CAT is a highly competitive exam and mistakes can dent your performance. The CAT 2024 exam is set to be conducted on November 24, 2024 so read this article to know mistakes to avoid on CAT exam day.
Why one should have a CAT exam day strategy? So that, silly mistakes don't hurt the performance. The most important reason to be well prepared for the CAT 2024 exam day beforehand is to be able to handle the test pressure well. Many candidates get nervous during the CAT exam and make silly mistakes. Making silly mistakes can cost you dearly as the competition is high. You will be competing against over 3 lakh candidates.
One the most common mistakes that CAT test takers make is not reading the questions properly. It is important to understand that CAT is a speed-based test. Candidates will have to take quick decisions during the CAT exam 2024. They will have to solve questions from three diverse subjects and maintain speed and accuracy throughout two hours.
Another common mistake that CAT aspirants make is not knowing the exam day process and guidelines. Many candidates forget to read the guidelines related to reporting time, dresscode, documents, etc. because of which they face problem at the time of entry. This can affect the focus of mind.
Apart from that, candidates also need to not study too much or till the last moment. It can cloud their mind and they may forget even those points that they had memorised properly. In this article, we have shared some common mistakes that CAT 2024 test takers need to avoid.
CAT 2024: Mistakes to Avoid on CAT Exam Day
No mugging-up before the exam
On the night before the CAT exam, spend an hour revising important formulae, theorems and shortcuts. Do not start a new chapter or solve a CAT mock test or try to mug up a new topic. CAT is an aptitude test and if your concepts are clear, you will be able to crack it.
Also Read: Most important formulas for CAT 2024
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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?
Don’t reach the exam centre late
To avoid last minute rush, start for the CAT exam centre from home early. The process of candidate identification is elaborate thus, it is important to reach the exam centre before time. Check the reporting time for CAT 2024 below:
| CAT exam slot |
Exam timing |
Reporting time |
Latest entry allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slot 1 |
8:30 AM to 10:30 AM |
7:00 AM |
8:15 AM |
| Slot 2 |
12:30 PM to 2:30 PM |
11:00 AM |
12:15 PM |
| Slot 3 |
4:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
3:00 PM |
4:15 PM |
Carry important documents
Do not forget to carry two copies of your CAT admit card 2024 and a valid photo ID such as Aadhar card, Voter ID card, passport or driving license. Candidates belonging to to PwD category must carry PwD and scribe certificates. Those who have changed their names, should carry the name change certificate also. CAT 2024 candidates must adhere to guidelines viz. the documents as they will not be allowed to enter the exam hall if they do not produce the correct documents, under any circumstance. Digital copy of any of the document will not be accepted.
Also read: Things to carry and not carry on the CAT exam day 2024
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Do not rush through CAT questions
Once you settle down at your designated seat, wait for the invigilator to announce the start of exam. First of all, read the instructions thoroughly. Make sure you don’t miss even a single point of exam related instructions. Then move to the first section of CAT 2024 exam. Read each question properly and then solve it. Try to solve the easier questions first. Although there is sectional-time limit in CAT due to which one can’t choose the order of sections to solve questions but one can certainly choose to solve easier questions within the section.
Don’t spend more than one minute on a question
CAT 2024 will be of 120 minutes and the total number of questions will be 66. VARC will have 24 questions, DILR will have 20 questions and QA will have 22 questions. You will have to solve each section within 40 minutes. Thus, time-management is very important. Do not aim to solve all the questions. Choose easier ones first. If any question is taking more than one minute to solve, skip it and move to the next question. You can come back to it later but within the time limit. Once 40 minutes are over for a section, the screen will automatically move to the next section. You will not get the option to go back to imcomplete questions.
Also read: CAT exam pattern 2024
Q: What are the facilities for PwD candidates in CAT exam?
Q: What are the items to carry on the CAT exam day?
Q: What are the dos and don'ts for CAT exam day?
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.
Don’t guess the answer
CAT exam has negative marking of -1 for each wrong attempt, so avoid guess work. It is better to leave the question unanswered than mark the wrong option. Also, choose the questions wisely. While practicing CAT mock tests you would have developed the skill of identifying questions from your areas of strength. This is the time to apply that skill.
Also Read: How many questions to solve in CAT 2024 to score 99+ percentile
Follow the dress code
CAT 2024 exam authorities have prescribed some dos and don’ts viz. clothing and items. Candidates are not allowed to carry any electronic, stationary or food items. They are also not supposed to wear metal jewellery, metal accessory, closed footwear, jackets, belts and clothes with pockets. Any candidate violating the rules related to dress code will barred from entering the exam hall.
Also read: CAT 2024 Exam Day Tips – Dress Code and Key Dos & Don’ts
Don’t Panic
The most important thing to remember on CAT exam day is – not to panic. No matter what the situation is, stay calm. Solve only those questions which you know you can answer accurately. The CAT 2024 question paper may have some questions which will appear tricky or confusing. Take a deep breath, read the question twice and then try to solve it. If you can’t, move on. Do not take the pressure of the on-screen timer. Don’t look at it too often. Take CAT as any other exam. Do not give in to the pressure.
Don’t worry if you don’t think you have performed well in CAT 2024. It’s not the end. You can take another shot at CAT the next year or can take other MBA entrance exams.
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Student Forum
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No, meeting the CAT cutoff percentile is not the only criteria for admission. IIM Lucknow admission is a two-stage process. In the first stage, candidates are shortlisted for the WAT and PI round on the basis of their performance in the CAT, scholastic achievement, and relevant work experience. In t
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The IIM Lucknow CAT qualifying cutoff 2024 has been released for admission to PGP, PGP-ABM, and PGP-SM courses for different categories. For 2025 admission, the IIM Lucknow PGP-ABM qualifying CAT cutoff is 85 percentile (overall) for the students belonging to the general category in the AI quota. Fo
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Hey! I've been in your shoes, so I totally get how you're feeling right now. Scoring the 78 percentile in CAT is a solid achievement, and you might be wondering whether it's enough to get into PIBM Pune. Let me tell you, PIBM looks beyond just numbers—they focus on your overall profile rather than j
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No, your CAT 2026 attempt will not be considerd a gap year because you will be in your final year when you take the exam in November 2026.
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Contributor-Level 10
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: