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CAT Exam is for What Purpose? - Why should I Opt for CAT Exam 2024?

CAT Exam is for What Purpose? - Why should I Opt for CAT Exam 2024?

Edited By Sundararajan | Updated on May 21, 2024 12:49 PM IST | #CAT

Common Admission Test or CAT, is India's most prestigious national-level entrance examination. The CAT exam is conducted for the purpose of admission to a postgraduate management programme, such as an MBA/PGDM, offered by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and various prestigious business schools. Read this article to know why CAT exam is necessary for MBA?, CAT exam uses, difficulty level of the CAT, etc.

CAT Exam is for What Purpose?

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.

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What is CAT Exam?

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.

CAT Exam is for What Purpose: Benefits of CAT Exam 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.

CAT 2024 Syllabus PDF (Free Download)
This CAT exam 2024 syllabus pdf has detailed section-wise and subject-wise syllabus and important topics of CAT.
Download Now

Why Should You Opt for CAT Exam and Pursue MBA

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 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.

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CAT Exam Purpose: Reason for Appearing

Candidates appearing in the CAT exam will have the following opportunities and know what is CAT exam used for;

  • Get a platform to showcase your skills. The examination-conducting body of CAT IIM has designed the question paper to assess the candidate's aptitude. So candidates can easily show their ability to excel in their skills by opting for a management programme.
  • Personal development is one of the toughest exams in India. Therefore, preparing for CAT automatically improves work ethics, commitment, and time management skills.
  • Being a student at a prestigious business school gives you the opportunity to network with prominent business people, alumni, and faculty. This will help you build a solid professional network that will ultimately boost your career.
  • The CAT exam is designed to assess your ability in areas such as verbal and numerical ability, as well as your ability for logical reasoning and interpretation of data—important skills for the future in management. The academic curriculum at leading business schools places a strong emphasis on developing these skills, positioning you for a lucrative management career.

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.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

1. What is the purpose of the CAT exam?

CAT is conducted for admission to postgraduate management programmes, primarily MBA, in various business schools and IIMs.

2. Who conducts the CAT exam?

The CAT exam is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis along with other participating institutes.

3. What are the benefits of appearing in CAT exam?

By taking the CAT exam, you have a chance to get admission into top quality management programmes that can improve your career significantly.

4. How does the CAT exam evaluate candidates?

The CAT exam evaluates candidates’ aptitude in areas such as Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning.

5. Who is eligible to appear for the CAT exam?

Candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university with a 50% of aggregated marks (45% for reserved category).

6. What is the frequency and mode of the CAT exam?

CAT exam is conducted once a year, usually in the last Sunday of November. It is computer-based test (CBT).

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Questions related to CAT

Have a question related to CAT ?

Hello,

Getting admission to an IIM without taking the CAT is possible through alternative routes such as:

1. Executive MBA (PGPX,EPGP,ect .)  : Many IIMs offer Executive MBA programs for experienced professionals, which may require GMAT scores instead of CAT .

2.Integrated programs: Some IIMs offer integrated programs like IPM (Integrated Program in Management), where admission cab be based on entrance exams other than CAT.

3.Doctoral programs (Ph.D.): Some IIMs accept GMAT/GRE scores for their doctoral programs .

4. Specialized Courses: IIMs offer various short-term and ccertificate programs that don't require CAT scores.

Check the specific IIM websites for detailed admission criteria and processes for these programs .


The Common Admission Test, is a computer based standardized test conducted in India. It is one of the most prestigious and competitive entrance exams for admission into postgraduate management programs, Including MBA, in various Indian Institutes of Management and other top business schools across the country.

To know more about CAT 2024 like exam date, eligibility, syllabus and more, click on the below link.

https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/cat-2024


Both GMAT and CAT exams are considered to be highly competitive. Therefore, it is difficult to measure which one is harder than the other as it depends on the individual strengths ,weaknesses, and personal preferences.

GMAT quant section is often considered to be easier, however, its verbal section is tougher for non-native English speakers. Whereas, CAT quant section is considered to be trickier in comparison to the verbal section. Therefore, students are advised to analyse both CAT and GMAT exam pattern carefully before opting for one.

Hello

Generally admissions are given based on your rank. So based on your overall percentile in JEE your rank could be between 56470 - 63480 approximately.

Unfortunately, Based on the marks you scored, it will be difficult to get admitted into NIT Trichy under OBC category. However there is also a second chance for you to attend for JEE, so I recommend you to take that chance and score better.

You can check the colleges you are eligible for using the below link.

https://engineering.careers360.com/jee-main-college-predictor?utm_source=qna&utm_medium=jee_cp


Hello Aspirant

Congratulations on your score, There are many good B schools at 80-85%ile in CAT and XAT
1)Great Lakes, Chennai
2)IRMA
3) Goa Institute of Management
4) NIBM
5) TAPMI
Do your research about these colleges as to what is their average package, the roles offered.

