CAT 2024

CAT 2024 is scheduled to be conducted on November 24, 2024, most likely by IIM Calcutta. The CAT 2024 application process will initiate in the first week of August 2024. The notification of CAT 2024 will be released on July 30, 2024, on the IIMCAT website. To be eligible to appear for the CAT 2024 exam, aspirants will have to fill in the online application form and pay the requisite fee before the deadline. The application fee for the CAT exam is likely to be INR 2400 for General category candidates and INR 1200 for Reserved category candidates respectively.

What is the CAT Exam?

CAT, short for Common Admission Test, is a national level management aptitude test which is conducted by the IIM. Students gain admission to various MBA courses offered by its 21 campuses.

CAT scoring is also undertaken by over 1,200 B-schools in India. Every year, over two lakh candidates apply for the CAT exam. CAT 2023 saw the applications touch the record high of 3.30 lakh.

The CAT exam is conducted in 400 test centres in 155 cities across India in the span of three sessions per day. The CAT exam is a business aptitude test and its syllabus covers these subjects, namely Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA). If we look at the difficulty level of the exam, it is moderate to high.

The Courses Offered Through CAT at various IIMs:

CAT score is also valid for admission to Executive MBA, PhD and FPM programmes of IIMs and other B-Schools, apart from full-time MBA programmes. This exam is open- for graduates as well as post- graduates and working professionals. Check below the detailed list of courses offered by the IIMs through CAT.

IIM	Courses Offered Through CAT
IIM Ahmedabad	PGP, PGP-FABM, ePGP, PhD
IIM Amritsar	MBA, EMBA, MBA-Business Analytics, MBA-HRM, PhD
IIM Bangalore	PGP, PGPEM, PGPBA, PhD
IIM Bodh Gaya	PGP, PhD (FPM)
IIM Calcutta	MBA, PhD
IIM Indore	PGP, PGP-HRM, FPM
IIM Jammu	PGP, PhD
IIM Kashipur	MBA, MBA (Analytics), MBA (WX), PhD, EFPM
IIM Kozhikode	PGP, PGP-BL, PGP-F, PGP-LSM, PhD, PhD (PT)
IIM Lucknow	PGP, PGP-ABM, PGP-SM, FPM
IIM Nagpur	PGP, PhD
IIM Raipur	PGP, FPM/ PhD, EFPM
IIM Ranchi	PGP, PGP-HRM, PGP (Business Analytics), PhD, EPhD
IIM Rohtak	PGP, EPGPX, EPGDSM, PhD, Part-Time FPM
IIM Sambalpur	MBA, PhD, E PhD
IIM Shillong	PGP, PGPEX, PGPWE, PhD, PhDWP
IIM Sirmaur	MBA, MBA (T&HM), PhD
IIM Tiruchirappalli	PGPM, PGPM-HR, PGPBM, FPM, E-FPM
IIM Udaipur	MBA, PhD
IIM Visakhapatnam	PGP, PGPEx, PGPDGM, PhD
IIM Mumbai	MBA, MBA in Sustainability Management MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management

CAT 2024 Exam Dates & Schedule

The following table comprises of the complete schedule of CAT 2024 exam:

Dates	Upcoming Exam Dates
Aug ’24 – Sep ’24	CAT 2024 registration TENTATIVE
Sep ’24	CAT 2024 form correction process TENTATIVE
Oct ’24 – Nov ’24	CAT 2024 admit card download TENTATIVE
24 Nov ’24	CAT 2024 exam
Dec ’24	CAT 2024 answer key challenge TENTATIVE
Dec ’24	CAT 2024 result announcement TENTATIVE

CAT 2024 Exam Highlights

The CAT exam is the most distinguished entrance exam for MBA. This exam, which is conducted all over India, is accepted by both government and private institutions. Owing to the high difficulty level of the exam, it is important to prepare thoroughly. Aspirants ought to start CAT 2024 preparation at least nine months prior to the exam. The table below contains all the highlights of CAT 2024:

