CAT
Common Admission Test
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CAT — Highlights
- Conducting Body
- Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
- Level
- National
- Mode
- Online (Computer-Based Test)
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Category
- University Entrance
- Country
- India
- Held
- Once a year
- Scoring
- Percentile-based
- Leads to
- IIM & top B-school MBA/PGP
- Sections
- VARC, DILR, QA
Eligibility
A Bachelor's degree with the minimum percentage specified (relaxed for reserved categories) is required. Final-year students may also apply. There is no age limit.
Exam Pattern
Three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). The test is computer-based with sectional time limits and a mix of MCQ and non-MCQ (typed answer) questions. There is negative marking on MCQs only.
Syllabus
VARC: reading comprehension, para-jumbles, summary. DILR: tables, graphs, arrangements, puzzles. QA: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number systems, modern maths.
Selection Process
CAT percentile is used to shortlist candidates; each institute then runs its own written ability test, group discussion and/or personal interview, and prepares a final merit combining CAT score with academics and other criteria.
Overview
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the entrance exam for admission to the postgraduate management programmes of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and hundreds of other leading business schools in India. It is conducted once a year by one of the IIMs on a rotating basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Besides the IIMs, hundreds of other B-schools accept the CAT score for admission.
As scaled scores and percentiles, both overall and section-wise.
How to prepare
- Read the official notification first — confirm eligibility, exam pattern and the marking scheme.
- Get the latest official syllabus and map it topic by topic.
- Build a realistic weekly timetable and study consistently, not in bursts.
- Learn each concept properly first, then practise questions on it — avoid blind memorisation.
- Take full-length mock tests regularly under timed, exam-like conditions.
- Analyse every mock: fix weak topics and note the silly mistakes you keep making.
- In the final weeks, revise with short notes and previous-year question papers.
Foundation
Cover the entire syllabus once, concept by concept. Focus on understanding, not speed.
Practice
Do topic-wise question practice and solve previous-year papers. Start timing yourself.
Revision
Full-length mock tests, quick-revision notes, and targeted work on your weak areas.