CAT 2024 exam will be conducted on 24th November 2024 in three sessions. The exam will be conducted in over 170 cities across India at designated test centres. The CAT score is valid for admission to 21 IIMs and other top MBA colleges in India. The exam is administered by one of the top six IIMs on a rotational basis. IIM Calcutta will conduct the CAT 2024.
Read More: CAT 2024 Registration Begins Tomorrow
Read More: CAT 2024 Notification Released
The full form of CAT is Common Admission Test, is a recognized management aptitude test at the level. It is prepared by IIM for students looking for admission to MBA programs at its 21 campuses and more than 1,200 colleges throughout India. NITIE Mumbai and IIM Mumbai are two of the establishments now included in this group. Each year, over a lakh applicants take a seat for the CAT examination. In the previous year, the registration numbers for CAT 2023 reached an excessive 3.30 lakh applications.
The CAT exam is conducted annually in 3 sessions at around 400 test centres located in 155 cities in India. Given that government and private MBA colleges in India acknowledge the results of the CAT 2024 examination, individuals aspiring to pursue an MBA in the year 2024 need to participate in this examination.
The CAT Exam is one of the most Booming entrance exams for the Management Stream in India. More than 1300 MBA colleges across the country recognize the CAT exam and offer admission Through CAT scores. Prospective MBA students seeking to enrol in premier institutes should commence early preparation for the CAT exam 2024.
CAT Exam Particulars |
CAT 2024 Details |
CAT Full Form |
Common Admission Test (CAT) |
Conducting Institute for 2024 |
|
Exam Level |
National |
CAT Entrance Exam Frequency |
Once a year |
CAT Exam Date 2024 |
November 24, 2024 |
CAT Exam Timings |
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CAT Exam Fees |
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Eligibility Criteria |
Graduation with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST students) |
Number of Applications |
3.30 lakh (in 2023) |
Number of Test Takers |
2.88 lakh (in 2023) |
Exam Purpose |
Admission to IIMs, SPJIMR, FMS, MDI, IMT and over 1,300 B-Schools in India |
Courses Offered |
IIM Calcutta is predicted to supervise the CAT exam in 2024. The following is a listing of the important thing dates and closing dates for CAT 2024, which incorporates the CAT registration date of 2024, the utility closing date for CAT 2024, the meant examination date, and the expected result date:
CAT Exam Events |
CAT Exam Date: 2024 |
28–29 July 2024 |
|
1 August 2024 |
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CAT 2024 registration last date |
15 September 2024 |
CAT 2024 exam date |
24 November 2024 |
CAT 2024 result date |
4-5 January 2025 |
Understanding the CAT exam Eligibility is important for the applicants. To be eligible for the CAT exam 2024, candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or an equivalent degree from any recognised University of India or educational institution with a minimum CGPA (45% for SC, ST, and PwD categories). There is no specified age limit for the students for this examination Candidates who belong to SC, ST, NC-OBC, and PwD categories. Aspirants who are in the final year of their bachelor’s degree or awaiting results can also apply. Applicants are advised to carefully review the CAT Exam eligibility criteria before applying to ensure observation. By meeting these criteria, candidates can take the first step towards a successful application process and a potential career in management. 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% |
The CAT 2024 registration form will be available on the IIMCAT website by the scheduled date. Candidates will be required to register for the exam by paying the requisite fee. Check out below, in brief, the process to fill out the CAT application form for 2024:
The CAT application fee is an important part of the CAT exam process. The CAT 2024 Application fee is different for all categories with benefits for candidates which belongs to the reserved categories. The application fee for General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates amounts to INR 2,200/-. and SC, ST, and PwD candidates have to pay INR 1,100/-. Payment is to be made online only. After the Successful Submission of the payment, the confirmation email will be sent to the candidate within a few minutes, which would mark the completion of the registration process. Candidates should be aware that the CAT application fee is non-refundable and keep a copy of the payment receipt assistance from the CAT helpdesk in case of any issues also it is very an essential step for the Students. By being well-informed about the CAT application fee, candidates can check their application process easily.
