CAT Exam 2025: Important Dates, Eligibility, Registration, Cut-Off, Study Material, Syllabus & Exam Pattern, and Preparation

Last Updated on October 1, 2025 by admin

Preparing for the Common Admission Test (CAT) is highly anticipated for all aspirants for MBA in India. The passion to get into the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other leading business schools attracts a huge number of students each year. CAT is the competitive exam that must be passed. With CAT exam 2025 around the corner it is important for candidates to be aware of the relevant details. Some of these details include the important exam dates, eligibility, registration, cut-off, appropriate syllabus, appropriate exam pattern, and other information about preparation.

We will discuss all these points in this guide, allowing you to properly prepare for the CAT exam 2025 with the best chances for success.

Key Dates for CAT Exam 2025

The CAT Exam is usually conducted once a year, often during November, with the registration beginning a couple of months before the exam. In order to avoid missing deadlines, it is essential to keep in mind the following timeline for CAT 2025. 

• Notification begins: July 2025
• Registration begins: August 2025
• Registration closes: September 2025
• Admit card: October 2025
• CAT Exam: November 2025
• Answer key: December 2025
• Results: January 2026
• Final Selection: February 2026

Note: Except for the registration timeline, all other timeline dates posted are not guaranteed. To avoid misinformation candidates are encouraged to check the official CAT site or the IIM site frequently for updates. 

Eligibility Criteria for CAT Exam 2025

To be considered for CAT 2025, candidates need to fulfill the following qualifications as imposed by the IIMs. 

Educational Qualifications: 

• Minimum Qualifications: A Bachelor’s degree of any stream from a recognized university or institution.
• Minimum Marks: Candidates are needed to secure a minimum of 50% marks in their undergraduate degree, while for SC/ST/PwD candidates it is 45%.
• Candidates in their final year of graduation may apply if they fulfill the eligibility criteria at the time of admission.

Age Limit:

• There is no age limit for CAT exams, so anyone wanting to apply for an MBA can take it.

Nationality:

• Both Indian citizens and foreign nationals may apply, although the process for foreign nationals may differ.

CAT Exam 2025 Registration Process

Follow the instructions below for CAT Registration 2025:

Step-by-Step Registration:

1. Visit the Official CAT Website: Go to the official website www.iimcat.ac.in.
2. Create an Account: If you are a first-time user, you will need to create an account by providing basic details like name, contact information, and a valid email address.
3. Fill the Application Form: After creating an account, log in and complete the application form with your personal, academic, and contact details.
4. Upload Documents: You will be required to upload scanned copies of your passport-size photograph, signature, and academic documents (marksheets, degree certificate).
5. Select an Exam Centre: Pick your exam site from the centres offered.
6. Pay the Application Fee: The exam fee is about ₹2,000 for general candidates and ₹1,000 for SC/ST/PwD. You can pay through credit/debit cards or net banking.

Once you complete the registration, you will get an email confirmation, and you will be able to download your Admit Card a few weeks prior to the exam.

CAT 2025 Exam Cut-Off Marks 

Different IIMs and top MBA institutes will have different cut-offs for CAT 2025. The cut-off is the most minimum percentile you will need to reach for the next level in the admission process, which includes the Group Discussion (GD), Personal Interview (PI), and the Written Ability Test (WAT).

Projected Cut-Off Percentiles for CAT 2025:

• Top IIMs (IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta): Approximately 99-100 percentile
• IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore (Newer IIMs): Approximately 95-98 percentile
• Other MBA Institutes –  85-90 percentile (depends on the institution)

Keep in mind that every IIM follows its unique process for admission and shortlisting candidates. Also, the cut-off percentile is influenced by the number of applicants, the difficulty level of the exams, and the candidates’ performance.

CAT Exam 2025 Syllabus

Familiarizing yourself with CAT 2025 syllabus is crucial for developing a focused strategy. The CAT exam is divided into three sections.

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

• Reading Comprehension: Understanding, interpreting passages, vocabulary, and context questions.
• English Grammar and Vocabulary: Sentence correction, synonyms, antonyms, and sentence completion.
• Para-jumbles, Odd-One-Out, and Cloze Test: Logical reasoning and sentence structures analysis.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

• Data Interpretation: Tables, graphs, and charts caselets, for analyzing and interpreting data.
• Logical Reasoning: Puzzles, seating arrangements, blood relations, syllogisms, an normal reasoning structures.

