CAT Exam: Registration (Started), Syllabus, Pattern, Books, Mock Tests,

Paras Attri

Updated on - Oct 17, 2025

The CAT exam will be held on November 30, 2025, and this year, IIM Kozhikode will be conducting it. The CAT registration has started on August 1, 2025. The CAT application form application deadline is Sep 13, 2025. The application fee has been revised to INR 2600 for General category candidates and INR 1300 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. CAT will be conducted in three shifts across 170+ cities in India. 

The official CAT notification, including exam and registration dates, has been released on the official website. The official website for CAT has also been notified, which is https://iimcat.ac.in

The CAT admit card will be out on Nov 5, 2025. You are advised to start with your CAT last 3 months preparation plan to crack the exam.

What is CAT ?

CAT, also known as the Common Admission Test, is a national entrance exam for the prestigious Indian Institute of Management and other top business institutions in various postgraduate management programs, including MBA and PGDM.

CAT is scheduled to be conducted by IIM Kzhikode, on November 30, . The exam is scheduled to be held in 170 cities in India for admissions to MBA courses in 21 IIMs as well as top institutions, including IITs, NITs, MNITs, and various other higher education institutions. Registration for the CAT will began in Aug and close in September .

Scoring good marks in the CAT exam is very essential to secure seats at the top management colleges in India. The preparation for the CAT requires rigorous practice and understanding of exam patterns as well as the syllabus.

Importance of CAT Exam or Why is CAT prestigious?

The CAT is a national-level entrance exam widely accepted by Indian institutes of management and other top business schools, including IITs, NITs, and various other institutions offering high-quality management education, advanced facilities, experienced faculty, and extensive industry connections. These institutions have partnerships with major companies that offer high-paying jobs and have a strong network.

Graduates from IIMs and other top schools are globally recognized for the reputation of these institutions. Furthermore, the CAT exam assesses students based on their analytical skills, quantitative ability, verbal ability, reading comprehension, and logical reasoning, helping them improve their problem-solving and time-management skills. This is further beneficial for their professional endeavours. 

The CAT exam also makes it easier for students to secure scholarships and financial aid for meritorious students and provides them with accessibility to a broad range of study opportunities.

CAT Exam Highlights

CAT highlights are tabulated below:

CAT Exam Dates

CAT exam date is scheduled to be held on Nov 30, . IIM will hold CAT in three slots across 170 cities in India. According to sources, IIM Kozhikode will conduct the CAT . CAT exam dates schedules are tabulated below for the candidates' reference.

Follow the links for CAT Subject-wise Syllabus:

• VARC Syllabus for CAT Exam
• CAT Quant Syllabus
• CAT Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation Syllabus

CAT Exam Date Trends (Previous Records)

According to CAT exam date trends, the exams are usually conducted in November every year, and the notification for the same is released by the end of July. The exam date trends for all the previous years' of CAT are tabulated below for the candidates.

CAT Eligibility Criteria

CAT exam eligibility is specified in the notification by IIMs. However, candidates can take a look at the primary CAT exam eligibility announced in previous years. 

• IIM has decided to remove the minimum percentage of marks (45% and 50% [or equivalent CGPA] respectively) for appearing in the CAT exam because of the possibility that various universities will use various evaluation patterns throughout the nation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• This exception will be made to provide equality for candidates who obtained their bachelor's degree in 2020/2021/ or who will do so in . Please be aware that this notice applies to the criteria for writing the CAT . The eligibility criteria for CAT will be updated once the official notification is released.
• Candidates are advised to look at and follow respective institution-specific admission policies. This will be for 2020, 2021, and graduates. The minimum eligibility criteria for all the other candidates are Graduation with 50% - General/ OBC-NC/EWS, and Graduation with 45% - SC/ST/ PWD.
• The college or institute that a candidate has studied in shall abide by the Act of Parliament or State Legislature in India or be declared to be deemed as a University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification recognized by the Ministry of HRD, Government of India.

CAT Registration

CAT registration has been commenced on August 1, 2025, with the official schedule announced on July 27, 2025. Candidates can complete the CAT application process online at https://iimcat.ac.in by Sep 13, 2025.

The registration process involves online registration, form filling, document uploading, and fee payment. Aspiring candidates must ensure they complete all steps within the given timeline to be eligible for the exam.

