CAT 2025 will be conducted in three shifts across more than 170 cities in India. Candidates must complete an online application to be eligible. Registration opens in August 2025 and will remain open until the third week of September 2025. The application form will be available on the official website iimcat.ac.in.
To be eligible for CAT 2025, candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC, ST, and PWD/DA categories). Professional qualifications such as CA, CS, ICWA, or FCAI are also accepted. Final-year students may apply provided their first- and second-year marks meet the minimum criteria. The degree should be a regular or distance program of at least three years from a UGC-recognized institution.
The CAT 2024 question paper PDF and answer key are useful tools for post-exam review and to prepare for CAT 2025. Below are links to download the slot- and section-wise question papers and solutions.
If you score a raw total of 105 or more across all sections, you can expect a 99+ percentile. Good accuracy in VARC and QA tends to boost overall scores because of their impact on ranking. Based on past trends and early analysis of CAT 2025, these thresholds are indicative.
See our in-depth guide on CAT Score vs Percentile 2025 to better understand how marks translate into percentiles and where you stand.
Being fully prepared for CAT 2025 exam day is crucial, and carrying the correct documents is a major part of that readiness. Missing or incorrect papers can lead to disqualification, so follow IIM Calcutta’s instructions carefully.
Prepare the required documents well before the exam to avoid last-minute issues. Refer to the Documents Required at CAT Exam Centers: Complete Checklist for 2025 for step-by-step guidance and tips.
The following documents are mandatory for entry into the CAT 2025 exam centre:
You can shortlist colleges based on expected CAT scores; the table below shows institutes along with their likely cutoffs derived from previous-year trends. Use these estimates to plan your applications.
Stay ahead by reviewing the predicted cutoffs for top MBA programs. Check CAT 2025 Cutoffs: Predicted Ranks for Leading MBA Colleges to map out your application strategy.
Many top B-schools besides the IIMs accept CAT scores. Institutes such as FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, and MDI Gurgaon are projected to set general-category cutoffs in the 85–99 percentile range. Actual cutoffs depend on exam difficulty, applicant pool, and seat availability.
Below is the expected qualifying cutoff list broken down by category.
Review the FMS Delhi CAT 2025 Cutoff: Check Admission Requirements to learn the anticipated percentiles and eligibility norms for admission.
In CAT 2025, the VARC section was moderately challenging, dominated by reading comprehension questions that made up roughly 60–65% of the section. DILR featured tougher data interpretation sets, with logical reasoning puzzles forming the rest.
The QA section leaned heavily on algebra and arithmetic, which benefited candidates who had focused preparation in those areas.
The slot-wise CAT 2025 paper analysis is summarized in the tables below.
Get a head start by downloading the full set of CAT question papers and solutions: CAT Question Papers: Download PDFs with Solutions (1990–2023) to study patterns, difficulty, and practice effectively for CAT 2025.
CAT 2025 calls for a focused strategy across three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). With around 2.5 lakh aspirants competing for limited seats, a structured plan is essential.
Check CAT 2025 Online Preparation: Resources, Tips & Mock Tests for recommended online tools, practice material, and expert guidance to improve your performance.
A disciplined routine ensures full syllabus coverage. Below is a suggested six-month study plan to organize your preparation effectively.
Candidates who attempted more than 15 mocks scored, on average, about 10 percentile points higher than those who practiced fewer mocks.
Preparing for CAT 2025? Review the detailed syllabus for Quant, VARC, and DILR in the CAT 2025 Syllabus: Quant, VARC, DILR - Topics, Best Books & Papers to structure your study plan.
Time management is crucial since each section has a fixed time limit and sectional timing rules.