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

• Arithmetic: Percentages, time and work, profit and loss, ratios and proportion.
• Algebra: Linear equations, quadratic equations, functions, and progressions.
• Geometry and Mensuration: Areas, volumes, circles, triangles, and 3D geometry.
• Number Theory: Divisibility, factors, HCF and LCM, remainders.

Exam Pattern for the CAT 2025 Exam

To manage your time well during the CAT exam, you must understand the exam format. Below is the expected exam format for CAT 2025:

Total Duration:

• 3 hours (1 hour for each section)

Sections and Marking Scheme:

• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): 24 questions, 72 marks
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): 24 questions, 72 marks
• Quantitative Aptitude (QA): 26 questions, 78 marks

Marking Scheme:

• +3 marks for each correct answer
• -1 mark for each incorrect answer (except for non-MCQ questions)
• No negative marking for non-MCQ questions

There will be MCQs (multiple choice questions) and non-MCQs (type in the answer questions).

Study Material for CAT Exam 2025

Choosing the right study material is vital for CAT preparation. Below is some recommended study material for every section:

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension:

• Books:
  • Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
  • High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin
  • Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Arun Sharma
• Online Resources:
  •  Reading and practice papers provided by Byju’s and Unacademy.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning:

• Books:
  • How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma
  • Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit Sinha

• Online Resources:
  • Interactive practice tests by Career Launcher and T.I.M.E.

Quantitative Aptitude:

• Books:
  • Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma
  • Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Rajesh Verma

• Online Resources:
  • Speed Mathematics by M Tyra
  • Gradeup and Toppr provide online tutorials and mock tests.

Preparation Tips for CAT Exam 2025

Prepare a Study Schedule:

• Assign time to each section and give more time to the chapters you find difficult.

Making Sure You Do Mock Tests As Part Of Your study Plan and Preparing Practice Tests:

• These practice tests give you the pattern of the exam, help manage your time, and help you solve problems.

Don’t Neglect The Basics:

• You should not be passing only on advanced topics. Make sure you have basic solid and complete concepts of foundational arithmetic, algebra and reading comprehension too.

More Emphasis on Accuracy:

• You should not solve for time only. Make sure to capture a lot of accurate answers. This is the most important thing for you to earn a better score.

Have Breaks And Rest Properly:

• Make sure you do not ’burn out’. Make sure you incorporate some form of activity and properly balanced and healthy meals.

Conclusion,

The CAT Exam 2025  is definitely tough and equally rewarding for anyone passionate about doing their MBA from the premier business schools in India. Familiarity with the significant dates coupled with an understanding of the eligibility, registration, cut-off, syllabus, exam pattern, and appropriate preparation will help you a great deal.  

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1: What are the eligibility restrictions for CAT 2025?

For you to sit the CAT 2025 examination, you need to have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% grade points 50% (45% for S/C) from a recognized university. This can be any degree. This is only at the point of the degree. Students in the moast upper years of highschool to university are also legible to sit for examination as well,  There is also no age limit to be not applying for the exam.

Q2: What would the process of Apply For CAT 2025 Look?

You would go to the cat official wesbite www.iimcat.ac.in, Where you would create an account, complete the format by entering the necessary data with the needed registration documents for the exam and your application can be submitted. Most form of these registration website, You would also be asked for the registration fee.

Q3: What cutoff can one expect for CAT 2025?

Cut-off requirements change depending on the institution. The top IIMs like Ahmedabad and Bangalore expect 99-100 percentile scores. The other institutes’ requirements are usually in the 85-90 percentile range.

Q4: What is the date for CAT 2025?

The CAT 2025 exam date is expected to be in November 2025. The IIMs are responsible for letting everyone know the final date as the exam approaches.

Q5: What is the CAT 2025 exam pattern?

The CAT exam has three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA), The exam is 3 hours long and has 74 questions total. The questions are negatively scored to a limit of -1 on each incorrect answer.

Q6: What are the best CAT 2025 study materials?

A few of the most recommended books for CAT 2025 include:

• Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma
• How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma
• Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
• Unacademy, Byju’s and Career Launcher also have a lot of practice materials for CAT.

Q7: When can we expect to see the CAT 2025 results?

The CAT 2025 results will likely be available in January 2026, and the candidates will be able to check their results at the CAT official website.

Congratulations in advance for putting in the hard work, and opening various MBA options for you. 

The preparation will pay off. Good luck!