CAT 2025 Exam : Registration start Date (August 01), Exam Date, Admit Card, Syllabus, Question Papers Analysis, Answer Key, Result
Over 2.95 lakh registered candidates were disappointed when the IIM CAT 2025 admit card was not released on November 5th as planned. Admit cards will now be accessible on the official CAT website from November 12 to November 30, 2025, according to a report released on November 4 by the IIM Kozhikode.
The correction window was launched on 4 October 2025 after a long delay of 14 days and closed on 7 October 2025, during which candidates were allowed to make changes in their CAT 2025 application form. Read on to discover the key points of the CAT 2025 exam!
IIM Kozhikode will administer the CAT exam in 2025 on November 30, 2025. The CAT exam date 2025 was released along with the CAT notification 2025 on July 27, 2025. The CAT exam 2025 registration date started on August 1, 2025, and was initially planned to conclude on September 13, but the last date was later extended to September 20, 2025.
One of the IIMs administers the CAT exam each year, and this year, the responsibility fell on the shoulders of IIM Kozhikode.
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The CAT exam 2025 syllabus includes 3 sections - VARC, DILR, and QA with 68 questions in total (MCQs + TITA).
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We have highlighted the key events for the CAT 2025 exam in the table below.
By reading on, you get comprehensive information about the CAT exam date 2025, CAT exam 2025 eligibility, CAT exam 2025 fees, CAT 2025 registration last date, and more!
CAT Exam Date 2025 and Schedule
When will the CAT 2025 take place, and when will the admit cards be released?
According to the CAT Notification 2025, IIM Kozhikode will administer the test on November 30, 2025, in three sessions. The admit cards will be released on November 12, 2025. Important CAT exam dates 2025 are shown in a table.
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CAT 2025 Events
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CAT 2025 Important Dates
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CAT 2025 Notification
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July 27, 2025
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CAT Exam 2025 Registration Start Date
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August 1, 2025
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CAT 2025 Registration Last Date
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September 13, 2025 (Extended to September 20)
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CAT 2025 Admit Card Release
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November 12, 2025
(earlier November 5, 2025)
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CAT Exam 2025 Fees
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INR 1300 (SC, ST, PwD)
INR 2600 (General and OBC)
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CAT Exam Date 2025
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30 November 2025
Last Sunday
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CAT Exam Answer Key
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05 December 2025
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CAT Exam 2025 Result
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December 21, 2025
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Exam Highlights for CAT 2025 Exam
Which IIM is conducting CAT 2025? Here is a tabular summary of all the information regarding the CAT exam 2025:
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Particulars
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Details
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CAT 2025 Conducting Body
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Indian Institute of Management
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CAT 2025 Exam Level
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National
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CAT 2025 Exam Frequency
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Once a year
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CAT Exam Date 2025
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30 November 2025
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CAT 2025 Exam Slots
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3 Slots
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CAT Exam 2025 Fees
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SC/ST/PwD - INR-1300/-
GEN - INR- 2600/-
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CAT Exam 2025 Eligibility
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Graduation with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST students)
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Number of Applications in the CAT Entrance Exam
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3.29 lakh (in 2024)
3.33 lakh (in 2023)
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CAT 2025 Exam Purpose
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Registration in IIMs, IIFT, SPJIMR, FMS, MDI, IMT, and over 1,200 B-Schools in India
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Degree Offered Through CAT Exam 2025
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MBA/ PGDM
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CAT Entrance Exam Sections
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Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Quantitative Ability (QA)
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CAT Exam Mode
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Online Computer-Based Test (CBT) with MCQs and TITA
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Number of test cities for the CAT Exam 2025
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170 cities
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CAT 2025 registration link
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https://iimcat.ac.in/
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CAT Exam 2025 Eligibility Criteria
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A bachelor's degree from any accredited university or educational institution with at least 50% of the aggregate marks or an equivalent CGPA (45% for candidates from Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), or Persons with Disabilities (PwD) categories) from a recognized college is required to satisfy the CAT exam 2025 eligibility criteria.
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Candidates may apply if they have completed the requirements for their degree, are awaiting their results, or are enrolled in the last year of the Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualifying exam.
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If a candidate has received the required percentage in a professional degree (CA, CS, ICWA, or FCAI), they may also take the CAT.
Note: According to the official CAT notification 2025, candidates will not be considered for shortlisting by IIMs and other B-schools if they do not meet the minimal CAT exam 2025 eligibility requirements.
CAT 2025 Exam Pattern
You can get started on your CAT 2025 exam preparation by reviewing the CAT 2025 exam pattern. Make sure you carefully review the most recent version of the CAT 2025 Exam Pattern.
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CAT 2025 Exam Pattern
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CAT Exam Mode 2025
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CBT Online or Computer-Based Test
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CAT 2025 Duration
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2 Hours or 120 Min. (Each Section will have 40-minute limit)
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Total Count of Questions for CAT 2025
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68
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CAT total marks
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204
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CAT 2025 Language
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English
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Number of Choices for Each Question
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4
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CAT 2025 Exam Mode
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CBT Online (Computer-based Test)
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CAT 2025 Types of Questions
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MCQs and Non-MCQs (TITA)
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CAT 2025 Sections
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1. Quantitative Aptitude
2. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
3. Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation
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By section, MCQ and non-MCQ question counts (based on the 2024 CAT exam)
The number of MCQ and non-MCQ questions in each CAT subject or section is approximated in the following table.
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Section Names
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Number of MCQs
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Number of Non-MCQs
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Total Questions
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VARC - Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
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21
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3
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24
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DILR - Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
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16
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6
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22
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QA - Quantitative Ability
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14
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8
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22
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Total Questions
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51
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17
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68
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CAT 2025 Marking Scheme
The CAT exam date 2025 will take place on November 30, 2025, in accordance with the CAT Notification 2025, in accordance with current trends. The grading scheme for that day will be as follows:
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Every correct answer will earn three points.
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Any wrong answer to the objective questions will result in a negative score of -1.
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Negative marks will not be applied to non-MCQ questions.
CAT Exam 2025 Slot Timing Expected
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CAT exam slot 2025
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Exam timing
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Reporting time
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Last entry allowed
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Slot 1
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8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
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7:00 AM
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8:15 AM
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Slot 2
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12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
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11:00 AM
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12:15 PM
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Slot 3
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4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
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3:00 PM
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4:15 PM
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Section-Specific CAT Exam 2025 Syllabus
Below is the table depicting the section-specific subjects of the CAT exam 2025 syllabus. No significant changes were reported this year compared to the CAT exam 2024 syllabus, which is as follows:
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CAT 2025 Section Name
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CAT Exam 2025 Syllabus
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QA
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Geometry, Number System, Algebra, Work, Mensuration, and Time
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DILR
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Blood Relation, Data Caselets, Tables, Seating Arrangements, Graphs, Syllogism
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VARC
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Para-Summary, Para-Jumbles, RC Passages-Based Questions, Inferences, Sentence Completion
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When can you register for CAT 2025?
The window for CAT registration 2025 was closed on September 20, 2025, and the correction window was launched on October 4, which too was closed on October 7, 2025, after a 3-day gap to allow applicants to make changes.
To allow applicants to submit their application form this year for the CAT 2025 exam, the CAT 2025 registration last date was extended from September 13 to September 20, 2025. The correction window was opened for 3 days on October 4, 2025, after a long gap of 14 days and closed on October 7, 2025.
Steps to register for the CAT Exam 2025
To register for the CAT exam in 2025, take the actions listed below:
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Step 1: Creating an account with a username and password
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Step 2: Visit the official CAT 2025 registration link.
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Step 3: Complete the application.
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Step 4: Select the PG syllabus of your choice.
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Step 5: Choose a Test City
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Step 6: Pay your application fees
What are the CAT Exam 2025 Fees?
The CAT Exam 2025 Fee was raised this year by Rs 50 for SC/ST and Rs 100 for General category students. Applicants from the SC/ST and general categories had to pay Rs 1300 and Rs 2600, respectively, instead of Rs 1250 and Rs 2500 last year:
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Candidates who are SC, ST, or PwD are required to pay a Rs.1300 application fee.
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The CAT exam 2025 fees for the general and OBC categories are Rs.2,600.
Note: Regardless of how many institutes a candidate applies to, they only need to pay the CAT exam 2025 fees once.
CAT 2025 Application Correction Window
The edit window was activated by the exam authorities on October 4, 2025. Students were given a period of 3 days to make changes to their application form until October 7, 2025. Students used their user ID and password to access it. Below is a list of things, applicants were allowed to change during this period:
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Photo
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Signature
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Test City preferences
What are the steps for editing the CAT exam 2025 application form?
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To make changes to your application form, log in with your user ID and password.
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Click "Go to application" to begin editing after logging in.
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When modifying the form, please carefully read all of the instructions.
The CAT 2025 Exam Pattern Trend Over Previous Years
You can see how the CAT exam has changed throughout the years in the following table.
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Year
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Time (mins)
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Sections (Abbreviation)
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Questions per Section
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Total Questions
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2025 (expected)
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120
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VARC, DILR, QA
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24, 22, 22
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68
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2024
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120
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VARC, DILR, QA
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24,22,22
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68
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2023
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120
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VARC, DILR, QA
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24, 20, 22
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66
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2022
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120
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VARC, DILR, QA
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24, 20, 22
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66
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2021
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120
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VARC, DILR, QA
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24, 20, 22
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66
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2020
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120
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VARC, DILR, QA
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26, 24, 26
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76
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2019
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180
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VARC, DILR, QA
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34, 32, 34
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100
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2018
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180
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VARC, DILR, QA
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34, 32, 34
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100
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2017
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180
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VARC, DILR, QA
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34, 32, 34
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100
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2016
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180
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VARC, DILR, QA
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34, 32, 34
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100
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2015
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180
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VARC, DILR, QA
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34, 32, 34
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100
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2014
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170
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QA & DI, VA & LR
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50, 50
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100
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2013
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140
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VALR, QADI
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30, 30
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60
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2012
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140
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QA, DI, VARC
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21, 9, 30
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60
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2011
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140
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VALR, QADI
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30, 30
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60
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Selection Procedure for CAT 2025
Please be advised that IIMs utilize their own, possibly distinct, criteria to shortlist candidates for the interview phase once the CAT results are formally announced. In general, there are three steps involved in the IIM selection process:
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Phase 1: It entails administering the CAT 2025 exam and selecting applicants depending on their performance.
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Phase 2: The chosen applicants were invited to participate in a group discussion (GD), a personal interview (PI), and a writing ability test (WAT).
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Phase 3: Verification of the candidates' documents.
Reservation Guidelines for CAT 2025
The following reservations are granted to applicants for the CAT exam 2025 based on various categories in accordance with regulatory laws.
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Category
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Percentage
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Scheduled Caste (SC)
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15%
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Scheduled Tribe (ST)
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7.5%
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Other Backward Classes (OBC)
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27%
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Economically Weaker Classes (EWS)
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10%
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Persons with Disabilities (PwD)
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5%
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CAT 2025 Exam Cut-Offs (Anticipated)
The minimum cut-offs published by several IIMs in 2024 are as follows:
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IIM
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General
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OBC
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EWS
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SC
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ST
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IIM Ahmedabad
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80
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75
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70
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70
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60
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IIM Bangalore
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85
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75
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75
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70
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65
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IIM Kozhikode
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85
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75
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75
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65
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55
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IIM Calcutta
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85
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75
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75
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70
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65
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IIM Lucknow
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90
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82
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82
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65
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60
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IIM Mumbai
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85
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75
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75
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70
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65
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IIM Indore
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90
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80
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90
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60
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45
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IIM Raipur
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94
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77
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77
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60
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40
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IIM Rohtak
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95
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78
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90
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55
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30
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IIM Udaipur
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94
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77
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77
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60
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40
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IIM Kashipur
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94
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77
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77
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60
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40
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IIM Trichy
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94
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77
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77
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60
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40
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IIM Ranchi
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92
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74
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70
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54
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40
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IIM Shillong
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75
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75
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75
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60
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50
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IIM Visakhapatnam
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82
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72
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72
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50
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40
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IIM Jammu
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Male- 91
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Male- 74
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Male- 48
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Male- 54
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Male- 32
|
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Female- 89
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Female- 72
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Female- 47
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Female- 52
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Female- 30
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IIM Nagpur
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94
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77
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77
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60
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40
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IIM Amritsar
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88
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78
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88
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55
|
40
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IIM Bodh Gaya
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92
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74
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70
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54
|
40
|
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IIM Sambalpur
|
92
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74
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70
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54
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40
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IIM Sirmaur
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92
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74
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70
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54
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40
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Campus-Wise IIM Seats 2025 (Anticipated)
For more on the CAT exam, including entrance exam costs, see the official website. This is each IIM's seat matrix for the management program.
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IIM campus
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PGP/MBA seats
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IIM Ahmedabad
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385
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IIM Bangalore
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412
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IIM Calcutta
|
462
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IIM Lucknow
|
436
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IIM Kozhikode
|
375
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IIM Raipur
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210
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IIM Udaipur
|
260
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IIM Rohtak
|
240
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IIM Visakhapatnam
|
60
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IIM Trichy
|
180
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IIM Sambalpur`
|
320
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IIM Ranchi
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240
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IIM Bodhgaya
|
120
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IIM Sirmaur
|
60
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IIM Jammu
|
120
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IIM Amritsar
|
60
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IIM Shillong
|
120
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IIM Kashipur
|
210
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IIM Nagpur
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130
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IIM Indore
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451
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In conclusion
Applying to a prestigious business school in India requires passing the CAT exam in 2025. Therefore, it is essential to thoroughly study for the CAT entrance exam in 2025 and comprehend all of its subjects and ideas.
A successful CAT exam score can help you reach your goal of being accepted into a prestigious business school if you prepare well.
Also read :
FAQs for CAT EXAM 2025
Q1. Can someone who already has a degree take the CAT exam?
Yes, you can take the CAT exam if you have a UG degree. All applicants who fulfil the requirements can take the CAT exam.
Q2. Is the CAT Exam Difficult?
Because of its competitive nature and the difficulty of its questions, the CAT exam is regarded as difficult. It puts your logical, linguistic, and analytical abilities to the test under time constraints.
Q3. How many CAT exam questions are there?
Quantitative Ability (QA), Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) comprise the three sections of the CAT exam, which normally has 66 questions.
Q4. How Can I Sign Up for the CAT Exam?
Go to the official CAT website to register during the registration period. By entering your personal information and creating a User ID and password, you may create an account. Provide your academic, personal, and professional background in the application form, and attach the necessary files. To finish the registration procedure, submit the form and pay the registration cost online.
Q5. When to apply for the CAT Exam 2025?
According to the official notice released on July 27, registration for CAT 2025 commenced on August 1, 2025, and concluded on September 20, 2025. The actual exam is set for November 30, 2025.
Q6. When should I start preparing for CAT 2025?
It is advised to start studying for CAT 2025 at least six to nine months before the test date, which is usually in November, to do it well. This gives you plenty of time to study, go over the material, and take practice exams. It's a good idea to start in March or April, but with a concentrated 6-month strategy, even June or July may be handled.
Q7. Who will conduct CAT 2025?
The CAT 2025 exam will be administered by the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode).
Q8. What is the age limit for CAT 2025?
The Common Admission Test, or CAT, has no upper age limit. Regardless of age, anyone who satisfies the educational requirements may apply for CAT. The CAT exam does not have a minimum or maximum age limit.