Is 6.5 CGPA good for CAT preparation?

Yes, you should not worry about your CGPA at graduation to prepare for the CAT exam. A CGPA of 6.5 is not bad, but it is average enough to get you an admissions call from IIM. It doesn't matter what your CGPA is if you score highly on the CAT exam and perform well in the personal interview round because you can enroll in the best IIMs. You need not be concerned about your CGPA because most management colleges also consider 6.5 CGPA for admission. You have to create a good study plan so that you do well in the CAT exam. Additionally, you can make up for your undergraduate CGPA by performing well in group discussions and the Personal Interview round. These are conducted by IIMs after the CAT results are released.

Which documents are required for filling CAT application form?

Candidates need the following documents while filling the CAT application form: A recent passport size photo (color against white background) Scanned signature with black pen on white paper Any photo ID card like PAN card, Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport Class 10 marksheet Class 12 marksheet Graduation marksheet Permanent address proof Work experience documents Reserved category students need to upload Category Certificate along with the CAT application form. The Certificate is available on the CAT website. Candidates can download, fill it, get it attested by competent authority and upload it as PDF with the CAT application form. The PwD category students also have to fill the PwD form and Scribe affidavit along with the exam application form. This is necessary for getting scribe facility and PwD facility at the test centre. The CAT application form is same for students from all categories. Those belonging to a particular category (SC/ST/PwD) will be required to mention it in the relevant field of the CAT form.

What are the important topics of CAT syllabus from which maximum questions are asked?

CAT lays a lot of emphasis on analytical skills so the questions are asked mostly from those topics which require deep learning and practice. The three sections of CAT question paper are designed in such a way that candidates have to use their ability of minute observation and fast calculation. Shared below are the section wise main topics from which questions are asked in CAT. Verbal Ability: Parajumbles, Parasummary, Sentence Completion and Inferences Reading Comprehension: Questions based on passages, Para meaning, Order of sentences Data Interpretation: Tables, Graphs, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, Data Sufficiency Logical Reasoning: Blood Relation, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Sets and Caselets, Family Tree, Assumptions Quantitative Aptitude: Geometry, Algebra Number System Modern Math, Arithmetic, Mensuration The difficulty level of CAT questions is usually moderate to high. Only a few questions are easy and quick to solve. To crack the CAT exam, one needs to pay attention to the abovementioned topics.

Where can I get official CAT mock test?

The official CAT website (iimcat.ac.in) provides two official CAT mock tests for free. To access these mock tests, you need to follow these steps: 1. Go to the official CAT website iimcat. AC. In 2. Click on the "Registered Candidate Login" button. 3. Enter your CAT login credentials (User ID and Password) and click on the "Login" button. 4. Click on the "Mock Test" button on the left-hand side of the screen. 5. You will be directed to the page with the links to the official CAT mock tests. 6. Click on the "Mock Test 1" or "Mock Test 2" link to start the test. The official CAT mock tests provide a real exam-like experience and are a great way to assess your preparation level. They also help you get familiar with the exam pattern and test-taking interface. It is recommended that you take these mock tests to get an idea of what to expect on the exam day and identify areas where you need to improve.

What are the important topics of CAT syllabus from which maximum questions are asked?

CAT lays a lot of emphasis on analytical skills so the questions are asked mostly from those topics which require deep learning and practice. The three sections of CAT question paper are designed in such a way that candidates have to use their ability of minute observation and fast calculation. Shared below are the section wise main topics from which questions are asked in CAT. Verbal Ability: Parajumbles, Parasummary, Sentence Completion and Inferences Reading Comprehension: Questions based on passages, Para meaning, Order of sentences Data Interpretation: Tables, Graphs, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, Data Sufficiency Logical Reasoning: Blood Relation, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Sets and Caselets, Family Tree, Assumptions Quantitative Aptitude: Geometry, Algebra Number System Modern Math, Arithmetic, Mensuration The difficulty level of CAT questions is usually moderate to high. Only a few questions are easy and quick to solve. To crack the CAT exam, one needs to pay attention to the abovementioned topics.

What is CAT exam pattern?

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.

What is the age limit to appear for CAT?

There is no age limit to appear for CAT. The CAT exam is open for fresh graduates as well as working professionals. Since CAT is accepted by over 1300 B-schools across India for their full-time as well as executive MBA or online professional courses, a lot of working professionals appear for the CAT to pursue such courses. CAT score is accepted by Iims for full time MBA, executive MBA and FPM programmes. Other top MBA colleges in India also shortlist candidates for executive MBA or part-time MBA on the basis of CAT score. The minimum age limit for has to be 20 years as the minimum qualification for CAT exam graduation. Any candidate who has completed Graduation with 50 per cent aggregate (45 per cent for SC/ST candidates). Any candidate in final year of Bachelor's degree course can appear in CAT exam. Any candidate having a professional degree like CA/CS/ICWAI with a minimum of 50 per cent in aggregate.

Where can I fill CAT 2024 application form?

CAT 2024 application form will be released on the official website - iimcat.ac.in. on August 1, 2024. Candidates will be able to fill the CAT form and pay the application fee online by creating a log ID. The application process for CAT 2024 exam registration window will remain open until September 13, 2024. The CAT exam date and registration schedule was announced on July 30, 2024. Given below is the brief description of how to fill the CAT application form: Step 1. Go to iimcat. ac. in website Step 2. Click on 'new registration' Step3. Enter name, date of birth, nationality, country, phone number and email ID Step 4. Click on submit and use OTP received to generate CAT ID Step 5. The ID and password will be shared in email Step 6. Use the CAT ID and password to login and fill the application form Step 7. In the application form, fill personal details, academic details, work experience, test city preference, courses and Iims. Step 8. Upload recent passport size photo and signature Step 9. Pay application fee via debit/credit card, net banking or UPI wallet to complete the form submission process.

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

From where can I download CAT result?

CAT result is announced at the iimcat.ac.in website. Candidates who appear for the test can download their scorecards from the official website by using their login credentials. The CAT result download link is made live about 20 days after the exam. Candidates can download their scorecards by using their login credentials. Given below is the process to follow for downloading the CAT result. Visit the official website of CAT exam Click on CAT scorecard download Enter your CAT ID and password Click on the scorecard tab Download the CAT result PDF Process to check the CAT result on smart phone: Open a web browser on the mobile phone Type the url of CAT exam: iimcat.ac.in Click on CAT scorecard tab Enter your CAT application number and password Click on the scorecard tab to open the document

Is 6.5 CGPA good for CAT preparation?

Yes, you should not worry about your CGPA at graduation to prepare for the CAT exam. A CGPA of 6.5 is not bad, but it is average enough to get you an admissions call from IIM. It doesn't matter what your CGPA is if you score highly on the CAT exam and perform well in the personal interview round because you can enroll in the best IIMs. You need not be concerned about your CGPA because most management colleges also consider 6.5 CGPA for admission. You have to create a good study plan so that you do well in the CAT exam. Additionally, you can make up for your undergraduate CGPA by performing well in group discussions and the Personal Interview round. These are conducted by IIMs after the CAT results are released.

Where can I get CAT 2024 registration link? What information is to be filled in the form?

CAT registration cum application form link is activated at iimcat.ac.in.in website. The CAT 2024 registration link was made live on August 1, 2024.. Candidates will have to open this url: iimcat.ac.in to register for CAT 2024 and fill the application form before the registration deadline (September 13, 2024). The CAT application process includes uploading of relevant documents and payment of fees, without which the application will not be submitted. There will be six sections in CAT application form which candidates will be required to fill. They are - personal details, academic details, work experience, programmes, test city and fee payment. In Personal Details section, the candidates will have to enter details such as name, date of birth, father's name, category, gender, nationality, communication address, email ID, mobile phone number, etc. In Academic Details section of the form, candidates have to enter class 10 and 12 exam scores, Bachelor's degree details and marksheet and details of other professional courses (if any). In Work Experience section, candidates have to fill relevant work-experience if any, they need to fill in details such as name of the company, duration, etc. In the programmes section, applicants have to select IIMs and MBA programmes of their choice. In the test city section candidates have to select test city for allotment of exam centre. Candidates can select up to six cities from the given list. In the payment section, candidates have to pay the registration fee via Credit/Debit Card, Internet Banking or Paytm/PayU mobile wallets.

