What does it take to clear the CAT exam?
Attempting mock tests regularly is what it takes to clear the CAT exam on its first attempt. The more mock tests you solve, the higher your chances of scoring in the CAT. Therefore, it is recommended to solve at least three mock tests a week. A mix of smart work, dedication, and hard work along with proper planning will help you clear the CAT exam. Candidates can plan their preparation as per their strengths and weaknesses.
Can a student without a Maths background clear CAT?
Definitely, a student without a Maths background can clear CAT but candidates will have to invest a lot of effort in the arithmetic component. For this, they should practice the previous year's question papers, take various mock tests and practice papers, and master multiple strategies to increase their efficiency. By this, candidates will be able to learn all the basic concepts and solve difficult mathematical problems on time.
Can you crack the CAT exam without coaching?
Yes, candidates can crack the CAT exam without coaching only if they aggressively prepare for it. However, aspirants must keep in mind that the exam offers tough competition and simultaneously demands considerable time and consistent effort. Most experts recommend that applicants who want to perform well on the exam should take CAT coaching but it is not mandatory.
How much is the CAT exam fee?
The CAT exam fee for General, EWS and NC-OBC categories is INR 2,500 and for SC, ST and PwD category is INR 1,150. You can pay the fees online using net banking or a debit/credit card. Candidates should be aware that the CAT application fee is not transferable. As the CAT application and registration is a one-time process, candidates must thoroughly check the form and apply accordingly.
How many attempts for CAT are allowed?
Inexhaustible attempts for CAT are allowed. In other words, there is no upper age limit or cap on the number of times you can take the CAT exam. However, the only criterion to sit for the CAT exam is that the applicants must be studying in their final year or obtained a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate. Further, if you are targeting to work for a reputed firm, a few companies consider the number of CAT attempts taken by a candidate as an eligibility criterion. Hence, students must try to clear the exam in as minimum attempts as possible.
What happens if I fail the CAT exam?
The CAT exam does not use the concepts of passing or failing. You will either receive a high percentile, which will permit you to promptly be called from IIM or one of your top universities, or a low percentile, which will prevent you from receiving a call for the next step in the admissions process.
How to calculate the CAT percentile?
The formula to calculate CAT percentile is:
Percentile = ( 1 - All India Rank(Total Candidates in the Exam) * 100%
Example 1: Let us assume that 50 candidates appeared for the CAT exam. You have done well in the exam and scored 3rd rank in the entrance test, which means that 47 students scored less than you. Now, your percentile should be calculated as follows: -
47/50*100 = 94 Percentile.
How many times is CAT conducted in a year?
CAT is conducted once a year and the application form for the exam will be release in July. The exam is held in the month of late November to early December every year across 150 exam centres located in different test cities of India.
Is CAT conducted every year?
Yes, CAT is conducted every year by any one of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) based on a policy of rotation. CAT is one of the many popular MBA entrance exams that, without a fail, is conducted every year. Candidates who are seeking admission to the MBA programme will have to appear for this entrance test and obtain a valid score to be eligible for admission to IIMs and other top B-Schools of India.
What is CAT exam?
The full form of CAT is the Common Admission Test. CAT is a national-level management entrance exam conducted for admission to IIMs and other MBA colleges in India. The exam has 3 sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability.
What are the benefits of appearing for the CAT?
One of the most noteworthy benefits of appearing for the CAT is the opportunity to study in the IIMs and some of the prestigious management institutes in the country like MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, S P Jain Mumbai, XLRI Jamshedpur, etc. The entrance test also helps the students in improving their logical thinking, reasoning, and time management skills.
How tough is CAT?
Overall, it can be said that CAT has a moderately tough difficulty level, however, the exam seems easy for many students who have started their preparation early and kept practising all three sections equally. With the right preparation strategy and a lot of practice, candidates can easily crack the entrance test and score a good percentile in the exam.
How many colleges accept CAT scores?
In India, nearly 3,763 colleges accept CAT scores since it is one of the most important entrance exams for MBA admissions in the country. Currently, there are a total of 20 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) that accept the CAT score. More than one thousand other prestigious management institutes like MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, S P Jain Mumbai, XLRI Jamshedpur, etc. also accept CAT scores. For more, aspirants can visit the official website of the selected college to find out if the college accepts CAT scores or not.
Who is the conducting body of CAT?
IIMs are the conducting institute for CAT. In India, there are a total of 21 IIMs, and one of them administers the CAT exam every year on a fixed rotational basis. In the years 2023 and 2022, CAT was conducted by IIM Lucknow and IIM Bangalore, respectively.
What is the duration of CAT exam?
The duration of CAT exam is two hours or 120 minutes. The test will be conducted in Computer-Based Mode (CBT). As there are three sections (VARC, DILR, QA) in the CAT exam, each section will have a duration of 40 minutes. Slot-wise, the exam will be conducted in three sessions, namely, Morning, Afternoon, and Evening.
How is the CAT exam centre allotted to the applicants?
The CAT exam centre is allotted to the applicants based on their chosen preferences. The applicant can specify up to six cities on the application form where they would like to take the CAT exam. Once a CAT exam centre has been chosen, requests to modify it will not be accepted by the conducting authority. Although not guaranteed, candidates usually get the first or second CAT exam centre of their choice.
When will CAT exam be conducted?
The CAT exam will be conducted most likely on the last Sunday of November across 150 exam centres located in different test cities of India. CAT is conducted every year by any one of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) based on a policy of rotation. Candidates who are seeking admission to the MBA programme will have to appear for this entrance test and obtain a valid score to be eligible for admission to IIMs and other top B-Schools of India.