CAT Application Form 2024: Check Step by Step Process, Application Fees

Important CAT Application dates 2025 and exam timelines are as below: 

Now, coming to the most important point -- how you should apply for the CAT 2025 exam. CAT application 2025 steps are simple and can be completed easily following this step by step guide:

1. Login to CAT website iimcat.ac.in and Create Profile
2. Fill in the Registration & Application Form in following steps
2.1 Fill in Personal Details in Application Form
2.2 Submit Academic Details from Class 10 onwards
2.3 Fill in your Work Experience
2.4 Select IIMs & Programmes that you wish to apply
2.5 Select your Preferred CAT Exam Cities (IIMs offer a choice of 4 or 6 test cities)
3. Make Online payment of CAT Application Form Fee 

Refer image below. We will take you step by step and give you all the details on how to apply for CAT 2025.

IIM Calcutta which is convening CAT 2025 exam in three slots in partnership with testing agency TCS, will have an exam pattern with combination of MCQs and Non-MCQs to provide level playing field to the students of all streams. 

As you are ready to apply for CAT 2025, you can easily complete the CAT application form in following steps. Below are shared the last year CAT application step by step process. Same process is to remain for CAT 2025:

Step1: Login to CAT website iimcat.ac.in to Create your Profile

First step is to visit CAT 2025 Website -- IIMCAT.ac.in. Look for section that says ‘New Candidate Registration’. You need to click this button to Register as New User. Once you click ‘Register’, a new page titled ‘Register to get User ID and Password’ page will open.

Image 1: New Candidate Registration Button

Step-1.1: Register to Get User ID & Password

On Register to get User ID and Password Page (see image below), enter your Name, Date of Birth, Email, Country, and Mobile Number. Then, click Generate OTP button. You will get one-time OTP that you can use to login to CAT 2024 main Application Form. You also need to check I agree box in Declaration section.

Step-2: Complete CAT 2024 Application Form in Steps as below:

Once you have completed Step 1 as above you need to login at Registered candidate login window on iimcat.ac.in, as below. After login, you will be directed to fill in the details in your CAT application as in steps below.   

Step-2.1: Fill in Personal Details in CAT Application Form

First, fill your personal details like parents name, gender, category, nationality, communication address among others. Then, you also need to upload your Photograph, Signature and Caste Certificate.

Step-2.2: Fill in Academic Details from Class 10 onwards

After filling your Personal Details, next you will be directed to fill in all your academics beginning from Class 10 onwards like exam taken, Board/University, marks obtained, maximum marks, percentage of marks among others in the CAT 2024 form . The details of professional degree, if any are to be entered on this page.

Step-2.3: Fill the Work Experience obtained after Graduation

After filling your Academic Details, next page on registration form that opens is for work experience. If you are a candidate with work experience that you have earned after graduation, enter your experience in months as on 31st July 2024. Select which all industries (like Banking, Auto, IT…) you have worked and enter months of employment.

Step-2.4: Select IIM Programmes & Interview Cities
This CAT Application form page requires you to select preferred Programmes offered by 21 IIMs. It is advisable to check your eligibility and then choose the programmes for which you are eligible. For example, if you are eligible for IIM Ahmedabad PGP programme, you may not be eligible for its FABM or executive programmes. So, select the best IIM programmes and then select the IIM Interview City for that programme from the respective drop down menu.  

Step-2.5 Select Test Cities

You can select 5 most preferred test cities out of 170 cities in which CAT 2024 exam is scheduled. CAT Centre 2024 will make all out efforts to allot you your first preferred test city. However, in case due to any reason it is not allotted, you will be allotted the next preferred test city. Some of the key changes made in CAT 2024 test cities are as under:

• Noida and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh are clubbed into one test city for CAT exam
• Faridabad and Gurgaon in Haryana are clubbed as one Test city for CAT 

Step-3: Make payment online for CAT Application Form Fee

CAT application fee is Rs.2500 this year. Last year it was Rs.2400. Payment of CAT exam 2024 application fee is the last step while completing your CAT Registration & Application form. The payment is to be made online. A General / NC-OBC candidate needs to pay Rs.2500 while an SC/ST/PWD candidate will pay Rs.1250 towards the CAT Application & examination fee. The final amount will also include applicable additional charges. 

CAT website accepts credit cards, debit cards and net banking, so make sure that you are making payment through one of them. Below is shared the CAT fee payment window

Please note that if you miss any step, your application process will remain incomplete and if you fill in any wrong information in CAT application form, you will not get admission in any IIM even after scoring high percentile in CAT 2024 exam.

