CAT 2025 draft answer key and response sheet was released on Dec 4, 2025. Students must check the answer key to get their tentative score. The objection window will be open from Dec 8-10, 2025.
CAT 2025 Draft Answer Key Out! IIM Kozhikode released the provisional answer key and response sheet on Dec 4, 2025. Students must go through the answer key pdf to calculate their tentative score. The students can raise objections against the draft answer key. Following this, CAT 2025 final answer key will be released on the website. The students can raise objections from Dec 8-10, 2025.
The exam was conducted on Nov 30, 2025 with a total of 295,000 candidates appearing for the exam during three different time slots. In our review of the first CAT 2025 exam analysis, we found that the question paper was judged as easy to moderate in difficulty. Most of the questions in the VARC section were focused on Reading Comprehension (RC), and Arithmetic dominated the Quantitative Ability (Quants) section.
The second time slot ran between 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM, and was rated as slightly more difficult than the first time slot. Finally, the third and last slot was conducted from 4:30 PM until 6:30 PM. Just like the other two, the final time slot was deemed to have a moderate level of difficulty. The exam was administered at more than 350 test locations throughout 170 cities in India.
IIM CAT Exam Key Highlights 2025
You can find the CAT Exam 2025 important details in the table below.
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
CAT Full Form |
Common Admission Test |
|
CAT 2025 Conducting Body |
|
|
CAT Exam Level |
National |
|
CAT Entrance Exam Frequency |
Annual |
|
CAT 2025 Expected No of Candidates |
3.5+ Lakh |
|
CAT Eligibility Criteria |
Bachelor’s with 50% marks |
|
Courses Offered After CAT |
MBA and PGDM |
|
CAT Exam Mode |
Computer-Based Mode (Subjective + Objective) |
|
CAT Number of Attempts |
No Restriction |
|
CAT Test Cities |
170+ |
|
CAT Exam Official Website |
iimk.ac.in |
Read More: Which IIM Is Conducting CAT 2025?
CAT Exam 2025 Dates and Schedule
The CAT Exam Notification 2025 was released on July 29, 2025, along with which the important dates too were announced. If you wish to take the CAT entrance exam 2025 then you must be aware of the CAT exam dates 2025 as mentioned below.
|
CAT 2025 Events |
CAT 2025 Important Dates |
|
CAT Exam 2025 Notification Release Date |
July 29, 2025 |
|
CAT Exam 2025 Registration Date |
Aug 1, 2025 |
|
CAT Exam 2025 Last Date to Apply |
Sep 20, 2025 |
|
CAT Exam Application Form Correction Date |
Sep 2025 |
|
CAT 2025 Exam Admit Card Release Date |
Nov 5, 2025 |
|
CAT 2025 Exam Admit Card (Extended) |
Nov 12, 2025 |
|
CAT Exam Date 2025 |
Nov 30, 2025 |
|
CAT Exam Answer Key Date 2025 |
Dec 4, 2025 |
|
CAT Exam Result Date 2025 |
Dec 2025 |
|
CAT Exam 2025 Cutoff Date |
Jan 2026 |
Related Links:
- Which Colleges Accept CAT 2025 Scores Between 60–70 Percentile?
- What is Normalization in CAT Exam 2025?
- CAT 2025 Difficulty Level: Check Slot 1 Section-Wise Analysis & Good Attempts
CAT Registration Details: Fees and Last Date
CAT exam registration 2025 has been extended. If you wish to take this management entrance exam this year then you must duly fill out the application form. You must make sure to fill it out by keeping the CAT exam 2025 registration date for MBA in mind. The important details are mentioned below.
Check This: Is the CAT 2025 Application Fee Changed for All Categories?
Who is Eligible for IIM CAT 2025?
Yes, the CAT exam 2025 has a minimum eligibility criteria that you must fulfil before applying for it. Only then shall your application be accepted.
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
CAT Nationality |
Indian |
|
CAT Educational Requirements |
Graduation with 50% for open category (45% for SC/ST/PwD) |
|
CAT Age Limit |
No age limit |
|
CAT Work Experience Requirement |
Not Required |
Is there any Reservation Quota in CAT?
Yes, there is a CAT reservation quota for each category separately.
Also Check: CAT Quantitative Aptitude Analysis 2025: Slot 1, 2, 3 Analysis
CAT Exam 2025 Syllabus and Exam Pattern
If you are preparing for the CAT exam, you should be aware of the CAT 2025 exam pattern and syllabus. The details of the same along with the CAT 2025 important topics have been shared below.
