CAT 2025 Exam Centres List Released: Check City-Wise Test Locations, Exam Pattern, and Key Details
The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have officially released the list of CAT 2025 Exam Centres, enabling MBA aspirants across India to plan their examination logistics in advance. The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of the most competitive management entrance exams in India, serving as the primary gateway for admissions into prestigious IIMs and various top business schools. Every year, lakhs of candidates appear for CAT, aiming to secure seats in highly sought-after MBA, PGDM, and Executive Management programs.
CAT 2025 will be conducted in three sessions on November 30, 2025, as a computer-based examination. The exam authority has provided candidates with the option to choose up to five preferred test cities at the time of registration. The final allotment will be mentioned on the candidate’s admit card, which is expected to be released in early November 2025.
This article provides complete insights into the CAT 2025 Exam Centres, city-wise test locations, exam pattern, important dates, preparation tips, and guidelines to help candidates stay ahead in their MBA admission journey.
Overview of CAT 2025
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT 2025) |
| Conducting Body | Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) |
| Exam Date | November 30, 2025 |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Sessions | Three Sessions (Morning, Afternoon, Evening) |
| Official Website | www.iimcat.ac.in |
| Admit Card Release | Tentatively November 5, 2025 |
| Result Declaration | January 2026 (Tentative) |
The exam will assess candidates on three core sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
Each section will have a 40-minute time limit, and candidates will not be allowed to switch between sections during the exam.
Focus Keyword Context: CAT 2025 Exam Centres
The CAT 2025 Exam Centres list has been arranged zone-wise to ensure fairness, convenience, and accessibility for students across urban as well as semi-urban regions. There are more than 170 cities included in the list this year. Candidates must select their preferred exam city carefully, considering travel distance, connectivity, and accommodation availability if required.
Once the centre is allotted, no request for change will be accepted under any circumstances.
CAT 2025 Exam Centres: Zone-Wise List
To make navigation easier, we present the exam cities grouped by Northern, Western, Eastern, Southern, and Central Zones.
1. Northern Zone Exam Centres
Includes Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi-NCR, Uttarakhand, and parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Key Cities:
- Jammu
- Samba
- Srinagar region (depending on availability)
- Shimla
- Chandigarh
- Ludhiana
- Amritsar
- Patiala
- Ambala
- Gurugram
- New Delhi
- Noida
- Ghaziabad
- Lucknow
- Kanpur
- Varanasi
- Dehradun
- Roorkee
This zone typically sees heavy registrations due to dense student population and coaching hubs.
2. Eastern Zone Exam Centres
Includes states like Assam, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, and Meghalaya.
Key Cities:
- Guwahati
- Dibrugarh
- Silchar
- Shillong
- Kolkata
- Howrah
- Durgapur
- Siliguri
- Kalyani
- Bankura
- Agartala
- Itanagar
Kolkata and Guwahati are the most preferred exam cities in this region.
3. Western Zone Exam Centres
Covers Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa.
Key Cities:
- Jaipur
- Jodhpur
- Udaipur
- Kota
- Ahmedabad
- Gandhinagar
- Rajkot
- Surat
- Vadodara
- Mumbai
- Thane
- Pune
- Nashik
- Aurangabad
- Nagpur
- Panaji
Mumbai and Pune record one of the highest number of test takers annually.
4. Central Zone Exam Centres
Includes Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Odisha.
Key Cities:
- Bhopal
- Indore
- Jabalpur
- Gwalior
- Ranchi
- Dhanbad
- Jamshedpur
- Bhubaneswar
- Cuttack
- Sambalpur
- Rourkela
Indore and Ranchi remain key management education hubs in this region.
5. Southern Zone Exam Centres
Includes Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Kerala.
Key Cities:
- Bengaluru
- Mysuru
- Mangaluru
- Udupi
- Hyderabad
- Warangal
- Vijayawada
- Visakhapatnam
- Tirupati
- Chennai
- Coimbatore
- Madurai
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Kochi
- Kozhikode
Bengaluru and Chennai usually report maximum candidate registrations.
How to Choose the Best Exam Centre for CAT 2025
Candidates should consider:
- Proximity to their home or hostel
- Availability of safe and affordable travel options
- Past familiarity with the city to avoid exam day anxiety
- Accommodation if required (especially for outstation candidates)
Avoid selecting a city that requires unpredictable travel or weather risks.
CAT 2025 Exam Pattern and Strategy
| Section | Time | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 40 min | 24 | Moderate to High |
| DILR | 40 min | 20 | High |
| QA | 40 min | 22 | Moderate |
Total duration: 120 minutes
Strategy Tips:
- Focus on accuracy over attempts
- Practice sectional mocks regularly
- Solve previous CAT papers to understand question patterns
- Time management is just as important as conceptual clarity
Important Instructions for Exam Day
- Carry your admit card and valid photo ID
- Reach the centre at least 1 hour earlier
- Electronic devices, calculators, and watches are not allowed
- Dress comfortably and avoid metal accessories to reduce frisking time
The release of the CAT 2025 Exam Centres list marks a significant step for all MBA aspirants preparing for the examination. Knowing the test city in advance allows candidates to organize travel, accommodation, and mental readiness for the exam day. With structured preparation and consistent practice, cracking CAT is achievable.
Stay updated through the official website www.iimcat.ac.in for any announcements, mock test releases, and exam guidelines.
