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CAT 2024 answer key challenge window opened on December 3, 6:00 pm. Candidates can raise objection on the preliminary CAT 2024 answer key till December 5, 2024 (11:50 PM).
CAT 2024 response sheet/answer key for November 24, 2024 was available for download on November 29, 2024 through login. However, in an official notification, the IIM Calcutta has announced that the provisional CAT 2024 answer key will be released today, December 3, 2024. The
CAT exam 2024 was conducted by IIM Calcutta in three shifts at over 400 test centres in 170 cities across India. The CAT 2024 question paper this year was moderately difficult for all three slots. The total number of questions has been increased to 68. DILR had 22 questions instead of 20. There were no parajumbles in the paper. The number of sets in DILR section of CAT 2024 was 5. You can check CAT 2024 analysis and student reviews below on this page.
Q: How much percentile is a good score in CAT exam?
The CAT (Common Admission Test) is a highly competitive entrance exam for admission to various management programs offered by top business schools in India. The percentile score in CAT exam is based on the relative performance of the test taker compared to all the other test takers.
The cutoff percentile for admission to top business schools varies from year to year and also depends on factors such as the number of candidates, difficulty level of the exam, and the number of available seats. In general, a percentile score of 90 or above is considered a good score and can help you secure admission to some of the top business schools in India. However, to increase your chances of admission to the top-tier business schools, a percentile score of 95 or above is preferred.
Q: What is CAT exam pattern 2024?
CAT is a computer based test which is conducted in three shifts. The CAT is conducted for two hours in which candidates have to solve 68 questions.
These 68 questions are divided into three sections Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension VARC Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning DILR and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). The VARC section has 24 questions, the DILR section has 28 questions and QA section has 22 question. Each question carries 3 marks for correct entry and -1 for incorrect entry. There is no negative marking for unanswered question. A unique aspect of CAT is the sectional time limit. Each section has a time limit of 40 minutes (53.20 minutes for PwD candidates).
Candidates have to complete the section within the time limit as the moment the onscreen timer shows 0 minutes left, the screen will automatically move to the next section. There is no option to go back to older questions. Also, candidates have to follow the question paper chronology. They have to first solve the VARC section, then the DILR section and then the QA section.
Q: From where can I download CAT question papers?
Q: What is CAT cut off for Great Lakes Gurgaon MBA course?
To get admission to the MBA course at Great Lakes Gurgaon, candidates need to appear for the CAT/XAT/CMAT exam and have a valid score. Further, candidates who meet the overall cutoff need to participate and perform well in the PI round for admission. Considering the past few years' cutoff percentile, Great Lakes Gurgaon has maintained an overall CAT/XAT percentile of 70 for its MBA course for the General All India category students. Therefore, Aspirants must look to score above the 70 percentile in the CAT/XAT exam to high their chances for admission to the Great Lakes Gurgaon MBA course. However, the cutoffs may change for different category students therefore candidates are advised to check the Great Lakes Gurgaon official website regularly for the latest updates on cutoff scores.
- What is CAT Exam?
- CAT 2024 Exam Dates & Schedule
- CAT 2024 Exam Highlights
- CAT Answer Key 2024
- CAT 2024 Result and Scorecard PDF
- IIM CAT Cut Offs 2024
- Top Colleges Accepting CAT Exam Score
- CAT 2024 Exam Analysis
- CAT Exam Pattern & Test Structure 2024
- CAT 2024 Syllabus
- CAT Admit Card 2024
- CAT Exam Preparation 2024
- CAT Registrations 2024
- CAT Eligibility Criteria 2024
- CAT 2024 Contact Information
- Important FAQs on CAT 2024
What is CAT Exam?
Common Admission Test or CAT is a national level management aptitude test conducted by the IIM for admission to MBA and other postgraduate courses offered by its 21 campuses (NITIE Mumbai has been added to the cluster as IIM Mumbai). Over two lakh candidates apply for the CAT exam every year. In CAT 2023, applications touched the record high of 3.30 lakh. The total number of CAT 2024 registration is 3.29 lakh. Candidates who clear the CAT exam are eligible for admission to over 1300 MBA colleges in India, apart from the IIMs.
