CAT 2024, Registration, Syllabus, Eligibility, Admit Card

CAT 2024 is all set to be held on Sunday, November 24 with IIM Calcutta conducting it this year (tentatively). The exam will provide MBA admission opportunities in 21 IIMs and other to MBA colleges in India.

Common Admission Test (CAT) is known for opening gateways for MBA aspirants for admission in 1200+ B-schools pan India. With 8 months remaining to CAT 2024, check this article to get all important CAT 2024 information.

What is the CAT exam? 

Common Admission Test (CAT) is an all-India examination conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) as an entrance exam to select candidates for admission to various management programmes.

Apart from the IIMs, many other top MBA colleges in India accept the CAT Score. B-schools such as the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) Delhi, SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), Management Development Institute (MDI), Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), IIT-MBAs, IMT Ghaziabad, etc., use CAT score in their admission process. You can also check out the complete list of top MBA colleges in India (with detailed fees and placements) here.

There are many other MBA entrance exams available, but there is a unique preference for the candidates who ace the CAT exam during the admission process of the respective colleges. But why? The reason is that CAT tests a student's aptitude, logical reasoning, reading comprehension skills, time management skills, etc. - the basic skills necessary for aspiring managers/business leaders before starting their MBA journey.

CAT is the first stage in the selection process. The institutes prepare a shortlist of candidates based on the CAT score and several other criteria like 10th class, 12th class, Graduation percentage and Work experience. The selection criteria and weightage assigned to each criterion, including the CAT score, might vary from institute to institute

Also Read, CAT Score Calculator 2024, Predict Your CAT Percentile

CAT Exam 2024

Conducted once a year, CAT is one the most important exams for MBA aspirants in India. Check CAT 2024 important points and key highlights below.

CAT Exam 2024: Important Dates

The CAT 2024 registration will start in the first week of August 2024 till the third week of September 2024, the notification for which will be released by late July. Check important dates, result announcement for CAT 2024.

CAT Exam 2024: Eligibility Criteria

The CAT eligibility criteria 2024 is as following:

• Candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university scoring a minimum requirement of 50% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA.
• Candidates belonging to Reserved Category need 45% minimum aggregate marks from a recognized university.
• Candidates in their final year of undergraduate students or those awaiting results are can also apply for CAT 2024.
• Candidates holding professional qualifications such as CA/CS/ICWA are eligible to apply.
• There is no specified maximum age limit for applicants.
• Although work experience can be beneficial for admission to IIMs, it is not mandatory for CAT applicants.

CAT Exam 2024: Registration

CAT application forms 2024 will be available to aspirants on IIMCAT website from Aug 3rd, 2024 which the candidates will need to fill by paying a fee of INR 2400 (Gen Category) and 1200 (Reserved Category). Refer below for step by step process:

• Go to the official website: iimcat.ac.in
• Click on 'new registration.'
• Fill in your details of name, date of birth, nationality, phone number, and email ID.
• Complete the CAPTCHA code and OTP verification.
• Log in using the CAT 2024 ID sent via email to access the form.
• Fill you personal and academic information in the application form.
• Upload a recent passport-size photo and a scanned signature.
• Select preferred IIMs, courses, and test cities.
• Pay the CAT application fee.

CAT Registration Trends

With a surge in the demand for management education from a top business school in India, the following data explores the past 5 years trends of spike in CAT applications each year:

CAT Exam 2024: Exam Pattern

Change to 2-Hour Duration: Previously, the CAT exam lasted for 3 hours, but starting from 2020, it has shifted to a 2-hour format. The CAT Exam Pattern for 2024 remains same i.e., 2 hour exam with 40 mins allotted to each section. Additionally, CAT will be administered in three slots throughout the day.

CAT 2024 Marking Scheme: In total, there will be 66 questions, including MCQs and Type-in-the-Answer (TITA) questions. Each correct response will get +3 marks, while incorrect ones will incur a penalty of -1 mark. There will be no negative marking for TITA questions. The maximum marks one can get in the CAT exam is 198 marks. Each section has a time limit of 40 minutes, and candidates cannot switch between sections.

Refer to the following table for CAT 2024 section-wise details:

CAT Exam 2024: Syllabus

There are 3 primary sections in CAT Syllabus- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. The following table explores the important topics to be covered for CAT 2024 preparation:

CAT Exam 2024: Study Material

Candidates will need to refer to various online and offline resources to prepare for CAT 2024. Access Cracku's Free Resources.

For candidates planning to enroll in coaching for CAT 2024, they can also check Cracku's Online Coaching program which will include features like daily schedule by experts, 1000+ Videos, 2 Weekly Live Classes, 18,000+ Solved Questions, 60 MBA Mocks for CAT and OMET exam, Concept Notes, Doubt-solving by experts and much more.

Aspirants should also solve CAT Daily Targets to maintain a consistent routine, improving problem-solving skills, and building confidence. It helps identify weaknesses, track progress, and familiarise candidates with the exam pattern, ensuring readiness on test day.

CAT Previous Year Question Papers

To crack CAT exam, it's crucial to understand how the CAT exam has changed over the years and the types of questions asked. Hence CAT past year question papers play an important role in CAT 2024 preparation for MBA aspirants.

Candidates can download the papers, practice as mock tests, or view them directly. Each question comes with video and text solutions, and you can clarify doubts and connect with fellow CAT aspirants on Cracku's Telegram group.

Also Read, CAT Study Material 2024

CAT Exam 2024: CutOffs

Refer to the below table for the minimum CAT cutoff percentiles required to qualify for various IIMs.

CAT Exam 2023: Score vs Percentile

CAT Score vs percentile 2023 data is important for comparing performance with others, setting goals, and predicting future outcomes. It helps in understanding competitiveness and guiding admissions strategies effectively.

The table below illustrates the correlation between the score and percentile for CAT 2023.

CAT Exam 2024: Admit Card

Use the following steps to download your CAT admit card 2024:-

1. Visit CAT 2024 Official Website: iimcat.ac.in
2. Enter your CAT 2024 Credentials: CAT Registration ID & Password
3. After Logging in, locate the "Download Admit Card" Tab.
4. Click on the tab, you will be able to see your Slot and Venue.
5. Below it, you will see the hyperlink to download the CAT Admit Card 2024
6. Click on the link and save the Admit Card.

CAT Exam 2024: Results

CAT conducting body announces CAT result within 20 days of CAT exam. Aspirants can download their scorecards from IIMCAT official site by entering their CAT ID and password to access the scorecards.

Steps to Check CAT 2024 Results

Follow the given steps to access your scorecards for CAT 2024 results once published.

• Go to CAT official website: iimcat.ac.in
• Click on the IIM CAT 2023 result link
• Fill your login information
• The CAT 2023 Results window will display on your screen.
• Access and download the scorecard.
• Keep a physical copy for future use.