Written Test, Group Discussion (GD), Written Analysis (WAT), and Personal Interview (PI) Stages in the CAT Selection Process 2025, Involving Qualification Criterion Detail

Written Test, Group Discussion (GD), Written Analysis (WAT), and Personal Interview (PI) Stages in the CAT Selection Process 2025, Involving Qualification Criterion Detail

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, scheduled for November 30, 2025, marks the beginning of a multi-stage selection process for admission into postgraduate management programs and fellow or doctorate programs at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top business schools. The process, spanning several stages, aims to evaluate candidates holistically beyond their CAT exam scores.

Stage 1: CAT Online Exam

The CAT 2025 exam is an online test consisting of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). The exam duration is 120 minutes, with each question carrying 3 marks, and every incorrect answer attracting 25% negative marks. The admit card will be available from November 5, 2025.

Stage 2: Group Discussion (GD), Written Ability Test (WAT), and Personal Interview (PI)

Candidates who clear the CAT exam are shortlisted for the subsequent stages. The Group Discussion (GD) assesses communication skills, leadership qualities, teamwork ability, and problem-solving on a business topic or case study within a limited time.

The Written Ability Test (WAT) is conducted by some IIMs to evaluate written communication, critical thinking, and idea structuring. Candidates write on a given topic within a fixed time and word limit.

The Personal Interview (PI) is a face-to-face interaction where the candidate’s personality, thought process, motivation for MBA, and cultural fit with the institute are examined. Interviewers may also assess general knowledge, business awareness, and overall communication skills.

Final Merit List Preparation

After all stages, the institutes prepare a composite score combining the CAT exam score, WAT performance, PI score, academic performance in Class 10, Class 12, and graduation, and work experience. The weightage allocation for admission decisions is approximately as follows:

| Parameter | Weightage (%) | |------------------------|---------------| | CAT Exam | 25 | | Written Ability Test | 10 | | Personal Interview | 30 | | Class 10 Academic | 15 | | Class 12 Academic | 15 | | Graduation | 10 | | Work Experience | 10 |

Candidates with composite scores above the cutoff receive final admission offers.

Registration and Key Dates

The CAT registration window for 2025 opened on August 1, 2025, and closes by September 13, 2025. CAT results are expected to be declared in the first week of January 2026. The registration for CAT 2025 will commence in the coming days.

Participation in GD, WAT, and PI rounds is mandatory for final admission, though some institutes have slight variations in rounds conducted. The time limits for the CAT Exam 2025 sections are as follows: VARC - 40 minutes, DILR - 40 minutes, QA - 40 minutes. The time limit for PwD students in the CAT Exam 2025 is 160 minutes. The CAT Exam 2025 comprises 66 objective-type questions for a total of 198 marks.

In the WAT round, candidates are required to write their thoughts on a given topic within a set time and word limit. The CAT Selection Process 2025 is a rigorous exam designed to evaluate a candidate's potential for success in a management program.

The CAT scores are also accepted by non-IIM member institutions for their admission processes. If a candidate's composite score is high enough and they meet all criteria, they will receive an admission offer from the respective IIM.

Participating in the CAT 2025, a critical exam for education-and-self-development, marks the beginning of a selection process for personal-growth opportunities in postgraduate management programs. The subsequent stages, including Group Discussion (GD), Written Ability Test (WAT), and Personal Interview (PI), focus on evaluating candidates' learning abilities, communication skills, and overall potential for success in a management program.

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