ICFAI Business School-IBSAT 2024
9 IBS Campuses | Scholarships Worth Rs 10 CR
Common Admission Test or CAT, is India's most prestigious national-level entrance examination. The CAT exam is conducted for admission to a postgraduate management programme, such as an MBA/PGDM, offered by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and various prestigious business schools. This year, the IIM Calcutta will conduct the CAT 2024 on November 24, 2024, Sunday. Read this article to know why CAT exam is necessary for MBA?, CAT exam uses, difficulty level of the CAT, etc.
Free Study Material: VARC | DILR | Quant | Chapter-wise Practice MCQs
CAT 2024: CAT'23 Official Question with Solutions (Slot 1, 2, 3)
Test: 20 Free Mock Test | 10 Year PYQs | Most Scoring Concepts
The CAT entrance test is the largest MBA entrance test in the country and allows aspirants to get into top management institutes. The CAT exam assesses the verbal ability, logical reasoning, quantitative ability, and data interpretation skills of candidates working in management education, business, and administration fields.
Before entering the topic, you need to know is CAT exam mandatory for MBA? Not necessarily, but candidates who want to get admission to IIM or any other top B-schools in India must appear in the CAT exam. Many MBA colleges in India accept certain MBA entrance exam scores like CMAT, MAT, XAT, and NMAT.
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level management aptitude test that is conducted by the IIM on a rotational basis for admission to the MBA courses offered by its 20 campuses and more than 1200 B-schools in India. Every year, more than 2.5 lakh candidates apply for the CAT exam.
CAT exam is conducted on a single day in three sessions (Morning, Afternoon, and Evening) at about 400 test centres in 155 cities across India. The majority of government and private MBA colleges in India accept the CAT exam, so those who intend to pursue an MBA in the 2025 academic session should take CAT 2024.
The CAT exam is a test that evaluates a student's skills and ability to determine whether they are suitable for a managerial job. Whether you are close to completing your graduation or have worked in the industry for a few years and are planning to pursue an MBA at one of the top B-schools in India, preparation for the CAT exam is very important. Check out below the what is the use of CAT exam
Gateway to Prestigious Institutions: The CAT entrance exam opens the door to prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top MBA colleges in India.
Multidisciplinary Skill Development: Preparing for CAT helps develop essential skills like critical thinking, problem solving, time management, and decision making skills.
Career Advancement: Clearing the CAT exam can significantly improve career prospects, providing access to higher-paying job opportunities in various industries.
Business and Leadership Intelligence: Rigorous curriculum and exposure to excellent management programmes develop business acumen, leadership skills, and strategic thinking skills.
Networking Opportunities: Joining top management institutes through CAT provides a great platform to network with like-minded individuals and professionals.
Also Read:
How Many Students Clear CAT Exam Every Year? | How To Get into IIM Without CAT |
How Many Students Give CAT Exam Every Year? | How to Get Into IIM: Selection Criteria, Cutoff, Admission Process |
NAAC ‘A++’ Grade | AACSB Accredited | Ranked #7th best University | H-CTC 21.90 LPA | Avg CTC: 8.23 LPA
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Application Deadline: 1st Dec 2024
If you are interested in studying MBA, here we have listed some advantages of the CAT exam.
Students passing out from these premium institutes, i.e., IIMs, are selected by companies with attractive MBA salary packages.
The sheer variety of jobs and the amount of responsibility you get with an MBA in a job make it worth it. You can choose from many specializations like advertising, finance, strategy, marketing, consulting, etc.
To grow beyond a certain level in your job, you need an additional degree. Choosing a career in MBA is one of the best options for higher education in India.
If you have done an MBA at one of the best B-schools in the country, your ability to get seed capital to start a new business (as an entrepreneur) will be greatly enhanced. You can interact with people from different backgrounds, where you can brainstorm your ideas and handle things better.
An MBA certainly offers better recognition, networking opportunities, and credibility.
Know more about IIM Placement Report
Candidates appearing in the CAT exam will have the following opportunities and know what is CAT exam used for and CAT exam is for which stream;
For those who wish to pursue a career in management, taking the CAT exam is an overall great choice. It is important to remember that it is very competitive, and success requires a lot of effort and dedication.
The student cannot join the postgraduate MA program directly in the second year of the MA after completing the MBA.
Universities generally expect students to begin the first year of a masters' program even though they had qualifications at the level of a bachelor's degree. The university's curriculum along with the courses are planned to give an in-depth knowledge of the subjects.
But you could opt for:
Postgraduate Studies:
Research Career: In case research interests you, then you can pursue a Ph.D. in your specific interest.
Specialized Master's Programs: Find any specific master's course that supports the career goal.
Professional Certifications:
Make a professional certification in CFA, CA, or FRM to enhance the professional skills and better opportunities in the career field.
Job Entry via MBA
After gaining an MBA from a renowned institution, it's possible to get entry into the corporate world where the diversity in the career field is assured.
In the end, it would depend on what you would like and what you are particularly interested in. It will be better if you take a suggestion from your academic advisor or career counselor.
