Content Writer | Updated On - Mar 8, 2022
CAT Latest Notifications
- 15 March, 2022 : Download last 10 years CAT Question Papers on Collegedunia.comKnow More
CAT 2022 exam is expected to be held on the last Sunday of November 2022, i.e. November 27 in 3 slots. CAT exam is conducted by one of the 20 IIMs every year. CAT 2022 Registration will begin with the release of the official notification tentatively in July/ August 2022.
- To appear for CAT 2022, candidates must have completed their graduation with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD). Also, there is no upper age limit to take CAT exam. Check CAT 2022 Eligibility Criteria
- As per the revised CAT exam pattern, the paper will have 66 questions divided into 3 sections- VARC (24), DILR(20), and QA(22). The duration of the exam will be 120 minutes.
- As per the marking scheme, 3 marks will be awarded for the correct answer and 1 mark will be deducted for wrong answers. Check CAT Syllabus 2022
- CAT exam is gradually changing from a knowledge-based test to an IQ-based test.
- To begin preparation for CAT 2022, candidates are advised to download and solve the previous year CAT question papers to get familiar with the syllabus and the difficulty level and type of questions asked. Check CAT Preparation Books & Strategy
What is CAT? CAT stands for Common Admission Test. It is a national-level MBA/ PGDM entrance test conducted for admission in 20 IIMs and 1000+ other CAT score accepting B-schools. Every year around 2,00,000 candidates apply for CAT exam to get admission to 5000+ MBA/ PGDM seats. Based on the previous year’s trends, CAT Cut off for top IIMs is above 95 percentile, while for other top colleges it ranges between 80-95 percentile.
Read the article to know more about CAT 2022 preparation plan, study notes, pattern, syllabus, important dates, and much more.
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CAT 2022 Exam Dates
| Events | Dates (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| CAT 2022 Official Notification | 4th week of July 2022 |
| CAT 2022 Application form release date | 1st week of August 2022 |
| Last date to apply for the application form | 2nd week of September 2022 |
| Last date to submit the fees for the Application Form | 2nd week of September 2022 |
| CAT 2022 Form Correction Window shall open | 3rd week of September 2022 |
| CAT 2022 Admit Card Release date | 4th week of October 2022 |
| CAT 2022 Exam date | 4th week of November 2022 |
| CAT 2022 Result announcement date | 1st week of December 2022 |
CAT 2021 Latest Updates
CAT 2021 IIM Admission Criteria and qualifying cut offs have been released by all the IIMs on their official websites.
- CAT 2021 IIM admission process includes 3 stages- shortlisting of candidates based on the qualifying CAT 2021 Cut off scores, screening for WAT/ PI, and preparation of final merit list based on composite scores.
- For IIM Ahmedabad Admission through CAT 2021, the PI shortlist has been released and the PI and AWT rounds will begin soon.
- The application window for admission to IIM Visakhapatnam is open till March 15, 2022. Check IIM Visakhapatnam Admission Process & Criteria
- IIM CAP counselling personal interview round has started for the shortlisted candidates. Check CAT Counselling 2021
CAT 2022 Exam Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of Exam | CAT (Common Admission Test) |
| CAT 2022 Conducting Body | IIM, Indian Institute of Management |
| CAT Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
| Frequency of CAT exam | Once every year |
| CAT Application Process | Online |
| CAT Application Fees |
|
| Minimum Marks Eligibility | 50% and 45% in Graduation for GN & Reserved category respectively |
| Duration of CAT Exam | 2 Hours |
| Number of Sections | 3 Sections:
|
| Number of Questions | 66 |
| Medium of Exam | English (Exam is conducted in CBT mode) |
| Admission | 20 IIMs + Various other Institutes |
| Courses Offered | MBA/ PGDM in various streams |
| CAT Helpdesk | cathelpdesk@iimcat.ac.in; 1800-2090-830 |
CAT 2022 Eligibility Criteria
To fill CAT Application forms, candidates need to fulfill certain eligibility criteria defined by the exam conducting authorities.
- Graduation: It is mandatory to have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in any discipline from a recognized university.
- Minimum Marks: Candidates must have scored at least 50% in graduation. For reserved category candidates, the minimum aggregate marks are 45%. Read CAT 2022 Reservation
- Age: There is no upper age limit criteria to appear for CAT 2023.
