CAT 2025 exam pattern unchanged; all you need to know about section-wise questions, selection process

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 will be conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode on November 30, 2025. As per the official notification, the CAT 2025 exam will be held in three sessions across multiple centres nationwide. The exam duration is set at 120 minutes, with each of the three sections allotted 40 minutes.

The CAT 2025 exam pattern is expected to remain similar to last year. CAT 2025 will continue as a computer-based test conducted in a single day across multiple sessions. The CAT is conducted to assess candidates’ aptitude in verbal ability, quantitative skills, and logical reasoning. It is the primary entrance test for admission to the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and other postgraduate management programmes at IIMs and participating institutes.

The CAT entrance exam is divided into three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Last year, the CAT exam pattern was revised, increasing the total number of questions from 66 to 68, with the VARC section receiving two additional questions.

Based on last year’s exam pattern, CAT 2025 is expected to feature a total of 68 questions, carrying both multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and non-MCQs. According to the marking scheme, the CAT exam will carry three marks for each correct answer, and one mark will be deducted for each incorrect MCQ. Non-MCQs will not have any negative marking.

CAT 2025 Exam Pattern: Section-wise total questions

Section-wise total number of questions for CAT 2025 is given in the table below.

CAT 2025 selection process

The CAT 2025 results are expected to be announced in the first week of January 2026. Candidates shortlisted for the next stage of selection will be notified by individual IIMs, which will also send interview letters directly.

Shortlisting criteria vary across IIMs and include factors such as previous academic performance, work experience, gender and academic diversity, in addition to CAT 2025 scores.

The admission process for IIMs also includes a Writing Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI). Candidates called for interviews will have to provide original mark sheets, degree certificates, and attested copies to verify eligibility.

As per the official notice, admission will be confirmed only after candidates submit original mark sheets and degree certificates. The required minimum marks are 50 per cent for general category candidates and 45 per cent for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Persons with Disability (PwD) candidates.