CAT 2024 - Exam Date (Nov 24), Admit Card (OUT), Syllabus, Question Paper, Pattern, Preparation Tips

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CAT Notification 2024

On July 28, 2024, the official CAT notification was released, which included all the important information such as CAT 2024 registration window dates, CAT eligibility criteria, CAT exam dates, CAT syllabus, CAT exam fee, and more.

According to the CAT 2024 notification, the registration process for the exam has already started on August 1, 2024, and will conclude on September 20, 2024, at 5 PM, with the possibility that it may extend further.

The CAT 2024 exam will be conducted on November 24, 2024. This exam is an important step towards gaining admission to 21 IIMs and other MBA colleges in India. One of the top IIMs, IIM Calcutta, is responsible for administering and conducting the exam this year.

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CAT 2024 Exam Dates (Released)

The CAT Notification for 2024 was released on 28th July 2024, and the exam will be conducted on the last Sunday of November, i.e. 24th November 2024. This exam will allow students to apply for admission to IIMs among other top institutes for the batch of 2025-27.

Given below are the exam dates for the CAT exam 2024-

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CAT 2024: Exam Highlights

Before taking CAT 2024, you should be aware of the know-how of the exam in advance, which will help you have a better approach towards the exam. According to the CAT notification, here is all you need to know about the exam:

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CAT Admit Card 2024

The CAT admit card 2024 will be available for candidates to download on November 5, 2024. Here are a few details that must be kept in mind:

• Registered candidates will be able to access and download the admit card by logging into their account from the official website.
• Candidates have to carry their admit cards for the exam on the day of the examination.
• The CAT admit card is also required for some post-CAT procedures.

The CAT Admit Card contains several details including the following:

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CAT Syllabus 2024

Following the trends of the past few years, we can expect CAT 2024 to be divided into 3 sections. Due to the lack of a defined syllabus for the CAT exam, CAT aspirants largely focus on studying school-level mathematics and English. Based on the same conclusion, given below is the tentative CAT syllabus for the three sections of the exam-

CAT Syllabus 2024: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

• The VARC section is divided into two main parts; reading comprehension and verbal ability. A major section of the VARC is reading comprehension which includes paragraphs of varying lengths with MCQ and TITA questions. The verbal ability section comprises parajumbles, odd sentences, etc.

CAT Syllabus 2024: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

• Data Interpretation consists of sets of questions based on various charts, graphs, and other forms of data presentation. The data for the answers is to be directly extracted from the given charts. The logical reasoning section also consists of sets of questions based on seating arrangements, blood relations, puzzles, etc.

CAT Syllabus 2024: Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

• This section is focused on mathematics as the syllabus for QA is entirely based on school maths. Topics included are LCM & HCF, trigonometry, mensuration, probability, etc. In recent years the difficulty of this section has been reduced by the IIMs.

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CAT Exam Pattern 2024

CAT exam pattern is nothing but the CAT exam paper pattern for the 2024 intake. There is no fixed CAT paper pattern authorized by any supreme authority. However, based on past trends, the table below shows the overview of the CAT 2024 exam pattern

Here is the CAT 2024 marking scheme

• For every correct answer, 3 marks will be awarded
• For every incorrect answer, 1 mark will be deducted.
• TITA (type-in-the-answer) questions have no negative marking.

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CAT 2024 Eligibility Criteria

Before starting your CAT exam preparation, it's crucial to understand who can appear for the exam. Here's what you need to know about the CAT eligibility criteria for CAT 2024:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree: You need a Bachelor's degree from a recognized university in any discipline.

Minimum Marks

• General and NC-OBC category: At least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• SC, ST, PWD/DA category: The minimum requirement is 45% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• Final Year Students: If you're in the final year of your bachelor's degree or awaiting results, you can also apply for CAT exam. However, you must complete your graduation with the required percentage by the time of admission.
• Professional Degrees: Professional degrees such as CA, CS, ICWA, or FIAI with the required percentage are also eligible for CAT exam.

Other Criteria

• There is no upper or lower age limit for appearing in the CAT exam.
• Work Experience is not mandatory for applying for CAT 2024, but is advantageous for IIM admissions.

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CAT Application Form 2024

As per the release of the official notification for CAT 2024, the CAT 2024 application form is now available online on the official CAT website - iimcat.ac.in. Candidates can visit the website and start their CAT application process. It is advisable to complete the registration before September 20, 2024, to avoid any last-minute hassles.

