CAT 2018 - Notification, Exam Dates, Registration, Pattern, Syllabus

About CAT 2018

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of the most popular MBA entrance exams in India. The computer-based test is taken by lakhs of management aspirants in India every year for admission to flagship PGP programmes in the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top B-schools of India. The exam date for CAT 2018 is November 25, 2018. On this page, you will find all the details related to the CAT 2018, such as its dates, eligibility, application, pattern, syllabus, admit card, results, preparation tips, previous years' question papers and more. Also, you can check the details of MBA Admissions 2019 here.

CAT 2018 Eligibility Criteria

The CAT 2018 eligibility criteria has been prescribed by IIM Calcutta, which is the conducting body of the exam. For all CAT 2018 applicants, a Bachelor’s Degree with minimum 50% marks in aggregate is a must. Those who are in the final year of their graduation may also apply for the exam. SC, ST and PwD candidates have a relaxation of 5% in graduation marks.

This year, the CAT (short for Common Admission Test) is going to be conducted on 25th November 2018 in online mode. The CAT 2018 Registration Process started on 8th August and will end on 19th September. Ever year, CAT is conducted by IIMs on a rotational basis. All those who wish to appear for the exam this year must go through the detailed CAT eligibility criteria 2018 before applying for it. Given below is the category-wise eligibility criteria for CAT 2018 and other important information related to the exam.

As per the eligibility criteria for CAT 2018, candidates must fulfill the following conditions:

Bachelor’s Degree from a recognised University or educational institution with a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent CGPA for General and NC-OBC candidates. [For candidates belonging to SC/ST/PWD categories, the minimum is 45%]

Candidates taking the final year examination of their Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification examination can apply.

Those who have completed degree requirements but are awaiting results are also eligible to apply for the exam.

However, such candidates, if shortlisted, will only be allowed to join the programme provisionally, if they submit a certificate from their University/institution stating that they have completed all the requirements for obtaining the Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification on the date of the issue of the certificate.

Those who have completed a professional degree (CA/ CS/ ICWA) with required percentage are also eligible to apply.

The calculation of candidates' percentage of marks would be based on the procedure followed by the respective University/Institution. In case there is no provision at the University/Institution for converting CGPA into equivalent marks, the equivalence would be established by dividing the candidate’s CGPA by the maximum possible CGPA, and multiplying the result with 100.

Note: During the selection process at IIMs, the authorities may verify candidates' eligibility at various stages. Another thing that candidates must keep in mind is that meeting the minimum eligibility criteria will not guarantee admission in the IIMs. In addition, throughout the process of selection, candidates must maintain a valid and unique email account as well as a phone number.

Also, MBA admission eligibility criteria may differ from college to college and region to region. You can check the details here.

CAT 2018 Syllabus

The IIMs, which are responsible for conducting the exam every year, have not fixed any syllabus for CAT. Experts and academicians have observed the exam pattern of CAT over the years and they have shared the tentative CAT 2018 syllabus accordingly. To know the syllabus, candidates should first carefully study the Exam Pattern of CAT 2018. You can also compare the CAT exam syllabus with other MBA entrance exam syllabus here.

Based on the sections of CAT examination, there are some very important topics that candidates must prepare in order to cover the maximum CAT syllabus 2017 and maximise their chances of scoring well.

The syllabus of CAT 2018 is based on the exam's 3 sections – Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI & LR) and Quantitative Ability (QA).

We bring to you the detailed CAT syllabus as well as the important topics under every section.

CAT Syllabus for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

Fact Inference Judgment	Grammar
Fill in the blanks	Para Completion
Para Jumble	Sentence Correction
Verbal Reasoning	Word Usage (Vocabulary)
Idioms	Analogies

CAT Syllabus for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI & LR)

Section	Topics
Data Interpretation	Bar Graph, Combination of Graphs, Caselet, Data Sufficiency, Line Graph, Pie Chart, Tables, etc.
Logical Reasoning	Assumptions, Blood Relations, Binary Logic, Clocks and Calendars, Constraint-based puzzles, Data Arrangement, Family Tree, Matching Puzzles, Proposition, Statements, Seating Arrangement, Sets, Syllogism, Venn Diagram

CAT Syllabus for Quantitative Ability (QA)

Topics	Sub Topics
Arithmetic	Number System, HCF, LCM, Ratio & Proportion, Simplification, Percentage, Average, Age Calculation, Time & Work, Distances
Algebra	Theory of Equations, Quadratic Equation, Permutation & Combination, Sequence & Series
Geometry	Angles, Lines, Triangles, Circles
Mensuration	Areas and Volumes – Rectangles, Squares, Triangles, Circles, Cubes, Cones, Spheres, Pipes and Cistern
Calculus	Maxima and Minima, Function
Trigonometry	Trigonometric Ratios, Heights, and Distances

Now that you know what all you have to study for the CAT 2018 exam, you can easily prepare for the exam by covering all the given topics. However, you must not forget to take your preparation level a notch higher by taking mock tests or solving previous years' papers.

Topic-wise Weightage Under Every CAT 2018 Section

Quant	Topics	No. of Questions
	Number System	5
	Algebra	8
	Arithmetic	8
	Modern Maths	4
	Geometry & Mensuration	9

LRDI	Topics	No. of Questions
	Bar Graphs	2
	Pie Charts	2
	Table Based	8
	Combination of Graphs	3
	Odd Sentence Out	2
	Data Arrangement	5
	Seating Arrangement	5
	Logic Based	5

Verbal	Topics	No. of Questions
	Reading Comprehension	21
	Sentence Correction	4
	Para Jumble	4
	Para Completion	4
	Word Usage	3

Note: The number of questions mentioned against each topic is tentative.

CAT 2018 Exam Pattern

IIM Calcutta has announced a few changes in the CAT 2018 exam pattern. As per an official notification, there will be less MCQs and more key-in answer type questions in this year's CAT question paper. The key-in answer type questions mean candidates will be required to type in their answers. Those who had been preparing for CAT 2018 according to the old exam pattern may have to now tweak their preparation strategy keeping the new pattern in mind.

Other than this, there aren't any changes in the CAT paper pattern. The three sections - Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude, remain the same and they have to be solved in chronological order. Each section has to be answered within the time limit of 60 minutes while the total duration of the paper is 180 minutes. There is no flexibility to skip nor go back to a previous section during the paper.

Getting familiar with the exam pattern and increasing your efficiency is an important step in the exam preparation process. Following is the detailed pattern of CAT that will help you in your preparation. CAT is conducted in an online mode. The total number of questions asked in the exam is 100, which are divided into the following three sections:

Sections	No. of Questions	Marks Allocated	Time Duration
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension	34	102	60
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning	32	96	60
Quantitative Ability	34	102	60
Total	100	300	180

Note: The sections will be displayed on your computer screen in the same order as given in the table.

CAT 2018 Pattern Highlights:

Highlights	Details
Test Duration	3 hours
Number of Sections	3
Total number of questions in the exam	100
Each question carries	3 marks
Marks deducted for each incorrect question	-1

CAT 2018 Type of Questions:

CAT exam comprises mainly two types of questions i.e. multiple choice questions (MCQ) and non-MCQs.

MCQs – These type of questions will comprise the text that you have to read and find the answer. You will be given four options from which you will have to choose the correct answer.

Non-MCQs – These will comprise question text that you will have to read in order to understand the question and type your answer in the box provided on the screen.

Expected Number of MCQs & Non-MCQs in CAT 2018:

Name of the Section	Number of MCQs	Number of non-MCQs
Quantitative Ability	27	7
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension	24	10
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning	24	8
Total	75	25

Time management throughout the exam and maintaining a good solving speed is important to score well in CAT exam. Proctored mock test will help you in understanding the pattern better.

