CAT Answer Key 2025: Download Response Sheet PDFs (Slot 1, 2, & 3)

Overview: The provisional CAT answer key pdf will be released on 1st week of December 2025. You can download the CAT 2025 answer key PDF from the official website before the closing date 5th December 2025.

• The CAT exam 2025 will be successfully conducted on 30 November 2025, and the response sheet will release on 29 November 2025.
• Candidates who appeared for CAT 2025 can check out the CAT exam analysis for slots 1, 2 and 3.
• Also, you can download the CAT response sheet 2025 and match the response with the provisional answer key for the CAT exam.

Scroll down to know how to download the IIM CAT answer key PDF with steps here!

Download FREE Study Material for CAT Exam 2025 by SuperGrads

Check | CAT Exam Analysis Slot 1, 2 and 3 

What is CAT Answer Key 2025?

The CAT (Common Admission Test) Answer Key 2025 is the official set of correct answers to the Common Admission Test 2025 questions.  

 It contains the correct answers to all the multiple-choice questions (MCQs) that appeared in the exam. Along with the answer key, IIMS release the candidates' response sheets, which show the answers they marked during the exam.  

What is the purpose of the CAT Answer Key 2025?

• The CAT answer key allows candidates to compare their marked answers with the official correct answers.
• By using the official marking scheme, candidates can estimate their raw scores before the official results are announced.
• It provides a basis for candidates to identify errors in the officially released answers.  
• Lastly, candidates can raise objections within a specified timeframe if they find incorrect answers in the provisional key.  

Know: Important Formulas For CAT

Types of CAT Answer Keys

Typically, there are two types of answer keys released for the CAT exam:

1. Provisional Answer Key: This is the initial answer key released by the IIM after the examination. It is open to scrutiny, and candidates are given a window to raise objections against any answer they believe is incorrect.  

Candidates usually need to pay a fee for each objection raised. The provisional key's purpose is to ensure the accuracy of the final evaluation process by incorporating feedback from the test-takers.

2. Final Answer Key

This is the revised answer key released after considering all the valid objections raised by the candidates against the provisional key.

The final answer key is considered the definitive version, and the CAT results are prepared based on it. After the release of the final answer key, no further objections are entertained.  

Check: Logical Reasoning Questions for CAT

CAT Answer Key 2025: Important Release Dates 

Important dates around the CAT answer sheet are tabulated below. 

Events	Important Dates
CAT Exam 2025 Notification	July 2025
Registration Date Opens	August 2025
CAT Exam Admit Card Release Date	November 2025
CAT Exam Date 2025	30th November 2025
CAT 2025  Answer Key Release Date	December 2025
Official Website	iimcat.ac.in

Read  More: CAT exam mock tests

How to Download CAT 2025 Answer Key PDF? 

The CAT answer sheet can be accessed through the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in, to assess their performance and anticipate final scores by using their CAT login ID and password. To download the CAT 2025 answer key or the CAT 2025 response sheet, candidates must follow these steps: 

Step 1: Visit the official website of the CAT 2025 exam using https://iimcat.ac.in. 

Step 2: Click on the 'login' tab

Step 3: Enter CAT login ID and password. 

Step 4: IIM CAT answer key PDF will appear on the screen. 

Step 5: Take a printout of the answer key or CAT 2025 response sheet. 

Step 6: Check the answers and raise objections, if any.

CAT 2025 Answer Key Challege Window- Direct Link

Check | CAT Cut-off Details

Download Free DILR Sample Questions for CAT Exam

Read more: CAT Geometry Formulas with Explanation

What Information is Mentioned in the CAT 2025 Answer Key? 

The CAT 2025 answer key or CAT response sheet 2025 will provide each question and its status, your answer, the correct answer, and questions that were not attempted.

The CAT exam answer key 2025 will include the following information: 

• Name of the candidate 
• The CAT registration number of candidates
• CAT 2025 exam centre 
• CAT exam date 
• CAT exam time 
• CAT Questions 
• Question type 
• Question ID 
• Question Status (attempted/not attempted) 
• Right option/answer 
• Candidate's response 

Candidates use the CAT slot 2 answer key, the CAT slot 1 answer key and the main answer key CAT 2025 to evaluate their exam performance and estimate their potential score.