- Final Year Students: Final year students can also apply for the exam, however, they will be given admission only if they meet the minimum marks criteria of 50% (40% for SC/ ST/ PwD) after graduation. Furthermore, those who have completed their final examination and are awaiting results can also apply.
- Professional Degrees: Candidates with CA/CS/ICWA degrees are also eligible to fill CAT application form.
- Number of Attempts: There is no limit on the number of attempts for CAT exam.
CAT 2022 Registration
Every year around 2 lakh candidates register for CAT exam. CAT Registration is the first step in getting admission to MBA programs offered by IIMs, IITs, and other top colleges.
- CAT 2022 registration process will be completely online and the application forms will be released on the official website- iimcat.ac.in.
- CAT 2022 Application window will be open for 5-6 weeks from the first week of August till the second week of September 2022.
CAT 2022 Registration Process
New Candidate Registration: Generate CAT User ID and Password
Candidates need to create their login credentials- CAT ID and Password on the official website-iimcat.ac.in by following the below-mentioned steps:
- Visit the official website and click on the ‘Register’ tab under the ‘New Candidate Registration’ section.
- Enter the basic details- email, name, contact number, country, and date of birth, etc., and click on ‘Submit’ to get an OTP.
- Enter the OTP and Captcha code and click on ‘I Agree and Submit’.
- Your CAT User ID and password will be generated and sent on your registered email id. Note it down for all future correspondence.
Fill CAT Application Form
Now, log in using the user ID and password generated in the previous step to fill CAT application form 2022. The below-mentioned details have to be filled in CAT application form:
- Personal Details: Date of Birth, Category, Gender, Nationality, Details of Parents, Address of correspondence, Emergency contact details.
- Academic Details: Class 10th marks, class 12th marks, graduation and postgraduation scores, professional degree/ course details.
- Work Experience Details: Although not a mandatory field, you can enter full-time work experience details in this section.
- IIM Program Preference: Candidates need to select the IIM institute, the program they wish to apply for, and the interview city.
- CAT Exam City Preference: Candidates can select 6 CAT exam cities from the drop-down list based on their convenience of time and travel. Check CAT 2022 Exam Centers
Upload Documents
While filling CAT application form 2022, scanned images of the below-mentioned documents have to be uploaded:
- Photograph: Recent photograph (not older than 6 months) in .jpg/ .jpeg format. File size should be less than or equal to 80kb.
- Signature: Signature should be done only in black ink on a white paper. Size of the image (.jpg/ .jpeg) should not be more than 80kb. The recommended dimension is 80mm x 35mm.
- NC-OBC/ SC/ ST Certificate: Self-attested scanned copy of category certificate in PDF format. The maximum file size allowed is 200 kb.
- PwD Certificate: Download the PwD certificate from the official CAT 2022 website. Fill the details, self attest, and upload as a PDF file of 200 kb or less.
Read CAT Document Upload Guidelines
Pay CAT 2022 Registration Fee
CAT 2022 Application fee needs to be paid online after completing the above steps. The registration fee can be paid via Debit Card. Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI, or online wallets.
| Category | CAT Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General/ NC-OBC | INR 2200 |
| SC/ ST | INR 1100 |
| PwD/ DA | INR 1100 |
CAT 2022 Form Correction
CAT 2022 Form Correction window will be opened for a few days after the completion of the registration window. Candidates who have paid the application fee within the stipulated time will be able to edit the below-mentioned details:
- Signature
- Photograph
- Test City Preferences
CAT Registration Statistics
| CAT Exam Year | Total Number of Registrations |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,29,969 |
| 2020 | 2,27,835 |
| 2019 | 2,44,169 |
| 2018 | 2,41,000 |
| 2017 | 2,31,000 |
| 2016 | 2,32,292 |
| 2015 | 2,18,664 |
| 2014 | 2,18,664 |
CAT 2022 Exam Pattern
CAT exam pattern was revised in 2021 by IIM Ahmedabad and these changes are expected to continue for CAT 2022 exam as well. So, as per CAT Exam Pattern 2022, the question paper will be divided into 3 sections having a total of 66 questions.
- Mode of Exam: CAT 2022 will be conducted in online CBT mode at 438+ test centers located across 158+ major cities of India.
- Medium of CAT Exam: It is conducted only in the English language.
- CAT Exam Duration: 120 minutes for the entire paper
- Sectional Time Limit: 40 minutes for each of the 3 sections.
