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CAT

What is CAT Exam?

Common Admission Test or CAT is a national level management aptitude test conducted by the IIM for admission to MBA  and other postgraduate courses offered by its 21 campuses (NITIE Mumbai has been added to the cluster as IIM Mumbai). Over two lakh candidates apply for the CAT exam every year. In CAT 2023, applications touched the record high of 3.30 lakh. Candidates who clear the CAT exam are eligible for admission to over 1200 MBA colleges in India, apart from the IIMs. CAT is valid for admission to B-schools in India only.

CAT exam is considered as one of the most difficult entrance exams in India as it is the first step to get into an MBA college. An MBA is the most sought-after post-graduate course among students and every year lakhs of students appear for the CAT exam but only a handful of them make it to the top colleges in India.

CAT Exam Notification and Overview

The CAT exam, a critical step for MBA aspirants, is conducted every November. The official notification, usually released in July or August on the CAT website, is the go-to source for all essential information. This includes key dates, such as the registration window and exam date, as well as details on application fees, eligibility criteria, and available MBA/PGP programs.

Candidates must register online, filling out personal, academic, and work experience details. This is also where candidates select their preferred test cities and pay the application fee. The notification also provides important updates on exam patterns, including the types of questions and sections, along with any changes from previous years.

Staying informed through this notification helps candidates prepare effectively and ensures they meet all requirements and deadlines. For aspiring MBA students, keeping track of this notification is the first step in planning a successful application and exam strategy.

CAT Eligibility Criteria 2024

The minimum academic requirement is graduation in any stream from a recognised university. Read below det ailed CAT eligibility criteria:

  • Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with minimum 50 per cent aggregate or equivalent CGPA (45 per cent aggregate for SC, ST and PWD/DA category) to appear in CAT 2024.

  • Candidates who have completed a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA/FCAI) with the required percentage can also appear for CAT.

  • Candidates appearing for the final year of bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification or awaiting the result are also eligible to appear for CAT 2024 exam. However, the aggregate of their first and second year marks must meet the minimum score requirement.

  • The education mode of the bachelor’s degree can be regular or distance learning, but should be a 3-year programme and from a UGC recognised institution.

Date Upcoming exam dates
05 Nov '24 - 24 Nov '24
CAT 2024 admit card download
24 Nov '24
CAT 2024 exam
Dec '24
CAT 2024 answer key challenge
Dec '24
CAT 2024 result announcement
27 Sep '24 - 30 Sep '24
CAT 2024 form correction process
01 Aug '24 - 20 Sep '24
CAT 2024 registration
CAT Paper Pattern 2024
Mode of CAT exam
Computer Based Test
Duration of exam
  • 120 minutes
  • 40 minutes per section
CAT exam slots
  • Morning: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
  • Afternoon: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
  • Evening: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Number of questions
66
CAT total marks
198
Language of question paper
English
Number of answer choices
4
Question Type
MCQ and non-MCQ
CAT 2023 Application Fee

The CAT 2024 exam application fee varies based on the candidate’s category. For general category, as well as EWS (Economically Weaker Section) and NC-OBC (Non-Creamy Layer Other Backward Classes), the fee is set at ₹2,500. Meanwhile, SC/ST and PwD (Persons with Disabilities) candidates are required to pay a reduced fee of ₹1,250​(Exams)​(Careers360).

Applicants could register for the CAT exam from August 1 until the deadline on September 20, 2024. Payment is made online via options such as credit/debit card, net banking, UPI, or mobile wallets​

Syllabus for CAT Exam
  • Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
  1. Paragraph Jumbles
  2. Paragraph Completion
  3. Reading Comprehension
  4. Odd Man out
  5. Inferences,
  • Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
  1. Tables and Bar, Pie &Line Graphs 
  2. Venn Diagrams
  3. Puzzles
  4. Arrangements
  5. Game based sets
  6. Data Structures
  • Quantitative Ability (QA)
  1. Numbers and its applications
  2. Percentages and its applications 
  3. Ratio and Its applications 
  4. Algebra and its applications
  5. Geometry and its applications
CAT Exam Cutoff

For CAT 2024, the cutoff scores to be eligible for further admission rounds vary depending on the MBA college:

  • Top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta require around 99-100 percentile.
  • Other older IIMs like Indore and Kozhikode generally expect 97-98 percentile.
  • Newer IIMs like Udaipur and Ranchi usually look for around 90-95 percentile.
  • “Baby” IIMs (newer ones) may accept as low as 85 percentile, depending on the candidate’s profile.
  • Non-IIMs and other Tier 1 colleges like FMS Delhi or MDI Gurgaon often have cutoffs around 95-99 percentile.
  • Tier 2 and Tier 3 colleges may accept candidates with 50-80 percentile scores.

Final selections also consider academic history, work experience, and performance in interviews or group discussions​(Careers360)​(Careers360).