Last Call for CAT 2025: Registration Deadline Nears for MBA Aspirants

For thousands of management aspirants, the countdown to a crucial deadline has begun. The registration window for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, your gateway to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top-tier business schools, will close on September 13, 2025. With only a couple of weeks remaining, candidates are advised to complete their applications immediately to avoid any last-minute technical glitches.

The CAT exam, scheduled for November 30, 2025, is a single-day, three-shift, computer-based test conducted by IIM Kozhikode this year. It remains the most important management entrance exam for admission to top-tier MBA and PGDM programs in India.

Key Details and the Online Application Process

The registration process, which began on August 1, 2025, is straightforward and entirely online. Aspirants must carefully follow these steps to ensure a successful application:

1. New Candidate Registration: Visit the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in. Click on "New Candidate Registration" and provide basic details like your name, date of birth, email ID, and mobile number. A unique user ID and password will be sent to your registered email and mobile number.
2. Fill the Application Form: Log in with your new credentials and fill in the detailed application form. This includes entering your personal information, academic qualifications from Class 10 to graduation, and any work experience you may have.
3. Upload Documents: Upload scanned copies of a recent passport-sized photograph and your signature. Candidates applying under a reserved category (SC/ST/PwD/NC-OBC/EWS) must also upload a valid category certificate in PDF format.
4. Pay the Registration Fee: The final step is to pay the application fee online. The fee is INR 2,600 for General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates, while it is INR 1,300 for SC, ST, and PwD candidates. The application form is not considered complete without a successful fee payment.

Acing the Exam: What You Need to Know

The CAT 2025 exam pattern remains unchanged, consisting of 68 questions across three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). The total duration is 120 minutes, with a 40-minute time limit for each section.

A correct answer will earn you +3 marks, while an incorrect MCQ answer leads to a -1 mark penalty. There is no negative marking for non-MCQ questions (Type-in-the-Answer).

Given the high competition, it is crucial for aspirants to complete their registration on time and dedicate the remaining months to rigorous preparation. For more detailed guides and the latest news on management entrance exams, follow Only Education. You can find a comprehensive list of B-schools that accept CAT scores by visiting https://www.onlyeducation.in/exams-list/management.