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Why is CAT considered a tough exam? Is CAT really tough for average students? Or Is CAT exam easy to crack? or Is CAT exam tough for MBA? Multiple questions come up when we talk about the difficulty levels of CAT. The CAT exam is considered one of the toughest exams to crack for MBA admissions in India. High competition, time limits and unpredictable difficulty levels make it one of the most challenging MBA entrance exams in India. Read this article to get to know why CAT is considered to be a tough exam in India.
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IIMs conduct CAT exam for admission to top MBA colleges in India like IIMs, IITs, SPJIMR, MDI, FMS, etc. More than 3 lakh candidates register for CAT exam every year. It is one of the most competitive exams in India for admission to MBA and PGDM programmes. The following reasons are why CAT is considered a tough exam:
CAT 2024 is one of the toughest entrance exams for MBA. Candidates who register for CAT exam come from various academic backgrounds like engineering, science, commerce and arts. The difficulties faced by them also vary accordingly. Let’s check out the comparison between the difficulty levels faced by them.
Components | VARC | DILR | QA |
Engineers | Difficult | Moderate | Easy |
Science | Difficult | Moderate | Moderate |
Commerce | Difficult | Difficult | Moderate |
Arts | Easy | Difficult | Difficult |
CAT syllabus includes three sections - verbal ability and reading comprehension, data interpretation and logical reasoning and quantitative aptitude. Candidates have to answer 66 questions within 120 minutes. Since maximum candidates from engineering backgrounds appear for CAT the difficulty level of questions is comparatively high. Take a look at the difficulty level of questions in each section of the CAT entrance exam.
Section | No. of questions | Difficulty Level |
VARC | 24 | Moderate |
DILR | 20 | Moderate- Difficult |
QA | 22 | Difficult |
Total | 66 | Moderate - Difficult |
Year | Conducting Body | Difficulty Level |
CAT 2023 | IIM Lucknow | Moderate to Difficult |
CAT 2022 | IIM Bangalore | Moderate to Difficult |
CAT 2021 | IIM Ahmedabad | Moderately Easier. VARC was easier |
CAT 2020 | IIM Indore | Moderate to Difficult |
CAT 2019 | IIM Kozhikode | Difficult – VARC section was complex |
CAT 2018 | IIM Calcutta | Moderate to Difficult |
CAT scores for MBA admission to B-schools in India depend on the cutoff released by the institutes. The CAT cutoff depends on various factors like number of students appearing for exam, difficulty levels, number of available seats, etc. CAT cutoffs for top MBA colleges usually fall between 95 - 99+ percentile.
CAT Percentile | Overall CAT Score | Top MBA Colleges |
98 – 100 %ile | 90 - 105 | IIM A, B, C, FMS |
94 - 97 %ile | 80 - 89 | IIM L, I, K, SPJIMR, MDI, IITB, IITD, NITIE |
90 – 93 %ile | 72 - 79 | IIM Shillong, IIM Rohtak, 10 CAP IIMs, XIMB, IMI, IMT Ghaziabad |
85 – 89 %ile | 61 - 71 | IIM Amritsar, IIM Nagpur, IIM Vizag, MICA, IRMA, Great Lakes, GIM Goa |
75 – 84 %ile | 51 - 60 | K J Somaiya, Welingkar, LBSIM, JIMS Rohini, BIMTECH, IMT Nagpur |
65 – 73 %ile | 41 - 50 | IMT Hyderabad, Jaipuria Lucknow/Noida, SDMIMD, IESMCRC, IMI Bhubaneswar |
MBA aspirants planning to appear for CAT 2024 can follow these useful CAT preparation tips to help them crack CAT exam.
The overall difficulty level of the CAT exam is considered to be moderate as per past trends. Candidates who follow a proper CAT preparation strategy can easily crack the CAT exam.
The CAT exam is one of the main MBA entrance exams conducted by the IIM to carry out the MBA/PGDM admissions to top management institutes in India. The CAT exam is conducted to test the skills and abilities of students in verbal ability and reading comprehension, data interpretation and logical reasoning and quantitative aptitude
CAT exam is a tricky and challenging one. To obtain a good score in the CAT, candidates must follow a proper CAT preparation strategy and spend at least 3 to 4 hours on CAT exam preparation daily.
Cracking the CAT entrance exam is not easy, but it is not impossible either. With proper CAT exam preparation and the right approach, an average student can also achieve success.
CAT exam involves solving tricky and puzzling questions, which can be challenging for those who are not good at maths or logic. However, NEET exam requires candidates should be factually right and understand complex scientific concepts.
Each section of the CAT exam has its own difficulty level, but as per past few years CAT exam analysis, the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section is quite time-consuming and difficult of the four sections.
Hello aspirant,
The only on-screen calculator that CAT permits use is a simple one. It is not permitted for you to bring the actual calculator into the center. This approach is predicated on the idea that the CAT assesses an individual's aptitude for solving challenging mathematical puzzles and making fast mental computations.
Thank you
A CAT percentile of 90 or above can strengthen your application to MICA, it is not the only factor that determines admission.MICA considers scores of CAT and MICAT which are weighted 50–50 percent for the interview call.
Strong performance in the Pshycometric test and descriptive writing increase your chances to get into mica even if you score 80 percentile.the admission is based upon whole performance including every marks.
ALL the best!!!!
Hello,
Here you can get study material for CAT :
https://bschool.careers360.com/download/ebooks/cat-quantitative-aptitude-questions-answers-pdf
Hope it helps !
Hello aspirant,
A timetable is essential if you are preparing for the CAT in addition to your college coursework. It will give you an idea of how long it will take you to finish your syllabus and then set aside the appropriate amount of time for revision and mock exams. Without a set timetable, you risk taking your time and not completing your preparation as thoroughly as is necessary.
Thank you
Hope it helps you.
Hello Nikita,
To get into any of the top IIMs, such as IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode, or Indore, a good percentile in CAT is required, although academics play a vital role too. Let's break it down below:
CAT Score: 98+ percentile is an excellent score and makes one competitive.
Academic Scores:
Your 10th score at 84% is quite good.
A 12th score of 65% is on the lower side, which might hamper your chances at some of the top IIMs since they give weightage to past academic performance.
IIM Selection Criteria:
Every IIM has its own weightage for the scores of academics, CAT percentile, work experience, if any, and diversity.
For example, IIM Ahmedabad requires consistent academic records, while IIM Bangalore puts the strongest focus on work experience and diversified profiles.
Graduation: You are currently pursuing graduation, and your performance during that will also be considered in the shortlisting process.
While your CAT score is going to be the major pointer, your academic record-doing in class 12-is going to affect your prospects a bit at IIMs that place significant emphasis on your past performance. Still, you will have a healthy shot, at least at institutes like Lucknow, Kozhikode, and Indore, where a good score in CAT may offset lower marks in academics.
If you have diverse profiled extracurricular activities, leadership roles etc, or work experience, then it can build up your application further.
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