| CAT 2025 registrations may surpass the mark of 3.5 lakh with rise in MBA Aspirations |
India's most prestigious MBA entrance examination, the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, is likely to see a massive spike in registrations this year. Based on experts' analysis and past trends, over 3.5 lakh aspirants are likely to register for the CAT 2025 examination, showing yet another year-on-year steady increase beyond the previous year's rounds of 3.29 lakh registrations for CAT 2024.
The CAT exam, conducted by one of the IIMs in turn, is the entrance exam for 20 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and over 1,200 premium B-schools in India. In 2024, nearly 2.93 lakh candidates appeared for the examination and nearly 89% participation rate was evidence of a huge interest from aspirants. With enhanced demand for management education, especially candidates going to leading institutes like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta, the trend will likely continue going up.
As well as these developments, the increasing number of female and non-engineering aspirants have contributed to the increase in broadening application pool, and CAT 2025 is scheduled to be held on 30 November 2025 as per latest announcements from authorities General information goes that aspirants are passed on to begin early preparation since the competition may increase up to greater CAT 2025 cut-offs especially at IIMs and other prominent private institutions.
Factors Responsible for Increasing CAT Participation
1. Rise in demand for management studies: MBA being a highly sought-after post graduation course to improve career and earnings, driving demand for CAT
2. Growth of IIMs and CAT-accepting MBA schools: With 20+ IIMs and 1,200 other B-schools accepting CAT scores, the chances of admission to top institutions have improved several times over.
3. Greater participation of non-engineers: More and more students from science, humanities, and commerce streams are appearing for CAT, thereby enhancing diversity in the CAT aspirants.
4. Growing gender diversity: the IIMs are actively encouraging women through diversity scores and reserved seats to raise female registration.
5. Online coaching and social media availability: More individuals are aware due to the availability of affordable platforms such as online test preparation, YouTube videos and by learning along with peers
6. Competitiveness in job destinations: "With increasing uncertainty in job destinations, a slew of graduates undertake MBA to ensure better employability and career durability.
7. Success stories and alumni: Success stories of CAT toppers (background, education, and diversity) lead to attempts in CAT.
Recommended Read: How to Prepare for CAT in 6 Months?
CAT Participation Statistics Over the Years
Last year, around 3.29 lakh students registered for the CAT examination whereas 2.93 lakhs students actually appeared for the exam. To analyze CAT exam participation statistics over the years to gain a better understanding of how many students are expected to register for the cat exam this year, kindly refer to the following table.
Year | Registered (Lakh) | Appeared (Lakh) | Attendance Rate (%) |
2019 | 2.44 | 2.09 | 85.9 |
2020 | 2.27 | 1.9 | 83.4 |
2021 | 2.3 | 1.92 | 83.4 |
2022 | 2.55 | 2.22 | 87 |
2023 | 3.28 | 2.88 | 87.8 |
2024 | 3.29 | 2.93 | 89 |
Impact of Rising CAT Registrations on Cut-Offs and Competition
The rising competition of CAT directly impacted the cutoff and minimum qualifying marks. Students should now be ready to face more competitive cutoffs for IIMs and top B schools in India. General category students specifically need to be more dedicated with their CAT preparation as more and more candidates compete for a smaller pool.
The increased competition level will also affect the exam pattern and may lead it to be more difficult than previous years. All sections of CAT 2025 may hold slightly more difficult questions than previous year question papers. Students are provided with CAT 2025 cutoffs (expected) here on this page which will make them familiar with the upcoming competition level of the exam.
CAT 2025 Cutoff (Expected) | Top IIMs - General Category
Students are provided with CAT 2025 expected cutoff below as the official cutoff ranks are out once the result of the exam has been declared. The CAT 2025 will be conducted on 30th November 2025 and the cutoff criteria of the same will be released in 2026. Till then, aspirants are advised to check the expected CAT cutoff to gain an idea of competition level and modify their CAT 2025 preparation plan accordingly.
