All About CAT 2025 Exam

The CAT Exam 2025 notification will be out in July 2025. Registration will start in August 2025. The exam will be conducted in a computer-based mode. It is a prestigious entrance exam for admission to elite B-schools and IIMs. The aspirants seeking admission to the MBA programs must keep track of all the details regarding the CAT Exam.

The exam will be conducted in November 2025. Approximately 3 lakh candidates appear in the CAT exam. The competition is very tough, and if you are serious about cracking the exam, you must know all the relevant details related to CAT. 

This article will discuss all the details related to the CAT to help you prepare for the exam.

CAT Exam: Important Dates

The important dates for CAT Exam 2025 are given below. Go through these details and formulate your preparation strategy accordingly.

CAT Exam Pattern

The CAT exam pattern has changed in the previous years, especially due to the pandemic. The exam is expected to have 66 questions, and you will have 120 minutes to complete them. Every correct answer carries +3 marks, and 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer. There is no negative marking for Non-MCQ questions. Although the CAT exam pattern keeps changing every year, there are chances that this year's pattern will likely remain the same. 

It includes the following sections:

1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

3. Quantitative Ability (QA)

Here is the description of the exam pattern:

CAT Exam: Eligibility Criteria

There is a certain eligibility criterion to be followed to appear in the exam. Candidates must follow these details to track their eligibility.

• Graduation: Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in any discipline from a recognized university.

• Minimum Marks: Candidates must score at least 50% in graduation. For reserved category candidates, the minimum aggregate marks are 45%.

• Age Limit: There are no upper age limit criteria to appear for the CAT exam 2025.

• Final Year Students: Final year students can also apply for the exam. However, after graduation, they will be given admission only if they meet the minimum marks criteria of 50% (40% for SC/ ST/ PwD). Furthermore, those who have completed their final examination and are awaiting results can apply.

• Degrees: Candidates with CA/CS/ICWA degrees are also eligible to fill CAT application form.

• Number of Attempts: There is no restriction on the number of attempts for the CAT exam.

CAT Exam: Registration

The official website must be visited to register and fill out the application form. Aspirants must follow the given steps while filling out the application form. The stepwise application process is given below:

Registration Process

Candidates must generate a User ID and Password on the official website. It is done in the following way:

• Register as a new candidate by clicking on the "Register" link.

• A page will open where the candidate must enter their details, including Name, Mobile Number, DOB, Email etc. and then click on the "Submit" to generate a User ID and Password.

• The candidate's User ID and Password will be generated and sent to the contact details provided at the time of registration.

CAT Exam: Syllabus

Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Syllabus

Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Syllabus

The QA section consists of 22 questions, out of which 14 are Non-MCQ questions. The aptitude syllabus is the largest among the three sections. Therefore, most of the time is invested in preparing the QA section. Arithmetic and Algebra have a very high weightage in quant. There are very few topics of geometry in the CAT exam.

Review the topics discussed below to ace the exam:

1. Number Systems; LCM and HCF; Profit, Loss and Discount; Percentages; Speed, Time and Distance; Time and Work; Simple and Compound Interest; Ratio and Proportion; Averages.

2. Quadratic Equations; Linear Equations; Complex Numbers; Logarithm; Binomial Theorem; Sequences and Series; Surds and Indices; Inequalities.

3. Probability; Permutation and Combination; Set Theory; Functions; Mixtures and Alligation.

4. Geometry; Trigonometry; Coordinate Geometry; and Mensuration.

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Syllabus

This section includes 24 questions, among which 19 questions are Non-MCQ questions. The Reading Comprehension questions are the majority. Following are the important topics of this section that needs to be prepared:

1. Reading Comprehension: The exam has 16 RC questions and 4 passages.

2. Paragraph Summary: This area has gained prominence over the last couple of years. 

3. Para-jumbles & Misfit Sentences: These two topics have become regular in the exam over the last couple of years.

Over 70% weightage of VARC is dedicated to RC questions only. It is to be noted that there were only 8 VA questions in CAT 2021, all of which were non-MCQs. Some other important areas are

• Sentence Completion

• Verbal Reasoning: Fact-Inference-Judgement

• Grammar & Usage

• Vocabulary-based questions (mainly Fill in the blanks).

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) Syllabus

Data and Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) Syllabus

DILR section is most undefined compared to the other sections in the CAT Exam Syllabus. Most of the questions in DILR feature in the form of sets with 2-6 questions each.

Below are the main topics of CAT DI and LR, respectively:

1. Caselets, Tables, Bar Graphs, Column Graphs, Line Charts, Venn Diagrams, Pie Charts, and Combinations of two or more types are linked.

      2. Games & Tournaments, Number and Letter Series, Calendars; Cubes, Clocks, Venn Diagrams, Binary Logic, Seating Arrangement; Syllogism; Logical Sequence; Logical Connectives; Blood Relations.

Conclusion

CAT occasionally pulls a surprise on the candidates. However, most questions in the CAT Exam are solvable since they only test the candidates' knowledge of the basics. Therefore, candidates should be thorough in terms of their preparation for the basics. If you prepare according to the exam pattern, the room for unpleasant surprises is greatly reduced.