About CAT 2025
Updated for 2025The Common Admission Test (CAT) is India's most coveted and competitive management entrance exam. Conducted annually on a rotational basis by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), CAT percentile scores are accepted by all 21 IIMs, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IIT DMS, and over 1,000 premier business schools across the nation for Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP).
Conducting Authority
Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
Application Fee
Gen: ₹2,500 (General / OBC-NCL) | Res: ₹1,250 (SC / ST / PwD)
Examination Languages
Available in 1 languages (English + others)
Marking Formula
+3 Marks (Correct) | -1 Mark for MCQs (No negative marking for TITA Non-MCQs) (Incorrect)
Important Dates & Schedule
Key events, registration deadlines, and examination dates
CAT 2025 Official Media Notification
Last week of July 2025Announces coordinating IIM and test cities
Online Registration Opens
First week of August 2025Fill personal, academic, and work experience details
Registration Deadline & Extension
Third week of September 2025Select preferred test city preferences
Admit Card Downloading Window
Late October to Exam DayDownload hall ticket with allotted test center shift
CAT 2025 Examination Day
November 30, 2025Shift 1 (8:30 AM), Shift 2 (12:30 PM), Shift 3 (4:30 PM)
Official Answer Key & Response Sheet
First week of December 2025Check response sheet and raise objections
CAT Scorecard & Results Declaration
Late December 2025 / Early Jan 2026IIM shortlisting for WAT-PI begins
Eligibility Criteria 2025
Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized University or Institute, or in the final year of graduation.
Minimum 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates).
No age limit prescribed.
No limit on attempts.
Mandatory Subjects Required in Qualifying Examination
Exam Pattern & Structure
Total Sections: 3 | Total Duration: 2 Hours (120 Minutes) | 40 Minutes per Section
| Section / Subject | Questions | Max Marks | Question Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 Questions | 72 Marks | 16 RC Questions + 8 Verbal Ability (Para Jumbles, Summary) |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 Questions | 60 Marks | 4 Sets of 5 questions each (Caselets, Matrices, Games) |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 Questions | 66 Marks | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Modern Maths |
Syllabus & Chapter-wise Weightage
High-yield chapters, percentage weightage, and past paper question counts
VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)
Weightage: 36.4% (72 Marks)Previous Years Cutoff Trends
Category-wise qualifying marks / percentile across 2024, 2023, and 2022
| Category | 2024 Cutoff | 2023 Cutoff | 2022 Cutoff | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad (General) | 99.70+ %ile | 99.65+ %ile | 99.50+ %ile | ↑ Rising |
| IIM Bangalore (General) | 99.50+ %ile | 99.40+ %ile | 99.30+ %ile | ↑ Rising |
| IIM Calcutta (General) | 99.60+ %ile | 99.55+ %ile | 99.45+ %ile | ↑ Rising |
| FMS Delhi (General) | 99.30+ %ile | 99.20+ %ile | 99.00+ %ile | ↑ Rising |
| New IIMs (Udaipur, Trichy, Raipur) | 94.00+ %ile | 93.00+ %ile | 92.00+ %ile | ↑ Rising |
Score vs Rank & Eligible College Predictor
Adjust your expected score to immediately calculate your predicted percentile, All India Rank range, and top colleges you can target.
Top Institutions You Can Target With This Score:
Top Colleges Accepting CAT 2025
Rankings, placement packages, annual tuition, and cutoff benchmarks
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A)
Vastrapur, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM-B)
Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru
Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi (FMS)
North Campus, Delhi
Expert Preparation Strategy & Books
Daily Diverse Reading (Aeon Essays, The Hindu, Guardian)
Develop speed in absorbing complex sociology, economics, art, and philosophy passages for cracking tough VARC RCs.
Master Question Selection over Completion
Scoring just 50% of the total marks (99 / 198) comfortably puts you in the 99.5+ percentile bracket. Learn to leave stubborn sets immediately.
Recommended Reference Books
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT
By Arun Sharma • Quantitative Ability
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
By Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay • DILR
Frequently Asked Questions (CAT 2025)
Quick Exam Facts
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