One of India’s most prominent and difficult entrance examinations for admissions to multiple MBA programs provided by the best business institutions is the CAT (Common Admission Test). The CAT Examination 2025 will be thoroughly reviewed in this article, including pertinent information on the curriculum itself, topical weighting, suggested reading lists, and the exam format. Since it provides a path for their study and clarifies what to anticipate in this fiercely competitive exam, this information is helpful for candidates getting ready to take the CAT exam.
What Does CAT Mean?
CAT, or the Common Admission Test, is a computer-based examination conducted by the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) to assess and shortlist candidates for their highly sought-after postgraduate programs. This rigorous test is designed to evaluate a candidate’s aptitude across three key sections, ensuring a comprehensive assessment.
The first section, VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension), focuses on language proficiency and the ability to comprehend written material. DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning) comprises the second section, testing a candidate’s analytical and logical thinking skills in handling data. Finally, QA (Quantitative Ability), the third section, assesses one’s mathematical and quantitative reasoning capabilities.
The CAT examination unfolds as a three-hour online assessment, with each section allocated an hour, allowing candidates to demonstrate their competencies effectively. Originating from the esteemed IIMs, this examination serves as the gateway to selecting qualified individuals for various postgraduate and fellow/doctorate programs. It stands as a vital evaluation method in the academic landscape, enabling the IIMs to identify and admit exceptional candidates to their prestigious programs.
This pivotal CAT exam is a once-a-year event, signifying its significance and the competitiveness it engenders among aspirants seeking admission into the esteemed IIMs.
CAT Examination 2025: Basic Details
Admissions to IIMs and other top business schools in India are largely determined by candidates’ CAT scores. It is expected that IIM Kozhikode will oversee the administration of the CAT 2025 exam.
Below is a summary of the key details about the CAT 2025 exam:
| CAT 2025 Key Highlights | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Conducting Body | Indian Institutes of Management, Kozhikode (Expected) |
| CAT Frequency | Annual |
| Exam Level | National |
| Medium of Exam | English |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| No. of Questions | 66 |
| CAT Question Types | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)Type in The Answer (TITA) |
| CAT Score Validity | 1 year |
| Number of IIMs Participating in CAT 2025 | 21 IIMs |
| Non-IIMs Accepting CAT Scores | 1000+ prestigious management institutes and business schools in India |
| Official Website | https://iimcat.ac.in/ |
Below is a summary of the key dates of the CAT 2025 exam:
| CAT Exam Date 2025 | |
| CAT 2025 Event | Date (Expected) |
| CAT 2025 Notification Release | Last week of July 2025 |
| Start of CAT 2025 Registration | The first week of August 2025 |
| End of CAT 2025 Registration | The second week of September 2025 |
| CAT 2025 Form Correction Date | The second week of September 2025 |
| CAT 2025 Admit Card Issue | The first week of November 2025 |
| CAT 2025 Exam Date | Fourth week of November 2025 |
| CAT 2025 Results Announcement | Third week of December 2025 |
Here is the detailed categorisation of the CAT Exam pattern:
| CAT 2025 Exam Pattern | |
| Particulars | Details |
| No. of sections | 3 sections VARC DILR QA |
| Total Number of Questions | 66 |
| Types of Questions | MCQs and TITA (Type In The Answer) |
| Questions per Section | VARC: 24 DILR: 20 QA: 22 |
| Time Allotted | 120 minutes (40 minutes per section) |
| Marks for Correct Answer | +3 for each correct answer |
| Negative Marking for Wrong Answer | -1 for each incorrect answer |
| Negative Marking for TITA Questions | No negative marking for TITA questions |
CAT Examination 2025: Official Website
It is also important to keep in mind the fact that the CAT official website does not provide a comprehensive chapter-by-chapter or topic-by-topic explanation of the curriculum. You may want to consult an external source or a specific page that provides this material to gain a thorough understanding of the CAT Examination 2025 at a more granular level, including insights from expert analysis. This might give you a more thorough and analytical understanding of what to anticipate from the CAT exam.
