CAT (Common Admission Test) – Complete MBA Entrance Guide
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is India’s most competitive national-level entrance examination for admission into MBA and PGDM programs. It serves as the primary gateway to the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and is accepted by over 1000 top business schools across the country.
What is CAT?
CAT is a computer-based test (CBT) conducted once every year by one of the IIMs on a rotational basis. The examination is designed to assess a candidate’s aptitude for management education and problem-solving ability.
The test measures conceptual clarity, logical reasoning strength, reading comprehension skills, and numerical aptitude.
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
IIMs Accepting CAT
- IIM Ahmedabad
- IIM Bangalore
- IIM Calcutta
- IIM Lucknow
- IIM Kozhikode
- All New IIMs
Other Top MBA Colleges
- FMS Delhi
- SPJIMR Mumbai
- MDI Gurgaon
- IIT MBA Programs
- IIM Mumbai (NITIE)
- IMT Ghaziabad
CAT Selection Process
- CAT Exam Score & Percentile
- Shortlisting by Institutes
- Written Ability Test (WAT)
- Group Discussion (GD) – Some Colleges
- Personal Interview (PI)
- Final Merit List
CAT Important Timeline
| Event | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Notification | July / August |
| Registration | August / September |
| Exam | November |
| Result | December / January |
Total duration is 120 minutes. Each section has a fixed time limit and candidates cannot switch between sections during the exam.
Eligibility Criteria
- Bachelor’s Degree (any stream)
- 50% minimum (General/EWS)
- 45% minimum (SC/ST/PwD)
- Final-year students eligible
Exam Duration
- Total Duration: 120 minutes
- 40 minutes per section
- PwD Candidates: 180 minutes
CAT Marking Scheme
| Response | Marks |
|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +3 |
| Wrong MCQ | -1 |
| Wrong TITA | No Negative Marking |
Since CAT is conducted in multiple slots, scores are normalized to ensure fairness across sessions.
CAT Syllabus Overview
VARC
- Reading Comprehension
- Para-jumbles
- Para-summary
- Odd sentence out
DILR
- Tables & Graphs
- Puzzles & Arrangements
- Venn Diagrams
- Caselets
QA
- Arithmetic
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Number System
Skills Tested in CAT
- Speed and accuracy
- Concept clarity
- Logical reasoning
- Reading comprehension
- Time management
- Decision-making under pressure
How to Prepare for CAT
- Understand exam pattern and syllabus
- Build strong fundamentals
- Practice daily
- Take regular sectional and full mocks
- Analyse mistakes and improve weak areas
Conclusion
CAT is a competitive yet achievable examination with consistent preparation and proper mock test analysis. Strong fundamentals, time management, and accuracy are the key drivers of a high percentile.
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