Points to Remember:

In each section, some questions may not be of multiple choice type. Instead, direct answers will have to be typed on the screen. Also, the use of the basic onscreen calculator for computation is allowed. The calculator is provided on the screen of the exam window to ease up calculations during the exam. Computations can be done by scrawling the mouse on the screen on the computer.

Candidates will get exactly 60 minutes for answering questions in each section.

Switching from one section to another while answering questions in a section is not allowed.

To understand the format of the test, candidates are advised to work on the tutorials, which will be available on the CAT 2018 website.

CAT 2018 Marking Scheme

Each question in CAT 2018 will carry three marks and one mark will be deducted for every wrong answer. This marking scheme is applicable only for multiple choices questions. For Non-MCQs, there is no negative marking and the marks allotted to every question is three.

* On the basis of the understanding of the detailed CAT 2018 exam pattern, one can estimate the time required to prepare for CAT exam.

CAT 2018 Exam Analysis

IIM Calcutta will conduct the CAT 2018 on 25th November in online mode. The CAT 2018 will take place in 2 slots, and CollegeDekho will publish the analysis immediately after the exam. The exam analysis for both the slots will be published separately. As part of the analysis, we will provide information on the overall structure of the exam, section-wise topics, changes (if any) and ideal attempts for all the sections, which include Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability.

CAT 2017 Exam Analysis

CAT 2017 conducted in two sessions did not throw up any surprises compared to the paper format. The level of difficulty of the paper too was almost the same as that of CAT-2016. The scoring pattern was as follows:

3 marks for each correct answer
-1 mark for each wrong answer (For MCQs)
No negative marking for wrong answer in Non-MCQs

The paper had 74 questions with negative marking and 26 questions without negative marking. All the 74 MCQs had 1/3 negative marking while there was no negative marking for wrong answers for the 26 Non-MCQs.

Slot 1: Here our experts could deduce that DILR was a tough nut to crack. VARC was moderately difficult while QA was easy focussing more on arithmetic questions which would benefit Non-Engineers. Cut off levels, compared to last year may go up

The overall structure of the CAT paper was as follows:

Section Name	No. of Questions	No. of MCQ	No. of Non-MCQ	Difficulty Level	Good Attempts
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension	34	27	7	Moderate	26-28
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning	34	24	8	High	14-16
Quantitative Ability	34	23	11	Easy	24-26
Total	100	74	26

Section wise the number of questions allotted to a particular area and its difficulty level as assessed by our team of experienced faculties is as below.

Section-1: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

Area	No. of Questions	Difficulty Level
RC-Topic 1	3	Easy to Moderate
RC-Topic 2	3	Easy to Moderate
RC-Topic 3	6	Easy to Moderate
RC-Topic 4	6	Easy to Moderate
RC-Topic 5	6	Easy to Moderate
Odd Sentence Out	3	Easy to Moderate
Paragraph Jumbles	4	Moderate to Difficult
Paragraph Summary	3	Easy
Total	34

Here our experts opined that many students would have attempted close to 28+ in VARC section and quite a few would have attempted all the 34 questions in the section.

Section-2: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

Area	No. of Questions	Difficulty Level
LR- Projects	4	Difficult
LR-Burgers / Fries	4	Easy
LR-Children Survey	4	Easy
LR-PCM	4	Difficult
DI-Happiness Index	4	Difficult
DI-Matrix	4	Moderate
DI-Routes	4	Moderate
DI-Flight Operation	4	Moderate
Total	32

The DILR section was the toughest section, with difficulty level moderate to difficult. The number of attempts in this section would more likely be in the 12 to 14 range.

According to our experts, a good student could have attempted around 16-18 questions in this set. Very few students would have touched the attempt of 25 in this section. The cut-off in this section would be low and can be between 30-31 marks for an 85 percentile.

Section-3: Quantitative Ability (QA); included 2 wrong questions

Area	No.of Questions	Doable
Number System	4	4
Algebra	10	8-10
Arithmetic	11	8-9
Modern Maths	2	2
Geometry & Mensuration	7	5-6
Total	34

Quant section was the easiest. Arithmetic dominated the section. Most of the questions were from arithmetic, geometry, and algebra.

Overall Analysis & Expected Cut off Predictions

Percentile	VARC	DILR	QA	Overall
99	68	38	65	158
95	52	32	48	141
90	48	28	35	110
85	45	20	30	100
80	40	21	25	90
75	36	18	23	85
70	30	15	18	68
65	26	10	15	50
60	20	8	10	40

Imp: Scores for CAT 2017 are calculated as +1 for a correct answer and -1/3 for an incorrect answer.

To all the candidates who have taken the exam, join us to get a comprehensive analysis and insights into CAT 2017. Apart from CAT 2017 expert paper analysis, you can check the CAT 2017 Result. Stay tuned to know More on CAT 2017!

How to Prepare for CAT 2018

Preparing for a competitive exam like CAT is not an easy task to do. However, if candidates have prepared well with a strategic and systematic plan then attempting a national level examination can become simple. Common Admission Test (CAT) will take place on 25th November 2018, at different test centers all over India. Candidates must have started preparing for it but those who have not yet started with the preparation, reading this article becomes important them, as the article will give them an insight of the tips and tricks they can use for conquering this exam with good marks. The article clearly defines the general tips and tricks along with subject-wise tips that candidates can use to better their CAT 2018 performance.

Apart from this candidates must also know about the preparation plan that must flow few days or weeks before the main examination. The best thing to do a few weeks before the exam is to take a decent number of mock tests and analyse the results. The more the questions are practiced, the better will be the performance of the candidate. Revising important concepts and formulae is another way to boost your performance on the exam day.

Start reading the tips and tricks given below and simultaneously track your CAT preparation. Implement these pointers in your preparation pattern and see the remarkable change in your CAT 2018 result.

Old papers and mock tests always help: Using the previous years' papers is a good way to get an idea of the exam. Also, mock tests help in assessing one's proficiency on the subjects.

Stay calm and relaxed: Your performance in the exam also depends on your frame of mind. Always remember, it is not your final examination in life. There is always a second chance. So, stay calm and relaxed while preparing for this exam.

Read and Read: Reading is a good habit and when you're preparing for an entrance exam like CAT, it turns out to be an advantage. Developing reading habit helps in boosting one's vocabulary, general knowledge, and even the speed of reading the questions online.

Focus on Tricks: Knowing short forms, calculations based on tricks or solving sums quickly with easy and smart steps are required to crack this test easily.

Time Management: Managing your time well on the exam day is the key to scoring well. Therefore, time management is an important formula to ace the exam.

One of the best ways to prepare for entrance exams like CAT is to pick the right study material. You will find plenty of books in the market that will not just enhance your knowledge but will provide you the right guidance to perform well in the exam. The following link will provide you some of the best books that you must include in your preparation.

Section-Wise Preparation Strategy

Every CAT 2018 aspirant must know that it very important for them to be aware of the subjects that are to be prepared for the examination. For this, the candidates must take a look at the CAT 2018 syllabus and churn out the subjects for the examination. They must also know how to prepare these subjects in order to cover maximum topics and sections. Let’s check out some of the easy tips and tricks that can serve to be beneficial for the preparation plan.

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

Time given to complete this section of CAT 2018 is 60 minutes. Test takers must not take more than 50 minutes to answer the maximum number of questions of this section. Rest 10 minutes should be utilized revising the answers and attempting unanswered questions.
The VARC has been structured to judge your reading skills along with your language knowledge. Experts advise improving grammatical understanding which can be done by following good grammar books.
For a better understanding, reading through junior level books has been considerably advised and recommended by the experts and 99 percentile CAT applicants.
Sub-sections like Fact Inference Judgment, Para Completion, Verbal Reasoning, Analogies and Para Jumble, are the ones that need more attention and understanding.
Other sub-sections need more and more of practice and a little bit of memorizing when it comes to synonyms and idioms. For this, you can solve practice papers or previous years questions’ papers for a variety of questions.
Solving previous years’ papers will also help in understanding the pattern and structure of the questions framed for VARC.
Experts also advise learning as many as 10 new words with their meaning, synonyms and usage.

