CAT Exam Date (30 Nov), Registration date, form correction, answer key, and mock test dates

Common Admission Test (CAT)

Notification Release Date
02nd August, 2025

Ridhima Jindal
Ridhima Jindal

Table of Content

CAT 2025 Exam Date is 30 November 2025 (Out). This year, IIM Kozhikode will conduct the Common Admission Test. The exam will be conducted in three shifts and there are more than 375 CAT Exam Centres across 170 cities in the country.

CAT stands for Common Admission Test and it is a national level and the only MBA entrance examination conducted for admission to the 21 Indian Institutes of Technology (IIMs). Besides IIMs, there are more than 1200 B-schools across the country that accept CAT Score.

The online registration for CAT 2025 Exam is expected to begin from 1st August 2025. The last date to apply for CAT Exam 2025 will most likely be September 20, 2025. Read below to get more information on CAT Exam Dates 2025.

CAT Exam Dates 2025 and Schedule

The CAT exam date has been announced by IIM Kozhikode and the exam will be conducted on 30th November 2025. While the official CAT calendar is yet to be released, candidates can check the tentative schedule here based on the last year dates.

Event

Dates (tentative)

CAT 2025 official notification release

August 1, 2025

CAT 2025 Registration Starts

August 1, 2025

Last Date to Fill CAT Application Form

September 20, 2025

CAT Application Form Correction Window

28 to 30 September 2025

CAT Admit Card 2025 Release Date

November 5, 2025

CAT 2025 Exam Date

November 30, 2025 (Released)

CAT Answer Key Release Date

1st Week of December 2025

CAT Answer Key Objection Raising Window

1st Week of December 2025

CAT 2025 Result Declaration

1st Week of January 2025

IIM Counselling Process

February 2025

CAT Exam 2025 - Key Highlights

CAT Exam is the toughest MBA exam which is conducted annually in an online mode i.e. CAT Exam is a computer based test. There are three shifts in a single day in which the exam is conducted. The total time duration for the CAT Exam is 2 hours with a sectional time limit.

The difficulty level of the exam ranges from moderate to high. The question paper of CAT Exam will have 66 questions and these questions will be in Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) format. Below mentioned are the highlights of CAT 2025 Exam.

CAT Exam Features

Details

CAT Registration Process

Online

CAT Exam Fees

General & OBC - INR 2400

Reserved Category - INR 1200

CAT Eligibility

Candidates must secure at least 50% marks in aggregate from a recognized university. (45% for SC/ST candidates)

CAT Sections

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

Quantitative Ability (QA)

CAT Exam Pattern

Computer Based Test

Total 66 questions (MCQs + Non MCQs)

CAT Marking Scheme

+3 for correct answer

-1 for incorrect attempt

No negative marking for Non MCQs and unattempted questions

CAT Exam Duration

2 hours i.e. 120 minutes (40 minutes per section)

No. of Shifts of CAT Exam

3

No. of Applicants

3.30 lakh (as per 2023 data)

No. of CAT Test Cities

150

When will CAT Application Form Release?

IIM Kozhikode is expected to release the CAT 2025 Application Form on 1 August 2025. The authorities will release CAT Application Form on the official website of CAT i.e. iimcat.ac.in. Before proceeding to fill the application form of CAT Exam, candidates are required to first create an account by registering themselves. CAT Registration consists of entering a few personal details such as Name, Number, Email ID, etc.

After the registration is completed, candidates must fill the CAT Exam Form by entering other details such as Personal, Educational, and Professional (if any). They must also upload their scanned copy of passport sized photograph and signature.

Once the registration and CAT form filling is done, candidates must make online cat exam fee payment of INR 2500 for General category candidates and INR 1250 for reserved category candidates.

Some of the points that candidates must keep in mind while filling the application form of CAT 2025:

  • The CAT Exam Form is to be submitted before the CAT 2025 registration deadline. After the deadline, no CAT Form will be accepted.
  • The amount of CAT Exam Fees is non refundable in any circumstances.
  • The payment of CAT Fees is mandatory while filling up the application form of CAT.
  • Candidates who already appeared in the previous session of CAT Exam will also be required to register again for the CAT 2025 Exam and the previous login ID will not be valid.

