CAT Exam 2025: Dates, Registration, Syllabus, Pattern, Admit Card, Results & Colleges

CAT 2025 Overview

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 is India’s most competitive MBA entrance exam, conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to flagship MBA/PGP/PGDM programs. Beyond the 21 IIMs, CAT scores are accepted by 1,000+ leading B-schools including FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IMT Ghaziabad, IMI Delhi, and many more. A typical CAT paper evaluates three abilities—VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension), DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning), and QA (Quantitative Aptitude)—in a tightly timed, computer-based format.

Whether you’re a first-time aspirant or a re-taker, this guide distills everything you need: dates, registration, notification, syllabus, exam pattern, preparation plans, mock tests, books, answer key, results, cut offs, counselling, test centres, admit card, news, and a curated list of colleges accepting CAT. We’ll keep it deeply practical, using tables, checklists, and examples so you can make steady progress each week.

CAT 2025 Dates

CAT historically happens on the last Sunday of November. For 2025, the expected exam date is 30 November 2025 (three slots across the day). While the IIM convening body confirms exact dates via the official notification, planning around these tentatives lets you reverse-engineer a reliable study calendar for the months ahead.

Registration

The CAT 2025 registration is a fully online process at iimcat.ac.in. You’ll first create a login, then complete the detailed application, upload documents, choose test cities, and pay the fee. Keep name consistency exactly as per official ID to avoid verification hiccups, and use an email/phone number you’ll retain through admissions season.

CAT 2025 College Predictor New

A CAT college predictor estimates your chances for IIMs and top non-IIMs using your overall/sectional percentile, category, academics, and (sometimes) work-ex. While not a guarantee, it helps build a realistic application portfolio across dream, competitive, and safe options.

How to use it well

• Input sectional as well as overall percentiles—many IIMs have sectional gates.
• Factor in your 10th/12th/grad scores where applicable (some schools weight academics heavily).
• Run multiple scenarios (±2 percentile points) to set interview prep priorities.

Use predictions to sequence applications, gather SOP materials, and target programme-specific PIs (e.g., analytics tracks vs. general management).

Notification

The official CAT 2025 notification—published in leading dailies and on iimcat.ac.in—confirms dates, fees, eligibility, test cities, pattern, and a comprehensive information bulletin. Read it end-to-end; most avoidable errors (wrong category, city conflicts, photo/spec failures) are solved by a careful first read.

• Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (minimum 50% for Gen/EWS/OBC-NCL; 45% for SC/ST/PwD)
• Multiple programs across IIMs can be selected inside the form
• City allocation attempts to honor your order of preferences

CAT Syllabus 2025

CAT doesn’t publish a rigid syllabus, but trends are consistent. Prioritise application-first understanding—concepts plus timed practice. Below is a practical topic map to guide study plans and mock analysis.

CAT Exam 2025 Pattern

The current CAT format spans 120 minutes with sectional locks (40-40-40). Expect around 66 questions (mix of MCQ and TITA). Accuracy rules: reckless attempts bleed marks; smart skips and rapid verifications win.

Slot strategy: target 1–2 high-confidence DILR sets, 14–18 serious VARC attempts, and selective QA clusters (e.g., Arithmetic first) to safeguard sectional percentiles.

Preparation strategy for CAT 2025

12-Week Accelerator Plan

1. Weeks 1–4: Concept repair (Arithmetic/Algebra basics), 1 RC daily, 4 DILR sets/week, 1 mini-mock.
2. Weeks 5–8: Mixed set practice; 1 full mock/week; post-mock error logs and topic reruns.
3. Weeks 9–12: 2–3 full mocks/week; sectional sprints; stamina building; last-mile notes.

Self-Study vs Coaching

Coaching gives structure and peer pace; self-study gives flexibility and cost control. Hybrid works best: join a mock test series, add doubt-solving community, keep autonomy for weak-area sprints.

Question Papers

Official CAT papers (with keys) from recent years are the most authentic practice source. Create a rotation: one past slot paper every weekend under exam conditions. After each, annotate three buckets: sure-shot (must attempt), situational (if time allows), and skip-bait (avoid).