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.

Can I fill the CAT 2024 registration form before, and submit the fee later?

Yes, you can fill the CAT application form 2024 on one day and pay the fee on another day as it is not mandatory to register for CAT exam and fill the application form or pay the fee in one go. The registration and application window will remain open for the candidate who has registered for the exam and created and ID, until the last date of form submission. The applicant can login in and check/fill/edit the CAT application form anytime during the form filling period. Only the phone number and email ID will not be editable once registration is done. However, candidates need to submit the CAT form and application fee before the deadline to be eligible to appear for the exam. The CAT application form will not be submitted until the fee payment is done. The fee can be paid via debit card, credit card, net banking and UPI wallet.

CAT 2024 Exam Date (Nov 24): Check Answer Key, Result and Other CAT 2024 Dates

13.1K Students Q&A

Updated on Jan 14, 2025 18:37 IST

By Vipra Shrivastava, Senior Manager - Content

CAT 2024 exam date was November 24, 2024. This year, the exam was conducted by IIM Calcutta in 170 cities across India. The CAT 2024 result was declared on December 19, 2024. IIMs and other top B-Schools will start their PI shortlisting process soon. Get all the information about CAT exam dates 2024.

Q: Are six months enough to prepare for CAT?

Usually, it is recommended to start CAT preparation about a year or nine months in advance. However, one can prepare for this exam even in six months if they put 8-10 hours daily into it. Candidates who have attempted the CAT before may not face a lot of hurdles in six-month preparation as they have a foundation in CAT preparation from previous year, but candidates who are appearing in the exam for the first time may face obstacles, mostly related to accuracy. The syllabus of CAT is vast and includes a lot of reading. One also has to spend a lot of time in practice sessions and mock tests to be able to master all types of CAT questions - easy, moderate and tough. If you are a student of engineering/technical or commerce background you will need to pay extra attention on VARC . However, you'll be able to manage the syllabus of DILR and Quantitative Aptitude with adequate practice of topics. But if you are a student from Arts background, it is advised to start CAT preparation much earlier because you will have to brush up a lot of Mathematics. Reading Comprehension is one subject that cannot be mastered by student belonging to any academic stream, if their English comprehension is not strong. To develop reading habit all CAT aspirants will have to start much earlier.

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Q: What is the IIM selection criteria through CAT?

IIM selection criteria for all the 21 campuses is same and includes selection of candidates through three stages. CAT score Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion GD and Personal Interview (PI) Academic record, work experience Academic and gender diversity CAT exam score is the first parameter on which candidates are shortlisted for admission. In the first state of IIM admission, the institutes shortlist candidates for WAT, GD and PI on the basis of their CAT score and class 10, 12 and graduation marks. The cut offs for shortlisting of candidates is between 95-100 percentile (for SC/ST/PwD candidates the cut offs are lower). These shortlisted candidates have to then appear for What, GD and PI round. Those who clear this round are considered for final admission. For the final selection, every IIMs takes into consideration the following aspects: CAT score What, GD and PI performance Class 10 and 12 marks Graduation marks Work experience Academic diversity Gender diversity.

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Q: What makes CAT tougher than other MBA entrance exams?