- Type of Questions: MCQs and TITA-type questions
- Number of Questions: 66 questions (70-75% MCQs and 25-30% TITA-type questions)
- Number of Sections: 3 sections- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Quantitative Aptitude (QA), and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR).
- CAT Marking Scheme: 3 marks awarded for every correct answer and 1 mark deducted for every wrong answer. No negative marking for TITA-type questions.
- Sectional Distribution of Questions:
| CAT Section | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 24 | 72 |
| CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 20 | 60 |
| CAT Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 66 |
| Total | 66 | 198 |
CAT 2022 Marking Scheme
Given below is the CAT exam marking scheme for MCQ and TITA-type questions:
| Particulars | MCQs | TITA-type Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +3 | +3 |
| Incorrect Answer | -1 | No Negative Marking |
| Unanswered | - | - |
CAT 2022 Syllabus
CAT Syllabus includes topics from 3 subjects- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Quantitative Aptitude (QA), and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR).
- CAT VARC Syllabus includes topics like grammar, vocabulary, RC passages, and para jumbles.
- CAT DILR Syllabus comprises DI sets based on tables, graphs & charts, caselets, and LR sets based on analytical & non-verbal reasoning.
- CAT Quant Syllabus consists of class 10th and 12th standard topics of Mathematics like arithmetic, algebra, numbers, geometry, etc.
CAT Syllabus for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
| Para Jumbles | Para Completion |
| Fill in the Blanks | Solved Sample Questions |
| Phrase Modifiers | Pronouns |
| Type of Clauses | Type of Articles |
| Reading Comprehension | Prepositions |
| Parts of Speech | Error in Tenses |
CAT Syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
| Arithmetic | Algebra |
| Geometry | Trigonometry |
| Mensuration | Number System |
| Modern Math | Cube & Square Roots |
| Mean, Mode Median | Topic Wise Important Formulas for QA |
CAT Syllabus for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
CAT 2022 Preparation Strategy, Study Plan, and Topper Tips
CAT 2022 exam will be conducted on November 27, 2022, hence there is enough time to prepare for the exam. With more than 2 lakh candidates competing for around 5000 seats, it becomes essential to prepare well for the exam.
- To begin with CAT 2022 Preparation, one should solve & analyze previous year question papers, go through the detailed subject-wise exam analysis and focus on covering at least 70% of the syllabus in 2-3 months.
- Some of the most important aspects of CAT exam preparation include:
- referring to CAT books by Arun Sharma and Nishit K Sinha
- enrolling in online classes & test series offered by coaching institutes like Unacademy, Career Launcher, IMS India, T.I.M.E, etc.
- solving overall & section-wise sample papers and mock tests.
For most aspirants, the first question that comes to mind is How to Prepare for CAT exam. Hence, candidates can go through the below-mentioned section-wise CAT 2022 preparation tips and strategies.
CAT Preparation for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Questions in DILR section are asked in the form of Sets of 4-5 questions and cracking one set accurately will fetch you 12-15 marks.
- For CAT DI preparation, solve at least 5-6 DI sets every week from different types of data sets- bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, tabular data, and caselets.
- To manage time while solving DI questions, be thorough with important ratio-percentage conversions, profit & loss, averages, and other arithmetic topics.
- For CAT LR preparation, practice is the key. Practice as many questions as possible every day. Pick one LR topic for a day and solve 20-30 questions of varying difficulty.
- Refer to Arun Sharma CAT Books to prepare for Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation to clear concepts and practice 500+ questions.
- Start by solving questions that have only 5 variables and then gradually move to questions that have 7-8 variables.
- Join online study groups on Facebook, Telegram, etc. and join online CAT mock test series provided by coaching institutes.
Read more CAT DILR Preparation Tips, Strategy, and Study Plan
CAT Preparation for Quant (QA)
Arithmetic accounts for 50% of the questions asked in CAT Quant section. The least number of questions (around 2-3) are asked from Numbers and Modern Mathematics. Focus more on preparing for Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry.
- Be thorough with the basic calculation concepts- ratio-percentage conversion, squares and cubes till 30, square roots & cube roots, averages, exponential theorems, divisibility rules, concept of numbers, units digit, alligation, probability, P&C, and tables till 25.
- For Arithmetic, focus more on preparation for topics like Profit & Loss,TSD, Time & Work, Mixtures, Averages, and Percentages.
- For Geometry, the most important topics include Triangles, Circles, and Parallelograms. Learn all the important theorems and formulas on triangles and circles. 1 question can also be expected from Mensuration- both 2D and 3D.