CAT Exam Particulars	CAT 2024 Details
CAT Full Form	Common Admission Test (CAT)
Conducting Institute for 2024	IIM Calcutta (tentative)
Exam Level	National
CAT Entrance Exam Frequency	Once a year
CAT Exam Date 2024	November 24, 2024 (tentative)
CAT Exam Timings	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 Exam Fees	INR 2,400 (General category) and INR 1,200 (Reserved category)
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 1,200 B-Schools in India
Courses Offered	MBA/PGDM
CAT syllabus	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)  Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Ability (QA)
CAT exam mode	Computer Based Test (CBT) with MCQs and non-MCQs
No. of test cities	150
CAT exam website	https://iimcat.ac.in
Exam help desk no.	1-800-210-1088 (Toll Free)

CAT registration has seen a gradual hike in the past 10 years. Each year, more and more students apply. In 2023, CAT allegedly recorded the highest ever registration of over 3.30 lakh. This goes on to show the increase in popularity of MBA as a professional course among the youth.

CAT Eligibility Criteria 2024

Graduation in any stream is the minimum eligibility criteria to appear in the CAT exam. Any aspirant appearing for CAT 2024 can refer to the detailed CAT eligibility criteria below:

• • Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 50% aggregate or equivalent CGPA (45% aggregate for SC, ST and PWD/DA category) from a recognized university.

• • The education mode of the bachelor’s degree can be either regular or distance learning, provided it is a 3-year programme.

• • Candidates who have completed a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA/FCAI) with the required percentage can also appear for the CAT exam.

• • Candidates appearing for the final year of bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification or awaiting the result are also eligible to appear for the exam.

CAT Registrations 2024

CAT 2024 registration/application form will be available on the official IIMCAT website from the first week of August 2024 till the third week of September 2024. Exact dates will likely be announced in July 2024. Following in the detailed registration and application process of CAT 2024:

• • Go to the official website, which is iimcat.ac.in

• • Click on ‘new registration’

• • Enter name, date of birth, nationality, phone number and email ID to register yourself

• • You will receive an ID in your email. Now log in to fill in the CAT application form

• • Enter your personal and academic details

• • Upload a recent passport size photo and scanned signature

• • Select your preferred courses and IIMs

• • Now select your test city preference from the drop-down

• • Pay CAT application fee via credit/debit card or net banking

• •  Note: Candidates can select up to six cities for allotment to the CAT exam centre in the application form. 

 CAT Exam Pattern & Test Structure 2024

The question paper is divided into three sections namely Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. The time duration of exam is 120 minutes, sectional time limit being 40 minutes per section. The types of questions are of two types: MCQs and Type in the Answer (TITA). Below are the highlights of the exam pattern of CAT 2024:

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

 CAT Previous Year Papers

CAT syllabus 2024 can be best analyzed by referring the CAT question papers. CAT previous year papers, helps an aspirant to delve deeper into understanding the sectional weightage, difficulty level of questions and types of questions that can be expected. Following are previous years’ CAT papers PDFs (links) for free download. 

CAT 2023 question paper: Download free PDF	CAT 2019 question paper: download free PDF
CAT 2022 question paper: Download free PDF	CAT 2018 question paper: download free PDF
CAT 2021 question paper: Download free PDF	CAT 2017 question paper: download free PDF
CAT 2020 question paper: download free PDF

CAT Exam Throughout the Years

With time, the CAT exam has also evolved a lot. This is evidenced in the fact that it moved from offline to online mode in 2009. In the past years, the criteria of score, weightage and time duration have been changed two to three times. The following is the detailed table that shows the changes in the CAT exam pattern over the years.

