CAT 2025: Exam Date, Eligibility, Syllabus, Pattern, Preparation Tips, Registration

Conducted by one of the top IIMs every year by rotation, Common Admission Test is the largest MBA entrance exam for MBA admission in 21 IIMs and other top B-schools. So, it is the mandatory entrance exam for MBA admission 2026 in all the 21 IIMs, FMS Delhi, IIFT Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi and hundreds of other top B-schools in India. Total number of candidates who registered for CAT 2024 exam was 3.29 lakhs. However, total number of candidates who appeared in CAT 2024 exam was 2.93 lakhs only. Salient Points about the CAT Exam are:

• CAT is a computer-based test conducted at more than 155 test cities and 400+ test venues
• CAT exam duration is two hours. Time allotted for three sections is 40 minutes each. 
• CAT exam is divided into three sections of Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension; Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability
• CAT Exam score is mandatory requirement for IIM admissions. IIMs do not consider any other exam like XAT or GMAT for two-year full-time MBA/PGP admission. 

CAT 2025 will be conducted by IIM Kozhikode. CAT 2025 will be held on November 30, 2025. Check complete details about CAT exam 2025. 

Important dates and timelines for the IIM Common Admission Test 2025 are as below: 

Below are the important points regarding CAT 2025 eligibility criteria:

• A candidate with minimum 50% marks in graduation is eligible
• A final year student in graduation is also eligible
• There is no age limit to apply and appear in the exam
• Note that IIMs have different eligibility criteria for MBA Admissions 

Also Read: CAT Eligibility Criteria 2024   

CAT Exam pattern is divided in three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. Each section can be further divided into sub-sections. Since CAT exam is held in three slots, there are minor changes in the exam pattern for each slot. Also, from year to year, there are minor changes in CAT exam pattern, but the overall structure has remained the same. 

Overall, the CAT exam pattern has become more focused on conceptual clarity, time efficiency, and reasoning ability. Over the last five years, the CAT exam pattern has undergone several notable changes in its pattern, number of questions, and difficulty level. Check key changes in CAT exam pattern below. 

1. Total Number of Questions:
o In 2019 and 2020, CAT had 100 questions (VARC: 34, DILR: 32, QA: 34).
o From 2021 onwards, the number of questions was reduced to 66 (VARC: 24, DILR: 20, QA: 22), making the test shorter but more intense.
o This pattern has continued through CAT 2023 and is expected to remain in CAT 2025.

2. Time Duration:
o Until 2019, CAT had a 3-hour duration (60 minutes per section).
o From 2020 onwards, the exam duration was reduced to 2 hours, with 40 minutes per section, which increased the pressure on time management.

3. Sectional Pattern & Difficulty Level:
o The VARC section has seen a greater emphasis on Reading Comprehension, with fewer Verbal Ability questions like Odd One Out and Para Summary.
o DILR has become more reasoning-focused, with tougher logic-based sets and fewer straightforward data interpretation questions.
o QA has shifted towards Arithmetic, making it more accessible for non-engineering background candidates.

4. Question Types – MCQ vs. TITA:
o The TITA (Type in the Answer) questions have fluctuated but generally make up 25-30% of the total paper.
o The number of MCQs has reduced, making the paper more unpredictable, as TITA questions do not have negative marking.

5. Slot-wise Variations & Normalization:
o Since CAT is conducted in multiple slots, the level of difficulty has varied across different slots, requiring score normalization to ensure fairness in percentile calculations.

CAT 2025 Exam pattern (expected) and CAT previous year paper pattern is given below. 

CAT 2025 Exam Pattern (Expected) 

CAT 2024 Exam Pattern 
CAT 2024 Exam Pattern was same across all the three slots. Check table below. However, there were minor changes in section wise compositions. Check complete CAT 2024 exam analysis for details.  

CAT 2024 Exam Pattern for Slot 1, 2, 3 

CAT Section wise Paper Pattern 
The CAT exam pattern is divided into three sections, each of which can be further categorized into sub-sections. Since the exam is conducted in three different slots, there are minor variations in the exam pattern within the sections across slots. Check CAT Sectionwise composition for Slot 1 of CAT 2024 exam. 

CAT 2024 - Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension Section Breakdown

CAT 2024 - Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Section Breakdown

CAT 2024 Section wise Exam Pattern: Quantitative Ability 

Check CAT 2024 exam analysis for details.  

• CAT 2025 exam syllabus covers three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). While IIMs do not release a fixed syllabus, the CAT exam syllabus can be derived from CAT exam pattern. 
• The VARC section includes Reading Comprehension (RC), Paragraph Completion, Summary Writing, and Odd Sentence questions, testing candidates on their reading speed, comprehension, and verbal reasoning. The DILR section assesses analytical and problem-solving skills through data-based caselets, logical puzzles, seating arrangements, tournaments, and graphs/charts-based interpretation.
• The Quantitative Ability (QA) section focuses on mathematical concepts, with questions from Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Modern Math, and Number Systems. Arithmetic topics such as Percentages, Ratios, Profit & Loss, and Time & Work form a significant portion of the QA section. Algebra includes Linear & Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, and Logarithms, while Geometry covers Circles, Triangles, and Mensuration. Modern Math topics like Permutation & Combination and Probability also appear in the exam. Check complete details in tables below. 

