The CAT GDPI (Group Discussion and Personal Interview) is the last step in getting into top business schools. It usually checks a person’s ability to talk well, think smartly, lead others, and show their personality. To get ready for this, you need to know about what’s happening in the world, have good knowledge from school, and be able to speak clearly. It’s a good idea to practice with pretend group discussions and interviews and listen to advice from people who know a lot. If you plan carefully and stay positive, you can do well in this part and get into your dream business school. Keep reading to find out how to prepare for the 2025 CAT GDPI and the best books to help you study.
How to Prepare for the CAT Group Discussion and Personal Interview 2025
Doing well in the CAT GDPI round is not easy, as it demands a strong strategy and strong communication skills. Before starting your preparation, it’s important to understand how the process works. The Group Discussion (GD) round involves a group of 10-12 candidates discussing a given topic for a set amount of time. This round is used to evaluate their communication skills, critical thinking, leadership abilities, and teamwork. In contrast, the Personal Interview (PI) is a one-on-one meeting with a panel of interviewers. Here, candidates are judged on their knowledge of current events, academic history, work experience (if applicable), and career aspirations. Keep reading to find out more about how to prepare for the CAT GDPI 2025 and other useful information provided below.
Also Read: Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT in India
The CAT GDPI is an important part of the MBA admission process. Here are some simple tips and tricks to help you do well in the CAT GDPI 2025:
How to Prepare for the CAT GD and PI 2025
Make a Study Group
Join a group of 8-10 friends or classmates to talk about current events, discuss business topics, and other important subjects for the CAT GDPI. This will help you improve how you speak, and make you feel more confident. Let you share your ideas clearly on different topics.
Focus on Current Affairs
Make it a habit to read newspapers like The Hindu or The Economic Times every day. Watch reliable news channels to stay aware of current events. Try to understand different sides of issues to gain a deeper understanding. This will help you think more critically and express your thoughts clearly and simply.
Also Read: Are You Fit For an MBA?
Be Part of Online Groups
Join online groups and forums for MBA students. Talk to other students and experts to get helpful advice and tips. This will help you learn more and improve your skills and connections.
Revise Your School Knowledge
It’s important to go over the subjects you studied in college, especially those related to your field. Be ready to talk about your school projects, how you did in school, and any challenges you faced.
Watch Expert GD Videos
Another important tip for preparing for the CAT GDPI 2025 is to watch videos of group discussions recommended by experts. This will help you see what you do well and what you need to improve.
Be Ready for the Interview
Dress professionally, matching what’s expected in your industry, and arrive at the interview location on time or a little early. Use polite words, show good body language, and act in a professional way during the interview.
Also Read: Top MBA Colleges Accepting Low CAT Scores
Best Books for CAT GDPI 2025
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | Gautam Puri |
| Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT | Nishit K. Sinha |
| 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary Mass Market Paperback | Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis/ Simon & Schuster |
| Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis |
| Past Years’ CAT Questions | G.K. Publications |
| NCERT Mathematics books (Class 9-10) | Ncert |
| Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT | Sarvesh Verma |
| Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Nishit Sinha |
| Quantitative Aptitude | RS Aggarwal |
| Quantum CAT | Arihant Publications |
| High School English Grammar and Composition Book | Wren and Martin |
| Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency | Ananta Ashisha |
| How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT | Arun Sharma |
| How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT | Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay/Arihant |
Also Read: Top MBA Colleges in Jaipur – Ranking, Fee, Admission Process and More
Lists the Best MBA Colleges in India accepting CAT scores
| Name | Cutoff | Placement (LPA) | Fee (Lakh) |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 98+ | 35.68 | 33.00 |
