CAT Form Filling 2024: How To Apply For CAT Exam

Summary: Navigating the CAT (Common Admission Test) application process can be a daunting task for many candidates aspiring to secure their place in some of India’s most prestigious management institutions. So, to make the CAT form filling process easy, we have compiled all the important points for you to remember.

With different important dates, detailed eligibility criteria, and several required documents, ensuring a smooth and error-free application process is important. This blog post is a comprehensive guide to help you understand and successfully manage the CAT form filling process for the upcoming session. 

CAT Form Filling: Important Dates

Important Dates

Read More: CAT Exam 2024: A Complete Guide

CAT Form Filling: Eligibility Criteria 

Candidates must fulfil one of the following:

1. Completed Bachelor’s degree with the required percentage.
2. In the Final Year of a Bachelor’s degree with the required percentage.
3. Completed a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA) with the required percentage.

• Minimum percentage:
  • SC/ST/PwD: 45%
  • General/EWS/NC-OBC: 50%

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Keep these Details Handy for CAT Form Filling

✓ Photo:

• Max 6 months old, white/off-white background.
• Dimensions: 30mm x 45mm, Max size: 1MB.
• Format: JPEG, JPG.

✓ Signature:

• Size: Max 80KB, Dimensions: 80mm x 35mm.
• Format: JPEG, JPG.

✓ Category Certificate (if applicable):

• Required formats: SC-ST / NC-OBC / EWS

✓ Disability Certificate (if applicable):

• Formats: PwD Form V / VI / VII

✓ Academic Details:

• 10th, 12th, Graduation, Masters/Professional Degree details.
• Convert CGPA/Grades to percentage.

✓ Work Experience:

• Full-time experience after graduation until 31 July 2024.

Important Note:

• Use a scanner for documents; do not use mobile devices for scanning photos/signatures/certificates.

Helpful Tools:

Resize Documents                                     
Convert PDF to JPG/JPEG

CAT Exam Form Filling: 5 Points to Avoid Most Common Errors

Name: Candidate’s Name should be entered EXACTLY as it appears in the 10th/SSC certificate.

Category: For Reserved Category, use the Certificates/ Proforma:

• Category Certificate Prescribed format: **SC-ST/NC-OBC /EWS**
  1. Disability Certificate Prescribed format: PwD Form V / VI / VII
  2. Academic Details:

1. Overall Marks Consideration: When calculating percentages for the 10th & 12th/Equivalent examinations, include marks for all subjects listed on the mark sheet, regardless of board regulations.
2. Grades/CGPA to Percentage Conversion: Convert CGPA to percentage using the method certified by the respective Board/University. If no conversion scheme exists, use the formula: (CGPA/Total CGPA) * 100 (Note: A CGPA of 10 does not equate to 100%).
3. Aggregate Percentage: Enter your aggregate percentage rounded to two decimal places. For instance, if the maximum marks are 600 and the total marks obtained are 421, the calculation is: *(421/600)100 = 70.17.
4. Final Year Graduates Awaiting Results: Candidates in their final year should fill out the CAT form with the aggregate percentage calculated from the last available marks.
5. Final Year Candidates with ‘Promotion/Pass without Marks’: Final year bachelor’s students who received no earlier semester marks or were promoted without marks can select ‘Promotion/Pass without Marks’ when applying (valid for candidates graduating in 2022, 2023, or 2024).

Work Experience: Only include full-time paid work experience as of 31st July 2024. Do not include part-time, project, internship, articleship, or pre-graduation experiences, as they are not considered valid work experience.

1. Program Selection: IMS recommends that applicants should consider applying to all 21 IIMs and the associated programs. For a complete list of PGP programs at IIMs, please refer here

CAT Form Filling 2024 in Quick Steps

Step 1: Create an Account (Register for User ID & Password)

• Register through New Candidate Registration using your details and create an account.
• After validation, you will be able to submit the registration form and receive the User ID and Password on the registered email address and or on the registered mobile number.
• Verify all the details, select the check box & move to the next step.

Step 2: Personal Details:

Click on “Registered Candidate Login” > Enter “User Name” and “Password”> Click on “Go to Application Form”.

Category details to be mentioned: Category (General/SC/ST/NC-OBC/EWS) >>State/Union Territory of Category >>Serial/Entry/Certificate Number of Category >>Caste/Tribe Name.

CAT Form Filling: Upload Documents:

Photograph, Signature, Caste Certificate (if any), PwD certificate (if any)

• The NC-OBC/SC/ST/PwD/EWS certificate should be in the prescribed format issued by the competent authority. (Refer to the CAT 2024 Website for sample format.)
• Certificates should be the Self Attested scanned copy.
• The applicant’s name on the certificate should match the name mentioned during registration.