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI & LR)

There are a total of 32 questions that are to be answered in 60 minutes. However, an idol examinee would be expected to complete this section in not less than 55 minutes and keep 5 minutes for revision and unattended questions.
The motive for this section is to understand the calibre of the candidates with respect to their logical thinking and approach. In order to master this section candidates will have to first understand each given topics of this section in detail and then start practising them.
Sub-sections that must be prepared first include Caselet, Bar Graph, Data Sufficiency, Clocks and Calendars, Data Arrangement, Binary Logic, Constraint-based puzzles and Venn Diagram.
Take help from your teachers and seniors to study the tricks and methods of solving the questions of this section. Practice these tricks and make strong hold on the section.
While preparing the sub-sections, remember to complete one topic at a time, instead of hurrying with all the topics in one go. Devote equal amount of time for each topic and sub-sections to understand the details including the methodology of finding out the solution, in a clear and better way.
Remember not to rush down to attempt all the questions in a hurry, instead, divide the questions that you can solve easily and solve them first, then switch to the harder and time taking ones.

Quantitative Ability (QA)

As prescribed by the exam conducting authority, there are a total of 34 questions that must be answered within a time span of 60 minutes. It is advised to complete the maximum number of questions of this section in 54 to 55 minutes and keep the rest of the time for revision.
Quantitative Ability has been planned in CAT 2018 exam, to judge candidates understanding of the arithmetic reasoning and numeric calculation system. This in return helps candidates in making quick calculative decisions when on field as a professional.
Some topics that are to be prepared for this section includes Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra, Mensuration, Trigonometry and Calculus. Take help from best books and study materials if you wish to score well in this section.
If reading through the books and understanding the terms becomes difficult, then joining a good and reputed Coaching Center will be the right decision. The mentors at this centres will help in studying the difficult topics in an easy and simple way combined with a regular practice session.
Going through the examples given after every explanation in the books and study materials is a must for CAT applicants. These examples will help in understanding the problem in a clear way and will also help in knowing the steps to approach the solution in a simplified manner.
At the time of preparation do not go on solving the difficult questions first. The right way for a better understanding is to start solving the easy ones and then gradually move to the difficult or tricky ones.

Best Tips for CAT Exam Day

Now that CAT is just a few days away, it is completely fine for any aspirant to get nervous before the day of the exam. However, there are certain things that candidates can do to maximise their chances performing well in the exam and not get overly stressed.

1. Take a good night's sleep – You must get at least 8 hours sleep before the exam to maintain your focus while attempting the paper. Lack of sleep will lead to restlessness and you might just end up yawning inside the examination hall.

2. Carry necessary documents – You must not forget to carry your Admit Card and ID proof on the day of the exam. Without the admit card, you will not be allowed to sit in the exam hall, and the process of going back home to retrieve will waste your precious time.

3. Reach exam centre on time – Ensure that you reach the exam venue at least one & a half hour before the commencement of the test. Reaching in advance means your precious time will not be wasted in the security checks, identity verification process, etc.

4. Go through tutorial and instructions carefully – You must pay attention to the 15-minute tutorial as well as the important instructions. The tutorial is meant to help you all familiarise yourself with the online test procedure and other important procedures related to the exam such as navigating through the sections and keeping a track of the time.

5. Ignore questions that you find confusing – You may find some questions in the paper that will distract you from performing in other simple questions. Don't spend too much time on such questions as you will lose the opportunity to attempt the easier ones.

6. Keep a track of the time – Taking CAT is all about how you manage your time while answering tricky questions. With time limit given in every section, it is best for you to avoid overspending time on a question that you feel is tough to answer.

While appearing for an exam like CAT is a big deal, one must keep in mind that not performing well is not the end of the world. There are many other options available for you to explore. Just try keeping these pointers in mind and we're sure you will do your best!

CAT 2018 Participating Colleges

Getting into the top B-schools in India is the dream of any MBA aspirant looking to make a career in the business world. The Common Admission Test, also referred to as CAT, is the most popular MBA entrance exam that has helped many students realise this dream. Started in the 1950s, conducted and controlled by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM), CAT scorers are able to grab a place in the interested field of business administration countrywide.

It is important for CAT aspirants to be aware of every information related to the exam. While appearing for the exam is just the first step, the next steps of selection are vital for getting into a good business administration programme with a renowned college. Proper weightage is given to the right kind of accreditation and courses offered and it is important to get a fair idea of some of the best B-Schools granting admissions to candidates on the basis of their CAT scores.

Check out the list of top management institutes of India as well as their fee structure, 2016 cut-off, and placement package details that will give you an estimate of the ROI (Return on Investment) you can expect after you finish your postgraduate studies in business management.

IIMs	Location
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Calcutta
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Ahmedabad
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Bangalore
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Indore
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Kozhikode
Indian Institute Of Management (IIM)	Lucknow
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Shillong
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Rohtak
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Sirmaur
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Nagpur
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Raipur
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Bodh Gaya
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Trichy
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Jammu
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Visakhapatnam
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Sambalpur
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Ranchi
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Amritsar
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Kashipur
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Udaipur

Institute Name (Non-IIMs)	Location
Management Development Institute (MDI)	Gurgaon
S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR)	Mumbai
International Management Institute (IMI)	New Delhi
Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi (FMS)	New Delhi
Institute of Management Technology (IMT)	Ghaziabad
Department of Commerce, Delhi School of Economics (DMCDSE)	New Delhi
Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM)	Bhopal
National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE)	Mumbai
Xavier Institute of Management Bhubaneswar (XIMB)	Bhubaneswar
Gujarat National Law University (GNLU)	Gandhinagar
Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT)	Allahabad
Indian Institute of Social Welfare & Business Management (IISWBM)	Kolkata
Great Lakes Institute of Management	Chennai
T. A. Pai Management Institute - TAPMI	Manipal
Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA)	Chennai
Prin LN Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research	Mumbai
National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE)	Hyderabad
Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (DMS, IIT Delhi)	New Delhi

Disclaimer: Please note that this list is not exhaustive and it only includes some of the popular B-Schools in India that accept CAT scores.

CAT 2018 Result

The Common Admission Test (CAT) for the year 2018 is going to be conducted on November 25. CAT result is usually announced in the first week of January every year. However, the announcement of this year's CAT result is likely to happen sometime in the second week of January.

The CAT 2017 Result was announced on 8th January 2018. As many as 20 candidates achieved 100 percentile in CAT. Test takers had to check their results by using their login details (CAT User ID and password). After checking the result, candidates were supposed to download the result and take a print for further use.

Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), which conducts the exam, does not send the hard copy of the CAT result. As part of their selection process, the IIMs and other participating management institutes generate a list of shortlisted students on the grounds of CAT result and their individual selection process.

The CAT Result is released in the form of a scorecard, which displays the total marks/ percentiles scored by a candidate in the exam.

The scorecards are not sent via post but can be viewed results online using login details (CAT User ID and password). After viewing the result, candidates must download the result and take a printout of the scorecard for further use. A list of shortlisted candidates on the basis of CAT result is generated by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other participating management institutes, as a part of their selection process.

