The CAT Exam 2025 was held on Nov 30, 2025 in three slots. The draft answer key will be released on Dec 4, 2025. Students can raise objections to it following which the final answer key will be released.
CAT Exam 2025 Draft Answer Key Soon! The draft answer key will be out on Dec 4, 2025. Students must download it to check and calculate their tentative scores. Following this, the commission will release the CAT 2025 final answer keys.
The IIM CAT Exam 2025 Date was notified by IIM Kozhikode to be held on Nov 30, 2025 (Sunday). The exam was held in three shifts in 170+ exam cities across India.
| 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 |
The CAT important dates 2025 were announced with the CAT notification PDF 2025, which was out on July 29, 2025. The CAT application process commenced on Aug 1, 2025, and the CAT last date to apply was extended to Sep 20, 2025. Earlier, it was Sep 13, 2025. The CAT 2025 admit card for the same was released on Nov 12, 2025 as per the latest update. The detailed CAT exam schedule has been shared with you in the sections below.
CAT Exam 2025 Schedule
The detailed CAT exam 2025 schedule is as follows. The post exam event dates have not been notified yet and are based on the previous year trends.
|
CAT 2025 Events |
CAT 2025 Dates |
|
CAT 2025 Notification Release Date |
July 29, 2025 |
|
CAT 2025 Registration Start Date |
August 1, 2025 |
|
CAT Registration Last Date |
September 13, 2025 |
|
Last date to Submit CAT Registration Fees |
September 13, 2025 (Extended to Sep 20, 2025) |
|
CAT Application Form Correction Window Opens |
September 2025 |
|
Last date to edit the CAT Application Form |
September 2025 |
|
CAT 2025 Admit Card |
November 5, 2025 |
|
CAT 2025 Admit Card (Extended) |
November 12, 2025 |
|
CAT Mock Test |
November 12, 2025 |
|
CAT Exam Date |
November 30, 2025 |
|
CAT Answer Key / Response Sheet |
December 4, 2025 |
|
CAT Answer Key Challenge Window |
December 2025 |
|
CAT Final Answer key |
December 2025 |
|
CAT Result Date |
December 2025 |
|
CAT Cutoff Release Date |
January 2026 |
Also Read: Which IIM is best for CAT 2025 Aspirants?
CAT Exam Timing and Shifts
It is very important for you all to know the CAT exam timing and CAT exam shifts to not miss out on any of the events. The exam is held in three shifts and the timing is different for all of them. Additionally, the reporting time is also different for them. The details for all the CAT shifts have been shared below.
|
CAT Exam Shifts |
CAT Slots |
CAT Exam Timing |
CAT Reporting Time |
|
Shift 1 |
Morning |
8:30 AM to 10:30 AM |
7:00 AM |
|
Shift 2 |
Afternoon |
12:30 PM to 2:30 PM |
11:00 AM |
|
Shift 3 |
Evening |
4:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
3:00 PM |
Also Read: How to Tackle Non-MCQ Questions in CAT 2025?
CAT Year Wise Exam Date Trends
The CAT exam is held in November every year. Thus new aspirants do not need to worry for the CAT exam month to devise their preparation. However, the CAT year wise exam date trends has been shared below for your convenience.
|
CAT Exam Year |
Conducted By |
CAT Notification Release Dates |
CAT Exam Dates |
|
CAT 2025 |
IIM Kozhikode |
Jul 29, 2025 |
Nov 30, 2025 |
|
CAT 2024 |
Jul 28, 2024 |
Nov 24, 2024 |
|
|
CAT 2023 |
Jul 30, 2023 |
Nov 26, 2023 |
|
|
CAT 2022 |
Jul 30, 2022 |
Nov 27, 2022 |
|
|
CAT 2021 |
Jul 31, 2021 |
Nov 28, 2021 |
|
|
CAT 2020 |
Jul 27, 2020 |
Nov 29, 2020 |
|
|
CAT 2019 |
Jul 26, 2019 |
Nov 24, 2019 |
|
|
CAT 2018 |
Jul 27, 2018 |
Nov 25, 2018 |
|
|
CAT 2017 |
Jul 27, 2017 |
Nov 26, 2017 |
|
|
CAT 2016 |
Jul 31, 2016 |
Dec 4, 2016 |
|
|
CAT 2015 |
Jul 26, 2015 |
Nov 29, 2015 |
Also Read: Is the CAT 2025 Application Fee Increased for all Categories?
CAT Event wise Schedule 2025
The event wise CAT schedule has been shared below. You are advised to save this page for your reference so that you do not miss out on any of the events.
CAT Notification Release Date 2025
The details of the notification PDF are as follows:
|
Particulars |
Date |
|
CAT Notification PDF 2025 Release Date |
July 29, 2025 |
CAT Exam 2025 Registration Dates
The CAT registration is ongoing and the dates associated with it are as follows:
|
Particulars |
Date |
|
CAT Registration Starts |
Aug 1, 2025 |
|
CAT Registration Last Date |
Sep 20, 2025 (Extended) |
CAT Exam Admit Card Date 2025
The CAT exam admit card is one of the important documents to be carried to the exam hall.
|
Particulars |
Date |
|
CAT Admit Card Release Date |
Nov 12, 2025 |
|
CAT Admit Card Last Date to Download |
Nov 30, 2025 |
CAT Exam Mock Test Dates 2025
The CAT mock tests are of utmost importance as they guide you on your preparation and important expected questions. It also acquaints you with different types and formats of questions.
|
Particulars |
Date |
|
CAT Mock Test Date 2025 |
First week of Nov 2025 |
CAT Entrance Exam Date 2025
The exam date was notified along with the notification pdf.
|
Particulars |
Date |
|
CAT Entrance Exam Date 2025 |
Nov 30, 2025 |
CAT Exam Answer Key Dates 2025
The CAT exam answer key is a good way to calculate your tentative score way before the official scores are released. It will be released in two formats: provisional and final.
|
Particulars |
Date |
|
CAT Provisional Answer Key Release Date |
December 4, 2025 |
|
CAT Draft Answer Key Objection |
December 2025 |
|
CAT Final Answer Key Date |
Last week of December 2025 |
CAT Exam Result Date 2025
The CAT result will be released online after the final answer keys are submitted. No further changes will be entertained once the result is declared.
|
Particulars |
Date |
|
CAT Result Release Date 2025 |
December 2025 |
CAT Exam Cut off Date 2025
The IIM CAT cut off 2025 will be different for each college and thus it will be released separately for all of them. However, almost all the colleges start their CAT admission and counselling rounds together in Jan-Feb.
|
Particulars |
Date |
|
CAT Cutoff Marks Release Date 2025 |
January 2026 |
CAT College wise Counselling Dates 2025
After the CAT cutoff scores are out, the colleges will start their CAT counselling rounds. You will be selected based on your CAT scores and academic record with work experience. The shortlisting and admission criteria will be held roughly together for all the colleges.
|
Particulars |
Date |
|
CAT Counselling Rounds Start |
January 2026 |
Also Read: Which IIM is Conducting CAT 2025?
Conclusion
Knowing the CAT entrance exam important dates 2025 is important for you if you are planning to take the CAT exam 2025. If you miss out on a single event you won’t be able to take the exam this year. All the events take place with a rough gap of 10-15 days with each other.
-
CAT 2025 exam held on Nov 30, 2025. -
Draft Answer Key out on Dec 4, 2025. -
Application period: Aug 1 to Sep 20, 2025. -
Admit cards released on Nov 12, 2025.