The (Common Admission Test) CAT exam pattern is designed to check the candidate's aptitude skills of Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning. The CAT exam marking scheme distribution consists of MCQs and non-MCQs. In all, for every correct answer, 3 marks are awarded, while an incorrect attempt has a penalty of 1 mark. This exam is conducted in a computer-based (CBT) format and the duration of this exam is 3 hours with a total of 66 questions. There are 25 questions each from QA and VARC, and the DILR section has 20 questions. Understanding the pattern of the CAT exam is important to students who will prepare for this highly competitive CAT management entrance test.
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 |
The CAT Syllabus comprises verbal ability & reading comprehension, data interpretation, logical reasoning, and quantitative aptitude. Check out the table below for important subjects to prepare for the CAT Exam 2024.
Section |
Topics Covered |
Key Focus Areas |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
1. Reading Comprehension - Passages from various genres - Inference-based questions 2. Verbal Ability - Para-jumbles - Sentence completion - Sentence correction - Verbal logic |
- Enhancing reading speed and comprehension - Understanding the tone and context - Improving vocabulary and grammar |
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
1. Data Interpretation - Tables - Bar graphs - Line charts - Pie charts - Caselets 2. Logical Reasoning - Arrangements - Puzzles - Syllogisms - Binary logic - Blood relations |
- Accurate and quick data analysis - Logical thinking and reasoning - Practice with different data sets and puzzles |
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) |
1. Arithmetic - Percentages - Profit and loss - Time and work - Ratio and proportion 2. Algebra - Linear equations - Quadratic equations - Inequalities 3. Geometry and Mensuration - Triangles - Circles - Coordinate geometry 4. Number Systems - Divisibility - LCM and HCF 5. Modern Math - Permutations and combinations - Probability |
- Mastering arithmetic and algebra - Strengthening concepts in geometry and mensuration - Speed and accuracy in solving numerical problems |
The CAT exam of the previous year was generally moderately difficult. Among its sections, Quantitative Ability (QA) posed the greatest challenge, while Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) showed a surprisingly easier trend compared to the last two years.
The Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Data Interpretation section remained time-intensive for many participants. For an in-depth understanding of the CAT exams from 2014 to 2023, including insights on various time slots, you can explore the comprehensive Slot-wise CAT Exam Analysis.
Section |
No. of Questions |
Question Distribution |
Level of Difficulty |
Good Attempt |
CAT VARC Exam Analysis |
24 |
|
Easy to Moderate |
16-18 |
CAT DILR Exam Analysis |
20 |
|
Moderate and Lengthy |
12-13 |
CAT QA Exam Analysis |
22 |
|
Moderate to Difficult |
13-14 |
Overall |
66 |
49 MCQs and 17 TITA questions |
Moderate |
40-45 |
Here are some key tips for effective CAT exam preparation:
Free Mock Test 1 |
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Free Mock Test 2 |
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Free Mock Test 3 |
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Free Mock Test 4 |
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Free Mock Test 5 |
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Free Mock Test 6 |
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Free Mock Test 7 |
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The CAT admit card has immense significance as it’s a required document for Students can download the CAT Admit card it will be available from 7 Nov –26 Nov 2024. Candidates who have applied can conveniently download their admit card online by log in on the official website.
Here are key points candidates should be aware of regarding the admit card:
The CAT answer key 2024 will be released 3 to 4 days after the exam. The answer key could be in the form of a candidate reaction sheet. Check out the steps to download the CAT 2024 answer key and response sheet:
The CAT answer key objection window may be opened for 3 to 4 days. If a candidate feels that the official answer key has errors, they could challenge it by filling out an online form. The CAT answer key may be re-examined by the examination authorities and revised if required.
The CAT question paper is particular to each consultation; however, the sectional weighting is the same. Due to the individuality of each question in each consultation, one paper may be a little harder than another. However, overall, the issue degree of CAT question papers is slight to excessive each year.