CAT exam is a national level MBA entrance exam conducted by the IIM. Every year, over 2.3 Lacs candidates apply for it. The CAT score is accepted by the Iims and all top MBA colleges in India. To select the best candidates from over 2.3 Lacs test takers there is a need for tough criteria. That's why, the CAT exam is tougher than other MBA entrance exams. Even though the syllabus of CAT is same as that of other MBA entrance exams, the question paper set by the IIM faculty always has tough questions. Moreover, CAT has sectional time limit for each section which is not there in any other exam expect XAT. Having a time limit for each section adds pressure on candidates to complete solving adequate number of questions in a section within the time limit. If a student is weak in a particular subject, they can't use the time as per their need. CAT's Reading Comprehension passages are long and dense unlike other MBA exams. This is one more reason why most candidates feel CAT is tougher than any other MBA entrance exam.

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CAT Exam 2024: Key Highlights

CAT 2024 exam was held for 2 hours with sectional time limit of 40 minutes. The CAT question paper 2024 had three sections and 68 questions, instead of 66. There was no other change in the exam pattern. Check below key highlights of CAT 2024 exam:

CAT Exam Features	Details
CAT application process	Online
CAT fees	INR 2,500 (General category) and INR 1,250 (Reserved category)
CAT eligibility	Graduation with 50 % aggregate (45 % for SC/ST students)
CAT syllabus	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Ability (QA)
CAT exam pattern	CBT mode exam having 66 questions (MCQs and non-MCQs)
Marking scheme	+3 for correct attempt -1 for incorrect attempt No negative marking for non-MCQs and unanswered questions
Exam duration	2 hours ( 40 minutes per section)
Number of slots	3
Number of applications	3.30 lakh (in 2023)
No. of test cities	150

Check Cut offs of top MBA entrance exams and predict calls from IIMs and other Top MBA Colleges. Check Fees, Placement Reviews, Admission, Shortlist Criteria and eligibility of all MBA Colleges by clicking the link below:

Predict IIM & Non IIM Calls

CAT Percentile predictor prepared by Shiksha.com helps students to get their predicted CAT percentile on the basis of their expected exam score. So, predict your CAT score by clicking the link below:

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CAT 2024: Important Events

CAT registration 2024: Candidates could apply for CAT 2024 at iimcat.ac.in website by creating an account. After the registration, they had to fill the CAT registration cum application form and make online fee payment of INR 2,500 (General category) or INR 1,250 (Reserved category). The CAT exam form submission last date was September 20, 2024. Candidates who had appeared for the test previously also had to register afresh.
CAT form correction dates: After the CAT application process 2024, the examination authority will provide a chance to candidates to edit a few fields in the already submitted application forms. Candidates will be allowed to update photo, signature and test city preference in their forms. No other fields will be editable.
CAT admit card release date: CAT 2024 admit card was issued in online mode on November 5, 2024. Candidates can download their CAT admit cards from the official website by using their login credentials. It is available for download until the CAT exam day. The admit card is a mandatory document to be carried to the test centre. Digital copy of the CAT admit card will not be accepted as valid.
CAT mock test release: The official CAT mock test was released a few days before the exam. Every aspirant must attempt the official CAT mock test to know the exam pattern and test form navigation. The official CAT mock test is also helpful in assessing the time taken to solve a question.
CAT 2024 exam: The test was conducted on November 24, 2024 in computer based test mode at various exam centres across India. Timing of the exam was:
- Morning slot: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
- Afternoon slot: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
- Evening slot: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
CAT answer key release and objection dates: The official CAT 2024 answer keys and response sheets of candidates will be released within a week of the exam. In case any candidate wants to challenge the official answers, they can do so by filling the answer key obejction form. The examination body will verify the candidate's claim and revise the CAT answer key if required. The final CAT 2024 answer key was released on December 17 and there was no change. None of the objections received from candidates were found to be vaild
CAT result date: The result of CAT 2024 was announced on December 19, 2024. The link to download CAT scorecard is available for download at the iimcat.ac.in website. Test takers can download their CAT scorecards from the official website by using their login credentials for IIM admissions. The CAT 2024 scorecard will be available for download until December 31, 2025.