CAT 2025 Dress Code and Things to Carry or Not Carry in CAT Exam
Common Admission Test 2025 ( CAT )
Admit Card - 5 Nov '25 - 30 Nov '25
CAT 2025 aspirants must be properly aware of the exam day guidelines and process. Know the CAT 2025 dress code and things to carry or not carry to the exam centre on November 30, 2025. Read below.
CAT 2025 exam will be conducted by IIM Kozhikode on November 30, 2025 at about 400 centres in 150+ cities across India. The exam will be conducted under CCTV surveillance and there will be strict guidelines to prevent cheating, questions leak or other mal practices. For that, the examination authority releases official guidelines for candidates and staff members. Candidates taking the CAT 2025 need to be well aware of these guidelines before reaching the test centre. It is important that they know the CAT 2025 exam process and requirements well so that they don’t make any mistake which may lead to inconvenience and/or disqualification.
One of such aspects is knowing the YES and NO of the CAT exam day. Preparing for the CAT 2025 exam day not only means that the candidate has studied all the topics. It also means that the candidate is prepared for the exam day. So, they need to know the CAT exam day guidelines. These CAT exam day rules and regulations include:
- Reaching the CAT 2025 exam centre on time
- Carrying CAT 2025 admit card all the necessary documents of identification
- Not carrying electronic gadgets to the CAT exam centre
- Wearing clothes as per instructed in the test day guide
- Following the instructions for biometric attendance and seating arrangement, etc.
Instructions mentioned on the CAT 2025 admit card is a very helpful tool for the candidates to familiarise themselves with 'dos' and 'don'ts' of CAT. For the convenience of CAT 2025 aspirants, we have listed down things that the candidate must and must not carry to the CAT 2025 exam centre.
Also Read: CAT exam day tips: Dos and Don'ts
- CAT 2025: What is the Exam Day Dress Code?
- Things to Carry on CAT 2025 Exam Day
- Things Not to Carry to the CAT 2025 Exam Centre
CAT 2025: What is the Exam Day Dress Code?
CAT candidates must note the following instructions related to dress code for appearing in the exam. It is imperative to follow the CAT exam dress code to avoid any sort of hassles during the entry:
- Candidates are not allowed to wear jewellery that contains metal
- Candidates are not allowed to wear closed footwear, cap, jackets and clothes with pockets and large buttons inside the exam hall
- Candidates with a metal implant, pacemaker, etc. in their body will be required to present a medical certificate for the same
- Socks, plain pullovers, sweaters, cardigans (without any pockets) are allowed inside the test lab
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Things to Carry on CAT 2025 Exam Day
Below is the list of most important document to be carried to the CAT exam centre. Entry will not be granted to candidates who will fail to present the relevant documents.
CAT 2025 Admit Card
CAT admit card is the most important document to be carried to the exam centre. Candidates will not be allowed entry into the examination hall without the CAT 2025 admit card. Each test taker must download their CAT 2025 admit card from the official website before November 30 and affix the same passport size photo as the one uploaded along with the CAT 2025 application form. Also, take two printouts of the CAT admit card 2025 and carry both to the exam hall.
DO NOT sign the CAT admit card beforehand as it has to be done at the exam centre in the presence of the invigilator.
Photo Identity Proof
Items not to carry to the CAT exam centre
At the CAT 2025 exam centre, you will be required to present a photo identity card provided by the Government of India. A secondary identity proof along with the CAT 2025 admit card is mandatory so that the authorities can keep a check on imposters.
As a photo identity proof, you can carry any of the following documents:
• College ID (must be supported with a valid debit/credit card)
• Employee ID
• Driving License
• Passport
• PAN Card
• Voter ID
• Aadhaar Card
Name Change Document
In cases where the name of the candidate had been changed due to any event (like marriage, legal name change, divorce), he or she will be required to carry a name change document that supports the new name. This document can be a marriage certificate, divorce degree, etc. Also, carry a notarised photocopy of the supporting document.