CAT exam iis a speed based test that includes questions from Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA). Difficulty level of the exam is moderate to high.
Latest Updates:
Dec 3: CAT 2024 answer key challenge begins, check details
Nov 29: CAT 2024 response sheet and answer key out, download here
Nov 27: About 2.93 lakh candidates appeared for CAT 2024
Nov 24: CAT 2024 exam held, check analysis and question paper
Nov 13: CAT 2024 registrations recorded at 3.29 lakhs
Nov 13: Official CAT mock test 2025 released, get link here
Nov 5: CAT admit card 2024 released, download here
Courses Offered Through CAT at IIMs
Apart from full-time MBA programmes, the CAT score is valid for admission to Executive MBA, PhD and FPM programmes of IIMs and other B-Schools. This exam is open for not only graduates but also post graduates and working professionals. Check below the list of courses offered by the IIMs through CAT.
IIM |
Courses Offered Through CAT |
---|---|
PGP, PGP-FABM, ePGP, PhD |
|
MBA, EMBA, MBA-Business Analytics, MBA-HRM, PhD |
|
PGP, PGPEM, PGPBA, PhD |
|
PGP, PhD (FPM) |
|
MBA, PhD |
|
PGP, PGP-HRM, FPM |
|
PGP, PhD |
|
MBA, MBA (Analytics), MBA (WX), PhD, EFPM |
|
PGP, PGP-BL, PGP-F, PGP-LSM, PhD, PhD (PT) |
|
PGP, PGP-ABM, PGP-SM, FPM |
|
PGP, PhD |
|
PGP, FPM/ PhD, EFPM |
|
PGP, PGP-HRM, PGP (Business Analytics), PhD, EPhD |
|
PGP, EPGPX, EPGDSM, PhD, Part-Time FPM |
|
MBA, PhD, E PhD |
|
PGP, PGPEX, PGPWE, PhD, PhDWP |
|
MBA, MBA (T&HM), PhD |
|
PGPM, PGPM-HR, PGPBM, FPM, E-FPM |
|
MBA, PhD |
|
PGP, PGPEx, PGPDGM, PhD |
|
MBA, MBA in Sustainability Management MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management |
CAT 2024 Exam Dates & Schedule
Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of CAT 2024 exam
Dates | Upcoming Exam Dates |
---|---|
03 Dec '24 - 05 Dec '24 | CAT 2024 answer key challenge ONGOING |
Dec '24 | CAT 2024 result announcement TENTATIVE |
Dates | Past Exam Dates |
24 Nov '24 | CAT 2024 exam |
05 Nov '24 - 24 Nov '24 | CAT 2024 admit card download |
27 Sep '24 - 30 Sep '24 | CAT 2024 form correction process |
CAT 2024 Exam Highlights
The number of test cities have been increased this year. Here are the highlights of CAT 2024, take a look at the table below:
CAT Exam Particulars |
CAT 2024 Details |
---|---|
CAT Full Form |
Common Admission Test (CAT) |
Conducting Institute for 2024 |
IIM Calcutta |
Exam Level |
National |
CAT Entrance Exam Frequency |
Once a year |
CAT Exam Date 2024 |
November 24, 2024 |
CAT Exam Timings |
|
CAT Exam Fees |
INR 2,500 (General category) and INR 1,250 (Reserved category) |
Eligibility Criteria |
Graduation with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST students) |
Number of Applications |
3.29 lakh (in 2024) |
Number of Test Takers |
2.93 lakh (in 2024) |
Exam Purpose |
Admission to IIMs, SPJIMR, FMS, MDI, IMT and over 1,200 B-Schools in India |
Courses Offered |
|
CAT syllabus |
|
CAT exam mode |
Computer Based Test (CBT) with MCQs and non-MCQs |
No. of test cities |
170 |
CAT exam website |
|
Exam helpdesk no. |
1-800-210-1088 (Toll Free) |
Also Read: CAT 2024 important dates
Every year, CAT sees the largest number of registrations among all MBA entrance exams in India. About 2 lakh candidates apply for CAT every year. In 2023, CAT recorded the highest ever registration of over 3.30 lakhs out of which about 2.88 lakh candidates appeared for the exam. The number of students registered for CAT 2024 was also 3 lakh plus. IIM Calcutta received a total of 3.29 lakh applications. Check below how many students registered for CAT 2024 and previous years.
