CAT (Common Admission Test) is the premium entrance exam held by IIMs for admissions into top business schools. The CAT Exam score is accepted as a qualifier in over a 100 Business Schools. It is the most popular amongst the MBA Entrance Exams due to the vast number of colleges accepting the CAT Score including the top B-Schools in India such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, etc.
CAT 2021 can go in 2 different directions when it comes to the CAT Exam. It can stick to the modified pattern of this year or even change it further. Or it can go back to the previous pattern of 100 questions. There are no easy answers with respect to this particular question.If CAT 2021 Exam Pattern resembled that of last year, then the overall duration will be 120 minutes and the total number of questions will be 76. If CAT 2021 is likely to be conducted in the fourth week of November 2021. The mode of examination will be online and non adaptive. On the other hand, if the situation normalizes and the access to the vaccine is widespread, the CAT 2021 may revert to the tried and tested pattern of CAT 2019. The best thing for each CAT 2021 aspirant to do is to prepare for both exam patterns until the pattern is revealed.
Since CAT 2017, the CAT Exam has released its question paper for public scrutiny which has convinced a few international business schools like Singapore Management University to accept the CAT score for admissions into their business programs.
The CAT Exam is also quite simple in terms of the procedures to be followed.
Read below for further details regarding CAT 2021 Exam, Notification, Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Important Dates, Eligibility Criteria, Preparation strategy, and more.
The first milestone that every CAT aspirant looks forward to is the CAT 2021 Notification. The CAT 2021 Notification, which has been released on 29th July 2021, marks the start of the fervent CAT Season which kicks off in earnest around August-September picking up the pace in November & December and finally stops around June. The CAT 2021 Notification is the time when the serious CAT aspirants start counting down their days for preparation. The CAT 2021 Notification may reveal some details about the CAT 2021 Exam like:
CAT 2021 Exam Date
CAT 2021 Exam Registration: Beginning and Deadline
Number of Centers in CAT 2021
Any Changes in CAT 2021 Exam Pattern CAT 2021 has introduced a change in the CAT 2021 Exam Pattern which has seen the exam duration reduce from 3 hours to 2 hours. More information about the number of questions per section will be announced on 20th September.
Some other details about the CAT 2021 Notification and subsequent Registration are:
CAT 2021 Notification: Important Dates
Live Updates:
The CAT 2021 online application form is usually divided into the following sections:
On completing the information on the form, click 'Save & Next' option. As the next step, you will be required to upload your photograph and signature in the respective sections. The last step of the CAT 2021 registration process is the payment of the application fee via Credit/Debit Card or Net Banking.
As per the eligibility criteria of CAT 2021 charted by IIMs, candidates should fulfill the following parameters:
The CAT 2021 eligibility criteria for reserved categories as decided by IIMs are as follows:
a) low vision blindness,
b) hearing impairment,
c) locomotor disability/cerebral palsy
On 15th September 2020, IIM Indore announced on the official website of CAT 2020 that the exam duration for CAT 2020 has been reduced from 3 hours to 2 hours.
The order of sections will remain the same: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).
The use of a basic on-screen calculator for computations is allowed.
The CAT 2021 Exam pattern is expected to return to the original form which is given below:
S.NO | SECTION | Number of Questions | Time Limit |
1 | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VRC) | 34 | 60 minutes |
2 | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI & LR) | 32 | 60 minutes |
3 | Quantitative Ability (QA) | 34 | 60 minutes |
TOTAL | 100 | 180 minutes |
Every correct answer carries 3 marks.
Every wrong answer carries -1.
Negative marking does not apply to non-MCQs or TITA (type in the answer) questions.
The order of attempting the sections is predetermined.
Sections start with VARC, followed by DILR, and end with QA.
Here is what our experts have to say about the CAT 2021 Updated Exam Pattern
Also, there is a fair possibility that the CAT 2021 exam pattern might be similar to the CAT 2020 Exam Pattern. Here is a descriptive overlay of CAT 2020 Exam Pattern:
Section (Ascending Order) |
Number of questions |
Number of MCQs |
Number of Non MCQs (TITA) |
Sectional time |
VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension) |
26 |
21 |
5 |
40 min |
DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning) |
24 |
18 |
6 |
40 min |
QA (Quantitative Aptitude) |
26 |
20 |
6 |
40 min |
Total |
76 |
59 |
17 |
120 min |
Based on the previous years' question papers, the subjects for CAT 2021 can be classified under the following categories:
Each of these sections contains different types of questions. A highly-effective CAT preparation strategy includes dense familiarity with all the topics that fall under these categories.
Verbal and Reading Comprehension sections comprises of Reading Comprehension passages. Thorough practice of RC passages will aid in better understanding of longer and complex texts.
Verbal Reasoning questions involve analyzing the form and content of passages. Sometimes the questions herein can surprise the candidates. Previous years' paper contained the following types of questions under Verbal Ability:
If you are looking for help in VARC specifically for CAT 2021, please have a look at the following page.
