The CAT 2024 exam date is scheduled for November 24, 2024. IIM Calcutta will be administering the test. The IIM CAT 2024 official website will release the CAT 2024 notification on July 30, 2024. It will include the schedule, costs, and other information about CAT 2024. The first week of August 2024 will see the opening of the CAT 2024 registration date. To be qualified to take the CAT 2024 exam, candidates must apply before the CAT 2024 registration last date and pay the required CAT 2024 registration fees before the deadline. Learn everything there is to know about CAT 2024.
What is the CAT Examination?
The IIM administers the Common Admission Test, also known as the CAT, a national management aptitude exam, to candidates wishing to be admitted to any of its 21 campuses' MBA programs (NITIE Mumbai has joined the cluster as IIM Mumbai). Over 1,200 B-schools in India recognize CAT 2024 results. More than 2 lakh applicants register for the exam every year. Applications for CAT 2023 reached a record-breaking 3.30 lakh.
Approximately 400 test sites located in 137 Indian cities offer the CAT exam in three sessions on a single day. The Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA) disciplines are covered in the Common Aptitude Test CAT 2024. Exam complexity varies from low to high.
Highlights of the CAT 2024 Exam
The CAT 2024 exam is the most esteemed MBA entrance examination. Educational institutions, both public and private, accept this all-India test. MBA aspirants who are set to take the CAT 2024 exam can review the major CAT 2024 highlights here. Examine the table that follows:
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CAT Exam Particulars
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CAT Exam 2024 Details
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CAT Full Form
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Common Admission Test (CAT)
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Conducting Institute for 2024
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IIM Calcutta (tentative)
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Exam Level
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National
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CAT Entrance Exam Frequency
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Once a year
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CAT 2024 Exam Date
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November 24, 2024
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CAT Exam Timings
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Session 1: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Session 2: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Session 3: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
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CAT 2024 Registration Fees
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INR 2,400 (General category) and INR 1,200 (Reserved category)
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CAT 2024 Eligibility Criteria
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Graduation with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST students)
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Number of Applications
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3.30 lakh (in 2023)
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Number of Test Takers
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2.88 lakh (in 2023)
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Exam Purpose
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Admission to IIMs, FMS, KCCITM, and over 1,200 B-Schools in India
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Courses Offered
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MBA/PGDM
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CAT 2024 syllabus
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Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Quantitative Ability (QA)
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CAT exam mode
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Computer Based Test (CBT) with MCQs and non-MCQs
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No. of test cities
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150
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CAT exam website
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https://iimcat.ac.in
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Exam helpdesk no.
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1-800-210-1088 (Toll Free)
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Over the last ten years, there has been an increase in CAT registrations. Annually, the quantity of candidates has been increasing. The biggest number of registrations ever reported by CAT was over 3.30 lakhs in 2023. This suggests that young people are starting to take MBA courses more and more frequently as professional options. View the CAT 2024 registration date and trends over the previous ten years below.
Courses at IIMs Offered Through CAT
The CAT 2024 scorecard is acceptable for admission to Executive MBA, PhD, and FPM programs at IIMs and other B-Schools in addition to full-time MBA programs. Not only are graduates eligible to take this exam, but postgraduate students and working professionals as well. View the list of courses that the IIMs are offering through CAT below.
