
CAT 2025 will be conducted on November 30, 2025. IIM Kozhikode will most likely conductt the CAT 2025 exam. The official notification regarding the CAT exam 2025 will be released by July 31, 2025 at iimcat.ac.in and in all national newspapers. The CAT 2025 registration cum application process will start in the first week of August 2025 and go on till the third week of September 2025. The form will be available in online mode only. The exam will be conducted in three shifts in over 150 cities across India. It will be conducted in three shifts on the same day. Read all about CAT exam 2025 below.
The CAT (Common Admission Test) is a highly competitive entrance exam for admission to various management programs offered by top business schools in India. The percentile score in CAT exam is based on the relative performance of the test taker compared to all the other test takers.
The cutoff percentile for admission to top business schools varies from year to year and also depends on factors such as the number of candidates, difficulty level of the exam, and the number of available seats. In general, a percentile score of 90 or above is considered a good score and can help you secure admission to some of the top business schools in India. However, to increase your chances of admission to the top-tier business schools, a percentile score of 95 or above is preferred.

The CAT 2025 exam pattern is expected to be the same as last year. No change is expected, as a minor change was already brought about in CAT 2025 (an increase in the number of DILR questions from 20 to 22). Thus, the CAT exam pattern for 2025 is expected to be:
- VARC: 24 questions, 40 minutes
- DILR: 22 questions, 40 minutes
- QA: 22 questions, 40 minutes
Every question will carry 3 marks, and there will be a negative marking of -1 for incorrect attempts.

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.

14 candidates have scored 100 percentile in CAT 2024, out of a total of 2.93 Lacs candidates. Out of 14 toppers, 1 is a woman candidate. Check below CAT 2024 result data:
Check the below table for data and statistics of CAT 2024 test takers and toppers.
CAT Toppers | Gender and Discipline | State |
---|---|---|
100 percentiles 14 - Nos | Female - 1 Male - 13 Engg – 13 Non-Engg – 1 | Andhra Pradesh 1 Delhi 2 Haryana 1 Kerala 1 Maharashtra 5 Odisha 1 Rajasthan 1 Telangana 2 |
99.99 percentiles 29 -Nos. | Female - 2 Male - 27 Engg – 25 Non-Engg - 4 | Chandigarh 1 Delhi 4 Gujarat 2 Haryana 1 Karnataka 3 Kerala 1 Madhya Pradesh 1 Maharashtra 5 Odisha 1 Punjab 1 Rajasthan 3 Tamil Nadu 1 Telangana 1 Uttar Pradesh1 Uttarakhand 1 West Bengal 2 |
99.98 percentiles 30-Nos | Female - 1 Male - 29 Engg – 20 Non-Engg -10 | Bihar 1 Delhi 2 Gujarat 2 Haryana 4 Karnataka 4 Madhya Pradesh 3 Maharashtra 3 Tamil Nadu 2 Telangana 3 Uttar Pradesh 2 West Bengal 4 |


To get admission to the MBA course at Great Lakes Gurgaon, candidates need to appear for the CAT/XAT/CMAT exam and have a valid score. Further, candidates who meet the overall cutoff need to participate and perform well in the PI round for admission. Considering the past few years' cutoff percentile, Great Lakes Gurgaon has maintained an overall CAT/XAT percentile of 70 for its MBA course for the General All India category students. Therefore, Aspirants must look to score above the 70 percentile in the CAT/XAT exam to high their chances for admission to the Great Lakes Gurgaon MBA course. However, the cutoffs may change for different category students therefore candidates are advised to check the Great Lakes Gurgaon official website regularly for the latest updates on cutoff scores.

