CAT MBA Entrance Exam 2024: Date, Exam Pattern, Syllabus and Marking Scheme
September 11, 2024
Overview: The CAT MBA entrance exam 2024 will commence on 24 November 2024. IIMs conduct the CAT exam, which allows you to pursue management courses at the top B schools. Scroll down to learn everything about the CAT exam 2024!
- The Common Admission Test, or CAT 2024, is one of the toughest MBA entrance exams conducted nationally by the Indian Institute of Management.
- The last date to apply for the CAT exam 2024 is 13 September 2024, and you can download the admit card from the official website on 5 November 2024.
If you are an MBA aspirant dreaming of getting admission to the top B schools, you should be aware of the important details about the CAT MBA entrance exam 2024. Read on!
Also Read | CAT 2024 Registration Begins: Apply Before 13 September 2024
CAT MBA Entrance Exam 2024: Major Highlights
Common Admission Test 2024 is an MBA entrance exam conducted every November. Over 3.5 lakh MBA aspirants have appeared in the CAT exam 2023. The registration process for CAT 2024 exam has started from 1 August 2024 and will end on 13 September 2024. Here’s a brief overview of the CAT Entrance Exam 2024:
| Particulars of the CAT exam | Details |
| CAT Full Form | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Conducting Institute | IIMs |
| CAT Exam Difficulty Level | National |
| CAT Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| CAT Entrance Exam Date 2024 | Sunday, November 24, 2024 (tentatively) |
| CAT 2024 Exam Timings | To be notified |
| CAT Exam Registration Fees | SC/ST/PwD - INR-1250/- GEN - INR 2500/- |
| CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria | Graduation with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST students) |
| Number of Applications in the CAT Entrance exam | 3.28 lakh (in 2023) |
| CAT Exam Purpose | Admission in IIMs, SPJIMR, FMS, MDI, IMT and over 1,200 B-Schools in India |
| Courses Offered Through CAT Exam | MBA/ PGDM |
| CAT Entrance Exam Sections | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Ability (QA) |
| CAT Exam Mode | Online Computer Based Test (CBT) with MCQs and non-MCQs |
| No. of test cities for the CAT 2024 Exam | 150 |
| Website | https://iimcat.ac.in/ |
Also Read | How to Get Good Score in CAT Exam
CAT MBA Entrance Exam 2024: Important Date
To avoid last-minute hustle, it is best to have complete details about the CAT MBA entrance exam for 2024. Here are the important dates of CAT 2024:
| CAT Exam 2024 Events | CAT Entrance Exam Important Dates |
| CAT 2024 Exam Notification | 28 July 2024 |
| Registration Date Opens | 1 August 2024 |
| Application form's last date | 13 September 2024 |
| CAT 2024 Exam Admit Card Release Date | 5 November 2024 |
| Registration Fees | INR 1250/- (Reserved categories) INR 2500/- (Other categories) |
| CAT Exam Date 2024 | November 24, 2024 |
| Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
Also Read | Guide to Best CAT Exam Courses 2024 for MBA Aspirants
CAT MBA Entrance Exam 2024: Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the CAT 2024 MBA entrance exam, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for candidates belonging to SC/ST/PwD categories) from a recognised university or educational institution.
Candidates who have completed their degree requirements, are awaiting results, or are in their final year of a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification are eligible to apply.
It's important to note that meeting the minimum CAT entrance exam criteria does not guarantee consideration for shortlisting by IIMs.
Also Read | Section Wise Detailed CAT Syllabus
CAT MBA Entrance Exam 2024: Reservation Policy
Candidates belonging to different categories like SC, ST, NC-OBC, PwD, and EWS get some relaxation in the fees in the CAT exam 2024. Here is the tabular representation of the CAT exam reservation policy:
| Category | Percentage (%) |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| Other Backward Classes (NC-OBC) | 27% |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | 10% |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) | 5% |
Also Read | CAT Exam Slot Timings
CAT MBA Entrance Exam 2024: Exam Pattern
The exam pattern of the CAT exam 2024 is similar to that of 2023. It consists of three major sections: verbal ability and reading comprehension (VARC), Data interpretation and logical reasoning (DILR), and Qualitative ability (QA).