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IIM
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Courses Offered Through CAT
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IIM Ahmedabad
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PGP, PGP-FABM, ePGP, PhD
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IIM Amritsar
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MBA, EMBA, MBA-Business Analytics, MBA-HRM, PhD
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IIM Bangalore
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PGP, PGPEM, PGPBA, PhD
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IIM Bodh Gaya
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PGP, PhD (FPM)
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IIM Calcutta
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MBA, PhD
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IIM Indore
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PGP, PGP-HRM, FPM
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IIM Jammu
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PGP, PhD
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IIM Kashipur
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MBA, MBA (Analytics), MBA (WX), PhD, EFPM
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IIM Kozhikode
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PGP, PGP-BL, PGP-F, PGP-LSM, PhD, PhD (PT)
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IIM Lucknow
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PGP, PGP-ABM, PGP-SM, FPM
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IIM Nagpur
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PGP, PhD
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IIM Raipur
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PGP, FPM/ PhD, EFPM
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IIM Ranchi
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PGP, PGP-HRM, PGP (Business Analytics), PhD, EPhD
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IIM Rohtak
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PGP, EPGPX, EPGDSM, PhD, Part-Time FPM
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IIM Sambalpur
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MBA, PhD, E PhD
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IIM Shillong
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PGP, PGPEX, PGPWE, PhD, PhDWP
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IIM Sirmaur
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MBA, MBA (T&HM), PhD
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IIM Tiruchirappalli
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PGPM, PGPM-HR, PGPBM, FPM, E-FPM
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IIM Udaipur
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MBA, PhD
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IIM Visakhapatnam
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PGP, PGPEx, PGPDGM, PhD
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IIM Mumbai
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MBA, MBA in Sustainability Management
MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management
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CAT 2024 Exam Date & Schedule
View the table below for the entire CAT 2024 Exam Date.
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CAT Exam Events
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CAT Exam Dates 2024
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CAT 2024 Notification Date
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July 30, 2024
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CAT 2024 Registration Date
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August 2, 2024
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CAT 2024 Registration Last Date
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September 21, 2024, at 5 PM
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CAT form correction date
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September 25 to 28, 2024, at 5 PM
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CAT admit card 2024 date
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Last week of October 2024, at 5 PM
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CAT mock test direct link activation date
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To be announced
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CAT exam date 2024
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November 24, 2024
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CAT 2024 answer key out date
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5 December 2024
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Deadline for objecting to the CAT exam answer key
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To be announced
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CAT result date 2024
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21 December 2024
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CAT 2024 Eligibility Criteria
The minimal requirement to sit for the CAT exam is graduation from an accredited university in any discipline. The detailed CAT 2024 eligibility criteria are listed below:
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A bachelor's degree with at least 50% of the total or an equivalent CGPA (45% of the total for SC, ST, and PWD/DA categories) is required for participation in CAT 2024.
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Whether taught in-person or virtually, the bachelor's degree program ought to run three years.
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If a candidate has received the required percentage in a professional degree (CA, CS, ICWA, or FCAI), they may also take the CAT.
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Candidates may also sit for the CAT 2024 exam if they are awaiting results, are in their last year of a bachelor's degree, or hold an equivalent certificate.
CAT 2024 Registration Date
CAT 2024 registration date is set from the first week of August 2024 until the third week of September 2024. The IIM CAT 2024 official website will host the CAT 2024 registration/application form. We'll provide the precise dates in July 2024. View the CAT 2024 registration date and application process for 2024 below:
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Visit iimcat.ac.in, the CAT 2024 official website.
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'New Registration' will open.
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To register, enter your name, email address, country, date of birth, and phone number.
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To complete the CAT 2024 application form, log in using the ID you received via email.
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Add your academic and personal information.
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A current passport-sized photo and scanned signature should be uploaded.
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Choose your top courses and IIMs.
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Choose your preferred test city from the drop-down menu.
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To pay the CAT 2024 registration fees, use credit/debit cards or online banking.
Correction Window for CAT 2024 Application Form
To prevent corrections, the CAT 2024 application form must be filled carefully by students. However, should an error occur, candidates may modify some data in the form after it has been submitted for three days within the correction window. The details that can be changed and those that cannot are listed below.
Personal information given during CAT 2024 registration, such as birthdate, email address, and phone number, cannot be changed. Should an error occur with these details, candidates will need to re-register using a new email address.
The information supplied on the application form during registration, such as the work experience and academic background, cannot be changed. Candidates will also need to re-register using a new email address if any errors are found in these details.
