CAT 2024: Admit Card (Released), Exam Date (Nov 24), Syllabus,Pattern, Cut Offs

The CAT 2024 exam is scheduled for November 24, 2024. The examination authority has released the CAT admit card 2024. Registered candidates can download their CAT admit card 2024 using their login credentials. The CAT exam 2024 will be conducted in three shifts at over 350+ test centers in 170 cities across India. Candidates can check their test city, center, and exam slot in the CAT 2024 admit card. 

The admit card can be downloaded till the exam Day. The official CAT mock test 2024 is expected to be released a few days before the exam. Aspirants must attempt the official CAT 2024 mock test to know the CAT syllabus and exam pattern.

What is a CAT Exam?

Common Admission Test or CAT is a national-level management aptitude test conducted by the IIM for admission to MBA and other postgraduate courses offered by its 21 campuses (NITIE Mumbai has been added to the cluster as IIM Mumbai). Over two lakh candidates apply for the CAT exam every year. In CAT 2023, applications touched the record high of 3.30 lakh. The number of CAT 2024 registrations is expected to be higher. Candidates who clear the CAT exam are eligible for admission to over 1300 MBA colleges in India, apart from the IIMs. 

The CAT exam is a speed-based test that includes questions from Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). The difficulty level of the exam is moderate to high.

Courses Offered Through CAT at IIMs

Apart from full-time MBA programs, the CAT score is valid for admission to Executive MBA, PhD, and FPM programs of IIMs and other B-Schools. This exam is open to graduates, postgraduates, and working professionals. Check the list of courses offered by the IIMs through CAT below.

Every year, CAT sees the most significant number of registrations among all MBA entrance exams in India. About 2 lakh candidates apply for the CAT every year. In 2023, CAT recorded the highest-ever registration of over 3.30 lakhs, of which about 2.95 lakh candidates appeared for the exam. Data on CAT 2024 registration is expected to be released by IIM Calcutta soon. Check the CAT registration trend in the last 10 years below.

CAT Admit Card 2024

CAT admit card is a mandatory document to be carried to the exam center; thus, candidates must download it before the exam Day. The CAT 2024 admit card will have printed the test center location, exam slot, reporting time, and other exam-related information. Here's the process to download the CAT admit card 2024:

• Log on to the CAT website: iimcat.ac.in
• Click on the 'login' tab.
• Enter the CAT 2024 application number and password.
• Go to the 'admit card' section
• Click on 'Download'

CAT Exam Day Guidelines

The CAT 2024 exam will be conducted at designated exam centers across India, and candidates must follow specific guidelines. The exam Day guidelines will be mentioned on the CAT admit card 2024. Candidates must read and follow the procedures at the test center to avoid problems. Read the critical CAT exam Day guidelines below, documents to carry, and prohibited items at the exam center.

Documents to carry on CAT exam Day 2024

Candidates appearing for the exam this year must carry the following documents to the CAT exam center to get an entry: 

• CAT admit card 2024: Candidates appearing for the CAT 2024 exam must carry two printouts of their admit card with their photo affixed (preferably the same as uploaded with the application form). Entry without the CAT admit card and photo ID will not be permitted. 

• Photo identity proof: Along with the admit card, candidates must carry a photo ID proof such as College ID (must be supported with a valid debit/credit card), employer ID, driving license, passport, PAN card, Voter ID, or Aadhaar card.
  
  
• Name change document: If a candidate changes their name later in life and their photo ID does not reflect the same name, they must carry a name change certificate/document.
  
  
• PwD/Scribe Certificate: PwD candidates must carry a certificate indicating the same, and the competent authority will attest the scribe certificate if they wish to avail themselves of scribe services.
  
  

Items not to carry inside the CAT exam hall:

CAT 2024 will be conducted in a free and fair environment under CCTV surveillance. The following items will not be allowed inside the test center:

• Calculator, watch, phone, iPad, or any other electronic item
• Bags and purses
• Eatables and beverages
• Jewellery and accessories that contain metal
• Jackets and clothes with pockets
• Closed footwear 
• Book, notebooks, loose paper
  
  

Note: Candidates with a metal implant, pacemaker, etc., will be required to carry a medical certificate to the test center.

CAT Exam Pattern & Test Structure 2024

CAT question paper 2024 will have three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. The exam will be 120 minutes with a sectional time limit of 40 minutes per section. Check the highlights of the CAT 2024 exam pattern below:

CAT Exam Preparation 2024

Preparing for the CAT 2024 exam should include phase-wise completion of the CAT syllabus, mock test practice, and revision. With four months to go for the CAT 2024 now, candidates must speed up their preparation and cover the syllabus by September so that they can dedicate atleast a month to practicing for the CAT mock test. Some of the critical aspects of CAT preparation 2024 can be:

• Cover the CAT syllabus thoroughly. Try not to leave any topic as questions can be asked from anywhere.
• Attempt a good number of CAT mock tests to develop speed and accuracy. 
• Dedicate time to regular revision so that you're always well-versed.
• Learn mental maths for quick calculation.
• Practice many RC passages from previous years' CAT question papers.

Opt for online problem-solving sessions to learn new tricks and techniques.

CAT Answer Key 2024

CAT answer key 2024 will be released within a week of the exam. The preliminary CAT answer key 2024 will be available through login for a limited period. Check the steps to download the CAT 2024 answer key and response sheet from the official website:

• Visit the official website of CAT 2024 (iimcat.ac.in)
• 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 critical objection window will open for 3-4 days for raising objections. Candidates must complete an online form, upload a supporting document to prove the objection is valid, and pay the requisite fee. A team of subject matter experts will then analyze the objections, and if any objection is found to be valid, the preliminary CAT 2024 answer key will be revised. CAT result 2024 will be prepared based on the revised answer key. No objection can be raised against the final CAT answer key 2024.