- What is CAT Exam?
- CAT 2025 Exam Dates & Schedule
- CAT 2025 Exam Highlights
- CAT Eligibility Criteria 2025
- CAT Registrations 2025
- CAT 2025 Syllabus
- CAT Exam Pattern & Test Structure 2025
- CAT Exam Preparation 2025
- CAT Admit Card 2025
- CAT Answer Key 2025
- CAT Exam Analysis
- CAT 2025 Result and Scorecard PDF
- IIM CAT Cut Offs
- Top Colleges Accepting CAT Exam Score
- IIMCAT Contact Information
- Important FAQs on CAT 2025
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:
Is One Year Needed for CAT Preparation? - Shiksha Poll
What is the Best Resource of CAT Preparation? - Shiksha Poll
Courses Offered Through CAT at IIMs
Apart from full-time MBA programmes, the CAT score is valid for admission to Executive MBA, PhD and FPM programmes of IIMs and other B-Schools. This exam is open for not only graduates but also post graduates and working professionals. Check below the list of courses offered by the IIMs through CAT.
IIM |
Courses Offered Through CAT |
---|---|
PGP, PGP-FABM, ePGP, PhD |
|
MBA, EMBA, MBA-Business Analytics, MBA-HRM, PhD |
|
PGP, PGPEM, PGPBA, PhD |
|
PGP, PhD (FPM) |
|
MBA, PhD |
|
PGP, PGP-HRM, FPM |
|
PGP, PhD |
|
MBA, MBA (Analytics), MBA (WX), PhD, EFPM |
|
PGP, PGP-BL, PGP-F, PGP-LSM, PhD, PhD (PT) |
|
PGP, PGP-ABM, PGP-SM, FPM |
|
PGP, PhD |
|
PGP, FPM/ PhD, EFPM |
|
PGP, PGP-HRM, PGP (Business Analytics), PhD, EPhD |
|
PGP, EPGPX, EPGDSM, PhD, Part-Time FPM |
|
MBA, PhD, E PhD |
|
PGP, PGPEX, PGPWE, PhD, PhDWP |
|
MBA, MBA (T&HM), PhD |
|
PGPM, PGPM-HR, PGPBM, FPM, E-FPM |
|
MBA, PhD |
|
PGP, PGPEx, PGPDGM, PhD |
|
MBA, MBA in Sustainability Management MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management |
Commonly asked questions
CAT is the common entrance test for a range of post management courses offered by the Indian Institute of Management. The CAT score is accepted for admission to PGP, MBA, Executive MBA, Ph.D. and FPM courses.
Here is the list of courses offered by every IIM.
- IIM Ahmedabad: PGP, PGP-FABM, ePGD-ABA (post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Business Analytics), PhD
- IIM Amritsar: MBA, MBA-Business Analytics, MBA-HRM, EMBA, PhD
- IIM Bangalore: PGP, PGPEM, PGPBA, PhD
- IIM Bodh Gaya: PGP, Ph.D. (FPM)
- IIM Calcutta: MBA, PhD
- IIM Indore: PGP, PGP-HRM, MSDSM (Master of Science in Data Science and Management), FPM
- IIM Jammu: MBA, MBA (Hospital Administration & Healthcare Management, Executive MBA (Blended Mode), Ph.D. (Full-Time Mode), Ph.D. (Part-Time Mode)
- IIM Kashipur: MBA, MBA (Analytics), EMBA, EMBAA (Executive Master of Business Administration Analytics), PhD
- IIM Kozhikode: PGP, PGP-BL, PGP-F, PGP-LSM, EPGP Kochi, PhD
- IIM Lucknow: PGP, PGP-ABM, PGP-some, PGPWE, PhD
- IIM Nagpur: MBA, MBA (Executive), Ph.D. (Executive)
- IIM Raipur: PGP, FPM/PhD, EFPM
- IIM Ranchi: PGP, PGP-HRM, PGP (Business Analytics), Ph.D. EPhD
- IIM Rohtak: PGP, EPGDSM, PhD
- IIM Sambalpur: MBA, Executive MBA, Ph.D. Executive PhD
- IIM Shillong: PGP, PGPEX, MBA (WE), Ph.D. PhDWP
- IIM Sirmaur: MBA, MBA (T&HM), ExMBA (Digital Transformation & Analytics), PhD
- IIM Tiruchirappalli: PGPM & PGPM-HR, DPM, E-DPM
- IIM Udaipur: MBA, MBA-DEM, MBA-GSCM, PGDBAWE, PhD
- IIM Visakhapatnam: PGP, PGPEx, PGPDGM, Ph.D.

CAT exam full form is Common Admission Test. It is a national level MBA entrance exam conducted by the IIMs. The CAT score is accepted by the IIMs for MBA, PGP, Executive MBA, FPM and Ph.D admissions. The Common Admission Test or CAT is the most recognised entrance test for MBA admission in India. Apart from the IIMs, over 1300 MBA colleges in India select candidates on the basis of their performance in CAT. The exam is conducted annually on the last Sunday of November. The exam is conducted in over 150 cities across India. The CAT 2023 will be conducted by IIM Lucknow on November 26, 2023.

On an average, about 10-15 CAT aspirants score 100 percentile. Given below is the data of CAT 100 percentilers of last 3 years:
Exam year | CAT 100 percentilers | State wise numbers |
---|---|---|
CAT 2024 | 14 | 1- Andhra Pradesh |
CAT 2023 | 14 | 1 – Andhra Pradesh |
CAT 2022 | 11 | 2 - Delhi 1 - Gujarat 1 - Haryana 1 - Kerala 1 - Madhya Pradesh 2 - Maharashtra 2 - Telangana 1 - Uttar Pradesh |

IIM selection criteria for all the 21 campuses is same and includes selection of candidates through three stages. CAT score Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion GD and Personal Interview (PI) Academic record, work experience Academic and gender diversity CAT exam score is the first parameter on which candidates are shortlisted for admission. In the first state of IIM admission, the institutes shortlist candidates for WAT, GD and PI on the basis of their CAT score and class 10, 12 and graduation marks. The cut offs for shortlisting of candidates is between 95-100 percentile (for SC/ST/PwD candidates the cut offs are lower). These shortlisted candidates have to then appear for What, GD and PI round. Those who clear this round are considered for final admission. For the final selection, every IIMs takes into consideration the following aspects: CAT score What, GD and PI performance Class 10 and 12 marks Graduation marks Work experience Academic diversity Gender diversity.

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

There is a good chance of receiving an interview call from IIM Ahmedabad, however, admission isn’t guaranteed even at 100 percentile. The overall criteria includes academic profile, that is your Class 12, Class 10 and graduation marks. The college also gives a score for work experience, hence, candidates must have 2-3 years of experience to get maximum points. Additional focus is also given to gender and academic diversity. Considering all these factors and candidates’ CAT score, IIM Ahmedabad prepares a composite score through which decides whether to finalise a student or not. IIM Ahmedabad or any other IIM, for that matter, doesn’t give direct admission only on the basis of CAT percentile, the first phase of admission process is giving the CAT exam. Students must clear the sectional and the minimum final cut-off to be eligible and considered for the call. After that, they must get shortlisted for the interviews and group discussion process. After all these rounds, a final list of shortlisted candidates is prepared.

CAT 2025 Exam Dates & Schedule
Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of CAT 2025 exam
Dates | Upcoming Exam Dates |
---|---|
Aug ' 25 - Sep ' 25 | CAT 2025 registration TENTATIVE |
Sep ' 25 | CAT 2025 form correction process TENTATIVE |
Nov ' 25 | CAT 2025 admit card download TENTATIVE |
30 Nov ' 25 | CAT 2025 exam |
Dec ' 25 | CAT 2025 answer key challenge TENTATIVE |
Dec ' 25 | CAT 2025 result announcement TENTATIVE |
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:
CAT Exam Particulars |
CAT 2025 Details |
---|---|
CAT Full Form |
Common Admission Test (CAT) |
Conducting Institute for 2025 |
IIM Kozhikode |
Exam Level |
National |
CAT Entrance Exam Frequency |
Once a year |
CAT Exam Date 2025 |
November 30, 2025 |
CAT Exam Timings |
|
CAT Exam Fees |
INR 2,500 (General category) and INR 1,250 (Reserved category) |
Eligibility Criteria |
Graduation with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST/PwD students) |
Number of Applications |
3.29 lakh (in 2024) |
Number of Test Takers |
2.93 lakh (in 2024) |
Exam Purpose |
Admission to IIMs, SPJIMR, FMS, MDI, IMT and over 1,300 B-Schools in India |
Courses Offered |
|
CAT syllabus |
|
CAT exam mode |
Computer Based Test (CBT) with MCQs and non-MCQs |
No. of test cities |
170 |
CAT exam website |
|
Exam helpdesk no. |
1-800-210-1088 (Toll Free) |
Also Read: CAT 2025 important dates
Every year, CAT sees the largest number of registrations among all MBA entrance exams in India. About 2 lakh candidates apply for CAT every year. In 2023, CAT recorded the highest ever registration of over 3.30 lakhs out of which about 2.88 lakh candidates appeared for the exam. The number of students registered for CAT 2024 was also 3 lakh plus. IIM Calcutta received a total of 3.29 lakh applications. Check below how many students registered for CAT 2024 and previous years.
Commonly asked questions

In CAT 2025, the following changes were seen:
- The fee amount was from INR 2,400 to INR 2,500 for General category candidates and from INR 1,200 to INR 1250 for Reserved category candidates.
- In the DILR section, number of questions were increased from 20 to 22.
- The total marks of CAT DILR section increased from 60 to 66.
- The total marks of CAT exam increased from 198 to 204.
- Candidates could select five cities instead of six.

Admission to KJ Somaiya Institute of Management (KJSIM) typically requires a score of 80 percentile or higher, depending on the entrance exam and application year. For 2024, expected cutoff percentiles are: CAT—84 to 90 (2022 was 86), CMAT—98 (up from 95), XAT—around 71 (2022 was 84), and NMAT—expected score of 224. KJSIM offers three MBA programs, including specializations in Healthcare and Sports Management. Applicants can use scores from national-level entrance exams like CAT, CMAT, GMAT, NMAT, or XAT for admission.

IIM Amritsar and IIM Jammu both offer MBA admission based on the CAT entrance exam. The final CAT cutoff is comparatively higher for IIM Amritsar (95-96) than IIT Jammu (90) for the General AI category students. Candidates can refer to the table below to check other aspects as well, such as tuition fees and average packages, to decide which IIM is better for MBA admission.
Parameters | IIM Jammu | |
---|---|---|
Final CAT Cutoff (2023) | 95-96 | 90 |
Qualifying CAT cutoff (2024) | 90 | 91 |
MBA Tuition fees (2024) | 12.5 L - 14 L | 12.5 L - 30.9 L |
Average package (2024) | INR 19.73 LPA | INR 15.48 LPA |


CAT Eligibility Criteria 2025
To appear for CAT 2025,candidates need to fulfill the minimum eligibility criteria. Read below the academic qualification required for being eligible for CAT:
- Candidates must have a bachelor's degree with minimum 50 per cent aggregate or equivalent CGPA (45 per cent aggregate for SC, ST and PWD/DA category) to appear in CAT 2025.
- Candidates appearing for the final year of bachelor's degree/equivalent qualification or awaiting the result are also eligible to appear for CAT 2024 exam. However, the aggregate of their first and second year marks must meet the minimum score requirement.
- Candidates who have completed a professional degree (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.
Also Read: CAT eligibility criteria 2025
Commonly asked questions


IIM Udaipur percentile varies depending on various factos. The institute accepts students on an entrance basis and offers only a limited number of seats. As per the previous year trends, the cutoff for general category usually ranges between 92-94 percentile. For reserved categories, the percentile ranges between 40-75 depending on several factors. Shortlisted students are then called for the WAT-PI rounds. Interested students can visit the official website of the institute to know more about the course.


XIME stands for Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship, it is an institute dedicated to business management studies. XIME offers various programs to it's students in the subject of business management . The admission to these courses are accepted through various entrance examinations like CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, and GMAT.
Coming to the answer of the said question, yes, there is a high chance of you getting a call from XIME Bangalore if you score 73.89 in the CAT entrance examination, looking at the cut-off for the same in 2022, the score was 70 percentile for MBA at XIME Bangalore.
The admission process is followed by the shortlisted applicants going for the group discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds . After all these stages, the candidates are granted admission based on their performance in the following rounds, their academic accomplishments and prior work experiences .
To know more about XIME Bangalore, candidates can refer to the official website of the institute or shiksha.