Hello Pratik,
If your family income exceeds 8 LPA, it will affect your eligibility for the NC-OBC category under the CAT reservation rules. The NC-OBC category requires that the family income should be below 8 LPA to qualify. If you anticipate that your income will exceed this threshold, you should update your status and notify the CAT authorities .
Here's what you can do:
Email the CAT authorities
: Inform them about the potential change in your income status and request to be considered under the
General
category, if applicable. You should do this before the examination or any further processing, as your eligibility for the OBC category depends on the income criteria.
Documents and Proof
: Make sure you have a valid
OBC certificate
and any relevant documentation regarding your family income, in case they require verification. Also, be aware that if your income exceeds 8 LPA, you might need to apply under the
General
category, as the OBC-NC reservation is no longer applicable.
General Category Consideration : If your application is accepted as General, you will be evaluated based on the General category criteria, including cutoffs and ranking.
To summarize, notifying the CAT authorities is the correct approach to avoid discrepancies later, and if your income is above the threshold, you will be treated as a General candidate for the admissions process.
For more details about CAT exam you can check out an article by Careers360 whose link is given below:
Link: https://bschool.careers360.com/exams/cat
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.
Hi Shreya ,
Having a tattoo on your wrist should not create a problem during the CAT exam as long as it does not contain any content that violates exam rules , such as communication-related symbols , unauthorised messages or any text resembling formulas or answers .
For a safe side , it is recommended :
1. Inform the Invigilators : Let them know about your tattoo during the identification check , so there are no misunderstandings .
2. Follow the Guidelines : Ensure you follow all instructions regarding permissible items and dress code on the exam day .
Hope this helps you .
ALL THE BEST .
To know about this please prefer our college predictor
Hello,
Yes, you can also join IIMs two years after graduation, depending upon the justification in interviews and your performance in entrance exams. If you are not sure about CAT, try those other management exams less hard:
Common Management Admission Test: Easier than CAT; 4-5 months of continuous preparation will suffice.
MAT : Much easier and takes place thrice a year.
SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test): A bit easier than CAT, apt for Symbiosis Institutes.
Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT : Hence, easier than CAT but the unique decision-making section.
Use exams like CMAT and MAT as a challenge to be competitively prepared. This can be given about 4-5 months, along with a few rounds of mock tests and smart studying.
A career as Marketing Director is also known as a marketing expert who is responsible for the overall marketing aspect of the company. He or she oversees plans and develops the company's budget. The marketing Director collaborates with the business team to plan and develop the marketing and branding strategies for the company's products or services.
A Business Development Executive (BDE) is a professional responsible for identifying growth opportunities and fostering strategic partnerships to enhance a company's market position. Typically, a BDE conducts market research, analyses industry trends, and identifies potential clients or business prospects. He or she plays a crucial role in developing and implementing sales strategies to achieve revenue targets.
A BDE often collaborates with cross-functional teams, including marketing and product development, to align business objectives. Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills are essential for success in this role. BDE strives to expand the company's customer base, drive sales, and contribute to overall organisational growth in a dynamic and competitive business environment.
Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.
A sales manager is a revenue-generating source for a company. Any organisation or company which sells a commodity or service requires sales to generate revenue. A Sales manager is a professional responsible for supervising the sales team. An Individual as a sales manager works closely with salespeople, assigns sales territories, sets quotas, mentors the members of the sales, assigns sales training, and builds a sales plan.
The Sales Manager work also includes hiring and laying off sales personnel after evaluating his or her work performance. In bigger entities, sales quotas and plans are usually set at the executive level. He or she is responsible for overseeing the set target or quotas met by salespeople or upholding any policy. He or she guides his or her fellow salespeople and allows them to sell.
Individuals who opt for a career as a business analyst look at how a company operates. He or she conducts research and analyses data to improve his or her knowledge about the company. This is required so that an individual can suggest the company strategies for improving their operations and processes.
In a business analyst job role a lot of analysis is done, things are learned from past mistakes and the successful strategies are enhanced further. A business analyst goes through real-world data in order to provide the most feasible solutions to an organisation. Students can pursue Business Analytics to become Business Analysts.
A marketing manager is a person who oversees a company or product marketing. He or she can be in charge of multiple programmes or goods or can be in charge of one product. He or she is enthusiastic, organised, and very diligent in meeting financial constraints. He or she works with other team members to produce advertising campaigns and decides if a new product or service is marketable.
A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.
An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns.
Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Application Deadline: 1st Dec 2024
180+ Companies | Highest CTC 15 LPA | Average CTC 7.5 LPA | Ranked as Platinum Institute by AICTE for 6 years in a row | Awarded Best Business School of the Year
Passport to over 600+ B-Schools | Availed by lakhs of students | Wide acceptability of scores by hundreds of Business Schools and University Departments
UGC Approved Programs | 100% Placement Record | Up to 100% Scholarships | Highest CTC 21.74 LPA
Ranked 05th best University in India by NIRF 2024 | Highest CTC 35 LPA | Average CTC 11.4 LPA
9 IBS Campuses | Scholarships Worth Rs 10 CR