CAT Exam 2025 – Complete Guide
What is the CAT Exam?
CAT (Common Admission Test) is a national-level management entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis. It is the gateway to:
- 21 IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management)
- 1000+ top B-Schools including FMS, SPJIMR, MDI, IITs, XIMB, etc.
Organizing Authority
Each year, one IIM is designated to conduct the exam.
In 2025, IIM Ahmedabad or IIM Lucknow is expected to be the convening authority (official confirmation awaited).
Important Dates for CAT 2025 (Tentative)
|
Event |
Date Range (Expected) |
|
CAT Notification |
Last week of July 2025 |
|
Registration Begins |
First week of August 2025 |
|
Registration Ends |
Mid-September 2025 |
|
Admit Card Release |
Last week of October 2025 |
|
CAT Exam Date |
24 November 2025 (Sunday) |
|
Result Announcement |
First week of January 2026 |
CAT Eligibility Criteria
|
Criteria |
Requirement |
|
Education |
Bachelor’s degree with minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) |
|
Final Year |
Final-year UG students are eligible (must complete degree before 2026) |
|
Age Limit |
No age restriction |
|
Nationality |
Indian Nationals (NRI/Foreigners can apply with GMAT/GRE for IIMs) |
CAT Exam Pattern (as per 2024)
|
Section |
Questions |
Time Limit |
Type |
|
VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comp.) |
~24 |
40 mins |
MCQ & TITA |
|
DILR (Data Interpretation & LR) |
~20 |
40 mins |
MCQ & TITA |
|
QA (Quantitative Aptitude) |
~22 |
40 mins |
MCQ & TITA |
|
Total |
66 |
120 mins |
Online CBT |
Marking Scheme:
- +3 for correct answers
- −1 for wrong answers (MCQs only)
- 0 for unattempted/TITA questions
TITA (Type In The Answer): No options are provided. You type the numerical answer.
CAT Syllabus Overview
Although there is no official syllabus, here's a topic-wise breakdown:
1. VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)
- Reading Comprehension (RC) Passages (70% of VARC)
- Para Jumbles
- Para Summary
- Odd one out
- Sentence Completion
2. DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning)
- Pie charts, Bar graphs, Tables
- Caselets
- Venn Diagrams
- Puzzles
- Games & Tournaments
- Seating Arrangement
3. Quantitative Aptitude
- Arithmetic (Time-Speed, Work, Profit-Loss, SI/CI)
- Algebra (Equations, Inequalities)
- Geometry & Mensuration
- Number System
- Permutation & Combination
- Probability
- Set Theory
Target Percentiles for Top Institutes
|
B-School |
Cut-off Percentile (General Category) |
|
IIM Ahmedabad/B/L |
98–99.9 |
|
IIM Indore/Kozhikode |
97–98+ |
|
FMS Delhi |
98.5+ |
|
SPJIMR |
92–95 (profile-based) |
|
IIT Bombay/SJMSOM |
98+ |
|
MDI Gurgaon |
95–97+ |
CAT Application Process (Step-by-Step)
- Visit: https://iimcat.ac.in
- Register with valid email & mobile number
- Fill Application Form:
- Personal Details
- Academic Qualifications
- Work Experience (if any)
- Choose IIM programs & campuses
- Select 6 test cities
- Upload Documents:
- Photo & Signature
- Caste/Disability Certificate (if applicable)
- Pay Application Fee:
- General/OBC: ₹2,400
- SC/ST/PwD: ₹1,200
How to Prepare for CAT?
Study Timeline
- 6–9 months: Ideal
- 3–4 months: Doable with consistency
Recommended Books
|
Subject |
Books |
|
VARC |
Magme’s CAT , Arun Sharma (TMH), Word Power Made Easy, |
|
DILR |
Magme’s CAT , Arun Sharma (TMH), Puzzle books by Logical Reasoning Experts |
|
QA |
Magme’s CAT , Quantitative Aptitude by Arun Sharma, Nishit Sinha, R.S. Aggarwal |
Mock Tests & Strategy
- Start taking sectional tests early
- Gradually move to full-length mocks every 2 weeks
- Last 2 months: 1–2 mocks/week
- Analyze your mocks: focus on accuracy, speed, and topic-wise improvement
CAT Selection Process (Post-Exam)
- CAT Score Released in January
- Shortlistingfor GD-PI-WAT based on:
- CAT Percentile
- Academic Record (10th/12th/UG)
- Work Experience
- Gender/Diversity (bonus points for non-engineers/women)
- WAT-PI Rounds: February to April
- Final Selection: Based on composite score
CAT Score Validity
- 1 year only (For admissions in 2026–28 batch)
Career Scope After CAT
- MBA from IIMs/B-Schools leads to roles in:
- Consulting (McKinsey, BCG, Bain)
- Finance (Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan)
- Marketing (P&G, HUL, Nestlé)
- Product Management (Amazon, Flipkart)
- Startups & Entrepreneurship
- Average salary at top IIMs: ₹23–30 LPA
FAQs About CAT Exam
Q: Can a final-year student apply?
Yes. But must graduate before June 2026.
Q: Is CAT tough?
Yes — not due to difficulty alone, but due to intense competition (2.5+ lakh applicants).
Q: Can a non-engineer crack CAT?
Absolutely. Many top scorers are from Arts/Commerce backgrounds.
Q: Is coaching necessary?
Not compulsory. Self-study with good material + mock tests is enough for many.
