Introduction
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to their Post Graduate Programmes in Management (PGP). It is considered one of the toughest exams in India with over 200,000 students taking the exam every year. The exam is administered by the IIMs on a rotational basis.
The CAT was introduced in 1976 as a standardized test for admissions to the IIMs. Over the years it has evolved into a high stakes exam and a gateway to getting admission in top management institutes in India like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta among others. The exam tests a candidate’s Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension skills, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning skills. A good CAT score is considered an important criterion by most B-schools in India for gaining admission to their flagship management programs.
Number of Test Slots
The CAT exam is conducted in three slots. The total number of slots is 3, with all 3 slots conducted on the same day. Each slot has a duration of 2 hours.
The morning slot is from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. The afternoon slot is from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM. The evening slot is from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Candidates are assigned a slot beforehand and cannot choose or change their slot.
This three slot format was introduced in CAT 2020. Earlier, CAT was conducted in two slots per day over two days. The shift to three slots in one day was done to allow more candidates to take the exam while maintaining safety protocols during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the CAT convenor, having three slots on the same day makes it logistically easier to conduct the exam across hundreds of centers while minimizing risks. It also reduces the possibility of exam paper leaks across multiple days.
Sources:
https://www.toprankers.com/cat-exam-slot-timings
https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/how-scaled-cat-score-will-be-calculated-for-three-slots-blogId-47059
Registration Process
The CAT registration process is done online at the official IIM CAT website, iimcat.ac.in. Candidates must first register on the website by providing some basic details like name, email address, phone number etc. After registering, candidates can login and fill the CAT application form by providing additional details and uploading scanned documents.
The CAT 2023 registration window usually opens in the first week of August and closes in the third week of September. For CAT 2022, the registration window was from August 5 to September 14, 2022. CAT 2023 registration dates are expected to be announced similarly.
The CAT registration fees in 2022 was ₹2,300 for general category candidates. Fees is lower for reserved category candidates. The fees can only be paid online through credit/debit card, net banking, UPI or PAYTM. There is no offline mode for CAT registration payment.
Once the CAT application is submitted, candidates receive a confirmation email and SMS. Admit card is issued later once the registration process completes. For any registration queries, candidates can contact the CAT helpdesk.
Test Centers
The CAT exam is conducted across test centers in over 150 cities in India. As per the official CAT website, there are nearly 375 test centers for the CAT exam in 2023 [1]. Some of the major cities hosting CAT exam centers include Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Indore, Patna among others [2].
Candidates get the option to select 6 preferred exam centers while filling the CAT registration form. The allotment of the test center is based on the candidate’s choice and availability. The exam centers are located in reputed institutes/colleges/schools across India to facilitate the smooth conduct of the entrance exam.
CAT exam centers are set up considering factors like the number of registered candidates in a city, logistical requirements, security and COVID precautions among others. Candidates are advised to familiarize themselves with the test center location in advance to avoid any last minute hassles on the exam day.
Eligibility
To be eligible for CAT exam, candidates must fulfill the following criteria:
Education: Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized institution with a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent CGPA. Students in their final year of graduation can also apply. Some IIMs may have specific academic cut-offs, so candidates should check the requirements of their desired institutes.
Age Limit: There is no age limit for appearing in CAT exam. Candidates of any age can apply.
Attempts: There is no limit on the number of attempts a candidate can make for CAT exam. One can appear any number of times.
As per Career Launcher, while there is no age limit for both CAT and IIM eligibility, a 2-year bachelor’s degree is the minimum education requirement.
Candidates should also make sure they fulfill the eligibility criteria of their desired IIM or other institution they want to apply to after CAT.
Exam Pattern
The CAT exam pattern is divided into 3 sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). As per the CAT exam pattern 2023, the exam will be conducted in two slots. Let’s look at the section-wise exam pattern:
VARC Section:
- 26 questions
- 40 minutes
DILR Section:
- 24 questions
- 40 minutes
QA Section:
- 24 questions
- 40 minutes
The total duration of the CAT exam is 120 minutes. Each section is timed separately. There is a negative marking of -1 for every wrong answer. No marks are deducted for unattempted questions.
Syllabus
The CAT exam syllabus consists of three sections – Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC).
The Quantitative Aptitude section tests a candidate’s math skills including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and statistics. Topics covered in this section include numbers, fractions, percentages, ratios, proportions, mixtures, permutations & combinations, probability, sequences & series, functions, graphs, inequalities, linear & quadratic equations, mensuration and more. This section carries 34% weightage in the CAT exam.
The Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning section evaluates a candidate’s ability to analyze data presented in charts, graphs and tables as well as their logical & analytical thinking skills. Topics in this section include logic-based questions, analytical reasoning, decision making, visual graphics, data analysis, data sufficiency and more. This section has 32% weightage.
The Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension section tests a candidate’s command over English language as well as their reading and comprehension skills. Topics covered include vocabulary, grammar, synonyms, antonyms, sentence correction, paragraph summary, inference, assumptions, conclusions and more. This section has 34% weightage in the CAT exam.
According to CAT Exam Syllabus 2023, the three sections together constitute 100 questions carrying 100 marks.
Preparation Tips
Preparation is key for cracking the CAT exam. Here are some important tips for preparing effectively:
Focus on improving your quantitative, verbal and logical reasoning skills. Work on your strengths and weaknesses. Refer to CAT exam syllabus and pattern.
Important books for preparation include:
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal
- How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma
- Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
Take mock tests regularly through online platforms like BYJU’S. Analyze your performance to identify areas of improvement.
Watch video lectures and read free preparation articles on websites like Simplilearn to understand key concepts and strategies.
Join online CAT coaching if you need expert guidance. Choose options providing personalized mentoring, doubt solving and mock tests.
Stay motivated through the preparation phase. Have a healthy routine and take breaks to avoid burnout.
Results
The CAT 2023 exam results were announced on December 21, 2023 on the official CAT website (https://www.iimcat.ac.in/per/g01/pub/756/ASM/WebPortal/1/index.html). Candidates can check their scorecard by logging into the CAT website using their user ID and password.
The CAT exam is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) to screen candidates for admission into various management programs. The result is announced in the form of percentiles. The percentile indicates the percentage of candidates that have scored equal to or below that particular percentile in CAT 2023. For instance, if a candidate’s percentile is 90, it means that the candidate has performed better than 90% of the test takers.
After the results are declared, candidates shortlisted by IIMs and other institutions are called for the next round – Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI). Based on the candidate’s overall performance in CAT and other stages, final admission offers are made.
The admission process and weightage given to CAT scores varies across different IIMs and other B-schools. Candidates are advised to check the selection criteria of their target institutes individually.
Conclusion
The CAT exam is the gateway to India’s top MBA institutes like IIMs. With only around 60,000 seats and over 2 lakh applicants every year, the competition is fierce. Knowing the exam pattern and number of slots, and preparing accordingly, is crucial to cracking the CAT.
Key takeaways from this article:
- CAT exam has 2 slots per day over 24 test days
- Registration opens in August and closes in September
- Over 150 test centers across India
- Graduates in any discipline can apply
- Exam has 3 sections – Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability
- Sections have 24-34 questions each to be solved in 60-85 minutes
- Syllabus covers English, Math, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation
- Practice mocks, solve previous year papers, manage time during exam
- Results announced by second week of January
Thorough preparation over 4-6 months by solving old exams, mocks, and question banks is key to maximizing your CAT score. Plan your prep strategy, manage time during exam, and work on your weaknesses to confidently clear CAT with a high percentile.