CAT is a national level entrance exam which is a pre-requisite for admission in PG and fellow/ doctorate programmes of IIMs. Also, qualified students can apply for admission in various non- IIMs listed on the website. CAT Registration 2024 window is open now. The last date of registration has been extended till September 20, 2024.Candidates who have not filled the form or paid the fee yet, can complete the application process by logging in to – iimcat.ac.in. by 5:00 pm tomorrow. The CAT application form for 2024 is also the application form for IIM PI shortlist. Candidates need only select their preferred course and preferred IIM in the CAT 2024 form.
The exam scheduled for November 24 will be administered by IIM Calcutta for admission into different MBA courses at 21 IIMs. CAT 2024 Fee has been raised by Rs 100 and Rs 50 for the General and reserved categories making the total Rs 2500 and Rs 1250 respectively. Keep Reading to find out more about the Application Fees, Eligibility, registration process, admit card, syllabus, results, and more.
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CAT 2024-2025 Exam Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Duration | 2 Hours |
| Exam Level | National |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Mode of Exam | Computer Based Test |
| Medium | Online |
| Number of Test Cities | 170 |
| Number of Registration | 3.3 lakh as of 2023 |
| Subjects | Verbal and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude |
| Number of Questions | 66 |
| Marks Awarded | +3 marks per question |
| Negative Marks | -1 mark per wrong answer |
| Weightage per Subject | VARC- 37% |
| DILR- 30% | |
| QA- 33% | |
| Difficulty Level of Exam | Moderate to Difficult |
| Exam Session | Session 1: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM |
| Session 2: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM | |
| Session 3: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
CAT 2024-2025 Registration Dates and Complete Schedule
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| Notification 2024 Release Date | July 28, 2024 |
| Registration Starts | August 1, 2024 (10 AM onwards) |
| Registration Ends | September 20, 2024 (Till 5 PM) |
| Form Correction Window | Last week of September 2024 |
| Admit Card | November 5, 2024 |
| Exam Date | November 24, 2024 |
| Provisional Answer Key and Response Sheet Release | First Week of December 2024 |
| Raising Objections Against Preliminary Keys | First Week of December 2024 |
| Final Answer Key with Result Publication | Second Week of January 2025 |
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CAT 2024-2025 Eligibility
As per IIMCAT eligibility criteria, the aspiring candidate must have a 3-year Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks for General category candidates and 45% marks for reserved categories. The percentage of seats reserved for different categories according to the legal requirements are:
| Category | Seat Reservation Percentage |
|---|---|
| Other Backward Classes- Non Creamy Layer(OBC-NCL): | 27% |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): | 10% |
| Scheduled Caste (SC): | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST): | 7.5% |
I will be in my second year next month, can I apply for Common Admission Test 2024?
Yes candidates going to be in their second year, can also appear for the exam. Even IIM themselves stated that those in their final year with results awaited can also appear for the test. However, candidates must provide an attested statement about the same by the Principal of the respective school.
I have completed a professional degree, can I apply for the Common Admission Test 2024?
Candidates who have completed their professional degree, which can be either CA/ CS/ ICWA/ Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI) can apply. The qualifying percentage is the same as of other candidates, i.e., 50% for General and 45% for reserved categories.
CAT 2024-2025 Registration Process
- CAT 2025 registration process is open after the release of notification on 28th July 2024.
- Interested candidates can apply only through online mode through the provided online link.
- Registration has begun on 1st August 2024. Last date to fill application is till 13th September 2024.
- Before registration, candidates must make sure that they have valid /unique email address and mobile number for any communication.
- As soon as candidates registers on the website, a unique Id and password is generated using which candidates can fill application form.
- If candidates are not able to complete the application in single session, then they can complete it in multiple session.
- No changes in the details are allowed once the application fee payment is done.
- Students are requested to verify all the details submitted in the form to be authentic. In case of any false information, the form will be rejected at once.
