CAT 2024 Exam - Registration (Closed), Exam Date, Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Preparation Tips

Exam Dates, CAT Notification, Eligibility Criteria, Registration Process, Events Post-Registration, Admit Card, Exam Pattern, Section-Wise Syllabus

Updated on 27th September 2024 | 10:00 AM | #CAT2024

The schedule for the CAT exam is finally out. The CAT notification was released on July 28, 2024, igniting enthusiasm among all CAT 2024 aspirants. The CAT 2024 application form correction window 2024 is now open and will be accessible to candidates until September 30, 2024 (5:00 PM). The CAT 2024 registration process is now closed, and the last date to apply for the same was 20th September 2024. The CAT exam date has been released, and the exam for this year is scheduled for 24th November 2024 in computer-based test (CBT) mode.

As the name suggests, the Common Admission Test serves as an entrance test for MBA admissions to some of the top MBA colleges in India. Thus, it’s the final call for all the aspirants to buckle up with their CAT preparation if they are aiming to get into their dream B-school. You can ace your CAT 2024 by joining CAT crash course and self-prep courses, taking mock exams, and studying from suitable preparation materials.

Get the Detailed CAT 2024 Syllabus

What is CAT Exam?

The CAT exam, known as the Common Admission Test, is a computer-based entrance exam conducted annually in India for admission to postgraduate management programs like MBA. It is considered one of the most prestigious and competitive exams in the country.

Administered by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis, other top management institutions may also participate in conducting CAT. The CAT notification 2024 has been released, and the upcoming CAT 2024 exam is scheduled to be held on the last Sunday of November, i.e. 24th. As per the CAT notification of this year, IIM Calcutta is the organizing body for CAT and is wholesomely responsible for its execution and conduction.

There isn’t any fixed syllabus or pattern for CAT; however, based on past trends, we can say that the CAT 2024 syllabus is comprised of three main sections:

  • Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
  • Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
  • Quantitative Ability (QA)

Candidates have a sectional time limit of 40 minutes to complete each section. The CAT exam paper pattern includes a mix of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and type-in-the-answer (TITA) questions, and the exam typically spans around 2 hours.


CAT Application Form Correction Window

Filling out the CAT application form for 2024 correctly is very crucial, as the IIM selection and admission process will depend on this form. Therefore, candidates must take the application process seriously and ensure that they fill it out with complete attention to avoid any unnecessary errors that cannot be rectified.

However, the conducting authorities for CAT 2024 allow candidates to correct these errors only once after the CAT 2024 registration process has ended. They will open the CAT Application Form Correction Window, which is scheduled from September 27, 2024 (10 AM onwards), and the last date to correct your form is September 30, 2024 (Till 5 PM), through the official website for CAT 2024.


CAT Notification 2024

On July 28, 2024, the official CAT notification was released, which included all the important information such as CAT 2024 registration window dates, CAT eligibility criteria, CAT exam dates, CAT syllabus, CAT exam fee, and more.

According to the CAT 2024 notification, the registration process for the exam has already started on August 1, 2024, and will conclude on September 20, 2024, at 5 PM, with the possibility that it may extend further.

The CAT 2024 exam will be conducted on November 24, 2024. This exam is an important step towards gaining admission to 21 IIMs and other MBA colleges in India. One of the top IIMs, IIM Calcutta, is responsible for administering and conducting the exam this year.


CAT 2024 Exam Dates (Released)

The CAT Notification for 2024 was released on 28th July 2024, and the exam will be conducted on the last Sunday of November, i.e. 24th November 2024. This exam will allow students to apply for admission to IIMs among other top institutes for the batch of 2025-27.

Given below are the exam dates for the CAT exam 2024-

CAT 2024 Important Event

CAT Exam Timeline

CAT Notification 2024 Release

28th July 2024

CAT 2024 Registration Start Date

1st August 2024

CAT 2024 Registration Last Date

20th September 2024

CAT 2024 Form Correction Window Start Date

27th September 2024 (10:00 AM Onwards)

CAT 2024 Form Correction Window End Date

30th September 2024 (Till 5:00 PM)

CAT Admit Card Release & Download

5th November 2024 - 24th November 2024

CAT Exam Date

24th November 2024

CAT Results Announcement

December 2024


CAT 2024: Exam Highlights

Before taking CAT 2024, you should be aware of the know-how of the exam in advance, which will help you have a better approach towards the exam. According to the CAT notification, here is all you need to know about the exam:

Highlight

Details

Exam Name

Common Admission Test

Official Website

www.iimcat.ac.in

Conducting Body

The Indian Institute of Management

Frequency

Annually

Registration Mode

Online

Exam Mode

Computer-based

Medium of Exam

English

Total time

2 hours

Total Questions

66

Sections

VARC, DILR and QA

Marking Scheme

+3 for every correct answer

-1 for every wrong answer


CAT 2024 Eligibility Criteria

Before starting your CAT exam preparation, it's crucial to understand who can appear for the exam. Here's what you need to know about the CAT eligibility criteria for CAT 2024:

Education

Minimum Marks

Other Criteria


CAT Application Form 2024

As per the release of the official notification for CAT 2024, the CAT 2024 application form is now available online on the official CAT website - iimcat.ac.in. Candidates can visit the website and start their CAT application process. It is advisable to complete the registration before September 20, 2024, to avoid any last-minute hassles.