CAT Exam Year	Sections	No. of Questions	CAT Exam Time Duration
2023	QA, DILR, VARC	66	120 minutes
2022	QA, DILR, VARC	66	120 minutes
2021	QA, DILR, VARC	66	120 minutes
2020	QA, DILR, VARC	76	120 minutes
2019	QA, DILR, VARC	100	180 minutes
2018	QA, DILR, VARC	100	180 minutes
2017	QA, DILR, VARC	100	180 minutes
2016	QA, DILR, VARC	100	180 minutes
2015	QA, DILR, VARC	100	180 minutes
2014	QA & DI, LR & VARC	100	170 minutes
2013	QA & DI, LR & VARC	60	140 minutes
2012	QA & DI, LR & VARC	60	140 minutes
2011	QA & DI, LR & VARC	60	140 minutes
2010	QA, DILR, VARC	60	150 minutes

Syllabus for CAT 2024

CAT exam syllabus has remained the same for more than ten years. It is broadly divided into three sections – VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Check below the main topics of CAT syllabus 2024 for exam preparation. Maximum questions are asked from these topics:

CAT Syllabus sections	CAT Syllabus topics
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)	Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Para Summary and Odd Sentence Out
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)	Set Theory (Variables), Set Theory + Puzzles, Puzzles with Additional Data, Coding-Decoding and Series
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	Number System, Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry and Mensuration

CAT Exam Preparation 2024

CAT is one of the most difficult exams and so the preparation should be done accordingly. Aspirants can devise strategies that suit them the best and complete the syllabus, mock test practice and finally revision in self-allotted time frames. Candidates can either join a coaching institute for assistance or study by themselves with the best available resources. The process requires dedication, commitment and most of all, self-discipline. Here are some important points that can prove to be insightful for the CAT 2024 aspirants:

• • There is no hierarchy in the topics. Cover the syllabus thoroughly.

• • Practice is the key. Attempt as many CAT mock tests as you can to develop speed and accuracy.

• • Balance your time well. Make sure to have enough time for daily revision in order to increase your clarity.

• • Go through previous years’ CAT question papers, understand the pattern and practice RC passages.

• • Analyse your strengths and weaknesses and work accordingly.

• • Overall, make sure to prioritize a healthy outlook and have confidence in your abilities.

CAT Mock Test

Here is a chance to practice free CAT mock test for the aspirants by CollegeReviews to assess your preparation status and further assist in your learning. Simply click on the link to access the tests and get started. The answers are also provided at the end of these CAT mock tests.

CAT Mock Test 1	CAT Mock Test 1 Solutions
CAT Mock Test 2	CAT Mock Test 2 Solutions

‘A word from the wise’ – CAT Toppers and their Strategies

Everything is difficult if you don’t know how to work for it. Usually, the CAT toppers start their preparation from April-May onwards. However, even if you start preparation in July, you can score a 99+ percentile, provided you chart out your goals dutifully and follow them with the utmost dedication. Practising the most is the key to cracking the CAT exam. Following is the CAT toppers list and insightful tips to help you know your exam better:

