him cat.ac.in
Helpline033-24679178

Courses Offered

After the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2016, candidates can apply to various management programs offered by numerous institutions in India. Here’s a list of some common courses that candidates could have applied to after CAT 2016:

A list of the courses offered by the official authorities with the help of the CAT 2025 entrance exam is mentioned below.

Latest Applications For Various UG & PG Courses Open 2024

    1. Parul University | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    2. UPES Dehradun | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    3. Chandigarh University | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    4. LPU 2024 | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    5. IIAD, Delhi | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    6. GIBS, Bangalore |  PGDM Applications Open. Package upto 15.5 LPA. Apply Now
    7. GNIOT, Greater Noida | Admissions Open for All Courses 2023. Apply Now
    8. The Design Village | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    9. IMS Ghaziabad UC Campus | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    10. KIIT School of Management | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    11. KSRM | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    12. Jaipuria Institute of Management | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    13. NIIT | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    14. MITWPU | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    15. Amrita B.Tech | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    16. KL University | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    17. Alliance MBA | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    18. Alliance UG | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
ProgramFull FormDescription
PGP-ABMPost Graduate Programme in Agribusiness ManagementSpecialized program focusing on the agribusiness sector.
PGPBMPost Graduate Programme in Business ManagementGeneral management program covering various aspects of business administration.
PGP-UAEPost Graduate Programme in Management – UAEManagement program variant offered in the United Arab Emirates.
PGPWEPost Graduate Programme for Working ExecutivesTailored for professionals pursuing management education while working.
PGPPMPost Graduate Programme in Public Policy and ManagementFocuses on public policy and governance.
EPGPMExecutive Post Graduate Programme in ManagementTargeted towards working executives for management education.
PGP-MumbaiPost Graduate Programme in Management – MumbaiProgram offered specifically in Mumbai, India, or by an institution located there.
PGPSMPost Graduate Programme in Securities MarketsFocuses on finance and investment in securities markets.
PGDHRMPost Graduate Diploma in Human Resource ManagementSpecialized program focusing on human resource management.
PGDMPost Graduate Diploma in ManagementGeneral management program similar to an MBA.
PGPEXPost Graduate Programme for ExecutivesExecutive MBA program aimed at professionals with significant work experience.

CAT 2025 Important Dates

The applicants will be able to get information about the CAT 2025 Important events and dates from the table.

EventsDates (Tentative)
Issue of notification4th week of July 2024
Registration begins1st week of August 2024
Last date for registration3rd week of September 2024
Application correction window4th week of September 2024
Mock test available3rd week of October 2024
Admit card release4th week of October 2024
Exam Dates4th week of November 2024
Answer key releaseDecember 2024
Declaration of result3rd week of December 2024

CAT 2025 Application Form

The basic information about the process of filling out the CAT 2025 Application Form is mentioned below in this section for the reference of the applicants. The CAT exam form for 2025 will be available starting from 1st week of August 2024. Aspiring candidates aiming to appear for the CAT 2025 examination can efficiently complete the application process by utilizing the online platform accessible on the official website, iimcat.ac.in.

  • The applicants who want to apply for the CAT entrance exam will have to first fill out and submit the CAT 2025 Application Form.
  • For the reference of such applicants, the official authorities will release the CAT 2025 Application Form in 1st week of August 2024.
  • The applicants will have to apply for the CAT entrance exam through online mode.
  • The official authorities have not decided on any other mode for the applicants to apply for the CAT entrance exam other than online mode.
  • The applicants will have to visit the official website is his cat.ac.in and check the prospectus which is the information brochure along with the eligibility criteria and meet them.
  • Then the applicants can fill out the CAT 2025 Application Form on the official website itself.
  • At the time of filling out the CAT 2025 Application Form, the applicants will be able to select their own choice of cities for appearing in the CAT Entrance exam.
  • The applicants will have to use their academic documents to fill in the details in the CAT 2025 Application Form.
  • All the details in the CAT 2025 Application Form should be filled in properly as it will be verified by the official authorities later.
  • The applicants who are done with the part of filling out the CAT 2025 Application Form can upload the necessary documents and their scanned images on the official website.
  • After that, the applicants must make the payment of the CAT 2025 Application Fee and submit the duly filled CAT 2025 Application Form on the official website.

CAT 2025 Application fee

The applicants who want to get information about the mode of payment of the CAT 2025 Application fee and its amount category-wise can refer to the information that we have mentioned below in this section about the CAT 2025 Application fee for the entrance exam

Description/category of the applicantsAmount
Application fee for the General and OBC category applicantsRs 2400/ –
Application fee for SC / ST / PWD category applicantsRs 1200/ –
  • The only mode to make the payment of the CAT 2025 Application Fee is online mode.
  • Other than the online mode, the applicants will not be able to make the payment of the CAT 2025 Application fee.
  • The applicants will be able to make the payment of the CAT 2025 Application fee through debit card, credit card, or net banking facilities.

CAT 2025 Application Correction

Following the closure of the registration window for CAT 2025, registered applicants will have the opportunity to amend certain details in their application forms. Specifically, modifications can be made to the photograph, signature, and selected test city. These edits must be completed via the online platform, requiring candidates to log in using their provided credentials.

The correction window is scheduled for September 2024. It’s crucial to note that no further adjustments will be permitted after the specified deadline, emphasizing the importance of ensuring accuracy within the provided timeframe.

CAT 2025 Eligibility Criteria

The applicants who want to apply for the entrance exam can go through the details we have mentioned below in this section about the CAT 2025 Eligibility Criteria for the entrance exam and meet them before applying for the CAT Entrance Exam.

  • Nationality: Indian citizens are eligible to apply for the entrance exam
  • Age limit: The applicants must be above the age of 20 years at the time of the entrance exam.
  • Educational Qualification: Those applicants who have completed their Graduation course or any equivalent in a relevant field are eligible to apply for the entrance exam.
  • Minimum Marks: A minimum of 50 % marks should have been secured by the applicants who belong to the General category and those of the Reserved category should have scored at least 45 % marks or more marks in the qualifying exam.
  • Appearing Applicants: Appearing applicants are also eligible to apply for the entrance exam.

CAT Reservation Criteria

CategorySeat Reservation
Scheduled Tribe (ST)7.5%
Scheduled Caste (SC)15%
Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NC)27%
Economically Weaker Section (EWS)10%
Persons with Disabilities (PWD)5%

CAT 2025 Exam Pattern

The applicant will be able to get the information about the CAT 2025 Exam Pattern from the below-mentioned section.

  • Mode of Exam: Computer Based Online Test will be organized by the official authorities.
  • Duration of Exam: Each applicant will be getting a three-hour duration that is 180 minutes to solve the entrance exam (each section will get 60 minutes)
  • Language of Exam: The question paper will be prepared in the English language only.
  • Total Number of Questions: 100 questions in total will be asked in the entrance exam.
  • Total Marks: The question paper will contain 300 marks in total
  • Type of Questions: Objective type Multiple choice questions, as well as Subjective type questions, will be asked in the entrance exam.
  • Marking Scheme: Three marks for each correct answer given by the applicant in the entrance exam.
  • Negative Marking: Each wrong answer given by the applicant in the entrance exam will deduct one mark for MCQs.
Exam DateFourth week of November 2025
Exam ModeOnline Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Exam Sessions/Shifts– 8:30 am to 10:30 am (1st session)
– 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm (2nd session)
– 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm (3rd session)
Exam Duration120 minutes (160 minutes for PWD)
Time Allotted Section Wise40 minutes per section (53 minutes & 20 seconds for PWD)
Number of SectionsThree:
– Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (Section 1)
– Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (Section 2)
– Quantitative Ability (Section 3)
Total Questions66
Type of QuestionsObjective and subjective
Total Marks198
Marking+3 marks for each correct answer
Negative MarkingNo negative marking for incorrect answers