According to CAT 2020, the number of RC questions can be 24 out of 34 VARC questions and according to CAT 2019, the number of questions will be reduced to 18 out of 26 VARC questions. In any case the weightage of Reading Comprehension questions is at least 70%, with respect to the entire questions. If we look at the RC questions closely, 2-3 of them are of moderate-difficult level and 10–12 is of easy-moderate level. There is a variation when it comes to easy and difficult passages which a candidate needs to keep in mind. If the passage seems to be complex, the questions following it may be easy and workable. If the passage seems easy to read, the questions related to the same might trick you. So, one needs to be scrupulous while reading the questions as much as while reading the passage. Here is a brief analysis of trends noticed in the RC sub section of previous year CAT papers:
Also Check out :
Bes CAT preparation books
Data Interpretation (DI) and Logical Reasoning (LR) consists of charts and graphs of all kinds i.e. line, bar, and pie. These may appear individually or along with tables or other elements.
The questions in the Logical Reasoning sections are fundamentally word problems. However, they may also combine word problems with any of the aforementioned data forms. The form of questions asked in the DILR section may slightly seem complex and hence, consistent practice is the key.
If you are looking for help in DILR for CAT 2021, please have a look at the following page.
CAT 2020 made the students jumpy with the difficulty of the Data Interpretation section. It is never a good idea to undermine the importance of this topic in the DILR section. Here are a few important pointers to remember about CAT Data Interpretation :
Take a personalized Logical Reasoning mock to warm up your basics.
The question progression in the Quantitative Ability (QA) section may indeed seem heavy. From fractions to profit and loss to triangles and circles to exponents, etc., the escalation continues. Nonetheless, the calming feature of this section is the uniform pattern.
Questions under the QA section include algebra, arithmetic, geometry, modern math (including set theory, polynomials, probability, progressions, and permutations/combinations), and number systems (e.g. integers, primes, exponents).
The subjects' syllabus of CAT exam is definitely not confined. However, it follows a logical and standard pattern. This only means that once you're very familiar with the pattern, preparation gets more effective. Good luck for CAT 2021!
The QA section is basically a calculation intensive section based on topics that candidates study in 9th and 10th grade. However, there is a plot twist. This is the last section of the paper and odds are that you would be low on stamina and more on exhaustion when you would approach this section. This section is known to usually surprise a candidate in terms of difficulty. You must keep a keen eye on the ball and not be in an autopilot mode while solving QA. We suggest that work in your favor is that you should start from the last question of the section and work your way upwards. The easier questions are scattered throughout the paper and all a candidate has to do is spot and answer, as determined by CL experts.
Visit our CAT 2021 Preparation Strategy page to know how you can follow a highly-effective preparation strategy for CAT devised by our MBA experts.
CAT'19 Exam Analysis : https://www.careerlauncher.com/cat/analysis-cut-off/
Despite the absence of rigid CAT syllabus, our experts have analyzed and provided a tentative CAT 2021 syllabus based on the past CAT trends. While there could be additions of new topics or removal of the old, CAT syllabus is expected to remain the same for the year 2021.
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning |
Quantitative Ability |
|
|
|
In 2017, IIMs, for the first time released the official CAT 2017 questions and answer key. Based on this continuing trend into 2018 & 2019 as well, the official CAT 2021 question paper can be expected to be released by the first week of December, 2021.
CAT retakers have a generic view when it comes to how to retake CAT. They usually choose to go for conventional offline training programs in place of online training programs. Offline programs, though having a comparatively lesser ROI, can ensure a student’s concentration for 2-3 hours straight and helps get that personalized attention. However, due to the rigid covid-19 safety guidelines introduced in order to encourage social distancing, students taking CAT for the second time are opting for CAT online classes as an alternative. Given below are some techniques you can avail while framing your CAT retaker’s strategy.
Also read: Importance of CAT mocks
The CAT 2021 Admit Card will be released in October 2021 as per previous years’ timelines. It will remain available for registered candidates till the day of the CAT 2021 Exam (28th November 2021). Candidates will be able to download their admit cards online by logging onto the official website with their unique credentials.
CAT Admit Card is one of the most important documents. One must carry a hard copy to the center on the exam day and keep it safe till the end of the admission
CAT 2021 timeline is quite similar to that of CAT 2019 according to the CAT 2021 Notification. The main exam will be held on 29th November 2021, and with the CAT 2021 Notification released on 29th July 2021. Online application for the exam shall remain open from 5th August 2021 to the 23rd September 2021.
Do's
Don'ts
There is Test System Number in your CAT Admit card. This unique number is provided for the purpose of identifying the floor / wing and your designated seat at the exam center.
For any other correspondence with your CAT exam center, you should provide your Registration Number and not the Test System number. Test System number is only needful for seat location/identification during the main exam date.
Similar to CAT 2020, CAT 2021 exam centers will be located in over 150 cities across India. The actual number of exam centers may vary depending on the number of participating candidates and the situation at the time.
During the exam registration process, candidates will have to select three CAT exam centers in the order of their preference. The final allotting of exam center is decided by the IIMs which are then reflected on the official CAT Admit Card.