- Pick 2 topics every day and solve 15 questions on each topic daily.
- Refer to youtube channels and online preparation channels like Unacademy, hitbullseye, CATking, etc to learn short tricks and formulas.
- Refer to Arun Sharma CAT books for CAT QA preparation. It is one of the most recommended for studying all the topics from start to finish and practicing 500+ questions of varying difficulty.
- Attempt sectional mock tests in the time limit of 40 minutes. Review your performance after every mock test and work on your errors.
Read more CAT Quant Preparation Tips, Strategy, and Study Plan
CAT Preparation for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
RC accounts for more than 50% of the questions asked in CAT VARC. The important topics in Verbal Ability include para jumbles, odd one out, para summary, and error detection.
- To increase vocabulary, read newspapers, magazines, or online articles on a daily basis. Even while solving RC passages, note down the new words that you encounter. You can also refer to the book- Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis.
- To brush up on your grammar concepts and to practice questions on error detection, para jumbles, para summary, fill in the blanks, refer to the best books for CAT preparation- How to Prepare for VARC for CAT by Arun Sharma, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension by Nishit K Sinha.
- To increase your reading speed for RC passages, start with short passages (250-350 words) and then gradually move to 500+ word passages.
- Solve CAT previous year question papers, sample papers, and various online mock test series to get hold on a variety of questions.
Read more CAT VARC Preparation Tips, Strategy, and Study Plan
CAT Preparation Tips by Toppers
Preparation tips from toppers are helpful in building the right preparation plan by learning from their experience. Given below are the section-wise preparation tips by CAT 2021 Toppers:
| CAT Topper | CAT VARC Preparation Tips | CAT DILR Preparation Tips | CAT QA Preparation Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT Topper Ritik Gupta (99.99 percentile) | Practice previous year papers and mock tests. | Solve more sectional mock tests and practice LR sets in reference books for increasing analytical skills | Refer to Youtube channels for learning short tricks and formulas. |
| CAT Topper Aditya Bansal (99.95 percentile) | Read newspapers and online magazines to improve speed and increase vocabulary. | Try arranging the data in DILR set into tabular form for easy analysis | Devote maximum time to prepare this section and adopt an option elimination strategy for saving time. |
| CAT Topper Sarthak Gupta (99.93 percentile) | Read 1-2 online articles every week and refer to Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis. | Practice more mock tests and afterwards go through the solution. | Focus on Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry and take 20+ mock tests. |
| CAT Topper Aman Goel (99.66 percentile) | Read online journals, newspapers, novels, on a regular basis | Refer to Arun Sharma CAT books for short tricks and practice well. | Solve a variety of questions and refer to books by Career Launcher for CAT quant preparation. |
| CAT Topper Ashna Dawar (99.73 percentile) | Read editorials in The Hindu and practice questions of varying difficulty from Arun Sharma CAT books | Practice 2-3 LRDI sets every day and take mock tests every week. | Revise concepts of arithmetic & algebra and solve previous year papers and mock tests. |
| CAT Topper Chetan Bhatt (99.77) | Solve mock tests and review the solutions after completion. Read a lot of books, novels, and articles. | Practice as many questions as possible. | Refer to Arun Sharma CAT books and solve 1-2 mock tests every week. |
Also Read:
CAT Books for Preparation
Almost 99% CAT toppers have referred to Arun Sharma CAT books for preparation. Given below are some of the best CAT books for preparation:
| CAT Books | Author |
|---|---|
| NCERT Math from 8th to 10th | NCERT |
| Quantitative Aptitude for MBA Entrance Examinations | Abhijit Guha |
| Quantitative Aptitude for MBA Entrance Examinations | R.S. Aggarwal |
| How to prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Arun Sharma/TATA McGRAW HILL |
| Puzzles and some other number books | Shakuntla Devi |
| Higher Algebra | Hall and Knight |
| Crack The Cat Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation | Vivek Gupta and Sandeep Amar |
| Course in Mental Ability and Quantitative Aptitude | Edgar Thorpe |
| Fundamental of Reasoning A Logic Book | Robert M. Johnson |
| Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis |
| Business English and Communication | Clark Grade C |
| All about Words | Rosenblum and Nurenberg |
| How to Prepare for the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT | Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay |
Also Check:
CAT Question Papers and Mock Tests
Previous year CAT question papers are helpful in understanding the type of questions and difficulty level of the paper. Furthermore, solving 1-2 question papers on a regular basis will help you in improving the speed and accuracy level of answering the questions. Candidates can download the previous year's question papers given below to prepare for CAT 2022 exam.
| Section & Slot Number | CAT Question Paper 2021 | CAT Question Paper 2020 | CAT Question Paper 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT Quant Slot 1 | Download | Download | Download |
| CAT DILR Slot 1 | Download | Download | Download |
| CAT VARC Slot 1 | Download | Download | Download |
Download more:
CAT 2022 Mock Test
- CAT 2022 Mock Test will be released on the official website a few weeks before the exam date.
- The total time duration of CAT 2022 Mock test will be 120 minutes with a sectional time limit of 40 minutes. The official links to take the mock tests will be released at iimcat.ac.in.
- CAT 2022 Mock Test Link will offer aspirants access to online tests to become familiar with computer based test instructions, procedures, and features.
CAT Coaching Centers 2022
CAT 2022 aspirants can also join a coaching institute to prepare for the exam. CAT Coaching Institutes provide best teachers having multiple years of experience.
- CAT coaching centers also provide specifically curated study notes, practice papers, overall & sectional mock tests, doubt clearing sessions, etc.
- CAT Coachings also provide a platform where many CAT aspirants can interact and share strategies and opinions.
While selecting the coaching center you can take one demo session with a few institutes. Some of the city-wise coaching centers are provided in the table below:
| CAT Coaching Centers in Delhi | CAT Coaching Centers in Hyderabad |
| CAT Coaching Centers in Mumbai | CAT Coaching Centers in Chennai |
CAT 2022 Preparation: Online Coachings, Resources, and Study Materials
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a drastic shift to online coaching for various MBA exams like CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, NMAT, etc. There are numerous online coaching centers, study channels, youtube channels, and online study material for CAT preparation.
- Top CAT online coaching platforms include Unacademy, T.I.M.E, Career Launcher, IMS India, CATking, MBA Hitbullseye, etc.
- These online education platforms offer well-curated courses with live sessions, study materials, doubt sessions, short revisions, sample papers, and mock tests.
- There are numerous android apps for CAT preparation like MBA Exams Guide by CL, CATability, Unacademy, MBA Test Prep, etc.
CAT 2022: Previous Year Exam Analysis
CAT Exam Analysis has been provided for XAT 2022 aspirants to help them get an idea of the difficulty level of questions, important topics with maximum weightage, and the type of questions that they can expect. The overall difficulty level of CAT 2021 exam was moderate. Going through CAT 2021 exam analysis will help in devising a clear and strategic plan of preparation.
CAT Exam Analysis 2021 Slot 1
| CAT Section | Number of Questions | Distribution Of Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT VARC Exam Analysis | 24 | 19 MCQs and 5 TITA-type questions:
| Moderate-Difficult | 16-18 |
| CAT DILR Exam Analysis | 20 | 15 MCQs and 5 TITA-type questions:
| Moderate | 12-15 |
| CAT QA Exam Analysis | 22 |
| Moderate-Difficult | 14-16 |
| Overall | 66 | - | Moderate | 45-50 |
CAT Exam Analysis 2021 Slot 2
| CAT Section | Number of Questions | Distribution Of Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT VARC | 24 | 19 MCQs and 5 TITA-type questions:
| Moderate | 16-18 |
| CAT DILR | 20 | 15 MCQs and 5 TITA-type questions
| Moderate | 13-15 |
| CAT QA | 22 |
| Moderate-Difficult | 14-16 |
| Overall | 66 | - | Moderate | 48-53 |
CAT Exam Analysis 2021 Slot 3
| CAT Section | Number of Questions | Distribution Of Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT VARC | 24 | 19 MCQs and 5 TITA-type questions:
| Moderate | 17-19 |
| CAT DILR | 20 | 15 MCQs and 5 TITA-type questions
| Moderate | 12-15 |
| CAT QA | 22 |
| Moderate | 13-16 |
| Overall | 66 | - | Moderate | 50-55 |
CAT 2022 Admit Card
CAT 2022 Admit Card will be released by the conducting IIM in the last week of October 2022. It will be available for download on the official website-iimcat.ac.in.
- CAT Admit card will contain the exam center address, exam time, reporting time, google map link to locate the test center, and exam day instructions.