CAT Exam Pattern 2025
The details of the CAT exam 2025 pattern are as follows:
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
CAT Total Sections |
|
|
CAT Total Questions |
68 |
|
CAT Exam Total Marks |
204 |
|
Marks for Correct Answer |
+3 |
|
Marks of Incorrect Answer |
-1 |
|
CAT Exam Duration |
120 Minutes |
|
CAT Exam Duration for PwD Candidates |
53 Minutes and 20 seconds |
CAT Exam 2025 Section-wise Syllabus
The topics included in the syllabus are as follows:
|
CAT Sections |
CAT Topics |
|
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus |
|
|
CAT LRDI Syllabus |
|
|
CAT VARC Syllabus |
|
Also Check: CAT VARC 2025 Question Paper Review
CAT Admit Card Out
The CAT exam admit card 2025 was released on November 12, 2025. Each one of you applying for the exam must download it from the official website or check the link shared below to access your CAT 2025 call letter.
|
Particulars |
Link |
|
CAT Exam 2025 Call Letter Download Link |
Click Here |
CAT 2025 Exam Analysis
The slot wise exam analysis of 2025 has been shared below.
CAT Slot 1 Analysis 2025
- CAT 2025 Slot 1 (morning exam) is over.
- The CAT slot 1 difficulty level was Moderate as detailed earlier by GetMyUni.
- Most of the students taking the exam analyzed the Morning paper to be of Moderate level.
- However, some of the sections, such as DILR and Quant were Moderately difficult.
CAT Slot 2 Analysis 2025
- CAT 2025 Slot 2 (afternoon exam) is over.
- The difficulty level was moderate to difficult.
- The VARC section was the easiest of all.
- However, the DILR and QA sections were moderately difficult.
CAT Slot 3 Analysis 2025
- VARC follows a similar pattern throughout all three slots.
- A 500-550-word RC debuted in slot 3 of CAT 2025.
- One RC discusses ethics and AI.
- Of the four RCs, two were challenging.
- There were three or four inference-based questions in RC.
- The assumption question was in slot 3 RC.
CAT Exam Slot-wise Analysis
The CAT Slot 1 section wise analysis has been shared below.
|
Sections |
Difficulty Level |
Good Attempts |
|
VARC |
Moderate |
17-18 |
|
DILR |
Moderate but Time Consuming |
9-10 |
|
QA |
Moderate to Difficult |
13-14 |
The CAT Slot 2 section wise analysis has been shared below.
|
Section |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
Good Attempts |
|
VARC |
24 |
Easy-Moderate |
18-20 |
|
DILR |
22 |
Difficult |
8-9 |
|
QA |
22 |
Moderate-Difficult |
13-14 |
The CAT Slot 3 section wise analysis has been shared below.
|
Section |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
Good Attempts |
|
VARC |
24 |
TBA |
TBA |
|
DILR |
22 |
TBA |
TBA |
|
QA |
22 |
TBA |
TBA |
Good Attempts and Percentile Target for CAT Slot 1 Exam 2025
As per the reviews shared by the test takers and subject experts, a good CAT score is expected to be between 44-50. An attempt with 45+ questions with good accuracy will place the students in the 99+ percentile list. However, things may change a bit after the CAT normalization process.
Read More: CAT 2025 Number of Correct Attempts for 97 Percentile
CAT Exam Timings 2025: Slot wise
The CAT slot wise exm timings are listed below.
| Slots | Exam Timings | Reporting Time | Last Entry Time |
| Slot 1 | 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM | 7:00 AM | 8:15 AM |
| Slot 2 | 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM | 12:00 PM | 12:15 PM |
| Slot 3 | 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM | 4:00 PM | 4:15 PM |
CAT slot wise difficulty level analysis 2025 has been shared below.
| Slots | Difficulty Level |
| Slot 1 | Moderate |
| Slot 2 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Slot 3 | Moderate |
IIM CAT 2025 Selection Process: Check IIM and Non-IIM Selection Criteria
The CAT Exam 2025 selection process for the IIM colleges includes three steps:
- Group Discussion
- Written Ability Test
- Personal Interview
You must clear the CAT exam cut off to sit for the IIM CAP process. The final merit list will be prepared on the below listed criteria:
- CAT Exam 2025 Score
- Performance in CAT GDPI and Interview
- Work Experience (If any)
- Academic Background
Did You Check:
- What is a Good Percentile for IIMs in 2025?
- Which IIM can I get with 90 Percentile in CAT 2025?
- Which MBA Colleges accept 80-90 percentile in CAT 2025?
The CAT Exam 2025 is one of the toughest management entrance exams. You have just 2 months to complete the syllabus and revision and thus you must buckle up your CAT preparation and give your best to it.
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CAT 2025 Provisional Answer Key: Dec 4, 2025 -
Objection Window: Dec 8-10, 2025 -
Exam Date: Nov 30, 2025 -
Candidates Appeared: 295,000