CAT exam 2025 application process is online. So, you need a computer with good connectivity. Following are the important pre-requisites for CAT application and key check points you should know before proceeding to complete your CAT exam 2025 application form

4.1 Check your Laptop/Desktop for fast connectivity

4.2 The CAT Application Form is compatible with Android (version 4.0 and above) and iOS (version 11 and above)

4.3 The recommended browsers to fill the CAT Application form are:

• Mozilla(85 to 102)
• Google chrome(80 to 103)
• Microsoft Edge(80 to 103)

4.4 Make sure that your E-mail Id is working as you will need it throughout the CAT exam and even after till the admission process in IIMs is not completed

4.5 Make sure that you have with you all your academic details from class 10 onwards; details about your work experience if any; Category reservation certificate (if applicable)

4.6 Keep the instruments ready to pay the CAT registration fee like Net Banking, Credit/Debit card

Below are the key instructions released by CAT 2025 centre at IIM Calcutta regarding the upload process of applicant’s photograph and signature in CAT Registration & Application form

5.1 How to Upload Photograph in CAT Application Form 2025? Check below

• Upload your recent passport size photograph of not more than 6 months old.
• The dimension of the photograph should be 1200 pixels x 1200 pixels.
• Maximum file size: 1 MB
• File Formats: Only JPEG, JPG
• Please upload the same photograph, that you will affix on the Admit Card on the day of the test.
• The photo-print should be clear and with a continuous-tone quality. It should have a white/offwhite background, full face, neck and shoulders, front view, eyes open.
• Ensure that the photograph is scanned properly using a scanner only. Do not use mobile phone or other mobile applications to scan your photograph.

5.2. How to Upload Signature in CAT Application Form 2025?

• Upload your signature only in JPEG, JPG formats
• Maximum File Size is 80KB

Before you begin with the CAT Application process, remember to organize these 10 key documents required to complete the CAT Application 2024 form:

1. Documents related to your Educational history from class 10 onwards
2. Mark sheets – Class-10
3. Mark Sheet – Class 12^th
4. Mark sheet – Bachelor’s Degree/Diploma
5. Final Year Certificate from the HoD/Principal (If in final year of bachelor’s degree) also previous year mark sheet
6. Work experience Document, if any
7. Applicable Certificates to upload (Category/Affidavits). Check and understand the size and format of Documents to be Uploaded
8. Scanned images of your passport size photo and signature. See detail below.
9. Keep ready the list of the IIM programmes to which you wish to apply, before you fill in the application form.
10. Keep ready the online fee payment instruments like Debit/Credit cards, Net banking. 

CAT Application Eligibility Criteria require that you should have one of the following academic qualifications

• A graduate in any discipline with minimum 50% marks in bachelor’s degree, if you a general category candidate; or
• Appearing in final year of graduation in 2024; or
• A graduate in any discipline with minimum 45% marks in bachelor’s degree, if you a reserved category candidate

CAT 2024 is the mandatory exam for MBA admission in 20 IIMs and other top MBA colleges. To appear in CAT 2024 you must apply for the exam first. Key features of CAT are detailed below

CAT 2024 Offers Admission Opportunity in 21 IIMs & Other Top B-Schools

By completing your CAT 2024 application form and appearing in CAT exam, you become eligible to be considered in all the following 20 IIMs for admission 2025 final selection process:

In addition to 21 IIMs, more than 500 B-schools including FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, SJMSoM IIT Mumbai, DoMS IIT Delhi among others accept CAT scores. Check list of Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT. So, successful CAT application submission is the first and important step to get into IIMs and Top B-schools in India.  

Key Features & Careful Understanding of CAT 2025 Application Form Completion: CAT 2024 application is Online process and can be completed in one go or in breaks. However, it should be completed and submitted latest by the last date of CAT application submission.