CAT 2018 Result Dates

Event	Date
CAT 2018 Exam Date	25th November 2018
CAT 2018 Result Announcement	2nd Week of January 2019
List of Candidates Shortlisted for GD/PI & WAT	4th Week of January 2019
Final Selection	April 2019

Steps to View CAT Result 2018

Visit the official website, iimcat.ac.in

Click on the link available to access CAT 2018.

You will be redirected to a page wherein you will have to login using your credentials- (User ID and Password).

Click on the ‘Login' tab provided.

Click on the ‘Score Card' tab and download your scorecard.

Save, take a print copy and keep the CAT 2018 scorecard for future reference.

CAT 2018 Result via SMS

Candidates who will appear for the CAT 2018 examination will receive the overall CAT result on their registered mobile numbers. The detailed result will be available on the official website of CAT. The result will be announced IIM Calcutta, the conducting body of CAT 2018 exam.

CAT 2018 Result cum Scorecard

Considered as an extremely important document, CAT 2018 Scorecard will be required at the time of admission process. Not just IIMs, many other institutes that accept CAT score ask for the official CAT Scorecard during their process of admission. When you receive your CAT result cum scorecard, make sure it has the following details printed on it:

Candidate's Registration number/User ID

Name, catgeory, and gender of the candidate

Candidate's Date of Birth (DOB)

Date and time when the examination was taken by the candidate

Contact details and email ID provided by the candidate

Scaled Score & Percentile of Section 1 (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension)

Scaled Score & Percentile of Section 2 (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning)

Scaled Score & Percentile of Section 3 (Quantitative Ability)

Overall Scaled Score (the sum of candidates' scaled scores in the three sections)

Overall Percentile (the percentage of candidates who receive the score less than or equal to the score obtained by the candidate)

Instructions to be followed post CAT 2018 result

Calculation of CAT Result 2018

The result for CAT 2018 will be calculated based on the exam's marking scheme. As per the marking scheme, candidates are awarded 3 marks for every correct answer and they lose one mark for every wrong answer. There is no negative marking for non-MCQs.

CAT 2018 Percentile

The CAT result is announced by IIMs in the form of percentile. IIMs and other CAT participating institutes shortlist candidates on the basis of CAT percentile. The CAT normalisation process adopted by the IIMs is used to calculate the CAT 2018 percentile.

All About CAT Normalisation Process

CAT is carried out in two sessions, and each session has a different question paper. Also, the difficulty level of each question set varies. Therefore, adopting the normalisation process ensures fairness and equity in the marking process for candidates across both the sessions.

The CAT normalisation is done on the same lines as GATE scoring, where the normalisation process is done on the basis of the fundamental assumption that the distribution of candidates' abilities is similar across all the sessions. The normalisation followed in GATE considers all the variations in the question papers' difficulty levels across the different sessions.

The scorecard of CAT comprises the scaled scores for each section (Section I: Verbal and Reading Comprehension, Section II: Quantitative Ability and Section III: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning) and total along with the percentiles.

The scaled scores are obtained through the normalisation process, which involves adjusting location and scale differences of score distributions across different forms. The scaled scores are then converted into percentiles, which are considered for shortlisting candidates for further admission rounds at IIMs.

CAT Score Validity

The CAT score is valid for one year only. For CAT Result 2018, the score validity will be until 31st December 2019. Any query related to the scorecard will not be entertained beyond this date.

Post the Announcement of CAT 2018 Result

Once the CAT results are published, IIMs and CAT 2018 participating institutes will declare their official cut-off. Based on the cut-offs, candidates will be shortlisted for the further admission rounds, which may include Writing Ability Test, Group Discussion/Group Exercise/Case Study and Personal Interview. The cut-off percentile will vary from institute to institute. While some of the top B-schools including the IIMs announce their selection criteria as well as the cut-off prior to the announcement of the result, there are many management institutes that announce their cut-offs post the announcement of CAT result. Based on the candidates' performance in CAT 2018, selection rounds and overall profile, the final merit will be prepared for admissions.

CAT Result Dates of Previous Years

Year	No. of Registrations	No. of Candidates Who Appeared	CAT Result Date	Conducting Body
CAT 2017	2,31,067	1,99,632	8th January 2018	IIM Lucknow
CAT 2016	2,32,343	1,95,000	9th January 2017	IIM Bangalore
CAT 2015	2,18,664	1,79,602	8th January 2016	IIM Ahmedabad

FAQs

Q. In my 10th and 12th class certificates, my last name is different. Is my CAT result going to be affected due to this?

No, your CAT result will not be affected but it will probably become a point of concern at the time admission at any institute. We suggest that get an affidavit created in order to support the change of your last name.

Q. Will my CAT result be affected If I appeared for an improvement exam in CBSE in 10th class?

No, your CAT result will not be affected by your improvement exam but it could have some effect at the time of admission at an institute.

Q. I've appeared for CAT exam. Will my CAT score be valid if my final semester result shows that I have backlogs?

In such a case, your CAT score will be valid but you may not get admission in any B-School.

Q. Will I get admission in IIM if I score well in CAT, but have a backlog in my graduation?

You can get admission only if you do not have any backlogs.

Q. I appeared for CAT exam in the second shift. So, will I get my result on the same day as that of the first shift?

Yes, the result will be announced on the same day for all CAT takers.

Q. What should I do if I have to get my CAT score rechecked?

Once the CAT result is announced, there is no scope for any rechecking.

Q. What should I do if my photograph is blurred on my CAT scorecard?

You can apply for a new scorecard after reporting the issue to the authorities on their Email ID listed. You may contact on 1800-2663-549/ cathelpdesk@iimcat.ac.in.

CAT 2018 Selection Process

The CAT selection process involves two rounds, which are conducted by the participating institutes once the results are out. Based on the candidates' performance in CAT, participating institutes shortlist candidates for further rounds, which may include Group Discussion/Written Ability Test and Personal Interview.

The CAT selection procedure is held separately at the participating institutes except for the new IIMs. Once the shortlisted candidates appear for these rounds, the list of selected candidates is released by participating institutes separately.

Note: Any candidate who is shortlisted for interviews by IIMs will have to comply with the eligibility criteria and verification that involves the following:

Degree certificates & mark sheet verification – Produce original as well as attested copies of certificates and mark sheets at the time of interviews. If selected, original degree and mark sheets of all semesters or years plus attested copies will have to be submitted at the time of joining.

Reserved category – Produce original as well as an attested copy of ST/SC/NC-OBC/DA certificates at the time of interviews. If selected, original certificates pertaining to reservation category plus attested copies will have to be submitted at the time of joining.

Final year undergraduate students – Produce an attested copy as well as an original certificate from the Registrar/ Principal/ Director of the institute or university stating that the candidate has obtained 50 percent marks or equivalent (45% in case of reserved category) based on latest grades/marks available. Their admission will be provisional until an original mark sheet and qualifying degree at the bachelor level is submitted before December 31, 2017. If a candidate is unable to submit requisites in time, his/her admission will automatically result in cancellation.

CAT 2018 Selection Process - Important Dates

Events	Dates
CAT 2018 Exam Date	25th November 2018
CAT 2018 Result Date	2nd Week of January 2019
CAT 2018 Selection Process Begins	3rd Week of January 2019

How CAT Participating Institutes Shortlist Candidates

Every institute releases its own CAT cut-off percentile.

Those who meet the cut-off must apply to these institutes before the deadline.

The institutes then evaluate candidates based on their CAT percentile, past academic records etc.

Candidates who qualify based on the factors given above are shortlisted for the further stages of CAT selection procedure.

If you wish to understand the detailed selection process of CAT participating colleges, please check out the links below:

CAT 2018 Cut-off

Once the CAT results are announced, a cut-off list is prepared by individual IIMs and other participating institutes. CAT Cut-off list is prepared for colleges to shortlist qualified candidates for further rounds of selection process. Only those candidates who meet the cut-off marks/percentage will be shortlisted for Group Discussion, Written Ability Test, and Personal Interview. These candidates can go through some of the tips for leading and cracking Group Discussion for MBA admissions and then acing the Personal Interview rounds of MBA colleges.

