CAT 2024: Exam Date, Registration, Syllabus, Pattern, Preparation Tips, What is CAT Exam

CAT 2024 will be held on November 24, 2024, for admission to top MBA colleges like all 21 IIMs, IITs and 1200+ B-schools in India. The CAT 2024 exam will be conducted in three shifts in 150+ exam centres all over India. IIM Calcutta will most likely conduct CAT 2024 for MBA admissions 2024-2026. The CAT exam is conducted by six old IIMs on a rotational basis for which an official announcement will be made in May 2024. The official CAT 2024 notification will be released on the IIMCAT website iimcat.ac.in most likely on July 30 at 11 AM. The CAT 2024 registration process is expected to begin in the first week of August and will end in September.

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As per the CAT 2024 exam pattern, there will be 66 questions to be solved in 2 hours. The questions asked are usually very tricky which makes this paper difficult to solve within the given timeframe. With a few months left for CAT 2024, candidates can still start their CAT exam preparation and ace their exam by going through the CAT 2024 preparation plan given below. Also, take a look at important CAT 2024 dates, important topics in CAT 2024 syllabus and more about CAT 2024 in this article.

CAT 2024: Overview

Check out the latest highlights of the IIM CAT 2024 exam in the table below:

CAT 2024: Important Dates

The CAT conducting IIM will release an official notification mentioning all the important CAT 2024 exam dates. Given below in the table is a tentative schedule consisting of all important CAT exam dates based on past trends:

Question: Is CAT held twice a year?

Answer: No, the CAT MBA exam is held only once a year, usually on the last Sunday of November.

CAT 2024: All about Exam, Important Topics, Best Books & Tips (Video Guide)

Candidates planning to appear for IIM CAT 2024 must watch this full video for CAT exam 2024 preparation tips, types of questions asked in CAT 2024 exam, CAT best books and much more.

CAT 2024 Eligibility Criteria

Interested candidates must meet the CAT eligibility criteria before filling out the CAT 2024 registration form. Who can give CAT 2024? check out the CAT 2024 eligibility criteria given below:

• The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% in case of SC, ST and PwD) from a recognised university.
• Candidates awaiting their results or final-year students can also apply. Final admission will be given if the candidate fulfils the required percentage in the Bachelor’s Degree.

Question: How many CAT attempts are allowed?

Answer: There is no restriction on the number of attempts allowed. Candidates are free to take the Common Admission Test as many times as they want.

CAT 2024 Syllabus

CAT 2024 MBA exam is an aptitude exam that tests candidates on their analytical, and critical thinking abilities. The CAT syllabus comprises 3 sections - Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).

Knowing the detailed CAT 2024 exam syllabus is the first step to plan effectively and achieve top scores. Choosing the best books for CAT that cover the entire CAT exam syllabus, and provide them with ample mock tests, and chapter-wise exercises is also important for effective preparation.

CAT 2024 Exam Pattern

Check out the latest CAT exam pattern below:

*The CAT exam 2024 will be conducted online. Candidates are expected to have basic computer usage knowledge.

Question: Does CAT have negative marking?
Answer: Yes, CAT 2024 has a negative marking. 1 mark is deducted for every wrong answer.

CAT 2024 Preparation: Tips and Strategies

Check out these CAT preparation tips and strategies to crack the CAT 2024 exam with a 95+ percentile.

CAT 2024 Study Plan

How do I start preparing for CAT 2024? To know how to prepare for IIM CAT 2024 exam, check out this CAT exam preparation timeline that can help candidates prepare a structured study plan for exam.

• January - May 2024: Understand the basics of CAT 2024 MBA exam syllabus of LR, VARC and QA in first 4 months and complete QA in 5th month.
• June - August 2024: Complete VA and LR in first two months and dedicate the last month to DI section of CAT 2024.
• September - October 2024: Start revision of the complete CAT syllabus and solve CAT 2024 sample papers with CAT pyq.
• October - November 2024: In the last month, revise all the concepts of CAT 2024. Give CAT 2024 mock tests everyday, analyse your performance and work on weak areas.