Marking Scheme

SectionsNumber of Questions
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)24
Quantitative Ability (QA)22
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)20
Total66

CAT 2025 Exam Syllabus

The CAT 2025 syllabus covers various sections, including Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Students can access the detailed syllabus online through the official website. Here’s a brief overview of each section:

SectionsTopics
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)– Sentence Correction – English Grammar – Syllogism – Synonyms – Antonyms – Fill in the Blanks – Meaning-Usage Match – Jumbled Paragraph – Odd One Out – Summary Questions – Facts Inferences Judgements – Reading Comprehension – Para-Jumbles – Basic Vocabulary – Etc.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)– Line Charts – Tables – Pie Charts – Bar Graphs – Venn Diagrams – Caselets – Seating Arrangement – Clocks – Column Graphs – Calendars – Blood Relations – Number and Letter Series – Basic Reasoning Questions – Logical Matching – Logical Connectives – Binary Logic – Syllogism – Etc.
Quantitative Ability (QA)– LCM & HCF – Ratio and Proportion – Number Systems – Speed Time & Distance – Averages – Percentages – Time and Work – Cubes – Profit – Mensuration – Permutation and Combination – Loss and Discount – Logarithm – Inequalities – Set Theory and Function – Coordinate Geometry – Etc.

CAT 2025 Preparation Tips

Below are some of the details about the CAT 2025 Preparation Tips that can help the applicants prepare well for the entrance exam.

  • Create a Study Schedule: Develop a study routine that covers all subjects and topics of the CAT syllabus. Allocate specific time slots for each section, ensuring balanced coverage.
  • Start Early: Begin your exam preparation well in advance to cover the entire syllabus thoroughly. Early preparation allows for ample time for revision and practice.
  • Allocate Time for Revision: Reserve dedicated time at the end of your preparation schedule for revision. Reviewing key concepts and topics helps reinforce learning and improves retention.
  • Make Short Notes: Create concise notes while studying each topic. These short notes serve as quick references during revision and help in retaining important information.
  • Take Mock Tests: Utilize mock tests provided on the official website to familiarize yourself with the exam pattern and the computer-based test (CBT) environment. Regular practice with mock tests enhances speed and accuracy.
  • Solve Previous Year Papers: Incorporate solving previous year question papers and sample papers into your daily routine. Practising with these papers gives you insights into the exam format, types of questions, and difficulty level.
  • Take Regular Breaks: Avoid studying for long stretches without breaks. Schedule short breaks in between study sessions to relax and recharge. Breaks help maintain focus and prevent burnout.

CAT 2025 Admit Card

Registered candidates for CAT 2025 will have the option to retrieve their admit cards digitally through the official website. The admit cards are anticipated to be available by the fourth week of October 2024. There will be no provision for candidates to select their preferred exam slots; instead, slots will be assigned by the exam authorities. To download their admit cards, candidates must log in to the website using their User ID and Password credentials.

On the day of the exam, students must bring their admit card and adhere to the instructions outlined within it. If any discrepancies are noted in the information displayed on the admit card, students should promptly communicate with the relevant authority before the exam date to rectify the issue.

CAT Exam Centers

CAT 2025 is scheduled to take place across multiple examination centres located in different cities nationwide. Based on previous records, the exam was conducted at 375 test centres spread across 167 test cities. Each candidate’s admit card will contain comprehensive information regarding the assigned exam city and centre.

Requests for changing exam centres will not be accommodated, and only the IIMs possess the authority to add, remove, cancel, or modify any exam city, centre, or exam time.

StateExam Cities
Andaman & Nicobar IslandsPort Blair
Andhra PradeshAnantapur, Chittoor, Guntur, Kakinada, Kurnool, Nellore, Rajahmundry, Srikakulam, Tirupathi, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram
Arunachal PradeshItanagar- Naharlagun
AssamDibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur
BiharArrah, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Samastipur
ChandigarhChandigarh
ChhattisgarhBhilai Nagar, Bilaspur, Raipur
Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & DiuSilvassa
GoaMadgaon, Panaji
GujaratAhmedabad, Anand, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara
HaryanaAmbala, Faridabad – Gurugram, Hisar
Himachal PradeshBilaspur HP, Hamirpur, Kangra, Shimla
Jammu & KashmirJammu, Srinagar
JharkhandDhanbad, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Ranchi
KarnatakaBelagavi (Belgaum), Bengaluru, Hubli-Dharwad, Kalaburagi (Gulbarga), Mangaluru (Mangalore), Mysuru (Mysore), Shivamogga (Shimoga), Udupi
KeralaAlappuzha, Ernakulam, Kannur, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Trivandrum
LadakhLeh
Madhya PradeshBhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Sagar, Satna, Ujjain
MaharashtraAhmednagar, Amravati, Aurangabad -MH, Bhiwandi, Boisar, Chandrapur, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, Palghar, Pune, Raigad, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Thane, Vasai, Wardha
MeghalayaShillong
MizoramAizawal
NagalandKohima
New DelhiNew Delhi
OdishaBalasore, Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Rourkela, Sambalpur
PunjabAmritsar, Bhatinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Patiala
PuducherryPuducherry
RajasthanAjmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Sikar, Udaipur
Tamil NaduChennai, Coimbatore, Kanchipuram, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Vellore
TelanganaHyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Warangal
TripuraAgartala
Uttar PradeshAgra, Aligarh, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Greater Noida – Noida, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Prayagraj, Varanasi
UttarakhandDehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee
West BengalAsansol, Bankura, Burdwan, Durgapur, Hooghly, Howrah, Kalyani, Kolkata, Siliguri

CAT 2025 Answer Key

The CAT 2025 Response Sheet and answer key will be accessible online on the official website in the first week of December 2024. Students will have the opportunity to view their response sheets and question papers. By utilizing the answer key provided, students can estimate their probable scores for the examination.

Initially, the authority will release the provisional answer key for CAT 2025. During this period, candidates can raise objections against the answer key within the specified timeframe. After carefully reviewing the objections, the authority will release the final answer key alongside the announcement of the results.

CAT 2025 Results

The CAT 2025 results will be published online on the official website in the second week of January 2024. Candidates can access their results by logging in with their credentials. Additionally, candidates will receive individual notifications about their results via SMS.

The CAT 2025 result cum scorecard will include a variety of information, including the candidate’s name, login credentials, date of birth (DOB), gender, category, date and time of the exam, contact information, scores/percentile achieved (both sectional and overall), and any additional instructions provided.

The CAT 2025 scorecard will remain valid for one year, up until December 31, 2025, and candidates can download it from the official website within that timeframe. The authority will not address any queries regarding the issuance of scorecards.

CAT 2025 Cut Off

The CAT 2025 cut-off will be disclosed by different IIMs in conjunction with their admission policies. These cut-offs will differ across institutions and will be specified for various categories including General, Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy (OBC-NC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Differently Abled Persons (DAP). To qualify for admission, candidates must meet both the total and sectional cut-offs.

The cut-off percentiles for various subjects such as Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI & LR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) will be released for the Personal Interview (PI) process. These percentiles will be available for programs like PGP, PGP-ABM, PGP-SM, etc., and candidates can access them on the official website.

CAT 2025 Reservation Criteria

The applicants will get the information about the CAT 2025 Reservation Criteria from the below-mentioned table

Description of the applicantsReservation seats
Reserved seats for the SC category applicants15 % of seats
Reserved seats for the ST category applicants7.5 % seats
Reserved seats for the OBC category applicants27 % of seats
Reserved seats for the PWD category applicants3 % of seats

CAT 2025 Admission/Selection Procedure

Candidates who have achieved the qualifying percentile in CAT 2025 will be deemed eligible to participate in the admission/selection process of various IIMs. However, admission decisions will also take into account several other factors, including past academic performance, gender diversity, relevant work experience, academic diversity, and more. These additional factors contribute to the holistic evaluation of candidates during the selection process.

