CAT 2024 will be be held on November 24, 2024 so the best time to start CAT preparation is March/April. Many 99 and 100 percentiler start preparation in May too. Read what MBA experts suggest to aspirants on the duration of CAT preparation 2024.
It is well known that Common Admission Test or CAT is a tough entrance exam. Every year, over two lakh candidates appear for the CAT so the competition is also high. Since, CAT is a gateway to 1,300 MBA colleges in India. It is of high difficulty level and requires dedicated and long-term preparation. To crack the CAT exam, one needs to have a long term plan and correct guidance.
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Among many questions regarding CAT exam, the most common question that trouble MBA aspirants the most is 'when to start CAT preparation'? Some related questions we get from aspirants are:
- "What is the best time to start CAT preparation 2024?"
- "Is February too early to start CAT preparation?"
- "Is it ok to start CAT preparation in June?"
The right time to start preparing for CAT exam depends on each candidate's skills, abilities and the amount of time he/she can devote on daily basis. However, most of the students start quite early, from January-February.
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 2024 also be conducted in three shifts?
Yes, the CAT 2024 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 2024 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?
The CAT 2024 exam date is November 24, 2024 and if you plan to appear for CAT 2024 exam then starting CAT preparation in March-April is a good idea. However, if you start preparation even in May-June 2024, you can crack it. f you start studying in July, then you will have to make a short-term plan of four months from August 2024 to November 2024.
Ideally, CAT preparation should start by March/April. Given below are expert advice and toppers' experience of CAT preparation.
Best Time to Start CAT Preparation 2024: What Expert Says?
According to Parasharan Chari, MBA expert and COO at Endeavour Careers, "Candidates should look at finishing the entire CAT syllabus by August. Do not stretch the course till the very end. In June, July and August – candidates should try and complete the entire core CAT syllabus. The primary sections of CAT syllabus are: Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability and Quantitative Aptitude. Thereafter, candidates can start focusing on speed-building, accuracy building and later on move to full length mock tests," adds Parasharan Chari.
Also Read:
CAT Preparation–Coaching vs Self Study
Best Time to Start CAT Preparation: What Toppers Say?
Kartik Bhageria, 99.99 percentile, CAT 2023
"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."
Q: What are the facilities for PwD candidates in CAT exam?
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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.
Risshi Agrawal, 99.99 percentile, CAT 2022
"I started preparing in the month of July. Since I had already taken the exam last year, I was familiar with the pattern. For the first two months I focused on revising the concepts while in the later stages I devoted my time towards solving mocks (average of 1 per day)....Mocks play a crucial role while preparing for CAT. It helps you determine the strategy which suits you the best."
Chirag Gupta, 100 percentile, CAT 2021
“I started preparing in March 2021. I focused mainly on giving mock tests and analysing them. I used to work on my weaknesses by watching various CAT preparation YouTube videos on various topics.”
Bir Anmol Singh, 99.94 percentile, CAT 2021
“I started preparing in April 2021. I solved Arun Sharma sir's CAT books for VARC, LR, DI and Quant. I attempted as many past year CAT questions papers (timed attempt) that I could attempt, on weekends.”
Kshitiz Singhal, 99.99 percentile, CAT 2020
Kshitiz Singhal started preparing in July. He started my preparation by knowing about the CAT exam pattern and syllabus. Once he completed the syllabus, he started taking mock tests. Although he did not enroll into any coaching institute, I bought study materials and took a mock test series from noted institutes for practice purpose.
Ekansh Agarwal, 99.98 percentile, CAT 2020
Ekansh Agarwal started his CAT preparations approximately 11 months before the CAT 2020 exam. According to him," mock tests are the most important part of CAT preparation. Attempt as many CAT mock tests as possible. 40-50 mock tests are good enough. Focus on the areas you are weak at and accordingly attempt the mock tests. Another piece of advice would be, if you think that you are weak in any section, then try maximizing the other two whilst working on the first."