CAT Expected Cutoff 2025 for Top IIMs:
Institute | Expected Overall Cut-off | Sectional Cut-off (VARC / DILR / QA) |
IIM Ahmedabad | 99-99.5 | 80-85 |
IIM Bangalore | 99-99.5 | 80-85 |
IIM Calcutta | 99-99.5 | 80-85 |
IIM Lucknow | 98.5-99 | 80 |
IIM Kozhikode | 97.5-98.5 | 75-80 |
IIM Indore | 97-98.5 | 74-80 |
CAT Expected Cutoff for Top Non IIMs:
Institute | Expected Overall Cut-off | Sectional Cut-off (Approx.) |
FMS Delhi | 98.5-99.5 | 85+ |
SPJIMR Mumbai (PGDM) | 95-96 (Profile-Based) | 75+ |
MDI Gurgaon | 96-97.5 | 80+ |
IIT Bombay (SJMSOM) | 98+ | 75-80 |
IIT Delhi (DMS) | 97.5-98.5 | 75+ |
IMT Ghaziabad | 90-93 | No strict cut-off |
XIMB Bhubaneswar | 90-93 | 75+ |
Also Read: How to Prepare for CAT 2025 Exam Online?
Tips for First-Time CAT Takers Amid High Competition
Aspirants may follow the below CAT exam preparation tips to obtain a good score.
Start Preparing Early: First time test takers are advised to start their CAT preparation 2025 as soon as possible as it may take them more time to understand the syllabus thoroughly. An ideal preparation time for beginners is 6 to 8 months to cover the whole syllabus to ace the examination.
Understand Syllabus & Exam Pattern: Students participating in the exam must be familiar with the CAT exam pattern and syllabus to make proper preparation strategies. This will help them cover every crucial topic primarily and secure good marks as well.
Realistic Study Plan: Aspirants should make a practical CAT study plan so that they can stick to it and be more consistent. Students are advised to include healthy breaks in between their preparation schedule.
Take Mock Tests: Candidates must take full length CAT 2025 mock tests to prepare for the examination. CAT mock tests will help students track their speed and accuracy for the examination.
Use Helpful Resources: Candidates must use the best books for CAT preparation. Students preparing can also refer to some of the highly recommended YouTube channels and online coachings to prepare for the CAT and get good scores.
Recommended: Is CAT Exam Getting More Difficult Each Year? Get Last 5 Year CAT Analysis
CAT 2025 Important Dates
The authorities recently revealed the CAT exam date for 2025 academic year and as per the same, the exam will be conducted on November 30, 2025. Other crucial events dates like registration, correction window, admit card, etc. are not officially out yet. To get a tentative CAT date idea, students can check out the following table carefully.
Event | Tentative Date |
Start of Online Registration | August 2, 2025 (First week of August) |
Last Date to Register | September 15, 2025 (Second week of September) |
Form Correction Window | September 25 - 30, 2025 |
Admit Card Release Date | October 29, 2025 |
CAT 2025 Exam Date | November 30, 2025 |
Answer Key Release | December 1, 2025 (First week of December) |
Last Date to Raise Objections | December 3 - 4, 2025 |
Final Answer Key + Result Date | December 20 - 23, 2025 |
IIM Shortlisting Begins | January 2026 |
WAT-PI Process | February to April 2026 |
Final IIM Admission Offers | April to June 2026 |
How to Register for CAT 2025?
As per the official CAT Notification 2025, the registration for the exam will start in the first week of August 2025. Students can simply follow the below listed steps to apply for the CAT 2025.
- Visit the official website of CAT - https://iimcat.ac.in
- Click on the “Register” and proceed with the registration
- Now log in with your registration credentials
- Access the application form and start filling it out
- Fill in personal, academic, and work experience details as per the requirements
- Select preferred exam location
- Upload all the required documents such as academic certificates, category certificates, etc.
- To finalize the application process, candidates will be required to pay the CAT 2025 application fees
- Review the application form carefully and submit it after verification
- Download and save a copy of the confirmation page for future reference
Also Read: CAT Score Vs Percentile 2025: Get Complete Section Wise Percentile Analysis