Note: No changes in the category will be made after the closure of the registration window.

CAT Form Filling: Additional Documents for Reservation Category

CAT Form Filling: FAQs on Documents required for Reservation Category

1. I have a valid Category certificate in a similar format uploaded on the CAT 2024 website. Can I use the same certificate, or do I have to download the certificate template from the CAT website and fill it out again?

Answer: If your valid certificate fulfils the following conditions, you can upload the same certificate:

• A competent authority should have issued the certificate.
• The name of the caste and caste number should appear on the certificate.
• District and the State or Union Territory of your ordinary residence.
• The Ministry’s resolution/order number should be available.
• The certificate should be in Hindi or English only.

The authorities competent to issue the certificate are – District Magistrate/Additional Magistrate/Collector/Deputy Commissioner/Additional Deputy Commissioner/Deputy Collector/1st Class Stipendiary Magistrate/Sub-Divisional magistrate/Taluka Magistrate/Executive Magistrate/Extra Assistant Commissioner (not below the rank of 1st Class Stipendiary Magistrate)/Chief Presidency Magistrate/Additional Chief Presidency Magistrate/Presidency Magistrate/Revenue Officer not below the rank of Tehsildar/Sub-Divisional Officer of the area where the candidate and/or his family resides.

2. Is there validity for the NC-OBC Certificate?

Answer: Yes. For more details on the validity period of the OBC Certificate concerning the ‘creamy layer’ status of the candidates, click here

3. I have an OBC Certification, but I do not have an NC certificate. Will it be accepted?

Answer: A Non Creamy layer certificate along with an OBC certificate will be considered for offering a seat under the NC-OBC category.

Candidates who do not have the same can make the same as per the sample certificate available on the CAT website.

4. Which documents must I submit if I belong to the SC/ST category?

Answer: If you belong to the SC or ST category, your caste/tribe must be listed in the Government of India schedule. For more information, refer to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment website www.socialjustice.nic.in/Home and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs website www.tribal.nic.in

• The caste certificate that you upload in the Application Form should be in the government-approved format. The certificate format is also available on the CAT website under the Certificates section. Download and print the certificate, and clearly state the following:
• Whether you belong to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe.
• District and the State or Union Territory of your ordinary residence.
• The appropriate Government of India schedule under which your caste/tribe is approved, whether Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe.
• Signatures of required authorities.

CAT Form Filling: For more queries, click [here]

Step 3: Academic Details:

• Enter your educational details: 10th, 12th, Diploma, Graduation, Master’s, or Professional degree.
• For dual degrees (e.g., BTech + MTech), provide details for both Bachelor’s and Master’s sections.
• If you’re in your final year and lack earlier semester results or have been promoted without marks, select ‘Promotion/Pass without Marks’ to continue (valid for 2022/2023/2024 pass-outs).

Note: Enter your Aggregate Percentage accurately, rounded to two decimal places.

Example A: Max Marks = 600, Total Marks = 421 → Aggregate Percentage = 70.17

Example B: Max Marks = 600, Total Marks = 416 → Aggregate Percentage = 69.33

Step 4: Work Experience (If any):

• Enter your work experience as of 31 July 2024.
• Only Full-time experience after graduation must be entered. Part-time/ Project/ Internship/ Articleship/ Pre-graduation work experience should not be entered and will not be considered as work experience.
• Candidate must enter the exact date of joining and relieving of that particular industry.
• Please mention the number of days you temporarily exited the particular industry in the Break in Experience box.

Step 5: Program Selection:

IMS would strongly recommend applicants to select all 21 IIMs and the mentioned PGP programs. Refer to the complete list of PGP programs at IIMs here.

• Applicant can select any number of programs.
• For each program selected, applicants can select any 2 preferred Interview cities for that program as per the cities listed from the respective drop-down list.

Step 6: Test City Preferences

• Applicant can select any 5 Test Cities as per preference.
• After the last registration date, 1 of the 5 preferred test cities will be allotted (subject to availability).
• If an Applicant is not allotted to any of the preferred test cities, then a nearby test city will be allotted.

Note: Test City cannot be changed.

Step 7: Payment

Step 8: CAT Form Filling- Preview

Applicants MUST PREVIEW the application form before confirming the payment. Once the payment is confirmed, applicants cannot make any further changes to the application form.

CAT Form Filling: CAT Helpdesk Contact Details

For queries regarding CAT Registration, Application and Payment Processing, and Document uploading:

• Toll-Free Number: 1-800-210-8720. Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (excluding National holidays).
• Email ID: cathelpdesk@iimcat.co.in

For Academic queries like eligibility, category, and PwD certificate:

• Contact Number: +91-0522-6696676 – Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (excluding holidays).
• Email Id: cat2024_helpdesk@iimcal.ac.in

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