CAT Registrations 2025
Registration: Aug ' 25 - Sep ' 25
CAT 2025 registration process will be online. Candidates will have to create a login ID to fill the CAT application form 2025. Check below the process to fill the online form:
Step 1: Go to the official website: iimcat.ac.in
Step 2: Click on 'new registration'
Step 3: Enter name, date of birth, nationality, phone number and email ID to register
Step 4: Log in with the ID received in email to fill the CAT application form
Step 5: Enter personal and academic details
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. Allotment of CAT test city and centre will be mentioned on the CAT admit card. Check the list of CAT test cities here.
Get Here: CAT 2025 application process and link
Commonly asked questions
The CAT application fee is INR 2,500 for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates. For the SC/SCT/PWD candidates, the fee is INR 1,250. Applicants have to pay the fee at the time of form filling. The application form is not accepted without the payment of fees. Candidates must also keep in mind that the CAT application fee is non-refundable under any circumstances. Thus, candidates must fill their forms carefully as if they make a mistake they will have to fill the application form again and pay the fees again. There is a provision of form correction in CAT but only test centre, photo and signature can be edited in the already submitted form. In case, you, ve made a mistake in any other field, you will have to fill the form again.

Candidates need the following documents while filling the CAT application form:
- A recent passport size photo (color against white background)
- Scanned signature with black pen on white paper
- Any photo ID card like PAN card, Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport
- Class 10 marksheet
- Class 12 marksheet
- Graduation marksheet
- Permanent address proof
- Work experience documents Reserved category students need to upload Category Certificate along with the CAT application form. The Certificate is available on the CAT website. Candidates can download, fill it, get it attested by competent authority and upload it as PDF with the CAT application form.
- The PwD category students also have to fill the PwD form and Scribe affidavit along with the exam application form. This is necessary for getting scribe facility and PwD facility at the test centre. The CAT application form is same for students from all categories. Those belonging to a particular category (SC/ST/PwD) will be required to mention it in the relevant field of the CAT form.

There are over 170 cities where CAT exam is held. These 170 cities are spread across India consist of metropolitan cities, capital cities, Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Candidate can select up to five cities for allotment of test centre. The process of test city selection is a part of CAT application process. In the CAT application form, there is a field in which candidates have to select the cities. They need to select the city of preference in order of 1 to 5. The examination authorities will try to allot the test centre in the city of first preference. Thus, candidates must fill all the five cities carefully. They must choose their home city of city of current residence as the first preference. The test city option can only be changed during the form correction window. After that, the request for change of the city will not be accepted by the exam authorities.

No, the CAT application form can only be filled out online on the official website iimcat.ac.in. There is no option to submit the CAT form in offline mode. Candidates will have to create an account on the CAT website once the registrations begin and fill out the CAT form through that candidate account. Candidates must also note that no other website hosts the CAT form other than iimcat.ac.in
There is no provision of paying CAT fees in cash, challan or Demand Draft either. The CAT registration fee can be paid online only through Internet banking, credit/debit cards or mobile wallets only. The payment window will be available in the candidate dashboard as part of the CAT application form. Candidates have to simply follow the instructions to pay the fee. Candidates must note that fee payment is mandatory for CAT form filling. Until the fee is paid successfully, the form will not be accepted. Thus, candidates must check the fee payment acknowledgement slip after making the payment.

No, the candidates do not have to pay any fee for CAT form correction. The facility is provided to candidates free of cost. However, if they have made an error in a field that will not be available for editing during form correction, then they will have to fill a fresh form before the submission deadline and pay the CAT application fee again. So, candidates must review the CAT application form before submitting to check whether they have filled all the information correctly or not. Once submitted, the form will not be editable but of photo, signature and test city.

CAT 2025 Syllabus
CAT exam syllabus includes topics that assess a candidate's English communication, reasoning skills and quantitative aptitude. It is broadly divided into three sections - VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Check below the main topics of CAT syllabus 2025. Maximum questions are asked from the following topics. Candidates are advised to pay special attention on these topics during exam preparation:
CAT Syllabus sections |
CAT Syllabus topics |
---|---|
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Para Summary and Odd Sentence Out |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
Set Theory (Variables), Set Theory + Puzzles, Puzzles with Additional Data, Coding-Decoding and Series |
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) |
Number System, Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry and Mensuration |
Also Read:
Commonly asked questions

Yes, the difficulty level of CAT syllabus is very high as compared to other MBA entrance exams. However, if you prepare well and follow the CAT exam pattern well, you will be able to score well. Besides having an understanding of the CAT syllabus 2025, candidates also need to be well aware of the CAT exam pattern before they start preparing for the exam. The CAT exam pattern was revised in 2021 and the number of questions were reduced from 76 to 66. The structure of CAT 2023 and CAT 2024 was the same. The syllabus is still tougher than other exams.
The most important things to keep in mind are:
- CAT exam mode is online
- Each question carries three marks
- There is negative marking of minus one mark for wrong attempts
The section-wise distribution of questions and difficulty levels as per the latest CAT exam pattern are listed below:
- Quantitative Ability (QA) - 24 questions, difficulty level - moderate to high
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) - 20 questions, difficulty level - moderate
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) - 22 questions, difficulty level - moderate. to high


The examination pattern of both CAT and GRE are more or less similar or not similar based on the point of view. Both the examinations are for the students pursuing buisness management studies .
The major difference between CAT and GRE is the acceptance, CAT is an examination for admission in business schools across India while GRE is accepted worldwide.
Subjects in GRE are Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning.
Subjects in CAT are Quantitative Ability (QA), Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR).
To know more about the examination process, fee structure.candidates can refer to the official website.

Data Interpretation or DI is a sub part of CAT's second section DILR. This section has 20 -22 questions (until 2023, the totla number of DILR questions was 20, and in 2024 the number of questions was 22). Both Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning questions have equal number of questions. Candidates must make sure that they prepare for both topics well as the weightage is equal and if they are ill prepared for either of the two, their score will get affected.