Medical Certificate and Scribe Affidavit
Candidates belonging to PwD category will be required to carry a medical certificate supporting the disability claim and a scribe affidavit (on the prescribed form by IIMCAT) to the exam centre. All the documents will be verified by the officials at the CAT exam centre post frisking. No candidate will be allowed to proceed to their computer system without document verification.
Also Read: List of important documents to carry on CAT exam day
Only admit card, photo identity card, required Medical certificate(s) and Scribe affidavit (if any) would be permitted beyond the frisking point at the CAT exam centre.
However, candidates coming from far off places, must carry food items and other essentials at the exam centre. They must reach early to find a place for keeping their belongings safely. It is advised not to carry watches, mobile phones, wallets and other expensive items there will be no arrangement of depositing bags and valuables inside the test centre premises and none of the exam centre staff will take the guarantee of the safety of the candidate’s belongings.
Things Not to Carry to the CAT 2025 Exam Centre
The CAT conducting body enlists items prohibited at the CAT exam centres. These include bags, purses, pencil boxes, beepers, wrist watches, calculators, mobile phones, electronic devices, scanners, cameras and wireless/bluetooth devices. Any candidate found with any of these items inside the exam hall will be disqualified. Notepads or any type of written material is also prohibited.
Candidates need not carry a pen. They will be provided with one pen and one scribble pad for rough work in the test lab. They will have to drop the one copy of admit card, pen and scribble pad (with all pages intact) in the boxes at the exam hall before exiting.
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For PwD candidates, facilities in CAT exam include, relaxation of marks in graduation. The minimum score required by PwD candidate in graduation for appearing in CAT exam is 45 per cent aggregate. Apart from that, such candidates are provided scribe service at the exam centre. To avail the service such candidates have to fill the relevant form during registration process.
Every candidate must carry a blue/black ball point pen and a few copies of their passport size photo to the exam centre. They must not carry any stationary item other than the pen. Candidates who have diabetes can carry fruits as per medical prescription. No other item will be allowed inside the exam venue. Candidates must not carry bags or valuables as there will be no arrangement for depositing while candidates appear for the exam. Candidates must also not carry notebooks or rough paper to the CAT exam centre. Any candidate found with an unauthorised item will be disqualified.
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On the CAT exam day, candidates have to follow a number of guidelines which include cooperating with the exam centre staff during identification process, following instructions given be the invigilator and following the test navigation for solving the questions. There are some key dos and don'ts that candidates should follow on the CAT exam day, which have been listed below: CAT exam day dos: 1. Reach the examination centre at the reporting time mentioned on your CAT admit card. 2. Carry two copies of the CAT admit card, one photo ID card, passport size photos 3. PwD candidates should carry the relevant certificates and documents as prescribed by the examination authorities. 4. Carry a blue/black ball point pen for signing the attendance sheet 5. Carry personal drinking water, hand sanitizer, face masks and gloves 6. Cooperate with the test centre staff and follow the instructions 7. While entering the answers, use only the computer mouse. Do not touch the keyboard as doing so will lead to screen locking. CAT exam day don'ts: 1. Do not carry prohibited items such as bags, purses, pencil box, beepers, wrist watch, calculators, mobile phones, electronic devices, scanners, cameras, wireless/Bluetooth transmission or any such communication devices. 2. Don't wear closed shoes, jewellery made of metal, jackets, clothes with pockets, mehendi on palms. Socks are allowed inside it. 3. Don't wear caps, hoodies or jackets/shirts with pockets 4. Don't be late for the exam. The entry gates will be closed 15 minutes before the commencement of exam. No candidate will be allowed to enter the exam centre after that. 5. Don't cheat or indulge in mal practice. You can be disqualified due to any such ACT. 6. Don't create a ruckus inside the test lab 7. Don't leave your seat until the exam duration gets over and the invigilator announces exit.
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Yes, the CAT 2025 exam will be conducted in three shifts. The exam was earlier conducted in 2 shifts, but since 2020, 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 -