Exam On - 30 Nov '25
MBA interview preparation
GD/PI preparation - The way you dress up creates a long-lasting impression in the minds of people. Many experts claim that dressing is an important factor in creating the first impression especially in a corporate or formal setting. You'd remember going to school all neat and tidy.
However, one may ask, how does someone’s outfit matter is his/her skills are top class. According to the top international fashion designer Tom Ford, “Dressing well is a form of good manners”. And who would not be impressed with good manners! Therefore, it is often asked to dress formally during job interviews or Group Discussion (GD) & Personal Interview (PI) sessions of MBA admissions.
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There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.Dressing well helps in maintaining confidence and composure. A lot can be achieved in interviews and group discussion rounds by dressing well. The way you present yourself in front of people who can help you in becoming a future manager matters a lot. You may want to leave a good impression on your future teachers with clean, immaculate dressing reflecting a sense of sincerity and discipline.
Six tips to dress for GD/PI round of MBA admissions
We have been taught since childhood that ‘the first impression is the last impression’. Naturally, we always try to show our best side in the first meeting. Three key ways to make a good impression are – good behavior, politeness or dressing sense. Let's take a look at some key tips for dressing well for GD/PI.
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1. Neat & Tidy Formal Clothing
Formal dressing is recommended for GD/PI at MBA institutes. Male candidates can wear formal suits or formal shirts and trousers. Tie and blazers are not compulsory, but if you are comfortable in wearing these, you can wear them. Female candidates can wear a formal shirt accompanied with either a formal skirt or trousers. Again, the blazer is an option. Dirty spots on your outfit may leave a bad impression on the interviewer. Make sure whatever you wear is neat and tidy. On the day of GD/PI, take care of where you sit, where you keep your hands and how you eat so that the tidiness of your outfit is maintained.
2. Creased / Ironed
Iron your dress beforehand. Do not wait till the date of GD/PI. Get your outfit ready a night or a day before. A messy outfit depicts a messy person. Therefore, look smart by wearing smart. Wear a well-ironed pair of suit so as to look well dressed.
CAT exam is conducted by any one of the top 6 Indian Institute of Management on rotation basis. Each of the top IIM conducts the exam after a gap of five years. The responsibility to conduct the CAT 2024 was given to IIM Calcutta. For CAT 2025, IIM Kozhikode will be the exam convening institute. IIM Kozhikode will be responsible for preparation and conduct of the exam without glitches, in collaboration with TCS for test labs and centres. The institute will design the question papers, exam pattern and guidelines, as well as manage the conduct of exam and preparation of admit card, answer key and result. CAT Conducting Indian Institute of Management Over the Years:
2024: IIM Calcutta
2023: IIM Lucknow
· 2022: IIM Bangalore
· 2021: IIM Ahmedabad
· 2020: IIM Indore
· 2019: IIM Kozhikode
· 2018: IIM Calcutta
· 2017: IIM Lucknow
· 2016: IIM Bangalore
· 2015: IIM Ahmedabad
· 2014: IIM Indore
· 2013: IIM Indore
· 2012: IIM Kozhikode
· 2011: IIM Calcutta
· 2010: IIM Lucknow
· 2009: IIM Ahmedabad
CAT 2025 exam will be conducted on November 30, 2025. Official announcement of the CAT exam date 2025 will be done in the last week of July 2025, along with the release of the offiical notification of CAT 2025. The CAT exam is always conducted on the last Sunday of November. The exam is conducted on a single day in three slots.
Along with the exam date, the CAT 2025 notification will have CAT registration and admit card dates. CAT 2025 registration will begin in the first week of August 2025 and the form submission window will close in the third week of September 2025.
CAT 2025 notification will be released online as well as offline. The online notification of CAT 2025 exam will be released at iimcat.ac.in website and the offline notification will be issued in all the national dailies – Hindi, English and Vernacular. Aspirants can either check the notification and CAT 2025 exam dates online at the official website or in the newspapers (to be published in the last week of July 2025).
Also Read: Top GD/PI topics for MBA admission
3. Wear Light Colours
Opt for a light-coloured outfit on the day of the interview or group discussion. Colours like light blue, light baby pink, white, off-white, light brown or light grey can be worn. Both girls and boys can wear any of the above-mentioned colours. Dark colours are mostly meant for evenings, while interviews are generally scheduled in the mornings or afternoons. It is not that you can’t wear dark colours. Just make sure, it doesn’t look over the top. Also, neon colours are a big no-no.
