Registrations will close for the Common Admission Test (CAT) on September 13, 2024. Interested and eligible candidates who wish to appear in the entrance exam can visit the official website of the CAT 2024 to fill the application forms. Admit cards for the test are scheduled to be released on November 5. The exam will be conducted by IIM Calcutta on November 24 across 170 cities. Candidates from general category will be required to pay an examination fee of Rs 2,500, while an examination fee of Rs 1,250 is required for reserved category candidates.
CAT 2024 Eligibility
Bachelor's degree
Candidates are required to have at least 50 per cent marks or equivalent CGPA to apply for the CAT exam. For candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Persons with Disability (PwD), the eligibility criteria is 45 per cent marks.
Seat reservation
As per legal requirements, 15 per cent of the seats are reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates. Around 7.5 per cent for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates, 27 per cent of the seats are reserved for Other Backward Classes candidates belonging to the 'non-creamy' layer (NC-OBC). Up to 10 per cent of the seats are reserved for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) candidates.
CAT 2024: Steps to apply
- Step 1: Register to generate a unique user ID and password.
- Step 2: Log in with the generated user ID and password to fill in the application form.
- Step 3: Submit the application form after entering details and making online payment.
- Step 4: During registration, the mobile number and email address provided by the domestic candidates will be verified through an OTP sent to that mobile number and email address.
- Step 5: Once the OTP is verified, the user ID and the password will be sent to the registered email address and to the registered mobile number to complete the registration process.
- Overseas candidates will receive the OTP on their email address only. Once the payment is made and the application form is submitted, applicants will not be allowed to make any changes.
Exam pattern
The exam will include three sections: data interpretation and logical reasoning, verbal and reading comprehension, and quantitative aptitude. The question paper will feature two types of questions: multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and type-in-the-answer (TITA), with a total score of 198 marks. For those pursuing an MBA, there are 21 IIMs and over 1,000 other MBA institutions that accept CAT scores. Notable non-IIM B-schools include FMS Delhi, SJMSoM IIT Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, DoMS IIT Delhi, and SPJIMR Mumbai.