Somansh Chordia, 100 percentile, CAT 2019
His CAT preparation witnesses multiple breaks. “I had joined TIME in January but for the initial 3-4 months I just gave mocks and attended a few classes to understand CAT exam pattern. During summers, I was busy in my internship, so could not devote any time. From August onwards, I began analysing the mocks and worked upon some of my weak areas. Finally in October, I began focusing properly”, he said.
Rishi Mittal 100 percentile, CAT 2019
Rishi began preparing for CAT in July 2018. “I joined IMS classes for CAT and online study group iQuanta. I gathered the study material of TIME, IMS and iQuanta. Then for five to six months I was referring to these study materials and understanding concepts and going through what all needs to be done and how should I go about my preparations. In March, I started attempting mocks and analyzing them. Around May or June of 2019, I stopped studying from the study material, I was only solving mock tests and analyzing my performance, ”he said.
Rounak Majumdar, 100 percentile, CAT 2018
Rounak started CAT preparation a year before. “My entire preparation was based on taking mock tests. I attempted two mock tests every week and around 40 mock tests in a year. I used to do practice tests on the weekends and analyse my results during the week. Analysing mock tests are more important than actually appearing for them; it helped me understand my shortfalls and device a test strategy,” he said.
Madhur Gupta, 100 percentile, CAT 2017
Madhur started preparing in January but paced up this preparation in August. “I started preparing for CAT 2017 from January and joined TIME for coaching. I ramped up my preparation only in August after quitting my job at Amazon, as Operations Manager. I joined a small start-up alongside CAT preparation from August onwards. In the last-three to four months I gave over 70 mock tests, of different mock series, he said.
Avidipto Chakraborty, 100 percentile, CAT 2016
Avidipto started preparing in mid-May 2016. "In May-June I had summer vacation which I utilized in revising the basic concepts. Once my internship began, I changed my strategy. I would study for four and half hours (9:30 pm to 2 am) on weekdays and dedicated Saturdays and Sundays to mock tests," he said.
Every aspirant has their own strengths and weaknesses. Some candidates take longer than others to grasp basic concepts and then move on to mock tests.
Akshay Mehndiratta, 100 percentile, CAT 2016
Akshay started preparation in June. "I never used to get time during the weekdays. I used to put in 5-6 hours on Saturday for preparation, and a mock test, followed by detailed analysis on Sundays. I started following this schedule rigorously from June onwards," he said. I guess a period of 5-6 months, with concentrated effort for 2-3 days in a week works fine, he added.
According to Rajesh Balasubramanian, who topped CAT 2011, CAT 2012 and CAT 2014, "Candidates with engineering background need about three-and-a-half months to prepare. Three months is still doable. Anything lesser than that and the time pressure adds up. There are too many things moving around and you don’t have enough time to do your Mock CATs. Three-and-a-half months is a good time-frame. You can still cover everything and get a lot of practice for Mocks." Balasubramanian is an MBA coaching expert.
Also Read:
CAT Preparation 2024: Month-Wise Time-Table
Here's a quick time-line of CAT exam preparation. This is a broad distribution of CAT preparation time frame into phases. You can alter the time-table according to your need.
Months |
Target |
---|---|
March-August |
Complete core CAT syllabus |
August-end to mid-September |
Experiment with exam strategy, take timed sectional tests, practice question selection & prioritisation, focus on accuracy building |
Mid-September to mid-October |
Start solving full-length mock tests |
October onwards |
Focus on revision & mock tests |
Also Read:
- How to Prepare for CAT 2024 exam in 6 Months
- How to Prepare for CAT 2024 exam in 3 Months
- Last Month CAT Preparation Plan and Tips
- How to Prepare for CAT VARC
- How to Prepare for CAT DILR
- How to Prepare for CAT Quantitative Aptitude
Also Read:
- Your Love for Reading Can Get You Desired Result in CAT 2024
- How to Prepare for CAT Without Qutting Your Job
- Best Books for CAT Preparation Recommended by Experts
- How to Prepare for CAT: 2024 Ultimate Tips from Experts
- How to Prepare for CAT 2024: Tips from Toppers
- Advantage of Appearing in CAT While Pursuing Final Year Graduation
CAT Preparation FAQs
Q: When will CAT 2024 will be conducted?
