CAT 2024: Exam Date, Syllabus, Registrations, Notification, Pattern, Best Books for Preparation
The CAT 2024 exam will be tentatively held in November 2024, in 3 slots. The official notification will be released around July 2024 with details about CAT 2024 exam date and registration dates. The CAT application form 2024 will also be released soon after. However, candidates must already begin their preparations for CAT 2024 to clear the cut-offs with the highest percentile. Thus here is an overview to help you on this journey-
- The CAT 2024 eligibility criteria require candidates to have completed their undergraduate with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for reserved categories).
- Candidates who successfully register for the exam will be able to download the admit card in October 2024. It will include the CAT 2024 exam date, venue, and time for the exam.
- The exam consists of three sections; VARC, DILR, and QA with a total of 66 questions. The time limit for the exam is 120 minutes.
- Candidates can prepare for the exam with mock papers, study material, and coaching programs.
CAT 2024 exam date is November 17. The exam will be held in three sessions in about 156 cities across India. The CAT 2024 exam date will be officially announced on July 31, 2024 and the registrations will begin soon after. The exam is conducted by top six IIMs on rotation basis. Last year, the CAT was conducted by IIM Bangalore after a gap of six years. Going by the trends of the past few years, IIM Calcutta or IIM Lucknow can be the CAT 2024 convening institute.
The registration process will be online and the CAT 2024 application forms will be available at iimcat.ac.in website from the first week of August to third week of September. Graduates or final year students can fill the CAT application form 2024.
When is CAT Exam 2024
Conducted by one of the top IIMs every year by rotation, Common Admission Test (CAT) is the most preferred MBA entrance exam for MBA admission in 20 IIMs and other top B-schools. This year IIM Lucknow is conducting CAT 2024 on following tentative dates
Exam Dates
| Events | Dates |
| Notification Release Date of CAT Exam 2024 | 4th week of July 2024 |
| Registration of CAT 2024 | 1st week of August 2024 |
| Last date to fill out the Online Application form | 2nd week of September 2024 |
| Last date to submit the fees for the Application Form | 2nd week of September 2024 |
| Beginning of Application Correction for CAT 2024 | 3rd week of September 2024 |
| Admit Card availability for CAT 2024 | 4th week of October 2024 |
| Date Of Examination of CAT 2024 | 4th week of November 2024 |
| Answer Key Release Date | 1st week of December 2024 |
| Last date to submit an objection | 2nd week of December 2024 |
| CAT 2024 Announcement of Results | 1st week of January 2025 |
CAT Score Acceptance:
CAT exam scorecard is also accepted by about 1200 top B-schools in India for admission to management programmes. Top non-IIM MBA colleges accepting CAT 2024 are MDI Gurugram, SPJIMR, IMT, FMS, IM, IITs, GIM, GLIM, LIBA, NITIE, MICA, IRMA, etc.
CAT 2024 Eligibility Criteria
When CAT application form 2024 is open from August 2024, only eligible students will be allowed to apply. Thus, it is imperative that every aspirant understands the eligibility criteria beforehand and prepares accordingly.
- Candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum score of 50% for the General and NC-OBC categories. The required score for SC, ST and PWD candidates is 45%.
- Final year candidates of an undergraduate can also appear for the exam with the expectation that they complete their graduation with the required marks. Candidates failing to provide the same during admissions will find their admission canceled.
- CAT 2024 has no age restrictions and anyone fulfilling the above criteria is welcome to apply.
- Candidates with a professional degree such as CA/ CS/ ICWS are also eligible for the CAT exam.
CAT 2024 Registration Process
Candidates must register for the CAT 2024 exam online through the official website iimcat.ac.in. Here are the steps to fill out the CAT application form 2024, along with the fees and documents required for registration-
Steps for Registration
- On the official website, candidates must click on new candidate registration, fill in the basic details required and submit.
- Upon verification, candidates will receive a unique user ID and password on the registered email and mobile number.
- Now the candidates can fill up the details requested in the CAT application form 2024.
- The candidate will also have to select the programs of their choice along with the Interview City for the same.
- The candidate can choose 6 preferred test cities for the CAT 2024 exam.
Documents Required-
While filling out the CAT application form 2024, the candidate must also upload the required documents in the given format-
| Document | Format |
|---|---|
| Photo | .jpg/.jpeg |
| Signature | .jpg/.jpeg |
| EWS/NC-OBC/SC/ST Certificate | |
| PwD Certificate |
Application Fee
After filling all the details in the CAT application form 2024, the candidate must make the payment to complete the registration process.
- For General, EWS and NC-OBC, the application fee is INR 2,200/-
- For SC, ST and PwD, the application fee is INR 1,100/-
- The fee can be paid through online mode only.
- Before submitting the CAT application form 2024 and making the payment, the candidate will be able to preview the complete form.
- After successful payment, the candidates will receive a confirmation email within a few minutes.