| FMS Delhi | 96+ | 34.01 | 2.00 |
| IIM Bengaluru | 95+ | 35.31 | 24.50 |
| IIM Calcutta | 93+ | 35.07 | 31.00 |
| IIM Indore | 90+ | 30.21 | 11.04 |
| Indian School of Business | 91+ | 33.25 | 49.50 |
| Symbiosis | 89+ | 28.16 | 24.20 |
| IIM Lucknow | 88+ | 32.23 | 20.30 |
| DMS – IIT Kharagpur | 89+ | 22.13 | 11.60 |
| IIM Udaipur | 89+ | 20.09 | 21.43 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 90+ | 31.02 | 22.50 |
| XIMB | 89+ | 19.60 | 21.50 |
| IIM Tiruchirappalli | 87+ | 20.55 | 19.50 |
| IIM Ranchi | 88+ | 17.50 | 17.50 |
| IIM Mumbai | 90+ | 25.40 | 21.00 |
| IIM Shillong | 85+ | 18.76 | 22.71 |
| DMS – IIT Kanpur | 85+ | 18.20 | 5.76 |
| DMS – IIT Dhanbad | 88+ | 16.45 | 3.00 |
| IIM Rohtak | 89+ | 18.73 | 17.29 |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management | 83+ | 15.10 | 20.80 |
| Taxila Business School | 80+ | 11.50 | 9.50 |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 80+ | 17.35 | 21.53 |
| IIM Amritsar | 84+ | 16.51 | 14.78 |
| Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management | 83+ | 20.56 | 3.20 |
| IIM Bodhgaya | 86+ | 16.51 | 16.28 |
Also Read: Top MBA Colleges in India Placement Wise 2025
Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Scores, with Average Packages and Fees in India
| City | Institute Name | Avg. Package (LPA) | Fees (Lakh) |
| Delhi | Faculty of Management Studies | 34.01 | 2.00 |
| Mumbai | IIM Mumbai | 25.40 | 21.00 |
| Pune | Symbiosis | 28.16 | 24.20 |
| Ahmedabad | IIM Ahmedabad | 35.68 | 33.00 |
| Calcutta | IIM Calcutta | 35.07 | 31.00 |
| Jaipur | Taxila Business School | 11.50 | 9.50 |
| Bengaluru | IIM Bengaluru | 35.31 | 24.50 |
| Indore | IIM Indore | 30.21 | 11.04 |
| Lucknow | IIM Lucknow | 32.23 | 20.30 |
| Ghaziabad | Institute of Management Technology | 17.35 | 21.53 |
| Hyderabad | Indian School of Business | 33.25 | 49.50 |
| Chennai | Great Lakes Institute of Management | 15.10 | 20.80 |
| Surat | Auro University | 4.75 | 7.15 |
| Bhopal | IIFM | 10.00 | 11.80 |
| Rohtak | IIM Rohtak | 18.73 | 17.29 |
| Ranchi | IIM Ranchi | 17.50 | 17.50 |
| Vadodara | Faculty of Management Studies | 5.00 | 0.82 |
| Udaipur | IIM Udaipur | 20.09 | 21.43 |
| Varanasi | Banaras Hindu University | 11.30 | 0.50 |
| Kanpur | IIT Kanpur – Management Studies | 18.20 | 5.76 |
| Kashipur | IIM Kashipur | 18.10 | 17.30 |
| Rajkot | Marwadi University | 6.00 | 1.50 |
| Shillong | IIM Shillong | 18.76 | 22.71 |
| Amritsar | IIM Amritsar | 16.51 | 14.78 |
| Kharagpur | Department of Management Studies – IIT Kharagpur | 22.13 | 11.60 |
| Jodhpur | School of Management & Entrepreneurship – IIT Jodhpur | 13.03 | 8.79 |
| Navi Mumbai | ITM Business School | 8.65 | 10.45 |
| Gwalior | Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management | 20.56 | 3.20 |
| Coimbatore | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | 7.25 | 5.40 |
| Dhanbad | Department of Management Studies – IIT Dhanbad | 16.45 | 3.00 |
| Kota | Om Kothari Institute of Management and Research | 5.00 | 11.50 |
| Guwahati | IIT Guwahati | 6.90 | 5.40 |
| Bhubaneshwar | XIMB | 19.60 |
Also Read: Top MBA Colleges in India
Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Scores in India with NIRF Ranking 2024
| Top Colleges | NIRF 2022 | NIRF 2023 | NIRF 2024 |
| Indian Institute of Management, (IIM) Ahmedabad | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Indian Institute of Management, (IIM) Bangalore | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Indian Institute of Management, (IIM) Kozhikode | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Indian Institute of Technology, (IIT) Delhi | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Indian Institute of Management, (IIM) Calcutta | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| IIM Mumbai (formerly known as NITIE) | 9 | 7 | 6 |
| Indian Institute of Management, (IIM) Lucknow | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Indian Institute of Management, (IIM) Indore | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| XLRI-Xavier School of Management | 12 | 9 | 9 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Bombay | 11 | 10 | 10 |
Also Read: Executive MBA Vs Blended MBA – Which one is better?
List of IITs Accepting CAT score 2023
| CAT colleges | Name of the Department |
| IIT Delhi | Department of Management Studies |
| IIT Bombay | Shailesh Jha Mehta School of Business |
| IIT Kharagpur | Vinod Gupta School of Management |
| IIT Madras | Department of Management Studies |
| IIT Roorkee | Department of Management Studies |
| IIT Dhanbad | Department of Management Studies |
| IIT Kanpur | Department of Management Studies |
Also Read: Top MBA Group Discussion Topics in 2025 – 50+ MBA Group Discussion Topics with Details
