Kamaldeep
13 May, 2024
Table of Contents
The biggest exam of the year is here! CAT exam admit card 2024 dates are out and we are here to tell you everything about it. Here are the latest details on the CAT exam pattern, CAT syllabus, CAT questions, CAT exam fees, CAT exam eligibility, free CAT exam mock test and CAT exam expected cut-off. If you’re aiming to be the next business leader, you need to get into the best business school through CAT. Come along with us to find out everything about the CAT exam. This is the ultimate guide!
The CAT exam is known as the Common Entrance Test. CAT is an entrance test which is given to get admission to top B business schools including 20 IIMS. The CAT exam is conducted once a year. It has 66 total questions and 198 total marks. It is divided into 3 sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). The CAT exam expected cut-off changes every year according to the previous marks obtained. The total fees for CAT exam application is Rs.2,400 for the general category and Rs. 1,200 for SC/ST and PwD.
The purpose of the Common Entrance Test (CAT) is for more than just admission, it is also:
To get you into top Indian business schools, including IIMs.
To test your skills through skill assessment tests such as verbal, quantitative, and reasoning skills.
You can get high scores in top MBA programmes and successful careers.
You can get higher placement chances if you’re in one of the most successful business schools.
| Event | Date |
| CAT 2024 registration start date | August 2, 2024 |
| CAT 2024 last date to apply | September 21, 2024 |
| CAT 2024 application correction date | September 25–28, 2024 |
| Release of CAT 2024 admit card | November 7, 2024 |
| CAT 2024 exam date | November 24, 2024 (Sunday) |
| CAT 2024 notification release date | July 30, 2024 |
| CAT 2024 answer key release date | December 5, 2024 |
| CAT 2024 results date | December 21, 2024 |
| Parameter | Detail |
| Name of the Exam | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Conducting Body | IIM Calcutta |
| Exam Level | National |
| Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Sections | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), Quantitative Aptitude (QA) |
| Aspect | Detail |
| Total Number of Questions | 66 |
| Types of Questions | Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and Non-MCQs |
| Number of Questions per Section | VARC: 24, DILR: 20, QA: 22 |
| Marking Scheme | +3 for correct answers, -1 for wrong answers (MCQs) |
| Exam Duration | 120 minutes (40 minutes per section) |
| Score Sheet Validity Duration | 1 year |
| Medium of Exam | English |
| Official Website | IIMCAT |
| Admit Card Website | Same as official website |
The following are the specific eligibility conditions for taking the CAT exam:
Bachelor’s degree with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST/PwD).
You should be a bachelor’s passed or in your last year of bachelor’s
CA, CS, or ICWA holders are eligible if they meet the minimum percentage requirement.
The registration process is very simple. Here are the simple 4 steps to register yourself for CAT exam 2024:
Create an Account at the official CAT website
Fill out the application form with personal, academic, and other required information.
Choose Test Centres to 6 choices.
Pay the fee online (INR 2,400 for General, INR 1,200 for SC/ST/PwD).
The application fee for CAT is distributed in this manner:
| CAT Test Mode | CAT Application Fee (in INR) |
| CAT Test Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| CAT Application Fee | INR 2,400 (General) INR 1,200 (SC/ST/PwD) |
In order to fill out the application you would be required to submit the required documents, such as:
A valid government-issued ID (e.g., Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, Voter ID).
Your marksheets or certificates from Class 10 onward.
If applicable, proof of SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwD status.
Your recent passport-size photo and a scanned signature.
You can easily download the admit card through the official website by logging in your credentials. An admit card is mandatory to appear for the exam.
| Exam Type | Admit Card Date |
| CBT (Computer Based Exam) | 25th October, 2024 (expected) |
Here is the latest exam centre for 2024:
| Test Cities | Test Date: 24th November, 2024 |
| Mumbai | Jaipur |
| Delhi | Ahmedabad |
| Pune | Bangalore |
| Kolkata | Chennai |
| Lucknow | Hyderabad |
The CAT exam 2024 is made to test most of your skills. It has three different sections to cover most of the skills: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).
Here is the exam syllabus for CAT 2024:
(I) Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Verbal Ability
Reading Comprehension
(II) Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Data Interpretation
Logical Reasoning
(III) Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
Algebra
Geometry and Mensuration
Trigonometry
Arithmetic
Modern Mathematics
Profit and Loss
Here’s the complete structure for the CAT 2024 exam:
| Section | Total Questions | Total Marks | Time (Minutes) |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 72 | 40 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 60 | 40 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 66 | 40 |
| Total | 66 | 198 | 120 |
Here are some top business schools that accept CAT scores:
Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs): Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta
Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi
Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon
SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai
National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai
Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), including Delhi and Bombay
Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad
Xavier Institute of Management (XIM), Bhubaneswar
Here’s a table with the shuffled expected cut-offs for various IIMs and top business schools for the CAT 2024 exam:
| Institute | Expected Cut-off (Percentile) |
| IIM Shillong | 90 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 97-98 |
| IIM Calcutta | 99 |
| IIM Amritsar | 95+ |
| IIM Lucknow | 97+ |
| IIM Nagpur | 95+ |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 99-100 |
| IIM Bangalore | 99-100 |
| IIM Indore | 97+ |
You should arrive at the exam centre 60 minutes before the test.
Bring your CAT admit card, valid photo ID, and any other required documents.
Listen to the invigilators and follow their instructions.
Do not bring electronic devices like mobile phones, calculators, or smartwatches into the exam hall.
Remember that each section has a strict time limit.
Be aware that incorrect answers in some sections incur negative markings. Leave questions that you do not know.
If you encounter a tough question, stay calm, skip it, and return later if time permits.
Here are some last-minute preparation tips for you:
Set a daily schedule.
Take daily mock tests
Work on subjects where you’re struggling.
Study from reputable books and online sources.
Analyse your mock test results.
Balance your preparation across sections.
Take breaks for the mind and body to relax.
Eat well, exercise, and get enough sleep.
Many platforms provide free mock tests for students, here is the list and links for some of the free mock tests you can try before the CAT exam:
| Platform | Website Link |
| Unacademy | Career Launcher |
| TIME Institute | Embibe |
| Oliveboard | Hitbullseye |
If you are a business dreamer then this exam would help you achieve all of them. If you want to get into the top business schools then CAT exams are the key towards success. The CAT 2024 has three different sections and it has a total of 66 questions. The exam centres are distributed around the country where you can commute according to your centre. Once you pass the expected CAT percentile you will be able to get admissions to over 20+ IIM colleges. Lastly, do not forget to take breaks while you prepare for the CAT exam. You’re going to be great! All the best!
The CAT exam is used to get admission to Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in some of the top business schools in India, including 20+ IIM colleges.
The CAT exam scores can be used to get admission to different courses including PhD, PGP, MBA, and FPM courses.
