CAT Admit Card 2025 vs Previous Years: Changes, Format & Details

As the Common Admission Test CAT 2025 examination approaches, a single document will separate you from access to some of the best MBA programs in the country - the CAT admit card. This document is more than just a slip of paper; it is a digital access to the high-stakes environment of the Indian Institutes of Management and other professional B-schools. The stakes have never been higher, so even minor errors or changes with the unfamiliar format can led losing access to this important exam day. 

Since the exam will be held on November 30, 2025, the admit card will be released shortly, as it will be published on November 5. In this blog, all of the relevant you will access all the relevant information about the CAT 2025 admit card, comparing it to previous years, so that you will know what to expect, how to download it easily, and how some recent updates will make your exam-day experience safer and easier. Make sure that you are prepared for exam day with all of the most recent details that any CAT aspirant should know.

CAT 2025 Important Dates

Importance and Features of the CAT Admit Card for 2025

The admit card issued by the organization is a mandatory digital document known as the CAT admit card or the hall ticket that is provided by the organization administering the exam, which in this case is IIM Calcutta in the year 2025. It is a testament that you are qualified to take the exam, and it has the information about the exam, including the slot and the exam centre. You will not be allowed to enter the exam venue without your admit card, as the exam officials will scan a barcode or QR code as you enter and compare your ID proof (Aadhaar, passport, or any other official document) with the information on your admit card.

The online format of the CAT exam in 2009 resulted in the alteration of the admit card, which was in a simple format of a printout, into a PDF file, which has multiple features and security measures have also been offered to ensure that no fraud is committed. The admit card would include personal identification details, exam details, and dos and don'ts since the exam would be a 120-minute battle consisting of three parts: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).

Why is that significant? The CAT will be conducted in three shifts (morning, afternoon, evening) in 150+ cities, and therefore, the data on the admit card must be realistic. In case of any mismatch, you may not be able to take the test, and this may influence your percentage score. In 2024, there were more than 3.3 lakh registered people, and only 2.93 lakh people took the test. This was among the factors that made many students not sit the test due to the mistakes in the admit cards or just forgetting to bring the card.

CAT 2025 Admit Card Release Date and Downloading

Admit card for CAT 2025 will be announced on November 5, 2025, at 5 PM IST, on the official site iimcat.ac.in. This is based on the general trend, which is approximately 25 days before the exam, hence you have time to revise. The 2023 admit card was also relatively delayed due to technical problems, and the candidates had a revision time between October 25 and November 7. That is why the CAT 2025 admit card will be as scheduled, as long as no one seeks to tamper with it.

It is simple to download, and you will have to provide your application information to do so. Just follow the steps below:

Step 1: Visit the official site: Visit iimcat.ac.in,

Step 2: On the home page, the CAT 2025 Admit Card Download is available.

Step 3: Use your application number (seven digits) (sent in your registration confirmation) and password. (You will be required to log in using an OTP through email or SMS in case it is your first time registering to take a test)

Step 4: Be sure that your information, such as your name, photo, and category, is correct.

Step 5: Your PDF will be downloaded by clicking on the Download Admit Card.

Format and Notable Information on Your CAT 2025 Admit Card.

The CAT 2025 (Common Admission Test) admit card will be similar to the 2024 admit card format, that is, it will be a one-page PDF file with a watermark, barcode, and a photo of the candidate so that the document cannot be altered. No major changes are intended to be made this year, but some enhancements to QR code scanning technologies can be made to allow faster scanning. The list of what important entries to check in your admit card is as follows:

• Personal Data: Full name (as it is written on your Class X Certificate), date of birth, gender, category (GEN/OBC/SC/ST/PWD/EWS), admission/roll number(s).

• Photo and Signature: A passport-size photo (3x4 cm, cannot be old) and your electronic signature, which will also have to be identical to your ID.

• Exam Logistics: Test date: November 30, 2025; time of test (eg, 8:30 AM-10:30 AM); place of test address (address and/or landmarks); reporting time (one hour before the test).

• Guidelines: No electronic devices, calculators, or other unauthorized materials may be used; a clear envelope with required papers; COVID guidelines (in case reinstated); and sitting and conduct instructions of exams.

• Security: Watermark (type of hologram), unique identifier, validity stamp underneath the hologram.

Amendments to the CAT Admit Card 2025 in comparison to the past years.

Although the general structure of the CAT admit card has not changed much over the past few years, in 2025, some significant changes and additions have been made to make the card more convenient to the candidates:

• Google Map Link of Exam Center: This is a clickable map link that has now been added to the electronic admit card to help the candidates find the CAT Exam test centre more accurately- this was not the case before.

• More Specific Timing Data: The admit card has been designed to display the exact reporting time and the latest entry time to the examination centre, in order that the candidates may plan better on how to arrive.

• Emergency Contact Number: An emergency contact number should be added to the admit card that will offer the candidates an extra level of safety if they have issues during the exam day.

• Printable Version with Photo and Signature: Applicants will be required to print several copies on A4 paper and affix a photograph on the admit card, as well as make sure that their signature is also included. In the past, there were no such instructions on some of the details, which were displayed only electronically.

These changes will simplify the exam procedure and minimize confusion during the exam day, which is important since there are many candidates.

Comparison of the CAT Admit Card Format 2025 and the Previous Years: Major Changes.

The admit cards of CAT have remained very stable and put more emphasis on reliability rather than flash. However, there are minor changes that indicate changing demands. We can compare 2025 (projected) to 2024 and 2023:

Conclusion

The CAT 2025 admit card has a reliable and efficient format that is the same as that of the past years. The convenience of the candidates is improved with the help of new options such as a clickable Google Map connection to exam centres, detailed reporting times, and emergency contact numbers. The admit card will be released on November 5, 2025, and its security will be enhanced by the use of watermarks and QR codes. These updates make the exam day experience easier, as close to 3 lakh candidates can get the correct information and eliminate mistakes that have made some of them fail to take the test in the past. Being digitally verified and with clear instructions, CAT 2025 is expected to make the examination process of all aspirants smooth and secure.