CAT 2025 Notification (Soon), Application Form, Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus, and Admission Process

You can apply for the CAT exam if you have completed your Bachelor's degree. Clearing JEE or having an engineering background is not a requirement to apply for the CAT exam. To apply for CAT, the candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks (45% marks for SC/ ST/ PwD candidates) from a recognised institute/ university.

The CAT 2024 correction window is closed now. It was open from September 27, 2024, at 10 AM to September 30, 2024, at 5 PM. The edit window was open only for updating the candidate’s photograph, signature, and city preferences.

Yes, It has been extended till 20^th September 2024.

You can write the CAT exam if you have a Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks (45% marks for SC/ ST/ PwD candidates) from a recognised institute/ university. There is no specific age limit to apply for CAT and candidates can appear for the exam multiple times. The CAT 2024 registration ended on September 20, 2024, and the exam will be held on November 24, 2024.

Yes, CAT 2024 registration is completed. The registration window was open from August 1, 2024 to September 20, 2024. THE CAT registration for the next session will begin tentatively in August 2025.

No, the CAT exam is not free of cost. Candidates must pay an application fee during registration to appear for the exam. The application fee for CAT exam is INR 1250 for SC/ ST/ PwD candidates and INR 2500 for other candidates.

The CAT 2024 exam is scheduled to take place on November 24, 2024, in three sessions at more than 400 exam centres across 137 Indian cities. The first week of August 2024 is anticipated to be the start of registration, which will conclude in the third or fourth week of September 2024.

In order to get ready for the CAT exam, you can:

1. Understand the syllabus: Before beginning to prepare, it's critical to comprehend the vast CAT syllabus.
2. Examine the pattern: Examine prior CAT questions to grasp the format and degree of difficulty.
3. Determine your advantages and disadvantages: List your areas of strength and weakness for each subject and topic.
4. Take practice exams: Regularly take practice exams and evaluate them. To acclimatise yourself to the real paper, you can also try previous assignments.
5. Make a study schedule: Make a monthly schedule for CAT preparation.
6. Work on your mental maths: Regular practice will help you become more proficient at mental computations.
7. Employ memory cards: Make flashcards with pertinent problems and key formulas.
    

Yes. You are eligible to apply for MBA. You can apply to top B-School by appearing for the CAT exam. Eligibility for CAT is Graduates with 50% marks can apply and there is no age limit. 

Please check the link for CAT question paper 2023 https://collegedunia.com/exams/cat/question-paper-2023 

To prepare effectively for the Common Admission Test (CAT), which is one of India’s most challenging entrance exams for management programs, follow these essential steps:

Understand the Exam Structure and Syllabus:

• CAT consists of three sections:
• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): Includes reading comprehension, paraphrases, sentence completion, and critical reasoning questions.
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): Covers data interpretation, logical reasoning, and analytical reasoning questions.
• Quantitative Ability (QA): Involves questions on arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and mensuration.
• Each section is timed independently, and the entire exam lasts three hours.
• Familiarize yourself with the concepts covered in each section.

Assess Your Current Knowledge Level:

• Evaluate your expertise to determine where to begin.
• Take a free CAT mock test to assess your subject-specific knowledge.
• Consider enrolling in CAT classes or an online preparation program to receive expert guidance and motivation.

Build a Theoretical Foundation:

• A high CAT score depends on speed and accuracy, which require a strong conceptual framework.
• Focus on understanding fundamental concepts in all three sections.
• Practice mental math skills, including tables, squares, cubes, and percentage equivalents.

Practice and Mock Tests:

• Clear the concepts and their applications.
• Start taking mock tests to understand question types, key concepts, and how to answer them.
• Devise a strategy and complete the syllabus for all sections.
• Attend sectional tests to improve your performance.

Review Past Years’ Papers:

• Analyze previous CAT questions to understand patterns and trends.
• Learn from mistakes and refine your approach.
• Regularly attempt mock papers to simulate exam conditions.

The CAT 2023 question paper is available for download on Collegedunia. CAT 2023 was conducted on November 26, 2023, in three shifts. You can find the question paper for slot 1, slot 2, and slot 3 along with the answer key and solutions. 

You can access the CAT 2023 question paper and solutions using the following links:

• Slot 1: Quantitative Ability (QA): Download Here
• Slot 2: Quantitative Ability (QA): Download Here
• Slot 3: Quantitative Ability (QA): Download Here

With a 59% overall score in CAT, you still have options for admission to management colleges. While some top-tier institutes may have stringent cutoffs, many other reputable B-schools consider candidates with slightly lower scores. Research colleges and their cutoffs, apply to a mix of institutions, and highlight your strengths in your application. Prepare for group discussions and personal interviews. Consider work experience if you have any. Dropping a year is a significant decision; weigh the pros and cons carefully. Consult a career counselor for personalized advice. Remember that CAT scores are just one aspect of your profile; your overall application, including academic background, extracurriculars, and interview performance, plays a crucial role. Evaluate your options, stay positive, and make an informed decision. 

The time required to crack the Common Admission Test (CAT) varies based on individual circumstances and dedication. Here are some general guidelines:

Average Student:

• An average student typically requires a minimum of 6 to 7 months of focused preparation to crack CAT.
• This duration allows for building a strong foundation, understanding concepts, and practicing extensively.

Starting from Scratch:

• If you’re starting from scratch, you can complete the basics of all three sections in 4 months.
• Aim for 2 hours of study on weekdays and 6 to 8 hours on weekends.

