CAT Exam 2025 Guide Syllabus Updates: If you’re dreaming of getting into top B-schools like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, or FMS Delhi, then the CAT Exam 2025 (Common Admission Test) is your ultimate gateway. Conducted annually by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), CAT tests your analytical, reasoning, and verbal skills — not your memory.
🧭 CAT Exam 2025 – Complete Guide, Syllabus, and Latest Updates
In this blog, Prep4Study.in brings you the complete guide to the CAT 2025 exam, including the latest syllabus, exam pattern, eligibility, preparation books, and strategy — all in one place.
🗓️ CAT 2025 Exam Overview
The CAT 2025 is expected to be conducted on November 30, 2025 (last Sunday of November) by one of the IIMs (most likely IIM Calcutta or IIM Lucknow). It’s a computer-based test that evaluates your readiness for management education through Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC).
Here’s a quick overview:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 |
| Conducting Body | Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 2 Hours (40 mins per section) |
| Sections | VARC, DILR, QA |
| Exam Level | National |
| Official Website | https://iimcat.ac.in |
🧩 CAT 2025 Exam Pattern
Understanding the exam pattern is the first step toward effective preparation.
| Section | No. of Questions | Time | Marks (Approx.) | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension) | 24 | 40 min | 72 | RCs, para-jumbles, summary-based Qs |
| DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning) | 20 | 40 min | 60 | Data sets, graphs, logical puzzles |
| QA (Quantitative Aptitude) | 22 | 40 min | 66 | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Modern Math |
| Total | 66 Questions | 120 min | 198 Marks |
🔹 Each correct answer = +3 marks
🔹 Each incorrect MCQ = -1 mark
🔹 No negative marking for TITA (Type In The Answer) questions
🎓 CAT 2025 Eligibility Criteria-(CAT Exam 2025 Guide Syllabus Updates)
Before you register, ensure that you meet the CAT eligibility requirements:
- A Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD).
- Final-year students are also eligible to apply.
- No age limit for the CAT exam.
📚 CAT 2025 Syllabus (Section-wise Breakdown)
The CAT syllabus is not officially defined by the IIMs, but it’s based on previous years’ trends.
1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC):
- Reading Comprehension (RC) passages
- Para jumbles and completion
- Odd sentence out
- Summary-based questions
- Vocabulary and grammar in context
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR):
- Tables, charts, bar graphs, pie charts
- Logical puzzles
- Seating arrangements
- Venn diagrams and caselets
- Data sufficiency
3. Quantitative Aptitude (QA):
- Arithmetic (Percentage, Profit & Loss, Ratio, Time-Speed-Distance)
- Algebra (Equations, Inequalities, Progressions)
- Geometry & Mensuration
- Numbers & Modern Math (Permutation, Probability)
- Trigonometry (basic concepts)
📖 Best Books to Prepare for CAT 2025
Having the right books can make or break your preparation. Here are some top-rated and trusted CAT books:
Quantitative Aptitude:
- How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT – Arun Sharma
- Quantitative Aptitude for CAT – Nishit K. Sinha
DILR:
- How to Prepare for DILR for CAT – Arun Sharma
- Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation for CAT – Nishit K. Sinha
VARC:
- How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT – Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay
- Word Power Made Easy – Norman Lewis
- High School Grammar & Composition – Wren & Martin
📆 CAT 2025 Important Dates (Tentative)
| Event | Date (Expected) |
|---|---|
| CAT 2025 Notification | July 2025 |
| Registration Begins | August 2025 |
| Admit Card Release | October 2025 |
| Exam Date | November 30, 2025 |
| Result Declaration | January 2026 |
🎯 How to Prepare for CAT 2025
- Understand the Pattern & Syllabus – Know exactly what to study.
- Start Early (6–9 months before) – Build conceptual clarity first.
- Take Regular Mock Tests – Analyze your performance after every test.
- Revise Frequently – Keep a weekly revision cycle.
- Stay Balanced – Prepare all three sections simultaneously.
🧠 Pro Tip: Focus more on accuracy and question selection than the total number of attempts.
📊 CAT 2025 Expected Cut-offs
| Institute | 99+ Percentile Cut-off |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 99+ |
| IIM Bangalore | 99+ |
| IIM Calcutta | 99+ |
| FMS Delhi | 98+ |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | 96+ |
| IIM Kozhikode / Lucknow | 97+ |
Cut-offs vary slightly depending on category, difficulty level, and number of test-takers.
💡 Latest Updates for CAT 2025
- CAT 2025 may continue with the 2-hour format and 66 questions.
- Non-IIM institutes like MDI, IMT, and TAPMI will also accept CAT scores.
- Expect minor syllabus adjustments and updated DILR question types.
- New B-schools may join the CAT 2025 admission list.
Stay tuned to Prep4Study.in for verified updates, mock tests, and free study materials for CAT 2025.
🚀 Final Thoughts
Scoring high in CAT 2025 is not about studying endlessly — it’s about smart, strategic, and consistent preparation.
- Master the basics
- Practice quality questions
- Analyze every mock
- Keep your calm on exam day
With the right mindset and preparation, your 99 percentile journey starts today.
At Prep4Study.in, we’re here to help you with CAT books, PDF notes, mock test guides, and topper tips — everything you need to succeed!
