The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode has officially released the notification for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, one of India’s most prestigious entrance exams for MBA and postgraduate management programs. The notification, available on the official website iimcat.ac.in, outlines all critical information related to registration, fees, eligibility, exam dates, and the list of participating IIMs.

The CAT 2025 examination marks the start of the admissions cycle for 21 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top business schools across the country.

Registration and Exam Dates

According to the official schedule, CAT 2025 registration will commence on August 1, 2025, and continue till September 13, 2025. The exam is scheduled to be held on November 30, 2025 (Sunday) and will be conducted in three sessions across various centers in India.

Candidates can download their admit cards from November 5 to November 30, 2025. The results are expected to be declared in the first week of January 2026.

Application Fees

• General, OBC, EWS Candidates: ₹3,000


• SC, ST, PwD Candidates: ₹1,300

The fees must be paid online using net banking, credit card, or debit card facilities. The amount is non-refundable.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for CAT 2025:

• General, OBC, and EWS candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA.


• SC, ST, and PwD candidates need 45% marks in their graduation.


• Final-year undergraduate students are also eligible to apply, provided they complete their degree requirements at the time of admission.

List of IIMs Accepting CAT 2025 Scores

CAT 2025 scores will be accepted by 21 IIMs, including:

• IIM Ahmedabad


• IIM Bangalore


• IIM Calcutta


• IIM Lucknow


• IIM Indore


• IIM Kozhikode


• IIM Shillong


• IIM Udaipur


• IIM Rohtak


• IIM Ranchi


• IIM Nagpur


• IIM Trichy


• IIM Raipur


• IIM Kashipur


• IIM Bodh Gaya


• IIM Jammu


• IIM Visakhapatnam


• IIM Amritsar


• IIM Sambalpur


• IIM Sirmaur


• IIM Mumbai (new)

Additionally, over 100+ B-schools including FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR, IMT Ghaziabad, TAPMI, and more accept CAT scores for admission to their MBA/PGDM programs.

Steps to Apply for CAT 2025

1. Visit the official website iimcat.ac.in


2. Register using a valid email ID and mobile number


3. Fill out the online application form with personal, academic, and work experience details


4. Upload the required documents (passport photo, signature, category certificates, etc.)


5. Pay the application fee online


6. Submit the form and download the confirmation page for records

Exam Pattern and Preparation

CAT 2025 will follow a computer-based test (CBT) format, divided into three sections:

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)


2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)


3. Quantitative Ability (QA)

The total duration of the test will be 120 minutes (2 hours) with 40 minutes allotted to each section. Each correct answer will carry 3 marks, and a penalty of 1 mark will be applied for each incorrect MCQ.

Expert Insights

Education experts recommend early preparation and a focus on time management and mock test practice to succeed in the competitive CAT exam. “Candidates should focus not just on academics, but also on consistency and strategic preparation,” said Prof. Amit Deshmukh, CAT trainer and IIM alumnus.

Conclusion

With the release of the CAT 2025 notification, aspiring management professionals now have a clear roadmap to begin their preparation. The exam not only opens doors to IIMs but also to many other elite business schools in India.

For further details and updates, candidates are advised to visit the official CAT portal at www.iimcat.ac.in.