However, it's essential to remember that the official results are released by the exam conducting body, and the CAT 2025 answer key serves only as a reference until then.

Check | CAT Exam Day Instructions

Check | What To Do After Clearing CAT Exam 2025?

How to Raise Objections Against the IIM CAT Answer Key 2025?

CAT 2025 Answer Key (CAT Slot 1 answer key, CAT Slot 2 answer key): Raising Objection

To object to the CAT (Common Admission Test) answer sheet, you would typically follow a process outlined by the exam conducting authority. Candidates who consider any official answers incorrect can challenge the official CAT exam answer key and response sheet. Test takers can challenge the official answer to any question by completing an online application form.

If the objection is proven true, the official response will be modified. Candidates whose objections are valid will have their objection money returned. 

Read More: CAT Toppers Interview

Download Detailed Admission Process of Top B-Schools

How to Submit IIM CAT Answer Key Objections 2025? 

If a candidate desires to challenge the CAT exam answer key 2025, they must submit the CAT exam answer key objection form. Candidates can submit their objections using their CAT login ID and password.

There will be an objection fee of INR 1,200 per question, which must be paid online. The steps for completing the objection form are as follows: 

• Visit the official website of CAT 2025
• Click on 'Login' 
• Enter CAT login ID and password 
• Go to the Objection tab 
• Click on the ‘+’ sign to add an objection 
• Check the question number from the PDF of the question paper on the official website 
• Enter relevant details 
• Upload supporting documents 
• Pay the objection fee, i.e. INR 1,200 per objection, through credit/debit card or net banking. 

Read More | CAT Slot Timings

Check | Minimum Marks Required to Qualify for CAT

Points to Remember When Raising Objections to IIM CAT Answer Key 2025

• Objection fees are refunded only for valid objections. 
• Once submitted, objections cannot be edited. 
• There's no limit to the number of objections that can be raised. 
• The CAT 2025 result will be announced after the objection process concludes. 
• No objections are entertained after the final CAT 2025 answer key is released. 
• Re-checking of the CAT question paper is not permissible. 

Check | CAT Exam Jobs

All About Analytical Writing Test at IIM-A

Expected CAT Cut Off for Top IIMs 

Candidates who appeared for the CAT 2025 exam can check the expected cut-offs for top IIMS 

Institute	Cut-off percentile
IIM Ahmedabad	99-100
IIM Bangalore	99-100
IIM Calcutta	99
IIM Lucknow	97-98
IIM Indore	97-98

First, you have to calculate your scores using the CAT Answer Key 2025 and the CAT response sheet PDF. Give three marks for each correct answer and one for each incorrect response.

Keep in mind that negative grading only applies to MCQs. Then, use the CAT 2025 score versus percentile calculator to determine your predicted percentile range. 

You may now know the list of colleges where you can get admission to IIMs based on your percentile, based on the cut-off for IIMs, IITs, and other MBA colleges. 

Check | CAT Previous Year Question Papers

How to Calculate CAT Score Using CAT Answer Key?

To calculate your CAT (Common Admission Test) score using the CAT Answer Key 2025, you need to follow these steps:

1. Download the Official Answer Key and Your Response Sheet:

2. Understand the CAT Marking Scheme and calculate according to it

• For each correct answer: +3 marks  
• For each incorrect answer (in MCQS): -1 mark
• For unattempted questions: 0 marks
• For Type-In-The-Answer (TITA) questions: +3 for a correct answer and 0 for an incorrect or unattempted answer (no negative marking for TITA questions).  

3. Compare your marked answer with the corresponding correct answer in the official answer key.

4. Calculate the Raw Score for Each Section:

• MCQ Section Score: (Number of correct MCQ answers * 3) - (Number of incorrect MCQ answers * 1)
• TITA Section Score: Number of correct TITA answers * 3

5. Calculate Your Total Raw CAT Score:

Add the raw scores of all the sections (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension - VARC, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning - DILR, and Quantitative Ability - QA) to get your total raw CAT score.  

