IIM Kozhikode will close the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 answer key challenge window tonight, December 10 . Candidates wishing to dispute provisional answers must submit their objections by 11:55 PM through the official CAT website,iimcat.ac.in.
The CAT exam is the primary entrance test for postgraduate management programs (MBA) at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). The challenge window allows candidates to report discrepancies in the provisional answer key, contributing to a fair evaluation process before final results are declared.
Exam Participation and Schedule
Approximately 2.58 lakh candidates appeared for the CAT 2025 examination. This recorded an 86% attendance rate from the 2.95 lakh registered applicants. IIM Kozhikode conducted the CAT 2025 exam on November 20 .
The institute released the provisional answer key on December 4 . The challenge window opened on December 8 at 12 noon, allowing a limited period for candidates to raise concerns.
Objection Process and Fees
Candidates must log in with their CAT application ID and password to challenge answers. A fee of Rs 1,500 applies for each question challenged, marking an increase from Rs 1,200 in previous years. IIM Kozhikode specified that only objections submitted via the online portal and within the 11:55 PM deadline on December 10 will be considered. This ensures a timely release of examination results.
If an objection is validated, the provisional answer key will be revised. This correction applies to all candidates’ scores, maintaining accuracy in final results.
Upcoming Results and Final Answer Key
IIM Kozhikode will review all submitted objections. Based on this review, the institute expects to publish the final answer key in mid-December . This final key will incorporate any changes from valid challenges.
The CAT 2025 results are tentatively scheduled for release in the first week of January . Candidates will access their scorecards on the official CAT website.
CAT 2025 Exam Structure
The CAT 2025 question paper structure remained consistent with previous years. The exam comprised 68 questions divided into three sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): 24 questions .
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): 22 questions .
- Quantitative Ability (QA): 22 questions .
Understanding CAT Score and Percentile
The CAT score converts into a percentile, indicating a candidate’s rank relative to all other test-takers. This percentile is a crucial initial qualifying criterion for admission to IIM MBA programs.
A high percentile, even above 99, serves as the first filter to shortlist candidates for subsequent admission stages. These stages typically include the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI).
The WAT assesses written communication. The PI round evaluates personality, communication, general awareness, and suitability for an MBA program.
The table below outlines expected cut-off scores for various percentiles in CAT 2025, alongside previous year’s cut-offs:
| CAT Percentile | CAT 2025 Expected Cut-off Score | Previous Year CAT Cut-off Score |
|---|---|---|
| 99.95 | 110 | 130+ |
| 99.9 | 100-104 | 120+ |
| 99.5 | 90-92 | 104 |
| 99 | 78-82 | 95 |
| 95 | 56-58 | 70 |
| 90 | 45-48 | 57 |
| 80 | 35-36 | 43 |
| 70 | 30-31 | 34 |
| 60 | 25-26 | 27 |
Beyond the CAT percentile, IIMs consider academic performance, work experience, diversity factors, and WAT/PI performance for final selection. Individual IIMs apply their own weightage to these criteria.
Admission to Newer IIMs
Newer Indian Institutes of Management, including IIM Jammu, IIM Bodh Gaya, and IIM Sirmaur, will conduct admissions for the 2026 academic year through the Common Admission Process (CAP). CAP centralizes the WAT and PI rounds for participating IIMs. However, five other IIMs operate independent admission processes, separate from CAP 2026.