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CAT 2024 Registration Process

The registration for CAT 2024 has already started and will last until September 20, 2024. Aspiring CAT takers are advised to buckle up and start their CAT form filling process. Here is the detailed process on how you can complete the CAT 2024 registration without any errors.

• When the candidates open the official website, they should select ‘New Candidate Registration.’ They will be required to fill in their basic details.
• After submission, they will receive an OTP to verify their registration.
• After submission, they will receive an OTP for verification of the registration.
• After the verification is complete, on the email and mobile number registered, candidates will get a unique ID and password to log in.
• Now the candidates can begin entering the required details in the application form.
• The candidates will also pick the programs of their choice along with the Interview City.
• The candidates are allowed to pick 6 preferred test cities for the CAT exam 2024.

List of Documents Required for CAT 2024 Registration

While filling out the CAT application form, the candidate must also upload the required documents in the given format-

CAT Exam Application Fee

To complete the registration process, the candidates must pay the CAT application fees.

• The fee can be submitted online only.
• The candidates will also have the option to preview the application before making the payment and submitting the application form.
• The candidate will receive a confirmation email a few minutes after paying successfully.

There has been a revision in the CAT 2024 application fee as given below for your reference:

If you’re stuck somewhere in the CAT form-filling process, read about the exact CAT Registration steps to be followed at the time of form-filling, or you can also watch our expert filling the form on YouTube.

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CAT Application Form Correction Window

Filling out the CAT application form for 2024 correctly is very crucial, as the IIM selection and admission process will depend on this form. Therefore, candidates must take the application process seriously and ensure that they fill it out with complete attention to avoid any unnecessary errors that cannot be rectified.

However, the conducting authorities for CAT 2024 allow candidates to correct these errors only once after the CAT 2024 registration process has ended. They will open the CAT Application Form Correction Window, which is scheduled from September 27, 2024 (10 AM onwards), and the last date to correct your form is September 30, 2024 (Till 5 PM), through the official website for CAT 2024.

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CAT Events Post Registration

Once you submit your CAT 2024 application form, the convening IIM will send you alerts regarding all the future events associated with CAT 2024, such as:

• Successful completion of the CAT 2024 Application Process
• Downloading the CAT 2024 admit card
• Instructions and changes related to CAT 2024
• Application Correction for 2024
• Objection Window for CAT 2024
• Declaration of CAT result
• Your CAT 2024 percentile

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CAT 2024 Preparation Tips

Most of the candidates planning on taking CAT or any other entrance exam don't even know about MBA and why it is important to pursue an MBA. They just start preparing for the exam either due to peer pressure or simply to obtain an additional post-graduation degree.

Well, to put some highlights, an MBA is one of the most sought-after master’s degrees, and the 3.3 lakh candidates who applied for CAT 2023 are a testimony to this statement. So to outdo the competition, candidates must study and strategize effectively for CAT 2024.

Here are some tips to help you score well in your exam and ace your CAT 2024 preparation for your reference:

• Prepare a Study Strategy: Divide the syllabus into various sections and phases across the time you have for preparation. Allot time daily for your CAT preparations and commit to it. You should ensure that each section of the paper gets the required time.
• Establish the Basics: Identify the concepts you are not accustomed to or struggle with more. Devote time to the different topics of each section and establish your understanding at the start of the CAT preparations.
• Choose the Mode of Preparation: You can either choose to prepare for CAT 2024 without coaching, get help through self-prep programmes or enroll in a CAT coaching program. A coaching program will guide you through all the processes of preparation. If you choose to self-study, make sure you have sufficient study materials and the best books for CAT preparation.
• Focus on Mock Exams: As you grow confident in your preparation, consider giving mock exams. The mock exams will help you to identify your weaknesses and strengths. It will enable you to improve on your weaker sections. Here are some Free CAT Mock Tests to help you on your journey.

To have a detailed preparation strategy for each section, you can also check: Preparation Tips for CAT QA | Preparation Tips for CAT DILR | Preparation Tips for CAT VARC

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CAT Result 2024

The CAT 2024 result will be available on the official website tentatively in the second week of January 2025. The CAT 2024 results will be valid till December 2025.

The IIMs will also release cut-offs for the 2025-27 batch. There is no centralized counseling for the CAT exam as all the IIMs have their own procedure for interviews and further admission rounds.

