The tentative date of the CAT 2025 exam is November 30, 2025. The exam's official announcement will be made public by July 25, 2025. This year, the CAT exam will be administered by IIM Kozhikode. The first week of August will mark the start of the CAT exam 2025 registration procedure. Learn more about CAT 2025 here.
Candidates who intend to study MBA in 2026 must take the CAT 2025 exam as it is accepted by 21 IIMs, other prestigious B-schools, and 1,300 MBA institutes in India. The first week of August 2025 will mark the beginning of CAT 2025 registration, which will run through the third week of September. The CAT 2025 is open to those who have graduated or are in their last year of a bachelor's degree program.
Candidates are evaluated on their quantitative aptitude, data interpretation, logical reasoning, verbal ability, and reading comprehension in the CAT aptitude test. It is administered in computer-based test mode at specific locations throughout India. There is fierce rivalry because more than 3 lakh applicants take the test each year. As a result, candidates should prepare for CAT 2025 for at least six to nine months. During the 120-minute exam, candidates must respond to 68 questions.
For all the information regarding the Common Admission Test 2025, including the CAT exam date for MBA, CAT exam fees, and the release of the CAT 2025 registration date, keep reading this article.
CAT Exam Date 2025
The website iimcat.ac.in will release the date and complete schedule of the CAT 2025 exam. The tentative dates and events for CAT 2025 are broken down in detail below:
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CAT Exam Events
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CAT Exam Date 2025 (Tentative)
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CAT 2025 notification out
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25-July-2025
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CAT exam 2025 registration dates
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First week of August to Third week of September 2025
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CAT form correction
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The last week of September 2025
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CAT admit card 2025 download starts
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First week of November 2025
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CAT exam 2025 date
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30-Nov-2025
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CAT answer key release
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First week of December 2025
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Declaration of the CAT 2025 result
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Last week of December 2025 or the First week of January 2026
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CAT Exam 2025 - Overview
The important details about the CAT exam date 2025 must be known to all applicants who intend to take the CAT exam 2025. The CAT exam 2025 will run for two hours this year in three slots. Every section of the CAT exam 2025 will have a time limit, and incorrect answers will result in a negative mark.
The following are some crucial details regarding CAT 2025 for applicants planning to take the exam.
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The CAT exam will take place in 170 cities in 2025 in 3 slots.
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The CAT exam 2025 will run for two hours.
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The convener of the CAT 2025 exam this year is Professor Ram Kumar P.N. from IIM Kozhikode.
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The CAT 2025 admit card will be available to download a few days before the exam.
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The CAT exam date 2025 is scheduled to be held on November 30, 2025.
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It is anticipated that approximately 3,50,000 candidates will take the CAT this year.
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Particulars
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CAT Exam Details
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CAT Full Form
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Common Admission Test (CAT)
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Level
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National
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CAT exam 2025 Administrator
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Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode
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CAT exam notification link
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To be available soon
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Eligibility criteria for the CAT 2025exam
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Graduation with 50 % aggregate (45 % for SC/ST students)
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Frequency
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Once a Year
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Mode of filling the CAT 2025 application form
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Online CBT
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CAT Exam Timings
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Slot 1: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Slot 2: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Slot 3: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
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CAT 2025 exam marking scheme
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Negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer
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CAT exam fees
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INR 2,500 for the General category
INR 1,250 for SC/ST/PwD
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CAT exam syllabus
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Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Quantitative Ability (QA)
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Number of cities
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170
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Official CAT 2025 website
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https://iimcat.ac.in
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CAT Registration 2025
Examine all the information regarding the CAT 2025 Application form, from online registration to submission.
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The CAT 2025 online registration process will start after the notification is made public on July 25, 2025.
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The registration process for CAT 2025 will be conducted online.
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Applicants must register on the iimcat.ac.in website, fill out the CAT application, and pay the exam cost.
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The announcement will contain all the information regarding the exam, including the registration dates.
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To prevent any confusion later, please make sure you read the instructions completely before filling out the form.
