The Common Admission Test, or CAT, has, over the years, become one of the most important MBA exams in India. It is not only an entrance test but also a symbol of ambition for lakhs of young people who dream of studying at the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other leading business schools. Each year, the exam sees an overwhelming response, and the number of candidates has steadily grown to reflect the changing aspirations of a new generation. But how many students actually appear for CAT every year? The answer lies in a story of rising competition, hope, and the larger shifts in the education landscape of India.

Number of CAT Test Takers in 2025

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode will conduct the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 on November 30. Details on how many students registered for CAT 2025 is not released yet. It is expected to be made available along with the results. CAT 2025 exam statistics and results are likely to be out in December. 

Also Check: Top colleges accepting CAT scores

Number of Students Appeared for CAT 2024

The Common Admission Test 2024 continued the trend of record-breaking participation. Nearly 3.3 lakh students register for the exam, and close to 2.93 lakh actually appear. What stands out is not only the huge scale of appearances but also the wide diversity of candidates across gender and social categories. The following detailed numbers from the official media release give us a clearer picture of who took the exam in 2024:

Total Number of CAT Takers

How many students appeared for CAT in 2023?

CAT 2023 was another year of heavy turnout, with over 3.2 lakh students registering and close to 2.9 lakh actually turning up for the test. Although the total turnout was a shade below the record level in 2023 registrations, gender distribution and category-specific details illustrated the increasing diversity of the applicants. The official figures also reveal how few candidates are able to crack the top percentile categories, demonstrating the ultra-competitive nature of the test.

Total Number of CAT Takers – 2023

Total Number of CAT Takers in 2021

CAT 2021 was conducted amid the uncertainties of the pandemic, yet it saw strong participation with over 2.3 lakh registrations and nearly 1.92 lakh students appearing. Attendance levels were slightly lower than pre-pandemic years, but the gender balance remained consistent with women making up around one-third of test-takers. At the very top, just a handful of candidates managed to cross the 99.9 percentile mark, underscoring how steep the competition remained even in a disrupted year.

Why do so many students take the CAT exam?

The sheer volume of participation also speaks to something bigger about the educational culture of India. For countless students, CAT is not just an MBA entrance exam but an opportunity to recast their future. The IIMs’ prestige holds currency in communities and families, representing access to a world of corporate riches, global exposure, and leadership opportunities. It is also noteworthy that CAT scores are acceptable at various other business schools around the country, which widens the opportunity pool and makes the exam relevant to a larger audience. Management education in India today is no longer just about the IIMs but about a chain of MBA colleges in India that employ CAT as a baseline to pick students who are capable of meeting the demands of the business world.

How many students clear the CAT exam?

One of the most common questions around CAT is: how many students actually “clear” it? Unlike board exams or university tests, CAT does not have a fixed passing point.. Performance is measured in percentiles. It ranks a candidate relative to all other test-takers. With nearly 3 lakh students appearing every year, even a small difference in score can push someone several percentile points higher or lower.

Exact data on how many students clear CAT every year is not released. However, it is widely understood that admission to the top IIMs, such as Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta, generally requires a percentile above 98 or 99. This means that only a few hundred out of lakhs of aspirants reach the level where they become eligible for calls from these institutes. Aspirants can check details below on how many students secured 100, 99.99 and 99.98 percentiles in the CAT entrance exam in previous years. 

You may also check: CAT admit card 

The Future of Common Admission Test

Looking to the future, it is unlikely that this trend will slow down. India continues to produce one of the largest numbers of graduates in the world, and the demand for professional courses that promise leadership roles and financial security remains extremely high. As the economy changes and as globalisation continues to reshape jobs, students are looking at CAT not only as a route to a traditional MBA but also as a stepping stone to careers that blend business with technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The growing interest suggests that the number of test-takers will remain in the range of three lakh or even more in the years ahead.

So, going back to the question—how many candidates appear for CAT each year? The latest statistics indicate that more than three lakh students register and attempt the test, making it one of India’s biggest and most competitive entrance exams. But behind the numbers, CAT is something much more profound. It is the shared aspiration of young India, an aspiration of professional acceptance, of rising above, and of belonging to a global saga of business and leadership. The exam, year after year, turns into a platform where lakhs of students gauge not just their abilities but also their aspirations, taking with them the faith that education can change lives.

FAQ

Q1. How many students appeared for CAT in 2024?
As per the CAT 2024 exam statistics, a total of 2.93 lakh students appeared for this MBA entrance exam.

Q2. When is CAT 2025?
CAT 2025 is scheduled to be held on November 30.

Q3. Is CAT exam difficult?
Common Admission Test is one of the most popular and challenging MBA entrance exams in India. It includes Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) sections.