The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the gateway to prestigious management programmes at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and is a highly competitive and sought-after examination. As prospective candidates gear up for CAT 2025, it's crucial to understand the key aspects of the exam to ensure a strategic and well-prepared approach. Moreover, the major advantages of taking CAT examination include factors such as recognition, personal growth and many other.

CAT Exam is for What Purpose?

CAT is an exam conducted for admission into postgraduate management courses. MBA courses in all IIMs are offered based on the percentile score of the CAT exam. The dream of getting into the top ranking MBA colleges comes true if you pass the CAT exam with good scores and percentile. 

IIMs administer the CAT exam to examine candidates' quantitative aptitude, verbal ability, logical reasoning, and data interpretation skills.

Advantages of CAT Exam 2025

CAT is a computer-based management aptitude test conducted by the IIMs primarily to evaluate and shortlist candidates for postgraduate programmes. India’s premier national institutes, such as IIM, provide high-quality education in management and research.

Therefore, some of the advantages of CAT exam are as follows:

• Apply for Top Business School: The CAT 2025 exam opens the door for admission into some of India's top business schools. A postgraduate degree from a recognised university can easily fetch excellent job opportunities.
• Recognition: CAT scores are widely acknowledged by top colleges. Further, a degree from an IIM or other top business school is recognised. It helps in career advancement and growth.
• Enhanced Prospect: Candidates bearing a MBA degree from top business schools have a higher earning possibility. Top MNCs appoint qualified CAT candidates who studied at top business schools as CA or in top positions. 
• Personal Growth: CAT 2025 exam follow a rigorous selection process comprising personal interviews, written ability tests and discussions, and finally, scores in the exam. These skills are valuable for your MBA studies and can also be helpful in your personal and professional life.
• Grow Connection: CAT also allows candidates to connect with people with the same aspiration. It can lead to career development and various other opportunities.

Also Check: Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score

CAT Exam Preparation 2025

CAT is a highly competitive exam. Candidates must be mindful that they can loose marks from attempting questions with wrong answers. Here are some of the additional preparation tips for CAT 2025:

• Candidates must focus on every question.
• Suppose there's a doubtful question, and the answer is unknown. In that case, candidates must not attempt it, as the total percentile score will drop due to the negative markings applied to it.
• During preparations, candidates are advised to take short breaks while studying and allow breathing time.
• It is important that candidates split the amount of time they want to study into parts. For example, if they plan to study for, let's say, 9 hours, then break it into four 2-hour sessions, space them evenly throughout the day, and save the last hour for the end of the day.
• Lastly, candidates must stay motivated and positive throughout the preparation phase. If anxiety hits, it is wise to take 10 minutes to practice breathing before going ahead with further studies.

Also Check: CAT Preparation 2025: Section-Wise Tips, Strategy, Road Map

CAT Course Details

Through CAT, the candidate can get into various Postgraduate Management Programmes in several colleges. The Postgraduate Management Programmes (PGP) offered by different institutes are listed below:

IIM Member Institutes

There are various IIMs across India. The IIMs in the country along with the courses offered by them are tabulated in the following table. 

The colleges which offer a Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) — equivalent to a PhD — are listed below:

The candidate gets the advantage of choosing the course they feel is best based on the several ones offered to them.

Non-IIM Member Institutes

The advantages of CAT exam is that the candidates appearing for the exam can use their score to get into several other colleges apart from IIMs.

Colleges in and around 23 states in India accept CAT Score and admit students based on merit. The state-wise list is provided below.

Karnataka

• Indian Institute of Science
• Principal LN Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research
• MS Ramaiah Institue Of Management
• Alliance University (Alliance School of Business)
• ABBS School of Management

Tamil Nadu

• VIT University
• National Institute of Technology
• Loyola Institute of Business Administration
• Bharathidasan Institute of Management (BIM)
• Thiagarajar School of Management

Delhi

• Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, Technical Campus
• Apeejay School of Management
• Jawaharlal Nehru University
• Asia-Pacific Institute of Management
• Faculty of Management Studies

Andhra Pradesh

• Institute for Financial Management & Research (IFMR University)
• Gitam (Deemed to be University)

Goa

• Goa Institute of Management

Maharastra

• Principal LN Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research, Mumbai
• Flame School of Business (FLAME University)
• National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM)
• KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research
• Institute For Technology And Management

Singapore

• Singapore Management University

Rajasthan

• University of Engineering & Management, Jaipur
• JK Lakshmipat University
• Jaipuria Institute of Management (Jaipur)
• Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani

Kerala

• SCMS Cochin School of Business
• SCMS School of Technology & Management
• Saintgits Institute of Management (Dept. of MBA, Saintgits College of Engineering)
• Rajagiri Business School

Madhya Pradesh

• Jaipuria Institute of Management (Indore)
• Indian Institute of Forest Management

Reservation Scheme followed in IIM

As per Government of India norms, IIM reserves seats for different categories. IIMs also provide scholarships for deserving students who need financial support. These are the IIM reservations for candidates seeking admissions through CAT.