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CAT Exam 2024: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Cutoff, Eligibility and Application form
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CAT Exam: Overview
The CAT or Common Admission Test is a national-level management entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) for admissions into their flagship two-year Post Graduate Programme in Management or PGP (equivalent to MBA).
CAT Exam is a three-hour computer-based test that assesses candidates’ proficiency in quantitative, verbal, data interpretation, and logical reasoning abilities. Conducted annually in November and December, the CAT is accepted by all 21 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and over 1000 other business schools for admission selection. With around 2.2 lakh candidates appearing each year, the CAT is one of the most competitive exams in India.
CAT Exam is a three-hour computer-based test that assesses candidates’ proficiency in quantitative, verbal, data interpretation, and logical reasoning abilities. Conducted annually in November and December, the CAT is accepted by all 21 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and over 1000 other business schools for admission selection. With around 2.2 lakh candidates appearing each year, the CAT is one of the most competitive exams in India.
Table of Contents
CAT Exam Key Highlights
| Particulars | Insights |
|---|---|
Full Name | Common Admission Test |
Conducting Body | Indian Institutes of Management |
Courses Offered | PGDM/MBA |
Total Number of Questions | 66 Questions |
Application fee | Rs. 2400/- (for the general category) and Rs. 1200 (for SC, ST and PwD candidates). |
Application Mode | Online |
Exam Mode | The examination format includes a Computer-Based Test (CBT) featuring a blend of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and non-MCQs. |
Official Website |
CAT Eligibility
Educational Qualification:
Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized institute or university with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA. Students who are in their final year of a bachelor’s degree program or are awaiting results can also apply provided they match the aforementioned conditions.
Reserved category applicants are eligible for a minimum-marks relaxation based on their category. There is no upper age limit to apply for the CAT exam. Candidates of any age can apply and there is no limit on the number of times a candidate can attempt CAT. One can appear multiple times to better their scores. Non-Indian origin candidates and overseas nationals are also eligible to take the CAT for admission decisions by various institutes.
Academic qualifications tabulated below:
Reserved category applicants are eligible for a minimum-marks relaxation based on their category. There is no upper age limit to apply for the CAT exam. Candidates of any age can apply and there is no limit on the number of times a candidate can attempt CAT. One can appear multiple times to better their scores. Non-Indian origin candidates and overseas nationals are also eligible to take the CAT for admission decisions by various institutes.
Academic qualifications tabulated below:
| Qualification | Recognition | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
B.Tech/ B.E | Recognized by MHRD/ AICTE | 50% (For General) & 45% (for SC/ ST/ PwD) |
Bachelor’s Degree | Recognized by UGC | 50% (For General) & 45% (for SC/ ST/ PwD) |
CA/CS/ICWA/FIAI | Recognized by MHRD/ UPSC/AICTE | 50% (For General) & 45% (for SC/ ST/ PwD) |
Final year students | Recognized by MHRD/ AICTE/ UGC | 50% (For General) & 45% (for SC/ ST/ PwD) |
CAT Syllabus
The CAT Syllabus for 2023 encompasses a wide array of topics. Notably, IIM doesn’t adhere to fixed topics but rather compiles it by considering the content under VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension), DILR(Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning), and Quantitative Aptitude, alongside their historical weightage in past CAT exams.
| Category | Syllabus | Topic |
|---|---|---|
QA |
| This course incorporates a complete range of mathematics subjects from grades 9th & 10th, spanning arithmetic, geometry, algebra, trigonometry, and mensuration. |
DILR |
| Analytical data interpretation: puzzles, pie charts, tables, and bar graphs. |
VARC |
| Verbal Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and English Grammar |
CAT Exam Pattern
The CAT Exam Pattern for 2023 incorporates three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Quantitative Aptitude (QA), and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), totaling 66 questions
The major points related to CAT exam pattern are listed here:
The major points related to CAT exam pattern are listed here:
- Number of Questions: The number of questions in the VARC section is 24, in DILR, it’s 20, and in QA, you’ll find 22 questions.
- Total Marks: The exam is marked out of 198, where VARC holds the highest weightage at 72, followed by Quant at 66, and DILR at a strong 60.
- Negative Marking: For MCQs- +3 for correct, -1 for incorrect answers. There is no negative marking for TITA-type questions. No marks deduction for unattempted questions.
- Number of MCQs: Approximately 45 to 46 questions will feature multiple choices in the set.
- Number of TITA questions or Non-MCQs: The VARC section usually contains 6-7 TITA questions, DILR has 6, and Quant has approximately 7-8.
| Particulars | features |
|---|---|
Mode of Exam | Online (CBT- Computer-Based Test) |
Medium of Exam | English |
Type of Questions | MCQs and TITA |
Total Questions | 66 |
Total Marks | 198 |
Sections | 3 (VARC, DLRI, & QA) |
Exam Duration | 2 Hours |
Time Limit | 40 Mins each for 3 Sessions |
The CAT exam’s section-wise question distribution is detailed in the following table:
| Section | Total Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
VARC | 24 | 72 | 40 minutes |
Quantitative aptitude | 20 | 60 | 40 minutes |
DILR | 22 | 66 | 40 minutes |
Total | 66 | 198 | 120 minutes |
CAT Cutoff
The CAT Cut off signifies the minimum percentile for MBA admission in IIMs and other top MBA colleges. It’s crucial for PI shortlisting. Each IIM announces its Cut off and admission criteria pre-CAT exam results.
CAT Cut off 2023 for IIM
The CAT 2023 Cut off qualifying percentile has been officially announced by IIMs in their admission brochure. Find detailed category-wise CAT 2023 Cut off scores in top 10 IIMs, the table below.
| IIM | General | OBC | EWS | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IIM Ahmedabad | 80 | 75 | 80 | 70 | 60 |
IIM Bangalore | 85 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 65 |
IIM Kozhikode | 85 | 75 | 75 | 65 | 55 |
IIM Calcutta | 85 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 65 |
IIM Lucknow | 90 | 82 | 82 | 65 | 60 |
IIM Mumbai | 85 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 65 |
IIM Indore | 90 | 80 | 90 | 60 | 50 |
IIM Raipur | 92 | 74 | 70 | 54 | 40 |
IIM Rohtak | 95 | 78 | 90 | 55 | 30 |
IIM Udaipur | 92 | 74 | 70 | 54 | 40 |
CAT Application form
CAT Registration Process
To begin your CAT application, start by registering on the official website to generate your User ID and Password. The steps of CAT registration are mentioned below:
- To start, visit iimcat.ac.in and click ‘New Candidate Registration’.
- Enter your personal details—Name, Contact Number, Email, DOB, etc.—then click ‘Submit’ to generate your User ID and password.
- User ID and Password will be sent to your provided contact details after registration.
Steps to Fill CAT Application Form
Once the CAT registration’s done, just log in with your User ID and Password. Then, you’re set to fill in the application form with the required details for the CAT Exam.
- Complete the application form with personal particulars: DOB, gender, category, nationality, address, contact details, etc.
- After that, students must provide academic details, including class 10th and 12th marks, and scores from the qualifying degree.
- Following this step, candidates may optionally enter their work experience.
- Students are required to indicate their course preferences, select the desired institute, and specify the interview city.
- Students must select a maximum of 6 CAT Exam Centres, considering travel time and distance.
Document Upload Process
Following completion of the CAT application form, students are to upload the mentioned documents adhering to specified specifications.
- The photo should meet these criteria: recent (not older than 6 months), .jpg/.jpeg format, and a file size below 80kb.
- A signature on white paper using black ink, restricted to 80 kb in .jpg/jpeg, and specifically sized at 80mm × 35mm is required.
- Applicants from reserved categories are required to upload a PDF copy of their category certificate. Please ensure the document size remains under 200kb.
- The process for acquiring the PwD certificate involves downloading the form from CAT’s official website, completing it accurately, and uploading the document as a PDF not exceeding 200kb.
CAT Registration Fee Payment
Following document upload, proceed to make the online payment of the revised CAT application fee. Accepted modes include debit card, credit card, UPI, Net Banking, etc. Check the table for the category-wise revised CAT Registration fees.
| Category | CAT 2023 Fee |
|---|---|
General/ OBC | INR 2400/- |
SC/ST/PwD | INR 1200/- |
CAT Form Correction
Post closure of the CAT 2023 Application process, the administering body will open a CAT Form Correction window, permitting modifications for 3 to 4 days. Only candidates with successful registrations will be authorized to amend select details in their CAT application.
- Photograph
- Signature
- Exam cities preferences
FAQs
What is the CAT exam?
The Common Admission Test or CAT is a standardized all-India management entrance examination conducted annually by the IIMs for admission to their two-year full-time Post Graduate Program in Management and other prestigious MBA programs across India.
How many times a CAT exam is conducted in a year?
CAT exam is conducted only once in a year by IIMs. The exam date is usually set in the month of November or December.
How many attempts for CAT?
You can take the CAT Exam as many times as you want. No fixed attempts!
Does CAT have negative marking?
Yes, Deductions of 1 mark apply to incorrect answers in MCQs, while TITA questions remain free from negative marking.
Can final-year students apply for CAT?
Yes, the CAT exam welcomes final-year graduating students. The only criterion is securing a minimum 50% in graduation before the admission period.
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