Also Check: CAT Score vs Percentile 2024

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CAT Answer Key 2024

The CAT 2024 answer key will be released one to two weeks after the CAT exam, most likely in the first week of December 2024. One or two days after the release of the CAT answer key, the candidates' response sheets will be made available based on the attempts they made on the exam. Check below the steps to download the CAT 2024 answer key and response sheet:

• Visit the official website of CAT 2024
• Click on the 'Login' tab
• Enter CAT login ID and password
• Click on 'CAT 2024 answer key' will appear on the screen
• Click on the 'download' icon to save it as a PDF

The CAT answer key objection window will be open for three to four days. If a candidate believes that there are mistakes in their CAT answer key, they can challenge it by filling out an online form. The exam authorities will then review the answer key and make any necessary corrections.

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CAT Selection Process 2024

Once the CAT 2024 results are released, IIMs and other top B-schools begin releasing their shortlists for further admission rounds. The admission process at IIMs primarily comprises 3 stages:

• Shortlist based on CAT cutoff
• WAT and PI admission rounds
• Final merit list released by each IIM

The old IIMs follow an individual process while 9 new & baby IIMs follow a Common Admission Process (CAP) wherein the admission rounds are common. However, the final merit lists are released separately by each IIM. Aspirants who wish to get admission to IIM Mumbai must apply for it separately.

If you are keen to know more about the IIM selection criteria and the step-by-step process of getting into your dream IIM, you can refer to the IIM Admission Process.

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CAT Cutoffs 2024

Based on the CAT 2023 analysis, the CAT cut-offs for percentile-based calls for general category candidates are high in 2024. You can refer to the below CAT cut-offs and prepare your test-taking strategy accordingly if you are aiming to get into the top IIMs.

According to the trends over the past few years, the CAT Cut-offs for the 21 IIMs are:

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CAT Exam Centers 2024

CAT 2024 exam centers list will be released soon before the commencement of the exam. Every year, the exam authorities release a fresh list of CAT exam centers. For the academic year 2024-25, the list of CAT exam centers is as follows: 

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Changes Over the Years in the CAT Exam

The CAT exam structure has evolved significantly in the last decade or so, with notable alterations in the number of sections, questions, and duration of the exam. Below is a summary table illustrating these important modifications:

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CAT Past Year Analysis

CAT 2023 followed the exam pattern of CAT 2021 & 2022 with 66 questions to be answered in 120 minutes. The distribution of questions across the sections also remained the same with VARC having 24 questions, DILR having 20 questions and QA having 22 questions.

Overall, CAT 2023 had a higher level of difficulty as compared to CAT 2022. In addition, there was only a marginal difference in the level of difficulty among the three slots. Each section had to be attempted in 40 minutes. The overall level of difficulty of CAT 2023 was moderate-difficult and based on CAT-taker responses, a score of 70-72 will allow aspirants to aim for 99 %ile.

If you are looking forward to getting a detailed analysis of CAT 2023, you can visit CAT 2023 Exam Analysis.

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Set Your Goal For Your Dream College With Our B-School Predictor

Every B-School, including IIMs, has its own unique criteria when it comes to accepting prospective candidates. Over the years, these criteria have evolved, and Career Launcher has crunched the data to develop a tool that can predict, with a reasonable degree of accuracy, the calls that you can potentially receive.

To have a fair understanding of which of the top IIMs and B-schools you can get into and what is the required percentile to get shortlisted for the WAT-PI-GD round, you can check with the IIM Profilizer.

Some of the questions which will be answered are:

• Is my profile good enough for the IIMs?
• What CAT percentile do I need to make it to my dream IIM?
• Can I get a call from IIM-A/B/C my CAT Percentile & profile?

Make the most out of this tool in the months leading up to CAT 2024. Aim for your desired B-school and target areas for improvement accordingly to pave the way to your dream college.

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Start Early, Stay Ahead With Our CAT 2025 Online Classes

It always makes sense to start preparing for CAT 2025 & other MBA entrance exams early. The reasons being: you get ample time to gain clarity on all topics and you can allocate more time to improve upon your weaker areas. Kickstart your preparation with our CAT 2025 Online Classes. Prepare now to enjoy the rewards of success later!

Beginning your CAT 2025 preparation early can be highly beneficial. Take advantage of these classes to get an edge over your competition and cover the entire CAT 2025 syllabus with the guidance of our experienced CAT mentors. Start preparing for CAT 2025 now to outsmart your competition and stay ahead of your peers.