CAT 2024 Checklist of Important Documents to Carry on Exam Day

Senior Manager - Content

Updated on Nov 21, 2024 17:01 IST

Entry to the CAT 2024 exam centre will be allowed only after inspection of relevant documents of identification. Check the list of relevant documents to carry on the CAT exam day.

CAT 2024 exam will be conducted on November 24 in three slots. Right now, all the candidates have completed their preparation and are busy in fine tuning the rough edges. They are memorising tricks and shortcuts and reading last minute tips for CAT. The last two-three days before the CAT 2024 exam, is the time when you have to strike a balance between preparation and planning. You have studied a lot in the past few months, now is the time to focus on the CAT exam day.

Amid all the last minute preparation for CAT 2024, one must not forget about other important aspects of the exam. The most important being, arranging the relevant documents that are to be presented at the CAT exam centre. In this article, you can read about the important documents to carry on the CAT 2024 exam day.

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Documents to Carry on CAT 2024 Exam Day

CAT 2024 Admit Card

The CAT 2024 admit card is the most important document to be carried to the test centre. The admit card is the main identity proof of the test taker. Photocopy or digital copy of the CAT admit card 2024 will not be accepted as a valid ID proof at the exam centre. Candidates must take out two prints of their CAT 2024 admit card in A4 size sheet before the exam day and affix a passport sized photo (preferably the same photo as uploaded in the application form) on it. They will be required to submit one signed copy of the admit card at the exam centre and retain the other signed copy for future reference.

Q: What is the CAT 2024 exam date?

The CAT exam is always conducted on the last Sunday of November every year so the CAT 2024 exam is expected to be conducted on Nov 24, 2024. Official announcement of the CAT 2024 exam date will be made by the convening IIM on Jul 30, 2024. The announcement will be made at the iimcat.ac.in website as well as in all the national dailies across India. We at Shiksha also notify the aspirants through our communication channels. Registrations cum application process for CAT 2024 will begin from the first week of August and end in the third week of September 2024.

Check below CAT exam dates for last five years:

CAT 2023: November 26
CAT 2022: November 27
CAT 2021: November 28
CAT 2020: November 29
CAT 2019: November 24

Q: Will CAT exam 2025 also be conducted in three shifts?

Yes, the CAT 2025 exam will be conducted in three shifts. Until 2019, CAT was conducted in two shifts and the exam duration used to be 180 minutes. However, in 2020, the number of shifts were increased to three and exam duration was reduced to 120 minutes in order to follow the social distancing guidelines for COVID-19. Since the COVID-9 pandemic appropriate behaviour had to be followed at public places and gatherings, the examination authorities increased the number of exam slots to ensure a limited number of candidates can be accommodated at any exam centre in a given exam slot by following social distancing and seating arrangement with gap. Since then, the CAT is conducted in three shifts - morning, afternoon and evening. In CAT 2025 too, there will be three slots which will be allotted to applicants in no particular order. The CAT exam slot timings will be - 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Q: What are the CAT exam slot timings?

CAT exam is held in three slots for the past three years. Earlier it used to be held in two slots of three hours each, but since 2020 it is held in three slots of two hours each. The three slots are conducted between 8 am to 4 pm. The first slot is held from 8:30 am to 10:30 am, the second slot is held from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm and the third slot is held from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. In these three slots, about 2.22 Lacs candidates are accommodated at over 400 test centres in about 150 plus cities across India. The exam slots are allotted to candidates by the examination authorities as per the receipt of applications and candidates cannot request for change of examination slot. They have to give the test in the slot mentioned on the admit card.

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Photo ID Card

Student identification process will include verification of the candidate viz. residency in India. For that, the candidates will be required to present a photo ID card issued by the Government of India. Photo IDs considered valid for CAT exam include the following:

PAN card
Aadhaar card
Voter ID
Passport
Driving license
College/university ID card

PwD Scribe Affidavit

PwD candidates with scribe are required to carry the Scribe Affidavit along with them at test centre. The Scribe Affidavit can be download from the CAT 2024 official website. The scribe has to submit the duly filled affidavit at the exam centre to be able to assist the PwD candidate. All CAT test centres where PwD candidate are scheduled, would have a designated PwD Coordinator to assist the PwD Candidates. All PwD candidates (with or without scribe) would be given extra 13 minutes per section to complete the exam paper.

Name Change Certificate

If a candidate has changed their name after filling the CAT 2024 application form or their photo ID is not updated with the changed name, they will be required to present name change certificate issued by a competent authority.

Also Read:

Q: What are the facilities for PwD candidates in CAT exam?

For PwD candidates, facilities in CAT exam include, relaxation of marks in graduation. The minimum score required by PwD candidate in graduation for appearing in CAT exam is 45 per cent aggregate. Apart from that, such candidates are provided scribe service at the exam centre. To avail the service such candidates have to fill the relevant form during registration process. The CAT exam authorities follow government rule viz. PwD candidate which is, 'Person with Benchmark Disability' means a person with not less than forty percent of a specified disability where the specified disability has not been defined in measurable terms and includes a person with disability where the specified disability has been defined in measurable terms, as certified by the certifying authority, as defined in The Rights of Persons with Disabilities ACT 2016 (RPwD ACT 2016). The categories of disability are, blindness and low vision, deaf and hard of hearing, locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy, autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness, multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (d), f) other 'specified disabilities' mentioned in 'The Schedule' of the RPwD ACT 2016.

Q: What are the items to carry on the CAT exam day?

Every candidate must carry a blue/black ball point pen and a few copies of their passport size photo to the exam centre. They must not carry any stationary item other than the pen. Ever since the COVID-19 outbreak, CAT candidates are required to carry drinking water, hand sanitizer, face mask and gloves along with them. Candidates have to carry drinking water in a transparent bottle and a 100 ml bottle of hand sanitizer. The hand sanitizer bottle should also be transparent. Candidates who have diabetes can carry fruits as per medical prescription. No other item will be allowed inside the exam venue. Candidates must not carry bags or valuables as there will be no arrangement for depositing while candidates appear for the exam. Candidates must also not carry notebooks or rough paper to the CAT exam centre. Any candidate found with an unauthorised item will be disqualified.

Q: What are the dos and don'ts for CAT exam day?

On the CAT exam day, candidates have to follow a number of guidelines which include cooperating with the exam centre staff during identification process, following instructions given be the invigilator and following the test navigation for solving the questions. There are some key dos and don'ts that candidates should follow on the CAT exam day, which have been listed below: CAT exam day dos: 1. Reach the examination centre at the reporting time mentioned on your CAT admit card. 2. Carry two copies of the CAT admit card, one photo ID card, passport size photos and duly filled COVID-19 declaration form 3. PwD candidates should carry the relevant certificates and documents as prescribed by the examination authorities. 4. Carry a blue/black ball point pen for signing the attendance sheet 5. Carry personal drinking water, hand sanitizer, face masks and gloves 6. Cooperate with the test centre staff and follow the instructions 7. While entering the answers, use only the computer mouse. Do not touch the keyboard as doing so will lead to screen locking. CAT exam day don'ts: 1. Do not carry prohibited items such as bags, purses, pencil box, beepers, wrist watch, calculators, mobile phones, electronic devices, scanners, cameras, wireless/Bluetooth transmission or any such communication devices. 2. Don't wear closed shoes, jewellery made of metal, jackets, clothes with pockets, mehendi on palms. Socks are allowed inside it. 3. Don't wear caps, hoodies or jackets/shirts with pockets 4. Don't be late for the exam. The entry gates will be closed 15 minutes before the commencement of exam. No candidate will be allowed to enter the exam centre after that. 5. Don't cheat or indulge in mal practice. You can be disqualified due to any such ACT. 6. Don't create a ruckus inside the test lab 7. Don't leave your seat until the exam duration gets over and the invigilator announces exit.

Q: Which IIM will conduct CAT 2024 exam?

The top 6 Indian Institute of Management are given the responsibility to conduct the Common Admission Test exam. Each of the top Indian Institutes of Management conducts the exam rotation-wise after a gap of five years. The responsibility to conduct the CAT 2023 was given to IIM Lucknow. Professor Sanjeet Singh had been appointed as the CAT convener. For CAT 2024, IIM Calcutta will be the exam convening institute. IIM Calcutta will be responsible for preparation and conduct of the exam without glitches, in collaboration with TCS for test labs and centres. The institute will design the question papers, exam pattern and guidelines, as well as manage the conduct of exam and preparation of admit card, answer key and result.

CAT Conducting Indian Institute of Management Over the Years:

2023: IIM Lucknow
2022: IIM Bangalore
2021: IIM Ahmedabad
2020: IIM Indore
2019: IIM Kozhikode
2018: IIM Calcutta
2017: IIM Lucknow
2016: IIM Bangalore
2015: IIM Ahmedabad
2014: IIM Indore
2013: IIM Indore
2012: IIM Kozhikode
2011: IIM Calcutta
2010: IIM Lucknow
2009: IIM Ahmedabad

For more information, you may visit the Shiksha Common Admission Test page. (https://www.shiksha.com/mba/cat-exam). I hope this will help you.

Medical Certificate

No bio-break will be allowed to any candidate during the exam unless there is a medical emergency or there is a doctor-certified medical emergency. Thus, candidates suffering from any medical condition (e.g. diabetes) must carry a medical certificate issued by MBBS doctor. They will require this certificate in case of a bio-break or any other medical emergency.

Test Day Exception Form

CAT candidates would be required to sign an 'Exception Form' in case any exceptional situation arises on the exam day. The CAT test centre staff would guide the candidate to fill out exception form as applicable. However, candidates must keep in mind that concerned authority’s decision on exceptions will be treated as final on the test day.

Authorization Form

Candidates must also carry IIM provided Authorization Form to carry any prohibited or exceptional items inside the exam lab due to medical reasons. To get such authorisation, candidates are advised to contact the CAT examination authority, IIM Calcutta’s CAT centre before the exam day.

About the Author

Vipra Shrivastava

Senior Manager - Content

Vipra is a massive Breaking Bad fan. When not watching crime drama series, she spends time in updating the list of places she wants to visit and people she wants to meet, but she is happiest in the company of dogs. ... Read Full Bio

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