Everything About CAT 2025: Registration, Exam Date, Preparation Tips, and More

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of the most esteemed and sought-after national-level entrance exams in India. The exam is intended to select candidates for admission to MBA (Master of Business Administration), PGDM (Postgraduate Diploma in Management) programs, or any other management programs at top B-schools like IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) in India. CAT is globally renowned for its advanced nature, assessing aspirants based on their quantitive aptitude, communication skills, data interpretation, logical reasoning, problem-solving, and other skills.

If you are among those candidates who seek to appear for the CAT 2025 exam, this comprehensive article provides you with detailed information encompassing the CAT exam, the registration process, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, marking scheme, preparation tips, and more.

What is the Common Admission Test (CAT) exam?

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level entrance examination intended to examine candidates based on their analytical, communication, logical, and other skills to gain admission to management courses at top business schools or universities in India, including the Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai, and more.

CAT Exam 2025 Important Dates

Here are the tentative dates for the Common Admission Test (CAT 2025). However, the official dates for the exam will be announced or released in July 2025.

CAT 2025 Eligibility Criteria

Before directly jumping into the application process for the CAT exam, prospective candidates should explore the eligibility criteria for the Common Admission Test (CAT). However, the eligibility criteria for the exam are mentioned below:

• Bachelors or undergraduate-level degree program from any relevant specialisation.
• At least 60% aggregate marks secured in bachelor’s degree.
• The bachelor’s degree must be from any recognised university.
• No age restriction or specific number of attempts is defined.
• Some programs may ask working professionals to hold relevant working experience.
• CA/ CS/ ICWA/ FIAI graduates can also apply for the CAT exam.
• Final year bachelor’s degree students can also apply for the entrance exam.

CAT 2025 Exam Pattern

Candidates should be informed of the pattern they will be given if they intend to take the CAT 2025 exam. A preliminary CAT 2025 entrance exam format compiled from prior exams is as follows:  

• MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions): Contains one correct answer amongst four options.
• TITA (Type In The Answer): Candidates should type the correct answer to the question.

CAT 2025 Exam Marking Scheme

Below is the marking scheme for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 exam.

• Three marks are to be awarded for every correct answer.
• 1 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer
• No Negative marking for TITA questions
• No marks will be given or deducted for any unanswered questions.

CAT 2025 Exam Syllabus

The conducting body of CAT 2025 has not defined any official syllabus for the exam. An applicant is advised to follow the class 10th syllabus for English and math subjects. However, the preliminary topics questioned in the CAT 2025 curriculum are listed below, based on examination trends from prior years. Candidates should pay attention to the following issues and adjust their preparation accordingly.

CAT 2025 Application Process

The application process for the CAT 2025 is expected to begin from August 2025. The official notification for the exam will be released on the official website of the CAT (https://iimcat.ac.in/per/g06/pub/32842/ASM/WebPortal/1/index.html?32842@@1@@1). Below is a detailed explanation of how an applicant can go through the CAT 2025 application process based on the previous years' application process:

Step-by-step CAT Registration Process

The following bullet points outline the comprehensive CAT 2025 registration process step-by-step that a candidate must complete when completing the exam's application form:

• Candidates are required to visit the official website of the CAT.
• Register themselves as “New Candidate Registration”.
• Submit the OTP for registration verification after submission.
• Log in with the received login ID and Password credentials on their registered email and mobile number.
• Candidates are now able to start filling out the application form with the required data.
• In addition to the programs they wish to take part in, candidates can select the city of the interview.
• For CAT 2025, candidates can select up to six test cities of their choice.

Uploading Documents

Prospective candidates must upload the required documents as specified in the application process, including a Passport size photograph, PwD certificate (if needed), Signature, EWS, NC-OBC/SC/ST certificate, and previous educational transcripts like mark sheets and passing certificates.

Application Fee Payment (Tentative)

• To conclude the registration process for CAT 2025, candidates should make payment for application fees through secured online channels.
• Before completing the form and paying, candidates can also choose to examine their application.
• Within a few minutes of a successful payment, candidates will receive an email confirming their enrollment.

CAT 2025 Admit Card

• The admit card for the CAT 2025 exam is expected to be released in October 2025.
• Registered candidates can log in to the student portal with their login ID and password and successfully download their admit cards for the CAT exam 2025.
• Details such as the test location, date, and hour will be included on the admit card. On test day, don't forget to bring your CAT 2025 admit card.

CAT 2025 Answer Key

With the assistance of authorities, the CAT response sheet—which contains the CAT 2025 answer key and recorded responses—is often made public eight to ten days following the test. The reputable CAT website, iimcat.ac.in, allows participants to examine and download their recorded answers and solutions. Students can view their query papers and response sheets. Students can anticipate their likely exam rankings by using the provided solution key.

The initial step includes the authority freeing the provisional CAT solution key 2025  for CAT 2025. Candidates are approved to raise objections at some point in this phase within the allotted duration. After a radical evaluation of the objections, the authority will unveil the final CAT 2025 solution key simultaneously with the CAT result 2025 result declaration.

CAT 2025 Result

The CAT 2025 result will be declared on the official website of the CAT, which is iimt.cat.ac.in around the final week of December 2025 or early January 2026. Interview and discussion rounds will be conducted after the release of the results and cut-offs of the IIMs and other top business schools in India.

CAT 2025: Preparation Tips

Candidates willing to crack the CAT (Common Admission Test) 2025 are required to stick to their strategic study plan. However, preparation tips are very personal things and may vary according to the learning speed and style of the candidate. However, we have mentioned some expert preparation tips for the CAT 2025 exam.

• Understand the exam pattern and syllabus.
• Create a study plan and organise your time for concept learning, practice, and mock tests.
• Should start preparation at least 6-8 months.
• Candidates are advised to build a strong foundation in Qualitative Analytics (QA), Verbal Ability Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR).
• Practice full-length mock tests for time management.
• Analyse and work on weak areas.
• Read newspapers, magazines, and business journals periodically to improve reading skills and to learn about current affairs.
• If required, join any CAT-dedicated coaching centre.
• Should follow the structured timetable.
• Exercise or meditate for at least 15 minutes daily.

Conclusion

Even though the CAT 2025 is a very tough exam, you can score highly if you practice, maintain discipline, and use the proper preparation techniques. Keep abreast with official notices and concentrate on a well-rounded study strategy.