CAT Answer Key 2024
CAT answer key 2024 is available through login for a limited time period. Check the steps to download CAT 2024 answer key and response sheet from the official website:
CAT 2024 Result and Scorecard PDF
IIM CAT Cut Offs 2024
CAT cut off for IIM admission is fixed by each institute category wise. While the qualifying cut offs range between 80 and 90 percentile (General category), the final cut offs are much higher. For the top IIMs, the final CAT cut offs are usually between 98-100 percentile, whereas for other IIMs, the cut offs range between 90-97 percentile. PI shortlisting is based on final CAT cut offs. Given below is the table indicating qualifying CAT cut off percentiles of 21 IIMs:
IIM |
CAT cut offs (qualifying) |
---|---|
85 |
|
85 |
|
85 |
|
90 |
|
85 |
|
90 |
|
95 |
|
80 |
|
92 |
|
92 |
|
92 |
|
85 |
|
75 |
|
92 |
|
92 |
|
92 |
|
92 |
|
85 |
|
92 |
|
92 |
|
94 |
*The CAT cut off percentiles mentioned in the above table are of General category. For the SC/ST/OBC/PWD/EWS categories, the cut CAT cut offs are lower.
Need Help with identifying the best college for you? Chat with Shiksha Counsellor and get a personalized list matching your preferences.
Get Free CounsellingList of IIMs for MBA/PGP Courses
CAT scores are accepted by 21 IIMs. These institutions accept CAT score mainly for MBA/PGDM, PhD, FMP and ePGP. You can visit the links in the below table to know admission cut offs, placements, fees, rankings and selection process of each IIM:
List of IIMs Accepting CAT Score | |
---|---|
Also Read: MBA colleges accepting CAT score
IIM Fees for MBA – Campus Wise
Below 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 instalments.
IIM campus |
PGP/MBA seats (approx.) |
*MBA/PGP fees |
---|---|---|
385 |
INR 24.61 lakh |
|
430 |
INR 24.50 lakh |
|
210 |
INR 27.00 Lakh |
|
436 |
INR 20.70 lakh |
|
375 |
INR 20.50 lakh |
|
210 |
INR 16.10 lakh (excluding boarding fees) |
|
260 |
INR 19.00 lakh |
|
240 |
INR 17.60 lakh |
|
60 |
INR 17.58 lakh |
|
180 |
INR 21.00 lakh |
|
120 |
INR 13.08 lakh |
|
240 |
INR 17.50 lakh |
|
120 |
INR 15.50 lakh |
|
60 |
INR 15.75 lakh (including fees for international immersion programme) |
|
120 |
INR 17.15 lakh |
|
60 |
INR 16.00 lakh |
|
120 |
INR 17. 50 lakh |
|
210 |
INR 17.30 lakh |
|
130 |
INR 18.00 lakh |
|
451 |
INR 21.14 lakh |
|
660 |
INR 14.00 lakh |
*The fee amount For every IIM mentioned in the table above has been rounded off to the nearest lakh. IIM fees may increase in the new academic session.
Also Read: IIM fees & scholarships
Top Colleges Accepting CAT Exam Score
As mentioned earlier, CAT is accepted by not only IIMs but also abotu 1,200 MBA colleges in India. Given below is the list of top MBA colleges in India accepting CAT score. The list also includes IITs offering MBA programme through their Department of Management Studies.