CAT Exam Pattern & Test Structure 2025
CAT question paper 2025 will have MCQs and TITA questions. The duration of exam will be 120 minutes with sectional time limit of 40 minutes per section. PwD candidates will get a few extra minutes. Check the highlights of CAT 2025 exam pattern below:
CAT Paper Pattern 2025 |
|
---|---|
Mode of CAT exam |
Computer Based Test |
Duration of exam |
|
CAT exam slots |
|
Number of questions |
66 68 |
CAT total marks |
198 204 |
Language of question paper |
English |
Number of answer choices |
4 |
Question Type |
MCQ and non-MCQ |
Also read: CAT exam on screen calculator
CAT syllabus can be best understood by going through CAT question papers. CAT previous year papers, provide an insight into sectional weightage, difficulty level of questions and types of questions. Candidates can solve previous year CAT question papers to know the difficulty level of the exam. Given below are previous years' CAT papers PDFs (links) for free download.
Evolution of CAT Exam
CAT exam has evolved a lot in the last decade. Over the years, IIM has taken several measure to make it more academically inclusive and diverse so that more and more students from non-technical streams appear for CAT. It still it remains the toughest MBA entrance exam in India. Earlier, CAT used to have 100 questions, now it has 66 questions. Check the table below for changes in the CAT exam pattern over the years.
CAT Exam Year |
Sections |
No. of Questions |
CAT Exam Time Duration |
---|---|---|---|
2024 |
QA, DILR, VARC |
66 |
120 minutes |
2023 |
QA, DILR, VARC |
66 |
120 minutes |
2022 |
QA, DILR, VARC |
66 |
120 minutes |
2021 |
QA, DILR, VARC |
66 |
120 minutes |
2020 |
QA, DILR, VARC |
76 |
120 minutes |
2019 |
QA, DILR, VARC |
100 |
180 minutes |
2018 |
QA, DILR, VARC |
100 |
180 minutes |
2017 |
QA, DILR, VARC |
100 |
180 minutes |
2016 |
QA, DILR, VARC |
100 |
180 minutes |
2015 |
QA, DILR, VARC |
100 |
180 minutes |
2014 |
QA & DI, LR & VARC |
100 |
170 minutes |
2013 |
QA & DI, LR & VARC |
60 |
140 minutes |
2012 |
QA & DI, LR & VARC |
60 |
140 minutes |
2011 |
QA & DI, LR & VARC |
60 |
140 minutes |
2010 |
QA, DILR, VARC |
60 |
150 minutes |
Prepare for CAT exam with previous years' question papers & prep guides. Get topper tips & expert advice.
Download HereCommonly asked questions


Generally, the official mock tests are available on the official website of CAT which is https./iimcat.ac.in. The examination is conducted by Indian Institutes of Management. Check out the below steps to know how get official CAT mock tests online:
- Aspirants are requested to visit the official website of CAT (https./iimcat.ac.in)
- Login in through the CAT credentials.
- Click on the "mock test" button on the left side of screen.
- Official CAT mock test is available for practise to candidates who have registered for exam.
- After that, the screen will display the instructions.
- After reading the instructions carefully, click on 'I am ready to begin' tab and start writing the exam.
Please keep checking the official website of CAT to have up-to-date information.



CAT Exam Preparation 2025
The preparation for CAT exam 2025 should include phase wise completion of the CAT syllabus, mock test practice and revision. For effective CAT preparation 2025 aspirants must keep in mind rhe following:
- Cover CAT syllabus thoroughly. Try not to leave any topic as questions can be asked from anywhere.
- Attempt a good number of CAT mock tests to develop speed and accuracy.
- Dedicate time on regular revision .so that you're always well versed.
- Learn mental maths for quick calculation.
- Practice a good number of RC passage from previous years' CAT question papers.
- Opt for online problrem solving sessions to learn new tricks and techniques.
Check the table below for important articles on CAT 2025 exam preparation.
- CAT Preparation Plan 2025: Ultimate Tips from Experts
- Strategies to Score 99+ Percentile in CAT 2025
- 2 Months to CAT Exam: These Many Mock Tests will Optimise Your Score
- Important CAT Quant formulas
- CAT Preparation 2025: Tips From Toppers
CAT Mock Test
Practice free CAT mock test by Shiksha to assess your preparation level. These mock tests are on par with official CAT mock test in terms of difficulty level. You can use below CAT mock tests by simply clicking on the link. The CAT mock tests are accompanied by solutions and answers.
CAT Mock Test 1 | CAT Mock Test 1 Solutions |
CAT Mock Test 2 | CAT Mock Test 2 Solutions |
Watch expert video on CAT preparation with Mock Tests:
Learn tips and tricks for optimising performance in the exam from CAT toppers. Check below CAT topper tips and know how the previous year toppers prepared for the exam.
Commonly asked questions

Usually, it is recommended to start CAT preparation about a year or nine months in advance. However, one can prepare for this exam even in six months if they put 8-10 hours daily into it. Candidates who have attempted the CAT before may not face a lot of hurdles in six-month preparation as they have a foundation in CAT preparation from previous year, but candidates who are appearing in the exam for the first time may face obstacles, mostly related to accuracy. The syllabus of CAT is vast and includes a lot of reading.
One also has to spend a lot of time in practice sessions and mock tests to be able to master all types of CAT questions - easy, moderate and tough. If you are a student of engineering/technical or commerce background you will need to pay extra attention on VARC .
However, you'll be able to manage the syllabus of DILR and Quantitative Aptitude with adequate practice of topics. But if you are a student from Arts background, it is advised to start CAT preparation much earlier because you will have to brush up a lot of Mathematics. Reading Comprehension is one subject that cannot be mastered by student belonging to any academic stream, if their English comprehension is not strong. To develop reading habit all CAT aspirants will have to start much earlier.


