What After CAT 2024 Result? Explore Next Steps and Career Paths

The CAT (Common Admission Test) is one of the most prestigious and widely preferred MBA entrance exams in India. Each year, around 2.5 lakh candidates appear for the exam, aspiring to gain admission to top MBA colleges, including the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). Once the CAT results are out, the next step is the selection process, which varies across institutions but generally follows a structured format. This blog discusses the selection process after the CAT exam, including the various rounds, weightage, and the required documents.

CAT Selection Process – MBA Admission

The selection process is slightly different for each IIM, but they all start by using the CAT score to shortlist candidates. The selection process typically involves the following key steps:

1. Round 1: IIM Shortlist and CAT Results
   After the CAT results are declared, the IIMs release their shortlists based on CAT cutoffs. The shortlisted candidates are invited for the next round of the selection process.
2. Round 2: PI Round
   This round includes Written Ability Tests (WAT), Group Discussions (GD), and Personal Interviews (PI). Candidates are evaluated based on their communication skills, general knowledge, past academic performance, and mental agility.
3. Round 3: Selection and Verification of Candidature
   Candidates who clear the PI round must provide documents for verification. These include academic certificates, CAT scorecards, and any other relevant credentials.

IIM Admission Process After CAT

The IIMs follow a standardized selection process, with slight variations in criteria and weightage across different institutes. The main steps are as follows:

1. Declaration of Results and Shortlisting
   After the CAT results are announced, IIMs publish their individual shortlists. Candidates are then invited to participate in the next stages of the selection process.
2. PI Round
   Shortlisted candidates must attend a Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI). They are assessed based on various factors, including communication skills, knowledge, and past academic performance.
3. Final Selection and Verification
   After the interviews, candidates are ranked based on a combination of factors, including their CAT scores, WAT/GD/PI performance, academic background, work experience, and other relevant criteria.

CAT Selection Process Parameters

Here is a general overview of the weightage given to different aspects of the selection process:

Please note that these parameters and their weightage may vary each year, depending on the decisions made by the IIMs.

Required Documents for CAT Selection Process

Candidates must provide both original and attested copies of the following documents during the Personal Interview (PI) stage:

• Call letter for the IIM interview
• CAT scorecard
• Class 10 and 12 mark sheets and certificates
• Graduation mark sheet and certificate
• Category and PwD certificate (if applicable)
• Proof of work experience (if any)

CAP Round for New IIMs

The newer IIMs, such as IIM Raipur, Ranchi, Trichy, Udaipur, and Kashipur, use a Common Admission Process (CAP) for the final selection round. CAP involves a common Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) for all the candidates who are shortlisted by these IIMs. After the CAP rounds, each participating IIM prepares its own merit list based on the candidate’s performance in the CAP, CAT score, academic background, and work experience.

Key points about the CAP round:

• Candidates receive an invitation to attend the CAP.
• All participating IIMs have a common WAT-PI round conducted by one IIM.
• A final list of selected candidates is made available on the respective IIM’s website.

Selection Process for Non-IIMs

Apart from IIMs, many top MBA colleges in India accept CAT scores for their admission process. About 100 institutes are registered with IIM CAT but follow their own selection criteria. While the general steps are similar (WAT, GD/PI, etc.), some institutions may replace GDs with group activities or training sessions.

Summary

The selection process after CAT involves multiple stages, including shortlisting based on CAT scores, Written Ability Tests (WAT), Group Discussions (GD), and Personal Interviews (PI). Each IIM has its own criteria and weightage for evaluating candidates. Additionally, newer IIMs follow a Common Admission Process (CAP) for final selection. Non-IIM institutions also accept CAT scores but may have slightly different processes. If you're preparing for CAT 2024, consider consulting with experts at Career Launcher Pune for personalized guidance and strategies to ace the selection process.