Consistent Effort:

• Consistency matters more than the exact duration.
• Regular practice, mock tests, and analyzing your performance are crucial.
• Focus on understanding concepts thoroughly and maintaining a balanced speed and accuracy.

Expert Strategies:

• Seek expert guidance and follow effective strategies.
• Prioritize weak areas, solve mock papers, and simulate exam conditions.
• Remember that CAT is challenging but achievable with dedication and smart preparation.

In summary, allocate at least 6 months for focused CAT preparation. Customize your study plan based on your strengths, weaknesses, and available time.

Based on the information you’ve provided, here’s the eligibility assessment for CAT:

Educational Qualification:

• You hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.
• Your graduation score is 8.5 out of 10.

CAT Percentile:

• You have secured a percentile of 77 in CAT.
• Considering the eligibility criteria:

You meet the educational qualification requirements.

• CAT eligibility for candidates belonging to the reserved categories (SC/ST/PwD) is a minimum of 45% marks in aggregate.

Conclusion: Yes, you are eligible to apply for CAT. 

With your 77 percentile in CAT and an NMAT score of 217, you have several options for MBA colleges. Let’s explore some of the top colleges you can consider based on your scores:

Colleges Accepting CAT 70-80 Percentile:

• IIM Shillong, XIME Bangalore, BITS Pilani, BIMTECH Greater Noida, Christ University Institute of Management Bangalore, ICFAI Business School, and more.
• These colleges offer quality education and excellent placement opportunities.

Colleges Accepting NMAT Scores:

• NMIMS Mumbai: NMIMS is renowned for its management programs.
• Xavier School of Human Resource Management (XIMB): Known for its HRM specialization.
• SPJIMR (Specialized programs): Offers diverse management courses.
• K J Somaiya Institute of Management: Known for its holistic approach to education.
• TAPMI Manipal, Great Lakes Institute of Management, and more.

Other Considerations:

• Research the colleges’ faculty, infrastructure, industry connections, and alumni network.
• Evaluate their placement records and the relevance of their programs to your career goals.

With a CAT percentile of 86.68 and the specified sectional cutoffs, you have several options for MBA colleges, including some IITs. Let’s explore both the IITs and other reputable B-schools where you can consider applying:

• IITs Accepting CAT Scores:

IITs offer MBA courses based on CAT scores. Here are some IITs you can consider:

• IIT Bombay
• IIT Jodhpur
• IIT Kharagpur
• IIT Kanpur
• IIT Delhi
• IIT Madras
• IIT Roorkee
• IIT ISM Dhanbad

Additionally, IISc Bangalore provides a Master of Management program.

• Other Reputable B-Schools:

Apart from IITs, consider applying to other top B-schools that accept CAT scores. Some recommendations include:

• FMS Delhi: Known for its legacy and strong placements.
• SPJIMR (Specialized programs): Offers diverse management courses.
• TAPMI Manipal: Renowned for its academic rigor and industry connections.
• MDI Gurgaon: Known for its excellent faculty and corporate partnerships.
• NITIE Mumbai: Specializes in operations and supply chain management.
• XIMB Bhubaneswar: Offers a variety of management programs.

With a CAT percentile of 85.4, you have several options for MBA colleges, including some IIMs and other reputable B-schools. Let’s explore both:

IIMs:

• While the top IIMs may have higher cutoffs, some IIMs consider candidates with slightly lower scores.
• Apply to IIMs like IIM Shillong, IIM Trichy, IIM Udaipur, and IIM Kashipur.
• Focus on preparing well for the Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds.

Other Reputable B-Schools:
Apart from IIMs, consider applying to other top B-schools that accept CAT scores:

• FMS Delhi: Known for its legacy and strong placements.
• SPJIMR: Offers diverse management courses.
• TAPMI Manipal: Renowned for its academic rigor and industry connections.
• MDI Gurgaon: Excellent faculty and corporate partnerships.
• NITIE Mumbai: Specializes in operations and supply chain management.
• XIMB Bhubaneswar: Offers a variety of management programs.

With your CAT percentile of 85.4, you are eligible to apply for admission to several IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management). Let’s explore the eligibility criteria and some IIMs where you can consider applying:

IIM Eligibility Criteria:

• To get a call from your desired IIM, it is mandatory for candidates to satisfy the required IIM qualification.
• The CAT eligibility criteria for admission to the IIMs include:
• A minimum of 50% aggregate marks in graduation for general category candidates.

IIMs Accepting CAT Scores:

• Many IIMs have started to release their shortlist criteria on their official websites.
• The calling cutoff of top IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta ranges between 95 to 100 percentile for candidates belonging to the general category.
• Apart from CAT exam scores, IIMs also give weightage to other factors of shortlisted candidates, such as graduation degree, work experience, 10th and 12th certificates, and gender diversity.

Application Process:

• Apply to the IIMs based on their eligibility criteria and cutoffs.
• Prepare well for the Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds.

You can find previous year CAT question papers on Collegedunia. Here are the available question papers:

• CAT 2023 Question Paper:
• You can download the CAT 2023 question paper in PDF format from the Collegedunia CAT 2023 Question Paper page.
• CAT 2022 Question Paper:
• CAT 2022 question paper with solutions is available slot-wise.
• You can find the question papers for Slot 1 and Slot 2 on the Collegedunia CAT 2022 Question Paper page.
• CAT 2021 Question Paper:
• CAT 2021 question paper with solutions is also available slot-wise.
• You can find the question papers for Slot 1, Slot 2, and Slot 3 on the Collegedunia CAT 2021 Question Paper page.

These question papers will help you practice and prepare effectively for the CAT exam.