CAT Examination 2025: Official Website Direct Link
CAT Examination 2025: Detailed Syllabus
The CAT Examination 2025 is renowned for being comprehensive and thorough. It is important to note that the CAT (Common Admission Test) does not have a set syllabus prescribed by the IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management), but that the questions in this competitive exam mostly draw on elementary English and mathematics concepts. We strive to offer the most recent CAT Examination 2025 in a downloadable PDF format to CAT aspirants in this article.
CAT Examination 2025: An Overview
| Section | Important Topics |
| Quantitative Ability | Trigonometry, Geometry, Averages, Percentages, Simple & Compound Interest, Arithmetic, Mensuration, Number Systems, Algebra, Modern Maths, Profit and loss |
| Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation | Blood Relation, Graphs, Seating Arrangement, Tables, Syllogism, Data Caselets, Directions, Syllogism, Binary Logic, Clocks and calendars, Charts, Connectives, Matching/Puzzles, Logical Sequence, Number and Letter Series, Venn Diagrams, Seating Arrangement and Coding-Decoding |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | RC passages, Para jumbles, Verbal logic, Odd sentence out, One-word substitution, Para summary, Inferences, Odd one out, Syllogism, Analogies |
CAT Examination 2025: Detailed Analysis
The CAT (Common Admission Test) is a crucial examination conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), serving as a primary requirement for admission to various prestigious management programs. The CAT exam encompasses a comprehensive syllabus, which is divided into different chapters, each with its own specific topics. This detailed syllabus is instrumental in helping candidates prepare effectively for the test.
- Quantitative Ability
| Topic | Syllabus |
| Number System | LCM and HCF Divisibility Rules Base Change Finding Units place and tens place of a number Cyclicity Remainders Prime Factorisation Factorials Indices and Surds |
| Arithmetic | Time, Distance and Speed Time and Work, Pipes and Cisterns Simple Interest and Compound Interest Ratios, Proportions and Variations Percentages and Averages Profit and Loss, Discount Mixtures and Allegations |
| Geometry and Mensuration | Circles Triangles Polygons Coordinate geometry Lines and Angles Trigonometry Cone Cylinder Sphere Cube/Cuboid Prism Pyramid |
| Algebra | Inequalities and Modulus Functions and Groups Linear and Quadratic Equations Polynomials Logarithms Algebraic Identities Maxima and Minima |
| Modern Mathematics | Permutations and Combinations Probability Set Theory & Venn Diagram Binomial Theorem Arithmetic progression, Geometric progression, Harmonic progression |
- Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation
| Topic | Syllabus |
| Data Interpretation | Tables Data Caselets – Reasoning-Based DI Column Graphs Bar Graphs Venn Diagrams Line Charts Pie Charts Scatter Plot Radar Chart Routes and Network Bubble Chart |
| Logical Reasoning | Binary Logic Games and Tournaments Arrangements Team Formations Order and Ranking |
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
| Topic | Syllabus |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | Para Jumbles (with and without options) Para Summary Odd One Out Reading Comprehension Para Completion |
CAT Syllabus 2025 Direct Link
Topic-wise Weightage List CAT Syllabus 2025
By breaking down the syllabus into distinct chapters and highlighting the weight of each, aspiring candidates can gain a clearer picture of what to expect and how to approach their preparation for this highly competitive entrance exam. This knowledge empowers them to strategise their study plans and optimise their chances of securing admission into the most esteemed management institutions in India.
A comprehensive analysis is provided to offer insights into the weightage of each chapter. Understanding this weightage is essential for candidates to allocate their study time wisely and focus on areas that hold greater significance in the CAT examination.
