The CAT 2025 answer sheet PDF has been released today, 4th December 2026, by 6 PM. IIM Kozhikode had confirmed the release date on December 3, 2025. Candidates can download the CAT exam response sheet and the provisional answer key from the official website, iimcat.ac.in.
This year, the CAT Answer key and objection process have been updated. Previously, the objection window opened on the same day as the response sheet. But for the CAT exam 2025, the answer key challenge window will open 4 days after the release.
Source: iimcat.ac.in
CAT Exam 2025 Answer Key and Objection Important Dates
Some of the important dates that you must note after the answer key is released are:
| Details | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Dec 4, 2025 (Out) | Answer Key Date |
| Dec 8-10, 2025 | Objection Window |
| INR 1,200 (refundable if valid) | Fee per Objection |
| Dec 22, 2025 (tentative) | Result Date |
How to Download the CAT Exam 2025 Answer Key
Follow these steps to access the provisional Common Admission Test 2025 answer key and your response sheet:
CAT Exam 2025 Composite Score Calculation Guide
The CAT examination 2025 composite score (also called raw score) is calculated by combining the scores from three sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
How to Calculate your Composite Score:
- For each correct answer, you get +3 marks.
- For each wrong answer, 1 mark is deducted (negative marking).
- Unattempted questions carry 0 marks.
- Total raw score = Sum of (Section-wise correct answers * 3) - (Section-wise wrong answers * 1)
How to Raise Objections Against the CAT Exam 2025 Answer Key
If you have an objection to any answer, use the steps below. Remember, objections without documents will be rejected.
- Go to the CAT 2025 official website
- Click on “Login”
- Enter your Common Admission Test login ID and password
- Open the Objection tab
- Click the ‘+’ icon to add a new objection
- Select the question number
- Fill in the required details
- Upload valid supporting documents
- Pay the INR 1,200 fee per objection
CAT Official Objection Raised (2024-2020)
CAT objection trends from 2020–2024 show a sharp rise in submissions but very few valid corrections.
- 2024 saw the highest objections around 405, mainly from VARC, yet none were upheld, showing strict key validation.
- In 2023, there were fewer objections (85), but VARC alone had over 370 section-wise challenges, again with zero changes.
- 2022 and 2021 were the only years where valid objections were accepted, i.e, 2 in DILR (2022) and 1 in QA (2021).
| Year | Conducting IIM | Total Objections | Upheld/Valid | Key Details & Changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | IIM Calcutta | ~405 | 0 | Objection window: Dec 3-5. Highest in VARC (Slot 2 dominant). No revisions; final key unchanged. Attendance: 2.93L out of 3.29L registered. |
| 2023 | IIM Lucknow | 85 (across 3 slots) | 0 | Window: Dec 5-8. Breakdown: VARC (371 total: Slot1=31, Slot2=272, Slot3=68); DILR (21: S1=5, S2=9, S3=7); QA (14: S1=11, S2=1, S3=1). All reviewed; no changes. |
| 2022 | IIM Bangalore | Not fully disclosed (hundreds estimated) | 2 (DILR) | Window: Dec 1-4. 2 DILR objections accepted, but no key changes (scores adjusted for affected candidates). VARC/QA unaffected. |
| 2021 | IIM Ahmedabad | 161 reviewed (total est. higher) | 1 (QA) | Window: Dec 8-11. One valid in QA Shift 3 (non-negative marking question revised). No VARC/DILR changes. Results delayed to Jan 2022. |
| 2020 | IIM Kozhikode | Limited data (~200 est.) | 0-2 (undisclosed) | Window: Dec 8-12. 3-slot format due to COVID; focus on factual errors. Minimal revisions reported. |
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