After conducting CAT 2018 on 25th November, CAT cut-off 2018 will be released on the official website of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) i.e. www.iimcat.ac.in. As part of the admission process, candidates willing to pursue MBA from top B-schools and IIMs will have to refer to the cut-off of CAT 2018.

Candidates must note that for admissions, IIMs and various reputed B-Schools accept the percentile/scores basis CAT Cut-off. For IIMs, CAT cut-off is separate for each category and region. The CAT cut-off list mentions the minimum qualifying marks that candidates must score in CAT. Candidates scoring equal or more than the listed cut-off marks will ultimately be shortlisted for further rounds of CAT selection process.

In order to get shortlisted for pre-admission rounds, which includes, Writing Ability Test (WAT) and Group Discussion (GD)/ Personal Interview (PI), candidates have to meet the sectional as well as overall CAT cut-off.

CAT Cut-off 2018- Important Dates

Following table lists the important dates of CAT cut-off 2018:

Events	Dates
CAT 2018 Exam	25th November 2018
CAT 2018 Result	2nd Week of January 2019
Declaration of names of the shortlisted candidates	4th Week of January 2019
Commencement of selection rounds	4th Week of January 2019

Factors Determining CAT Cut-off 2018

There are various factors on which CAT cut-off depends. The cut-off of CAT varies from institute to institute and candidates meeting the CAT cut-off are given admission in MBA courses. Before checking the cut-off list, candidates must have a look at the following determining factors:

Total number of the test takers

Total number of seats

Exam difficulty level

Institute ranking

Total number of candidates qualifying CAT exam

Highlights of CAT Cut-off 2018

There was a separate cut-off list for all the IIMs.
Last year’s IIM Ahmedabad’s CAT cut-off was 99.6%
A separate CAT cut-off was released by different participating B-Schools.

CAT scores are released category and section-wise.

To get shortlisted for pre-admission rounds, candidates must meet sectional as well as the overall cut-off of CAT.

How to Check CAT Cut-off 2018

By following the steps mentioned below, candidates can view the CAT cut-off 2018:

In order to view CAT cut-off 2018, candidates have to visit the official website, i.e. www.iimcat.ac.in

After visiting the website, candidates must search for the ‘CAT exam cut-off 2018’ on the webpage.

CAT 2018 cut-off link will appear on the screen. Candidates must click on it.

The link will display category-wise CAT cut-off for the candidates.

Furthermore, explore the probability of getting into an MBA college of your choice basis your CAT percentile bracket below:

List of MBA Colleges Accepting 80-90 Percentile in CAT 2018

List of MBA Colleges Accepting 50-60 Percentile in CAT 2018

List of MBA Colleges Accepting 70-80 Percentile in CAT 2018

List of MBA Colleges Accepting 60-70 Percentile in CAT 2018

You can also analyze the CAT Percentile vs CAT Score process here.

Best Books for CAT 2018

When it comes to preparing for entrance exams like CAT, the best way to start your preparation is to pick the right study material. Books have always been considered the best source for enhancing knowledge and providing the right guidance to students. But today, there are so many choices in the market that it becomes difficult for aspirants to pick the right ones. In this article, we've tried to close that gap by shortlisting some books that you can refer to while studying for the CAT 2018 paper. The following list features some of the best and highly recommended CAT preparation books.

Best Books for CAT Preparation 2018

Quantitative Aptitude	Arun Sharma's How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT Sarvesh K Verma's Quantum CAT Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Nishit K. Sinha NCERT Mathematics books for Class 8, 9 & 10
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension by Arihant Publication R.S. Aggarwal's A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay's How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning by Nishit Sinha
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning	Arun Sharma's How to Prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning for CAT Nishit K. Sinha's Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT NCERT books Word Power Made Easy by NORMAN LEWIS

CAT Preparation Books for Quantitative Aptitude

Arun Sharma's How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT

One of the best and highly recommended books for preparing numerical section. Tata McGraw Hill (TMH) publications is the publisher.

Quantum CAT Written by Sarvesh K Verma

This books features a wide variety of questions and maintains the level of difficulty as well.

Nishit K. Sinha's Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT

This book is published by the Pearson education, this book covers new updates and additions including equations, co–ordinate geometry, number system, etc.

Abhijit Guha's Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations

Published by Tata McGraw-Hill, this book covers almost all topics required for CAT preparation.

CAT Preparation Books for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

Arun Sharma's How to Prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning for CAT

Published by TMH publication, this book explains all the fundamental concepts related to Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning.

Nishit K. Sinha's Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation for the CAT

Pearson publication is the publisher of this book, which includes most of the advanced and fundamental topics in DI and LR.

CAT Preparation Books for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning

Authored by R.S. Aggarwal and published by S. Chand publications, this book is easy to comprehend and offers simple explanations.

The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning by Nishit Sinha

This book is a fine composition of both the sections.

How to Prepare for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension for CAT by Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay

Apart from various tips and tricks to tackle different questions, this book also has the latest exam pattern so that the candidates can become familiar with the paper.

While these books have been recommended to tackle the CAT question paper, you must also try and stay updated with the latest national and international news by reading newspapers and magazines regularly, by watching news channels and listening to the radio. Keeping a track of daily news will help you achieve success in further admission rounds of B-Schools, which may include GD & PI and WAT.

CAT Previous Year Question Papers

CAT is a popular entrance exam for pursuing MBA and PGDM courses from top management colleges in India. Aspirants of CAT must note that the exam is scheduled to be conducted on 25th November 2018. With just over 2 months to go, candidates must focus on putting all their efforts into preparing for the biggest managament entrance exam. One of the highly recommended tips for the preparation is to practice CAT Previous Years’ Question Papers. Solving previous years’ question papers is considered a great way to understand the structure of the exam.

The Common Admission Test (CAT) previous year question papers are available here on CollegeDekho. With the help of CAT last year question paper, test takers can get an insight into the nature of questions as well as the number of questions that could be asked in the exam. It also gives an understanding of the exam pattern and the weightage of every topic.

CAT 2017 Question Paper (Shift 1)

CAT 2017 Question Paper (Shift 2)

How to Download CAT Previous Year Question Papers

Click on the above-mentioned link – CAT 2017 Question Paper (Shift 1/2)
A new page will open asking for candidate's login detail. Fill in the credentials and click on 'Login' button.
After successful login, candidates will be redirected to a new PDF page with the CAT question paper.
Download the CAT question paper and start practicing.

Advantages of Solving CAT Previous Years’ Question Papers

One of the most prominent advantages of solving CAT previous years’ question papers is that it helps to know the exam pattern and structure of CAT. Candidates need not search references in order to check the exam pattern if they are into regular practicing of solving the previous years’ papers.
Solving the question papers will help candidates in keeping a check of the time taken to solve the entire paper. Candidates can also solve the paper section-wise to figure out the time taken in each section. This in a way will help candidates in improving time management for the main examination.
It will also help candidates in identifying their weak sections of CAT. Once the areas are identified, candidates can work on them and improve their performance. This in a way also helps in the identification of easy and quick sections that can be dealt first in the main paper.
Time management in terms of preparation can also be sorted out by solving the question papers of the past years, as it helps to find the strengths and weaknesses of the preparation and this in return helps to set the time for better preparation.
This magic trick can help candidates convert their weaknesses into their strengths. Tricky questions can be conquered once they are identified.
This is also the best way to build self-confidence and inner strength, which is required at the time of examination.

