Which IIM will conduct CAT 2025?

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of the most important exams for MBA students in India. It is considered the Gateway to the premium and prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), along with other top B schools in the country. Thousands of students every year take part in this strict entrance exam, which is conducted by one IIM every year on a rotation basis.

Due to this rotation system, students often guess who will be responsible for CAT next year, which naturally raises the question of, 'Which IIM will conduct CAT 2025?' To answer the question, IIM Kozhikode has been given the responsibility to conduct CAT 2025, marking their return to conducting the exam after 2019.

Rotation policy among IIMs to conduct CAT

CAT is collectively owned by IIMs, and therefore, every IIM is accountable for conducting the exam. For example, in 2022, IIM Bangalore was responsible for conducting the exam, followed by IIM Lucknow in 2023, and IIM Calcutta took over the exam in 2024. Now it is the turn of IIM Kozhikode to conduct the CAT exam 2025.

IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Indore are the other two bodies that are responsible for holding the exams, and therefore, it can be assumed that any one of these premium Institutions will take over the exam next year.

Timeline of CAT Exam 2025

The official announcement of the timeline of CAT 2025 has already been made, and the relevant dates are as follows:

·         CAT Registration 2025: The application for the exam began on August 1, 2025, with the CAT 2025 registration last date being closed on September 2025. Therefore, if you have not registered for the exam yet, then you will have to wait until next year.

·         CAT 20225 Exam date: The exam will be held on November 30, 2025.

·         CAT 2025 Results: January 2026 (Tentative)

With only a month left for the exam, it is critical for the aspirants to maintain a consistent schedule of preparation and an effective understanding of the CAT 2025 syllabus to secure a higher score.

CAT 2025 syllabus

Most students believe that the CAT 2025 syllabus often changes every year, which increases their confusion and reduces their confidence level. However, the fact is that the core subjects of the curriculum remain stable. The curriculum is divided into three different sections, which are as follows:

·         Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): This section consists of puzzles, logical arrangements, data charts and caselets to evaluate the analytical skills of the students.

·         Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): This section analyses the vocabulary, grammar, comprehension and ability to process complex information of the aspirants.

·         Quantitative Ability (QA): This section covers quantitative analysis such as geometry, arithmetic, number system, algebra and other higher-level mathematics.

It is possible that the marking criteria among these sections could differ, but the fundamental structure will remain intact. Therefore, if you have registered for the CAT Exam 2025, begin your preparation as soon as possible across these sections and avoid last-minute stress.

Why the Conducting Authority Matters?

Many students wonder why it is necessary to understand which IIM will be conducting the exam. The fact is, even though the syllabus, more or less, is the same, the design of the exam papers varies as per the unique style of every IIM. For example,

·         IIM Kozhikode is known for setting moderate to hard difficulty level exams that focus more on application-based arithmetic as compared to advanced mathematics.

·         IIM Bangalore usually sets straightforward exam papers with extensive focus on logical reasoning sets.

·         IIM Calcutta is known for putting emphasis on quantitative aptitude, which makes the exam difficult for non-engineers.

·         IIM Lucknow sets a paper, which maintains a balance among all the sections, but also surprises students with complex DILR questions.

Even though understanding the paper setting style of IIM Kozhikode can be advantageous, students should not entirely depend on their earlier set of papers and focus extensively across sections.

How to Prepare for the CAT Exam 2025?

Due to stiff and intense competition, students are required to follow a consistent and smart strategy to prepare for the exam. Some realistic examples can be as follows:

·         Start Early: If you have already made up your mind for the 2025 edition of the exam, then you must have been preparing for months. Starting as early as the previous year can help you master relevant concepts at a decent pace without much pressure.

·         Conduct Mock Tests: Consider taking at least 30 full-length mock tests before the CAT 2025 exam date, as it will help you get a better comprehension of the exam pattern, fluently manage time across sections and build confidence level.

·         Maintain Balance: Most students have an excellent understanding in one section, but struggle in others. Therefore, allocate your time appropriately to the weaker sections to improve your chances of getting a better score.

·         Peer Study Groups: Studying alone is important and necessary, but also consider the option of group studying, where you can discuss doubts and solve problems, allowing you to learn different approaches to save time.

Solve Previous Year Papers: Solving past CAT question papers can be helpful in understanding the format, difficulty level and structure of different sections. This will help you get a better sense of time, complexity and common traps and prepare you better for the original test.

What Happens After CAT 2025?

Once you have successfully cleared the CAT Exam 2025 after the result announcement in January 2026, you will be eligible to apply for different business schools, including the IIMs. If you are confident of your success in the entrance exam, then you should also prepare for the next step, which includes:

·         Written Ability Test (WAT): This involves writing a short essay on a particular topic to evaluate your writing skills.

·         Group Discussion (GD): Here, you will be interacting with colleagues and peers on a particular business or social topic.

·         Personal Interview (PI): This involves an interview by your preferred college, where the questions can range from work experience, general awareness, to academics.

Based on your performance on these three stages, along with your CAT Score, your admission to your preferred institution will be finalised.

Conclusion

With the CAT 2025 Exam Date nearing, it is important for the aspirants to engage in aggressive preparation and successfully secure a high score in the CAT Exam 2025. Focus extensively across all the sections, especially the areas where you are weak, and regularly conduct mock tests and solve first-year papers for better comprehension.

Since IIM Kozhikode will be conducting CAT 2025, it is preferable to shift your concentration towards arithmetic instead of Advanced Mathematics. However, do not entirely depend on their unique style of setting the papers and prepare using a balanced approach.