The official CAT mock test is usually released by the IIMs in the last week of October. It is created and shared with the candidates one month prior to the CAT exam. This way, candidates may practice and become familiar with the format and navigation process of the online test. Candidates can also familiarize themselves with the usage of the online calculator and timer. However, it must be noted that the CAT mock test is intended for practice purposes only. The questions therein cannot be considered as an insight to the actual questions due to the absence of qualitative similarity.
CAT result 2021 is expected to be released in the second week of January, 2021. The official CAT 2021 score card will be available for download online by entering your unique CAT ID and password on the official website (www.iimcat.ac.in). The CAT score card will include your detailed sectional and overall scaled scores and percentiles. The score cards are available online alone, hence, take a print out for further admission processes
The table below contains past exam-result trends as an attempt to lay down the past exam mechanism of CAT.
YEAR |
EXAM |
RESULT |
2015 |
November 29th, 2015 |
January 8th, 2016 |
2016 |
December 4th, 2016 |
January 9th, 2017 |
2017 |
November 26th, 2017 |
January 8th, 2018 |
2018 |
November 25th, 2018 |
January 5th, 2019 |
2019 |
November 24th, 2019 |
January 4th, 2021 |
2020 |
November 29th, 2021 |
- |
2021 |
November 28th, 2021 |
- |
When the CAT 2021 Results are declared, the candidates will be able to check it and download the score card by following the given steps:
Go to the official CAT website www.iimcat.ac.in.
Enter User Id and Password and login to your account
Click on 'score card for CAT 2021'.
Take print out of your CAT Result 2021 for reference/record keeping.
Although the official CAT result is after almost two months, it is an added advantage and a peace of mind to have an insight on the performance. Keeping this in mind, Career Launcher experts have created a percentile calculator for the purpose of score assessment. The link below is to help you predict/calculate your CAT percentile, so you can begin your college picking plan ahead of time.
Since CAT is conducted in morning and afternoon slots on a single day, it becomes necessary to normalize the scores of all candidates from both slots. Therefore, IIMs normalizes CAT scores by using a formula similar to that applied for GATE.
The scaled scores for each section along with percentiles are declared along with the result. This is practiced for transparency and for equalizing the scores. This way, no candidates from either slot are left in an advantaged or disadvantaged position.
Read in detail : CAT Score vs Percentile
CAT cut-off is an indication of the minimum percentile score that is expected of a candidate to achieve for getting shortlisted by the participating institutes. While top B-schools are known to have a higher CAT cut-off range, the minimum cut-off varies from institute to institute.
CAT cut-off is generally dependent on certain factors like difficulty level of the exam, number of test-takers, number of seats, etc.
Find the below the tabulated 2021 CAT cut-off of top-tier IIMs for reference:
IIM |
SECTION |
GENERAL |
OBC-NC |
SC |
ST |
EWS |
PwD (except ST) |
PwD (ST) |
IIM Ahmedabad |
VRC |
70 |
65 |
60 |
50 |
- |
60 |
50 |
|
DI&LR |
70 |
65 |
60 |
50 |
- |
60 |
50 |
|
QA |
70 |
65 |
60 |
50 |
- |
60 |
50 |
|
Aggregate |
80 |
75 |
70 |
60 |
- |
70 |
60 |
IIM Bangalore |
VRC |
85 |
75 |
70 |
60 |
70 |
50 |
|
|
DI&LR |
80 |
70 |
65 |
60 |
65 |
50 |
|
|
QA |
80 |
70 |
65 |
60 |
65 |
50 |
|
|
Aggregate |
90 |
80 |
75 |
70 |
75 |
60 |
|
IIM Calcutta |
VRC |
85 |
75 |
65 |
60 |
70 |
60 |
|
|
DI&LR |
80 |
75 |
65 |
60 |
65 |
60 |
|
|
QA |
80 |
75 |
65 |
60 |
65 |
60 |
|
|
Aggregate |
90 |
85 |
70 |
70 |
75 |
70 |
|
The selection procedure differs according to various participating institutes. However, the one uniform feature among all is the preliminary round selection where candidates are shortlisted based on CAT cut-off.
For the second-round selection, candidates will have to appear for the Group Discussion (GD) orWriting Ability Test (WAT)or both and Personal Interview (PI) rounds. The new IIMs have in fact started to conduct the Common Admission Process (CAP) where the shortlisted candidates from all participating IIMs appear for WAT and PI rounds jointly.
After the end of the CAT selection procedure, each IIM releases their separate merit lists. The final selection process of B-schools or the CAT selection procedure of participating B-schools is based on multiple criteria such as performance in CAT and GD/WAT and PI rounds and past academic records and or work experience. The criteria or parameters vary from institute to institute. IIMs release their detailed admission criteria after the CAT notification every year.
Apart from CAT, the other MBA exams are XAT, IIFT, SNAP, NMAT, MICAT, TISSNET and a few others.
This diagram gives you a representation of all the important MBA exams and the timeline.
Read in detail : MBA Entrance Exams Notifications 2021