4. Comfortable Clothes
Whatever you wear should be comfortable. Do not wear clothes that are either too tight or too loose. If your clothes are not of your size, then get them altered beforehand. Girls should make sure that the skirts they wear should not be too short. Be comfortable in what you are wearing. Else, your discomfort might harm the way you present yourself.
5. Dress Smartly
Looking smart has its benefits. However, looking smart doesn’t guarantee selection, but yes it does play a role in leaving good impression.
6. Clean Footwear
Your footwear is an important part of your dressing. Wear footwear that compliments your outfit. Formal shoes with formal outfits are the norm, so follow that. Also, make sure that your shoes are squeaky clean. Check your shoes once again before entering the interview room.
All the best!
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 11 hours ago
CAT is one of the accepting exams for admission at Prin. N.G. Naralkar Institute of Career Development and Research. However, it is not compulsory to have a CAT score for a seat in the institute. Aspirants with a score in MAT, CMAT, XAT, ATMA or MAH MBA CET can also get admission through CAP Counsel
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered Yesterday
CAT alone is not a mandatory test because IRMA Anand accepts the scores of XAT and CMAT in admitting the postgraduate diploma. Aspirants may use any of these tests to apply. Other national level tests are also accepter at FPM. The decision of the test should fit course requirements.
a
Contributor-Level 9
Answered Yesterday
Provided that you meet the relevant CAT eligibility criteria and cut-off from the participating colleges in Andhra Pradesh, you should be able to secure a seat with CAT based criteria for MBA. There are IIM's (IIM Visakhapatnam), all kinds of private universities, etc., which are accepting CAT score
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, it is possible to take admission to Christ University Pune MBA course without a CAT score. This is because apart from CAT, the university accepts various other national-level entrance exams. Check below to know all the accepted exams:
- MAT
- CMAT
- XAT
- ATMA
- GMAT
- GRE
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
The CAT 2025 exam is scheduled to be conducted on 30 November 2025. Registration is expected to begin between August and September, and admit cards will likely be available in November 2025. A valid CAT score is accepted by Amity University Jaipur for MBA admissions.
H
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, students looking to get admissions into Preseidency College MBA course can apply for their facorite course-specialization without appearing for the CAT exam. However, in order to be eligible, applicants must have passed graduation degree with 10+2+3/4/5 under any discipline with 50% (5% relaxat
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
AIMS Institutes admissions are conducted primarily on the basis of various prescribed entrance tests. These include CAT, MAT, XAT, ATMA, and CMAT. However, students may feel free to visit the official website and check for any category or course-wise ezceptions, if any. Candidates seeking admission
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
In the Indian institute of management Kozhikode, a student belonging to the general category will require somewhere between 97-98% in CAT to consider becoming a part of the institute. There are category and year respective cutoffs. The last selection is also based on academics, working experience an
a
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
Indian institute of Management Kozhikode CAT is mandatory in PGP programme. But on other programmes, such as EPGP they consider EMAT, GMAT or GRE scores. Direct admission is not available with IIM Kozhikode, and so, the admission process cannot be carried out without a valid entrance score.
a
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
No, CAT 2025 scores are not applicable for MBA admissions at SRIHER. Candidates are shortlisted based on their performance in SRIHER's own entrance exam. However, students with a certain MBA score is given preference in the final list.
M
Contributor-Level 10
Yes, the CAT 2025 exam will be conducted in three shifts. Until 2019, CAT was conducted in two shifts and the exam duration used to be 180 minutes. However, in 2020, the number of shifts were increased to three and exam duration was reduced to 120 minutes in order to follow the social distancing guidelines for COVID-19. Since the COVID-9 pandemic appropriate behaviour had to be followed at public places and gatherings, the examination authorities increased the number of exam slots to ensure a limited number of candidates can be accommodated at any exam centre in a given exam slot by following social distancing and seating arrangement with gap. Since then, the CAT is conducted in three shifts - morning, afternoon and evening. In CAT 2025 too, there will be three slots which will be allotted to applicants in no particular order. The CAT exam slot timings will be - 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.