Preparation Tips for CAT 2018

CAT 2018 preparation must be planned strategically as the level of competition in this examination is very high. One must be aware of the CAT 2018 Syllabus, so that they plan the preparation in a better way, keeping in mind the sections and sub-sections of the syllabus. Experts also advise making an effective timetable that can be followed without missing out any planned time slot. Once you know the entire syllabus, compile the best books and reference materials for CAT 2018 that will help you in studying the subjects of the syllabus.

The motive behind CAT 2018 preparation can only be achieved with rigorous practice and determination. Taking help from seniors and mentors is also recommended for the CAT 2018 aspirants. For this, you can also get enrolled in a good CAT coaching center near your place. Coaching centers are also a good source for acquiring previous years’ question papers of CAT.

Candidates can also explore the following options to boost their preparation for the upcoming CAT 2018 examination.

How to Prepare for CAT

CAT Mock Test

CAT Paper Analysis

Facts about CAT

CAT 2018 Admit Card (Released)

CAT 2018 admit card has been issued by IIM Calcutta on 24th October 2018 for all the candidates who successfully registered for the entrance exam. Now that the admit card of CAT 2018 has been released, candidates can download and print the same by entering their login credentials, i.e. CAT login ID and password.

The admit card of CAT 2018 will display details such as candidate's name, roll number, exam schedule and complete address of the exam center. Before appearing for the entrance exam, candidates must carry CAT 2018 admit card along with a valid proof of identity on the day of the exam. Without the admit card and ID proof, candidates will not be allowed to appear for the entrance exam. Additionally, candidates must carefully go through the CAT admit card and verify whether all the details printed on it are correct.

Since you will be appearing for the top management entrance exam of the country, you should also be aware of the importance of the CAT exam in MBA admissions.

Note: Candidates must keep their CAT admit card safe until the admission process is completed.

CAT Admit Card 2018 – Important Dates

Events	Dates
CAT 2018 Admit Card	October 24, 2018
CAT 2018 Exam	November 25, 2018

How to Download CAT Admit Card 2018

Candidates can follow the steps given below to download the admit card of CAT 2018:

Visit the official website of CAT 2018, i.e. iimcat.ac.in.
Click on 'Login' under the heading Download CAT 2018 Admit Card.
To access the admit card of CAT, use your login credentials, i.e. CAT User ID and Password and click on ‘login’ button.
After entering the details, the admit card of CAT 2018 will appear on the screen.
Download your admit card for CAT 2018.
Take a print out of the admit card for future use.

Important Instructions Regarding CAT Hall Ticket 2018

Candidates who fail to produce CAT 2018 admit card will not be allowed to appear for the entrance exam.
It is mandatory for the candidates to show their admit card and photo ID proof for verification at the CAT test center.
Candidates must follow all the instructions mentioned on the CAT admit card 2018.
The admit card of CAT 2018 will be available in online mode only and will not be sent by post.
The admit card of CAT 2018 should not be distorted.

Details Mentioned on CAT 2018 Admit Card

The following details will be mentioned on CAT admit card 2018:

Candidate’s Name
CAT 2018 Registration Number and User ID
Date of birth of the candidate
Date and slot of CAT 2018
Name of the Exam centre and address
Category
Candidate’s Photograph
Test system number
Candidate’s Signature
Exam day Instructions

ID Documents Required with CAT 2018 Admit Card

Along with the admit card of CAT 2018, candidates will have to bring any one of the following photo ID proofs:

PAN card
Voter ID card
Aadhaar card
Passport
Driving License

Discrepancy in CAT Admit Card 2018

CAT 2018 admit card mentions exam related and candidate-specific details. Therefore, before downloading the admit card, candidates must verify all the details mentioned on the CAT 2018 admit card. In case, candidates find any discrepancy in the admit card then, they must immediately contact the CAT Helpdesk.

FAQs on CAT Admit Card 2018

1. Who will release the CAT 2018 admit card?

CAT 2018 admit card will be released by IIM Calcutta.

2. Is CAT 2018 hall ticket available in offline mode?

The admit card of CAT 2018 will be available in online mode only.

3. Till when should I keep the CAT 2018 admit card?

Candidates must keep their CAT hall tickets for future use as it will be used during the admission process.

4. Is it necessary to carry a photo-identity proof along with the CAT admit card 2018 on the day of the exam?

Yes, it is important to carry an identity proof on the day of the entrance exam.

CAT 2018 Percentile Predictor

CAT Percentile Predictor is a unique tool that candidates can use to predict their percentile soon after appearing for the exam. CAT is an important examination for management aspirants who wish to study in the prestigious IIMs and other premier business schools of the country. It is therefore inevitable that such test takers may get anxious after taking the exam. With Collegedekho's CAT Percentile Predictor, candidates can at least get an idea of how they performed in the exam. The percentile predictor not only allows one to calculate his/her estimated CAT Percentile but it also helps one in getting a fair idea of his/her overall performance in the Common Admission Test.

Note: The CAT Percentile Predictor provided above is based on the data of last years' exam i.e. CAT 2017.

Steps to Calculate Your Estimated CAT Percentile

Enter the number of CAT questions you attempted. Also, enter the number of attempts which you think are correct.

After providing these details, you will get your expected percentile and score.

Based on your percentile, you will be able to get an idea of your college options and you can prepare for further admission rounds accordingly.

Colleges accepting CAT scores range 80 to 90 Percentile

Colleges accepting CAT scores range 70 to 80 Percentile

Colleges accepting CAT scores range 50 to 60 Percentile

How to Apply for CAT 2018

Wish to know how to apply for CAT 2018? On this page, you will find all the relevant information related to CAT registration, which started on 8th August 2018. The CAT application process 2018 is being conducted online by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM), Calcutta. The national-level entrance exam takes place annually on a rotation basis.

Apart from the IIMs, there are many other institutions that accept CAT scorecard for admission into their management programmes. For those who are preparing to take CAT 2018, the following information about CAT application form 2018 including how to apply, application dates, eligibility, etc. can help in the CAT application process. Registration window is usually open on the official CAT website between August and September. On the basis of the CAT exam score, interested applicants can seek admission in MBA and PGDM courses across colleges in India.

The CAT application process involves three steps – Registration, Filling & Submitting the Application Form and Application Fee payment. The registration process for CAT 2018 will end on September 26, 2018.

After registering for CAT, candidates' CAT User ID and Password will be generated and sent to them on their registered email and mobile number. With the help of login credentials, candidates will be required to login to the official website and fill the CAT 2018 application form. While filling up the CAT application form 2018, candidates will be required to shortlist four exam centers in order of their preference.

The application fee can be paid either through Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, BillDesk, PaytM or PayU.

Last year, as many as 2.80 lakh registrations were done for the exam. Out of that number, 2.31 lakh candidates submitted their applications along with the application fee.

CAT Application Dates 2018

Events	Date
CAT 2018 Application Start Date	8th August 2018
CAT 2018 Application End Date	26th September 2018 (until 5 PM)
CAT 2018 Application Form Correction	4th Week of September 2018
CAT 2018 Exam Date	25th November 2018

Documents Required Before Filling CAT Application 2018

Before registering and filling out the application form for CAT, candidates must keep the following documents handy to avoid any hassle during the process.

Class X, Class XII, Bachelor’s Degree or higher education mark sheets

Necessary certificates for uploading

Scanned images of recent passport size photograph and signatures with white background.

List of IIM programmes the candidates wishes to apply

CAT 2018 Mock Test

To help the CAT aspirants understand the exam pattern well, IIM Calcutta has released the CAT 2018 mock test. All CAT applicants must go through this online tutorial to familiarise themselves with the latest CAT exam pattern and to know other important instructions that must be followed at the exam center.

