Common Admission Test
| Common Admission Test | |
|---|---|
| Acronym | CAT |
| Domain | Management |
| Level | postgraduate |
| Target Role | Admission to MBA and other postgraduate management programs |
| Conducting Body | Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs, rotating basis) |
| Frequency | annual |
| Exam Mode | online |
| Application Period | August, September |
| Exam Period | November |
| Locations | National (multiple cities across India) |
| Status |
active |
| Official Website | Visit Site |
| Last Verified | 2025-10-22 by lalithaar |
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the premier national level management entrance exam in India for admission into postgraduate MBA and equivalent programs offered by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top business schools.
Description
CAT is a highly competitive computer-based test conducted once annually by one of the IIMs on a rotational basis. It evaluates candidates on quantitative aptitude, verbal ability, data interpretation, and logical reasoning skills to identify individuals apt for advanced management education.
Fields and Specializations
Main Fields
- Management Studies
- Business Administration
- Entrepreneurship
- Strategy and Leadership
Specializations Available
- Finance
- Marketing
- Human Resource Management
- Operations Management
- Information Systems
- Business Analytics
Eligibility Requirements
Minimum Qualification
Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognized university with at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates).
Age Limit
No age limit.
Detailed Eligibility
- Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university with minimum qualifying marks. - Candidates in the final year of their graduation are eligible to apply provisionally. - Professional degrees like CA/CS/ICWA holders with requisite marks are also eligible.
Important Dates
Application Timeline
- Application Opens: August
- Application Deadline: September
Exam Schedule
- Exam Period: November (conducted in multiple slots on a single day)
- Result Declaration: December or early January
Notification Pattern
Official notifications are released on the IIM CAT website around July-August.
Exam Information
- Duration: 2 hours
- Question Types: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Type-In-The-Answer (TITA)
- Subjects: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), Quantitative Ability (QA)
- Marking Scheme: +3 for correct answer, -1 for wrong MCQ answer, no negative marking for TITA
- Languages: English
- Mode: Computer-based online examination
Syllabus Overview
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Reading Comprehension passages
- Para jumbles
- Para summary
- Odd sentence out
- Vocabulary and grammar
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Data sets and tables interpretation
- Puzzles and seating arrangement
- Coding-decoding
- Series and pattern recognition
Quantitative Ability (QA)
- Number systems
- Arithmetic (Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time-speed-distance)
- Algebra
- Geometry and Mensuration
- Modern math (Permutations & Combinations, Probability)
Official Resources
- Official Website: Main CAT Website
- Latest Notification: notifications page
- Application Portal: official application portal
Verification Information
- Last Verified: 2025-10-22 by lalithaar
- Status: active
- Source: Official IIM CAT Website, Shiksha.com, Byjus.com, 2IIM Coaching, QDSPro
Keywords and Search Terms
CAT, Common Admission Test, MBA entrance exam, IIM entrance exam, management entrance exam India, PG management admission
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