The Common Admission Test (CAT) is India’s most desirable gateway to world-class management education. Every year lakhs and lakhs of aspirants compete for a few thousand seats across IIMs and other top business schools, making CAT not just an exam but a nationwide sensation of preparation, perseverance, and passion. On July 27, 2025, IIM Kozhikode released the official announcement of the opening of the CAT registration 2025 window. Aspirants now have ample time to gather all necessary required documents, to understand the eligibility updates, and to make their timeline for CAT 2025. Let’s read on more to know all the information you need to understand for CAT 2025, including dates, registration trends, fees, etc.
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CAT 2025: Exam Highlights & Important Dates
| Event | Date & Time |
| Exam Name | CAT 2025 |
| Conducting IIM | IIM Kozhikode |
| Registration Opens | August 01, 2025 (10:00 A.M) |
| Registration Closes | September 13, 2025 (05:00 P.M) |
| Admit Card Download | November 5-30, 2025 |
| CAT Exam Day | November 30, 2025 |
| Provisional Answer Key | December 03, 2025 (Tentative) |
| Final Answer Key & Objections | Mid-December, 2025 |
| Result Declaration | 1st Week of January, 2026 (Tentative) |
CAT 2025 Eligibility Criteria
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the most competitive and prestigious MBA entrance exam in India, offering access to top MBA institutions like the IIMs, FMS Delhi, IITs, MDI Gurgaon, and many more. Let’s get familiar with the eligibility criteria of the CAT 2025.
- A candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a UGC/AICTE-recognized institute.
- Minimum marks requirements are 50% for General, EWS, and NC-OBC; 45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
- Final-year students awaiting results can apply provisionally but must fulfill eligibility by June 2026.
- No restrictions on age limit and number of CAT attempts.
CAT Registration Process 2025
- New Registration & Login:
- Go to the IIM official website, iimcat.ac.in, and click on new registration.
- Enter name, DOB, valid email ID, and mobile number, then verify by OTP.
- Set a new password and note down your login credentials.
- Form Filling: Fill in
- Personal Details: gender, category, PwD status
- Academic Details: class X and XII marks, bachelor’s details
- Work Experience: Provide work experience (if any).
- Preferences: In order of your preferences, select up to 5 preferred IIM programs and up to 5 test-center cities.
- Upload Required Documents:
- Photograph
- Signature
- Category/PwD Certificate
- Marksheets and Degree Certificates
- Fee Payment & Final Submission
- Review each section carefully, as there will be no corrections allowed after submission except during a limited correction window.
- Pay the registration fees.
- Download the confirmation status and keep it for future references.
CAT 2025 Registration Fee Structure
The candidate needs to pay the CAT registration fee only one time, irrespective of the number of institutes the candidate is applying to. The registration fee, once paid, cannot be refunded in any circumstances. Below mentioned is the CAT 2025 registration fee structure.
- Rs 1300/- for SC/ST/PwD candidates
- Rs. 2600/- for all other categories
CAT 2025 Test Centres
CAT 2025 will be held approximately in 170 cities across India. During form filling, you must choose your preferred five centers. The CAT authorities most of the time allot your first preference but allotment is subject to seating availability and administrative discretion
CAT Registration Trends: A Rising Graph
Over the past years, CAT registration numbers have seen a consistent upward graph, and 2025 is expected to cross all the previous records with over 3.5 lakh aspirants to appear for CAT 2025. Let’s understand the reason behind this increasing trajectory:
- Increasing Awareness: Due to online learning platforms, YouTube channels, and CAT-centric communities, students from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are now actively participating in MBA entrance preparation.
- Diverse Career Aspirations: With IIMs and other B-schools offering programs beyond just general management, CAT is attracting aspirants from different academic backgrounds like law, medicine, commerce, and humanities.
- Higher Return on Investment: With high salaries, many aspirants consider an MBA a worthwhile investment. The 2024 placements saw IIM A, B, C, and FMS Delhi offering packages ranging from Rs. 20-40 LPA, which is encouraging fresh graduates and working professionals to opt for an MBA.
- Gender and Academic Diversity: IIMs are now giving additional weightage to non-engineers, women, and candidates with work experience. This policy push of inclusiveness has made the CAT exam more attractive.
- Rise in Repeat Takers: Many serious aspirants who had a dream of cracking the CAT exam with a 99+ percentile and fell short by a few percentile points can attempt CAT again with stronger CAT strategies, as there is no limit on the number of attempts and no age limit as well.
Let’s look at the CAT registration trends over the past years.
Year-Wise CAT Registration Trends
| Year | Registered Candidates | Appeared Candidates |
| 2022 | 2.56 lakh | 2.22 lakh |
| 2023 | 3.28 lakh | 2.88 lakh |
| 2024 | 3.29 lakh | 2.93 lakh |
| 2025 (Projected) | 3.50 lakh | – |
The upward trend of CAT registration showcases CAT’s growing popularity and the need for aspirants to register early to secure their preferred test city center.
With the CAT 2025 registration window open from August 01, 2025, to September 13, 2025, it’s time to get your documents in order, to read all the instructions carefully, and to complete each step before the deadlines. Consider the CAT registration as the first milestone in your CAT journey. Treat the process with proper discipline to ensure a smooth journey toward CAT 2025 success.
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