IIM CAT Registration : How to Apply?

The candidates must follow the steps below to apply for the CAT exam successfully.

• Login: CAT login credentials will be sent to the candidates' registered email IDs or mobile numbers after they enter all the required details for CAT registration. The applicants must take down the credentials to log into the candidate portal on the official website.
• Enter All Details Carefully: The application form requires candidates to enter various details. Candidates must fulfil this step with utmost care and attention. Mistakes of spelling or factual errors should be avoided.
• Upload Documents as Per Specifications: The candidates will be asked to upload their photographs and signatures along with the form. The candidates must resize the documents as per the specifications given on the website. Candidates from reserved categories will be asked to upload their respective category certificates.

CAT Syllabus

The CAT syllabus covers topics designed to evaluate a candidate's English communication, reasoning skills, and quantitative aptitude. It is divided into three key sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).

Below are the main topics from which most questions are asked. Candidates should focus on these areas for effective preparation.

CAT Syllabus Breakdown

1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

• Reading Comprehension

• Para Jumbles

• Para Summary

• Odd Sentence Out

2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

• Set Theory (Variables)

• Set Theory + Puzzles

• Puzzles with Additional Data

• Coding-Decoding

• Series

3. Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

• Number System

• Algebra

• Arithmetic

• Geometry

• Mensuration

CAT Exam Pattern

The CAT question paper will consist of both Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and Type In The Answer (TITA) questions. The exam duration is 120 minutes, with a 40-minute sectional time limit. PwD candidates will receive additional time.

CAT Exam Pattern Highlights

Candidates should familiarise themselves with the CAT exam pattern to optimize their exam preparation.

CAT Test Cities and Centres

The CAT exam 2924 centres list was released by the conducting authority on the official website for the candidates. IIM Lucknow has identified 170 cities and approximately 375 centres to serve as the official CAT exam centres . The hall tickets of the candidates will contain all the necessary details related to the exam centre of candidates for CAT .

The candidates are advised to check and visit their exam centre a day before to avoid any last-minute confusion on the exam day. The complete details are mentioned on the exam admit card.

Relevant Links

• How many students trying luck in CAT Exam 2025?
• NIRF Management Ranking 2025: Top Management Colleges List

CAT Mock Test

The CAT official mock test will be released by the conducting authority. The candidates are advised to go through the details carefully and attempt the mock test. This is one of the best ways to check your preparation and guide you towards the mistakes. The candidates will be able to login to the CAT official mock test using their login credentials, i.e., registration number and password.

CAT Mock Test Link

The candidates willing to take the mock test are advised to click on the link shared below to access it. The second mock test details will be notified soon. One must note that the mock tests are a replica of the actual exam and thus the test will be over in 120 minutes.

CAT Admit Card

The CAT admit card will be released on the official website, https://iimcat.ac.in. The exact date for downloading the admit card will be announced along with the CAT exam schedule in July 2025.

The CAT admit card download link will help the candidates access the hall ticket with ease.

Steps to Download CAT Admit Card

Candidates must input their user ID and password on the CAT admit card download link to access the hall ticket. Candidates can follow the steps given below to download the CAT admit card.

• Step 1: Candidates must log in to the CAT website: https://iimcat.ac.in
• Step 2: Enter CAT user ID and password.
• Step 3: Go to the 'Admit Card' section.
• Step 4: Click on 'Download'.
• Step 5: After downloading, candidates can take a printout of their CAT exam admit card download for future reference.

CAT Exam Day Guidelines

Candidates taking the CAT exam must adhere to all exam-day rules released by the IIM hosting the test. The formalities that the candidates have been given are listed below.

• When the candidates arrive at the IIMCAT exam centre, they must first find their lab and go through the frisking process.
• After completing this work, candidates' systems will be assigned, and their documents will be verified.
• Finally, to start the exam, candidates must finish the registration process and log in.

Also Read: Dress Code for CAT Exam

IIM CAT Exam Timings

The IIM CAT timing has been shared below for all three slots. The candidates are advised to reach the exam centre an hour before.

CAT Answer Key

The conducting IIM will provide the CAT answer key a few days after the examination. Candidates must follow the methods outlined below to download the CAT answer key and response sheet from the official website:

• Step 1: Visit the official CAT website (iimcat.ac.in).
• Step 2: Click the 'login' tab.
• Step 3: Enter the CAT login ID and password.
• Step 4: Click on the 'CAT answer key' will show on the screen.
• Step 5: Click the 'download' icon to save it as a PDF.