Formula:

Total Raw Score = (Correct MCQ Answers * 3) - (Incorrect MCQ Answers * 1) + (Correct TITA Answers * 3)

Example:

Let's say in the VARC section:

• You answered 15 MCQS correctly.
• You answered 5 MCQS incorrectly.
• You answered 2 TITA questions correctly.

Then your raw score for the VARC section would be:

(15 * 3) - (5 * 1) + (2 * 3) = 45 - 5 + 6 = 46

You would repeat this process for the DILR and QA sections and then sum up the scores of all three sections to get your estimated total raw CAT score.

Important Note: This calculation will give you an estimate of your raw score. The actual scaled scores and percentiles are calculated by IIMs using a normalisation process to account for differences in difficulty levels across different slots of the exam.  

Read more: CAT Mensuration Questions with Answers

CAT Response Sheet vs. CAT Answer Key 2025: Key Differences

Here are the key differences between the CAT response sheet and the CAT answer key:

Feature	CAT Response Sheet	CAT Answer Key
Definition	Shows the answers marked by an individual candidate for each question during the exam.	Contains the officially correct answers to all the questions in the CAT exam.
Purpose	Allows candidates to review their own performance and recall their thought process.	Enables candidates to verify the correctness of their answers and estimate their raw score.
Content	Includes: <br> - Question ID <br> - Candidate's chosen option <br> - Status of the question (answered, not answered)	Includes: <br> - Question ID <br> - The single officially correct answer for each question.
Release Timing	Released after the CAT exam, usually along with the provisional answer key.	Provisional Answer Key: Released shortly after the exam, open for challenges. <br> Final Answer Key: Released after considering objections, used for final score calculation.
Individualised	Yes, it is unique to each candidate.	No, it is the same for all candidates who appeared for a particular slot.
Actionable For Candidates	Compare with the answer key to calculate the potential score; raise objections against discrepancies.	Use to verify answers and estimate scores. The final key is the basis for the official result.
Format	Typically, a PDF document is accessible through the candidate's login on the official CAT website.	Typically, a PDF document is accessible through the official CAT website.
Objections	Candidates use their response sheet in conjunction with the provisional answer key to identify questions they want to challenge.	Candidates challenge the answers provided in the provisional answer key, not their own response sheet directly.

Check: How to prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT exam

What are the Common Errors in CAT Answer Key & How to Spot Them?

Sometimes, the CAT answer key has some errors that are not easy to find. So, we have provided the list of possible errors that you can check in the CAT 2025 answer key:

1. Calculation Errors

There is a possibility that the QA and DILR sections might have some calculation mistakes. Therefore, it is best to double-check your own calculations and, if possible, try to solve the question using a different approach to see if you arrive at the official answer.

2. Ambiguous Question Stem or Options

Sometimes, the question itself might be poorly worded, leading to multiple possible interpretations or more than one plausible correct answer.

The provided correct answer might be based on one specific interpretation that you didn't consider. If you feel the question is ambiguous, note down all possible interpretations and see if any of the options fit another valid understanding of the question.

3. Incorrect Application of Concepts

The official answer might be based on a flawed understanding or application of a fundamental concept in mathematics, verbal ability, or logical reasoning. Review the relevant concepts and rules to see if the official answer adheres to them.

4. Mismarked Answers (Technical Issues)

This is less about the correctness of the answer itself and more about whether the option marked as correct in the key truly corresponds to the intended correct answer based on the question.

How to Identify the Error Spots?

• Cross-reference with multiple sources: If you remember a question clearly and are confident in your answer based on reliable study material or expert opinions, and it differs from the official key.
• Look for patterns: If you notice a series of answers in the key that seem consistently off in a particular section or slot, it might indicate a technical issue in mapping the correct options.
• Check discussions with other candidates: If many other test-takers also feel a specific answer is wrong, it strengthens the possibility of an error in the key.

Impact of CAT Answer Key 2025 on College Selection Strategy

The release of the CAT (Common Admission Test) answer key significantly impacts your CAT college selection strategy for MBA admissions. Here's how:

1. Performance Evaluation and Realistic Assessment

The answer key, along with your response sheet, allows you to calculate your raw score by awarding +3 marks for each correct answer and -1 for each incorrect MCQ. There is no negative marking for non-MCQ type questions (TITA).  

You can predict your potential percentile range based on your estimated score and previous years' trends of score vs. percentile. This gives you a realistic idea of where you stand among all test-takers.  

2. Targeted College Shortlisting

With your estimated percentile, you can categorise potential B-schools. Knowing your approximate percentile prevents you from solely focusing on colleges with unattainable cutoffs and helps you explore a wider range of suitable options.

Besides the overall percentile, most top B-schools also have sectional cutoffs. Your performance in each section, as evaluated by the answer key, will help you determine if you meet the eligibility criteria for specific colleges.

3. Strategic Application Decisions

Based on your predicted chances of getting a call from different colleges, you can strategically prioritise your application efforts. You might want to focus more on crafting strong applications for colleges where you have a higher probability of selection.

Many B-schools close their application windows even before the final CAT results are declared. Your estimated score and percentile from the answer key can help you make timely decisions about which colleges to apply to before the deadlines.

4. Preparation for Subsequent Selection Rounds

If your estimated percentile is good, you can start preparing for the next stages of the admission process, such as Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI).

If the answer key reveals significant weaknesses in certain sections, you can start working on improving those areas in case you plan to reappear for the CAT or other MBA entrance exams in the future.

Also Check | CAT Exam Ratio and Proportion Questions

Can the CAT 2025 answer key be legally challenged?

The CAT answer key can be legally challenged, though courts generally exercise caution in such matters, respecting the expertise of the examining bodies. IIMs typically include a disclaimer stating that their expert committee's decision on the answer key is final. However, legal challenges arise when there are demonstrable errors or malpractices.

In a recent case, the Delhi High Court dismissed a petition challenging the CAT 2024 results based on an alleged error in the VARC answer key. The court stated that it found no reason to interfere, emphasising that the evaluation of answer keys falls under the purview of experts, and courts should only intervene in cases of clear mistakes, not based on assumptions.

Also Check | CAT Exam Quantitative aptitude questions

How CAT Scoring Might Vary for Different Categories?

The CAT answer key itself doesn't vary for different categories (General, OBC, SC/ST). All candidates receive the same set of questions and the same official answer key to evaluate their performance.

Key considerations in interpreting the answer key for category-based admissions

1. Raw Scores: Your raw score is calculated uniformly based on the answer key (+3 for correct MCQS, -1 for incorrect MCQS, 0 for TITA and unanswered).

2. Percentile Calculation: The percentile is a relative measure indicating the percentage of test-takers who scored below you. This calculation is done across all categories combined; there isn't a separate percentile calculated for each category.

3. Differential Cutoffs: This is where the impact lies. Most IIMs and other B-schools have different qualifying and final cutoffs for various categories. For example, a top IIM might have a 99+ overall percentile cutoff for the General category, while it could be around 97-98 for OBC, and lower for SC/ST/PwD candidates.

4. Sectional Cutoffs: Many institutes have sectional cutoffs in addition to the overall percentile, which can also vary across categories. A General category candidate might need a higher percentile in each section than a reserved category candidate to be eligible for the next round.

Check: What after CAT Results

Read More | How to get a good score in CAT Exam

Conclusion

The results of CAT 2025 are anticipated to be announced in January 2025 on iimcat.ac.in. After the objection analysis, the final result will be prepared based on the answer key. 

The CAT Answer Key 2025 is an invaluable resource for aspirants aiming to enter prestigious IIMs and other top B-schools.

By effectively accessing, analysing, and utilising this key, candidates can understand their performance, strategically challenge discrepancies and accurately estimate their CAT scores.

This critical step prepares candidates for the results, including the CAT Slot 1 answer key, CAT Slot 2 answer key and CAT 2024 slot 3 answer key lays a solid foundation for their future academic and career planning in the competitive world of management education.

Check: CAT Toppers List