Q: In how many months can I prepare for CAT 2024 exam?
Q: Can I prepare for CAT by self-study?
Q: Which is the toughest section of CAT exam?
Q: Is coaching mandatory for CAT preparation?
Q: How many questions are there in CAT question paper?
Q: Will marks be deducted for wrong answers in CAT exam?
Q: Is practicing sample questions enough to cover DILR section of CAT preparation?
Q: How can I master VARC section of CAT exam?
Q: What is the best way to master DILR section of CAT?
Q: Do PwD candidates get extra time in CAT exam 2024?
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Student Forum
Answered 3 hours ago
No, CAT is not mandatory for entry to the PGP-TBM programme of Masters' Union. Scores can be submitted by any one of the examinations conducted by GMAT, GRE, or Masters' Union Business Aptitude and Admissions Test (MU-BAAT). Interviews and a holistic review of the profile comprise part of the select
a
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 hours ago
Yes, I Business Institute offers scholarship to PGDM students based on CAT score. A maximum of INR 70,000 is offered to CAT qualified students. Below is the detailed criteria:
Marks in Qualifying Exam | Scholarship Amount |
---|---|
CAT > 85 | INR 70,000 |
CAT percentile between 70-85 | INR 50,000 |
CAT percentile between 60-70 | INR 30,000 |
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
Yes, you can get admission to the MBA/PGDM programme at H.K. Institute of Management Studies and Research (HKIMSR) without CAT scores. The institute also accepts other entrance exam scores like MAT, CMAT, or MAH-CET for admission. As long as you have a valid score from any of these recognised exams,
Answered Yesterday
Yes, getting admission at VVISM for a PG Diploma (General Management) without a CAT score is possible. This is because CAT is not the only accepted entrance exam for PG Diploma admission at the institute. In addition to CAT, VVISM accepts the exam scores of MAT/ATMA/XAT/CMAT/GMAT/ICET or any other e
H
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
With a 50-60 percentile in CAT, you may not be eligible for top IIMs or highly ranked B-schools, but there are several good options:
- Tier 2 B-Schools like IMT Nagpur, Welingkar Mumbai, ITM Navi Mumbai, and SIES Mumbai may consider you depending on the category and other criteria.
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Answered 2 days ago
It is not mandatory for Maharashtra students to appear in MAH CET if they have a valid CAT score. To apply for JBIMS through CAT, you must register for the DTE Maharashtra CAP process, submit your CAT details, verify documents, and select JBIMS as your preference. Admission is based on your merit ra
Answered 2 days ago
Top MBA colleges offering average CTCs above 12 LPA, with ST out-of-state reservations and accepting CMAT or XAT scores, include XLRI Jamshedpur (32 LPA, XAT), XIM Bhubaneswar (20 LPA, XAT), Great Lakes Institute of Management (15–17 LPA, CMAT/XAT), Goa Institute of Management (14–15 LPA, CMAT/XAT),
Answered 3 days ago
The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2024 introduced several notable changes compared to previous years. Here are the key changes:
1. Increased Number of Questions:
- The total number of questions was increased from 66 to 68.
- This increase was specifically in the DILR section, which now had 22 questions in
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
The CAT exam doesn't have a fixed score. Instead, your performance is measured in terms of percentile. This means your score is compared to all other test-takers, and you're given a percentile ranking. For example, a 99 percentile means you scored better than 99% of the other test-takers.
The actual
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Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
Admission to the MBA/PGDM programs offered at SIES College of Management Studies, commonly abbreviated as SIESCOMS, is based on a candidate's performance in the CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, or MAHCET examinations. The CAT 2024 registration usually ends in September, and the exam takes place in Novembe
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Contributor-Level 8
Is CAT compulsory for Masters' Union?