The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode), the body conducting the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, is poised to release the final answer key in the coming days. This crucial step follows the institute's comprehensive evaluation of all objections raised by candidates against the provisional answer key. While an official release date is yet to be announced, the final key typically marks the last administrative hurdle before the declaration of the CAT 2025 results.
Journey from Provisional to Final Answer Key
The process began when IIM Kozhikode released the provisional answer key and individual response sheets on December 4. This allowed candidates from all three exam slots to review their performance and identify any potential discrepancies. Subsequently, a formal objection window was provided from December 8 to December 10. During this period, aspirants could challenge specific questions by submitting detailed justifications along with supporting documents for their claims.
The upcoming final answer key is the product of a meticulous review by subject matter experts who have scrutinised every objection received. Unlike its provisional counterpart, the final answer key is non-challengeable and serves as the definitive document for all subsequent calculations. Any revisions made at this stage, including corrections to answers or even the withdrawal of questions, will directly impact the final scores of all test-takers.
Accessing the Key and Next Steps for Candidates
Once released, the CAT 2025 final answer key will be hosted exclusively on the official CAT portal: iimcat.ac.in. Candidates will need to log in using their unique CAT registration credentials to access the document, which is usually published in PDF format. It is strongly advised that aspirants rely solely on this official channel and disregard any unverified information circulating on social media or coaching platforms.
To download the key, candidates should follow these steps:
- Visit the official website at iimcat.ac.in.
- Click on the 'Candidate Login' or 'Answer Key' link on the homepage.
- Enter your CAT Registration Number and password.
- After logging in, locate and select the link for the CAT 2025 Final Answer Key.
- Download the PDF file corresponding to your exam slot.
- Save and print a copy for future reference.
The Road Ahead: Results and Admission Cycle
The publication of the final answer key sets the stage for the much-anticipated CAT 2025 results. IIM Kozhikode will use this definitive key to compute scaled scores and percentiles, applying a standard normalisation process to account for variations across different exam slots. This result is the gateway to the next phase of India's fiercely competitive MBA admission process.
Following the result declaration, individual IIMs and hundreds of other participating business schools will begin rolling out their specific shortlisting criteria. This shortlisting determines which candidates will proceed to the subsequent stages of the admission process, which typically include Written Ability Tests (WAT), Group Discussions (GD), and Personal Interviews (PI).
With the objection window now closed, candidates are advised to monitor the official CAT portal regularly for updates. The imminent release of the final answer key is the final checkpoint, shifting the focus entirely towards result readiness, gathering necessary documentation, and intensifying preparation for the interview rounds that lie ahead.
