CAT Exam 2025: The Complete Guide for MBA Aspirants
Table of Contents
- About CAT
- Why Take CAT?
- Eligibility Criteria
- CAT 2025 Dates & Important Deadlines
- Registration & Application Process
- Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
- Syllabus (Section-wise/Topic-wise)
- Top Colleges Accepting CAT & Their Cut-offs
- Previous Year Exam Analysis
- Result, Score Calculation & Percentile
- Admission/Selection Process After Exam
- Preparation Tips & Study Plan
- FAQs
- Useful Resources & Download Links
1. About CAT
The CAT (Common Admission Test) is India’s most sought-after MBA entrance exam, conducted annually by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). Over 329,000 aspirants compete for admission to the 21 IIMs and more than 1,000 other top B-schools. CAT is a computer-based test assessing Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation, and Logical Reasoning regardless of your academic or professional background, you can compete equally for a top MBA seat.
2. Why Take CAT?
- Gateway to 21 IIMs the most prestigious management institutes in India.
- Accepted by 1,000+ top B-schools including FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IITs, and more.
- One exam, multiple opportunities: a single score applies for many top programs.
- Boosts your chances of corporate, consulting, and leadership careers.
- No restrictions based on background—open to graduates from any field, freshers or experienced.
3. Eligibility Criteria
- Education: Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% (45% for SC/ST/PwD).
- Final year students: Eligible
- No attempt limit.
- Work experience: Not mandatory, but may help in final selection.
Read More: Who is eligible for CAT exam?
4. CAT 2025 Dates & Important Deadlines
| Event | Tentative Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 27th July 2025 |
| Registration Opens | 1st Aug 2025 |
| Registration Closes | 13th Sep 2025 |
| Admit Card Download | 5th Nov 2025 |
| Exam Date | Nov 30, 2025 |
| Result Declaration | First week of January 2026(tentative |
| Registration Fees | ₹1300/- for SC, ST and PwD candidates.
₹2600/- for other candidates |
5. Registration & Application Process
- Visit www.iimcat.ac.in
- Register with email/mobile and set password
- Fill in personal, academic, and work experience details
- Upload necessary documents (photo, signature, category certificate if applicable)
- Select IIMs and preferred test cities
- Pay fee: INR 2,600/- (GEN), INR 1,300/- (SC/ST/PwD)
- Submit application and save confirmation
Apply early to avoid last-minute server issues!
6. Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
| Section | No. of Questions | Duration | Type | Marking Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 40 min | MCQ & TITA | +3/-1 (MCQ); +3/0 (TITA) |
| DILR | 22 | 40 min | MCQ & TITA | +3/-1 (MCQ); +3/0 (TITA) |
| QA | 22 | 40 min | MCQ & TITA | +3/-1 (MCQ); +3/0 (TITA) |
| Total | 68 | 120 min |
- Sectional time limit; cannot switch between sections.
- No negative marking for TITA (“Type in the Answer”) questions.
7. Syllabus (Section-wise/Topic-wise)
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Reading Comprehension (RC): main idea, inference, tone, fact-based Qs
- Para-jumbles, odd sentence out, summary, sentence completion/elimination
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Tables, bar/line pie charts, graphs, data caselets
- Arrangements, groupings, blood relations, games/tournaments, puzzles
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
- Arithmetic: Percentages, averages, mixtures, SI/CI, ratios, TSD, work/time
- Algebra: Linear & quadratic equations, logarithms, functions, inequalities
- Geometry/Mensuration: Circles, triangles, polygons, coordinate geometry
- Modern Math: Probability, P&C, set theory, sequences, number systems
Tip: Download detailed CAT syllabus PDF in Resources below.
8. Top Colleges Accepting CAT & Their Cut-offs
IIMs: Intake, Average Salary, Fees, Expected Cut-off (2025)
| IIM | Intake | Avg. Salary (LPA) | 2-Year Fees (INR Lakhs) | Expected Cut-off (%ile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 400 | 35.7 | 25 | 99 |
| IIM Bangalore | 535 | 35.3 | 24.5 | 99 |
| IIM Calcutta | 480 | 37.1 | 27 | 99 |
| IIM Lucknow | 570 | 32.2 | 21.5 | 97-99 |
| IIM Indore | 600 | 30.2 | 21 | 97-99 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 480 | 31.0 | 22 | 97-98 |
| IIM Mumbai | 300 | 31 | 21 | 97-98 |
| IIM Shillong | 240 | 26.9 | 18.6 | 90-92 |
| IIM Ranchi | 360 | 17.8 | 16.5 | 92-94 |
| IIM Rohtak | 240 | 18.7 | 18 | 94-95 |
| IIM Raipur | 260 | 21.0 | 16.2 | 93-95 |
| IIM Trichy | 240 | 20.6 | 19 | 94-95 |
| IIM Udaipur | 325 | 20.1 | 20 | 93-95 |
| IIM Kashipur | 240 | 18.1 | 18.5 | 92-94 |
| IIM Nagpur | 260 | 16.7 | 18 | 91-93 |
| IIM Visakhapatnam | 180 | 17.4 | 17.5 | 91-93 |
| IIM Jammu | 240 | 16.4 | 16.5 | 90-92 |
| IIM Sambalpur | 180 | 17.1 | 13 | 90-92 |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | 180 | 16.2 | 16.3 | 90-92 |
| IIM Amritsar | 240 | 16.9 | 16 | 90-92 |
| IIM Sirmaur | 120 | 14.5 | 11.8 | 89-91 |
| IIM Rohtak | 240 | 18.7 | 18 | 94-95 |
| IIM Jammu | 240 | 16.4 | 16.5 | 90-92 |
Top 10 Non-IIMs Accepting CAT
| Institute | Intake | Avg. Salary (LPA) | 2-Year Fees (INR Lakhs) | Expected Cut-off (%ile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FMS Delhi | 287 | 34.1 | 2.0 | 98-99 |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | 276 | 33.0 | 20.4 | 85-92* |
| MDI Gurgaon | 240 | 27.7 | 24.1 | 95-97 |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 480 | 17.4 | 21.5 | 90-95 |
| IMI New Delhi | 240 | 17.0 | 19.2 | 87-93 |
| XIM Bhubaneswar (XIMB) | 360 | 20.0 | 21.0 | 90-93 |
| IIT Delhi (DMS) | 120 | 25.8 | 11.2 | 95+ |
| IIT Bombay (SJMSOM) | 120 | 28.8 | 13.8 | 98+ |
| TAPMI Manipal | 420 | 14.0 | 16.0 | 85-90 |
| FORE School of Management Delhi | 180 | 14.5 | 16.5 | 85-87 |
*SPJIMR profile based selection may call below 90%ile.
