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Postgraduate Management Entrance

Common Admission Test

CAT is India's most prestigious national-level MBA entrance exam, conducted annually by a rotating IIM. Scores are used for admission to all 21 IIMs and over 1,200 other management institutes across India.

Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) — rotating convener each year India
Mock TestsPatternSyllabusFAQs

Free Practice Tests & Papers

7 available

Exam Details & Pattern

Eligibility Criteria

  • Must hold a Bachelor's degree with at least 50% aggregate marks (or equivalent CGPA); 45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates
  • Candidates in the final year of their qualifying degree programme are also eligible to apply
  • There is no age limit and no restriction on the number of times a candidate can appear for CAT
  • Graduates from any discipline (engineering, commerce, arts, science) are eligible

Marking Scheme & Pattern

Total Questions66 (VARC: 24, DILR: 20, QA: 22) — as per CAT 2024
Question TypesMCQ (Multiple Choice) and TITA (Type In The Answer — non-MCQ)
Marking Scheme (MCQ)+3 for correct, -1 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted
Marking Scheme (TITA)+3 for correct, 0 for incorrect (no negative marking)
Section Time Limit40 minutes per section — cannot switch between sections during the allotted time
Negative Marking-1 per wrong MCQ answer only; TITA questions have no negative marking

Syllabus Overview

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

Reading Comprehension (3–4 long passages, ~16 questions), Para-jumbles, Para-summary, Sentence Exclusion (Odd-sentence-out), Out-of-context sentence identification, Inference-based questions

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

Data Interpretation: Bar charts, Line graphs, Pie charts, Tables, Caselets, Mixed charts; Logical Reasoning: Arrangements & Scheduling, Puzzles, Venn diagrams, Games & Tournaments, Network/Route-based puzzles, Binary logic

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

Number Systems & Number Theory, Arithmetic (Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Profit & Loss, Time-Speed-Distance, Time & Work, Mixtures), Algebra (Equations, Inequalities, Functions, Logarithms), Geometry & Mensuration (Triangles, Circles, Coordinate Geometry, Solid Geometry), Modern Maths (Permutation & Combination, Probability, Progressions, Set Theory)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many IIMs accept CAT scores?

All 21 IIMs accept CAT scores. Additionally, over 1,200 other MBA colleges and management institutes across India use CAT scores for their admission processes.

What percentile is required to get IIM calls for interviews?

Top IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta typically shortlist candidates with 99+ percentile for general category. Other IIMs may shortlist from 90–98 percentile range. However, IIMs also weigh academic profiles, work experience, and diversity, so the overall profile matters significantly.

Is there a restriction on the number of CAT attempts?

No. There is no upper limit on the number of times you can appear for CAT. Since CAT is held once a year, each calendar year counts as one attempt, and candidates can keep applying until they achieve their desired score.

What is the difference between MCQ and TITA questions in CAT?

MCQ questions have 4 answer options and carry a penalty of -1 for wrong answers. TITA (Type In The Answer) questions require candidates to type the answer directly — they carry no negative marking, making them relatively safer to attempt.

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