Check out - CAT Preparation: Week-wise Schedule

CAT 2024 Topic-Wise Weightage

Going through all the topics that are frequently asked in the CAT previous year question papers is the first step towards planning an effective study plan. Check out the topic-wise weightage of questions in the past three year CAT question papers of 2021, 2022 and 2023:

IIM CAT 2024 Questions for Practice: Subject-Wise

Best Books for CAT 2024 Preparation (section-wise)

Choosing the best books for CAT preparation can be a task for many aspirants. The best books for CAT 2024 exam preparation are listed below:

Take a look at the best study material for CAT exam

CAT Question Papers

Candidates preparing for the CAT 2024 exam should familiarise themselves with the CAT 2024 syllabus, even though there is no officially released syllabus. However, candidates can refer to various resources, such as CAT mock tests, sample papers, and previous CAT question papers to understand the syllabus. To access previous years' CAT question papers and CAT sample papers, please refer to the table below:

For better preparation- Download past 10 years CAT question papers

Also Read -

• Tips for effective time management in CAT
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• CAT Preparation Strategy
• How to Prepare for CAT Exam

CAT 2024 Application Form

The CAT 2024 registration process is expected to be begin in first week of August. IIM CAT registrations rose around 30% last year setting the highest record. 3.28 candidates registered and approximately 88% of them appeared for this CAT MBA entrance exam. This year, CAT 2024 registrations are expected to hike in return increasing competition. To appear for CAT 2024, candidates can fill the CAT 2024 registration form online on iimcat.ac.in. To complete the registration, candidates will need to pay the CAT registration fee, which is expected to be Rs. 2300 for the general category and Rs. 1150 for reserved categories.

CAT 2024 Registration Process

Candidates can check the three steps of registration for the CAT 2024 exam given below:

• Create CAT login credentials
• Filling up the academic details in the application for the CAT 2024
• Paying CAT 2024 registration fees

Steps to Fill Out the CAT 2024 Application Form

Candidates can fill out the CAT registration form by following the step-by-step process below:

1. Visit the official website, iimcat.ac.in.
2. Click on "New Candidate Registration."
3. Enter personal details, including name, date of birth, email address, country, mobile number, and captcha.
4. Generate OTP and verify your email ID and mobile number.
5. Login using the CAT ID and password created and fill in personal, communication, and emergency contact details.
6. Upload documents as per the prescribed format and size.
7. Provide academic details from SSC/Class 10 onwards.
8. Enter relevant work experience (if applicable).
9. Select preferred exam cities (up to six choices).
10. Pay the CAT registration fee: Rs 2300 for the general category and Rs 1150 for SC/ST/PwD.
11. Take a printout of the filled CAT 2024 application for future reference.

CAT 2024 Application Form Correction

• Visit the official CAT 2024 website - iimcat.ac.in.
• Login with credentials like user ID and password.
• Open your application form.
• Make required changes.
• Save the application form

Question: What is the last date for CAT Exam 2024 registration?
Answer: As per the previous year, the CAT 2024 registration last date is expected to be September 21.

Question: How many students will be appearing for IIM CAT 2024?
Answer: As per past year trends, more than 2.88 lakh candidates are expected to appear for CAT 2024 MBA exam.

CAT 2024 Mock Tests

Before starting CAT 2024 preparation and planning out a strategy, take 1-2 CAT 2024 mocks to get an idea of where you stand. Analyse your strengths and weaknesses, draft out a CAT preparation strategy.

After completing the CAT 2024 Syllabus PDF, attempt CAT 2024 mock tests everyday. If candidates feel they are falling behind in any section based on their CAT 2024 mock analysis, they must pay special attention to improving that area as early as possible.

Take free CAT mock tests to strengthen your CAT 2024 preparation

CAT 2024 Admit Card

The admit card for the CAT 2024 exam is a crucial document that all MBA aspirants must carry on the day of the examination. Candidates need to be aware of the following important details regarding their CAT 2024 admit card.

1. Only registered candidates can download the IIM CAT 2024 admit card.
2. Candidates can access and download their admit card from the official website of IIM CAT - iimcat.ac.in, by logging in with their ID and password.
3. The admit card will contain details such as the test centre, exam date, and other important information related to the exam.
4. The CAT admit card is a mandatory document that must be carried out on the day of the examination.
5. Candidates should ensure that all the information mentioned on the admit card is correct. In case of any discrepancies, they should contact the authorities immediately

CAT 2024 Analysis

As per the past CAT analysis, the exam is expected to be moderate to difficult. The previous year, the difficulty level of the CAT question paper was high in all three slots. The final CAT 2024 analysis will be based on the feedback of the CAT 2024 aspirants and experts. Candidates will be able to access the earliest CAT 2024 exam analysis from the live coverage at the exam centre on the Careers360 YouTube channel.

Question: Will CAT 2024 MBA Exam be easy?
Answer: No, the CAT 2024 exam is not expected to be easy. As seen in the past few years, the difficulty level of CAT exam is high as compared to any other MBA entrance exam in India.

CAT 2024 Answer Key and Response Sheet

Authorities usually release the CAT response sheet along with the CAT answer key 8-10 days after the exam. Candidates will be able to download their recorded responses along with their answers on the official CAT website - iimcat.ac.in. Careers360 will also provide a memory-based CAT 2024 answer key before the release of the official CAT 2024 response sheet. Candidates will be able to calculate their estimated scores with the help of CAT score vs percentile given below.

