A reputed college’s MBA experience can prove remarkable in your career trajectory and lure each student of management, the Common Aptitude Test or the CAT Exam in India is in the right words your doorway to that, the test conducted all over the country is accepted by all IIMs and top B-schools.
CAT Exam is conducted by a different IIM each year, for the year 2024 IIM Calcutta is set to administer the test in two slots on the 24th of November, it is a norm for the exam to be conducted on the last Sunday of November. Here is a table consisting of important dates and exam fees (tentative).
Short Overview of CAT Exam
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Official Website | https://iimcat.ac.in/ |
| Conducted by | Indian Institute of Management ( IIM ) |
| Duration for Taking Exam | 2 hours |
| Exam Medium | English |
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Registration timeline | 4th August – 15th September, 2024 |
| Exam Date | 24th November, 2024 |
| Result Date | 4th January, 2025 |
| Fees | INR 2500 |
Eligibility of CAT Exam
- A Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent is mandatory for enrollment in the CAT entrance exam. Students in their final year are also eligible for provisional admission, provided they have fulfilled all requirements to receive the degree.
- Candidates applying for the CAT Exam should fulfil any one of the following conditions or Eligibility of CAT entrance Exam.
- A minimum of 50% marks for general candidates and 45% marks for PwD (persons with disabilities), SC (Scheduled Caste), and ST (Scheduled Tribe) applicants in their undergraduate or equivalent degree is required.
- Completed professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)) with 50 per cent.
- Enrolled in a recognised institution’s final year of a Bachelor’s course, candidates must meet the minimum percentage requirement of 50% for General, EWS, and NC-OBC categories, and 45% for SCs, STs, and PwD candidates.
The percentage of marks obtained will be calculated according to the practices of the respective institutions. The process of converting CGPA to percentage will rely on the methodology employed by the institutions. Without a conversion scheme, candidates’ GPA will be divided by the maximum GPA and then multiplied by 100 to obtain the corresponding score.
Difficulty Level of CAT Exam
The IIM CAT exam undoubtedly is challenging but reducing the assessment of the difficulty of the CAT exam to a simple “yes” or “no” is inadequate. The syllabus itself is approachable and familiar to many students. However, the challenge lies in mastering important tacts and tricks that are essential in enhancing one’s response rate in a highly competitive setting. Here the way you take the paper and approach the syllabus takes precedence over the quantity you study; understanding the exam’s pattern to optimally attempt the paper, rather than solely relying on knowing every aspect of the syllabus, gives one the marginal benefit in such a rigorous competition.
Purpose Of CAT Exam
Conducted by India’s top B-schools, the CAT Entrance Exam holds high credibility; hence, its score is widely accepted by most of India’s top institutions offering management courses. While every school might have a varying selection process, what remains a convention is their demand for a competent CAT score. Cat exam Serves an Important purpose and the importance of a fair cat score for an MBA aspirant cannot be refuted. Reputed institutions like IITs, MDI, FMS, and IBS offer thoroughly curated, prestigious management courses and high placements, all requiring a good CAT score. The number of colleges accepting the CAT score is 1000+.
CAT Exam Pattern
| TYPE OF QUESTION | MCQs and TITAs |
| NUMBER OF SECTIONS | 3 (DILR, VARC, QA) |
| NUMBER OF QUESTIONS | 66 |
| TIME FOR EACH SECTION | 40 MINUTES |
| TOTAL TIME | 120 MINUTES |
| MARKING SCHEME | +3 for the correct answer -1 for wrong MCQ answer (not TITA) 0 for unattempted |
| TOTAL MARKS | 198 |
Although the CAT exam does not adhere to a fixed pattern or a well-defined syllabus, analysing question paper patterns from the past few years can provide insights into what to expect of test patterns and weightage for the upcoming year.
*Sectional time for PwD examinees is 53 minutes and 20 seconds for each section i.e. 180 minutes for the test.
An estimated distribution of weightage of each section is illustrated below-
In the last few CATs candidates have noted that the VARC section followed by DILR then QA is how the exam is set. Switching between sections is not possible. There are no breaks between sections.
Out of the 66 questions, 17 are estimated to be TITA(type in the answer) which would be an estimation of – 3 from VARC, 6 from DILR and 8 from QA.
Must Read:
Is CAT EXAM Compulsory for MBA? | Other Options for MBA
Things to Carry for the CAT Exam | Complete Checklist
How to Crack CAT in 60 days? Percentilers
Syllabus of CAT Exam
Broadly, the CAT syllabus covers Math and English learning in classes VI to X of schooling. Although the framework has been broadly constant throughout the past 15 years, some specific things emerge differently every year resulting from the syllabus being largely vague and very wide. The IIMs, which administer the CAT exam, do not release an official syllabus for the test. Instead, it is inferred from the analysis of previous years’ CAT exams. By observing patterns, conclusions have been drawn regarding the exam’s structure and syllabus.
Quantitative Aptitude
| Arithmetic | Reasoning Based DI, Matrix and Grid, Matrix Arrangement, Venn Diagram, Scheduling and Matrix, Unconventional and Hybrid Games and Tournament, Mathematical AR, Order and ranking, Missing Data, Arithmetic Caselet, Logic Based on Table, Routes and Networks, Gantt Chart. Maxima-Minima Concept,Algebra Caselet, Arithmetic Based DIMisc |
| Geometry | Triangles, circles, quadrilaterals, mensuration, coordinate geometry, trigonometry. |
| Algebra | Linear and quadratic equations, functions, polynomials, inequalities, AP and GP |
| Modern Math | HCF, LCM, Factors and Multiples Factorials, Remainders, Set Theory, Permutation Combination, Probability, Logarithms |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension ( VARC )
| PARA JUMBLES |
| PARASUMMARY |
| ODD SENTENCE OUT |
| READING COMPREHENSION |
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning ( DILR )
| LOGICAL REASONING | Puzzles based on visualization, math puzzles, games and tournaments, calendar, sequencing, grid puzzles, seating arrangement, and direction-based puzzles. |
| DATA INTERPRETATION | Bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, tables, Venn diagrams, word problems, a combination of graphs |
The selection process of IIMs
IIMs will evaluate applicants based on CAT scores, as indicated independently on their website. The selection process for MBA in IIMs more often than not is a three-tier system consisting of a Group Discussion (GD), a Written Ability Test (WAT), and a Personal Interview (PI).