The provisional CAT answer key and response sheet will allow candidates to check their correct and incorrect attempts and estimate their CAT score.

Candidates will also have the option to challenge the official CAT answer key if they believe any answer is incorrect. To do so, they must submit a valid supporting document as proof.

CAT Result

The CAT scorecard PDF will be available only online. Candidates will be required to download their results using their login ID and password.  Check out the steps below to download the CAT results.

• Log on to CAT website iimcat.ac.in
• Click on 'login' tab
• Enter CAT application number and password
• Click on the scorecard section
• Click on download option and save the PDF of CAT scorecard

The CAT admission process will commence soon after the declaration of results for different colleges.

CAT Result Download Link Available

The download link for the CAT Scorecard is given below:

To check the results and download the scorecards, candidates will have to log in using their credentials. Once they have logged in, the screen will display the scorecard and then they will be able to download it.

CAT Cut off

The CAT cut off will be released separately for all colleges based on the total seats they offer. The cut off marks will be released in Jan 2026. The IIM cut off marks, shall range around 98-100 percentile for top IIM colleges. On the other hand, the CAT cutoff is usually about 70-80 percentile for the tier 2 MBA colleges.

Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score

The following are the colleges that accept CAT scores for admission. Check CAT Percentile Wise Colleges here.

Top IIMs Accepting CAT Score

Indian Institute of Management are a group of business schools in India set up by the government of India with the aim of providing high-quality management education. There are currently 20 IIMs across India which allow admissions to various management programmes based on common admission test (CAT) scores. The list of IIMs is given below. 

Top Non-IIMs Accepting CAT Score

Over 1,200 B-schools across the country accept CAT scores. Given below are the top Non-IIMs colleges.

CAT Exam : MBA Programs Offered by IIMs

Every IIM provides CAT exam-based admission to various MBA/PGDM programs. The programs provided by each of the 20 IIMs are included in the table below.

CAT Selection Process

Shortlisted candidates will be called for CAT counselling or the selection process. Different admission procedures may be used by each IIM institute, including shortlisting applicants based on CAT result , GD/PI, and WAT performances.

Check out the CAT admission process:

• Writing Assessment Test (WAT)
• Discussion in Groups (GD)
• PI (Personal Interviews)

CAT Admission Procedure

CAT admission policy for the MBA program remains the same as last year. Candidates can check the following stage-wise academic requirements for IIM Calcutta's MBA program.

Stage 1: CAT Result and IIM Shortlist

The exam's organizing authority must first disclose the CAT results.

• IIMs will start publishing dates for shortlists and subsequently commence the CAT process for admission.
• IIMs will publish their own CAT cutoffs for for various categories.
• The list of candidates who have been shortlisted for the next selection round will be made accessible on the relevant IIMs' websites.
• All shortlisted candidates will receive interview letters directly from IIMs.

Stage 2: WAT, PI, and GD Rounds

IIM MBA selection process will continue with Written Ability Tests (WAT), Personal Interviews (PI), and Group Discussions for all applicants who meet the CAT cutoff (GD). Candidates are assessed based on their general knowledge, communication skills, past performance in rounds, and mental clarity. CAT interview dates will be announced soon after the results are declared.

Click to read How to prepare for CAT Personal Interview?

Stage 3: Final Selection

The eligibility and verification requirements for the final CAT selection process must be met by each applicant listed for a personal interview at an IIM. Candidates are now graded according to their academic success. Here is a list of the possible criteria used to choose candidates. Earlier, the CAT score weightage will be 25. 

Relevant Links

• 5 Common Mistakes That Give Lesser Score to CAT Aspirants
• Main Reasons Why Aspirants Fail CAT Exam?

CAT Contact Details

Candidates who are interested in taking the CAT exam should be aware that they are free to contact the relevant authorities if they have any questions or concerns about the exam. Questions about the CAT registration process, payment, and document uploading.

Contact the CAT Center office using the following information if you have questions on academic matters like eligibility, category, or PwD certificates. (Note that any issue relating to CAT registration, application, or payment processing should NOT be addressed by contacting the CAT Center.)