The CAT is a nationwide management entrance examination for admission into IIMs and over 100 other business schools. Approximately 3.3 lakh candidates compete for around 5000 seats in the IIMs. Besides IIMs, CAT is considered the entrance exam for MBA/PGDM in IITs, FMS, IMT and many other top B-Schools in India.
Frequency- yearly
Mode- Computerised Exam
Exam Pattern
The CAT 2024 exam pattern has been set by the IIMs. According to the official pattern, the CAT 2024 exam will include 66 objective-type questions (MCQ and TITA) to be completed within 120 minutes, with 40 minutes allotted to each of the three sections. Previously, the exam lasted 180 minutes, but since 2020, it has been 120 minutes. Below is detailed information about the CAT exam pattern 2024:
The CAT exam pattern is designed to evaluate a candidate's ability to solve mathematical and reasoning problems accurately and quickly, focusing on mathematical aptitude and logical reasoning. Candidates planning to take the CAT 2024 should familiarize themselves with the latest exam pattern to understand the structure of the question paper and the marking scheme.
The CAT 2024 question paper will have three sections:
A week before the exam, a CAT tutorial will be released to help candidates familiarize themselves with the exam process, explaining the latest exam pattern and test structure.
CAT Marking Scheme:
The following table summarizes the CAT marking scheme. Aim to attempt 2/3rds of the total questions in each section for a good overall score:
| CAT Sections | Number of Questions | Marks Per Question | Negative Marking (Only MCQ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 3 | -1 |
| DILR | 20 | 3 | -1 |
| QA | 22 | 3 | -1 |
The CAT exam has a sectional time limit, meaning candidates must complete the test in a predefined order within the given time. Candidates cannot choose which section to start with or switch between sections. The order of sections will be:
According to the official pattern, each section must be completed within 40 minutes. Once the 40 minutes are over, no changes, corrections, or submissions are allowed. The section-wise number of questions and time limits are summarized below:
| CAT Exam Sections | Number of Questions | Time Limit | Time Limit for PwD Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 minutes | 53 minutes and 20 seconds |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 40 minutes | 53 minutes and 20 seconds |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 40 minutes | 53 minutes and 20 seconds |
| Total | 66 | 120 minutes | 160 |
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for the CAT 2024 exam require candidates to have a graduation degree in any stream from a recognized university. Individuals with other professional qualifications are also eligible to appear for the CAT exam. Below are the detailed eligibility criteria for the CAT 2024 exam.
The CAT, or Common Admission Test, is conducted for admission to MBA/PGDM programs offered by the IIMs and over 1,200 other B-schools in India. Since an MBA is a postgraduate program, the basic eligibility requirement for the CAT exam is graduation. This means that every CAT aspirant must have completed their graduation or be in the final year of their degree course. The minimum marks criteria apply to both Reserved and Unreserved category students. The detailed eligibility criteria for the CAT 2024 exam will be announced along with the exam notification on July 30, 2024. Registrations for the CAT 2024 exam will begin in the first week of August 2024 and will continue until the third week of September 2024. Candidates interested in appearing for the CAT 2024 must familiarize themselves with the eligibility criteria.
The minimum qualification required to apply for CAT 2024 is graduation. The eligibility criteria and minimum marks required for General and Reserved category students are as follows:
| Academic Qualification for CAT | Affiliation Required | Pass Percentage Required |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Degree – BTech/BE | Recognized by MHRD/AICTE | 50% for General/EWS/NC-OBC & 45% for SC, ST, PwD candidates |
| Bachelor’s Degree in any stream | Recognized by UGC | 50% for General/EWS/NC-OBC & 45% for SC, ST, PwD candidates |
| Final year of Bachelor’s degree | University recognized by MHRD/AICTE or UGC | 50% for General/EWS/NC-OBC & 45% for SC, ST, PwD candidates |
| CA/CS/ICWA/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI) | Certification granting organization | 50% for General/EWS/NC-OBC & 45% for SC, ST, PwD candidates |
Candidates with a postgraduate degree have the option of mentioning or not mentioning their PG qualification in the CAT form, although mentioning it can be beneficial during the PI and admission shortlisting process.
Must have professional degrees like CA/CS/ICWA with a minimum of 50% aggregate.
Must have professional degrees like CA/CS/ICWA with a minimum of 45% aggregate.
If no conversion scheme is followed, the candidate’s CGPA will be divided by the maximum possible CGPA and multiplied by 100.
Candidates are not eligible if they:
Have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) not recognized by UGC/AICTE/MHRD-Govt.
While the basic academic eligibility criteria for both CAT and IIM are the same (graduation), to be eligible for admission to the IIMs, candidates must also meet the CAT cut-off percentile.
There is no reservation criterion for the CAT exam apart from a 5% relaxation in graduation marks for SC/ST/PwD candidates. However, the IIMs follow the reservation criteria set by the Government of India. The table below shows the percentage of seats reserved for SC, ST, and NC-OBC candidates:
| Categories | Percentage of Seats Reserved in IIMs and Other MBA Colleges |
|---|---|
| SC | 15% |
| ST | 7.5% |
| NC-OBC | 27% |
| PwD | 5% |
Persons with a benchmark disability are those with at least 40% of a specified disability as defined in the Schedule of the RPwD Act 2016. The disabilities that fall under CAT’s PwD category include:
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