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Complete all required fields, making sure to register with a distinct and working email address and mobile number, as these will be used for all official correspondence.
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Before registering, all necessary information must be obtained, including personal data, academic information, employment history, test city, programs, pictures, documents, etc.
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Students must verify all information after filling out the form entirely before submitting it, since requests for revisions will be entertained only once during the correction window period.
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Do not submit more than one form at a time, as this could result in form rejection.
The cost of CAT registration is INR 1250 for students in reserved categories and INR 2500 for those in unreserved categories. Net banking or a debit/credit card must be used to pay the fee. Candidates must properly fill out the CAT application form because the application cost is non-refundable. The submission of the form will not be completed until the fee has been paid.
Statistics
Approximately 3.29 lakh students enrolled for the IIM CAT test last year, while approximately 2.93 lakh people showed up. IIM Kozhikode is expecting a record-breaking 3.5 lakh CAT 2025 application form this year. The CAT exam 2025 is expected to break all previous records this year in terms of applications since its foundation as a national-level management entrance exam.
The CAT exam dates for MBA admission are set by the conducting body at IIM Kozhikode. Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) use the CAT exam 2025 to admit students for MBA and PGDM programs.
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) will also accept the CAT score this year for admission to MBA programs in business analytics and international business. Approximately 1200 of the top MBA colleges in India accept the CAT exam scorecard for admission to their management programs. Top non-IIM MBA schools like MDI Gurugram, SPJIMR, IMT, FMS, IM, IITs, GIM, GLIM, LIBA, NITIE, MICA, IRMA, and others will also take the CAT 2025 score for admission.
CAT Admit Card 2025
Candidates must possess their CAT 2025 admit card on the CAT exam 2025 to enter the exam hall. Successfully registered applicants can use the official website's login to download their CAT admission card online. The CAT admission card 2025 will be released around 20 days before the exam. These are some crucial admission card-related facts that aspirants should be aware of. Look at them down below.
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Only registered candidates can download the CAT 2025 admit card by using their CAT ID and password from the official IIM CAT website, iimcat.ac.in.
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The admit card will provide the exam location, date, and other information for the CAT exam 2025.
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The CAT 2025 admit card is a crucial piece of document to have on exam day.
CAT Exam Dates for MBA: Slot Scheduling
Every component of the CAT exam 2025 has a time limit. The candidate cannot edit the sections they have already attempted; the screen automatically advances to the next one after the allotted time has elapsed. You must monitor your time and adjust your exercise accordingly.
The following are the three exam sessions for the CAT exam 2025, as per last year’s trends:
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Slot 1: Early morning: 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
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Slot 2: In the afternoon: 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
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Slot 3: Evening session: 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
CAT 2025 Answer Key
IIM Kozhikode will make available a preliminary answer key for the CAT 2025 following the CAT exam 2025 in the next 3-4 days in the form of a response sheet. Candidates must visit the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in, and log in using their CAT 2025 ID and password to download the CAT exam 2025 answer key. Candidates who will take the exam in 2025 will be able to verify their answers and determine their CAT exam percentile with the help of the CAT exam answer key.
Candidates will have the opportunity to contest the official responses to the exam's questions during the CAT 2025 answer key challenge session. The official CAT answer key 2025 will be updated if any of the candidates' concerns are determined to be legitimate.
CAT Results 2025
The CAT official website will release the CAT results 2025 within a month of the exam conclusion, as per last year’s trends. The results will be released after the final answer key is formulated and all the objections are resolved. Candidates will be able to download the CAT result 2025 by visiting the official website and entering their login details (CAT ID and password). The CAT 2025 scorecard will remain valid all through 2025 and 2026.
CAT Syllabus 2025
The CAT 2025 syllabus is anticipated to be same to that of CAT 2024, including Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) and Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR). Examine the key CAT subjects included in the curriculum below.