CAT 2024 Registration Process

The registration for CAT 2024 has already started and will last until September 20, 2024. Aspiring CAT takers are advised to buckle up and start their CAT form filling process. Here is the detailed process on how you can complete the CAT 2024 registration without any errors.

List of Documents Required for CAT 2024 Registration

While filling out the CAT application form, the candidate must also upload the required documents in the given format-

Required CAT Documents

Format

Photo

.jpg/.jpeg

Signature

.jpg/.jpeg

EWS/NC-OBC/SC/ST Certificate

pdf

PwD Certificate

pdf

CAT Exam Application Fee

To complete the registration process, the candidates must pay the CAT application fees.

There has been a revision in the CAT 2024 application fee as given below for your reference:

Category

CAT Application Fee

General, EWS, and NC-OBC

INR 2500/-

SC, ST, and PwD

INR 1250/-

If you’re stuck somewhere in the CAT form-filling process, read about the exact CAT Registration steps to be followed at the time of form-filling, or you can also watch our expert filling the form on YouTube.


CAT Events Post Registration

Once you submit your CAT 2024 application form, the convening IIM will send you alerts regarding all the future events associated with CAT 2024, such as:


CAT Admit Card 2024

The CAT admit card 2024 will be available for candidates to download on November 5, 2024. Here are a few details that must be kept in mind:

The CAT Admit Card contains several details including the following:

Details

Name

CAT 2024 Time Slot

Category

CAT 2024 Registration Number

Exam Center Instructions

Authorized Candidate Signatory

Declaration Form

Candidate's photograph


CAT Exam Pattern 2024

CAT exam pattern is nothing but the CAT exam paper pattern for the 2024 intake. There is no fixed CAT paper pattern authorized by any supreme authority. However, based on past trends, the table below shows the overview of the CAT 2024 exam pattern

Sections

Total Questions

Total Time (in minutes)

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

24

40

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

20

40

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

22

40

Total

66

120

Here is the marking scheme for CAT 2024:


CAT 2024 Syllabus

Following the trends of the past few years, we can expect CAT 2024 to be divided into 3 sections. Due to the lack of a defined syllabus for the CAT exam, CAT aspirants largely focus on studying school-level mathematics and English. Based on the same conclusion, given below is the tentative CAT 2024 syllabus for the three sections of the exam-

Section

Main Topics

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

Reading comprehension, para jumbles, para summary, inferences, etc.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

Charts, caselets, arrangements, blood relations, syllogism, etc.

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

Algebra, arithmetic, probability, number system, geometry, etc.

CAT Syllabus 2024: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

CAT Syllabus 2024: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

CAT Syllabus 2024: Quantitative Aptitude (QA)


CAT 2024 Preparation Tips

Most of the candidates planning on taking CAT or any other entrance exam don't even know about MBA and why it is important to pursue an MBA. They just start preparing for the exam either due to peer pressure or simply to obtain an additional post-graduation degree.

Well, to put some highlights, an MBA is one of the most sought-after master’s degrees, and the 3.3 lakh candidates who applied for CAT 2023 are a testimony to this statement. So to outdo the competition, candidates must study and strategize effectively for CAT 2024.

Here are some tips to help you score well in your exam and ace your CAT 2024 preparation for your reference:


To have a detailed preparation strategy for each section, you can also check: Preparation Tips for CAT QA | Preparation Tips for CAT DILR | Preparation Tips for CAT VARC


CAT Result 2024

The CAT 2024 result will be available on the official website tentatively in the second week of January 2025. The CAT 2024 results will be valid till December 2025.

The IIMs will also release cut-offs for the 2025-27 batch. There is no centralized counseling for the CAT exam as all the IIMs have their own procedure for interviews and further admission rounds.

Also Check: CAT Score vs Percentile 2024


CAT Selection Process

Once the CAT 2024 results are released, IIMs and other top B-schools begin releasing their shortlists for further admission rounds. The admission process at IIMs primarily comprises 3 stages:

The old IIMs follow an individual process while 9 new & baby IIMs follow a Common Admission Process (CAP) wherein the admission rounds are common. However, the final merit lists are released separately by each IIM. Aspirants who wish to get admission to IIM Mumbai must apply for it separately.

If you are keen to know more about the IIM selection criteria and the step-by-step process of getting into your dream IIM, you can refer to the IIM Admission Process.


CAT Cutoffs 2024

Based on the CAT 2023 analysis, the CAT cut-offs for percentile-based calls for general category candidates are high in 2024. You can refer to the below CAT cut-offs and prepare your test-taking strategy accordingly if you are aiming to get into the top IIMs.

According to the trends over the past few years, the CAT Cut-offs for the 21 IIMs are:

Top B-schools

CAT Cut Off 2024

IIM Ahmedabad

99.5 %ile

IIM Bangalore

99.5 %ile

IIM Calcutta

99.5 %ile

IIM Lucknow

99 %ile

IIM Kozhikode

98.5 %ile

IIM Indore

98 %ile

IIM Shillong

97 %ile

IIM Udaipur

96 %ile

IIM Ranchi

97 %ile

IIM Raipur

96 %ile

IIM Rohtak

96 %ile

IIM Trichy

96 %ile

IIM Kashipur

96 %ile

IIM Sirmaur

96 %ile

IIM Bodhgaya

93 %ile

IIM Vizag

96 %ile

IIM Amritsar

96 %ile

IIM Jammu

93 %ile

IIM Nagpur

96 %ile

IIM Sambalpur

96 %ile

IIM Mumbai

97 %ile


Changes Over the Years in the CAT Exam

The CAT exam structure has evolved significantly in the last decade or so, with notable alterations in the number of sections, questions, and duration of the exam. Below is a summary table illustrating these important modifications:

Year

Number of Questions

Time Duration

Sections

2024 (Expected)

66

120 minutes

VARC, DILR, QA

2023

66

120 minutes

VARC, DILR, QA

2022

66

120 minutes

VARC, DILR, QA

2021

76

120 minutes

VARC, DILR, QA

2020

76

120 minutes

VARC, DILR, QA

2019

100

180 minutes

VARC, DILR, QA

2018

100

180 minutes

VARC, DILR, QA

2017

100

180 minutes

VARC, DILR, QA

2016

100

180 minutes

VARC, DILR, QA

2015

100

180 minutes

VARC, DILR, QA

2014

100

170 minutes

VARC, DILR, QA

2013

60

140 minutes

Verbal Ability, QA, DI & LR

2012

60

140 minutes

Verbal Ability, QA, DI & LR


CAT Past Year Analysis

CAT 2023 followed the exam pattern of CAT 2021 & 2022 with 66 questions to be answered in 120 minutes. The distribution of questions across the sections also remained the same with VARC having 24 questions, DILR having 20 questions and QA having 22 questions.

Overall, CAT 2023 had a higher level of difficulty as compared to CAT 2022. In addition, there was only a marginal difference in the level of difficulty among the three slots. Each section had to be attempted in 40 minutes. The overall level of difficulty of CAT 2023 was moderate-difficult and based on CAT-taker responses, a score of 70-72 will allow aspirants to aim for 99 %ile.

If you are looking forward to getting a detailed analysis of CAT 2023, you can visit CAT 2023 Exam Analysis.


Set Your Goal For Your Dream College With Our B-School Predictor

Every B-School, including IIMs, has its own unique criteria when it comes to accepting prospective candidates. Over the years, these criteria have evolved, and Career Launcher has crunched the data to develop a tool that can predict, with a reasonable degree of accuracy, the calls that you can potentially receive.

To have a fair understanding of which of the top IIMs and B-schools you can get into and what is the required percentile to get shortlisted for the WAT-PI-GD round, you can check with the IIM Profilizer.

Some of the questions which will be answered are:

Make the most out of this tool in the months leading up to CAT 2024. Aim for your desired B-school and target areas for improvement accordingly to pave the way to your dream college.


Start Early, Stay Ahead With Our CAT 2025 Online Classes

It always makes sense to start preparing for CAT 2025 & other MBA entrance exams early. The reasons being: you get ample time to gain clarity on all topics and you can allocate more time to improve upon your weaker areas. Kickstart your preparation with our CAT 2025 Online Classes. Prepare now to enjoy the rewards of success later!

Beginning your CAT 2025 preparation early can be highly beneficial. Take advantage of these classes to get an edge over your competition and cover the entire CAT 2025 syllabus with the guidance of our experienced CAT mentors. Start preparing for CAT 2025 now to outsmart your competition and stay ahead of your peers.

FAQS

The CAT 2024 exam pattern is expected to be the same as CAT 2023. The exam will have 66 questions to be attempted in 120 minutes. The VARC section will have 24 questions, DILR will have 20 questions and QA will comprise 22 questions.

Yes, one year is enough to prepare for CAT and ace it. Aspirants need to maintain an effective study plan and practice regularly to crack CAT with 12 months of preparation.

There is no limit to the number of times you can attempt CAT as there is no age limit. However, candidates must meet the basic eligibility criteria which requires the candidate to have a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks.

Yes, CAT is a mandatory entrance exam for students who wish to pursue an MBA from the 20 IIMs and other top B-schools of India.

The registrations for CAT 2024 are expected to begin in the first week of August 2024. You can fill in the online application form on the official website of CAT. You will also be required to submit the documents and pay the application fee to complete the registration process.

Yes, online coaching from the right institute can help you ace CAT. You can get access to the best study material, live classes, and mock tests. Essentially, if you stay dedicated and consistent in your preparation, online classes will give you the boost to elevate your CAT scores. Click here to check out the program offered by CL.

Suggested Readings

CAT Online Classes CAT Study Material CAT Previous Year Papers Open CAT MBA for Non-Engineers CAT Prep for working professional