Other non-editable details in the CAT 2024 application form.
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Candidate’s Name
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Date of Birth
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Mobile Number
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Email ID
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State
Editable details in the CAT 2024 application form:
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Photo of candidate
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Signature of candidate
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Test City preferences
CAT 2024 Registration Fees
The candidates must pay the CAT 2024 registration fees through an online payment channel using UPI, a credit or debit card, or internet banking for their CAT 2024 application form to be successfully submitted. The CAT 2024 registration fees for the different categories are listed below:
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Rs 1200*: SC/ST/PwD category
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Rs 2400*: General/EWS/NC-OBC category
The fees shown here may vary this year following the release of the CAT 2024 notification; they were taken from the CAT 2023 booklet.
With 3.28 students enrolling and almost 88% of them showing up for the CAT MBA entrance exam, IIM CAT registrations increased by about 30% in 2023, marking a record. It is anticipated that more than 3 lakh MBA candidates will sign up for the CAT 2024 exam this year.
Limit of CAT Attempts
The IIM administers the Common Admission exam once a year. If an applicant's score falls outside of the predicted CAT percentile, they have the option to retake the exam. The IIMs do not specify the minimum CAT attempt limit. Thus, there are no limits on the number of times the candidates can take the CAT exam.
What is the age limit to appear for the CAT?
The age to appear for the CAT is not restricted. Working professionals and recent graduates can take the CAT exam. Many working people apply to the CAT to study full-time, executive MBA, and online professional courses because it is accepted by more than 1300 B-schools in India. IIMs accept CAT scores for FPM, executive MBA, and full-time MBA programs. Based on CAT scores, several prestigious MBA schools in India also shortlist applicants for executive MBA or part-time MBA programs. As a prerequisite for passing the CAT exam, candidates' minimum age must be greater than 20. Any applicant who has earned a 50 percent aggregate in their graduation (45 percent for SC/ST students). The CAT exam is open to all candidates who are in their final year of a bachelor's degree program. Any candidate with at least 50% of their total in a professional degree such as a CA, CS, or ICWAI.
CAT Question Paper
The CAT question paper is consistently very challenging. When compared to other MBA admission exams, the CAT question paper has remained challenging despite changes in exam format throughout time. Candidates should study the official CAT question paper from the previous year to comprehend the kinds of questions and topical weighting while getting ready for the CAT 2024. This will assist applicants in formulating a plan that will allow them to devote their entire time and energy to crucial or high-scoring subjects.
Here are the PDFs for the CAT question papers for 2023 as well as those for 2022, 2021, 2022, 2019, 2018, and 2017. One of the key components of the exam preparation strategy should be practicing CAT previous year question papers. The final month before the CAT exam is when this activity must be completed.
Benefits of completing CAT sample papers, practice exams, and previous year's papers include:
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The most recent CAT exam pattern and marking scheme can be understood by using the previous year's CAT question papers.
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CAT question paper practice increases accuracy and speed;
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CAT exam practice enhances time management abilities;
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CAT exam practice gets the applicant ready for all kinds of questions.
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Previous years' CAT question papers are a good resource for Reading Comprehension practice.
CAT 2024 Exam Pattern
The CAT question paper is divided into three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension; Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning; and Quantitative Aptitude. Exam duration is restricted to 120 minutes, with 40 minutes allotted for each section. The two types of questions are Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) and Type in the Answer (TITA). View the CAT 2024 exam pattern highlights below:
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CAT 2024 Exam Pattern
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Mode of CAT exam
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Computer Based Test
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Duration of exam
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120 minutes
40 minutes per section
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CAT exam slots
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Morning: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Afternoon: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Evening: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
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Number of questions
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66
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CAT total marks
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198
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Language of question paper
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English
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Number of answer choices
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4
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Question Type
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MCQ and non-MCQ
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CAT Exam 2024 Schedule
Candidates must come to the test centre by 7:00 am for the first slot of the CAT exam, which starts at 8:30 AM. Please refer to the table below for the CAT exam 2024 schedule. To be eligible to take the exam, candidates must arrive at the testing location by the designated reporting time.
