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The CAT marking scheme must be understood by the candidates who are considering appearing for the CAT 2024 examination. The CAT marking scheme clarifies how the marks are distributed across all the different sections. It also becomes important to get to know the CAT marking scheme as the CAT exam also has the provision of negative marking. Through this article, get the latest CAT marking scheme, exam pattern, total marks, and percentile needed.
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The CAT exam pattern consists of a total of 66 questions. Each question carries 3 marks. The time duration of the CAT exam is 120 minutes. 40 minutes are assigned for attempting each section of the CAT exam. For PwD candidates, 53 minutes and 23 seconds will be allotted. This year, CAT 2024 will be held on November 24, 2024. The CAT exam pattern with the CAT marking scheme is presented in the table below.
Particulars | Details |
---|---|
CAT Exam duration | 120 minutes |
CAT Exam sections | Three (3 Sections)
|
Total number of questions in the CAT exam | 66 |
Total marks in the CAT exam | 198 |
Mode of the CAT exam | Online. Computer Based Test (CBT) |
CAT Marking scheme | Each question carries 3 marks.
|
The CAT exam has negative markings. It makes it very important for the candidates to wisely answer the questions to the best of their ability and knowledge. The negative marking in the CAT marking scheme involves deducting one mark for every wrong answer marked by the candidate. The negative marking can significantly reduce the marks and percentile of a candidate, therefore it is important to attempt not many questions with guesswork.
The total marks according to the CAT marking scheme are 198. These are calculated based on the total number of questions (66) and the marks carried by each question (3). The CAT score obtained by a candidate is out of the total marks for the CAT examination. It is also the maximum mark a candidate can score. The CAT percentile is also based on the marks obtained by the candidate out of the total CAT marks.
For different marks obtained by a candidate in the CAT exam, there will be different CAT percentiles. The selection of candidates is done based on the CAT percentile. Therefore it is necessary to know for what range of marks a certain percentile can be achieved by the candidate. The marks needed by a candidate for different ranges of CAT percentile are given in the table below which indicates all the details pertaining to CAT score vs percentile.
CAT percentile | Score VARC | Score DILR | Score QA | CAT Total Marks |
99.5 | 42 | 30 | 30 | 86 |
99 | 36 | 25 | 25 | 74 |
95 | 30 | 20 | 22 | 52 |
90 | 24 | 14 | 13 | 42 |
80 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 35 |
70 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 30 |
In the CAT exam, each question carries 3 marks. There are a total of 66 questions across all the sections of the CAT exam. For every question that is marked correctly, 3 marks will be assigned. For every question that is marked wrong, 1 mark will be deducted from the total marks obtained by the candidate.
Yes, CAT has a negative marking according to the CAT marking scheme implemented by the exam conducting body. The total marks obtained by the candidate will see a deduction of the number of questions marked wrongly amounting to -1 mark for every wrong answer.
As per the previous year's cutoff the CAT cutoff for General category candidates at IIM Ahmedabad was 99.68, for OBC candidates 97.71, for SC candidates 78.95, for ST candidates 72.79, and EWS candidates 97.71. This year too the cutoff can be expected to stay higher.
The CAT exam has maths as an important subject for evaluating candidates. The CAT exam has one section of Quantitative ability entirely dedicated to maths. It also has data analysis as a crucial component. The quantitative aptitude has a total of 22 questions.
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.
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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.
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