Everything You Need to Know About the CAT Exam

MBA aspirants must clear the CAT entrance exam to get admission to the various Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) and other leading B-schools in India. Every year, one of the IIMs organizes the CAT exam across multiple centers in the country.

In 2023, approximately 2.88 lakh candidates appeared for the CAT exam, 64% of whom were males and 36% females. However, there were almost 3.28 lakh registered eligible candidates. The national-level management entrance examination was conducted in 167 Indian cities across 375 test centers in 2023.

Though not confirmed, there are talks that IIM Kolkata will organize the CAT 2024. The examination date will be on 24th November 2024. Browse this blog for detailed information on the CAT exam syllabus, exam pattern, exam fees and other related aspects of the CAT exam.

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A Brief Overview of CAT Exam

IIMs conduct the Common Admission Test (CAT), a national-level management aptitude test for admission to MBA programs in various IIMs and other top B-schools in the country. Almost 1200 B-schools in India accept the CAT scores.

Along with admission to MBA programs, the CAT score is valid for admission to PhD, Executive MBA and FRM programs of India’s leading B-schools and IIMs. Graduates, post-graduates and working professionals can pursue these programs.

CAT Entrance Exam Eligibility

Candidates intending to appear for the CAT exam have to meet certain eligibility criteria.

• A candidate has to be a minimum of 20 years to apply for CAT.
• The candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or educational institution with a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• Candidates in the final year of their Bachelor’s degree program can also apply for the CAT examination.
• Candidates who have completed professional degrees like CA/CS/ICWA/FIAI with a minimum of 50% marks can also apply for this exam.

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CAT Exam Syllabus

There is no official CAT exam syllabus as such. However, the exam covers basic English, Mathematics, and General Reasoning topics. The exam questions are framed to assess the time management skills, decision-making capabilities and analytical abilities of a candidate.

Here is a breakdown of the CAT exam syllabus:

Sectional Division - CAT Syllabus	Main Topics
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	Para Summary Para Jumbles Long and Short Passages
Data interpretations and Logical Reasoning (DILR)	Seating Arrangement Venn Diagrams Team Formation Clocks and Calendars Bar Graphs
Quantitative Ability (QA)	Number System Geometry Arithmetic Algebra Mensuration Modern Math

Exam Pattern of the CAT Entrance Exam

Here is a section-wise overview of the exam pattern and duration for the CAT exam.

Sections	No of Questions	Time Limit	Total Marks
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	24	40 minutes	72
Data Interpretations and Logical Reasoning (DILR)	20	40 minutes	60
Quantitative Ability (QA)	22	40 minutes	66
Total	66	120 minutes	198

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CAT Exam Timings

There are 3 sessions in the CAT entrance exam.

Here are the session timings:

• Session 1 - 08.30 am to 10.30 am
• Session 2 - 12.30 pm to 02.30 pm
• Session 3 - 04.30 pm to 06.30 pm

How to Register for the CAT Entrance Exam

Registration for the CAT exam takes place online. The registration form is available on the IIMCAT website from a scheduled date. Candidates have to register for the exam by filling up the form and paying the requisite CAT exam fees.

Here is a point-by-point guide as to how to register for the CAT examination:

• Go to the official website of the CAT entrance exam at https://iimcat.ac.in/
• Click on ‘New Registration’.
• Enter required details like name, nationality, date of birth, phone number and e-mail ID.
• Fill in the captcha code correctly. Verify your registration with the OTP that you receive on your phone number.
• You will receive your CAT ID in your email. Use this ID to log into the CAT portal and complete the form.
• Enter all the required personal and academic details. Make sure there are no errors.
• Upload your scanned signature and a recent passport-sized photograph.
• Select from your preferred IIMs, test cities and courses.
• Once done, you can pay your CAT exam fees via net banking, debit card or credit card.
• Once the payment is made, you will be notified of successful registration for the CAT exam.

CAT Exam Fees

Candidates have to pay CAT exam fees during registration.

The fee is INR 2400 for general category candidates and INR 1200 for SC, ST and PwD category candidates.

Candidates pay this registration fee only once, regardless of the number of institutes they apply to. The CAT exam fees are non-refundable.

CAT Exam Admit Card

To appear for the CAT entrance exam, the candidate must have the admit card. Registered candidates will get their admit cards online. Here is the process of downloading the admit card:

• Go to the official website of the CAT entrance exam at https://iimcat.ac.in/
• Click on the ‘Login’ tab
• You have to enter your CAT application number and password
• Go to the ‘Admit Card’ section
• Click on ‘Download’ to download your admit card

Selection Process of CAT Exam

The selection process for the CAT examination is categorized into three stages. These are as follows:

• Stage 1 - Shortlisting of the candidates based on their CAT score, work experience and past academic scores.
• Stage 2 - Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI)
• Stage 3 - Final shortlisting or admission offer based on performance in Stage 1 and Stage 2

Wrapping It Up

The number of registered applicants for the CAT entrance exam is increasing every year. To clear the CAT exam successfully, candidates need an intensive preparation period of at least 7-9 months. This blog contains all the details regarding the CAT examination for the convenience of CAT aspirants.

Appearing for CAT, however, is not the only option to fulfil your dream of an MBA. You can go the online route as well. Amity University Online is the first UGC-approved institute offering online degrees. You can sign up for a range of online MBA specialisations to live your dream without the intense preparation required to crack CAT.

Meanwhile, explore various courses across different verticals and domains at Amity University Online.

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