Read more about CAT Syllabus for different sections.

CAT 2025 Preparation requires a 6-9 months of preparation period. So now is the right time to focus on your CAT Preparation to do well in the CAT exam. Check tips on how to prepare for CAT 2025 exam.

• Understanding the CAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus: The CAT exam consists of three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Each section is time-bound, with 40 minutes per section, making time management crucial. The syllabus covers key topics such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry, modern math, logical reasoning, and reading comprehension. While IIMs do not release an official syllabus, past trends indicate the key areas to focus on.
• Section-wise Preparation Strategy: For VARC, candidates should develop strong reading habits, focus on comprehension, and practice summary writing and para jumbles. DILR requires regular practice with logical puzzles, graphs, seating arrangements, and data caselets. In QA, arithmetic and algebra are the most important areas, and aspirants must focus on conceptual clarity, speed, and accuracy through mock tests and topic-wise practice.
• Importance of Mock Tests and Analysis: Mock tests are the best preparation tool for CAT, helping aspirants adapt to the exam pattern, improve time management, and assess strengths and weaknesses. Leading test series providers like IMS, TIME, Career Launcher, and Cracku offer mocks with varying difficulty levels. Analyzing performance after each mock is crucial to identify mistakes and improve accuracy.
• Best CAT Preparation Books and Resources: Some of the most recommended books include Arun Sharma’s Quantitative Aptitude, Nishit K. Sinha’s Logical Reasoning, and Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis for VARC. Coaching institutes like Elites Grid, Rodha, and 2IIM also provide structured study materials for effective preparation.
• Month-wise CAT Preparation Strategy: Aspirants should start by building fundamentals in the first few months (January-April), move to intensive practice (May-June), and focus on mock tests and time management (July-September). The last two months should be dedicated to final revision and exam strategy. In the final weeks, candidates should avoid learning new topics and focus on light revision and mental preparation.

With a structured approach, consistent practice, and regular mock tests, aspirants can significantly improve their chances of scoring well in CAT 2025.

How did CAT Toppers Prepare for Each Section? Check Strategy

Sectional preparation strategy as followed by these toppers is shared below: 

CAT Mock Tests: Importance, Free Online 
Toppers are of the view that taking Mocks is of utmost importance as it is a very important preparation tool. If you are seriously preparing for the exam and wish to score high percentile, it is necessary to attempt more and more Mock Tests to get ready for the exam day. 

IMS, TIME, and Career Launcher (CL) are most popular paid mock test series. 

Take free CAT Mock tests based on previous years CAT papers on MBAUniverse.com.  

CAT Notification 2025 is expected to be released on July 30, 2025. CAT Registration process is done online. You can register & apply online only on the official website iimcat.ac.in. The registration fee is Rs. 2500 for General/EWS/OBC candidates and Rs. 1250 for SC/ST/PWD candidates. CAT 2025 Registration process will open in August 2025. Check step by step CAT registration guide. 

CAT Registration Guide 

CAT Registration Steps & Description

• Step 1: Login – Visit the official CAT website iimcat.ac.in and create your profile.
• Step 2: Fill Registration Form – Enter the required details in the registration form and ensure successful submission to receive your User ID and Password.
• Step 3: Complete Application Form – Log in using your CAT User ID and Password, fill in personal and academic details, enter work experience (if applicable), select preferred IIMs and programs, choose five preferred exam cities, make the online payment for the CAT registration fee, and submit the form.

Over the years, the number of CAT exam registrations has seen a fluctuating trend, with a significant increase in last two years. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 led to a slight decline in registrations and appearances, but the numbers rebounded in 2022 and 2023. 

Total number of candidates who registered for CAT 2024 exam was 3.29 lakhs. However, total number of candidates who appeared in CAT 2024 exam was 2.93 lakhs only. Below is the year-wise breakdown of CAT registrations and appearances.

The exam will be held in 170 test cities having around 400 cat exam centers across the country. Check List of CAT Exam Test Cities.

CAT 2024 Exam Day Dos and Donts are important guidelines and instructions that are issued by IIMs for candidates to ensure smooth conduct of the exam. 

Dos: Recheck Admit Card details, Print and Carry CAT Admit Card Hard Copy, Keep Specified Photo ID Ready, Locate and Visit CAT Exam Centre in advance and Ensure to Mark Attendance. 

Don’ts: Don’t carry Prohibited Articles in CAT Exam Centre, Follow Dress Code, Do Not Carry Electronic Gadgets, Don’t Apply Mehndi (Henna) on Palm Side. 

In Conclusion, CAT Full Form is Common Admission Test. CAT 2025 is not just a test of knowledge but also of strategy, time management, and problem-solving skills. CAT Exam Date is November 30, 2025. A well-structured study plan that includes conceptual clarity, topic-wise practice, and extensive mock test analysis is essential for success. With a disciplined approach, the right study materials, and consistent practice, candidates can significantly improve their performance and secure admission to India's top management institutes. Stay focused, trust the process, and aim for excellence in CAT 2025.