There are 66 questions (MCQ+ TITA), and the CAT total marks are about 198. Here is a brief description of the CAT MBA entrance exam pattern 2024:
| CAT Exam Paper Pattern 2024 | |
| Mode of CAT entrance exam | Computer Based Test |
| CAT 2024 exam Date Duration | 120 minutes (40 minutes per section) |
| Number of questions | 66 |
| CAT total marks | 198 |
| Language of question paper | English |
| Number of answer choices | 4 |
| Question Type | MCQ and non-MCQ |
| Total Sections | 3 |
| Mode of Paper | Online Only |
| Question Types | MCQs and Non-MCQs (TITA) |
| Section Names | 1. Quantitative Aptitude 2. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension 3. Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation |
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Also Read | How Many Times CAT Exam is Conducted in a Year
Section-wise Number of MCQ and non-MCQ Questions
The CAT exam consists of both MCQs and TITA questions (type-in-the-answer questions). Negative marking is only applied to the MCQ questions; there is no negative marking for TITA questions.
| Section | Number of MCQs | Number of Non-MCQs | Total Questions |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 21 | 3 | 24 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 14 | 6 | 20 |
| Quantitative Ability | 14 | 8 | 22 |
| Total | 49 | 17 | 66 |
Also Read | How to improve reading comprehension for CAT Exam 2024?
CAT MBA Entrance Exam 2024: Marking Scheme
The CAT exam in 2024 has a marking scheme that awards three points for each correct answer and deducts one point for each wrong answer.
There is no negative marking for unanswered questions or non-multiple-choice questions. You can find the CAT exam marking scheme 2024 in the table below.
| Type of Questions | CAT Marking Scheme | CAT Negative Marking Scheme |
| MCQ | +3 marks are given to each correct answer | -1 mark is deducted for every wrong answer |
| Non-MCQ | +3 marks are given to each correct answer | There is no negative marking for TITA questions. |
Also Read | What are the Benefits of CAT Exam for MBA
CAT MBA Entrance Exam 2024: Section Wise Syllabus
To ace the CAT 2024 MBA entrance exam on your first attempt, you should also know what questions are going to come in the CAT exam and which topics you should be well prepared for. So, the syllabus for the CAT MBA entrance exam 2024:
| Exam Sections | CAT Exam Syllabus |
| Verbal ability or English | Reading Comprehension, General grammar, Sentence Completion, Sentence Correction, Synonyms and Antonyms, One word substitution, Jumbled paragraphs, Contextual usage, Odd one out , Fill In the blanks, Idioms, Syllogisms, Vocabulary |
| Quantitative, Data Interpretation, & Data sufficiency | Number system, HCF and LCM, Number base system, Work and time, pipes and Cisterns, Averages, Percentages, Compound Interest, Arithmetic Progression, Quadratic and Linear equations, Trigonometry, Arithmetic Mean, Geometric Progression, Permutations and Combinations, Menstruation, Partnership, Ratio and proportion, Simple interest, Time speed and distance, Profit and loss, Venn diagram |
| Analytical and Logical Reasoning | Arrangements, Analogies, Critical Reasoning, Coding and Decoding, Clock and Calendar, Sequence and series, Blood relations, Directions, Syllogisms, Puzzles |
Also Read | How to Improve Reading Comprehension for CAT Exam Preparation?
CAT MBA Entrance Exam 2024: Important Books
To boost your preparation for the CAT MBA entrance exam 2024, you can practice with the free mock test series and previous year's papers. You can also join the best coaching for CAT exam to get the right guidance to improve your performance and CAT score. Not only this but practising with the right study material is equally beneficial for getting in-depth knowledge of the topics. So, here are the best books to get CAT exam good score in 2024:
| Sections | Book Title |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | How to Prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning for CAT Preparation by Arun Sharma |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning for the CAT exam Preparation by Nishit K. Sinha | |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning for CAT exam preparation by Meenakshi Upadhyay | |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT preparation by Arun Sharma |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT exam Preparation and Other MBA Entrance Examinations by Nishit K Sinha | |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Guide for CAT exam preparation and Other MBA Entrance Examinations by S. Jha | |
| Quantitative Ability | CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri |
| Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT exam preparation by Nishit K. Sinha | |
| Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha |
Conclusion
As we wrap up, knowing the basics about the CAT MBA entrance exam helps you prepare well in advance before the main CAT exam. By focusing on fundamentals, practising regularly, managing time effectively, and staying positive, you can unlock the key to success in the CAT MBA 2024 Entrance exam and take the first step towards achieving your MBA dreams, feeling fully prepared and confident.
Also check | Enroll in our CAT online coaching with SuperGrads for comprehensive preparation.
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