• CAT Application Window: CAT 2025 Exam Application window remains open for minimum 45 days from August first week to September third week
• What does the CAT Fee include? The CAT Registration & Application Fee, IIM application Fee and CAT exam fee is included in the CAT exam Application Fee
• 1^st Step for IIM Admission: CAT 2024 Application is the first step to become eligible to appear in CAT 2025 exam
• Where to Find CAT Application Details: All the details on CAT Application 2024 process for CAT exam are released on official CAT 2025 exam website iimcat.ac.in
• No. of Candidates in CAT Exam Application: More than 3,00,000 candidates are expected to apply for CAT 2024 online. Last year 3.30 Lakh candidates had applied for CAT exam
• When to Apply for CAT: It is advisable to register and apply for CAT 2024 at least, a few days before the last date, as on the last date of CAT application, you may face some technical glitches
• Why to be Careful in CAT Application Process: In case the CAT application form is not properly filled in and submitted at the last minute of CAT exam application or the Online application fee payment is stuck in transit, you will have to register and apply again. It is advisable to complete your CAT Online Application 2024 as early as possible without waiting for last minute.    

IIMs release Guidelines for CAT Registration & Application process at iimcat.ac.in. The CAT application guide helps the CAT applicants to fill and submit CAT registration & Application form with accuracy.  The CAT 2024 application guide and CAT application form filling Video comprise all the key details how to register and how to fill CAT 2024 application form, important instructions and do’s & don’ts that you should adhere to while filling in your CAT registration & application form. 

Important Guidelines for CAT 2024 Application
Take note of the following important guidelines:

1. Keep the entire information like academic details, scanned photo & signature images, registration fee payment instruments ready before filling up the registration & application form
2. After receiving CAT ID and Password do not copy paste it to login window and for filling up application form as it may give mismatch message. Better to write it in the given spaces
3. Move carefully to fill your CAT application form as given in the step by step process above
4. It takes half an hour to complete the CAT registration and application form. However, you may complete it in parts also. Please ensure to save the application part that you have completed.
5. You will not be allowed to move further on CAT registration and application form, if mandatory information is not filled up.
6. Wherever needed, required Certificates, scanned images of photographs, signature are to be uploaded, else your application will remain incomplete
7. If you forget your password during the online CAT application process, you may click on the Forgot Password button on the Existing User login window. The new password will be sent on the email to you, and not as an SMS.
8. Once you have made payment of CAT application fee and submit the application, you will receive a confirmation mail. After this, changes to any information on the application form are not possible. 

Compared to previous years, important changes in CAT Application 2025 are as under:

• A few CAT 2025 Test cities are clubbed into one. For example, you cannot choose Noida and Greater Noida as separate test cities. Both the cities are made as one in CAT Application form. Similarly, Faridabad and Gurgaon are also clubbed as one test city
• CAT Application fee increases by Rs.100. The fee goes up at Rs.2500 for CAT 2024 from Rs.2400 last year
• The CAT 2025 applicants can choose upto 6 preferred CAT test cities
• Your work experience after graduation will be calculated in days in CAT 2025 instead of months as was in previous years    
• CAT Application window is expected to be extended by one week after the first closing date 

Please note the following to successfully complete your CAT Application 2025 form:

1. Carefully enter all the personal details in CAT 2025 application form, no correction is allowed later
2. Review all the details you have entered on each page
3. Please upload correct size of scanned images of your photograph & signature
4. Download the EWS, NC-OBC, SC/ST, PwD Certificates from the CAT website, enter the required information and self-attest, scan as PDF documents & upload the certificates on the CAT website
5. If you are a Person with Disability (PwD), Select yes in the CAT Application form, else you may not be provided assistance at the test centre like wheel chair support and Scribe
6. If you need to use a Scribe for the test, arrange the Scribe and fill the Scribe Affidavit form available on the CAT website.
7. After you submit the CAT application form and make payment, no Editing is allowed, so be careful
8. IIMs may open 2-3 days CAT Application form Editing window after the last date is over. During the period you may re-upload your right size photograph, may edit a few details but no correction in Personal Details will be allowed
9. Check that your CAT registration & application form is successfully submitted and you have received the SMS from CAT Exam Centre after form submission
10. In case you have made a mistake in the application form, you must register again with a new email ID. Your CAT 2024 application will be considered for the latest registration and the Admit Card will be issued for the same. Please note that, you will not receive a refund for erroneous submission of application form nor will you get the Admit Card for your earlier registration.

After the last date for submission of CAT 2025 Application form is over, a limited period CAT Application form error correction window will open. Key Errors and timelines for CAT error correction window are as below:

All the candidates who complete their CAT 2025 application within the application window of more than 45 days till last date, will be treated at par in Test Centre allotment and Test session allotment process. The exam pattern is likely to remain same as that of last year and the exam will be conducted in 3 slots as was conducted last year.

Check that you upload photograph as per the IIMs prescribed criteria detailed as under to avoid rejection of your CAT registration and application Form