Top Non-IIMs Accepting CAT Score |
|
---|---|
Also Read:
CAT 2024 Exam Analysis
CAT 2024 exam analysis- CAT 2024 slot 1, slot 2 and slot 3 were overall moderate. There were 68 questions in total this time. The DILR section saw 22 questions instead of 20. However, the questions were moderate and doable. The in-depth CAT exam analysis 2024 discusses slot wise difficulty level, topic wise weightage and expected cut offs.
CAT 2024 Exam Analysis: Difficulty Level
Check the table below for difficulty level of CAT 2024:
CAT Sections | Number of Questions | Number of good attempts | Difficulty Level |
---|---|---|---|
VARC | 24 | 14-16 | Moderate to Tough |
DILR | 22 | 10-11 | Moderate |
Quantitative Ability | 22 | 10 | Moderate to Tough |
Also Read:
CAT 2024 analysis by Career Launcher and T.I.M.E
CAT 2024 response sheet and answer key PDF
CAT 2024 question paper PDF download slot 1,2,3
CAT 2024 Slot 1 answer key PDF question paper analysis
CAT 2024 Slot 2 answer Key PDF question paper analysis
CAT 2024 Slot 3 answer key PDF question paper analysis
CAT 2024 student reactions and reviews
CAT Exam Pattern & Test Structure 2024
CAT question paper 2024 had three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. The duration of exam was 120 minutes with sectional time limit of 40 minutes per section. The pattern has been slightly changed with increase in number of questions by 2. Check the highlights of CAT 2024 exam pattern below:
CAT Paper Pattern 2024 |
|
---|---|
Mode of CAT exam |
Computer Based Test |
Duration of exam |
|
CAT exam slots |
|
Number of questions |
66 68 |
CAT total marks |
198 204 |
Language of question paper |
English |
Number of answer choices |
4 |
Question Type |
MCQ and non-MCQ |
Also read: CAT exam on screen calculator
CAT syllabus can be best understood by going through CAT question papers. CAT previous year papers, provide an insight into sectional weightage, difficulty level of questions and types of questions. Candidates can solve previous year CAT question papers to know the difficulty level of the exam. Given below are previous years' CAT papers PDFs (links) for free download.
Evolution of CAT Exam
CAT exam has evolved a lot in the decade. However, the difficulty level has remained the same. Over the years, the examination authority has taken steps to make it more student friendly and academic diversity promoting exam but still it remains the toughest MBA entrance exam in India. Earlier, CAT used to have 100 questions, now it has 66 questions. Check the table below for changes in the CAT exam pattern over the years.
CAT Exam Year |
Sections |
No. of Questions |
CAT Exam Time Duration |
---|---|---|---|
2024 |
QA, DILR, VARC |
66 |
120 minutes |
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 |
Prepare for CAT exam with previous years' question papers & prep guides. Get topper tips & expert advice.
Download HereCAT 2024 Syllabus
CAT exam syllabus encompasses topics that are useful in developing all the skills and abilities essential for a being a successful business leader. 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 the following topics. Candidates are advised to pay special attention on these topics during exam preparation:
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 |
Also Read:
CAT Admit Card 2024
CAT admit card is a mandatory document to be carried to the exam centre, thus candidates must download it before the exam day. The CAT 2024 admit card will have test centre location, exam slot, reporting time and other exam related information printed on it. Here’s the process to download the CAT admit card 2024:
CAT Exam Preparation 2024
The preparation for CAT 2024 exam should include phase wise completion of the CAT syllabus, mock test practice and revision. With four months to go for the CAT 2024 now, candidates must speed up their preparation and cover the syllabus by September so that they can dedicate atleast a month to practicing CAT mock test. Some of the key aspects of CAT preparation 2024 can be:
- Cover CAT syllabus thoroughly. Try not to leave any topic as questions can be asked from anywhere.
- Attempt a good number of CAT mock tests to develop speed and accuracy.
- Dedicate time on regular revision .so that you're always well versed.
- Learn mental maths for quick calculation.
- Practice a good number of RC passages from previous years' CAT question papers.
- Opt for online problrem solving sessions to learn new tricks and techniques.
Check the table below for important articles on CAT 2024 preparation.
Tips and Tricks for CAT Preparation |
|
---|---|
CAT Mock Test
Practice free CAT mock test by Shiksha to assess your preparation level. These mock tests are on par with official CAT mock test in terms of difficulty level. You can use below CAT mock tests by simply clicking on the link. The CAT mock tests are accompanied by solutions and answers.
CAT Mock Test 1 | CAT Mock Test 1 Solutions |
CAT Mock Test 2 | CAT Mock Test 2 Solutions |
Watch expert video on CAT preparation with Mock Tests:
CAT Topper Tips 2024
CAT 2024 exam is just over two months away so now is the time to start mock test practice and do revision. It is also time to learn tips and tricks for opimising performance in the exam. Check below CAT topper tips and know how the previous year toppers prepared for the exam.
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." Read Kartik's full interview |
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 maximise my score and have a strategy for D-Day. I completed around 70 mocks from July until the CAT exam day." Read Riddhi's full interview |
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. Read Rounak's full interview |
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." Read Nisakar's full interview |
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. Read Risshi’s full interview |
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. Read Parul’s full interview |
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. Read Aditya’s full interview |
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. Read Atish’s full interview |
CAT Registrations 2024
CAT 2024 registration cum application form submission process was conducted online. Check below CAT registration and application process 2024:
- Go to the official website: iimcat.ac.in
- Click on 'new registration'
- Enter name, date of birth, nationality, phone number and email ID to register
- Log in with the ID received in email to fill the CAT application form
- Enter personal and academic details
- Upload a recent passport size photo and scanned signature
- Select preferred courses and IIMs
- Select test city preference from the drop down
- Pay CAT application fee via credit/debit card or net banking
Note: Candidates could select up to five cities for allotment of CAT exam centre in the application form. Allotment of CAT test city and centre will be mentioned on the CAT admit card.
Check the list of CAT test cities here.
Also Read: CAT 2024 application process and link
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2024
The minimum academic requirement is graduation in any stream from a recognised university. Read below detailed CAT eligibility criteria:
- Candidates must have a bachelor's degree with minimum 50 per cent aggregate or equivalent CGPA (45 per cent aggregate for SC, ST and PWD/DA category) to appear in CAT 2024.
- Candidates who have completed a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA/FCAI) with the required percentage can also appear for CAT.
- Candidates appearing for the final year of bachelor's degree/equivalent qualification or awaiting the result are also eligible to appear for CAT 2024 exam. However, the aggregate of their first and second year marks must meet the minimum score requirement.
- The education mode of the bachelor's degree can be regular or distance learning, but should be a 3-year programme and from a UGC recognised institution.
Also Read: CAT eligibility criteria 2024
CAT 2024 Contact Information
Queries regarding CAT Registration, Application and Payment Processing, Document uploading:
-800-210-0175 (Toll Free)
Call on the Toll free number, Monday to Saturday 9:00AM to 6:00PM (excluding National holidays).
cathelpdesk@iimcat.co.in
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)
Ph: 033-7121 1104
email: cat2024_helpdesk@iimcal.ac.in
Address:
CAT 2024 Centre
C/o Admissions Office
Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
Diamond Harbour Road, Joka
Kolkata – 700104
Important FAQs on CAT 2024
Check below Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to CAT exam 2024:
News & Updates
1615 Institutes accepting CAT
- |
- Total Fees: ₹ 25.00 Lakh
- |
- 2 years
- |
- Full Time
- Total Fees: ₹ 24.50 Lakh
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- 2 years
- |
- Full Time
- |
- Total Fees: ₹ 20.50 Lakh
- |
- 2 years
- |
- Full Time
- |
- Total Fees: ₹ 12.60 Lakh
- |
- 2 years
- |
- Full Time