The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national level management aptitude test for aspirants to make a career in management and business administration. This computer-based exam assesses the aptitude of graduates who intend to pursue management education. The exam can be taken in English, and the minimum eligibility requirement is a bachelor's degree with at least 50%. The CAT exam is usually held once a year, usually in November and December (morning, forenoon, and afternoon), and the CAT exam 2024 is expected to follow the same pattern. The CAT exam 2024 results will be published on the CAT website, and candidates can view the results online only.

CAT is conducted primarily by the IIMs to evaluate and shortlist candidates for postgraduate programmes. IIMs provide high-quality research and management education. As a result, the CAT exam has many benefits. A key advantage of taking the CAT exam is the opportunity to study at the best management colleges in India. Candidates who pass the CAT exam will be considered valuable and knowledgeable. Graduating from a tier-1 college entitles one to high salaries and unparalleled respect. That’s why it’s crucial to ensure your CAT preparation online remains on track with the right CAT online coaching program.

In the present form, CAT consists of 3 sections, namely Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). In the CAT exam 2024, the number of questions in each section is expected to be as follows:
VARC: 24 questions to be solved over 40 minutes
DILR: 20 questions to be solved over 40 minutes
QA: 22 questions to be solved over 40 minutes

Overall, there will be 66 questions to be solved in 120 minutes. The sections are presented in the order mentioned and a candidate can go from one section to the next only after finishing the previous one. There are two types of questions that are found at the CAT: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) that have four options, out of which one is the right answer, and Type-In-The-Answer (TITA) questions that have no options and require numerical input from the candidate. For each correct answer, the candidate gets 3 marks, and for each incorrect answer to an MCQ, the candidate gets a penalty of 1 mark. For the TITA questions, incorrect answers do not invite any penalty. There is an online calculator to help candidates with basic calculations in the DILR and QA sections.

The maximum score that can be achieved on the test is 198. However, according to the actual results, generally, 77 marks correspond to the 99th percentile, 50 marks to the 90th percentile, and 36 marks to the 80th percentile.

Comprehensive CAT coaching can help you beat those numbers and get calls from the top colleges.

To prepare for CAT thoroughly, one needs to work their way up with a planned approach. Before starting CAT preparation online, it is important to be aware of the syllabus. You will gain greater accuracy in less time if you have good conceptual clarity. Regular reading is essential to understanding the verbal ability section. As soon as you have mastered the basics, you can start solving topic-by-topic and chapter-by-chapter questions. Analyse the mock exams so you have a clear idea of where you stand and how to prepare for the real exam. For more help, you should sign up for CAT online courses such as the one provided by IMS. The mentor-driven CAT online coaching program will help you solidify your concepts, gain confidence, improve your accuracy, and devise a strategic approach to acing CAT exam 2024.

Indian B-schools accepting the CAT Score (with IMS Ranking)

Top B-Schools

Top International colleges accepting CAT scores

EDHEC Business School
Asian Institute of Management- Washington Sycip Graduate School of Business
ESCP Business School
ESSEC Business School
EMLYON Business School
SKEMA Business School

CAT percentile determines eligibility for MBA/PGDBM programs at top B-schools in India. Providing a solid foundation in advanced business concepts and practical experience through assignments and internships, the two-year MBA program is a well-regarded master's degree program worldwide. MBA students can also develop entrepreneurial skills that could lead to starting their own businesses. Candidates with excellent managerial and administrative skills and experience in all sectors will be in high demand. Career opportunities are also available in marketing, finance, human resources, and operations. As a management trainee, you will be offered management roles within the organisation, and once the training is completed, you can move into management. Many organisations offer the most coveted roles to top graduates from the top IIMs. To get there, you need strategic CAT preparation online that can help you score >90%ile.

Yes! In addition to the CAT, the other tests that can be taken are:

• XAT: This test is conducted by XLRI, Jamshedpur and happens typically on the first/second Sunday of January every year. The test consists of Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision-making, and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation. There is also an Essay and a General Knowledge section that needs to be completed. The test is considered by institutes including XLRI, XIMB, GIM, KJ Somaiya, Great Lakes Institute of Management, IMI, IMT, Praxis Business School, and SPJIMR.
• NMAT: The test is conducted by NMIMS and is conducted over a window of 75 days typically between October and December. The test consists of Language Skills, Quantitative Skills and Logical Reasoning and is an adaptive test with a maximum possible score of 360. The colleges that accept the NMAT include NMIMS, XIMB, SDA Bocconi, KJ Somaiya, TAPMI, and IBS, among others.
• SNAP: The test is conducted for admission to the post-graduation programs offered by the Symbiosis University institutes and typically happens thrice around the months of December-January. The test consists of three sections, namely: General English, Analytical and Logical Reasoning, Quantitative, Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency, and there are 60 questions to be solved in 60 minutes with a maximum possible score of 60 marks. The colleges that accept the SNAP score include SIBM, SCMHRD, SIIB, SIOM, SSBF, SIMS, and SSSS, among others.
• MICAT: MICA conducts its own test for admissions to its PGDM (C) program. The sections at the MICAT include VA (Verbal Ability), General Awareness, QA and DI (Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation), Psychometric Test, Descriptive Test and DCR (Divergent and Convergent thinking), and the test typically happens twice in the months of December and February
• PGDBA: The Post Graduate Diploma in Business Analytics (PGDBA) exam is jointly conducted by IIM Calcutta, IIT Kharagpur, and ISI Kolkata in India. The exam usually takes place in the months of February and March and consists of multiple-choice questions on Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (20 questions), Data Interpretation and Data Visualization (5 questions), and Quantitative Aptitude (25 questions). The overall score is out of 150 marks.
• MAH MBA/MMS CET: The Maharashtra MBA Common Entrance Test (CET) is a state-level entrance exam conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Government of Maharashtra, for admission to various MBA and MMS programs in institutes across the state of Maharashtra. The exam is usually held in the month of March. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions on various topics, including logical reasoning, abstract reasoning, quantitative aptitude, and verbal ability. The exam duration is 150 minutes, and the total number of questions is 200. The exam is conducted online, and candidates who qualify are eligible for admission to MBA/MMS courses in various colleges and universities across Maharashtra.
• CMAT: CMAT stands for Common Management Admission Test. It is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to MBA/PGDM programs in various management institutes across India. The exam is conducted in January every year, and the application process usually starts in November. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions on various topics, including quantitative techniques and data interpretation, logical reasoning, language comprehension, and general awareness. The exam duration is three hours and there are 100 questions in total. The exam is conducted online, and candidates who qualify are eligible for admission to MBA/PGDM programs in various colleges and universities across India, including JBIMS, Mumbai, KJ Somaiya, Welingkar, Great Lakes Institute of Management, IMT, GIM and NL Dalmia.
  
  The CAT online coaching program offered by IMS covers the ground for all these exams. You will be given ADMATs, mock tests, practice questions, and lectures to help you prepare for exams other than CAT exam 2024.

31^st March 2026 for CAT 2025 program

The recording of the sessions will be available on myIMS portal. You can watch it as many times as needed until your course duration.

We cover 12 tests in addition to the CAT. 20 full-length Mocks for MH-CET, 15 Tests for CMAT, 10 Tests each for NMAT by GMAC & SNAP. 5 tests each for XAT, MICAT, MAT, IBSAT, ATMA, PGDBA are provided.

Area -wise sessions to take you from 85 percentile mark to the 95th percentile mark

All online content is accessible on myIMS. The new & improved myIMS 3.0 is your Ultimate Mastery-Based Learning Hub where everything you need to master a topic is consolidated in one single platform