How To Fill The CAT Application Form 2024?

Published on 5th August 2024, 5:25 PM

CAT application form 2024 has already commenced on 1st August 2024, following the official CAT notification release on July 28, 2024, with the CAT 2024 exam scheduled to be held on November 24, 2024. The CAT registration procedure is exclusively online. Aspiring candidates must visit the official CAT website, register for the same, complete the application form, upload the necessary documents, and pay the application fee online. CAT registration last date is set to be 13th September 2024 (Up till 5:00 PM).

Keep the Following Documents Handy to Complete the CAT Registration Process

The following is a list of documents needed to complete the CAT application form 2024, as follows:

> A recent passport-sized photo with a white backdrop (format:.jpg/.jpeg; size: less than 1 MB)

> Scanned signature with black pen on white paper (.jpg or.jpeg format, maximum size 1 MB)

> Any identity proof like PAN card, Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport

> Class 10/ Class 12 mark sheet

> Certificate and mark sheet of graduation

> Transfer/ Passing Certificate

> Documents related to your Work experience (If Applicable)

> Certificate of relevant category (for students in the SC, ST, OBC, and J&K categories)

Common Errors To Be Avoided While Filling CAT Application Form 2024

CAT registration process requires thorough attention as the details can't be changed later. Candidates often tend to make the following errors, which can be avoided while filling out the CAT 2024 application form, such as:

> Overall Marks Consideration: You are required to calculate the overall percentage by adding the marks for all subjects listed on the 10th and 12th grade mark sheets, regardless of board regulations.

> Grades/CGPA to Percentage Conversion: Convert CGPA to a percentage using the correct method provided by the respective authorities.

Note: If there's no specific formula provided by your institute, then you can use this one: (CGPA/Total CGPA) * 100 (Note: A CGPA of 10 does not equate to 100%).

> Aggregate Percentage: Enter your aggregate percentage rounded to two decimal places.

For Example: If the maximum marks are 500 and the marks obtained are 300, the calculation is (300/500)*100 = 60%

> Final Year Graduates Awaiting Results: Those pursuing graduation or in your final year should fill out the CAT form with your aggregate percentage calculated from the last semester's marks. Keep in mind that failure to provide the necessary documents required, such as the provisional certificate and semester mark sheet, will result in the termination of your candidature.

> Final Year Candidates with ‘Promotion/Pass without Marks’: Final-year graduation students who did not receive marks in earlier semesters or were promoted without marks can choose "Promotion/Pass without Marks" while filling out the CAT application form. Mark that this option is available for candidates graduating in 2022, 2023, or 2024.

> Work Experience: Only include full-time paid work experience as of 31st July 2024. Do not mention the part-time, project, internship, articleship, or pre-graduation experiences, as these are not considered valid work experiences.

> Program Selection: Be mindful while selecting the right program for you, the one that matches your career goals and aspirations, because once the form is filled out and submitted, further changes cannot be made.

Also check: CAT Exam Eligibility 2024

Step-By-Step Guide for Filling Out the CAT Application Form 2024

Completing the CAT application form is quite tedious as it requires you to fill out your personal details, academic details, professional experience (if any), and other necessary information. Refer to the areas below that are included in the CAT registration process 2024.

1. Personal Details

Candidates must fill in their personal details and upload the necessary documents in this section to proceed with their CAT registration process. The details required in the form are as follows-

> Candidate's Name

> Father's and Mother's/Guardian's Name

> Date of Birth

> Gender

> Nationality

> Category

> Address

> Emergency Contact

Candidates will be required to upload the following documents in their designated dimensions:

> A signature

> A photograph

> A reservation certificate (if applicable)

2. Academic Qualifications

In this section, candidates will be required to fill in the following details:

> SSC/10th/Equivalent

> HSC/12th/Equivalent/Diploma Course

> Bachelor's Degree

> Master's Degree

> Other Professional Degree

3. Work Experience

The CAT registration process allows candidates to provide their work experience in a separate section because it plays a vital role in the selection process. In this section, the candidate must specify the industry in which they have worked and provide the necessary documents to validate their statements.

Note: The total work experience should be calculated up to the 31st day of July 2024. Also, the experience offered in this section should be full-time only; part-time experience will not be considered. Internships/ part-time/ articleship/ project/ pre-graduation shall not be included as work experience.

4. Programs

In the next step, the candidates must select the programs they wish to apply to. Alongside this, you will have to mention the preferred interview city for every program.

For the IIMs under the Common Admission Process (i.e. IIM Kashipur, IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Tiruchirappalli, IIM Udaipur, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu and IIM Sambalpur) candidates must choose the same interview city.

5. Test City

According to the CAT notification, candidates must choose 6 preferred test cities in order of preference. Based on availability, the candidate will be allotted one test city. But if the convening IIM is unable to place the candidate in any of the preferred cities of the candidate, then he would be placed in the test city closest to the selected location.

6. Payment

After completing the entire CAT application form 2024, the candidate must pay the application fee to complete the registration process. Given below are the CAT application fee 2024 details:

Category	CAT Exam Fee
General/ EWS/ NC-OBC	Rs 2,500/-
SC/ ST/ PwD	Rs 1,250/-

The candidate must enter the characters in the captcha and click on the submit button. The next step will be the payment gateway to which the candidates will be requested to pay for the exam. Once you complete the payment, a “Payment Successful” message will appear on the page, signifying the successful completion of the process.

7. Confirmation

Once the candidates have successfully filled out and submitted the application, they will receive a confirmation mail in the next few minutes. After successfully creating his/her login ID and password and logging in to the website, the candidate can view CAT 2024 application details.

Once you have successfully registered for CAT 2024, your first and foremost approach should be to glance at the CAT 2024 syllabus to be thorough with the topics that will be asked in the exam, along with the CAT exam pattern 2024, to understand what strategies you can plan based on your strengths and weaknesses.