Colleges like NIBM specialize in Finance, and IRMA has a lot of sales marketing Roles. So ultimately the choice is yours which specialization you want to pursue.

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1-radian measures 600. (True/False)

Option: 1

True


Option: 2

False


$111111^2$ = 

Option: 1

123456654321


Option: 2

123454321


Option: 3

123454321


Option: 4

12345654321


1111112 =___________ 

Option: 1

 123456654321


Option: 2

1234554321


Option: 3

123454321


Option: 4

12345654321


159702 is divisible by

Option: 1

7


Option: 2

9


Option: 3

11


Option: 4

6


1600 satellites were sent up by a country for several purposes. The purposes are classified as broadcasting (B), communication (C), surveillance (S), and others (O). A satellite can serve multiple purposes; however a satellite serving either B, or C, or S does not serve O. 

The following facts are known about the satellites: 

1. The numbers of satellites serving B, C, and S (though may be not exclusively) are in the ratio 2: 1:1. 

2. The number of satellites serving all three of B, C, and S is 100. 

3. The number of satellites exclusively serving C is the same as the number of satellites exclusively serving S. This number is 30% of the number of satellites exclusively serving B. 

4. The number of satellites serving O is the same as the number of satellites serving both C and S but not B. 

Question:

What best can be said about the number of satellites serving C? 

Option: 1

Must be between 450 and 725 

 


Option: 2

Cannot be more than 800 
 


Option: 3

Must be between 400 and 800 

 


Option: 4

Must be at least 100 


1600 satellites were sent up by a country for several purposes. The purposes are classified as broadcasting (B), communication (C), surveillance (S), and others (O). A satellite can serve multiple purposes; however a satellite serving either B, or C, or S does not serve O. 

The following facts are known about the satellites: 

1. The numbers of satellites serving B, C, and S (though may be not exclusively) are in the ratio 2: 1:1. 

2. The number of satellites serving all three of B, C, and S is 100. 

3. The number of satellites exclusively serving C is the same as the number of satellites exclusively serving S. This number is 30% of the number of satellites exclusively serving B. 

4. The number of satellites serving O is the same as the number of satellites serving both C and S but not B. 

Question:

What is the minimum possible number of satellites serving B exclusively? 

Option: 1

100


Option: 2

200


Option: 3

500


Option: 4

250


1600 satellites were sent up by a country for several purposes. The purposes are classified as broadcasting (B), communication (C), surveillance (S), and others (O). A satellite can serve multiple purposes; however a satellite serving either B, or C, or S does not serve O. 

The following facts are known about the satellites: 

1. The numbers of satellites serving B, C, and S (though may be not exclusively) are in the ratio 2: 1:1. 

2. The number of satellites serving all three of B, C, and S is 100. 

3. The number of satellites exclusively serving C is the same as the number of satellites exclusively serving S. This number is 30% of the number of satellites exclusively serving B. 

4. The number of satellites serving O is the same as the number of satellites serving both C and S but not B. 

Question:

If at least 100 of the 1600 satellites were serving O, what can be said about the number of satellites serving S? 

Option: 1

At most 475 

 


Option: 2

Exactly 475 
 


Option: 3

At least 475 

 


Option: 4

No conclusion is possible based on the given information 


1600 satellites were sent up by a country for several purposes. The purposes are classified as broadcasting (B), communication (C), surveillance (S), and others (O). A satellite can serve multiple purposes; however a satellite serving either B, or C, or S does not serve O. 

The following facts are known about the satellites: 

1. The numbers of satellites serving B, C, and S (though may be not exclusively) are in the ratio 2: 1:1. 

2. The number of satellites serving all three of B, C, and S is 100. 

3. The number of satellites exclusively serving C is the same as the number of satellites exclusively serving S. This number is 30% of the number of satellites exclusively serving B. 

4. The number of satellites serving O is the same as the number of satellites serving both C and S but not B. 

Question:

 If the number of satellites serving at least two among B, C, and S is 1200, which of the following MUST be FALSE? 

Option: 1

The number of satellites serving C cannot be uniquely determined 

 


Option: 2

The number of satellites serving B is more than 1000 
 


Option: 3

All 1600 satellites serve B or C or S 

 


Option: 4

The number of satellites serving B exclusively is exactly 250 


2839155 is divisible by

Option: 1

2


Option: 2

7


Option: 3

55


Option: 4

None of the above


'a' for which x^{2}-ax+9= 0 can be written as square of a linear factor is

Option: 1

6


Option: 2

-6,6


Option: 3

\left ( 6,\infty \right )


Option: 4

\left ( -\infty,-6 \right )


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