CAT - An introduction

The Common Admission Test, popularly known as CAT is the gateway of India’s 13 prestigious 13 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top B-Schools like Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai (JBIMS), Management Development Institute, Gurgaon (MDI), S. P. Jain Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai (SPJIMR), Institute of Management & Technology, Ghaziabad (IMT), Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA).

CAT is the admission test for top B schools two year full time Post Graduate Programmes in Management and Ph.D programmes of IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Indore, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Lucknow, IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi and IIM Trichy. 

CAT history 

Till year 2009, CAT was conducted a paper-pencil based test on a fixed date for all CAT takers. 

CAT has become a computer based test in year 2009. The responsibility to conduct online CAT was given to US-based agency - Prometric. Since then IIMs and Prometric has been conducting the computer based test. CAT 2009 had some technical glitches but after that the CAT had concluded successfully in last two years.

In last 3 CATs, the number of test days has been retained at 20 days within the window. This provides the flexibility of choosing a suitable test day based on candidates' convenience. An additional support would be provided to differently abled candidates.

In year 2011, the exam was held between October 22, 2011 and November 18, 2011.

CAT: Exam Pattern 

Broadly, the CAT tests the candidate’s performance on 4 sections which include Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning.

The CAT 2011 had two sections. The first section was Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation; the second section was Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning. The duration of whole exam was 140 minutes. Candidates had 70 minutes to answer 30 questions within each section which will have an on-screen countdown timer. Within the 70 min provided for the section, candidates could review the answers. Once the time ends for the first section, they will move to the second section and will no longer be able to go back. 

CAT has a 15-minute tutorial before it starts. The total duration will be two hours and thirty five minutes including the tutorial.

The scoring of CAT has three steps which include - calculation of raw score, equating raw scores and scaling of equated raw scores.  The raw score is calculated for each section based on the number of questions one answered correctly, incorrectly, or omitted. Candidates are given +3 points for each correct answer and -1 point for each incorrect answer. There are no points for questions that are not answered.

A high score in one section does not guarantee a high score in another section. Percentile rankings are provided for each individual section as well as for the overall exam score.

IIM scaling model:

Section Scores = 0 to 225

Total Exam Score = 0 to 450

Eligibility for CAT

According to the official announcement by IIMs, the candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree, with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA [45% in case of the candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Differently Abled (DA), recognized by any of the Universities incorporated by an act of the central or state legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification recognized by the Ministry of HRD, Government of India.

Kindly notice that IIMs and other CAT allied B schools may verify eligibility at various stages of the selection process.

CAT Application Process

CAT is generally announced in the last week of August every year. IIMs release CAT notification in few business dailies and the official website of CAT – www.catiim.in. 

To appear in CAT, candidates are required to purchase the CAT voucher form any branch of Axis Bank and then they need to register on CAT website. Kindly note that applicant should keep a valid email ID as all communications will be sent by IIMs to the same.

A quick analysis of last 3 CATs

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