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CAT exam slot 2024
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Exam timing
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Reporting time
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Last entry allowed
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Slot 1
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8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
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7:00 AM
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8:15 AM
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Slot 2
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12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
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11:00 AM
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12:15 PM
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Slot 3
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4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
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3:00 PM
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4:15 PM
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Previous Year's CAT Papers
Practicing with CAT question papers is the most straightforward method to comprehend the CAT 2024 syllabus. Past year's CAT papers offer information on sectional weighting, question kinds, and difficulty levels. Candidates can determine the exam's difficulty level by solving CAT questions from prior years.
The evolution of the CAT Exam
The CAT exam has changed significantly during the past 13 years. The degree of difficulty hasn't changed much, though. The test now consists of 66 questions instead of the previous 100. View the table below to see how the CAT 2024 exam pattern has evolved throughout time.
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CAT Exam Year
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Sections
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No. of Questions
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CAT Exam Time Duration
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2023
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QA, DILR, VARC
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66
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120 minutes
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2022
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QA, DILR, VARC
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66
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120 minutes
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2021
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QA, DILR, VARC
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66
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120 minutes
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2020
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QA, DILR, VARC
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76
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120 minutes
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2019
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QA, DILR, VARC
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100
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180 minutes
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2018
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QA, DILR, VARC
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100
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180 minutes
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2017
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QA, DILR, VARC
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100
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180 minutes
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2016
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QA, DILR, VARC
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100
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180 minutes
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2015
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QA, DILR, VARC
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100
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180 minutes
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2014
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QA & DI, LR & VARC
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100
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170 minutes
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2013
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QA & DI, LR & VARC
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60
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140 minutes
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2012
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QA & DI, LR & VARC
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60
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140 minutes
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2011
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QA & DI, LR & VARC
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60
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140 minutes
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2010
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QA, DILR, VARC
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60
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150 minutes
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CAT 2024 Syllabus
The CAT 2024 syllabus hasn't changed in almost a decade. It is separated into three main categories: Quantitative Aptitude, DILR, and VARC. For test preparation, review the primary subjects of the CAT syllabus 2024 below. The biggest number of queries come from these subjects:
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CAT 2024 Syllabus sections
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CAT 2024 Syllabus topics
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Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
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Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Para Summary and Odd Sentence Out
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Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
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Set Theory (Variables), Set Theory + Puzzles, Puzzles with Additional Data, Coding-Decoding and Series
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Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
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Number System, Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry and Mensuration
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CAT Mock Test
Evaluate your level of preparedness by taking a free CAT mock test. The difficulty level of these mock exams is comparable to that of the official CAT mock exam. You only need to click the link below to get the CAT practice exams. There are solutions and answers available for the CAT mock exams.
CAT 2024 Admit Card
Candidates must download their CAT 2024 admit card in advance of the exam since it is a required document to bring to the testing location. One month before the exam date, it will be made available. The test center address, exam time, reporting time, and other exam-related details will be printed on the CAT 2024 admit card. The steps to download the CAT 2024 admit card are as follows:
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Log on to the CAT 2024 official website: iimcat.ac.in
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Click on the 'login' tab
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Type in your password and application number for CAT 2024 exam.
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Go to the 'admit card' section
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Click on 'Download'
CAT 2024 Answer Key
The CAT 2024 answer key will be released one week before the test. The preliminary CAT 2024 answer key will be available by login for a limited time. To download the CAT 2024 answer key and response sheet from the official website, follow these guidelines:
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Visit the official CAT 2024 website at iimcat.ac.in.
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Select the "login" tab.
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Enter your CAT login ID and password.
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The 'CAT 2024 answer key' will show up on the screen after you click on it.
