CAT is the most popular test among prospective management students because it is accepted by the best institutes – Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
Common Admission test (CAT) is the gateway to the cream of management institutes in India, the IIMs. CAT, or the Common Admission Test, is an aptitude test; it is the most popular test among prospective management students because it is accepted by the best institutes. CAT entrance exam is used as an admission test to shortlist applicants for admissions to the 19 IIMs-IIM (IIMs) at Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Bodh Gaya, Calcutta, Indore, Kashipur, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Nagpur, Raipur, Ranchi, Rohtak, Sambalpur, Shillong, Sirmaur, Tiruchirappalli, Udaipur and Visakhapatnam.
AT or Common Admission Test is one of the largest MBA entrance exams conducted in India, annually. The CAT score is also accepted by more than 100 non-IIM institutes across India, some of which are as reputed as the IIMs. (non-IIM Institutes Accepting CAT Scores). The CAT is one of the world’s most demanding entrance examinations for any graduate institute
Eligibility for the postgraduate programmes in management at all IIMs and to appear for IIM-CAT is at least a three-year bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognizsed university with 50% Marks in graduation.
Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), the premier business-schools of the country (and counted among the best in the world) conduct this test for selecting potential students for the next round of admission process (comprising of a personal interview and a group discussion) for their MBA and Fellowship programmes. Those appearing in the final year examination of graduation are also eligible to appear in Common Admission Test.
Test Duration & Pattern (CAT 2021)
- CAT is a computer based test.
The candidates will be assigned a computer at the test centre (you cannot sit at home to take the test). Then the test will begin on a computer and the candidate has to mark answers on the screen or enter answers as required.
- The CAT paper will be divided into 3 sections.
| section | Number of questions |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 34 qs |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 32 qs |
| Quantitative Ability | 34 qs |
- In each section, there will be MCQs as well as non MCQs.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension will have 24-27 multiple choice questions and 7-10 non MCQs.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning will have around 24 MCQs and 8 non MCQs.
Quantitative Ability will have around 23-27 MCQs and 7-11 non MCQs.
| section | MCQs | Non MCQs |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 24 – 27 | 7 – 10 |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 24 | 8 |
| Quantitative Ability | 23 – 27 | 7 – 11 |
- Marking scheme
For every correct answer, you get 3 marks. For incorrect answer in MCQ, there will be negative marking of 1. There is no negative marking in non MCQs.
Total questions will be 100. Maximum marks will be 300.