The key to improving score in Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT is practice, practice and more practice. Listed below are some tips you can apply while preparing for CAT.
- Practice Mental Maths to be less dependent on calculators
- Make short notes of formulae and sample questions to revise them on the go
- Develop the ability to choose which questions to answer in the exam
- Avoid negative marking. Don’t attempt questions you are not sure of
- Practice Quants questions in a time bound manner to be able to utilize maximum time in the main exam
- Solving a sample question is not enough. Practice the same set of questions multiple time


CAT Admit Card 2025
Admit Card: Nov ' 25
Commonly asked questions
CAT admit card is not sent to any candidate by post. Every candidate has to download their CAT hall ticket from the IIMCAT website by using their login credentials created at the time of exam registration. The announcement of release of CAT admit card is done by the exam convening IIM about 10-15 days before the exam. The CAT admit card release date is also shared beforehand so that candidates can download their admit cards in time.

The digital copy of the CAT 2024 admit card will not be accepted at the test centres as a valid document, thus you cannot show it, to gain entry. As per the official guidelines, only the colour print out of the admit card on A4 size sheet will be accepted as valid. Candidates must also affix a passport size photo, preferably the same as uploaded in the CAT application form.
The examination authority does not accept digital admit card as valid document as it is to be signed and stamped by the test centre staff for proof of candidate’s attendance. One copy of the CAT admit card of every candidate is also retained by the authorities, thus the need for the print out.

The CAT admit card is a main document of identification of the candidate. It is the proof that the candidate has fill the examination form and is eligible to appear in the exam. To help in candidate identification, the following details are mentioned on every candidate's CAT admit card 2024. Candidate's name Candidate's roll number Candidate's gender Candidate's category Candidate's date of birth Candidate's signature Candidate's photo Candidate's address Examination year Examination date Examination slot Examination timings Reporting time Test centre address Google link to locate test centre Along with these details, other information such as exam day guidelines, examination process in the test lab, items to carry, items not to carry, activities prohibited, dress code and entry process are also mentioned on the CAT admit card.

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.

Candidates will know their allotted CAT exam centre only from the admit card. There is no way to know the test centre before the release of the CAT admit card. The examination authority allots a test centre to aspirants in the city of their first preference as mentioned in the city. So, candidates can atleast be assured that they will get a test centre in the city they had chosen as first preference in the CAT application form. However, the venue will be mentioned only on the candidate’s admit card. So as soon as the CAT admit card is released, candidates must check the test city and test centre details. In order to avoid any confusion, they must visit the centre at least once before the exam day.

CAT Answer Key 2025
Answer Key: Dec ' 25
Commonly asked questions
Nirma University is a famous institute for undergraduate and postgraduate studies at different levels. The institute has a management department for MBA/PGDA program. The duration of this programme is two years. It is dedicated to marketing, finance and other analytical as well practical aspects of business management.
Admission in MBA programme is accepted through the Common Admission Test (CAT) examination. The expected cut-off for MBA admissions at Nirma University for the year 2024 is somewhere between 75 to 85 percentile. The overall cut-off ratio can be described as 60 percent in the overall CAT examination score, followed by atleast 40 percent in each section of the examination.
To know more about Nirma University, candidates should refer to the official website of the institute or shiksha.



CAT cut-offs are not announced along with the CAT result. The cut-offs are also not released publicly. They are known after a few days of the result announcement when the IIMs and other colleges start their shortlisting process. The IIMs will open the shortlist window based on the CAT cut-offs two to three days after the result announcement. The CAT percentile of candidates shortlisted for the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) can be considered the cut-off for that IIM. For example, if a candidate with a CAT percentile of 99 belonging to the General category is selected for the WAT/GD-PI of IIM Calcutta, then the CAT cut-off for IIM Calcutta is 99 percentile. Only those candidates who make it to the WAT/GD-PI round of IIMs will get to know the cut-offs.


CAT Exam Analysis
Commonly asked questions

In 2024, over 2.81 Lacs candidates appeared for CAT out of which 14 candidates scored 100 percentile and 29 candidates scored 99.99 percentile. The overall scoring pattern was similar to previous years. In a poll conducted by Shiksha, 20 % of the respondents said they scored above 99 percentile, 24% scored above 90 percentile, 21% scored above 80 percentile, 18 percent scored above 70 percentile and 60 percentile. Total number of respondents to the poll was 4129.

To get admission to the MBA course at Great Lakes Gurgaon, candidates need to appear for the CAT/XAT/CMAT exam and have a valid score. Further, candidates who meet the overall cutoff need to participate and perform well in the PI round for admission. Considering the past few years' cutoff percentile, Great Lakes Gurgaon has maintained an overall CAT/XAT percentile of 70 for its MBA course for the General All India category students. Therefore, Aspirants must look to score above the 70 percentile in the CAT/XAT exam to high their chances for admission to the Great Lakes Gurgaon MBA course. However, the cutoffs may change for different category students therefore candidates are advised to check the Great Lakes Gurgaon official website regularly for the latest updates on cutoff scores.


The ICFAI University, Dehradun does not typically accept CAT (Common Admission Test) scores for admission to its programs. CAT scores are primarily used for admissions to various management programs offered by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and some other participating institutes.
For admission to The ICFAI University, Dehradun, the university generally conducts its own entrance examinations or may consider other national-level entrance exams such as JEE Main for certain programs like B.Tech. The specific entrance exams and their respective cutoff scores or percentile may vary depending on the programme you are interested in.

CAT 2025 Result and Scorecard PDF
Result: Dec ' 25
Commonly asked questions


CAT toppers are determined on the basis of candidate percentiles. Those whose overall percentiles are 100 and 99.99, they are declared the toppers of CAT exam. To calculate CAT percentiles, raw scores of every CAT candidate is normalized on the same scale and the following formula is applied:
P = (R/N) * 100
where,
P= Percentile score
R= Rank of the candidate arrived at on the basis of scaled CAT score or the total number of test takers ranking below a particular candidate.
N= Number of candidates who appeared in CAT exam (all three sessions)

CAT score is the total marks a candidate receives out of the maximum marks, calculated by subtracting the marks of incorrect answers from the marks of correct answers. For every correct answer, +3 is given to the candidates, for every incorrect -1 is deducted from the overall score. Apart from this, a candidate's rank is calculated by normalizing the scores of all candidates and placing them on a common scale based on the difficulty and attempts of the candidates. It is important to understand the difference between CAT score and CAT percentile because IIMs and all MBA colleges in India select candidates on the basis of their CAT and other MBA related exam percentiles and not score.
The CAT percentile is referred to as the rank of a candidate against the rest of the test takers. The percentile indicates the total percentage of candidates who scored less than or equal to a particular candidate in CAT.
Suppose,1,000 people take an exam and you bag the top rank, which means 999 candidates scored less than you. Then your CAT percentile will be 999/1000*100 = 99.9.

Yes, the CAT results for all the exam slots are announced on the same day. In 2022, the exam was conducted in three slots. The results of all the three slots were announced on the same day, I. e. December 21, 2022. In CAT 2023 too, the results of all three slots were declared on the same day. The slot name will be mentioned on the CAT scorecard. The link to download the scorecard for all the slots will be same. Candidates will be required to log into their CAT accounts and download the scorecard from student dashboard. The CAT result is declared in the first week of January but for the last two years, it has been declared in December. If the CAT convening IIM for 2024 follows the same trend, then the CAT 2024 result can also be released in December instead of January.

IIM CAT Cut Offs
Commonly asked questions
The Indian Institute of Management Jammu accepts CAT scores for admission to the MBA/PGDM courses. The Institute does not release the final CAT cutoff publicly and only allows access through account login to candidates who appear in the CAT exam. However, candidates seeking admission must aim to secure a cutoff percentile range between 92 and 95 to improve their chances for admission at IIM Jammu. This is for the General AI category students, and the cutoff data varies for different categories.

As per the IIM CAP criteria, the qualifying CAT cut off for the batch of 2023-25 is 93 percentile for the General category students. So students belonging to the General category can not get into IIM Rnachi with 85 percentile. However, other categories student can easily get a call for the Personal Interview (PI) round for IIM Ranchi admission. Final selection, however, is entirely depends on candidates' performance in the PI round. Apart from PI, IIM final selection process also consider other criteria such as Verbal Comprehension, Verbal Comprehension and Verbal Comprehension, among others.


To get admission at FMS Delhi, you must be eligible for the particularly for MBA course. The cutoff for the MBA programme should be minimum 50%. It is imperative that you verify the most recent eligibility requirements and cutoff for the course you are interested in, though, since they can have changed since the data displayed in the search results. Check out the eligibility criteria for the admission 2025:
- Candidates must have a bachelor's degree with minimum 50 per cent aggregate or equivalent CGPA (45 per cent aggregate for SC, ST and PWD/DA category) to appear in CAT 2025.
- Candidates who have completed a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA/FCAI) with the required percentage can also appear for CAT.
- Candidates appearing for the final year of bachelor's degree/equivalent qualification or awaiting the result are also eligible to appear for CAT 2024 exam. However, the aggregate of their first and second year marks must meet the minimum score requirement.
- 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.

CAT cut-offs are not announced along with the CAT result. The cut-offs are also not released publicly. They are known after a few days of the result announcement when the IIMs and other colleges start their shortlisting process. The IIMs will open the shortlist window based on the CAT cut-offs two to three days after the result announcement. The CAT percentile of candidates shortlisted for the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) can be considered the cut-off for that IIM. For example, if a candidate with a CAT percentile of 99 belonging to the General category is selected for the WAT/GD-PI of IIM Calcutta, then the CAT cut-off for IIM Calcutta is 99 percentile. Only those candidates who make it to the WAT/GD-PI round of IIMs will get to know the cut-offs.

Top Colleges Accepting CAT Exam Score
Commonly asked questions


The general category CAT percentile cutoff at IIM Raipur normally lies between 92 and 95%, though it could differ somewhat depending on the category (OBC, SC, ST) and applicant pool. At somewhat lower percentiles, candidates with a solid academic background and pertinent professional experience may be given consideration. A comprehensive review that takes into account the candidate's performance on the Written Ability Test (WAT), academic background, and personal interview (PI) is required for the ultimate selection. The likelihood of being shortlisted for the following round of the selection process increases with higher scores.