CAT Toppers	CAT Topper Interviews
Kartik Bhageria CAT 2023, 99.99 percentile	“I began my CAT preparation around July 2023. Being an engineering student, I did not spend a lot of time learning new concepts in the Quant and DILR sections. I spent most of my time giving mocks to practice and try to increase my attempted questions with better accuracy in each attempt.”
Riddhi Dugar  CAT 2023, 99.91 percentile	“My overall strategy was to finish the entire syllabus a few months before the CAT. From July, I focused entirely on taking mock tests and sectional tests to maximize my score and have a strategy for D-Day. I completed around 70 mocks from July until the CAT exam day.”
Rounak Tikmani CAT 2023, 99.90 percentile	I started my preparation properly in May 2023. My preparation strategy was simple build your foundations by having conceptual clarity in the basics of each section. Then It was just mocks every day. I gave around 110 mocks and made sure I spent enough time analyzing them properly. Taking a mock is not as important as analyzing the mocks and improving on your mistakes.
Nisakar Kumar CAT 2023, 99.83 percentile	“Quant emerged as my strength, whereas DILR presented a challenge. To address my weakness in DILR, I invested considerable time in understanding the question types and engaged in extensive practice until they became more intuitive. Simultaneously, I dedicated time to revising and practising Quant to maintain a solid grasp. I considered myself decent in VARC.”
Risshi Agrawal CAT 2022, 99.99 percentile	Mocks play a crucial role while preparing for CAT. It helps you determine the strategy which suits you the best.
Parul Arora CAT 2022, 99.93 percentile	I started preparing for CAT in April. My preparation strategy for CAT was to clear my basic concepts in all topics and then maximum practice.
Aditya Singh CAT 2022, 99.90 percentile	For my first attempt I attended offline coaching classes, post which I only took the online test series. This year I took the test series from two of the most renowned coaching institutes. Coaching really helps a lot.
Atish Naskar CAT 2022, 99.81 percentile	I started my CAT preparation back in January 2022. I set a daily target for all 3 sections that included daily 3-4 RCs daily 3-4 LRDI sets 20-30 QA questions or some QA concept understanding. The last 2-3 Months gave mocks and analyzed them properly.

CAT 2024 Admit Card

The candidates must download the CAT admit card before the exam day as it is mandatory to carry it to the exam centre. It will be released a month before the exam date. Keep checking the official sites for the same. The CAT 2024 admit cardwill have all the essential details of the test centre location, exam slot, reporting time and other related information printed on it. The process to download the CAT admit card 2024 is as follows:

• • Log on to CAT website: iimcat.ac.in

• • Click on ‘login’ tab

• • Enter CAT 2024 application number and password

• • Go to ‘admit card’ section

• • Click on ‘download’ and your admit card will be downloaded.

CAT Exam Day Guidelines

The exam day guidelines will be mentioned on the CAT admit card 2024 that every candidate will have to follow. It is important to read them thoroughly and follow them at the test centre that will be assigned to you to avoid any hassle in the final time. Following are the CAT exam day guidelines, and necessary documents to carry along with prohibited items at the exam centre.

Important Documents to carry on CAT exam day 2024:

Candidates appearing for the exam this year must carry the following documents to the exam centre to get entry: 

• • CAT admit card 2024: Candidates appearing for the CAT 2024 exam must carry two printouts of their admit card with their photo affixed on it (preferably the same as uploaded with the application form). Entry without the CAT admit card and photo ID will not be permitted. 

• • Photo ID proof: Along with the admit card, candidates are required to carry a photo ID proof such as College ID (must be supported with a valid debit/credit card), employer ID, driving license, passport, PAN card, Voter ID or Aadhaar card.

• • Name change document: In case a candidate changed their name, they will be required to carry a name change certificate/document along with them.

• • PwD/Scribe Certificate: PwD candidates will have to carry certificate indicating the same and the scribe certificate attested by the competent authority, if they wish to avail scribe services.

Items not to carry inside the CAT exam hall:

• • Calculator, watch, phone, iPad or any other electronic item

• • Bags and purses

• • Eatables and beverages

• • Jewellery and accessories that contain metal

• • Jackets and clothes with pockets

• • Closed footwear 

• • Book, note books, loose paper

Note: Candidates with a metal implant, pacemaker, etc. in their body will be required to carry medical certificate of the same to the test centre.

Exam Timings for CAT 2024

Following table shows the exam timings of CAT 2024. In order to appear for the exam, candidates must reach the exam centre as per the reporting time.