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Select the 'download' icon to save it in PDF format.
For three to four days, the CAT 2024 answer key objection window will be open. Applicants must complete an online form, submit supporting documentation to demonstrate the validity of their objection and pay the required cost. A group of subject matter experts will then examine the concerns, and if any are determined to be legitimate, the initial CAT 2024 answer key will be updated. The CAT 2024 results will be prepared using the modified answer key. There is no way to dispute the final CAT 2024 answer key.
CAT 2024 Results and Scorecard PDF
On the CAT 2024 official website, you can get the CAT 2024 scorecard PDF. No candidate will receive hard copies. Candidates will need to use their login ID and password to download their CAT 2024 results. The following are the ways to download the CAT 2024 results:
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Open iimcat.ac.in, the CAT 2024 official website.
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Select the 'login' tab.
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Enter your CAT application number and password.
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Select the section with the scorecard.
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Click "Download" to save the CAT 2024 scorecard PDF to your computer.
The CAT 2024 results cum scorecard will provide the candidate's sectional and overall raw scores as well as section and overall percentiles. For a period of one year, the CAT scorecard download link will be available.
CAT 2024 Exam Day Guidelines
The CAT 2024 exam will be held in specified locations around India, and applicants must adhere to specific rules. The exam day instructions will be detailed in the CAT 2024 admit card. To avoid issues, candidates must carefully read the instructions and adhere to them at the testing location. Important CAT exam day instructions, documents to bring, and things not allowed in the exam centre are listed below.
Documents needed for the CAT 2024 exam day
To get admission to the CAT exam centre, candidates taking the exam this year must provide the following documentation:
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CAT 2024 Admit Card
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Photo Identity Proof
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Name Change Document
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PWD/Scribe Certificate
Things you shouldn't bring into the CAT exam room:
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Calculator, watch, phone, iPad, or any other electronic item
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Bags and purses
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Eatables and beverages
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Jewellery and accessories that contain metal
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Jackets and clothes with pockets
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Closed footwear
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Book, notebooks, loose paper
CAT 2024 Preparation
Phase-by-phase completion of the CAT coursework, practice on mock exams, and review are all recommended for CAT 2024 preparation. Candidates who have not yet started preparing for the CAT 2024 exam need to do so immediately and stick to a six-month preparation schedule. A few essential components of CAT 2024 preparation may include:
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Go over the CAT 2024 syllabus in great detail. Since anyone could ask a question, make an effort to address every subject.
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Practice CAT examinations by taking a good number of them to increase your speed and accuracy.
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Schedule a monthly revision period to stay informed at all times.
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Develop your mental math skills to calculate quickly.
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Spend a lot of time practicing the RC passages from previous years' CAT question papers.
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Decide to take part in online workshops for problem-solving to learn new skills.
IIM CAT 2024 Cut-Off
The IIM admissions cut-off is determined category-by-category by each institute. The final cut-offs are significantly higher, even if the qualifying cut-offs (general category) fall between the 80 and 90 percentile. The final CAT 2024 cut-off ranges from 90 to 97 percentile for other IIMs, whereas the top IIMs have cut-offs between 98 and 100 percentile. The table below shows the qualifying CAT 2024 cut-off percentiles for 20 IIMs:
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IIM
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CAT cut-offs (qualifying)
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IIM Ahmedabad
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85
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IIM Bangalore
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85
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IIM Calcutta
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85
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IIM Lucknow
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90
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IIM Kozhikode
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85
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IIM Indore
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90
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IIM Rohtak
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95
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IIM Visakhapatnam
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80
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IIM Trichy
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92
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IIM Udaipur
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92
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IIM Ranchi
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92
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IIM Amritsar
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85
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|
IIM Shillong
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75
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|
IIM Kashipur
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92
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IIM Sambalpur
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92
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|
IIM Jammu
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92
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IIM Sirmaur
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92
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IIM Nagpur
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85
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IIM Raipur
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92
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IIM Bodhgaya
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92
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CAT Exam 2024 Score Vs. Expected Percentile
View the CAT score against the percentile according to the previous analysis.
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Percentile
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Score VARC
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Score DILR
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Score QA
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Overall Score
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99.5
|
42
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30
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30
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86
|
|
99
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36
|
25
|
25
|
74
|
|
95
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30
|
20
|
22
|
52
|
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90
|
24
|
14
|
13
|
42
|
|
80
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20
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11
|
9
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35
|
|
70
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18
|
9
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7
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30
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The CAT Exam 2024 selection procedure
If a candidate passes the CAT 2024 exam and meets the required cut-off, the participating institutes—both IIMs and non-IIMs—will contact them for the CAT selection process. Based on the CAT 2024 score, WAT, and GD/PI, admissions procedures may change between universities. Please review the details of the selection process below.
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CAT 2024 cut-off
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Written Ability Test (WAT)
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Group Discussion (GD)
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Personal Interviews (PI)
What are the requirements for IIM selection via CAT Exam 2024?
The selection criteria used by IIMs on all 21 campuses are the same, and candidates are chosen in three phases. CAT rating Written Ability Test (WAT) and Talk in Groups Both GD and PI (personal interview) academic background and professional experience Diversity in academia and gender. The first factor used to narrow down the pool of applicants for admission is their CAT exam results. Based on their CAT score, class 10, 12, and graduation grades, the institutes shortlist candidates for WAT, GD, and PI in the first round of IIM admission. The 95–100 percentile cut-offs are used to shortlist candidates (the cut-offs are lower for SC, ST, and PwD candidates). Following their shortlisting, these applicants must show up for the What, GD, and PI rounds.
Following their shortlisting, these applicants must show up for the What, GD, and PI rounds. Final admittance is a consideration for those who pass this phase. Each IIM considers the following factors while making its ultimate choice: CAT rating, How do GD and PI perform? Marks for classes 10 and 12 Graduation certificates, Experience at work Diversity in academia diversity in gender.
The age to appear for the CAT is not restricted. Working professionals and recent graduates can take the CAT exam. Many working people apply to the CAT to study full-time, executive MBA, and online professional courses because it is accepted by more than 1300 B-schools in India. IIMs accept CAT scores for full-time, executive, and FPM MBA programs.
FAQs for CAT Exam 2024
Q1. What percentage of students receive a 100 percentile on the CAT?
In the previous CAT exam, just fourteen pupils achieved a 100 percentile score. Most of the candidates were male and had engineering backgrounds.
Q2. What percentage of students are accepted into IIMs?
There are approximately 5,500 seats available at IIM overall.
Q3. What percentage of pupils pass the CAT exam?
Only two candidates out of every 100 qualified for the CAT exam, according to the statistics. The number of students who pass the CAT exam varies annually according to the exam's difficulty level.
Q4. What percentage of students achieve the 99th percentile on the CAT?
Approximately 58 applicants who took the CAT exam in the previous year obtained percentiles of 99.99 and 99.98.
Q5. What is the CAT's full form?
The Common Admission Test, or CAT for short, is a national entrance exam that is required to be taken to be admitted to MBA/PGP programs at several of India's most esteemed management schools, including the IIMs.
Q6. When will the 2024 CAT exam be held? Is there a twice-yearly CAT?
Every year, the CAT 2024 exam is administered. It is anticipated that CAT 2024 will take place during the final week of November, most likely on November 24. To stay informed about any changes to the exam schedule, it is advised to often visit the official CAT website.
Q7. In which IIM will CAT 2024 be set?
The IIM will cyclically administer the CAT 2024. Trends indicate that IIM Kolkata is anticipated to host the CAT in 2024.
Q8. How will the CAT 2024 exam be structured? What is the number of sections?
Three categories will make up the CAT exam 2024: Quantitative Ability (QA), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC).