CAT 2024 : Applicant login, Exam Date (Nov 24), Admit Card, Question Papers, Syllabus, Pattern, Prep

The CAT 2024 exam date is scheduled for November 24, 2024. IIM Calcutta will be administering the test. The IIM CAT 2024 official website has released the CAT 2024 notification on July 28, 2024. It include the schedule, costs, and other information about CAT 2024. CAT 2024 registration date was started on 1 August 2024 and aspirants can fill out the form till September 20, which was initially planned till 13 September 2024 as per the latest information. Learn everything there is to know about CAT 2024.

 

CAT 2024

 

Latest updates about CAT 2024 Exam :

 

 

Table of Content

  1. What is the CAT Examination?
  2. CAT 2024 Exam Date & Schedule
  3. CAT 2024 Eligibility Criteria
  4. CAT 2024 Registration Date and fees
  5. CAT Question Paper
  6. CAT 2024 Exam Pattern
  7. CAT 2024 Syllabus
  8. CAT 2024 Admit Card
  9. CAT 2024 Answer Key
  10. CAT 2024 Results and Scorecard PDF
  11. CAT 2024 Exam Day Guidelines
  12. CAT 2024 Preparation
  13. CAT 2024 Mock Test and Sample Paper
  14. IIM CAT 2024 Cut-Off
  15. CAT Exam 2024 Score Vs. Expected Percentile

 

1. 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 CAT 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:

CAT Exam Particulars

CAT Exam 2024 Details

CAT  Full Form

Common Admission Test (CAT)

Conducting Institute for 2024

IIM Calcutta (tentative)

Exam Level

National

CAT Entrance Exam Frequency

Once a year

CAT 2024 Exam Date

November 24, 2024

CAT Exam Timings

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

CAT 2024 Registration Fees

INR 2,500 (General category) and INR 1,250 (Reserved category)

CAT 2024 Eligibility Criteria

Graduation with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST students)

Number of Applications

3.30 lakh (in 2023)

Number of Test Takers

2.88 lakh (in 2023)

Exam Purpose

Admission to IIMs, FMS, KCCITM, and over 1,200 B-Schools in India

Courses Offered

MBA/PGDM

CAT 2024 syllabus

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

Quantitative Ability (QA)

CAT exam mode

Computer Based Test (CBT) with MCQs and non-MCQs

No. of test cities

150

CAT 2024 exam Official website

https://iimcat.ac.in

Exam helpdesk no.

1-800-210-1088 (Toll Free)

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.

 

2. CAT 2024 Exam Date & Schedule

View the table below for the entire CAT 2024 Exam Date.

 

CAT 2024 Exam Events

CAT Exam Dates 2024

CAT 2024 Notification

July 28, 2024

CAT 2024 Registration Start

August 1, 2024

CAT 2024 Registration Last Date

September 20, 2024, at 5 PM

CAT Form Correction Date

 September 27 to 30, 2024, at 5 PM 

CAT Admit Card 2024

November 5, 2024

CAT mock test direct link activation date

To be announced

CAT exam date 2024

November 24, 2024

[Session 1: 8:30 am - 10:30 am

Session 2: 12:30 pm - 02:30 pm

Session 3: 04:30 pm - 06:30 pm]

CAT 2024 Answer Key Release

December 2-3, 2024

 Last Date to Object the CAT Answer Key 2024 

December 5-6, 2024

CAT Result Date 2024

January 2025 Tentative

 

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.

IIM

Courses Offered Through CAT

IIM Ahmedabad

PGP, PGP-FABM, ePGP, PhD

IIM Amritsar

MBA, EMBA, MBA-Business Analytics, MBA-HRM, PhD

IIM Bangalore

PGP, PGPEM, PGPBA, PhD

IIM Bodh Gaya

PGP, PhD (FPM)

IIM Calcutta

MBA, PhD

IIM Indore

PGP, PGP-HRM, FPM

IIM Jammu

PGP, PhD

IIM Kashipur

MBA, MBA (Analytics), MBA (WX), PhD, EFPM

IIM Kozhikode

PGP, PGP-BL, PGP-F, PGP-LSM, PhD, PhD (PT)

IIM Lucknow

PGP, PGP-ABM, PGP-SM, FPM

IIM Nagpur

PGP, PhD

IIM Raipur

PGP, FPM/ PhD, EFPM

IIM Ranchi

PGP, PGP-HRM, PGP (Business Analytics), PhD, EPhD

IIM Rohtak

PGP, EPGPX, EPGDSM, PhD, Part-Time FPM

IIM Sambalpur

MBA, PhD, E PhD

IIM Shillong

PGP, PGPEX, PGPWE, PhD, PhDWP

IIM Sirmaur

MBA, MBA (T&HM), PhD

IIM Tiruchirappalli

PGPM, PGPM-HR, PGPBM, FPM, E-FPM

IIM Udaipur

MBA, PhD

IIM Visakhapatnam

PGP, PGPEx, PGPDGM, PhD

IIM Mumbai

MBA, MBA in Sustainability Management

MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management

 

3. 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:

 

4. CAT 2024 Registration Date and fees

The CAT 2024 registration date started from 1 August 2024 until September 20, 2024. The IIM CAT 2024 official website is hosting the CAT 2024 registration/application form. The precise CAT 2024 exam dates was released on July 28, 2024. View the CAT 2024 registration date and application process for 2024 below:

 

4.1 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:

 

The fees were Rs. 1200 for SC/ST and Rs. 2400 for the general category last year which is increased by Rs. 50 and Rs. 100 respectively following the release of the CAT 2024 notification.

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 3.5 lakh MBA candidates will sign up for the CAT 2024 exam this year.

 

4.2 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 within the correction window dated 27th september to 30th September. 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.

 

Editable details in the CAT 2024 application form:

 

Other non-editable details in the CAT 2024 application form.

 

4.3 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.

 

4.4 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.

 

5. 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:

 

6. 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:

CAT 2024 Exam Pattern

Mode of CAT exam

Computer Based Test

Duration of exam

120 minutes

40 minutes per section

CAT exam slots

Morning: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM

Afternoon: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM

Evening: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM

Number of questions

66

CAT total marks

198

Language of question paper

English

Number of answer choices

4

Question Type

MCQ and non-MCQ

 

6.1 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.

 CAT exam slot 2024 

Exam timing

 Reporting time 

 Last entry allowed 

Slot 1

 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM 

7:00 AM

8:15 AM

Slot 2

12:30 PM to 2:30 PM

11:00 AM

12:15 PM

Slot 3

4:30 PM to 6:30 PM

3:00 PM

4:15 PM

 

6.2 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.

 

6.3 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.

 

 CAT Exam Year 

Sections 

 No. of Questions 

 CAT Exam Time Duration 

2024

QA, DILR, VARC 66 120 minutes

2023

QA, DILR, VARC

66

120 minutes

2022

QA, DILR, VARC

66

120 minutes

2021

QA, DILR, VARC

66

120 minutes

2020

QA, DILR, VARC

76

120 minutes

2019

QA, DILR, VARC

100

180 minutes

2018

QA, DILR, VARC

100

180 minutes

2017

QA, DILR, VARC

100

180 minutes

2016

QA, DILR, VARC

100

180 minutes

2015

QA, DILR, VARC

100

180 minutes

2014

QA & DI, LR & VARC

100

170 minutes

2013

 QA & DI, LR & VARC 

60

140 minutes

2012

QA & DI, LR & VARC

60

140 minutes

2011

QA & DI, LR & VARC

60

140 minutes

2010

QA, DILR, VARC

60

150 minutes

 

 

7. 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:

CAT 2024 Syllabus sections

CAT 2024 Syllabus topics

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Para Summary and Odd Sentence Out

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

Set Theory (Variables), Set Theory + Puzzles, Puzzles with Additional Data, Coding-Decoding and Series

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

Number System, Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry and Mensuration

 

8. 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. It will be made available starting from November 5, 2024, and will remain accessible till 24 November 2024. 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:

 

9. CAT 2024 Answer Key

The CAT 2024 answer key will be released on December 2-3, 2024. The  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:

For three to four days, the CAT 2024 answer key objection window will be open starting from 4 December until 6 December tentatively. 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.

9.1 Benefits of CAT 2024 Answer Key

The primary advantage of the CAT answer key and response sheet is that it allows applicants to evaluate how well they performed on the test. Every question's right answer and the candidate's response are included in the CAT answer key. This can assist them in figuring out what percentage of the total marks they will receive. Even before the results are announced, students can utilize that knowledge to SEE what percentile they would score. When making additional decisions about MBA admission, such as which universities to shortlist or which alternative MBA entrance examinations to take, they can use the anticipated CAT score and percentile. Making these choices is essential because many universities end their application period before the release of the CAT results.

 

10. 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:

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.

 

11. 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.

 

11.1 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:

 

Things you shouldn't bring into the CAT exam room:

 

12. 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:

 

13. CAT 2024 Mock Test and Sample Paper

It is crucial to assess your current position by taking a free CAT 2024 mock test before beginning preparations to compete with over 3 lakh CAT applicants for a few thousand places in the best B-schools. To ace the upcoming CAT 2024, regularly try and test yourself using free CAT 2024 mock tests. Then, adjust your study schedule accordingly.

Students can also use the CAT 2024 sample paper with solutions before taking the mock tests to better prepare for the exam.

 

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.

 

13.1 How Can Free CAT 2024 Mock Tests Help You Succeed on the Exam?

A crucial component of the CAT preparation approach is taking the CAT 2024 mock test and studying using the CAT 2024 sample paper. Regularly taking mock exams and evaluating your performance has several benefits. These free CAT 2024 mock test will help you get better in the following ways:

 

14. 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:

IIM

CAT cut-offs (qualifying)

IIM Ahmedabad

85

IIM Bangalore

85

IIM Calcutta

85

IIM Lucknow

90

IIM Kozhikode

85

IIM Indore

90

IIM Rohtak

95

IIM Visakhapatnam

80

IIM Trichy

92

IIM Udaipur

92

IIM Ranchi

92

IIM Amritsar

85

IIM Shillong

75

IIM Kashipur

92

IIM Sambalpur

92

IIM Jammu

92

IIM Sirmaur

92

IIM Nagpur

85

IIM Raipur

92

IIM Bodhgaya

92

 

15. CAT Exam 2024 Score Vs. Expected Percentile

View the CAT score against the percentile according to the previous analysis.

Percentile

Score VARC

Score DILR

Score QA

Overall Score

99.5

42

30

30

86

99

36

25

25

74

95

30

20

22

52

90

24

14

13

42

80

20

11

9

35

70

18

9

7

30

 

15.1 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.

 

15.2 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 on 24 November 2024. To stay informed about any changes to the exam schedule, it is advised to often visit the official CAT website.

 

Q7. Which IIM will conduct CAT 2024?

The IIM cyclically administers the CAT 2024. IIM Kolkata is hosting the CAT 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).

 

Q9. Is CAT result 2024 out?

No, CAT 2024 result will be declare in January 2025 (tentative).