Preparing for the CAT exam necessitates a planned strategy, and many hopefuls prefer CAT Online Coaching for a more flexible and productive learning environment. Online coaching allows students to study from any location while also providing access to experienced teachers, extensive study resources, and interactive sample tests. This form of learning is great for students who need to combine their preparation with other responsibilities, allowing them to pace their study according to their requirements.
When deciding on the Best Online Coaching for CAT, examine variables such as About CAT Exam, the faculty’s reputation, the quality of study tools, and prior students’ success rates. The best coaching institutes offer personalized attention, regular performance reviews, and tactics designed to maximise your Common Admission Test Score.
What is CAT Exam?
Common Admission Test, CAT is a competitive exam held annually for admission into postgraduate management courses like MBA in prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other prominent business schools. The CAT Exam is very tough, where applicants’ proficiency is tested in Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability. It is expected that the same kind of pattern will be adopted in the CAT 2024 Exam thus sustaining its legacy as a gateway to premier management education in India.
CAT Exam Highlights 2024
The CAT 2024 Exam is expected to have numerous major features, including a computer-based format and a total time of two hours. Candidates must complete three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability for the CAT entrance exam.
| Parameters | Details |
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Official Website | https://iimcat.ac.in/ |
| Conducting Body 2024 | IIM Calcutta |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours |
| Exam Level | National |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| CAT 2024 Exam Date | November 24, 2024 |
| CAT Exam Session Timings | Session 1: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AMSession 2: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PMSession 3: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
| Eligibility Criteria | Bachelor’s Degree with 50% aggregate (45% aggregate or equivalent for reserved categories) |
| Syllabus | Quantitative AbilityLogical Reasoning & Data InterpretationVerbal Ability & Reading Comprehension |
| CAT Exam Fees | INR 2,500 (General category) and INR 1,250 (Reserved category) |
| CAT exam mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) with MCQs and non-MCQs |
| No. of test cities | 170 |
About CAT Registration and Exam Timeline
The CAT 2024 Exam schedule typically begins with the distribution of the official announcement in July, followed by the start of the registration process. Maintaining awareness about CAT Exam timetable is critical for timely registration and preparation. Check the dates below:
| CAT Exam Events | Dates |
| CAT 2024 Notification release | July 28, 2024 |
| CAT Exam 2024 registration dates | Aug 01, 2024 (10:00 AM) to Sep 13, 2024 (5:00 PM) |
| CAT Form correction | Last week of September 2024 |
| CAT Admit Card 2024 | November 05, 2024 |
| CAT Exam 2024 date | November 24, 2024 |
| CAT Answer key release | The first week of December 2024 |
| Answer key challenge process | |
| Declaration of CAT 2024 Result | Last week of December 2024 or the First week of January 2025 |
CAT Exam Syllabus
The CAT Exam syllabus covers a wide range of topics in three main sections.
- Candidates for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) can expect questions about grammar, vocabulary, and reading passages.
- The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) part assesses analytical and logical abilities using data-driven tasks.
- The Quantitative Ability (QA) area focuses on mathematics, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and more.
Understanding the CAT 2024 Exam syllabus necessitates a thorough learning plan and frequent practice.
Duration Needed to Cover the CAT Exam Syllabus
To study for the CAT 2024 Exam one needs more than enough time because it has a wide syllabus that demands a deep understanding of numerous subjects. Usually, it takes candidates about 6 – 9 months to go through the CAT Exam completely including several mock tests at regular intervals and revisions. For success in the CAT Entrance Exam, proper time management is required as well as a detailed study plan.
Marking Scheme for CAT Exam
- The CAT Exam employs a system of marking in which a right answer earns three marks while a wrong answer shaves off one mark from the total.
- The questions that do not belong to the multiple-choice type do not have any penalty.
- For those who are looking for ways to boost their marks and avoid getting negative scores, it is important to know how the CAT 2024 exam assesses its candidates.
What’s the format of the CAT Exam?
Three sections in the CAT exam pattern are meant to assess students: verbal ability with reading comprehension (VARC), data interpretation and logical reasoning (DILR) as well as quantitative aptitude (QA). In the CAT 2024 Exam, candidates will have 40 minutes for each part. The pattern of the exam has changed recently with recent endorsements containing MCQs alongside non-MCQs that make it more difficult to pass the CAT Entrance Exam. – 100%
Eligibility for CAT Exam
- To take CAT 2024, you need to be a holder of a Bachelor’s Degree of not less than 50% (45% for SC, ST and PWD when applying). Final undergraduates can also apply. The first step towards taking the CAT Exam and getting into the best business schools is to meet these requirements.
CAT Exam Selection Process
The CAT 2024 Exam selection process consists of several steps, starting with the entrance exam and going via Group Discussions (GD), Personal Interviews (PI), and Written Ability Tests (WAT), at different IIMs and other participating institutes. A composite score comprising the results of the CAT Exam, academic standing, professional experience, and performance in GD, PI, and WAT is used to make the ultimate decision.
CAT Exam Cities
The CAT 2024 Exam will be held in several states and cities across India, ensuring candidates’ availability. Test locations are located in major cities, making it easy for aspirants from all regions to participate in the Common Admission Test. Understanding the locations of these locations is critical for effective logistical planning on exam day.
| States | CAT Exam Cities |
| Andaman Nicobar | Port Blair |
| Andhra Pradesh | Guntur, Kakinada, Kurnool, Nellore, Rajahmundry, Tirupathi, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam & Vizianagaram |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar-Naharlagun |
| Assam | Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar & Tezpur |
| Bihar | Aurangabad-Bihar, Arrah, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Muzaffarpur & Patna |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| Chhattisgarh | Bhilai Nagar, Bilaspur & Raipur |
| Dadar and Nagar Haveli | Silvassa |
| Goa | Panaji and Madgaon |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad, Anand, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat & Vadodara |
| Haryana | Ambala, Faridabad & Gurugram |
| Himachal Pradesh | Bilaspur, Shimla & Hamirpur |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Jammu & Srinagar |
| Jharkhand | Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur & Ranchi |
| Karnataka | Belgaum, Bengaluru, Hubli-Dharwad, Gulbarga, Mangalore, Mysore, Shimoga & Udupi |
| Kerala | Ernakulam, Kannur, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Thrissur & Trivandrum |
| Ladakh | Leh |
| Lakshadweep | Kavaratti |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Sagar, Satna & Ujjain |
| Maharashtra | Amravati, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad-MH, Bhiwandi, Boisar, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Pune, Raigad, Satara, Solapur, Thane & Vasai |
| Manipur | Ukhrul |
| Meghalaya | Shillong |
| Mizoram | Aizawl |
| Nagaland | Kohima |
| New Delhi | New Delhi |
| Odisha | Balasore, Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Rourkela & Sambalpur |
| Punjab | Bhatinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Patiala & Amritsar |
| Puducherry | Puducherry |
| Rajasthan | Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Sikar & Udaipur |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Tirunelveli, Tiruchirappalli & Vellore |
| Telangana | Hyderabad, Karimnagar & Warangal |
| Uttar Pradesh | Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Greater Noida, Kanpur, Jhansi, Lucknow, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Prayagraj & Varanasi |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun, Haldwani & Roorkee |
| West Bengal | Asansol, Bankura, Burdwan, Durgapur, Hooghly, Kalyani, Kolkata & Siliguri |
Different Programs That IIMs Provide
The CAT Exam is the entry point to several management programs offered by the IIMs. The flagship Post Graduate Program in Management (PGP), the Fellow Program in Management (FPM), the Executive MBA program, and other courses are among them. Since each program is created to accommodate a variety of career goals, taking the CAT 2024 Exam is an essential first step for applicants hoping to get into these esteemed universities.
What are the Best B-Schools in India?
The most prestigious B-schools in India, including IIM Lucknow, IIM Calcutta, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Ahmedabad, are renowned for their outstanding placement rates and demanding educational programs. The CAT 2024 Exam results are accepted by these institutions for admission to their premier MBA programs, making them extremely popular among the nation’s management hopefuls.
What Other Exams Should You Take Aside from the CAT?
Aside from the CAT Exam, candidates may consider taking additional management entrance examinations such as XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test), MAT (Management Aptitude Test), CMAT (Common Management Admission Test), NMAT (Narsee Monjee Aptitude Test), and GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). These tests provide alternate possibilities to renowned business schools in India and overseas, increasing chances for aspiring management professionals.
FAQs
1. Who is Eligible for the CAT Exam?
A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized educational institution or university is essential for candidates to qualify for the CAT exam. Candidates belonging to the General category would need at least 50% marks while the SC, ST and PWD categories must have a minimum of 45% in their bachelor’s degree. Final-year students pursuing undergraduate programs and people without the last result also qualify for the CAT exam.
2. What is the Basic Knowledge of the CAT Exam?
The CAT examination or Common Admission Test is a computer-based entrance exam held for admission into postgraduate management programs like MBA, mainly in Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top B-schools in India. The exam is divided into three parts: verbal ability and reading comprehension (VARC), data interpretation and logical reasoning (DILR), and quantitative ability (QA). Each section has its time limit so the total duration for the entire exam is two hours.
3. What is the Main Subject for the CAT Exam?
The three main subjects focused on by the CAT exam are Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA). Among them, Quantitative Ability is usually regarded as the key one since it demands good mathematical and analytical abilities, but then it also requires mastery in verbal reasoning and logical analysis which makes all segments important for success in this test.
4. What Job After CAT Exam?
Once candidates have passed their CAT examination and acquired an MBA from a well-regarded organization, there are various career options available. Graduates could consider sectors such as management consultancy, finance, marketing, human resource management, and operations among others for employment. Typical job positions include a Management Consultant, Investment Banker, Marketing Manager, Product Manager or HR Manager unlike any other.
5. Can I Do an MBA Without a CAT?
Yes, some universities directly admit students to their MBA programs based on academic performance, work experience, or other determinants that allow some candidates to skip the CAT requirements altogether.
6. What is the Salary of CAT?
The salary of an individual who has successfully passed the CAT exam as well as completed their MBA varies widely according to various factors such as the institute, specialization and industry. Graduates from leading IIMs usually start with salaries that fall within ₹20-30 lakhs a year while those from other reputable B-schools may earn between ₹8-20 lakhs per annum. With experience, however, these figures have the potential to rise substantially especially for high-demand positions in consulting, finance and technology-related careers.
7. What are the Passing Marks for the CAT Exam?
CAT does not have a maximum/minimum mark. Instead, it works on a percentile system, which is based on the performance of the candidate to other individuals. The top B-schools like IIMs usually shortlist candidates for further stages of the admission process such as Group Discussions (GD), Personal Interviews (PI), and written ability tests (WAT) if they achieve 95 percentile or above. So, there are no “passing marks” as such; rather what you need is a high percentile that will improve your chances of getting into a reputable MBA program.