• Build a “pattern memory” for RC question stems and DILR set types.
• For QA, maintain a compact formula/method handbook you can revise weekly.

CAT 2025 Mock Test

The official mock (released a few weeks pre-exam) mirrors the on-screen interface. Beyond that, plan 20–30 full-length mocks across providers to cover variability. Always analyze deeper than score: time sinks, question tagging mistakes, and careless errors drive the biggest percentile swings.

Post-Mock Ritual

1. Re-solve all incorrect/unattempted questions without timer.
2. Note 5 “lesson headlines” (e.g., “skipped set too late”); apply in next mock.
3. Rebuild 10-question custom drills from your error log twice a week.

Books for CAT Preparation

CAT 2025 Results

CAT 2025 results are expected in early January 2026. Your scorecard shows raw scores and scaled percentiles overall and by section. Download and store multiple copies; you’ll need them throughout WAT-GD-PI season.

Post-Result Actions

• Map your profile to institute criteria (percentile thresholds, academics, diversity, work-ex).
• Trigger SOP/Essay drafts early; gather proofs for achievements and work-ex.
• Begin PI mocks with feedback loops; practice 60-second structured answers.

CAT 2025 Cut Off

Cut-offs vary across institutes and categories. Broadly, older IIMs call around the high-90s (overall) with sectional minimums; newer IIMs and top non-IIMs span 85–97 depending on the year and policy mix (academics, gender/academic diversity, work-ex).

CAT 2025 Answer Key

The provisional answer key is usually released within a week. You’ll also get your response sheet. If you spot a discrepancy, you can challenge with detailed justification (rationale, textbook/official references). Once objections are evaluated, the final key is published and results are computed accordingly.

Counselling

CAT has no centralized counselling. Each IIM and participating institute runs its own admissions: shortlist (percentile + profile), then WAT/GD/PI. Convert odds improve with targeted preparation: institute research, personal storylines, ethical dilemmas practice, and business awareness.

WAT/GD/PI Readiness Kit

• One-page Profile Snapshot: academics, internships, projects, leadership, hobbies.
• “Why MBA” and “Why this institute” answers with concrete examples.
• Current affairs briefs (economy, policy, tech, sustainability).

CAT 2025 Analysis

Right after CAT, expert analyses estimate difficulty by section and “attempts needed” bands for 95/98/99 percentiles. Use these to calibrate expectations, but avoid doom-scrolling; focus on answer key and future interviews. For re-takers, annotate trends (e.g., denser DI tables, inference-heavy RCs) to steer year-round practice.

CAT 2025 Centre

You can choose up to six test cities during registration. Final centre allocation depends on availability. Scout your route a week prior, and arrive 60–90 minutes early. Carry only permitted items (admit card, photo ID, transparent water bottle if allowed). Lockers aren’t guaranteed; travel light.

On-site Tips

• Warm up mentally: 3 RC questions and 5 QA basics on scrap before entering (just to prime the brain).
• Slot composure: trust your prep; if a section feels tough, it’s tough for all.

CAT 2025 Admit Card

Admit cards are typically available from late October. Verify your name, photo, signature, test city, reporting time, and COVID/centre instructions (if any). Print multiple copies; store a soft copy in cloud. On exam day, bring valid photo ID (Aadhaar/PAN/Passport/Driving Licence).

CAT 2025 News

Watch for updates on iimcat.ac.in and credible prep portals: notification date, form edits (if correction window opens), any shift in paper format, and post-exam announcements (key, responses, result timeline). Bookmark official channels and set calendar alerts for each milestone.

Top CAT Accepting Colleges

CAT unlocks seats across a wide spectrum—IIMs (A, B, C, L, K, I, and newer IIMs) and elite non-IIMs. Below is a quick sampler; always cross-check current policies, fees, and deadlines.

Align choices to your goals (consulting, product, finance, ops, analytics), budget, and location preferences. Use the college predictor insights plus institute research (alumni outcomes, pedagogy) to finalize a balanced list.