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CAT Syllabus 2025
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Section
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Topics
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Weightage in Exam
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Quantitative Ability (QA)
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Arithmetic
Modern Maths
Number System
Algebra
Mensuration
Trigonometry
Geometry
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34-36%
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Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
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Data Charts
Data Tables
Bar Graphs
Venn Diagrams
Seating Arrangement
Team Formation
Clocks & Calendars
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30-32%
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Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
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Long & Short Passages
Jumbled Paragraphs
Para-summary
Picking the Out Sentence
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32-34%
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CAT 2025 Exam Pattern
The DILR section's question count was raised from 20 to 22 last year. The exam pattern was unchanged in any other way. The CAT exam format is anticipated to remain consistent this year. View the highlights of the CAT exam pattern in the table below:
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There are three sessions for the CAT exam.
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Every session lasts for one hundred and twenty minutes.
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VARC, DILR, and QA are the three sections that make up the CAT exam paper.
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There are 66 questions throughout the exam.
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Each component is allotted 40 minutes as its time limit.
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Candidates receive three points for each correct response. In addition, one mark is subtracted for each wrong response.
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Non-MCQs do not have a negative marking system; thus, there are no consequences for skipping questions.
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The CAT 2025 exam will contain a maximum possible score of 198.
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Answering every question is not required.
CAT Cut Offs 2025
The CAT cut off, or minimum score requirement, is the basis for MBA admission to all B-schools, including IIMs and non-IIMs. IIMs publish the final cut-offs following the results and the qualifying CAT cut-offs before the test. For reference, see the qualifying CAT cut-offs for prior years below.
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IIM
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Qualifying CAT cut-offs
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IIM Ahmedabad
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85
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IIM Bangalore
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85
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IIM Calcutta
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85
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IIM Lucknow
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90
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IIM Indore
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90
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IIM Kozhikode
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85
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IIM Amritsar
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90
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IIM Nagpur
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94
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IIM Sambalpur
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94
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IIM Trichy
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94
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IIM Raipur
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94
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IIM Ranchi
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94
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IIM Kashipur
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94
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IIM Vizag
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80
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IIM Udaipur
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94
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IIM Bodhgaya
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94
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IIM Shillong
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75
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IIM Sirmaur
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94
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IIM Rohtak
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95
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IIM Nagpur
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85
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IIM Jammu
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94
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IIM Mumbai
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94
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The IIM CAT Selection Process 2026
The CAT 2025 score of the MBA admission batch 2026 will be used by the IIMs to shortlist applicants. The Written Ability Test (WAT) and the Personal Interview (PI) are part of the admissions procedure. The steps for IIM admission via CAT are shown below:
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Step 1: Candidates are shortlisted based on their CAT scores.
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Step 2: WAT-PI round conduct
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Step 3: Final admissions selection and offer
When choosing a candidate, the institute will also look at their work experience, class 10, class 12, and graduation grades.
Also Read :
FAQs CAT Exam Date 2025
Q1. What is the CAT exam 2025 Registration Date?
CAT 2025 Registration date will be released after the official notification is made public by the IIMs. The Common Admission Test 2025 is scheduled for November 30, 2025.
Q2. What is the minimum and maximum age requirement for the CAT exam 2025?
Candidates of any age can participate in the CAT exam 2025 as long as they meet the requirements for eligibility. There is no upper age limit.
Q3. How can I apply for the CAT exam 2025?
Visit the official website of the CAT and fill in your details, and pay your registration fees to apply for it.
Q4. What is the purpose of the CAT exam 2025?
The Common Admission Test 2025 is a national entrance exam that is required for admission to the top 20 IIMs and other MBA programs in India.
Q5. What is the CAT exam fee 2025?
The CAT exam fee is Rs. 2500 for general category students and Rs. 1250 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
Q6. How long does the CAT exam 2025 last?
The CAT exam 2025 will run for two hours, with forty minutes allotted to each component (or fifty-three minutes and twenty seconds for PwD applicants).
Q7. How will the CAT 2025 exam be structured?
The CAT 2025 exam pattern this year has no changes compared to the previous year.
Q8. What is the CAT exam Date 2025?
The CAT exam Date 2025 is set for November 30, 2025, by the Indian Institute of Management IIM Kozhikode.