CAT 2025 exam on November 30: eligibility, fees, other MBA tests

In short

CAT 2025 will be held on Sunday, November 30, 2025, by IIM Kozhikode, with registration expected from 3.15 lakh candidates.
General candidates will pay Rs. 2600 for CAT 2025, while reserved category candidates will pay Rs. 1300.
Eligibility for CAT 2025 requires graduation with at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD), with no age limit.
Other major MBA entrance exams include XAT, CMAT, MAT, NMAT, SNAP, and ATMA, each with distinct conducting bodies and frequencies.
CAT 2026 is scheduled for November 29, 2026, maintaining its annual schedule by the IIMs.

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, a mandatory examination for admission to Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top business schools, is set for Sunday, November 30, 2025. IIM Kozhikode is the conducting body for this year’s examination. The CAT 2025 Notification was released on Sunday, July 27, 2025.

iimcat.ac.in homepage — Official website: iimcat.ac.in

Approximately 3.15 lakh candidates are expected to register for CAT 2025. The examination, a computer-based test, will be held at various centres across the country, with a duration of 2 hours. This annual examination is a crucial first step for aspirants seeking admission to MBA and PGDM programs in India.

CAT 2025 Eligibility and Fees

For CAT 2025, there is no upper age limit for candidates. The primary educational qualification required is a graduation degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. A relaxation is provided for candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwD categories, who require a minimum of 45% aggregate marks. Final year students of a bachelor’s degree program are also eligible to apply for the CAT exam.

The examination fees for CAT 2025 are set at Rs. 2600 for general category candidates. Candidates from reserved categories, including SC, ST, and PwD, will pay a reduced fee of Rs. 1300. These fees are consistent with the structure for previous cycles, ensuring accessibility for a broad range of applicants.

Overview of Other Major MBA Entrance Exams

Beyond CAT, several other prominent MBA entrance examinations are conducted in India, each serving as a gateway to various management institutes and business schools. These include XAT, CMAT, MAT, NMAT, SNAP, and ATMA, catering to different sets of target colleges and candidate preferences. Most serious aspirants often appear for multiple exams to maximise their admission options for the 2025-2027 admission cycles.

XAT, conducted by XLRI, is held once a year and is known for its Decision Making and General Knowledge sections, plus other core subjects. CMAT, administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA), is also an annual examination covering Quantitative Techniques, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. MAT, offered by AIMA, stands out for its flexibility, being conducted four times a year across multiple modes, evaluating Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, and General Awareness. NMAT allows candidates up to three attempts, while SNAP is conducted three times in December by Symbiosis International University (SIU). ATMA is offered four times a year by AIMS.

Exam Structure and Duration

The various MBA entrance exams differ significantly in their structure, duration, and the specific skills they assess. CAT, with a duration of 120 minutes, is divided into three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).

XAT has a longer duration of 210 minutes, incorporating Decision Making and General Knowledge sections alongside others. CMAT is an 180-minute exam. MAT, while also 120 minutes in duration, features 150 questions. SNAP is a concise 60-minute exam with 60 questions, conducted by Symbiosis International (Deemed University). These exams are designed to evaluate candidates on quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, verbal ability, data interpretation, decision-making skills, analytical thinking, and business aptitude.

Parameter	CAT	XAT	CMAT	MAT
Conducting Body	IIMs	XLRI	NTA	AIMA
Frequency	Once a year	Once a year	Once a year	Four times a year
Difficulty	High	High to Very High	Moderate	Easy to Moderate
Duration	120 Minutes	210 Minutes	180 Minutes	150 Minutes
Best For	IIMs & Top B-Schools	XLRI & Top Private Institutes	AICTE-approved PGDM Colleges	Flexible MBA Admissions

Performance in these entrance exams is typically the initial stage of the admission process, often followed by Group Discussions (GD), Written Ability Tests (WAT), Case Discussions (CD), and Personal Interviews (PI) for final selection into MBA and PGDM programs.

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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