- Quantitative Ability
| Topic | CAT 2022 | CAT 2021 | CAT 2020 | CAT 2019 |
| Arithmetic | 8-9 | 7-10 | 10 | 14 |
| Algebra | 4-9 | 6-8 | 6-8 | 11-13 |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 3-4 | 3-5 | 5-6 | 4-6 |
| Number System | 1-3 | 1-2 | 2-3 | 2-3 |
| Modern Maths | 0-3 | 1 | 0-2 | 0-1 |
| Overall | 22 | 22 | 26 | 34 |
- Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation
| Topic | Number of Sets in PYQP 2017-22 |
| Reasoning-Based DI | 10 |
| Matrix and Grid | 7 |
| Matrix Arrangement | 7 |
| Venn Diagram | 7 |
| Scheduling and Matrix | 6 |
| Unconventional and Hybrid Games and Tournaments | 6 |
| Mathematical AR | 4 |
| Order and ranking | 3 |
| Missing Data | 3 |
| Arithmetic Caselet | 3 |
| Logic-Based Table | 3 |
| Routes and Networks | 3 |
| Gantt Chart | 2 |
| Maxima-Minima Concept | 2 |
| Algebra Caselet | 2 |
| Arithmetic-Based DI | 2 |
| Misc | 11 |
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
| Topic | CAT 2022 | CAT 2021 | CAT 2020 | CAT 2019 |
| Reading Comprehension | 16 | 16 | 18 | 24 |
| Para Jumbles | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Para Summary | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Odd One Out/Para Completion | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Expected Cut-off of CAT Exam
After the CAT 2025 results are declared, prominent business schools like the IIMs, FMS, MDI, and others will announce their cut-off scores for admission to their MBA programs. These cut-offs will serve as the benchmark for shortlisting candidates for subsequent stages of the selection process, including personal interviews.
Below is a summary of the expected CAT 2025 cut-off criteria for the IIMs:
| CAT 2025 Cut Off | |
| Institution | Expected Cut Off (Percentile) |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 99-100 |
| IIM Calcutta | 99 |
| IIM Bangalore | 99-100 |
| IIM Indore | 97+ |
| IIM Lucknow | 97+ |
| IIM Amritsar | 95+ |
| IIM Kozhikode | 97 to 98 |
| IIM Sambalpur | 95+ |
| IIM Nagpur | 95+ |
| IIM Raipur | 94 |
| IIM Trichy | 94 |
| IIM Kashipur | 94 |
| IIM Ranchi | 94 |
| IIM Udaipur | 92 |
| IIM Vizag | 92 |
| IIM Sirmaur | 95 |
| IIM Bodhgaya | 92 |
| IIM Rohtak | 95 |
| IIM Shillong | 90 |
| IIM Mumbai | 97 |
Recommended Books for CAT Exam
When preparing for the CAT (Common Admission Test), having the right study materials at your disposal is crucial. To help you in your CAT preparation journey, we have curated a list of top CAT syllabus books authored by well-known experts in competitive exams.
Some of the Renowned Authors are as follows:
Arun Sharma is a renowned author whose books have been a cornerstone for CAT aspirants. His books cover various aspects of the CAT syllabus and are highly regarded for their comprehensive content and effective strategies.
Nishit K. Sinha is another prominent author whose books are essential for CAT preparation. His publications provide in-depth insights into the CAT syllabus and offer valuable guidance for candidates aiming to excel in the exam.
Sarvesh Verma‘s CAT syllabus books are highly recommended for their clear explanations and detailed practice exercises. Verma’s books help candidates build a strong foundation in the topics covered by the CAT.
R. S. Aggarwal, a respected figure in the field of competitive exams, has also authored CAT preparation books that are well-received by aspirants. His books offer a structured approach to mastering the CAT syllabus.
These are just a few examples of the top authors whose CAT syllabus books are considered essential for CAT preparation. It’s important to note that while these authors and their publications are highly regarded, CAT aspirants should explore multiple resources to create a well-rounded study plan and ensure a comprehensive understanding of the exam’s syllabus. Remember that success in the CAT exam often requires dedication, consistent practice, and a combination of study materials tailored to your needs and preferences.
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | Quantitative Aptitude |
| How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT- Arun Sharma | How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT- Arun Sharma | How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT- Arun Sharma |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension For CAT- Nishit K Sinha | How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT- Arun Sharma | Quantitative Aptitude For CAT- Nishit K Sinha |
| Mastering the Verbal Ability for CAT Common Admission Test- Ajay Singh | Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT- Nishit K Sinha | Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT- Sarvesh Verma |
