Appearing for CAT exam 2022? Here's everything that you need to know about the exam. Check important dates, admission process, eligibility, preparation tips, study material, result calculation, cutoff, top colleges, and more!

The Common Admission Test or CAT is one of the most prestigious MBA entrance exams in India. Every year, over 2 lakh aspirants sit for the CAT exam and the number keeps increasing every time. CAT exam 2022 is also considered to be the most difficult MBA exam conducted in India. Due to the high difficulty level of the exam and its sheer popularity, MBA aspirants have made it a benchmark and are often seen comparing the difficulty level of other exams to that of the CAT exam.
There are 20 IIMs that accept CAT scores for admission to the MBA/PGDM programs. Besides IIMs, top colleges accepting CAT scores are IMT, IMI, SPJIMR, NMIMS, MDI, GLIM, NITIE, Xavier University, FMS, IITs, ICFAI, GLIM, TAPMI, Amity University, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, BIMTECH, and many more.
In this article, we have elaborated all about the CAT 2022 exam.
CAT Exam 2022 Important Dates
IIM Bangalore released the official CAT 2022 notification on July 30, 2022. CAT 2022 exam will be held on November 27, 2022, in 150 cities across the nation. The registrations started on August 3, 2022, and candidates had to submit their CAT 2022 application form until September 21, 5 PM. Mentioned below are all the important dates of CAT 2022 that MBA aspirants should keep a track of:
CAT 2022 Events | CAT 2022 Exam Dates |
CAT 2022 Notification Release Date | July 30, 2022 |
CAT 2022 Registration Start Date | August 3, 2022 |
Last Date to Apply for CAT Exam 2022 | September 21, 2022 |
CAT 2022 Application Form Correction Window | September 23 to September 26, 2022 |
CAT 2022 Admit Card Download Start date | October 27, 2022 |
CAT Mock Test Release Date | First Week of October 2022 |
CAT 2022 Exam Date | November 27, 2022 |
CAT 2022 Answer Key Release Date | First Week of December 2022 |
Last Date to Challenge CAT 2022 Answer Key | Last Week of December 2022 |
CAT 2022 Result Date | Second Week of January 2023 |
Related Links:
CAT 2022 Mock Test | Best Books for CAT 2022 |
CAT 2022 Sample Papers | CAT Previous Year Question Papers |
CAT 2022 Registration, Eligibility Criteria, Exam Pattern
Candidates preparing for CAT 2022 have to meet the eligibility criteria set by the conducting body to take the exam. Before registering for CAT 2022, you should know whether you are eligible for the CAT 2022 entrance exam. Know all about the eligibility criteria, application process, documents required, admit card, exam pattern & syllabus below.
CAT 2022 Application Process
The entire CAT 2022 registration process can be divided into three phases: registration, filling out and submitting the application form, and payment of the application fee. The steps listed below can be used by candidates to complete the CAT 2022 registration form.
- Visit the CAT 2022 official website - iimcat.ac.in
- Click on the “New Candidate” button
- Create the login credentials, including the Registration ID and Password
- Re-login again to access the CAT 2022 Application Form
- Fill out all the necessary information in the registration form
- Upload all the required documents following the correct specifications
- Select the test city preferences
- Pay the CAT 2022 Application Fee
- Once the application fee is paid, download the application form for future reference
CAT 2022 Registration: Required Documents
The documents required to complete the CAT 2022 Application Form must be arranged by the candidates beforehand. Necessary documents for CAT 2022 registration include:
- Birth Certificate
- Address Proof
- Marksheets from Class 10 and Class 12
- Marksheets and relevant certificates from graduation
- Caste certificate (if applicable)
- PwD certificate (if applicable)
- Work Experience Proof (If applicable)
CAT 2022 Eligibility Criteria
Although the criteria for admission to an MBA course vary depending on the specialization, type of course, and management institute, there are certain basic requirements that aspirants need to fulfill, for being eligible for CAT exam 2022. Here are the basic eligibility criteria for CAT 2022.
Particulars | CAT 2022 Exam |
Name of the Exam | Common Admission Test |
Minimum Educational Qualification | Bachelor's Degree (Any Stream) from a recognized institute |
Minimum Aggregate Marks (General) | 50% |
Minimum Aggregate Marks (Reserved) | 45% for SC/ST/PwD Candidates |
Age Limit | None |
Nationality | Indians and Foreign Nationals |
Work Experience | Not Mandatory |
Reservations | SC, ST, NC-OBC, PwD, EWS |
CAT 2022 Exam Pattern
A complete understanding of the exam pattern is vital for comprehensive preparation and a great performance, especially when it comes to exams like CAT 2022. Here are some key features of the CAT 2022 test pattern:
Particulars | CAT Exam 2022 |
Total Number of Questions | 66 (48 MCQs & 18 Non-MCQs) |
Exam Duration | 2 Hours |
Number of Sections | 3 |
Marking Scheme | 3 Marks for Each Correct Answer/ -1 for Each Incorrect Answer |
How Did The CAT Exam Pattern Change Over The Years? Take A Look! |
CAT 2022 Study Materials, Preparation Tips
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the toughest MBA entrance exam in India, which requires candidates to put their sweat, blood, and tears into the preparation. MBA aspirants generally need 3-6 months to prepare for the CAT exam, and this timeline can be divided into three phases, from grasping the basics to learning advanced tricks and then finally building a strategy to crack the test. Students need to study from the best books and other sources to make their concepts clear. Taking mock tests and solving previous years’ question papers regularly is also crucial to understanding what will be asked in the CAT 2022 exam and preparing yourself to attempt it successfully. All the information about CAT 2022 preparation and the study materials required for CAT 2022 can be found below.
CAT 2022 Best Books
A CAT aspirant’s preparation is only halfway done if they do not have the proper study materials to reap the benefits. Here are some of the best books for CAT 2022 preparation.
CAT Exam 2022 Preparation Books | Author |
Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT | Nishit K. Sinha |
Quantum CAT | Sarvesh K Verma |
A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal |
The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning | Nishit Sinha |
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning for CAT | Arun Sharma |
Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis |
CAT 2022 Preparation Tips
How to approach exam preparation is one of the hardest decisions an MBA aspirant must make when attempting the CAT exam. This is the most important choice a student will make about the CAT exam, so it is imperative that it be an informed choice. Following that, here are some CAT 2022 preparation suggestions.
- Pick your method of preparation carefully - Self-preparation and preparations with the assistance of a coaching institute are both beneficial options, although the quality of either relies on the student. Before deciding on either self-preparation or a coaching center, one should carefully consider their options, conduct adequate research, and recognize their strengths and shortcomings.
- Know your strengths and weaknesses - In order to perform flawlessly in sections where they are well-prepared and to avoid errors in sections where they are not as well-prepared, it is critical for students to concentrate on their strengths when preparing for the CAT and to identify areas where they are weak.
- Improve time management skills - Time management is a common, yet crucial, piece of advice. It's crucial not just for the CAT exam itself, but also for the CAT exam's preparation. The amount of time needed to cover the topics during the preparation period must be taken into consideration when scheduling a student's time.
- Consider all sources of preparation - Everything a student has learned about the subjects covered by CAT may be examined in the exam due to the extensive and poorly defined CAT syllabus. A student must use every form and type of preparation available to them in order to handle such a large and challenging syllabus.
Also Read: CAT 2022 Exam Day Mistakes You Must Avoid
CAT 2022 Results, Merit List, Cut Off, Normalization
The CAT 2022 result will probably be announced in the second week of January 2023. The conducting authority will release a list of shortlisted candidates on the basis of the results. Here is everything you need to know about CAT result declaration, merit list, normalization process, paper analysis, and more.
CAT 2022 Results
Candidates must download the CAT 2022 results after they are released and print their scorecards to utilize in the future. The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other participating management institutes will create a list of shortlisted candidates based on the CAT results as part of their selection process.
Factors Affecting CAT 2022 Cutoff
The CAT exam 2022 cut-off required for each institute depends on a number of factors. The list of factors that affect an institute's cutoff requirements is as follows:
- Availability of Seats
- Total number of applicants
- Number of shortlisted candidates in the selection round
Furthermore, there are other factors that might lead to an increase or decrease in the cutoff requirements for CAT exam 2022. These factors include:
- Total number of CAT 2022 applicants
- Number of qualifying CAT 2022 candidates
- College/Institute rankings
- CAT 2022 difficulty level
CAT 2022 Normalization
The normalization procedure is used to ensure fairness and equity in the marking process for candidates across all sessions while calculating CAT 2022 results. Similar to GATE scoring, CAT normalization is carried out on the underlying presumption that the distribution of applicants' abilities is consistent throughout all of the sessions. The normalization process used by GATE accounts for all differences in the degree of difficulty of the question papers across various sessions.
Check out these articles below to know more about the CAT 2022 Results, Merit List, Cut Off, and Normalization process.
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CAT 2022 Selection Process, Admissions, Colleges
Once the CAT 2022 results are declared, all the IIMs and other B-schools accepting CAT 2022 scores will begin their admission process. The eligibility criteria to get admission into IIMs and other MBA colleges is different, so candidates need to check everything before applying for admission. Read further to find out the selection process of colleges accepting CAT 2022 scores.
CAT 2022 Selection/Shortlisting Process
There are two rounds in the CAT 2022 selection process. The CAT 2022 score, academic background, and performance in the Personal Interview stages are all elements that affect a candidate's overall performance in the CAT selection process. The CAT 2022 entrance exam performance is a crucial factor in the selection process. IIMs use their own cut-off lists and selection criteria to narrow down potential candidates for the interview stage. Qualification for the CAT 2022 entrance exam, academic prowess, and appropriate professional experience all go into the initial selection process. Candidates that pass the first step of the selection process will be shortlisted for the WAT, GD, and PI stages of the second round.
CAT 2022 Accepting Colleges
Although the CAT exam is primarily an entrance exam for admissions into the 20 Indian Institutes of Management across India. The IIMs collectively form the conducting authority for the CAT exam. Additionally, there are more than 100 colleges and universities that accept CAT scores as admission criteria for MBA/PGDM courses. Here is a list of colleges that accept CAT 2022 scores:
Name of the College | MBA Course Fees (INR in Lakhs) |
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad | 23 |
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta | 22.5 |
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore | 23.2 |
SPJIMR, Mumbai | 20.42 |
SJMSOM IIT Bombay | 10.08 |
MDI Gurgaon | 23.47 |
Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow | 19.25 |
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore | 16.5 |
IMI New Delhi | 21.37 |
FMS New Delhi | 1.92 |
DMS IIT Delhi | 9.6 |
Check out these articles on CAT 2022 Selection Process, Admissions, and Participating Colleges to know more.
Top B-schools that Accept CAT Percentile Below 90 other than IIMs | |
IIM Bodh Gaya Selection Criteria 2022-24: CAT Cut-off, WAT and PI | |
Check Out List of Top B-Schools Accepting CAT 2022 Scores Here |
That’s everything you need to know about the CAT 2022 examination. We will keep updating this page with new and exciting content about the Common Admission Test. All the best for CAT 2022!
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