The CAT 2025 Result is anticipated to be announced in the third week of December 2025, with the likely dates being between December 19–22, 2025. IIM Kozhikode has already released the official answer key and response sheets on December 4, 2025, and the final answer key, along with the scorecards, will be available on the official IIMCAT website.
While the official notification mentions that the CAT 2025 result will be available in January 2026, based on previous years’ patterns, the result has been typically declared within three weeks of the exam. For instance, in CAT 2024, the result was declared on December 19.
CAT 2025 Exam Statistics
- Total Registered Candidates: 2.95 lakh
- Total Appeared Candidates: 2.58 lakh
- Difficulty Level: Difficult (higher than CAT 2024, particularly in the DILR and QA sections)
This year, the exam was considered tougher compared to 2024, especially in the DILR and QA sections. As a result, the score-to-percentile curve has shifted down by 3–5 marks, meaning a slightly lower score might still yield the same percentile.
Application Invited for PGDM 2026-28 at NDIM
What Does the CAT Result Include?
The CAT result, released by the respective IIMs, provides detailed performance metrics across three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). This includes both marks and percentiles, which are used by the IIMs and other top B-schools for their selection process.
The CAT result is valid only for one year. The results from CAT 2025 are applicable for admissions into the academic sessions from 2026-28.
CAT Result Date – Trends From Previous Years
Here is a look at the result release dates from previous years to give you an idea of what to expect:
| CAT Exam Year | Result Date |
| CAT 2024 | December 19 |
| CAT 2023 | December 21 |
| CAT 2022 | December 21 |
| CAT 2021 | January 3 |
| CAT 2020 | January 2 |
| CAT 2019 | January 2 |
Expected Success Rate for CAT 2025
The success rate for CAT is historically low, around 2%, mainly due to fierce competition and a moderate-to-difficult difficulty level. While the number of applicants for CAT 2025 is expected to be high, the availability of limited seats in the top IIMs makes it a challenging exam.
| Year | Registered Candidates | Appeared Candidates | Difficulty Level | Success Rate (Estimated) |
| CAT 2025 | 2.95 Lakh | 2.58 Lakh | Difficult | 2% |
| CAT 2024 | 3.29 Lakh | 2.93 Lakh | Moderate | 2% |
| CAT 2023 | 3.23 Lakh | 2.88 Lakh | Difficult | 2% |
| CAT 2022 | 2.50 Lakh | 2.22 Lakh | Moderate-to-Difficult | 2% |
How to Download the CAT 2025 Result
To download the CAT 2025 scorecard, follow these steps:
- Visit the official IIMCAT website.
- Log in with your CAT User ID and Password.
- Navigate to the results section and download your scorecard.
CAT 2025 IIM Cut Offs: What You Need to Know
Your CAT percentile plays a crucial role in getting shortlisted by IIMs. Here’s what you can aim for:
- 99+ percentile: Competitive chance for top IIMs, especially if your sectional scores are balanced.
- 95–97 percentile: Good prospects for mid-tier and new IIMs, though top IIMs might be challenging.
- 90–94 percentile: Likely to get calls from newer or lesser-known IIMs, provided your profile and sectionals are strong.
CAT 2025 IIM Cut Off by Category
| Category | Overall Qualifying Cutoff |
| General | 95 |
| EWS | 81 |
| NC-OBC | 81 |
| SC | 66 |
| ST | 42 |
| Pwd | 42 |
After the CAT Result: What Comes Next?
Once the CAT 2025 results are declared, IIMs will shortlist candidates based on a composite score which includes CAT percentile, academic history, work experience, and diversity. Expect interview calls from IIMs after the results are out.
As per RTI data and user reports, the CAT 2024 shortlists for the 2025–27 batch show that:
- Nearly 1.76–1.77 lakh General category candidates applied to top IIMs.
- Out of these, only 4,000–4,500 were shortlisted, and just 2,267 got top IIM calls.
- Reserved category calls went up 5–10%, but for the General category, 1,350 candidates at 99 %ile competed for only 597 IIM A seats.
This shows that clearing the CAT cutoff doesn’t guarantee success; your profile and interview often decide if you get an IIM call. As one aspirant on Reddit shared:
“99.7+ %ile, and still got nothing…plus the emphasis they put on work ex, the hope is bleak.” – Reddit
Note: A high CAT percentile does not guarantee admission to an IIM. Other factors like work experience, internships, and your interview performance also play a significant role in the final selection.
MBA Admissions via CAT Score: Other Top B-Schools
If you’re aiming for top B-schools outside the IIMs, here’s a snapshot of other institutes that accept CAT scores:
- SPJIMR Mumbai (PGDM): 95–97 percentile, holistic profile including PI & essays.
- MDI Gurgaon (PGDM): 95–97 percentile, strong corporate placements.
- IMT Ghaziabad (PGDM): 90–94 percentile, wide industry recruiters.
- NDIM Delhi (PGDM): 80–94Very high ROI due to low fee; shortlists on CAT + GD/PI; wide industry recruiters
For more information about the MBA program and to apply, visit the official website of NDIM. To fill out the application form, visit the Application form link here
Top B-schools like SPJIMR Mumbai and MDI Gurgaon generally require a 95–97 percentile. Schools like IMT Ghaziabad may accept a 90–94 percentile for their admission process.
A high CAT percentile gives you a chance to be shortlisted by top IIMs, but success also depends on your profile, work experience, and performance in the interview rounds.
IIMs shortlist candidates based on their CAT percentile, academic records, work experience, and diversity. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews and group discussions.
After the CAT results, IIMs will use a composite score (CAT percentile, academic performance, work experience, and diversity) to shortlist candidates for further rounds like interviews and group discussions.
The success rate for CAT is typically around 2%, as the exam is highly competitive with limited seats available in top IIMs and a large number of applicants.
To increase your chances of getting a call from top IIMs, aim for a 99+ percentile. For mid-tier IIMs, a 95–97 percentile is generally good, while a 90–94 percentile is typically sufficient for newer or baby IIMs.
The difficulty level of CAT 2025 is expected to be difficult, especially in the DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning) and QA (Quantitative Ability) sections, similar to CAT 2024.
The CAT 2025 result is valid for one year, meaning it will only be used for admissions to the 2026–28 academic year.
To check your CAT 2025 result, visit the official IIMCAT website, log in with your CAT User ID and Password, and download your scorecard from the results section.
The CAT 2025 result is expected to be released between December 19–22, 2025, based on past trends. Although the official notification states it will be in January 2026, it is usually available within three weeks of the exam.