CAT 2024 Score Vs Percentile (Expected)

Check out the CAT score vs percentile based on the past analysis.

CAT 2024 Results

IIM CAT 2024 results are expected to be announced in the third week of December. To access the CAT results, candidates can visit the CAT exam official website and click on the link provided for CAT exam 2024 results. They will need to enter their login credentials, including the CAT ID and password. The CAT scorecard will remain valid for a year until 2024.

Know: What After CAT 2024 Result?

Question: How long is CAT score valid?
Answer: The CAT scores are valid for only 1 year.

CAT 2024 selection process

Once candidates successfully clear the CAT exam 2024 and meet the required cutoff, they will be called for the CAT selection process by the participating institutes, including the IIMs and non-IIMs. The admission processes may vary among different colleges based on CAT 2024 score, WAT, and GD/PI, Check the selection process details below:

• CAT 2024 cutoff
• Written Ability Test (WAT)
• Group Discussion (GD)
• Personal Interviews (PI)

CAT scores are accepted by various institutes, including the IIMs and non-IIMs. Non-IIM institutes accepting CAT scores consist of a range of prestigious institutions, such as the 6 IITs, IISc Bangalore, NITs, JNU, IMT Ghaziabad, IPU, MDI Gurgaon, and SPJIMR Mumbai. Thoroughly researching and understanding the CAT 2024 selection criteria and process of institutes of interest is crucial for candidates to adequately prepare and increase their chances of securing admission.

Check: CAT college predictor

CAT 2024 Cut-off Scores

What is the cut off for CAT 2024? The CAT 2024 cutoff is expected to be 95+. Candidates who secure a valid score of 95 to 98 percentile in the CAT exam can apply for the MBA courses offered at IIM or other top B-schools in India. IIM Shortlist will be released after the declaration of CAT result 2024. Candidates can check out the list of IIMs accepting CAT scores along with their expected CAT 2024 cut offs. The IIM CAT 2024 cutoff for IIMs and non-IIMs is more or less on similar lines to the previous years.

Expected IIM CAT 2024 cutoffs

Also Read: IIM Call Cutoff Vs IIM Eligibility Cutoff

Expected CAT Colleges 2024 Cutoff (Non-IIMs)

Question: What is the cut off for CAT 2024?

Answer: The CAT cutoff 2024 for top MBA colleges in India like IIMs, SPJIMR, FMS, etc., is expected to be between 95 to 99+ percentile.

What is the scope after CAT 2024?

CAT 2024 is one of the most popular yet toughest MBA entrance exams, offering admission to 1000+ MBA colleges in India. The aim of every CAT aspirant is to get MBA admission to top colleges in India accepting CAT 2024 and ultimately get a high MBA salary in India. With over 3 lakh candidates registering for the exam, proves the demand and scope it holds among the MBA aspirants.

After clearing the CAT 2024, candidates can get into top B-schools like IIMs, FMS, SPJIMR, MDI, etc, and get placed in top companies like McKinsey, Deloitte, KPMG, EY, BCG, Bain & Company, etc, with high-paying management roles. It offers promising career opportunities, one can choose roles like management consultant, data analyst, human resource manager, investment banker and many more.

Read more about:

• High paying jobs after MBA
• Management consulting jobs and their salary trends

CAT 2024 Colleges

Check out the list of private, government, and state-wise CAT accepting colleges given below:

Check out the complete list of CAT 2024 colleges

CAT 2024: Must-Know Facts

Students can use these CAT 2024 facts to fix their final CAT percentile.

• CAT 2024 will be held in 167 cities at 375 exam centres in India for over 3 lakh MBA aspirants.
• Every year, IIMs offer approximately 5,500 seats for MBA admission through CAT.
• The acceptance rate of 21 IIM colleges is 1%–2%, with CAT cutoff for old IIMs ranging between the 94–99 percentile.
• The CAT cut off for baby IIMs ranges between 82 and 94 percentile.
• Top non-IIMs offer 4500+ seats for admission via CAT 2024 with comparatively higher acceptance rates.
• CAT 2024 cutoff for top MBA colleges (Non-IIMs) like FMS, IIFT, SPJIMR, MDI and JBIMS will be in the 94–100% range.
• CAT cutoff for other non-IIMs like MICA, XIME, XIM, TAPMI, K J Somaiya, etc. will be in the 75–90% range.

Question: Who will conduct CAT 2025?

Answer: CAT 2025 is expected to be conducted by IIM Kozhikode.