CAT 2025 Notification OUT: Here’s What You Must Know

The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode) has officially released the notification for CAT 2025 – the Common Admission Test, India’s top MBA entrance exam

Key Dates

• Notification released: July 27, 2025
  
• Registration begins: August 1, 2025 at 10 AM
  
• Last date to apply: September 13, 2025 at 5 PM
  
• Admit card download: November 5 to November 30, 2025
  
• Exam date: November 30, 2025 (one day, conducted in three shifts)
  
• Results expected: First week of January, 2026 (tentative)

Eligibility

• A bachelor’s degree with minimum 50% marks (or equivalent GPA) is required for General/EWS/OBC candidates
  
• 45% marks are acceptable for SC/ST/PWD category candidates
  
• Final‑year students awaiting results can also apply, provided they meet the eligibility criteria later

Application Fees

• Rs 2,600 for General, OBC, EWS applicants
  
• Rs 1,300 for SC, ST and PwD candidates
  This is a modest hike compared to previous years

Exam Pattern & Structure

CAT 2025 will follow the familiar three‑section format:

1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) – 24 questions, 40 minutes
   
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) – 22 questions, 40 minutes
   
3. Quantitative Ability (QA) – 22 questions, 40 minutes
   Total duration: 2 hours (120 minutes).
   Scoring: +3 for each correct answer; –1 for each wrong multiple choice question. No negative marking for TITA (type‑in‑answer) questions

Exam Centres

Tests will be held in nearly 170 cities across India. Applicants can select up to five preferred test cities during registration. Allocation will depend on availability.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official CAT website: iimcat.ac.in
   
2. Register using a valid email ID and mobile number
   
3. Fill in personal, academic, and work‑experience details
   
4. Upload required documents (photograph, signature, category certificate, etc.)
   
5. Pay the fee online and submit the form
   
6. Download confirmation page and retain a printout

CAT is the gateway to over 21 IIMs and many top business schools like FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, IITs and more. With over 3 lakh candidates expected to take CAT 2025, it’s one of the most competitive exams in India.