The Common Admission Test is one of the most prestigious and competitive entrance tests in India. It provides admission to the Indian Institutes of Management plus other pioneer business schools. It would be conducted once every year, and it tests the aptitude of the candidate in certain fields including quantitative ability, data interpretation, logical reasoning, and verbal ability. For students who are eager to pursue their MBA, CAT is one of the prime steps in their academic ventures, and knowledge concerning the CAT 2025 notification becomes vital in terms of crucial preparation. Overview of CAT 2025 Notification

The notification is an official release from the organizing IIM, and it details the date of the exam, the registration process, eligibility criteria, syllabus, and the pattern of the exam, among other important information. Notification for CAT 2025 is likely to come out in the last week of July or the first week of August 2025. Key Dates and Schedule

The entire schedule of the exam will be mentioned in the CAT 2025 notification, and some important dates that the candidate must keep in mind are as mentioned below: Issue of Official Notification: Last week of July/First week of August 2025 Start of Online Registration: First week of August 2025 Last Date for Registration: Mid-September 2025 Availability of Admit Card: Last week of October 2025 Date of the CAT 2025 Exam: Last Sunday of November 2025 Release of Answer Key: First week of December 2025

Declaration of Results: First week of January 2026

Note: The above dates are tentative and shall be confirmed after the release of the official notification. Candidates are advised to keep a lookout on the official CAT website for further updates regarding the same.

CAT 2025 Eligibility Criteria

The detailed eligibility criteria that candidates should possess to appear for the exam will be declared with the CAT 2025 notification. In general, the following can be considered:

Educational Qualification: The candidates should hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50 percent marks or equivalent CGPA( 45 percent in case of candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwD category from a recognized University/ Institution.

Final Year Students: Candidates appearing for the final year of bachelor’s degree or whose result is awaited are also eligible to apply. However, such a candidate shall have to produce the required documents at the time of admission.

No Age Limit: There is no age limit for appearing for CAT.

The notification will also elaborate on the equivalent qualifications approved by the IIMs and the process for verifying eligibility.

CAT 2025 Registration Process

The detailed schedule of the registration process will be included in the CAT 2025 notification. The candidates have to register online at the official CAT website, following these steps:

Profile Creation: Go to the registered website of CAT and create a profile by furnishing some basic details like name, email address, and phone number. Application Form Fill in personal, academic, and work experience information in the application form by logging in with your credentials. Upload Documents Scan and upload a photograph of yourself, your signature, and the required documents like category certificates.

Cities for Test: Choose your test cities from among the options given in the list. Normally, the entrance test is conducted in various parts of the country.

Application Fee Payment: Go for an online payment of a non-refundable application fee by debit/credit card, net banking, or UPI. The fee is normally greater for general categories and less for reserved categories.

At last, submit the form and go through all the details at the time of submission. After its submission, the confirmation page should be downloaded for future purposes.

Registration: Complete the registration before the stipulated date prescribed in the notification without waiting for the last moment.

CAT 2025 Exam Pattern and Syllabus

The pattern and syllabus of the CAT 2025 Exam are of prime importance for the candidates from an examination point of view. This shall be given in the CAT 2025 notification as follows:

Pattern of Exam-Computer-based test; 3 sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability. Duration of Exam: 120 minutes; Time is given for each section: 40 minutes. The test has a non-linear pattern in the form it is not sectionalized because the candidates cannot toggle between sections.

Marking Scheme: There are 3 marks for every correct answer and a negative marking of 1 mark for every wrong/incorrect answer. However, the non-MCQ questions do not have any negative markings.

Syllabus: Although the CAT syllabus is not clearly defined, the areas normally tested in the exam include reading comprehension, grammar, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number systems, data interpretation, logical reasoning puzzles, etc. The notification provides broad guidelines on what to study.

How to Prepare for CAT 2025

The issuance of the notification ushers in the preparation for CAT 2025. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Understand the Syllabus and Exam Pattern:

Understand in great detail the syllabus and pattern of the exam as mentioned in the notification. This will give you an idea of the key areas that you should focus on.

Make a Study Plan:

Design a study plan in which all sections have to be systematically covered. Conduct time for each topic according to your strengths and weaknesses of yourself. Regular practice is the key to success in CAT. Solve question papers from previous years, take mock tests, and practice sample questions to increase speed and accuracy.

Manage Time:

The CAT exam is time-bound, so practicing time management is essential. Take timed tests to get used to the pace of the exam and strategies for answering questions.2

Keep Updated with Current Affairs:

In the DILR section, one needs to stay updated with current affairs. Read newspapers follow the relevant news and practice data interpretation based on current trends.

Salient Points to Remember

The CAT 2025 Notification will also carry certain important instructions/guidelines which must be followed by the candidates:

Admit Card:

Admit card is that document without which candidates are prohibited from appearing at the examination center, so it is quite an important document comprising details such as the name of the examination center with the address, the date, and time for reporting.

Exam Day Guidelines:

The notification will carry specific instructions regarding the exam day such as things to be carried to the exam center, dress code, and items permitted/allowed.

Declaration of Result:

The CAT 2025 result will be declared during the first week of January 2026. Candidates can check the result online using their login credentials. 

Conclusion: Keep yourself informed and prepared

The CAT 2025 Notification carries all the critical information related to the examination. Candidates will be able to gather as much information as they need to know about the exam by maintaining familiarity and checking the website frequently. Early preparation with a proper understanding of the requirements mentioned in the notification shall lead the candidates toward success in CAT 2025.

In brief, since the notification of CAT 2025 marks the beginning of your journey to an MBA, do not let this opportunity slip without strategizing and preparing effectively. Yes, with an appropriate approach and commitment, you can certainly achieve your goal of admission to one of the best business schools in India.