- Candidates who belong to SC, ST and PWD category need to upload their category certificates during registration. No change in category will be entertained after completion of registration.
- Correction in few details will be allowed only during the correction period after the end of registration process.
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CAT 2025 Exam Pattern
Go through the below provided details to know complete about CAT Exam pattern 2025:
- Exam Date: CAT 2025 Exam will be held in fourth week of November 2024.
- Exam mode: The exam will be held in online CBT (computer-based test) mode.
- Exam Sessions/ Shifts: There will be three sessions – 8.30 am to 10.30 am (1st session), 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm (2nd session) and 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm (3rd session).
- Exam Duration: Paper will be of 120 minutes. For PWD, 160 minutes are allotted.
- Time Allotted Section Wise: For each section, candidates are provided 40 minutes (53 minutes & 20 seconds for PWD). No candidate can switch to another section while answering questions in a section.
- Number of Sections: There will be three section – Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (Section 1), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (Section 2) and Quantitative Ability (Section 3).
- Total Questions: CAT Paper will consist of total 66 questions.
- Type of Questions: Paper will contain objective and subjective type of questions.
- Total Marks: Paper will be of total 198 marks.
- Marking: For each correct answer, candidates will be awarded 3 marks.
- Negative marking: No negative marking will be there for incorrect answer.
Check the section wise distribution of questions in below provided table:
| Sections | Number of Questions |
| Verbal ability & reading comprehension (VARC) | 24 |
| Quantitative ability (QA) | 22 |
| Data Interpretation and Logical reasoning (DILR) | 20 |
| Total | 66 |
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CAT Syllabus 2024-2025
Here are the important topics you must cover to ace the IIMCAT 2024 exam:
| Subjects | Important Topics | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude | Arithmetic (All topics) | 36% |
| Geometry: Coordinate Geometry, Mensuration | 18% | |
| Algebra: Arithmetic Progression, Geometric Progression and Functions | 28% | |
| Modern Maths: Set Theory, Probability, Permutation & Combination | 9% | |
| Number System: Factors and Multiples, HCF, LCM, Remainders | 9% | |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | Para summary, Para jumbles, Inferences, and Sentence Completion | 10% |
| Reading Comprehension | 24% | |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | Tables (Games and Tournaments), Pie Charts, Graphs, Set Theory, Venn Diagram | 16% |
| Seating Arrangement, Blood Relation, Syllogism and Caselets, Selection/Election | 16% |
How many questions do I need to correctly attempt on the CAT to get above the 99.5th percentile?
Considering the previous year’s question analysis and the view from toppers, here is what they did on average to score above the 99 percentile:
| Sections | Number of Questions Answered | Marks Secured | Percentile Secured |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 13 | 40 | 99 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 9 | 27 | 99 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 8 | 25 | 99 |
Accuracy can make a difference to your secured percentile. You must be sure of the accuracy level when answering any question. Even answering less with 100% accuracy can help you ace the test with over 99 percentile and above.
DILR, VARC, and Quants paper format is repeated every year, meaning you can rely on solving the last 10 years’ question papers to develop your hold on the topics most asked. This will also enhance your accuracy and confidence, helping you score well and get admission to your preferred B School.
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How difficult was CAT previous year question paper?
The exam in 2023 was conducted on November 26th. The exam was conducted in three shifts, and Common Admission Test paper analysis of all three slots is as follows:
| Sections | Slot 1 Difficulty Level | Slot 2 Difficulty Level | Slot 3 Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate to Difficult |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult | Difficult |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | Easy | Easy | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate to Difficult |
CAT Admit Card 2024-2025
Candidates can download the admit card for the 2024 exam from the official website only. IIM will not send the admit cards by post or mail. You need to enter your user ID and password that was generated after the completion of the registration process. Upon downloading the admit card, make sure to check all the fields carefully. In case of visible discrepancies regarding the spelling of your name, or blurred images, get in touch with the helpline number given to solve the problem at the earliest:
| Helpdesk Contact: 1800 210 8720 (9:30 AM to 5:30 PM) |
|---|
| Email ID: [email protected] |
CAT Exam: Tips and Experience from Qualified Candidates
| Student: Amit Mahapatra and Niloy Roy | |
|---|---|
| As an aspirant who cracked the exam in the maiden attempt, what tips would you suggest for candidates appearing for CAT 2024? | I aspired to have a career in management after graduation since I was not interested in CA. My preparation started during the 2nd year of graduation and I heavily relied on Self-study and mock tests. Quants and VARC were my strengths, but I made equal efforts to improve my DILR part too. This is highly unpredictable and the only way to ace it is by practising adhering to the right approach. |
| With less than 4 months left for the exam, is it too late to start preparing for the Common Admission Test 2024? | If you are a repeater, spend these months only on practice and mock tests. Also, if your intention is true, I believe it is never too late even when you are a fresher who decided to appear for the exam after receiving the CAT registration notice, quoted Niloy. Start with the basics and spend as much time as you can solving the previous year questions and mocks. |
| What are the things you learned only after appearing for the exam? | Amit says, whether you make it through the exam or not, be assured that you are going to take away a lot of lessons with your attempts. “For me, I came across 3 things: Firstly, it is not as tough as I considered it while taking the mock tests. Second, lengthy questions incorporated in the question paper deliberately to confuse the students and work on elimination, and last but not least; aspirants must remember that every second matters. Even 30 seconds before the end of the exam can prove to be a game changer. |
| What is plan B for Common Admission Test aspirants? | Everyone has a plan B; Niloy quoted. Though qualifying CAT and admission to a top IIM was my priority, as a backup I was thinking of taking the CLAT and AILET Exam and pursuing a law course. Besides, I also made up my mind to take other MBA Entrance exams like XAT, MAT, CMAT, SNAP, NMAT, and so on. Colleges accepting these scores too offer good packages and placement facility. |
| Since you were relying on self-study, what books did you follow? | The first is of course Arun Sharma’s Quants and DILR books said Niloy. A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal, How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Sharma and Upadhyay, Nishit Sinha’s The Pearson Guide to Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation are good books too, added Amit. Niloy who is an avid reader said he highly relied on newspapers for developing my Reading comprehension ability and writing skills (as CLAT and AILET were my Plan B). |
| Does stammering and stuttering affect the chances of selection in IIMs? | Not at all. Management courses indeed require a good personality with adequate IQ but stammering and stuttering have nothing to do here as long as the candidate can prove their excellence and skills in the test, interview, and overall academic performance. Niloy said, “I have a friend who too completed his MBA from IIM Indore in 2018 and has worked with top-notch companies like Britannia Industries Limited, and Publicis Groupe but faces difficulty stammering”. |
| Have you ever felt sad about the quota system that persists with the eligibility and Fee structure of this exam? | When approached, Amit added, “That is a slightly political question but to be honest, yes I do feel sad about it, especially when it comes to the General category candidates who are not economically sound appearing for the exam. We have the EWS Provision but I am not sure if everyone who is actually in need is aware of it.” There is a huge variation in the fee structure for the General and reserved categories. Besides, you will also notice huge variations in the final cutoff that can affect your chances of admission said Niloy. |
| Are you satisfied with the Placement opportunities IIMs offer? | Yes definitely. Niloy, who is currently working for Deloitte said, “IIM placement cell is quite helpful to start your career with a good company and a good package. It is important to note that not all IIMs get companies offering the same package but they are no less than 12-15 LPA. I started my career with a 17 LPA package”. |
| Several candidates taking the Common Admission Test are engaged and employed in family businesses. Does working in a family business count as work experience for the Common Admission Test Application Form? | That depends on your interviewer to an extent and on your ability to prove the skills you acquired from such an engagement, said Amit who is a part of his family business dealing in electronics. He further added, “I have a classmate with a CA degree and he was working for his family business before cracking CAT and joining IIM Nagpur. The interview was online and he was able to explain the skills he acquired working in the family business”. |
| Getting in IIM is harder or joining the Civil service? | Strategically answered by Niloy, I would say both the exams come with different weightage. Their application process, exam pattern, and PI rounds are different as a whole. Civil services or UPSC syllabus is like an ocean with at least 15 subjects, while IIMCAT calls for strong knowledge of VARC, DILR, and Quants. Besides IIM considers your Class 10+12, and graduation GCPA for admission; while only a graduate degree with a pass percentage is what you need to appear for civil service. The purpose of the exams is different but both of these are top-tier exams that require hard work and dedication. |
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CAT Result 2024-2025
The results of Common Admission Test 2024 examination are expected to be released in the second week of January 2025. Students need to visit the portal, iimcat.ac.in, and click on the result-checking link. Next, you must provide the user ID and password to view your final result. Previous year, 14 students secured the 100 percentile, and 29 students each secured the 99.99 and 99.98 percentiles respectively.
