CAT 2025 Notification Out: Aspirants Scrutinize Key Dates and Exam Pattern!

The wait is over for lakhs of MBA aspirants across India! The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode, the organizing body for this year's Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, officially released the comprehensive CAT 2025 Notification on Sunday, July 27, 2025. This much-anticipated release kicks off the admission cycle for MBA/PGDM programs at the 21 IIMs and numerous other top-tier business schools nationwide.

With the notification now in the public domain, aspirants are meticulously reviewing the key dates, eligibility criteria, and crucial details about the exam pattern, which largely aligns with the previous year's format.

Key Dates for CAT 2025:

The CAT 2025 notification has laid out the following essential dates for candidates to mark on their calendars:

• Online Registration Starts: August 1, 2025 (10:00 AM)
• Online Registration Closes: September 13, 2025 (5:00 PM)
• Admit Card Download: November 5 – November 30, 2025
• CAT 2025 Exam Date: Sunday, November 30, 2025 (to be conducted in three shifts)
• Provisional Answer Key Release: Expected in the first week of December 2025
• Result Declaration: Expected in the first week of January 2026

Candidates are advised to adhere strictly to these deadlines and complete all formalities well in advance to avoid last-minute technical glitches.

Exam Pattern and Key Changes (or Lack Thereof):

A significant point of interest for aspirants is always the exam pattern. While some minor adjustments were seen in previous years, the CAT 2025 exam pattern is expected to largely remain consistent with CAT 2024.

Total Questions: 68 questions

Sections: The exam will comprise three sections:

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC): 24 questions

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR): 22 questions

Quantitative Ability (QA): 22 questions

• Duration: The total exam duration will be 120 minutes (2 hours), with a sectional time limit of 40 minutes for each section. Candidates cannot move between sections.
• Marking Scheme: +3 marks for every correct answer and -1 for every incorrect Multiple Choice Question (MCQ). There will be no negative marking for Type-In-The-Answer (TITA) questions.
• Exam Mode: Computer-based test (CBT) conducted at designated test centres.

Notably, the exam fees have seen an increase this year. The application fee for General/OBC/EWS candidates is Rs. 2600, while for SC/ST/PwD candidates, it is Rs. 1300.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST, and PwD categories). Final-year Bachelor's degree students are also eligible to apply provisionally.

Preparation Strategy Going Forward:

With the official dates and pattern confirmed, CAT aspirants should now intensify their preparation. This involves:

• Thorough Understanding: Deep dive into the syllabus of each section.
• Mock Test Practice: Regularly take full-length mock tests to adapt to the exam environment and manage time effectively within sectional limits.
• Analysis and Improvement: Analyze mock test performance to identify strengths and weaknesses and work on improving weaker areas.
• Stay Updated: Keep a close watch on the official CAT website (iimcat.ac.in) for any further announcements or the release of the official mock test.

The CAT 2025 Notification serves as the official launchpad for the journey towards a coveted management degree. Aspirants must now channel their efforts strategically to maximize their chances of securing admission to their dream B-school.