CAT is the most competitive MBA entrance exam in India. Over 1300 MBA colleges across the country recognize the CAT exam and offer admission considering CAT scores. The CAT 2024 exam will be conducted in three sessions at nearly 375 examination centres located in more than 167 cities nationwide. Prospective MBA students aiming to enroll in premier institutes should commence early preparation for the CAT 2024 exam.
Here are the highlights of the CAT 2024 exam:
| CAT 2024 Exam Highlights | |
|---|---|
| CAT full name | Common Admission Test |
| Conducting body | Indian Institute of Management |
| Exam date | 24 November 2024 |
| Eligibility criteria | Graduation with overall 50% score (45% for SC/ST candidates) |
| Mode of application | Online |
| Exam format | CBT |
| Marking scheme |
+3 for each correct answer
-1 mark for each inaccurate answer |
| Application form fees | INR 2,400 for General category |
| INR 1,200 for SC/ST/PwD | |
| CAT syllabus 2024 | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | |
| CAT official website | iimcat.ac.in |
| CAT 2024 Important Dates | |
|---|---|
| CAT Exam Events | CAT Exam Date 2024 |
| CAT 2024 notification date | 28-29 July 2024 |
| Beginning of CAT 2024 registration | 4 August 2024 |
| CAT 2024 registration last date | 15 September 2024 |
| CAT 2024 exam date | 24 November 2024 |
| CAT 2024 result date | 4-5 January 2025 |
The eligibility criteria for CAT 2024 include:
Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate or an equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST, and PwD/DA category) from a recognized university.
Candidates in the final year of their bachelor’s degree or those awaiting results are also eligible to apply for CAT 2024.
The exam is anticipated to take place on the last Sunday of November 2024, and the official notification is expected to be released in July 2024.
- Aspirants with professional degrees like CA/ CS/ ICWA are also eligible for CAT 2024, provided they meet the minimum acceptable percentage.
- No upper age limit is specified, allowing working professionals to apply for CAT 2024.
- While work experience is advantageous for IIM admission, it is not compulsory for CAT application.
CAT 2024 registration forms will be accessible on the IIMCAT website starting from the designated date. To enroll for the exam, candidates need to follow a simple process. Here’s a brief overview:
- Visit the official website: iimcat.ac.in
- Click on ‘new registration.’
- Provide your name, date of birth, nationality, phone number, and email ID.
- Complete the CAPTCHA code and verify registration with the OTP received.
- Log in using the CAT 2024 ID shared via email to fill out the form.
- Enter personal and academic details.
- Upload a recent passport-size photo and a scanned signature.
- Choose preferred IIMs, courses, and test cities.
- Pay the CAT application fee using credit/debit card or net banking.
| CAT Syllabus 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Section | Topics | Weightage in Exam |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) |
|
34-36% |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
|
30-32% |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
|
32-34% |
The CAT exam 2024 follows a multiple-choice question (MCQ) format and spans a duration of 120 minutes. Candidates need to solve 66 questions from the VARC, DILR, and QA sections during the CAT exam duration. The crucial highlights of the CAT exam pattern are outlined below:
- The CAT exam is held in three sessions.
- Each session lasts for a duration of 120 minutes.
- The CAT exam paper is divided into three sections – VARC, DILR, and QA.
- The total number of questions in the exam is 66.
- A sectional time limit of 40 minutes is allocated for each section.
- Candidates secure three marks for every correct answer. Additionally, for each incorrect answer, 1 mark is deducted.
- There is no negative marking for non-MCQs, and skipping questions incurs no penalty.
- The maximum achievable score in the CAT 2024 exam is 198.
- Attempting all questions is not mandatory.
The table below shows the CAT 2024 exam pattern:
| CAT 2024 Exam Pattern | ||
|---|---|---|
| CAT Exam Sections | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | Moderate to High |
| Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI) | 20 | Moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | High |
The CAT 2024 admit card is a significant document required to appear in the CAT examination. All the candidates are required to carry the CAT admit card to the exam centre on the examination day.