See our complete guide CAT Preparation 2025: Mock Tests, Books & Topper Tips for recommended strategies, resources, and insights from previous toppers to reach your target percentile.
| CAT 2024 Exam Slot | VARC | QA | DILR |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT 2025 Exam Slot 1 | Download | Download | Download |
| CAT 2025 Exam Slot 2 | Download | Download | Download |
| CAT 2025 Exam Slot 3 | Download | Download | Download |
| Raw Score Range | Expected Percentile |
|---|---|
| 105-120 | 99+ |
| 90-104 | 95-98 |
| 70-89 | 90-94 |
| 50-69 | 80-89 |
| 35-49 | 70-79 |
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| CAT 2025 Admit Card | Serves as proof of registration and shows your allotted slot and exam centre. |
| Original Photo ID Proof | Used to verify identity; name must match the admit card. |
| Photograph | May be checked against the photo uploaded during registration. |
| Category Certificate (if applicable) | Required to claim reservation benefits for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS categories. |
| Institute | General | NC-OBC/EWS | SC/ST | PWD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 99+ | 97 | 85 | 75 |
| IIM Bangalore | 99+ | 96 | 80 | 75 |
| IIM Calcutta | 99+ | 95 | 85 | 70 |
| IIM Lucknow | 97+ | 92 | 80 | 70 |
| Other IIMs | 90-95 | 85 | 70 | 65 |
| Institute Name | Expected Qualifying Cutoff (Percentile) | Category | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| FMS Delhi | 98+ | General | One of the highest cutoffs outside the IIMs. |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | 85 | General | Shortlist often requires strong overall profiles. |
| MDI Gurgaon | 94+ | General | High cutoff for flagship PGDM courses. |
| IIFT Delhi | 93-95 | General | Accepted CAT as an alternative in the recent cycle. |
| XIM Bhubaneswar | 91-92 | General | Looks for diverse academic backgrounds. |
| IIT Bombay (SJMSOM) | 95-97 | General | High ROI programs; sectional cutoffs apply. |
| IIT Delhi (DMS) | 95-97 | General | Emphasizes strong analytical ability. |
| Goa Institute of Management (GIM) | 85 | General | Accepts CAT among other entrance tests. |
| Great Lakes Chennai | 85 | General | Considers CAT, GMAT, and academic record. |
| Answer Type | Correct Answer Marks | Incorrect Answer Marks | Unattempted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) | +3 | -1 | 0 |
| Non-MCQs | +3 | 0 | 0 |
| CAT Sections | Number of Questions | Question Breakup | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 4 passages with 4 questions each; 3 para-summary items; 3 para-completion items; 2 odd-one-out questions | Moderate |
| DILR | 22 | 2 LR sets of 5 questions each; 3 DI sets with 4 questions each | Moderate to Difficult |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 8 Algebra, 8 Arithmetic, 3 Geometry, 2 Number System, 1 Modern Maths | Difficult |
| Total | 68 | - | - |
| CAT Sections | Number of Questions | Question Breakup | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 4 passages with 4 questions each; 3 para-summary items; 3 para-completion items; 2 odd-one-out questions | Moderate |
| DILR | 22 | 2 LR sets of 5 questions each; 3 DI sets with 4 questions each | Moderate to Difficult |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 5 Algebra, 8 Arithmetic, 2 Geometry, 3 Number System | Difficult |
| Total | 68 | - | - |
| CAT Sections | Number of Questions | Question Breakup | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 4 passages with 4 questions each; 3 para-summary items; 3 para-completion items; 2 odd-one-out questions | Easy to Moderate |
| DILR | 22 | 2 LR sets of 5 questions each; 3 DI sets with 4 questions each | Moderate to Difficult |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 7 Algebra, 8 Arithmetic, 3 Geometry, 4 Number System | Difficult |
| Total | 68 | - | - |
| Month | Focus Areas | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1–2 | Build fundamentals in QA, practice RC in VARC, and solve basic DI sets | Emphasize concept clarity and accuracy |
| Month 3–4 | Tackle advanced QA topics and complex DILR puzzles | Take sectional tests and review mistakes |
| Month 5 | Attempt full-length mocks and target weak areas | Revise key concepts and improve accuracy |
| Month 6 | Take daily mocks, fine-tune strategy, and practice time management | Finalize plan and consolidate strengths |
| Section | Time Allotted (Minutes) | Average Time per Question (Minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 40 | ~1.67 |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 40 | ~2.00 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 40 | ~1.82 |
| Category | Best Books and Resources |
|---|---|
| VARC | How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension — Arun Sharma |
| DILR | Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT — Nishit Sinha |
| QA | Quantitative Aptitude for CAT — Arun Sharma |
| Mock Tests and Sectional Tests | CAT Mock Test 2025 |