Appearing for a computer-based exam like CAT without the knowledge of how it actually works is certainly not a good idea. In order to have a complete understanding of the exam, candidates should familiarise themselves with the user interface and navigation by practicing CAT mock test. Taking mock tests right now will allow candidates to become familiar with the navigation, and hence, they will not waste precious time understanding the interface on the day of the exam.

Another important point that candidates should keep in mind is that the exam is divided into three sections, which are individually timed for one hour each. This means that as soon as an hour is over while the candidate is solving a particular section, the test will automatically move to the next section. Also, candidates must note that switching from one section to another while answering questions in a section is not an option. Candidates must give their best shot in all three sections of CAT. A bad performance in one section cannot be compensated with a good performance in the other section. Some questions in the CAT exam will not be of multiple choice type. Instead, candidates will be required to type their answers on the screen.

How to Access CAT Mock Test with Solutions

In order to practice the mock tests, candidates can take the following steps to access CAT 2018 mock tests on our website.

Click on any of the mock tests links available on this page.
You will be redirected to the candidate's login page.
Enter the credentials to successfully register or login to the account.
After successful login, you will be redirected to the mock test.
Once you see the mock test page, start solving and practice as much as you can for better preparation.

Importance of CAT Mock Test

CAT mock test helps you in understanding the exam pattern in a clear and better way.
If you are in a regular practice session then you will gradually improve your time-management.
Mock test series will guide you through a better understanding of the CAT main paper by highlighting the important areas.
By solving CAT mock test you can easily identify the areas where more preparation is required. Simultaneously, it will help you in finding out the areas that can be solved quickly and are to be attempted first.
Solving mock test papers on a regular basis is something that is highly recommended by the experts as it will help you to increase your confidence.
The more you practice a mock test, the better you will perform on the main exam day.

Quick Look at CAT 2018 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

CAT 2018 is an online examination that will be held in the English language.
As per the new pattern, there will be more of key-in answer type questions than MCQs.
There will be a total of 100 questions divided among 3 sections with a total of 300 marks.
The sections include Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (34 questions), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (32 questions) and Quantitative Ability (34 questions).
CAT 2018 test duration is 3 hours (180 minutes).
60 minutes for each section has been allotted. After every 60 minutes, the section will automatically change.
There is no provision to switch from one section to the other without completing the 60 minutes.
There will be negative marking of 1 mark for every incorrect answer.

In order to understand the type of colleges you can target basis your performance in CAT exam, read the articles below:

CAT 2018 Answer Key

CAT 2018 answer key is expected to be released in the month of December 2018 by the conducting authority of the entrance exam. The answer key of CAT 2018 will be released before the declaration of CAT 2018 results in online mode for the candidates who will appear in the entrance exam. With the help of the CAT 2018 Answer Key, you will be able to draw a relation between your expected CAT Score vs CAT Percentile.

Last year, the answer key of CAT was released by the exam conducting authority. Therefore, following the last year’s trend, it is expected that this year also, the answer key of CAT 2018 will be released. By cross-checking the answers mentioned in the CAT 2018 answer key, candidates will be able to compare their responses with the official answer key and get an idea about their performance in the entrance exam.

The answer key of CAT 2018 will have the correct answers to all the questions asked in the entrance exam. Therefore, with the help of CAT 2018 answer key, candidates will know how many correct and incorrect answers they have marked in the entrance test. To calculate the probable scores correctly, candidates must also know the marking scheme of CAT 2018. Candidates are awarded 3 marks for each correct answer and 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect response.

Important Dates of CAT 2018 Answer Key

Event	Dates
CAT 2018 Exam	November 25, 2018
CAT 2018 Answer Key	2nd Week of December 2018

Steps to Download CAT 2018 Answer Key

Test-takers should follow the below-mentioned steps to check the correct responses to the questions asked in the entrance exam.

Step 1: When the CAT 2018 answer key is released, click on the link provided on this page.

Step 2: The link can be used to view the answer key of CAT 2018.

Step 3: After clicking on the link, the CAT 2018 answer key will be displayed on the screen.

Step 4: Cross-check your answers with that of CAT 2018 answer key.

Step 5: Download the CAT 2018 answer key for future reference.

Marking Scheme of CAT 2018 Answer Key

To calculate the probable scores in the entrance exam, candidates must know the marking scheme of CAT 2018.

For each correct response, 3 marks are awarded to the candidates.
1 mark is deducted for each incorrect response.

The table given below lists the CAT 2018 marking scheme:

Type of Answer	Marks
For Correct Answer	+ 3 Marks
For Wrong Answer	-1 Mark

CAT 2018 College Predictor

CollegeDekho has introduced a unique CAT College Predictor Tool that test takers can use to find out the colleges where they can get admission based on their percentile. While the CAT 2018 exam is yet to be conducted, you can go through our last year's CAT College Predictor.

After the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2017 result was announced, candidates used our CAT College Predictor 2017 tool to get the list of all the colleges that were best suited for them as per their CAT percentile.

In order to use this tool, candidates have to log in with valid credentials and provide their CAT percentile. A list of different colleges appears where they can apply based on their score.

Shortlisting B-schools manually is a difficult task and it also requires a lot of research. Therefore, candidates may use our unique College Predictor tool to obtain the list of top management institutes suited as per their needs and CAT percentile. By knowing the names of colleges, candidates can prepare themselves for their respective admission rounds.

CAT Coaching Institutes

CAT coaching institutes can guide the management aspirants to succeed in the CAT (Common Admission Test), which is one of the most popular MBA entrance exams in India. For candidates who wish to pursue their career in the field of management, MBA is a prestigious master's degree. CAT, being a gateway to India's most prestigious B-schools, aims to judge candidates’ intellect and aptitude, and whether or not they are capable of studying at India’s premier MBA institutions. As part of the CAT preparation, aspirants can take help from any of the popular coaching institutes located across the country.

There are various MBA coaching centers in the country that prepare candidates for CAT. Apart from self-study, it is important for the candidates to have proper and expert guidance to make their preparation journey manageable and stress-free. A good coaching institute provides appropriate study/ reference material to its students and guides them on how to score well in the entrance exam. Apart from that, there are many MBA coaching institutes that help candidates not only prepare for the entrance exam, but also for the second stage of MBA admissions, i.e. Group Discussion/Written Ability Test and Personal Interview.

How to Choose a Coaching Institute

Before joining a CAT coaching institute, aspirants must take the following factors into consideration:

Candidates must know about the success ratio of the coaching institute as what percentage of students of that coaching institute have qualified the exam in previous years, and how many of them got through the final selection.
While choosing a coaching institute, candidates must take feedback from ex-coaching students regarding the teachers and faculty members.
Candidates must know about the past achievements and background of the coaching center.
Infrastructure, safety, and assurance are also essential factors that must be kept in mind while choosing a coaching center.
Candidates must have knowledge about the fee structure and refund policy of the coaching institute.
Study materials are important sources for entrance exam preparation, which are provided by almost every coaching institute. However, candidates must check for the study material provided by the coaching institute before joining it.
The location and the timings of the coaching institute are also important factors that candidates must take into account.