CAT Form Correction Dates 2025

After the CAT Registration Process and candidates have successfully filled the application form of CAT 2025, the examination conducting body will provide students with a chance to edit a few basic fields in the already submitted forms. The authorities make the application correction window live for students who wish to make changes in their application forms.

Read more about the CAT application form correction process here

Candidates will be allowed to update photo, signature, and test city preference in their forms. No other fields will be made available for any kind of edit.

What is the CAT Admit Card Release Date?

CAT 2025 Admit Card may be released around 24 October 2025. The admit card of the MBA exam will be released through online mode only. Candidates who have registered themselves for the exam will have to download their CAT Admit Cards by visiting the official website of CAT - iimcat ac in 2025. They must use their login credentials in order to download it.

Candidates can download their respective admit cards until the CAT exam date. The admit card of CAT Exam is a mandatory document that candidates must carry to the examination centre. Candidates with a digital copy of the CAT Admit Card will not be accepted as valid.

Also View → CAT Exam Pattern 2025

CAT Syllabus PDF download for 2025

CAT Mock Test Release Date

The official CAT Mock Test Date is usually decided by the IIM conducting the exam. The official CAT mock test is made available at iimcat.ac.in only a few days before the exam is scheduled. Every aspirant who applies for the CAT Exam must attempt the official CAT Mock Test to know the exam pattern and the types of questions asked in the CAT Question Paper.

Attempting the official CAT Mock Test is one of the most helpful activities that candidates can do to perform well in the exam.

CAT 2025 Exam Date

The CAT Exam 2025 will be conducted on November 30, 2025 and in online mode since it is a computer based test. There are various centres at which the CAT 2025 Exam will take place. There will be three shifts across which the exam will be conducted.

  • Morning Shift - 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
  • Afternoon Shift - 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
  • Evening Shift - 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM

CAT Answer Key Release Date

The official answer key of CAT 2025 Exam and the response sheet of those who appeared in the exam will be released within a week the exam is conducted. If a candidate wishes to raise any objection in the answer key, they can do so by filling the answer key objection form. These raised objections will be verified by the experts and a revised CAT Answer Key will be released after the verification process is done.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CAT Admit Card Release date?

IIM Kozhikode is expected to release the CAT Admit Card in October 2025. This CAT Admit Card release date will be declared on the official website of CAT - iimcat.ac.in.

What are the dates for CAT?

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.

Is CAT conducted twice a year?

No, the Common Admission Test (CAT) is not conducted twice a year. It is held only once annually. The exam is typically held on the last Sunday of November. The CAT is a standardized test used for admission to various management programs, including those at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).

How many CAT attempts are allowed?

There is no limit on the number of times a candidate can attempt the Common Admission Test (CAT). You can take the CAT exam as many times as you want, provided you meet the eligibility criteria each year.

Who is eligible for CAT?

To be eligible for the Common Admission Test (CAT), candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification with a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates). Final year students awaiting results are also eligible to apply.

When will CAT 2025 syllabus be announced?

CAT 2025 syllabus will be announced along with the exam schedule in July 2025. The CAT 2025 conducting IIM will release the exam notification carrying application dates, exam dates, eligibility criteria, fees, courses and CAT syllabus. The syllabus for CAT 2025 will include all the important topics of Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation.

Can I fill the CAT registration form before, and submit the fee later?

Yes, candidates can fill out the CAT application form on one day and pay the fee on another day, as it is not mandatory to register for the CAT exam, fill out the application form, or pay the fee in one go. The registration and application window will remain open for candidates who have registered for the exam and created an ID until the last date of form submission. The applicant can log in and check/fill/edit the CAT application form anytime during the form-filling period. Only the phone number and email ID will not be editable once registration is complete. However, candidates need to submit the CAT form and application fee before the deadline to be eligible to appear for the exam. The CAT application form will not be submitted until the fee payment is completed. The fee can be paid via debit card, credit card, net banking, and UPI wallet.

From where can I download CAT result?

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.

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