CAT(Common Admission Test) is a national-level management entrance test conducted by the Indian Institute of Management(IIMs) for admission to their various MBA programs. The CAT exam is one of India’s toughest exams compared to the other MBA entrance tests. CAT is the gateway to pursuing MBA in the highly reputed b-schools in India, such as the top 20 IIMs and 1000+ other top MBA colleges in India. Applicants must satisfy specified eligibility criteria before applying for CAT. There is a common question that arrives from many aspirants, i.e. “Can 3rd Year Student Apply For CAT?”. This should be clarified, as this is one of the most important facts that all aspirants must be aware of.
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Can We Give the CAT Exam Before Graduation (BTech, BSc, etc.)?
If you are a student pursuing an undergraduate degree, either in engineering or other degrees, you may wonder if you can apply for the CAT exam. You can apply for the CAT exam before the completion of your graduation based on the stream that you are pursuing. As per the eligibility criteria that IIMs disclose for the CAT exam, students who appear for the final year of their undergraduation can apply for the CAT exam under certain conditions.
Can I Give CAT in 4th-year Btech?
Yes, you can give the CAT in your final year of B.Tech. In fact, many students choose to appear for CAT during their final year of engineering as it gives them more time to prepare, and also, there will be high chances of getting into a good MBA institute. And remember that, students in the 3rd year of Btech are not eligible to apply for the CAT examination.
Can I give CAT in 3rd-year of Bsc?
Yes, you can give the CAT in 3rd year of your BSc degree. As per the eligibility criteria for the CAT exam, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% aggregate marks or an equivalent CGPA. As the BSc undergraduation program duration is 3 years, you will be in the final year of your graduation and eligible to apply for the CAT exam.
Check out the eligibility criteria for the CAT exam below, to know more details of CAT 2023 eligibility criteria.
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2023
- The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree, with at least 50% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA (45% in the case of candidates belonging to the SC, ST and PwD categories.
- Candidates appearing for the final year of the Bachelor’s degree, i.e. completing their undergraduation, and those who have completed their undergraduate degree and are awaiting results can also apply for the CAT. However, candidates must remember that, if selected, they will be allowed to join the programme provisionally only if they submit a certificate from the Principal of their University stating that they have completed all the requirements for obtaining the Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification on the date of issue of the certificate.
How to prepare for CAT While Pursuing an Undergraduation (Btech, BSc, etc.)?
Preparing for CAT while pursuing your undergraduation can be a challenging task, but is not impossible. With a perfect preparation strategy and dedication, one can ace the CAT and get admission to the top MBA institutes. Here are some of the tips that can help you to prepare for CAT while pursuing an undergraduate.
Start Your CAT Preparation Early
As you are pursuing your undergraduate studies, it is preferred to start your CAT preparation as early as possible. Starting early will give you enough time to cover the syllabus and practice mock tests.
Create A Study Plan
Make a well-versed study plan to cover the CAT syllabus in a structured manner. As you are a student, you need to create a study schedule that is flexible with your daily busy schedule.
Understand The Exam Pattern & Syllabus
Familiarize yourself with the exam pattern and the syllabus. This will help you to prepare in a better way and can also identify your strengths and weaknesses.
Be Well-versed In the Fundamentals
Build a strong foundation in the basics of all the sections, especially with quantitative aptitude. Without having a firm grasp on the basics, one cannot ace this section.
Take Mock Tests and Solve Previous Papers
Solve as many mock tests and previous years’ questions as possible. This will help you to understand the exam pattern, and difficulty level of questions asked in the actual exam.
Utilize Online Resources
There are numerous online resources that are available on the internet, which are very helpful to prepare for the CAT exam. Some of the online resources include study materials, video lectures, online mock tests, CAT previous papers, PDFs, Youtube videos, etc.
Stay Motivated
Stay motivated throughout your preparation. Believe in yourself, stay positive and keep working hard.
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