- Candidates must carry a printout of the admit card along with a valid ID proof to the exam center on the day of CAT 2022 exam. Check CAT 2022 Exam Centers
Steps to Download CAT Admit Card 2022?
- Visit the official CAT website- iimcat.ac.in.
- Enter your CAT id and Password to login.
- Click on ‘Download CAT 2022 Admit Card’
- Your hall ticket will be displayed on the screen. Download and take a printout.
- Save the soft copy of your admit card for future reference.
CAT 2022 Result
CAT 2022 Result will be released in the form of a scorecard in the first week of January 2023.
- CAT Result 2022 will be released only on the official website-iimcat.ac.in. Candidates will have to login using their registration id and password to check the same.
- CAT Result 2022 will be valid for 1 year from the date of its release.
- The scorecard will be available for download till Dec 31, 2023.
- CAT Scorecard will mention the overall and sectional scores & percentile.
- Along with the result, IIM will also display the list of CAT Toppers 2022.
CAT 2022 Cut off and MBA Admission 2023-25
CAT Cut off is the minimum CAT percentile required to participate in the MBA admission process of IIMs, IITs, and other CAT score accepting colleges.
- Candidates have to clear both the sectional and overall cut offs to be eligible for admission.
- The qualifying CAT 2022 cut off for admission to the 2023-25 batch will be released by the respective IIMs for shortlisting candidates for GD/ PI rounds.
CAT 2022 Admission Criteria & Process
- Each institute has its own selection criteria and process for MBA/ PGDM admissions. The 3 stages that form a part of the selection process are:
- Clear the qualifying CAT cut offs and fill the application form on the official website of the respective institute.
- GD/ PI shortlist released on the basis of CAT score, past academic performance, work experience, gender diversity, and academic diversity. Check CAT IIM Shortlist Criteria
- Appearance for GD/ PI rounds and preparation of final merit list.
CAT Cut off and Admission Criteria for IIMs
Given below are the previous year qualifying CAT cut offs and admission criteria for IIMs to be eligible for admission:
| IIMs | Category | DILR | VARC | QA | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Bangalore CAT Cut off & Admission Criteria | General | 75 | 80 | 75 | 85 |
| IIM Ahmedabad CAT Cut off & Admission Criteria | General | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
| IIM Lucknow CAT Cut off & Admission Criteria | General | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 |
| IIM Kozhikode CAT Cut off & Admission Criteria | General | 75 | 75 | 75 | 80 |
| IIM Calcutta CAT Cut off & Admission Criteria | General | 80 | 80 | 75 | 85 |
| IIM Indore CAT Cut off & Admission Criteria | General | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 |
| IIM Visakhapatnam CAT Cut off & Admission Criteria | General | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
| IIM Nagpur CAT Cut off & Admission Criteria | General | 72 | 72 | 72 | 85 |
| IIM Raipur CAT Cut off & Admission Criteria | General | 70 | 70 | 70 | 93 |
| IIM Rohtak CAT Cut off & Admission Criteria | General | - | - | - | 95 |
IIM CAP CAT Cut off and Admission Process
- IIM CAP is the Common Admission Process conducted for admission to 9 baby and new IIMs- IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, IIM Kashipur, IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Sambalpur, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Trichy, IIM Udaipur. Check CAT CAP Counselling
- CAP process is conducted only for shortlisting the candidates for PI and conducting the PI rounds. The final merit list preparation criteria is different for all the 9 IIMs.
- Last year IIM Trichy conducted the CAP counselling process for shortlisting candidates for PI.
Previous Year’s IIM CAP CAT Cut off for all 9 IIMs is given below:
| Category | CAT QA Cut off | CAT DILR Cut off | CAT VARC Cut off | Overall Cut off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 70 | 70 | 70 | 92 |
| EWS | 40 | 40 | 40 | 70 |
| NC-OBC | 45 | 45 | 45 | 74 |
| SC | 35 | 35 | 35 | 54 |
| ST | 32.5 | 25 | 25 | 40 |
| DAP | 32.5 | 25 | 25 | 40 |
CAT Cut off for IITs
CAT Cut off and Selection Process for IITs: 7 IITs also accept CAT Scores for admission to their MBA programs. Given below are the previous year qualifying CAT cut offs 2021 for IITs:
| IIT | CAT Cut off for General | CAT Cut off for SC/ST/PwD |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Kharagpur | 90 percentile | 75 percentile |
| IIT Bombay | 90 percentile | 60 percentile |
| IIT Delhi | 90 percentile | 60 percentile |
| IIT Kanpur | 85 percentile | 75 percentile |
| IIT Roorkee | 90 percentile | 70 percentile |
| IIT Dhanbad (ISM) | 80 percentile | 60 percentile |
CAT 2023
Like previous years, CAT 2023 exam will be held on the last Sunday of November 2021, i.e. November 26 in 3 slots by one of the 20 IIMs. CAT 2023 Registration will begin with the release of the official notification tentatively in the last week of July 2023. CAT 2023 eligibility, exam pattern, and syllabus are expected to remain in line with that of CAT 2022.