CAT exam slot 2024	Exam timing	Reporting time	Last entry allowed
Slot 1	8:30 AM to 10:30 AM	7:00 AM	8:15 AM
Slot 2	12:30 PM to 2:30 PM	11:00 AM	12:15 PM
Slot 3	4:30 PM to 6:30 PM	3:00 PM	4:15 PM

Answer Key of CAT 2024

CAT answer key 2024 will be released within a week of the exam and will be available through login. Following are the steps to download CAT 2024 answer key and response sheet from the official website:

• • Visit the official website of CAT 2024 (iimcat.ac.in)

• • Click on the ‘login’ tab

• • Enter CAT login ID and password

• • Click on ‘CAT 2024 answer key’ which will appear on the screen

• • Click on ‘download’ to save it as PDF

For raising objections:

For the purpose of raising objections, the CAT answer key objection window will open for 3–4 days. Candidates who want to opt for it will have to fill out an online form and attach a supporting document to prove the objection they want to raise. The candidates must pay the requisite fee for the same. The claimed objections will then be analysed by a team of specialists. If any objection is found to be valid and true, the preliminary CAT 2024 answer key will be revised. Then the CAT result 2024 will be prepared on the basis of the revised answer key.

The Result/Scorecard of CAT 2024

The scorecard PDF for CAT 2024 will be available for download at the official website for the candidate’s convenience. Hard copies of the same won’t be sent to any candidate. Candidates will be able to download their result by using the login ID and password provided to them. Following is the process to download CAT 2024 results:

• • Log on to the CAT website iimcat.ac.in

• •  Click on the ‘login’ tab

• • Enter the CAT application number and password

• • Click on the scorecard section

• • Click on the download option and save the PDF of the CAT 2024 scorecard

The document will contain the candidate’s raw scores both sectional and overall, along with the percentiles. For one year, the link to download the CAT scorecard will remain active.

MBA Admission Through CAT Exam Score

The IIM admission and selection process entails the shortlisting of candidates on the basis of their CAT score, and Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Interview (PI). In order to shortlist candidates who participate in the next round of admissions, each of the IIMs sets a certain minimum CAT cutoff percentile. Following is a detailed account of the selection process for IIMs and non-IIMs:

IIM Admission Process

The IIMs release the admission criteria and selection process for PGP and MBA prior to the CAT result declaration. The documents contain details of cutoffs, parameters, processes, etc. for MBA admission. The selection procedure through CAT for all the IIMs includes the following:

• • Screening of candidates on the basis of their CAT score

• • Written Ability Test/Group Discussion/Personal Interview (WAT/GD/PI)

• • Computation of Composite Score

• • The final selection

Non-IIM Admission Process Through CAT

Other than IIMs, the institutes accepting CAT scores also conduct Group Discussions and Personal Interviews (GD/PI) for admission to their MBA/PGDM program. Nevertheless, there are a few colleges that admit students based on CAT scores only and do not require personality assessment rounds.

Top Colleges Accepting CAT Exam Score

Following is the list of top MBA colleges in India accepting CAT score. The comprehensive list also includes IITs offering MBA programme through their Department of Management Studies.

Top Non-IIMs Accepting CAT Score
IIFT Delhi	SPJIMR, Mumbai
FMS, Delhi University	IMT, Ghaziabad
MDI, Gurgaon	IMI, Delhi
IIT Kanpur-IME	IIT Bombay-SJMSOM
IIT Delhi – DoMs	IIT Roorkee-DoMs
IIT Madras-DoMs	IIT Dhanbad-ISM
IIT Kharagpur-VGoSM	IMT-Nagpur
Great Lakes Institute of Management	IPE-Hyderabad
IMI-Kolkata	Institute of Management, Nirma University
ITM-University	Goa Institute of Management (GIM), Goa
IIITM-Gwalior	New Delhi Institute of Management
Woxsen University, Hyderabad	KIIT KSOM
SOIL Institute of Management	JK Business School Gurgaon

IIM CAT Cut Offs 2024

The CAT cutoff for IIM admission is fixed by each institute depending on the category the candidate belongs to. The qualifying cutoffs range between 80 and 90 percentiles for the general category, whereas the final cutoffs are much higher. For the top IIMs, the final cutoffs are between 98 to 100 percentile, while for other IIMs, the cut offs range between 90 to 97 percentile. Following is the table indicating qualifying CAT cut off percentiles of various IIMs:

IIM	CAT cut offs (qualifying)
IIM Ahmedabad	85
IIM Bangalore	85
IIM Calcutta	85
IIM Lucknow	90
IIM Kozhikode	85
IIM Indore	90
IIM Rohtak	95
IIM Visakhapatnam	80
IIM Trichy	92
IIM Udaipur	92
IIM Ranchi	92
IIM Amritsar	85
IIM Shillong	75
IIM Kashipur	92
IIM Sambalpur	92
IIM Jammu	92
IIM Sirmaur	92
IIM Nagpur	85
IIM Raipur	92
IIM Bodhgaya	92

Note- *The CAT cut off percentiles mentioned in the above table are of General category ONLY*

 List of IIMs for MBA/PGP Courses 

CAT scores are accepted by the IIMs and over 1,200 B-schools across the country. IIM Mumbai, previously known as NITIE Mumbai is the 21st IIM now. You can visit the links in the below table to know the cut offs, placements, fees, rankings and selection process of each IIM: 

List of IIMs Accepting CAT Score
IIM Calcutta	IIM Ahmedabad
IIM Bangalore	IIM Lucknow
IIM Kozhikode	IIM Indore
IIM Shillong	IIM Rohtak
IIM Ranchi	IIM Raipur
IIM Udaipur	IIM Nagpur
IIM Tiruchirappalli	IIM Kashipur
IIM Visakhapatnam	IIM Bodh Gaya
IIM Amritsar	IIM Sambalpur
IIM Sirmaur	IIM Jammu
IIM Mumbai (formerly NITIE Mumbai)

IIM Fees for MBA – Campus Wise

Following is the list of MBA/PGP programme fees of each IIM. The amount mentioned here is course fee of PGP/MBA (two years) that is paid semester wise in installments.

IIM campus	PGP/MBA seats (approx.)	*MBA/PGP fees
IIM Ahmedabad	385	INR 24.61 lakh
IIM Bangalore	430	INR 24.50 lakh
IIM Calcutta	210	INR 27.00 Lakh
IIM Lucknow	436	INR 20.70 lakh
IIM Kozhikode	375	INR 20.50 lakh
IIM Raipur	210	INR 16.10 lakh (excluding boarding fees)
IIM Udaipur	260	INR 19.00 lakh
IIM Rohtak	240	INR 17.60 lakh
IIM Visakhapatnam	60	INR 17.58 lakh
IIM Trichy	180	INR 21.00 lakh
IIM Sambalpur	120	INR 13.08 lakh
IIM Ranchi	240	INR 17.50 lakh
IIM Bodhgaya	120	INR 15.50 lakh
IIM Sirmaur	60	INR 15.75 lakh (including fees for international immersion programme)
IIM Jammu	120	INR 17.15 lakh
IIM Amritsar	60	INR 16.00 lakh
IIM Shillong	120	INR 17. 50 lakh
IIM Kashipur	210	INR 17.30 lakh
IIM Nagpur	130	INR 18.00 lakh
IIM Indore	451	INR 21.14 lakh
IIM Mumbai	660	INR 14.00 lakh

NOTE- *The fee amount For every IIM mentioned in the table has been rounded off to the nearest lakh. It may increase in the new academic session.*

CAT 2024 Contact Information

• Queries regarding CAT Registration, Application and Payment Processing, Document uploading:

Monday to Saturday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (excluding National holidays),  

               1-800-210-8720 (Toll free)

              cathelpdesk@iimcat.co.in (mail)

 

• Academic queries like eligibility, category and PwD certificate contact CAT Centre office with the following details.

Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (excluding holidays)

              +91-080-26993388 / 3017 / 3013 

               cat2022@iimb.ac.in