Common Admission Test (CAT)

CAT Exam: Comprehensive Overview

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is India’s most prestigious national-level entrance exam for admission into MBA and other postgraduate management programs. Conducted annually by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), CAT is also accepted by more than 1,200 business schools across India, making it one of the most competitive exams globally for management aspirants.

Exam Structure and Marking Scheme

CAT focuses on testing aptitude in three key areas: Verbal, Quantitative, and Logical skills. The question paper varies slightly in structure each year but adheres to the following format:

Sectional Details (2023 Structure)

• Total Questions: 66.
• Total Marks: 198.
• Exam Duration: 2 hours (120 minutes).

Marking Scheme

• Correct Answer: +3 marks.
• Incorrect Answer (MCQs): -1 mark.
• Incorrect Answer (Non-MCQs): No negative marking.
• Unattempted Questions: No penalty.

Exam Mode

• Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT).
• Medium: English.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Educational Qualification:
   • Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (General) or 45% (SC/ST/PwD) from a recognized university.
2. Age Limit: No age restrictions.
3. Final Year Students: Eligible to apply, provided they complete their degree within the stipulated timeline.

Reservation Policy

Cutoff Trends

CAT cutoffs vary based on:

1. The IIM applied to.
2. Category of the candidate.
3. Difficulty level of the paper.

Approximate Percentile Cutoffs for Top IIMs

Selection Criteria

1. CAT Score: Weighted heavily for shortlisting candidates.
2. Academic Performance: Class X, XII, and graduation scores.
3. Diversity Factor: Academic and gender diversity often receive additional weightage.
4. Work Experience: Bonus points for relevant experience (varies by IIM).
5. Written Ability Test (WAT), Personal Interview (PI), and Group Discussion (GD): Conducted during the second stage of selection.

Key Statistics

• Registrations (2023): Over 3.3 lakh candidates.
• Exam Slots: Conducted in three slots on a single day.
• Selection Ratio: Less than 2% of candidates make it to the top 10 IIMs.

Important Dates (2024 Expected)

1. Notification Release: July/August 2024.
2. Registration: August-September 2024.
3. Admit Card Release: November 2024.
4. Exam Date: Last Sunday of November 2024.
5. Results Declaration: January 2025.

Preparation Strategy

1. VARC:
   • Focus on reading comprehension passages (70% weightage in this section).
   • Practice para jumbles and para summaries.
2. DILR:
   • Solve logical puzzles and practice interpreting complex data sets.
   • Attempt mock tests for speed improvement.
3. QA:
   • Master key topics like Algebra, Geometry, and Arithmetic.
   • Prioritize time management and accuracy.

Recommended Study Material:

• Arun Sharma’s books on Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation, and Logical Reasoning.
• Norman Lewis' Word Power Made Easy for verbal improvement.
• Practice papers from IMS, TIME, or Career Launcher.

Key Insights

1. Scaling and Normalization:

   • Since the CAT is conducted in multiple slots, scores are scaled using an equating process to ensure fairness.
   • Percentile ranking is based on the scaled score.

2. Percentile Scores:

   • A 99.5+ percentile typically equates to a raw score of 105–115/198, depending on the difficulty level.

3. Top Recruiters for CAT-qualified MBAs:

   • Companies from consulting, finance, and tech like McKinsey, BCG, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.