CAT Exam Date Trends
| CAT Exam Year | CAT Exam Date |
|---|---|
| CAT 2021 | November 28, 2021 |
| CAT 2020 | November 29, 2020 |
| CAT 2019 | November 24, 2019 |
| CAT 2018 | November 25, 2018 |
| CAT 2017 | November 26, 2017 |
| CAT 2016 | December 4, 2016 |
| CAT 2015 | November 29, 2015 |
| CAT 2014 | November 16, 2014 |
CAT 2022 FAQs
Ques. When will IIM release the official notification for CAT 2022 exam?
Ans. IIM is expected to release the official notification for CAT 2022 in the last week of July 2022 on the official website-iimcat.ac.in. As per exam date trends of the past 4-5 years, CAT 2022 exam will be conducted on November 27, 2022.
Ques. Can I also register for CAT 2022 in offline mode?
Ans. No, the process of CAT 2022 registration is online only. Also, CAT application fees can be paid only via online mode. There is no provision of offline application for CAT 2022 exam.
Ques. Is CAT exam necessary for pursuing MBA from IIMs?
Ans. Yes, CAT is mandatory for admission to MBA programs offered by IIMs. However, for pursuing MBA from other colleges you can also take other management exams like XAT for XLRI Jamshedpur, MAT & CMAT for JBIMS, SPJIMR, etc., NMAT for NMIMS Mumbai & other campuses, SNAP for SIU institutes, IBSAT for IBS Hyderabad & other campuses.
Ques. Is CAT exam more difficult than XAT?
Ans. CAT exam is considered to be slightly easier than XAT. Based on the reviews of experts and students, the difficulty level of the questions asked in XAT Quant & DI, and VARC are tougher than those asked in CAT. Furthermore, the presence of 2 extra sections (Decision Making and GK) make it even more difficult than CAT exam.
Ques. Is there any sectional time limit in CAT exam?
Ans. Yes, there is a sectional time limit in CAT exam. The total exam duration is 120 minutes. Out of this, 40 minutes each are allotted to Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation, and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
Ques. Can a final year student apply for CAT 2022?
Ans. Yes, candidates in their final year of graduation (3rd or 4th) can apply for CAT 2022. However, admission is subject to the submission of proof of graduation degree and mark sheet before the beginning of the admissions for the academic year 2023-25.
Ques: Is there any limit on the number of attempts for CAT exam?
Ans: No, there is no such limit set for the number of attempts for CAT exam. Candidates can take CAT every year. So, even candidates who appeared for CAT exam in 2021 can appear for CAT 2022 provided they fulfill other eligibility.
Ques. Due to some reasons, I have changed my name after completing my Bachelor’s. So which name should I write in my CAT Application Form 2022?
Ans. Any candidate who has changed their name is advised to write the changed name while filling up CAT application form 2022. However, you should also provide supporting documents to your changed name at the time of CAT 2022 examination, interview, and admission process.
Ques. Are there sectional cut offs for IIM admission through CAT?
Ans. Yes, every IIM releases sectional CAT cutoffs. Candidates have to mandatorily secure the minimum CAT percentile in each section along with the overall cut off. If one is unable to meet the sectional CAT cut offs, one is ineligible for admission to MBA courses offered by IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Indore, and others.
Ques. Are 3 months enough to prepare for CAT 2022?
Ans. Yes, cracking CAT exam in 3 months of preparation is not impossible. Focus on solving sample papers mock tests, and previous year questions. Also, refer to CAT books by Arun Sharma and Nishit K Sinha to complete the syllabus and practice.
Ques. How many candidates take CAT exam every year?
Ans. On average, CAT exam is taken by 2,00,000 candidates every year. In 2021, 2,29,969 candidates registered for the test out of which 1,91,660 candidates appeared.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