The shortlisting criteria for the interview rounds at different IIMs will be distinct and unrelated to each other. The selection criteria may comprise components such as the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interviews (PI) rounds. During the verification process for admission, candidates are required to present their marksheets, degree certificates, reservation category certificates, CAT scorecard, and other relevant documents.

Additionally, the Common Admission Procedure (CAP) is conducted by several IIMs. It serves as a unified selection process for MBA admissions into the newly established IIMs.

Below mentioned is the list of the documents required for the verification.

Latest Applications For Various UG & PG Courses Open 2024

    1. Parul University | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    2. UPES Dehradun | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    3. Chandigarh University | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    4. LPU 2024 | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    5. IIAD, Delhi | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    6. GIBS, Bangalore |  PGDM Applications Open. Package upto 15.5 LPA. Apply Now
    7. GNIOT, Greater Noida | Admissions Open for All Courses 2023. Apply Now
    8. The Design Village | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    9. IMS Ghaziabad UC Campus | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    10. KIIT School of Management | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    11. KSRM | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    12. Jaipuria Institute of Management | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    13. NIIT | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    14. MITWPU | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    15. Amrita B.Tech | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    16. KL University | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    17. Alliance MBA | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
    18. Alliance UG | Admissions Open for All Courses 2024. Apply Now
SSC Mark SheetTransfer Certificate
SSC Passing CertificateCategory Certificate
HSC Mark SheetAdmit card Certificate
HSC Passing CertificateCharacter Certificate
Domicile certificateEntrance Exam Scorecard
Medical fitness certificateMigration Certificate
Graduation degree mark sheetGraduation degree passing certificate

CAT Participating Institutions

Below is the list of participating IIMs along with their respective states:

Name of InstitutionState Located
IIM AhmedabadGujarat
IIM CalcuttaWest Bengal
IIM BangaloreKarnataka
IIM IndoreMadhya Pradesh
IIM LucknowUttar Pradesh
IIM KozhikodeKerala
IIM RaipurChhattisgarh
IIM ShillongMeghalaya
IIM RohtakHaryana
IIM RanchiJharkhand
IIM KashipurUttarakhand
IIM UdaipurRajasthan
IIM TiruchirappalliTamil Nadu
IIM AmritsarPunjab
IIM NagpurMaharashtra
IIM Bodh GayaBihar
IIM SambalpurOdisha
IIM SirmaurHimachal Pradesh
IIM JammuJammu & Kashmir
IIM VishakhapatnamAndhra Pradesh

CAT 2025 FAQs

What is CAT 2025?

CAT (Common Admission Test) is a national-level entrance exam conducted for admission to various management programs offered by IIMs and other prestigious management institutes in India.

When will CAT 2025 be held?

CAT 2025 is scheduled to be held in the fourth week of November 2025.

How can I register for CAT 2025?

You can register for CAT 2025 through the official website by filling out the online application form and paying the registration fee.

What are the eligibility criteria for CAT 2025?

Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates) or an equivalent CGPA from a recognized university or institution.

What is the exam pattern for CAT 2025?

CAT 2025 will consist of three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). The exam will be conducted in online CBT mode.

How are CAT scores calculated?

CAT scores are calculated based on the number of questions answered correctly in each section. The raw scores are then scaled to obtain the final scaled scores.

When will the CAT 2025 result be declared?

The CAT 2025 result is expected to be declared in the second week of January 2026.

What is the validity of CAT scores?

CAT scores are valid for one year from the date of announcement of the results.

What is the selection process after CAT?

After CAT, candidates are shortlisted based on their scores for further rounds, which may include a Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI).

Where can I find more information about CAT 2025?

You can find more information about CAT 2025, including important dates, exam patterns, and registration details, on the official website of the conducting authority.

If you have any other queries about CAT 2025, you can leave your question below in the comment box.