IIM Kozhikode will close the CAT 2025 answer key objection window on December 10 (11.55 pm); the window opened on December 8, 2025. Using the objection window, you can give your feedback against a key (s) by paying a certain fee. The link to submit objections, as well as download the answer key and response sheet is given below.
The provisional key and candidate response sheet were released on December 4, 2025. The final key will be prepared after considering candidate feedback.
Earlier, the CAT 2025 exam was held on November 30, 2025 (in THREE slots): 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM, and 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM. As per CAT 2025 pattern, the exam was held in CBT mode and 2 hours long (40 minutes for each of the three sections – VARC, DILR, and QA.). The CAT 2025 question paper included MCQs and TITA-type questions. More than 2.95 lakh candidates registered for CAT 2025. In the previous edition, out of the 3.29 lakh registered candidates, around 2.93 lakh candidates appeared in the exam.
Scores of CAT 2025 will be considered for admission to 21 participating IIMs. Additionally, more than 1000 other institutes will consider CAT 2025 scores for admission to their business courses. The CAT 2025 application form is now closed.
Latest Updates:
- Download CAT 2025 Answer Key & Candidate Response Sheet + Submit OBJECTIONS – Click Here
- CAT 2025 Registration Declines: What’s Behind the Dip?
Table of Contents
CAT 2025 Exam – Highlights
| Particulars | Description |
| Name of the exam | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Conducting Body | The Indian Institutes of Management |
| Official website | https://iimcat.ac.in |
| Exam Level | National |
| Frequency of the exam | Annual |
| Exam DATE | November 30, 2025 |
| Release of Answer Key (OUT) | December 4, 2025 |
| Status of CAT 2025 application form | Closed Start Date – August 1, 2025 Last date to apply: September 20, 2025 Correction window: October 4-7, 2025 |
| Exam Timings | The CAT exam will be conducted in THREE sessions. Session 1: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Session 2: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM Session 3: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
| Application Fees | INR 2,600 (General category) INR 1,300 (Reserved category) |
| Eligibility Criteria | Graduation with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST students) |
| Number of Applications | Approx. 2.95 lakh (2025) 3.29 lakh (in 2024) |
| Number of Test Takers | Around 2.58 lakh candidates appeared for the CAT 2025 exam out of 2.95 lakh registered eligible candidates. The overall attendance was approximately 86%. 2.93 lakh (in 2024) |
| Validity of CAT scores | 1 year |
| Courses Offered | MBA/PGDM |
| CAT syllabus | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Ability (QA) |
| Mode of the exam | Computer Based Test (CBT) Question type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) & Type in The Answer (TITA) |
| Test cities | 170 |
| Selection process | CAT scores, Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) for some IIMs |
| Number of participating IIMs | 21 |
| Institutes other than IIMs that will accept CAT scores | 1000+ |
| Important Resources | CAT exam 2025 – Selection Process of IIMs How to prepare for CAT 2025 |
| Download | CAT 2025 Information Bulletin |
| Mock Test | Take CAT Mock Test – Here |
Also Read:
- CAT 2025 exam syllabus – Section-wise Topics, Weightage, Important Topics
- CAT cut-off 2025 – Check Institute-wise Opening and Closing Ranks, Factors
CAT Important Dates 2025
The tentative dates for the CAT 2025 exam are given in the table below. Note that one the official admission schedule is released, the same will be updated here.
| Event | Dates |
| Release of Exam Notification | August 1, 2025 |
| START of online registration | August 1, 2025 |
| Last Date to register | September 20, 2025 (5 pm) |
| Window to edit the CAT 2025 application form | October 4-7, 2025 |
| Issue of admit cards | November 12, 2025 |
| CAT 2025 Mock Test | November 12, 2025 Purpose: A mock test with sample questions to familiarize the candidates with the format and interface of the exam is being made available on the CAT website. |
| Exam Date | November 30, 2025 |
| AIBE (XX) 2025 Answer Key | December 4, 2025 |
| Submission of objections against CAT 2025 Answer Key (Open) | December 8-10, 2025 (11.55 pm) |
| Declaration of Result | To be notified |
CAT Admit Card 2025
The hall ticket-cum-admit card of CAT 2025 was released on November 12, 2025. It is available online at iimcat.ac.in website. Alternatively, you can download it following the link given above.
Download it using your candidate credentials.
On the day of the CAT 2025 exam, the candidate must bring the CAT 2025 admit card and a valid photo ID proof. The admit card will contain details like the name and address of the CAT 2025 exam center, roll number, date and exam timings, and exam-day guidelines.
How to download the CAT Admit Card 2025
- Go to the CAT 2025 admission portal
- Click on the admit card download link
- In the log-in window that opens, enter registration ID and password
- The admit card will be displayed in PDF format
- Download and take a printout.
Details included in the CAT 2025 Admit Card
The CAT admit card will contain details like the exam slot, test timing, roll number, CAT 2025 exam center name and address, reporting time, guidelines to be followed inside the exam hall, etc.
CAT 2025 exam center reporting time
| Event | Session 1 | Session 2 | Session 3 |
| CAT 2025 Test Time | 8.30 – 10.30 am | 12.30 – 2.30 pm (Afternoon Slot) | 4.30 – 6.30 pm (Evening Slot) |
| Reporting/ Entry Time at Center | 7 am | 11 am | 3 pm |
| Gate Closing Time | 8.15 am | 12.15 am | 4.15 am |
CAT Exam Pattern 2025
The candidate must refer to the CAT 2025 exam pattern to understand the question paper structure. For instance, the exam pattern will outline the types of questions asked, sections covered, overall and section-wise time allocated, total marks, etc.
CAT 2025 exam pattern
| Particulars | Description |
| Mode of CAT exam | Computer Based Test |
| Duration of exam | 120 minutes 40 minutes for each section |
| CAT exam slots | The exam in be conducted in THREE sessions: Morning: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Afternoon: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM Evening: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
| Number of questions | 68 |
| Number of answer choices | 4 |
| Total marks | 204 |
| Marking scheme | +3 marks for correct answer -1 mark for an incorrect answer No Negative marking for TITA |
| Language of question paper | English |
| Question Type | MCQ and non-MCQ |
Also Read:
- How to crack GD-PI-WAT
- MBA Admission, Application, Schedule, Selection Process of Top MBA Colleges
- Top 10 Distance MBA Colleges in India – Admission Process & Criteria, Fees
CAT Syllabus 2025
Candidates appearing in the CAT 2025 exam must make it a point to refer to the updated syllabus prescribed by the exam conducting authority. The CAT 2025 syllabus will include the section-wise topics candidates need to prepare the MBA entrance exam.
CAT 2025 question paper will include questions from Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) sections.
Given the vastness of the CAT syllabus, the candidate must prepare in-depth over a period of time. Also the difficulty level of CAT questions poses challenge in scoring high. So, if you start your CAT 2025 exam preparation early, you will have enough time to complete the syllabus on time, solve sample papers, take mock tests, and do ample revision.
Last month CAT 2025 Exam Preparation Tips
With just a month or so left for CAT, focus on revision, accuracy, and mock tests rather than learning entirely new topics. Start by revising core concepts in Quant, especially arithmetic, algebra, and geometry as these carry high weight. For LRDI, practice sets daily, emphasizing puzzle selection; don’t try to solve everything, instead learn to identify the doable ones quickly. In VARC, read diverse passages and practice para-jumbles and summary questions to sharpen comprehension and speed.
Mocks are crucial now – take at least 2–3 per week. After each test, spend more time analyzing than attempting. Track question types you often miss, time lost on tough sets, and accuracy dips. Work on exam temperament: build stamina to sit for three hours with consistent focus.
Create a weekly schedule with targeted practice: one section daily in depth, plus a mixed mock. In the final two weeks, shift to full-length mocks and revision of error logs. Avoid cramming new, complex topics; stick to strengthening your strengths and minimizing weaknesses.
Lastly, take care of your health and sleep cycle. Stay calm and consistent – CAT is as much about strategy and mindset as knowledge.
CAT Question Paper 2025
If you are preparing for the CAT 2025 exam, make sure that you solve a good number of sample papers to go with previous years’ CAT question papers.
The previous years’ question papers will provide insights into the specific questions asked in the exam, difficulty level, specific questions asked, marking scheme, trends, etc.
These insights are very useful when preparing for the exam and will also give the candidate a reality check.
Meanwhile, sample papers can be used for improving one’s problem-solving and time-management abilities.
CAT Exam Center 2025
The candidate has to select their choice of exam center for CAT 2025 at the time of filling out the application form. The CAT exam will be conducted at over 375 exam centers spread across 174 cities.
The list of CAT 2025 exam centers has been released on the exam portal.
The candidate can select a maximum of five exam CAT 2025 cities at the time of registration. The name and address of the exam center allocated to the candidate will be mentioned on the CAT 2025 admit card. Additionally, the admit card will contain the CAT 2025 exam center reporting time and rules to be followed inside the CAT exam venue.
CAT Exam Books 2025
When preparing for an entrance exam like CAT, it is important that the CAT 2025 books are top notch.
