CAT 2025 Exam on November 30: Check Schedule, Shifts, and Admit Card Details

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, India’s premier management entrance examination, is scheduled to take place on November 30, 2025, across 170 cities nationwide. The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode, which is conducting this year’s exam, has officially released key details regarding the schedule, exam pattern, and admit card availability.

According to the notification on the official website iimcat.ac.in, the CAT 2025 will be conducted in a computer-based format (CBT), maintaining the established pattern followed in previous years. The test will be divided into three sessions to manage the large number of applicants efficiently.

The first session is scheduled from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, the second session from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, and the third session from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Candidates are instructed to arrive early at their respective examination centers — entry will begin at 7:00 AM for the morning shift, 11:00 AM for the afternoon shift, and 3:00 PM for the evening shift. The examination gates will close 15 minutes before the test begins, and late entries will not be permitted under any circumstances.

The admit cards for CAT 2025 will be available for download from November 12 to November 30, 2025. Initially expected on November 5, the release date was later revised to accommodate system readiness. Candidates are urged to verify their shift details, exam center location, and reporting time carefully to prevent last-minute confusion.

The exam will evaluate candidates across three major sections — Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Each section is time-bound and requires focused preparation, as candidates are not allowed to switch between sections during the test. The total duration of the exam is two hours, consistent with the pattern introduced in previous editions.

A strong performance in CAT 2025 will be crucial for admission to IIMs and other leading management institutes across India. The results are expected in the last week of December 2025, after which the IIMs will initiate the shortlisting process based on percentile scores.

With competition intensifying each year, aspirants are encouraged to take official mock tests, review previous year question papers, and familiarize themselves with digital exam protocols. Regularly checking iimcat.ac.in for updates will ensure candidates stay informed about important announcements.

The CAT exam continues to be the most sought-after gateway to India’s top B-schools, shaping the careers of thousands of management aspirants aiming for leadership roles in diverse industries.