The full form of CAT is “Common Admission Test”.
CAT is a computer-based entrance exam that is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to their postgraduate management programs (MBA, PGDM, etc.) as well as some other management institutes in India. It is one of the most competitive exams in India, with over 2 lakh applicants every year.
How to fill CAT Application Form
To fill the CAT (Common Admission Test) application form, follow the below steps:
- Registration: Visit the official CAT website (iimcat.ac.in) and click on the “New Candidate Registration” link to register. You will be asked to provide basic details like name, email address, mobile number, and create a login ID and password.
- Fill in the Application Form: Once registered, log in to your account and fill in the application form. You will be asked to provide personal details, academic details, work experience, etc. Make sure to enter all the details correctly and verify them before submitting the form.
- Upload Documents: You will need to upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and other relevant documents (like category certificate, if applicable).
- Pay the Application Fee: The application fee for CAT is usually around Rs. 2,000 for general category candidates and Rs. 1,000 for SC/ST/PwD category candidates. You can pay the fee online through net banking, credit/debit card, or through a bank challan.
- Submit the Form: After completing all the above steps, review your application form and submit it. You will receive an email confirming your registration.
It is important to note that the CAT application process usually begins in August and ends in September/October every year. Make sure to keep track of the important dates and deadlines to avoid missing out on the opportunity to appear for the exam.
Syllabus CAT
CAT stands for Common Admission Test, which is a computer-based entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to various management programs offered by the IIMs and other top B-schools in India.
The CAT exam is divided into three sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
The detailed syllabus for each section is as follows:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Reading Comprehension passages
- Para-jumbles
- Para-summary
- Sentence completion
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Critical reasoning
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Data interpretation using tables, charts, and graphs
- Data sufficiency
- Logical reasoning
- Seating arrangement
- Blood relations
- Direction sense
- Coding-decoding
- Syllogism
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
- Arithmetic
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Mensuration
- Trigonometry
- Number system
- Probability
- Permutation and Combination
The CAT exam also includes a section on General Awareness and Business Awareness, which tests the candidate’s knowledge of current affairs, business, and economics. However, this section is not included in the final percentile calculation.
It is important to note that the CAT syllabus is not fixed, and the difficulty level of the questions can vary from year to year. Therefore, it is recommended that candidates keep themselves updated with the latest exam pattern and syllabus changes.
Exam pattern CAT
The CAT exam pattern consists of three sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). The exam is conducted in a computer-based format and the duration of the exam is 2 hours (120 minutes). Each section is timed and candidates cannot switch between sections during the exam.
The exam pattern for CAT is as follows:
Section 1: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Number of Questions: 26-27
- Duration: 40 minutes
Section 2: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Number of Questions: 24-25
- Duration: 40 minutes
Section 3: Quantitative Ability (QA)
- Number of Questions: 26-27
- Duration: 40 minutes
Total number of questions: 76-81 Total duration: 2 hours (120 minutes)
CAT has a unique scoring pattern where candidates are awarded marks for each correct answer. However, there is negative marking for each wrong answer. For each correct answer, candidates are awarded 3 marks, and for each wrong answer, 1 mark is deducted. There is no negative marking for unattempted questions.
The CAT exam is highly competitive and requires extensive preparation to crack. Candidates are advised to practice mock tests and solve previous year’s question papers to get an idea about the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Eligibility Criteria For CAT Exam
The eligibility criteria for CAT exam is as follows:
- Educational Qualification: The candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized university or institution. Candidates who are in their final year of graduation or awaiting results are also eligible to apply.
- Minimum Percentage: The candidate must have a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% in case of candidates belonging to SC/ST/PWD categories) in their Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
- Nationality: The candidate must be a citizen of India. Non-Indian candidates can also apply but they must fulfill certain additional requirements as specified by the participating institutions.
- Age Limit: There is no age limit to appear for the CAT exam.
- Number of Attempts: There is no limit on the number of attempts for the CAT exam. Candidates can appear for the exam as many times as they wish.
It is important to note that meeting the eligibility criteria alone does not guarantee admission to the IIMs or other participating institutions. The admission process also includes other factors such as academic background, work experience, performance in the CAT exam, and performance in the subsequent selection rounds such as Group Discussion (GD), Written Ability Test (WAT), and Personal Interview (PI).
CAT 2023 Accepting Colleges
The list of CAT 2023 accepting colleges includes some of the top management institutions in India. Here are some of the notable colleges and institutes that accept CAT scores for admission:
- Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs): Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Indore, Lucknow, Kozhikode, Raipur, Ranchi, Rohtak, Shillong, Trichy, Udaipur, and Visakhapatnam.
- Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi
- Department of Management Studies (DMS), IIT Delhi
- Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon
- National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai
- Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (SJMSOM), IIT Bombay
- Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Delhi and Kolkata
- Xavier Institute of Management (XLRI), Jamshedpur
- SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai
- Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad
- T. A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal
- Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai
- International Management Institute (IMI), Delhi
- Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR), Chennai
