CAT 2025 Registration Continues: Aspirants Eye November 30 Exam Date

The CAT 2025 registration window is active until September 13. The exam is scheduled for November 30. This article provides a comprehensive guide on eligibility, fees, exam pattern, and important dates for aspirants.

The annual race for a coveted seat at India's premier B-schools has officially begun. The registration window for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 is now live, drawing in thousands of aspiring managers from across the country. The official notification, released by IIM Kozhikode, the organizing body for this year's exam, confirms that the CAT 2025 will be held on Sunday, November 30, in three separate sessions. With a little over three months until the big day, this marks a critical phase for aspirants to not only complete their registration but also intensify their preparation.

The registration period commenced on August 1, 2025, and will close on September 13, 2025, at 5:00 PM. This timeline is a crucial reminder for all candidates to submit their applications well in advance to avoid any last-minute technical glitches. Following the close of registration, a short edit window will be made available for successful applicants to make minor corrections to fields like their photograph, signature, and test city preferences. The admit card for the exam will be released on November 5, 2025, and will be available for download until the exam date. The tentative result date is slated for the first week of January 2026.

Eligibility and Application Details

To be eligible for CAT 2025, candidates must hold a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA from a recognized university. For candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) categories, a relaxation is provided, with the minimum requirement set at 45%. Final-year students are also eligible to apply provisionally, provided they can furnish proof of their degree completion by the date stipulated by the respective IIMs. There is no age limit, making the exam accessible to a wide range of candidates, from recent graduates to seasoned professionals seeking a career change.

The application fee for CAT 2025 has been set at ₹2,600 for General, EWS, and OBC candidates. For candidates from the SC, ST, and PwD categories, a concessional fee of ₹1,300 is applicable. The fee must be paid online via credit card, debit card, or net banking.

The Exam Pattern: A Test of Strategy

The CAT 2025 is a computer-based test with a total duration of 120 minutes. It is a sectional-timed exam, meaning candidates are allotted 40 minutes for each of the three sections and cannot move to the next section before the time is up. The three sections are:

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): This section tests a candidate's proficiency in English language skills, with a focus on reading comprehension passages, para-jumbles, and summary questions.
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): Widely considered a challenging section, it assesses a candidate's ability to analyze and interpret data presented in various forms (tables, graphs, etc.) and solve logical puzzles.
3. Quantitative Ability (QA): This section evaluates a candidate's mathematical aptitude, covering topics from arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and modern mathematics.

The exam follows a strict marking scheme, with +3 marks for every correct answer and a penalty of -1 for every incorrect Multiple Choice Question (MCQ). There is no negative marking for non-MCQ questions, also known as Type in the Answer (TITA) questions.

Your Gateway to Top B-Schools

While the CAT is a mandatory gateway to all 21 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), its importance extends far beyond these premier institutions. The CAT score is accepted by over 1,300 non-IIM B-schools, including prestigious names like Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) Delhi, Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon, SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) Mumbai, and the Department of Management Studies (DMS) at IITs. A high percentile in CAT is therefore not just a ticket to an IIM but a key to unlock a world of opportunities in the management education sector.

As the registration window remains open, aspirants are encouraged to complete their applications promptly and dedicate the remaining months to rigorous, focused preparation. With the exam date now confirmed, the pathway to a management career is clearer than ever, but success will depend on a well-thought-out strategy and consistent effort.