9. Previous Year Exam Analysis
CAT 2024: 329,000 registrations, 293,000 test-takers. Paper was moderate to tough with typical distribution (VARC 24, DILR 22, QA 22). Good attempts for 99+%ile: 45–47. Arithmetic and RCs remained high weight, TITA Qs 18–20. Slight increase in arithmetic and reasoning complexity compared to CAT 2023.
| Section | No. of Questions | Good Attempts | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 14–16 | Moderate–Tough |
| DILR | 22 | 10–11 | Moderate |
| QA | 22 | 10 | Mod–Tough |
10. Result, Score Calculation & Percentile
- Result: Declared 3–4 weeks after exam at iimcat.ac.in
- Scorecard: Sectional and overall percentiles
- Marking: +3 per correct, -1 for wrong MCQ, 0 for TITA/blank
- Percentile: Reflects % of candidates behind your score (e.g., 99%ile means only 1% scored more than you)
| Raw Score (approx.) | Percentile (expected) |
|---|---|
| 110–115 | 99+ |
| 85–105 | 95–99 |
| 70–85 | 90–95 |
| 60–70 | 80–90 |
11. Admission/Selection Process After Exam
- Shortlisting based on CAT percentile, profile, diversity, academics
- WAT (Written Ability Test), GD, and PI at most IIMs/non-IIMs
- Composite score with weights (CAT, academics, work ex, gender/diversity, WAT/PI performance)
- Offers and waitlists based on final ranking
12. Preparation Tips & Study Plan
- Start at least 6 months in advance
- Study each topic in the syllabus; master your weaknesses
- Take weekly mock tests, analyze performance, improve strategy
- Read daily (editorials, business articles) to boost VARC
- Practice quantitative basics and logical puzzles daily
- Use official CAT material and reliable prep books only
- Form study groups for motivation and concept sharing
- Don’t burn out; manage stress with exercise and breaks
13. FAQs (Trending in Google, 2025)
- What is CAT exam? – CAT is the Common Admission Test for MBA/PGDM admission to IIMs and top B-schools.
- Is CAT compulsory for MBA in India? – For IIMs and most top schools, yes. Some institutes accept other tests.
- Who is eligible for CAT? – Any graduate with 50% (45% SC/ST/PwD) or final year students.
- Is CAT tough? – Yes, due to competition and unpredictable pattern, but preparation helps any serious candidate crack it.
- How many attempts for CAT? – Unlimited; you can take CAT as often as you wish.
- Which IIM has lowest CAT cut-off? – Newer IIMs (Jammu, Sirmaur, Bodh Gaya, Amritsar) typically have cutoffs 90–92 percentile; top IIMs need 99+.
- What is a good score in CAT? – 99+%ile is excellent, but even 85+%ile gives multiple options.
- Can a final year student apply? – Yes, provisional admission if you graduate by next June–July.
- What is the CAT exam pattern? – 3 sections, 68 questions, 2 hours, computer-based.
- What is the syllabus of CAT? – Quant, Verbal, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (see full syllabus above).
- Are calculators allowed in CAT? – Only the computer’s virtual calculator; no physical calculator is allowed.
- What are TITA questions? – ‘Type in the Answer’ questions, no options, no negative marking.
- What are the best books for CAT? – Arun Sharma’s series, Nishit Sinha, TMH, Word Power Made Easy, official material.
- How many seats in IIMs? – Over 5,000 in flagship MBA/PGP programs across 21 IIMs.
- When is CAT 2025 conducted? – Last Sunday of November, i.e., Nov 30, 2025 (expected).
- What is the application fee for CAT? – ₹2,500 (GEN), ₹1,250 (SC/ST/PwD).
- Which non-IIMs accept CAT? – FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, MDI, IMI, IMT, IITs, XIMB, more.
- Is work experience required for CAT? – No. Freshers compete equally with professionals.
- Does CAT score have sectional cut-offs? – Yes, most IIMs specify section-wise as well as overall cut-off.
- Is there an age limit for CAT? – No. Anyone with graduation or in final year can apply.
14. Useful Resources & Download Links
- Official CAT Website
- CAT Study Material
- CAT Syllabus PDF (Download)
- Previous Year CAT Papers (PDF)
- Formula PDF
Final Words
CAT 2025 is your chance to script a new chapter in your career. The competition is fierce, but every topper started as a beginner. Consistency, strategy, and smart planning will set you apart. If you have doubts or need resources, check our preparation guides or drop your questions in the comments—our experts and community are here to help!
