CAT (Common Admission Test)
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a highly competitive entrance exam for admission to postgraduate management programs in top business schools across India, primarily the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), along with other participating institutions. It is one of the most sought-after exams for aspirants wishing to pursue an MBA or equivalent program in India.
Key Highlights of CAT:
- Organized By: The CAT exam is conducted by one of the IIMs on a rotational basis. For example, in recent years, it has been organized by IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, etc.
- Frequency: It is held once a year, typically in November or December.
- Duration: The exam lasts for 2 hours.
- Mode: The exam is computer-based.
- Purpose: CAT is used for admission to postgraduate management programs (MBA/PGDM) offered by the IIMs and other participating institutions (non-IIMs).
CAT Exam Structure
The CAT exam is divided into three sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Number of Questions: 24
- Total Marks: 72
- Topics:
- Reading Comprehension
- Verbal Ability
- Para-jumbles
- Sentence Completion
- Parajumbles
- Summary Writing
- Critical Reasoning
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Number of Questions: 20
- Total Marks: 60
- Topics:
- Data Interpretation (Tables, Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, Pie Charts)
- Logical Reasoning (Seating Arrangement, Blood Relations, Puzzles, Coding-Decoding)
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
- Number of Questions: 22
- Total Marks: 66
- Topics:
- Arithmetic (Percentage, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion)
- Algebra (Equations, Inequalities, Functions)
- Number Systems
- Geometry (Lines, Circles, and Polygons)
- Trigonometry
- Probability and Permutation & Combination
- Set Theory and Miscellaneous Problems
CAT Scoring and Marking Scheme
- Total Number of Questions: 66
- Total Marks: 198 (3 marks for each correct answer)
- Negative Marking:
- -1 mark for each incorrect answer in MCQ-type questions.
- No negative marking for non-MCQ or type-in-the-answer questions.
Eligibility Criteria for CAT
To be eligible for CAT, candidates must meet certain academic and age requirements:
- Educational Qualification:
- A Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline from a recognized university.
- The minimum percentage required varies by category. For general candidates, it’s typically 50% or equivalent, and for SC/ST/PwD candidates, it’s 45%.
- Final Year Students:
- Students who are in the final year of their undergraduate degree can also apply, provided they meet the eligibility criteria at the time of admission.
- Age Limit: There is no specific age limit to apply for CAT.
CAT Application Process
- Registration:
- The application process starts with registration on the official CAT website (www.iimcat.ac.in).
- Candidates need to provide their personal details, academic qualifications, and other required information.
- Application Fee:
- The fee for general and OBC candidates is typically around ₹2,400, while for SC/ST/PwD candidates, it is about ₹1,200.
- Documents Required:
- A scanned copy of a passport-sized photograph.
- Scanned copy of the signature.
- Academic certificates (if applicable).
- Category certificate (for SC/ST/PwD candidates).
CAT Exam Pattern and Difficulty Levels
- The exam is typically medium to high in difficulty.
- It assesses a candidate’s analytical ability, quantitative skills, and verbal reasoning abilities.
- The questions in the DILR and QA sections are often designed to be tricky, requiring quick thinking and a solid grasp of the fundamentals.
CAT Exam Preparation Tips
- Understand the Syllabus:
- Familiarize yourself with the syllabus for each section and focus on understanding the core concepts.
- Practice Mock Tests:
- Regularly attempt mock tests to get a feel for the exam pattern and time management.
- Time Management:
- Time management is crucial. Practicing time-bound mock exams can help build speed and accuracy.
- Focus on Weak Areas:
- Identify and work on areas where you struggle the most, whether it’s quantitative skills, logical reasoning, or verbal ability.
- Read Newspapers and Magazines:
- Regular reading of English newspapers and magazines will help improve your reading comprehension and vocabulary.
- Solve Previous Year Papers:
- Going through previous years’ CAT papers can give insights into the type of questions asked and the level of difficulty.
Selection Process After CAT
After the CAT exam, IIMs and other participating institutions conduct their selection process, which generally involves:
- Shortlisting: Based on the CAT score, candidates are shortlisted for the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and/or Personal Interview (PI).
- Personal Interview (PI): The PI assesses a candidate’s personality, communication skills, and academic knowledge.
- Group Discussion (GD): Some institutes have a GD round to evaluate how candidates interact in a team setting and discuss topics on current affairs, business scenarios, etc.
- Final Merit List:
The final selection is based on a composite score, which includes the CAT score, WAT/PI performance, academic record, and work experience (if applicable).
Top Institutes Accepting CAT Scores
The following institutions accept CAT scores for admission to their MBA/PGDM programs:
- IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management)
- IIM Ahmedabad
- IIM Bangalore
- IIM Calcutta
- IIM Lucknow
- IIM Indore
- IIM Kozhikode
- IIM Udaipur, IIM Shillong, IIM Rohtak, and others.
- Other Leading Institutes:
- XLRI Jamshedpur (XAT is its primary exam, but it also considers CAT scores for some programs)
- FMS Delhi (Faculty of Management Studies)
- SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR)
- Management Development Institute (MDI Gurgaon)
- Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)
- JBIMS Mumbai (Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies)
- IMT Ghaziabad
- MICA Ahmedabad (for communications and marketing management programs)