Top Coaching Institutes in India for MBA Entrance Preparation

Some of the top coaching institutes in India that prepare students for MBA entrance exams are listed below:

IMS	Career Launcher	Bulls Eye
Byju’s Classes	Endeavour Careers	Erudite
PT Education	TIME	MBAguru
Prudence Academy	--	--

Top Coaching Institutes for CAT in Delhi NCR

Fluke Academy, South Extension Part I, Delhi	IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd., Connaught Place, Delhi	Teachwell Professional Studies Institute Pvt. Ltd., Pitampura, Delhi
Smart Prep Education Pvt. Ltd., Vikaspuri, Delhi	Career Mentor, Uttam Nagar, Delhi	Infinite School of Learning, Lajpat Nagar, Delhi
IMS, Dwarka, Delhi	Prudence Academy, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi	Dhirati Education - Classes By FMS/IIT Alumni, Tilak Nagar, Delhi

Top Coaching Institutes for CAT in Kolkata, West Bengal

IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd., Elgin, Kolkata	Cubix Educational Institute Pvt. Ltd., Park Street, Kolkata	Erudite Education, Park Street, Kolkata
Edu World, Salt Lake City, Kolkata	Ravi Raja's Classes, Bhowanipore, Kolkata	Worldwin, Salt Lake City, Kolkata
Career Guide,Dum Dum, Kolkata	Anindya Saha, Kaikhali, Kolkata	Eduguide, Nagar Bazaar, Kolkata

Top Coaching Institutes for CAT in Mumbai, Maharashtra

The Prayas India, Bhandup West, Mumbai	Success Forum, Dadar West, Mumbai	Manoeuvre, Borivali West, Mumbai
MBA PATHSHALA, Thane West, Mumbai	Tutor Jar, Vasai West, Mumbai	Khyati Mehta Freelancer, Kandivali West, Mumbai
Iyer Expert Guidance, Mulund West, Mumbai	IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd., Bandra East, Mumbai	Avon Academy, Vashi, Mumbai

Top Coaching Institutes for CAT in Chennai, Tamil Nadu

I.M.S. Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd., Adyar, Chennai	Global Smart Infotech & Education, Royapettah, Chennai	Velans Academy, Valasaravakkam, Chennai
Chennai Race Coaching Institute Pvt. Ltd., T. Nagar, Chennai	Paradigm Expert Classes, Ashok Nagar, Chennai	Entrance Academy, Teynampet, Chennai
Nesto Educational Welfare Trust, T. Nagar, Chennai	Best Engineering & School Tutions, Ambattur, Chennai	Annai Home Tuition Center, Ambattur, Chennai

Top Coaching Institutes for CAT in Bangalore, Karnataka

IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd., Jayanagar, Bangalore	Giraffe Learning, Vasanth Nagar, Bangalore	Triumphant Institute of Management Education Pvt. Ltd., Infantry Road, Bangalore
Aptech Computer & Aviation Academy, Electronic City, Bangalore	I.M.S. Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd., Malleswaram, Bangalore	Anu Gyan Edu Co, Bhoopasandra, Bangalore
Summit Careers, Jayanagar, Bangalore	Time Education Bangalore Pvt. Ltd., Indira Nagar, Bangalore	-

Top Coaching Institutes for CAT in Jaipur, Rajasthan

IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd., Lalkothi, Jaipur	Aptimania, Shastri Nagar, Jaipur	Nextep Academy Pvt. Ltd., Barkat Nagar, Jaipur
Endeavor Career Pvt. Ltd., Tonk Road, Jaipur	Career Launcher, Mansarovar, Jaipur	Ujjwal Education Centre, Sirsi Road, Jaipur
Safeducate Learning Pvt. Ltd, Lal Kothi, Jaipur	Harplani Home Tuition, Mansarovar, Jaipur	Qriyo Home Tuitions, Mansarovar, Jaipur

Top Coaching Institutes for CAT in Hyderabad, Telangana

TR Training & Consulting Services, Begumpet, Hyderabad	I.M.S. Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd., Begumpet, Hyderabad	Guru Academy, Barkatpura, Hyderabad
Abhyaas, Kukatpally, Hyderabad	Abhyaas Edu Corp, Vanasthalipuram, Hyderabad	Bismillah Home Tuitions, Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad
Mythris Management Academy, Kukatpally, Hyderabad	My3 Educational Academy, Himayat Nagar, Hyderabad	Dice Academy, Dilsukh Nagar, Hyderabad

CAT 2018 Conducting Body

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) every year on a rotational basis. It is a gateway for admission in 20 IIMs and more than 100 management schools across the country. IIM Lucknow, IIM Calcutta, IIM Ahmedabad, and IIM Bangalore. are among the first IIMs to have been established in the country. The institute conducts a diverse range of academic activities to ensure that its students understand the application management knowledge and practice. The aim of these institutes is to transform its students into value-driven leaders, managers, and global players. For CAT 2018, IIM Calcutta will be the conducting body.

CAT 2018 Important Dates

Events	Dates
CAT 2018 Registration Process Start Date	8th August 2018
CAT 2018 Registration Process End Date	26th September 2018 (until 5 PM)
CAT 2018 Admit Card Start Date	24th October 2018 (from 1 PM)
CAT 2018 Exam Date	25th November 2018
CAT 2018 Result Date	2nd Week of January 2019

CAT 2018 Exam Centers

CAT 2018 will be held across approximately 147 cities. Out of the various test centers in these cities, candidates will get the option to choose 4 test cities in order of their preference. Last year, the total number of test cities was 144. It has been increased in order to accommodate all the CAT test-takers in both the sessions. However, the test centers will be allotted to candidates basis their availability.

Exam State	Exam Cities
Andaman and Nicobar Islands	Port Blair
Assam	Dibrugarh, Guwahati
Arunachal Pradesh	Chittoor, Kurnool, Nellore, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam
Bihar	Aurangabad, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Purnea
Chandigarh	Chandigarh
Chattisgarh	Raipur, Bhillai
Delhi	New Delhi
Goa	Madgaon, Verna
Gujarat	Ahmedabad, Anand, Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara
Haryana	Ambala, Bahadurgarh, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Palwal, Panipath, Rohtak, Sonipath
Himachal Pradesh	Shimla
Jammu and Kashmir	Jammu
Jharkhand	Dhanbad, Jamshedpur, Ranchi
Karnataka	Belgaum, Bengaluru, Bidar, Chikballapur, Davanagere, Hasan, Kolar, Mandya, Mangalore, Mysore, Ramnagara, Shimoga, Tumkur, Udupi
Kerala	Kasaragod, Kochi, Kollam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thrissur, Trivandrum
Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Sagar
Maharashtra	Ahmednagar, Amravati, Aurangabad, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Ratnagiri, Satara, Solapur, Thane
Meghalaya	Shillong
Odisha	Balasore, Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur
Puducherry	Puducherry
Punjab	Fatehgarh Sahib, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Pathankot, Patiala, Ropar, Sangrur
Rajasthan	Ajmer, Alwar, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Sikar, Udaipur
Tamil Nadu	Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Namakkal, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelvelli
Telangana	Hyderabad, Karim Nagar, Khammam
Uttar Pradesh	Agra, Allahabad, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Greater Noida, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Noida, Varanasi
Uttarakhand	Dehradun, Roorkee
West Bengal	Asansol, Burdwan, Durgapur, Hooghly, Howrah, Kalyani, Kolkata, Siliguri

Disclaimer

CAT 2018 aspirants will have to agree to a Non-Disclosure Agreement at the time of the test. Disclosing any type of content related to the CAT exam in any form or in any way is a punishable offense. It could land a person in jail for a term of up to three years and may also have to submit a fine up to Rs. 2 lakhs.

During the admission or selection process, if it is found that a candidate has furnished any incorrect information or has violated any process, he/she will be barred from participating in the selection process. Also, the candidate will not be allowed to appear for the CAT in future.

Contact Details

For any query on the Registration Process, Payment, and Document Uploading related to CAT 2018,

Call on the Toll free number 1-800-209-0830 (Toll Free) Monday to Saturday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Email ID: cathelpdesk@iimcat.ac.in

Important Dates

CAT 2018 Important Events	Dates
Registration	08 Aug to 26 Sep, 2018
Admit Card	24 Oct, 2018
Exam Date	25 Nov, 2018

CAT 2018 - Common Admission Test

Registration