CAT Cut off 2024-2025
For the IIM Lucknow, the previous year’s cut-off ranged from 60-90 depending on the category of students. The minimum qualifying cut-offs at different IIMs have been tabulated below.
| IIM Campuses | Qualifying Cut-Off |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 80 |
| IIM Calcutta | 85 |
| IIM Bangalore | 85 |
| IIM Lucknow | 90 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 85 |
| IIM Raipur | 92 |
| IIM Udaipur | 92 |
| IIM Rohtak | 95 |
| IIM Indore | 90 |
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CAT Exam Centres
CAT 2025 will be held in various exam centres situated in various cities of the country. As per the advertisement, the exam will be held in 170 test centres. The complete details of exam city and centre allotted to the student will be mentioned in the issued admit card.No candidate will be entertained regarding change of exam centre and only IIMs reserve the right of adding/ removing/ canceling or changing of any exam city/ centre/ exam time.
Below is the list of the states and the exam cities where the exam centres are located:
| States | Exam cities |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Port Blair |
| Andhra Pradesh | Anantapur, Chittoor, Guntur, Kakinada, Kurnool, Nellore, Rajahmundry, Srikakulam, Tirupathi, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar- Naharlagun |
| Assam | Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur |
| Bihar | Arrah, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Samastipur |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| Chhattisgarh | Bhilai Nagar, Bilaspur, Raipur |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu | Silvassa |
| Goa | Madgaon, Panaji |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad, Anand, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara |
| Haryana | Ambala, Faridabad – Gurugram, Hisar |
| Himachal Pradesh | Bilaspur HP, Hamirpur, Kangra, Shimla |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Jammu, Srinagar |
| Jharkhand | Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Ranchi |
| Karnataka | Belagavi (Belgaum), Bengaluru, Hubli-Dharwad, Kalaburagi (Gulbarga), Mangaluru (Mangalore), Mysuru (Mysore), Shivamogga (Shimoga), Udupi |
| Kerala | Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kannur, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Trivandrum |
| Ladakh | Leh |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Sagar, Satna, Ujjain |
| Maharashtra | Ahmednagar, Amravati, Aurangabad -MH, Bhiwandi, Boisar, Chandrapur, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, Palghar, Pune, Raigad, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Thane, Vasai, Wardha |
| Meghalaya | Shillong |
| Mizoram | Aizawal |
| Nagaland | Kohima |
| New Delhi | New Delhi |
| Odisha | Balasore, Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Rourkela, Sambalpur |
| Punjab | Amritsar, Bhatinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Patiala |
| Puducherry | Puducherry |
| Rajasthan | Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Sikar, Udaipur |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Kanchipuram, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Vellore |
| Telangana | Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Warangal |
| Tripura | Agartala |
| Uttar Pradesh | Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Greater Noida – Noida, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Prayagraj, Varanasi |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee |
| West Bengal | Asansol, Bankura, Burdwan, Durgapur, Hooghly, Howrah, Kalyani, Kolkata, Siliguri |
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