Candidates should take note of the following crucial details concerning their CAT admit card:
- Only candidates who have successfully registered and paid the CAT processing fee can download the CAT 2024 admit card.
- To access and download the admit card, candidates must log in to the official website of IIM CAT – iimcat.ac.in using their ID and password.
- The admit card includes essential information such as the test centre, exam date, and other essential details related to the examination.
- Candidates must verify that all the information on the admit card is accurate. In case of any discrepancies on the admit card, candidates should promptly contact the authorities.
IIM releases the CAT 2024 answer key approximately a week after the examination in the form of a candidate response sheet. The following steps explain how to download the CAT 2024 answer key and response sheet:
- Visit the official website of CAT 2024.
- Click on the ‘login’ tab.
- Enter the CAT login ID and password.
- Click on the ‘CAT 2024 answer key,’ which will be displayed on the screen.
- Click on the ‘download’ link to save it as a PDF.
After releasing the CAT answer key, IIM provides the objection window for three to four days. If a candidate believes that there are errors in the official answer key, they can challenge it by filling out an online form. The exam authorities will then re-examine the CAT answer key and make revisions if necessary.
After releasing the official answer key, IIM announces CAT 2024 results, containing the score of every candidate. For 2024, the anticipated CAT result date is in the final week of December.
To access the results, candidates must visit the official website, locate the provided link for CAT 2024 results, and enter their login credentials, including ID and password. The CAT scorecard remains valid for one year. Candidates must take admission to MBA colleges within this time using their CAt 2024 results.
CAT is recognised as one of the most challenging MBA entrance exams. Therefore, candidates must follow a strategic preparation plan to excel in the CAT exam with a high score. Candidates can adopt the following tips for effective preparation:
- Break down the syllabus into small sections and allocate time accordingly.
- Focus on enhancing weaker areas while maintaining proficiency in strong sections.
- Set realistic study goals and adhere to a well-structured schedule.
- Regularly take mock tests to evaluate progress and enhance time management skills.
- Solve CAT previous year papers to grasp the exam pattern and boost confidence.
- Learn about the current events, particularly for the general awareness section.
- Maintain a positive mindset and believe in one’s abilities.
- Review concepts, engage in question practice, and remain committed to the study plan.
Each Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) releases its separate CAT 2024 cut-off scores for the academic year 2024-26. The cut-off score is the minimum mark candidates must achieve to secure admission to IIMs.
Each IIM adheres to its admission policy, which involves multiple steps. Nevertheless, the newer IIMs follow a Centralized Admission Process (CAP). Prospective candidates should thoroughly examine the selection processes of the IIMs and other B-schools they intend to apply to comprehend the specific requirements and procedures.
CAT exam analysis helps candidates determine the competitiveness of the exam and the difficulty level of the questions. The CAT exam 2023 included questions that were moderate to tough. Additionally, the paper consisted of nearly 48 MCQs and 18 TITA-based questions.
| CAT Exam Analysis 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| CAT Section | No. of Questions | Weightage |
| VARC |
|
Moderate |
| DILR |
|
Moderate to Difficult |
| QA |
|
Moderate to Difficult |
The CAT exam centers for 2024 are spread across 155 cities in India, offering multiple test centers in nearly every city to provide candidates with flexibility. The exam is tentatively scheduled for November 24, 2024, and is expected to be conducted in three slots. The official notification for the exam is anticipated to be released in July 2024, with registration starting in August 2024 and the last date for registration in September 2024.
The CAT 2024 exam will consist of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
Details of the CAT 2024 exam date will be provided in the official notification. However, it is expected that CAT 2024 will be held on 24 November 2024.
The CAT 2024 notification is most likely to be released on 28 July 2024
The application for the CAT exam is an online process, which includes registration, filling out the application form, payment of the processing fee, and uploading the required documents. Candidates must visit the official IIM CAT website to complete the CAT application.
The CAT exam is conducted by IIMs on a rotational basis. For 2024, IIM Calcutta is expected to conduct the CAT exam.
The CAT exam comprises three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Each of these sections constitutes various MCQs and TITA questions.