Stages
- Performance in CAT Exam
- Shortlisting for PI Round
- Performance in PI and GD
The selection procedures among the IIMs in India vary. Although all these institutions conduct a three-stage selection process, commencing with the first stage requiring a minimum sectional and overall CAT percentile, the selection process at each IIM operates independently. While a fair performance in the CAT exam is a compulsory criterion for the initial stage of the CAT score-based selection process, additional significant factors such as academic background, professional experience, diversity, and performance in group discussion, personal interviews and writing aptitude tests hold even greater importance in the latter part of admission process of IIMs. The weightage given to each criterion varies across institutions.
Best Books For CAT Exam
Added: The CAT ( Common Admission Test ) Exam is a well-known entrance Exam to admission in Top B-Schools. To ensure your seat and score well requires comprehensive study materials and a strategic approach. Find Out some of the Best Books for the CAT Entrance Exam.
| DATA INTERPRETATION AND LOGICAL REASONING | 1. Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit Sinha 2. Logical Reasoning by Arun Sharma 3. 100 LDRI challenge series |
| QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE | 1. Quantitative Aptitude by Arun Sharma 2. NCERTs 3. Arihant past year papers. 4. Topic tests and videos on percentilers app |
| VARC | 1. Word power made easy 2. 1000RCs pdf 3. Wren and Martin 4. Reading List- Guardian, Economic times, Philosophy Now, History18, Wall street journal |
Preparation Tips for CAT Exam
Added: It is a highly competitive exam to get admission into the top B-schools of India. You need to formulate a holistic approach to crack it. Find Out some best preparation tips for CAT exam.
Consistency is key
Consisting of a wide syllabus which can very easily seem strange if one is out of touch for a while, it remains essential that regularity is maintained.
Practice Makes Perfect
consisting of significant Math and English, the CAT preparation requires nothing more than practice, it is essential to reduce the time one takes to answer a question since time management is one of the most major hurdles faced during exam taking.
Mock Test
Taking mock tests is absolutely essential as it lets one gauge their progress, motivating them and pointing out their shortcomings so they can be worked upon.
Take the first step towards CAT success with Percentilers – Best Online Coaching for CAT Exam. We make your CAT dream a reality with our interactive online classes, live doubt clearing sessions and most relevant course structure for CAT.
FAQs On CAT Exam
Describing the nature of the exam as either tough or easy may not be entirely appropriate; a more accurate term would be “unpredictable.” This unpredictability stems from the extensive syllabus and multiple changes in exam patterns over the past years. While rigour and thorough preparation are certainly essential for the exam, it’s the ability to navigate through a certain degree of volatility that ultimately provides one student with an edge over another.
The eligibility criteria for CAT require candidates to possess a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification or to be in the final year of graduation to qualify for provisional admission. Therefore, one cannot take the exam immediately after completing the 12th grade.
The CAT exam, conducted by IIMs, is of the highest credibility and is accepted by the topmost B-schools. Although it is not compulsory, more than a thousand colleges, including the top ones, require you to take the exam. Certain colleges also consider GMAT, MAT, and XAT scores, yet they aren’t too numerous.
The Common Admission Test (CAT), conducted by the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), holds immense significance due to its role as a gateway to premier management education in India. CAT is highly sought after because it serves as the primary admission criteria for various management programs offered by IIMs, which are globally renowned for their academic rigor and industry relevance. Additionally, CAT scores are accepted by over 1000 colleges and institutions across India, widening the scope of opportunities for aspirants. This widespread acceptance enhances its importance as a standardized measure of aptitude and academic potential, influencing admission decisions in esteemed institutions beyond the IIMs. Moreover, CAT’s rigorous testing format evaluates candidates on diverse parameters such as quantitative ability, verbal ability, data interpretation, and logical reasoning, thereby ensuring the selection of candidates with comprehensive skill sets essential for success in management roles. Overall, the advantages of the CAT exam are innumerable as it plays a pivotal role in shaping the academic and professional trajectories of countless individuals, making it a vital milestone in the pursuit of management education and career advancement.
it should be noted that you are not allowed to carry your calculator in the CAT exam. You can only utilize the onscreen calculator provided in the exam.
The CAT exam is divided into three sections: verbal aptitude, quantitative, and logical reasoning. It is a tough exam that demands thorough preparation, and above all, consistency. Aspirants can begin by referring to books from the recommended booklist for each test section. A booklist is given above. Regular practice is the most crucial part of preparation, and candidates should start early to allow ample time for mastering the concepts and techniques required for each section. By dedicating consistent time and effort to practising questions from each section, aspirants can build their skills and confidence gradually. Additionally, taking regular mock tests can help candidates assess their progress and identify areas that need improvement. With diligent preparation and a disciplined study schedule, aspirants can enhance their chances of success in the CAT exam and achieve their desired scores.
For its postgraduate management program, IIMs have a three-tier selection process, which has made the CAT exam a compulsory criterion; it cannot be substituted.