IRMA accepts both CAT sectional and overall cutoff for admission to the Management courses. The institute has released the CAT qualifying cutoff 2024. As per the data availble on the official webiste, IRMA overall qualifying CAT percentile is 85 for General AI category students.
Candidates can refer to the table given below to check out the IRMA section cutoff for CAT:
Sections | CAT Cutoff Percentile |
Overall | 85 |
Quants | 50 |
VA-RC | 50 |
DI-LR | 50 |

IIMCAT Contact Information
Queries regarding CAT Registration, Application and Payment Processing, Document uploading:
-800-210-0175 (Toll Free)
Call on the Toll free number, Monday to Saturday 9:00AM to 6:00PM (excluding National holidays).
cathelpdesk@iimcat.co.in
Academic queries like eligibility, category and PwD certificate contact CAT Centre office with the following details.
Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (excluding holidays)
Ph: 033-7121 1104
email: cat2024_helpdesk@iimcal.ac.in
Important FAQs on CAT 2025
Commonly asked questions
IIM selection criteria for all the 21 campuses is same and includes selection of candidates through three stages. CAT score Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion GD and Personal Interview (PI) Academic record, work experience Academic and gender diversity CAT exam score is the first parameter on which candidates are shortlisted for admission. In the first state of IIM admission, the institutes shortlist candidates for WAT, GD and PI on the basis of their CAT score and class 10, 12 and graduation marks. The cut offs for shortlisting of candidates is between 95-100 percentile (for SC/ST/PwD candidates the cut offs are lower). These shortlisted candidates have to then appear for What, GD and PI round. Those who clear this round are considered for final admission. For the final selection, every IIMs takes into consideration the following aspects: CAT score What, GD and PI performance Class 10 and 12 marks Graduation marks Work experience Academic diversity Gender diversity.


CAT result is announced at the iimcat.ac.in website. Candidates who appear for the test can download their scorecards from the official website by using their login credentials. The CAT result download link is made live about 20 days after the exam. Candidates can download their scorecards by using their login credentials.
Given below is the process to follow for downloading the CAT result.
- Visit the official website of CAT exam
- Click on CAT scorecard download
- Enter your CAT ID and password
- Click on the scorecard tab
- Download the CAT result PDF
Process to check the CAT result on smart phone:
- Open a web browser on the mobile phone
- Type the url of CAT exam: iimcat.ac.in
- Click on CAT scorecard tab
- Enter your CAT application number and password
- Click on the scorecard tab to open the document

Yes, DSM accepts CAT scores for MBA admission. However, for MBA from DSM/ USME , those with a valid score in MAT can also apply. Candidates seeking admission to MBA offered via DSM or USME are required to apply online on the official website of the Common Management Admission Committee (CMAC Delhi). Additionally, they must meet the below eligibility for admission:
- Must have completed a UG degree with a minimum aggregate ranging between 50% and 60% (10% relaxation for SC/ST/ PwD candidates)
- Final year students with a proof of eligibility can also apply



CAT Exam
Student Forum
Answered 2 days ago
Although both the CAT and the JEE Mains are a combination of assessments; they each use a different types of questions for each exam. The CAT exam asked questions about verbal ability, reading comprehension, data interpretation, logical reasoning, and quantitative reasoning. The questions tested rea
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Obtaining 54 marks in CUET PG and belonging to general status would make furthering you education next to impossible as the cutoffs for central universities (CU), like Delhi University (DU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Banaras Hindu University (BHU), tend to be quite higher. However, some
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
No, you can't avail PGDM course at 70 percentile, you should atleast have 85 percentile in CAT. As per the Welingkar Mumbai CAT cutoff 2024, the last-round Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) course stood at 85 for admission to institute for the General category students in the All India quot
V
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
CAT 2024 result has been out. Candidates willing to opt for PGDM course must get ready for the admission process at XISS Ranchi. Admission at XISS Ranchi consist of several stages wherein it first release its cutoffs for the MBA courses. After that, students were invited to appear for Written Abilit
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
Getting into PUMBA can be possible through CAT, CMAT, MAT, and MAHCET exams. Based on PUMBA MBA cutoff 2024, the percentile for CAT, CMAT, MAT, and MAHCET stood at 95, 85, 80, and 99.95 for the General All India category candidates.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
PUMBA allows admission to CAT exam scores. Considering the PUMBA CAT cutoff 2024, the needed percentile to get into the institute stood at 95. So, you can definitely get admission to PUMBA with this much of percentile.
M
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
In 2024, the PUMBA cutoff has been released for MBA course based on CAT exam. As per the PUMBA CAT cutoff 2024, the needed percentile to get into the institute stood at 85 for the open AI category candidates. Further, the cutoff remained the constant over the years.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
The Great Lakes Institute of Management cutoff 2024 for MBA has been announced for the open category candidates. The institute has accepted CAT and XAT exam scores to offers PGDM courses to the candidates.
As per GLIM Chennai cutoff 2024, has set a cutoff score of around 90 and 85 percentile in CAT a
C
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
Great Lakes Institute of Management allows candidates to take admission through CAT and XAT scores. Considering the Great Lakes Institute of Management cutoff 2024, getting 95 percentile in CAT is sufficient to secure a seat for the MBA course. The CAT cutoff for GLIM stood at 90 for admission to MB
V
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, candidates can get admission in the Maharashtra Institute of Technology MBA course without CAT, since the institute accepts multiple other national and state-level entrance exams for its MBA course. Candidates can go for the MAH MBA/ MMS CET/ GMAT/ MAT/ ATMA/ XAT/ CMAT, etc., exams for MBA admi
M
Contributor-Level 9
1632 Institutes accepting CAT
IIM Ahmedabad - Indian Institute of Management
Vastrapur, Ahmedabad • Public
IIM Bangalore - Indian Institute of Management
Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore • Public
- CAT, GMAT
- ₹ 24.50 Lakh
- 2 years
- |
- Full Time
IIM Kozhikode - Indian Institute of Management
Kozhikode • Public
Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi
Hauz khas, Delhi • Public
What kind of questions are asked in CAT and JEE Mains?