Here are some features of good CAT 2025 study material:
- These books will have very few to no errors
- Will explain the concepts in an easy-to-understand language. On the other hand, some books may explain the concepts correctly, but sadly use such complex and advanced language that you will have to spend half your effort deciphering these phrases.
- Good books will also follow the official CAT 2025 exam syllabus and pattern.
- Then, these books will contain examples and infographics to make learning fun, easy, and interactive.
- Also, they will contain problem sets at the end of a chapter or at the end of the book that you can practice and evaluate your progress and ability to solve related problems.
CAT Application Form 2025
The registration process for CAT 2025 was open from August 1- September 20, 2025. The direct link to register for the exam was provided here.
Candidates who meet the CAT 2025 eligibility criteria has to apply before the last date.
The CAT 2025 registration process has to be completed online. Also, when filling out the form, use only genuine and verifiable information. CAT officials will verify all the details entered by the candidate, and if any anomaly is found, the candidate will be disqualified.
Step-wise process to register for CAT 2025
- Go to the official website click on “New Candidate Registration” tab
- In the registration form that opens, enter name, date of birth, phone number, and email ID.
- On successful registration, login ID and password will be sent to the candidate’s email ID and mobile number.
- Log-in to the registration portal and fill in academic, contact, and academic details
- Choose an exam city from the drop-down menu
- Select your choice of IIMs in the order of priority
- Pay the application fee to complete the registration process.
CAT 2025 Application Checklist – Fees, Documents
| Items | Description |
| Mode of application | Online |
| Fees | INR 2,600 for General/OBCINR 1,300 for SC/ST/PwD |
| Mode of fee payment | Debit/credit card or net banking |
| Registration link | iimcat.ac.in |
| Selection of Test City | The candidate can select FIVE city options |
| Documents for uploading | Recent passport size photo Scanned signature on white paper Caste/PwD/Scribe certificate |
CAT Application Form 2026 – Correction Window
The CAT 2025 application form edit window is open from October 4-7, 2025.
Using the edit window, the candidate could edit some of the particulars in the CAT 2026 application form, including photograph, signature, and test city preference.
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2025
The candidate is recommended to carefully go through the CAT 2025 eligibility criteria before applying for the exam. It is because if the candidate doesn’t meet the criteria, he or she could be disqualified at any stage of the admission process.
Eligibility Criteria of CAT 2025
- The candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with minimum 50% aggregate marks or an equivalent CGPA (45 per cent aggregate for SC, ST and PWD/DA category).
- Candidates who have completed a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA/FCAI) with the required percentage are also eligible for CAT 2025.
- Candidates appearing for the final year of bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification or awaiting the result can apply. However, the aggregate of their first and second year marks must meet the minimum score requirement.
- The education mode of the bachelor’s degree can be regular or distance learning, but should be a 3-year programme and from a UGC recognised institution.
Also Read:
CAT Answer Key 2025 – Date, How to Download, Objection Window, Calculate Probable Score
CAT Counseling 2025 – Schedule, Shortlisting for WAT/PI, Selection Process, Weightage
CAT Exam Answer Key 2025
The exam conducting body released the provisional CAT 2025 answer key on December 4, 2025. The answer keys have been released for all exam slots and contain the keys (answers) to all the questions asked in the CAT 2025 entrance exam. The link to download the answer key is provided above.
You can download the CAT answer key using your CAT 2025 login ID and password.
The answer key can be used to calculate probable or expected CAT 2025 score. For instance, first calculate the number of correct and incorrect attempts, and then using the marking scheme given in CAT 2025 exam pattern, assign marks to each question. Finally tally the marks to arrive at the expected score.
The candidate will also be given the option to challenge the CAT 2025 provisional answer key from December 8-10, 2025.
The FINAL answer key of CAT 2025 will be released after considering feedback given by candidates against the draft key. There will be no provision to challenge the final key. Further, the final key will be used for preparing the CAT 2025 results.
CAT Exam Result 2025
The results of the CAT 2025 exam will be declared sometime in December 2025. The results will be declared online at iimcat.ac.in. The link to check the CAT 2025 results will be provided here.
Log-in to the result portal using your CAT 2025 ID and password.
The CAT 2025 scorecard will include details like sectional and overall score, and merit ranks.
List of CAT 2025 Toppers: The exam officials will also release the name of CAT 2025 Toppers at the time of declaration of results.
CAT Exam Counseling 2025
The counseling of CAT 2025 will be conducted starting sometime in February 2025.
CAT 2025 counseling will include a Written Ability Test and Personal Interview (WAT/PI). The final selection of the candidate will be based on the performance in the CAT 2025 written exam and WAT/PI.
Additionally, the performance of the candidate in academic field, work experience, gender and academic diversity, etc., will also be considered.
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