IIM CAT Final Answer Key 2025 Expected Soon: Release Date, Download Steps, and What Happens Next

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025), one of India’s most competitive MBA entrance examinations, is steadily moving toward its final evaluation phase. Conducted this year by the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode), CAT 2025 saw participation from lakhs of management aspirants aiming for admission into IIMs and other top B-schools across the country.

With the objection window now closed, candidates are eagerly awaiting the CAT 2025 final answer key, which is expected to be released shortly on the official website, iimcat.ac.in. While IIM Kozhikode has not announced a confirmed release date, the final answer key traditionally follows soon after objections to the provisional key are reviewed.

Its release will formally conclude the post-exam scrutiny process and set the stage for CAT 2025 results, percentile calculation, and the MBA shortlisting cycle.

CAT 2025 Answer Key Process: A Quick Recap

The CAT answer key release process follows a structured and transparent system designed to ensure fairness and accuracy. Here is where things currently stand:

• December 4, 2025:
  IIM Kozhikode released the provisional answer key and individual response sheets for CAT 2025. Candidates from all three exam slots were able to view their recorded responses and compare them with the official answers.
• December 8 to December 10, 2025:
  The objection window was opened, allowing candidates to challenge questions they believed contained incorrect answers or ambiguities. Each objection required a detailed explanation and supporting evidence.

This objection phase plays a critical role, as it gives aspirants a formal opportunity to highlight potential evaluation errors before scores are finalised.

What the CAT 2025 Final Answer Key Means for Candidates

The final answer key is released only after subject matter experts carefully examine all objections submitted during the challenge window. Based on this review, IIM Kozhikode may:

• Correct an incorrect answer
• Modify answer options
• Withdraw a flawed question entirely

Unlike the provisional key, the final answer key is non-challengeable. Once published, it becomes the definitive reference document for:

• Score calculation
• Slot-wise normalisation
• Percentile determination

Any changes made at this stage are automatically reflected in candidates’ final scores. This makes the final answer key a crucial document, even though it does not alter outcomes once released.

CAT 2025 Final Answer Key: Expected Timeline

Although no official release date has been announced, past CAT trends suggest that the final answer key is typically published a few days after the objection review process concludes. Since objections closed on December 10, candidates can reasonably expect the final answer key to be released soon, ahead of the CAT 2025 result declaration.

The release of the final key is widely seen as the last technical checkpoint before results are announced.

Where to Check the CAT 2025 Final Answer Key

Once released, the CAT 2025 final answer key will be made available exclusively on the official CAT website: iimcat.ac.in.

Candidates must log in using their registered credentials to access it. The answer key is usually published in PDF format and may or may not be accompanied by updated response sheets.

A crucial advisory from the exam authority: candidates should rely only on official updates from IIM Kozhikode and avoid unverified information shared by coaching institutes or circulating on social media platforms.

CAT 2025 Final Answer Key: Step-by-Step Download Guide

After the final answer key is released, candidates can follow these steps to download it:

1. Visit the official CAT website at iimcat.ac.in
2. Click on the Candidate Login / Answer Key / Response Sheet link on the homepage
3. Enter your CAT Registration ID and password
4. Log in and select the link for CAT 2025 Final Answer Key
5. Download the answer key PDF for your respective exam slot
6. Save and print a copy for future reference

Keeping a downloaded copy is advisable, especially for personal score verification and reference during the result phase.

What Happens After the Final Answer Key Is Released?

The publication of the final answer key marks the end of the answer verification process. After this, IIM Kozhikode proceeds with the following steps:

• Score normalisation across slots:
  Since CAT is conducted in multiple slots, raw scores are normalised to ensure fairness.
• Percentile calculation:
  Candidates’ performance is measured relative to others, resulting in sectional and overall percentiles.
• Declaration of CAT 2025 results:
  The official scorecards are released on the CAT portal, typically within days or weeks after the final answer key.

Once results are announced, the admission process formally moves into its next phase.

Beyond Results: The MBA Admission Roadmap

After CAT 2025 results are declared:

• Individual IIMs and participating B-schools will publish their shortlisting criteria
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to subsequent selection rounds, which may include:
  • Written Ability Test (WAT)
  • Group Discussion (GD)
  • Personal Interview (PI)

Each institute applies its own weightage to CAT scores, academic background, work experience, and diversity factors. Therefore, CAT performance is the gateway—but not the final determinant—of admission.

What Candidates Should Do Now

As the release of the CAT 2025 final answer key is imminent, candidates are advised to:

• Monitor iimcat.ac.in regularly for official updates
• Avoid unnecessary speculation based on unofficial sources
• Begin preparing documents required for interviews
• Start early preparation for WAT, GD, and PI rounds

With the objection phase concluded, the focus now shifts from evaluation to result readiness and interview preparation.

Final Thoughts

For thousands of management aspirants, the CAT 2025 final answer key represents the final moment of clarity before results and shortlisting begin. While it may not change outcomes at this stage, it signals that one of India’s most competitive MBA admission cycles is about to enter its decisive phase.

Staying informed, prepared, and focused now will help candidates transition smoothly from exam mode to admission readiness.