CAT Sections |
Questions |
Difficulty Level |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
24 |
Moderate to High |
Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI) |
20 |
Easy to Moderate |
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) |
22 |
Moderate to High |
Total |
66 |
Moderate |
Students can download the CAT 2024 scorecard PDF from the official website in the third week of December 2024. Candidates can download their results by using a login ID and password. Here’s the process to download the CAT 2024 result:
The CAT 2024 result scorecard will contain the candidate’s raw scores (sectional and overall) and percentiles (section and overall). The link to download the CAT scorecard will remain active for one year. Students must the soft copies will be issued so they must download the scorecard as soon as it is released.
Students who pass the CAT exam and fulfil the cutoff requirements will receive invitations to engage in the CAT selection process. It’s important to remember that the selection process can differ among IIMs and other MBA colleges, each having its distinct admission methods.
The value of CAT scores is important, as they are accepted by all participating institutions, including the prestigious IIMs as well as other respected non-IIMs. Prominent non-IIM institutions like 6 IITs, IISc Bangalore, NITs, JNU, IMT Ghaziabad, IPU, MDI Gurgaon, and SPJIMR Mumbai also consider CAT scores for admissions.
CAT 2023 Score vs Percentile |
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CAT Percentile |
CAT Score- VARC |
CAT Score- DILR |
CAT Score- Quant |
CAT Score- Overall |
99.5+ |
38-40 |
32-34 |
39-41 |
105-108 |
99+ |
34-35 |
28-30 |
36-37 |
98-102 |
98+ |
32-33 |
27-28 |
30-32 |
90-93 |
95+ |
32-34 |
20-21 |
28-30 |
80-82 |
90+ |
29-30 |
17-19 |
26-27 |
72-75 |
85+ |
24-25 |
14-15 |
20-22 |
59-61 |
80+ |
20-22 |
11-13 |
15-16 |
46-48 |
Apart from MBA programs, the CAT rating is legitimate for admission to the Executive MBA, PhD, and FPM programs of IIMs and different B-Schools. This examination is open to no longer the simplest graduates but additionally post-graduates and running professionals. Check beneath the listing of publications supplied through the IIMs through the CAT exam.
IIM |
Courses Offered Through CAT |
PGP, PGP-FABM, ePGP, PhD |
|
MBA, EMBA, MBA-Business Analytics, MBA-HRM, PhD, |
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PGP, PGPEM, PGPBA, PhD, |
|
PGP, PhD (FPM), |
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MBA, PhD |
|
PGP, PGP-HRM, FPM |
|
PGP, PhD |
|
MBA, MBA (Analytics), MBA (WX), PhD, EFPM |
|
PGP, PGP-BL, PGP-F, PGP-LSM, PhD, PhD (PT) |
|
PGP, PGP-ABM, PGP-SM, FPM |
|
PGP, PhD |
|
PGP, FPM, PhD, EFPM |
|
PGP, PGP-HRM, PGP (Business Analytics), PhD, E PhD |
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PGP, EPGPX, EPGDSM, PhD, Part-Time FPM |
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MBA, PhD, E PhD |
|
PGP, PGPEX, PGPWE, PhD, PhDWP |
|
MBA, MBA (T&HM), PhD |
|
PGPM, PGPM-HR, PGPBM, FPM, and E-FPM |
|
MBA, PhD |
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PGP, PGPEX, PGPDGM, PhD |
|
IIM Mumbai |
MBA, MBA in Sustainability Management MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management |
CAT Cut Off For MBA Admission |
|
College Name |
CAT Cut Off |
99-100 |
|
99-100 |
|
99 |
|
97-98 |
|
97-98 |
|
97-98 |
|
95-96 |
|
95-96 |
|
95-96 |
|
94-95 |
|
94-95 |
|
94-95 |
|
94-95 |
|
92-94 |
|
92-94 |
|
92-94 |
|
92-94 |
|
90 |
|
90 |
|
90 |
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