CAT

Get ready for the Common Admission Test (CAT), the premier MBA entrance exam! Find key dates, syllabus, and application details.

CAT Exam 2024: Fees, Syllabus, Exam Pattern

byDinesh
Updated on - 19 May, 2024

CAT, a national level entrance exam directed and conducted by IIMs, the Indian Institutes of Management, is a prerequisite for admission into various post graduate and fellow management programmes offered by the 20 IIMs and other esteemed business or B-schools across India. The computer-based test evaluates candidates’ numerical ability, the aptitude of data interpretation and logical reasoning that form the basic managerial skills. It also tests candidates’ verbal ability and their reading comprehension that are essential to management courses.

With over 1000 B-schools accepting CAT scores, it serves as a nationalized test to entry into business administration programmes. The test is divided into three areas: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability in duration of 2 hour. Candidates will be graded through the percentile method used by IIMs and other business schools to select people for the further process that goes through the Written Aptitude Test, Group Discussions, and Personal Interviews.  

For CAT 2024 the date for the registration is July/August 2024 and the exam will be in the last part of November 2024. As a result, the results will be posted in January of 2025, exactly second or third week on the website. Panelists have to apply for an IIT/B-school they want to pursue PG management studies, as  different IIMs/B-schools have different selection process.

CAT Exam Highlights 2024

Feature Description
Conducting Body IIM Calcutta (Expected)
Exam Date November 24, 2024 (Last Sunday of November)
Exam Time Slots Three slots - Morning, Afternoon, Evening
Exam Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
Number of Sections 3 (VARC, DILR, QA)
Time per Section 40 minutes each
Total Number of Questions Approximately 66 (MCQs and Non-MCQs)

CAT Exam Dates 2024

Event Date
Official Notification Release Expected: July 30-31, 2024
Registration Dates Expected: First week of August 2024 (approx. Aug 3) - Third/Fourth week of September 2024
CAT Exam Date Sunday, November 24, 2024
Admit Card Download Expected: Around October 25, 2024

How to Apply for CAT Exam 2024?

1. Registration - The online registration process for the upcoming CAT exam starts in July/August and ends in September. You should proceed at www.iimcat.ac.in to register online.

2. Complete Application Forming - In the application, you will be required to fill all the relevant information such as your name, address, mode of contact (phone or email), and academic background.

3. Submit Documents - You need to upload your photograph, signature, caste certificate (if applicable), or any other asked documents.

4. Application Fee Payment - As you must pay the CAT application fee online through debit/credit cards, net banking, or UPI. The fee for a months is Rs. general category students are entitled for a 2000 upfront grant.

5. Admission card Download - CAT  Admit Card is available on the website in October. Input your registered ID for downloading it by typing a password.

6. The Exam Date - The CAT 2024 examination is in the month of November. It is an online test in which students have 3 hours to complete questions from three sections: Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability.

7. Result Declaration - The IIM admission result of CAT 2024 will be published in the second week of January. The shortlisted candidates will be able to apply to IIM institutes and other 100 B-schools using their CAT scores that accept it.

Documents Required for Apply CAT Exam 2024

1. Valid ID Proof: You need to submit a photocopy of the ID proof in color, which can be any one of these - Aadhaar Card, Voter ID Card, PAN Card, Driving License, Passport, or College ID card. There is a fundamental need for this to be done for identity verification.


2. Class 10 Mark Sheet & Passing Certificate: You'll be required to upload the scans of your Class 10/Secondary School mark sheet/graduation certificate as well. The certificate issued acts as the equivalent of your birth certificate.

3. Graduation Degree Certificate & Mark Sheets: If you are in the senior year, collected mark sheets of all the semesters up to the last semester must be scanned. For the individual who already holds a diploma, submit the final degree certificate along with all of the year/semester marks sheets.

4. Work Experience Documents: In case you have any prior work experience, please upload your copies of work experience letters, relieving letters, offer letters etc. These could be optional, but if you can bring them better. 

5. Caste Certificate (if applicable): SC/ST/OBC category candidates must upload their caste certificates’ soft copies for the purpose of getting their reservation advantage.

6. Scanned Photo & Signature: According to the upload template guideline stated in CAT manual, your passport sized photo and signature as scanned copies are required to be uploaded too.

CAT Exam Centre 2024

City State Number of Exam Centres (Approx.)
Ahmedabad Gujarat 5
Bangalore Karnataka 10
Chennai Tamil Nadu 8
Delhi Delhi NCR 15
Hyderabad Telangana 7
Kolkata West Bengal 6
Mumbai Maharashtra 12
Pune Maharashtra 4

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