National level postgraduate entrance examination, for students who wish to pursue an MBA at the IIMs and other reputed institutes across the country.

Common Admission Test (CAT) is a National level postgraduate entrance examination conducted by the various Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) across the country. Through the CAT, students can get admission into the Postgraduate (MBA) and Fellow Management programs offered by the IIMs and other prestigious institutes including the IITs, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) etc.

The CAT exam is not only one of the most important postgraduate level entrance exams in the country but is also considered to be one of the toughest and most competitive entrance examinations in the world. It is attempted by thousands of candidates annually.

The CAT is a computer – based examination which is conducted during a 20 – day testing window every year across 40 major cities in India. Candidates can select the date and time they wish to appear for the test on, subject to availability.

CAT provides students with the opportunity to join various post graduate courses like Master’s in Business Administration (M.B.A) and Master’s in Management (M.Mgt.) in various reputed institutes in India.

Out of the total seats that are available for admission through CAT, 15% seats will be reserved for candidates from Scheduled Castes (SC), 7.5% seats will be reserved for candidates from Scheduled Tribes (ST) and 27% seats will be reserved for candidates from the Other – Backward Classes (OBC) category (Non – creamy layer).

The CAT exam is only the first phase of admission into an institute. Your admission into a postgraduate Management program will be based on your CAT scores as well as other criterion such as your performance in the subsequent Personal Interviews, Group Discussions etc. The second phase of the admission process that takes place after you receive your CAT score differs from institute to institute.

What are the eligibility criteria?

To be eligible for the CAT exam, you must have completed a Bachelor’s degree course in any field or its equivalent from a recognized university with a minimum aggregate percentage or equivalent CGPA of 50% (45% for SC/ST and PWD candidates).

Candidates who are appearing for their final year exams (Bachelor’s degree) or awaiting results are also eligible to appear for the CAT exam as long as they can submit their final mark sheets before the specified date.

There is no minimum age criterion to appear for the CAT exam.

Keep in mind that meeting the above eligibility criteria does not mean that you will necessarily be considered for short listing by the institutes. It merely represents your eligibility to appear for the CAT exam.

For any further information, please visit the following website: http://www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in/.

How to apply?

 You can apply for the CAT online only. To apply, go to the CAT website:  http://www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in/ .

As a part of the Application form, you will need to specify the IIM courses and academic programs you are applying for.

After you submit the application, you can move on to scheduling your test as per your preference, subject to availability. Choose the location, date and time as per which you wish to appear for the CAT exam.

What is the pattern of the examination?

The CAT is Computer – based examination in which the candidates have to answer multiple choice questions online.

The CAT exam comprises of 2 sections: the first section will test you on your ‘Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation’; the second section will test you on your ‘Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning’.

The total duration of the CAT exam is 2 hours and 20 minutes (1 hour and 10 minutes for each section).

Each question will have four options with only one correct answer.

You will be awarded 3 marks for every correct answer.

Do not attempt questions you do not know the answers to as there will be negative marking. 1 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.

Your results will be published on the CAT website in due time. CAT scores are valid for a maximum period of up to 1 year.

CAT scores are calculated by first computing your raw score which is then subject to ‘Equation’ and ‘Scaling’ so as to ensure fairness and equivalency. Click on the following link to know more about the CAT scoring methodology: http://www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in/dev_scorind_equityprocess.htm.

Keep in mind that your CAT score is only the first part of the admission process in an IIM or any other institute. In most institutes, your admission will be based on your performance in the CAT exam as well as your performance in the subsequent Personal Interviews, Group Discussions etc.

In case you are shortlisted on the basis of your CAT score, you will need to appear for the interviews/discussions etc. in due time.

The weightage given to your CAT score and these interviews and discussions differs from institute to institute.

Please go through the website of the institute you wish to join to know more about the detailed admission process and the weightage given to your CAT score and your performance in the interviews, discussions etc.

For any further information, please visit the following website: http://www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in/.

What are the prospects?

CAT is one of the most popular and most competitive postgraduate MBA entrance examinations in the country. It offers students the opportunity to join reputed institutes like the IIMs, the management programs at the IITs and a range of other private and government business schools in the country. Click on the following link to know more about the institutes that admit students on the basis of their CAT scores apart from the IIMs: http://www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in/non_iim_institute.htm.

Important Dates for CAT 2013: