CAT 2025: Highlights, Eligibility Criteria, Exam Dates, Registration Dates

CAT 2025 exam date is November 30, 2025. This year, IIM Kozhikode will conduct the exam. The official notification announcing CAT exam and registration dates 2025 will be released by July 30, 2025 at iimcat.ac.in website and in all national newspapers. The CAT 2025 registration cum application process will be online and candidates will have to apply by paying the requisite fee. CAT 2025 exam will be conducted in three shifts in over 150 cities across India. Read all about CAT exam 2025 below.

CAT 2025 Key Dates (Tentative)

• CAT 2025 notification release: July 30, 2025
• CAT 2025 application process: August 2 to September 21, 2025
• CAT 2025 admit card release: November 20, 2025
• CAT 2025 exam: November 30, 2025

CAT 2025 Exam Highlights

CAT 2025 notification will be released in the last week of July 2025. Exam slots, timings, fees and courses will be shared in the official notification. Here are the key CAT highlights for reference:

What is CAT Exam?

Common Admission Test or CAT is a national level management aptitude test conducted by the Indian Insitute of Management (IIM) for admission to MBA and other postgraduate courses offered by its 21 campuses (NITIE Mumbai has been added to the cluster and has been renamed as IIM Mumbai). CAT exam is a speed based test that includes questions from Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA). Difficulty level of the exam is moderate to high. 

Over two lakh candidates apply for the CAT exam every year. In CAT 2023, applications touched the record high of 3.30 lakh. The total number of CAT 2024 registration was 3.29 lakh. Candidates who clear the CAT exam are eligible for admission to over 1300 MBA colleges in India, apart from the IIMs. 

Latest Updates:

CAT Eligibility Criteria 2025

Read below the minimum eligibilty critera for CAT exam:

• Having bachelor’s degree with minimum 50 per cent aggregate or equivalent CGPA (45 per cent aggregate for SC, ST and PWD/DA category) is mandatory to appear in CAT 2025.
• Candidates appearing for the final year of bachelor’s degree/equivalent or awaiting final result are also eligible to appear for CAT 2025 exam. However, the aggregate of their first and second year marks must meet the minimum score requirement.
• Candidates who have completed a professional degree like CA/CS/ICWA/FCAI with the required percentage can also appear for CAT.
• The education mode of the bachelor’s degree can be regular or distance learning, but should be a 3-year programme and from a UGC recognised institution.
• Those in final year or awaiting result will be required to submit passing certificate or marksheet to the MBA college by a certain deadline for confirmation of admission. Until then, their admission will remain provisional. 
• There is no age limit to appear for CAT. Anybody at any phase of their career can appear for CAT as the exam is accepted for EPGP, Doctorate and FPM courses too. 

CAT Exam Date 2025: Registration Date

Below is the CAT exam 2025 Registration date:

‍CAT Exam Date 2025: Registration Process

To register for the CAT 2025 exam, follow these simple steps on the official IIM CAT website:

1. Visit the website and click on ‘New Registration’.

2. Create an account and log in.

3. Complete the application form and upload your photo and signature.

4. Select your courses, IIMs, and test city preference.

5. Pay the CAT exam application fee.

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Before registering for the CAT exam, review the CAT Exam Fees 2024-25 eligibility criteria and the application process.

‍What is CAT Exam Fees?

CAT exam fee is to be paid at the time of form submission. Until the fee is paid, the CAT application form will not be submitted. Candidates must pay the fee and submit the application form before the deadline. Given below is the latest CAT registration fee. 

CAT Registration 2025

Registration: Aug ‘ 25 – Sep ‘ 25

CAT 2025 registration process link will be available at iimcat.ac.in website. Candidates will have to create a login ID to fill the CAT application form 2025. Check below to know how to apply for CAT 2025:

Step 1: Go to the official website: iimcat.ac.in

Step 2: Click on ‘new registration’

Step 3: Enter your name, date of birth, nationality, phone number and email ID to register

Step 4: Log in with the ID received in registered email to fill the CAT 2025 application form

Step 5: Enter personal and academic details (academic details, parents details, etc.)

Step 6: Upload a recent passport size photo and scanned signature

Step 7: Select preferred courses and IIMs

Step 8: Select test city preference from the drop down

Step 9: Pay CAT application fee via credit/debit card or net banking

Note: Candidates can select up to five cities for allotment of CAT exam centre in the application form. Test centre allotment will be based on first come first serve. Thus, candidate must submit their CAT application form at the earliest to get their preferred test city. The examination authority, strives to allot the test centre in the city of first preference. If all the seats then allotment is done in the city of second preference. 

Allotment of CAT test city and centre will be mentioned on the CAT admit card. Check the list of CAT test cities here.

CAT Exam Fees for Registration

The CAT exam fee for registration is a one-time payment to be made to register for the CAT examination. The CAT exam fees 2025 for MBA are different for different categories. For General category candidates, the CAT exam fee is Rs. 2500, whereas for candidates from SC, ST, and PwD categories, the CAT exam fee is Rs. 1250.

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*Note that the CAT 2025 exam registration fees might differ slightly as compared to last year. We will update the fees accordingly.

CAT Exam Syllabus

The CAT exam consists of three sections, each with topics designed to test candidates’ skills in various areas. 

Here is an overview of the syllabus for each section:

Discover the complete CAT Exam Syllabus for MBA, including section-wise details and weightage, to plan your preparation effectively.‍