CAT Exam 2024 Syllabus: Sunstone's Guide for CAT Exam Preparation

CAT exam, also known as the Common Admission Test is a computer-based common aptitude examination for a 2-year MBA program from 20 IIM colleges and other reputable B-schools in India. The CAT Exam is conducted every year in a rotational pattern.

The registrations for the CAT exam 2024 have started and if you are keen to join IIMs or 1200 other business schools, then it is your chance to ace this examination. As you would want to learn about the CAT entrance exam, this blog will be a complete guide to help you understand the CAT exam 2024.

What is the CAT Exam 2024?

"What is the use of the CAT exam?" you may wonder. The first milestone that an MBA aspirant looks forward to is clearing the CAT exam. The CAT exam is an extremely competitive exam, where only a handful of students get admission into the institute of their dreams!

The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) conducts the CAT exam as a selection test that serves as an entrance to business administration programs. Every year, 2 lakh candidates appear for this examination, out of which only 5000+ earn their place in one of the prestigious IIMs or top B-schools in India.

Before you appear for the CAT exam 2024, you need to keep some important details in mind. These details are described at length below.

CAT Exam 2024 Info

To begin with, you would be required to complete your registration procedure. The registration is a three-step easy process that includes:

• Registering online
• Filling up the CAT exam form
• Paying the CAT exam fees

Following this, you need to pay the CAT exam 2024 fee which is ₹ 2,500 for the general category, and ₹ 1,250 for the reserved category.

Some particulars of the CAT exam are as follows:

CAT Exam Mode	Online
Conducted By	IIM Lucknow
Exam Date (2024)	November 24, 2024
Official Website	iimcat.ac.in
Duration of Exam	2 Hours
Sections in the Exam	a) Quantitative Ability b) Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension c) Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
Medium of CAT Exam	English
Is a calculator provided in the CAT	Calculator in the CAT exam is not allowed
Help-desk Contact	cathelpdesk@iimcat.ac.in 1-800-210-1088

CAT Exam Syllabus 2024 

As mentioned above the CAT exam paper is divided into 3 sections:

• Quantitative Ability, QA
• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, VARC
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, DI & LR

The Syllabus for the CAT Exam is prescribed by the IIM and is considered one of the toughest entrance exams for MBA in India.

A common factor linking these sections, in terms of the syllabus for the CAT exam 2024, is that they require a clear understanding of topics included within a school curriculum till Class 12. These topics include lessons from English and Maths along with logical reasoning.

The main topics to study in the CAT 2024 syllabus include some main topics, from which the majority of the questions for QA are asked like Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Percentage, Graphs, Coding-Decoding, Series Completion, etc. In terms of the VARC section the examiner tests the student's reading ability hence reading comprehension is where the majority of the questions are asked. 

To prepare for the CAT exam 2024, students need to focus on the exam syllabus, the detailed syllabus is mentioned below have a close look, and prepare accordingly. 

CAT Syllabus sections	CAT Syllabus topics
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)	Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Para Summary, and Odd Sentence Out
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)	Set Theory (Variables), Set Theory + Puzzles, Puzzles with Additional Data, Coding-Decoding and Series
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	Number System, Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry and Mensuration

Preparation is the avenue to success in all walks of life. So, all you have to do is prepare with your heart and mind till you reap the results you look forward to!

Here is the detailed syllabus divided according to the categories:

CAT VARC Syllabus 2024
Fill in the blanks	Para completion and inference	Verbal logic
Verbal reasoning	Subject-verb agreement	Para jumbles
Sentence completion	Foreign language words used in English	Different usage of the same word
Grammar	Reading comprehension	Idioms
Syllogisms	Analogies	Antonyms
Jumbled paragraphs	Sentence correction	One word substitution
Parts of speech	Preposition	Types of clauses
Phrases modifiers	Errors in tenses	Articles usage

CAT Syllabus DILR
Blood Relations	Clocks and Calendars	Syllogism
Series	Statements	Venn Diagram
Proposition	Data Arrangement	Data Structures
Direction Sense	Family Tree	Tables
Coding-Decoding	Binary Logic	Pie Charts
Assumptions	Seating Arrangement	Data Sufficiency
Puzzles	Sets & Caselets	Bars & Line Graphs

CAT Quantitative Aptitude syllabus
Geometry	Ratios and Proportion	Inequalities
Trigonometry	In-equations Quadratic and linear equations	Work and Time
Algebra	Surds and Indices	Percentages
Mensuration	Time-Speed-Distance	Logarithms
Partnership (Accounts)	Number System	Square Root and Cube Root
Profit & Loss	Geometric Progression	Probability
Mean, mode, median	Binomial theorem	Simple interest and compound interest

CAT Exam Preparation 2024

The CAT exam is one of the most competitive entrance tests. You could miss out on clearing it by the slightest margin.

To ensure a robust preparation, you need a minimum of six months to prepare. So, if you are appearing for it this year, your preparation for the CAT 2024 exam should have ideally started around May. However, even if it hasn't, here are some important CAT exam 2024 preparation tips that are sure to help you:

• Over 50% of your preparation for the CAT exam should entail solving CAT mock papers and previous years' question papers. You need to confront your weak areas and work on them.
• Refer to important texts for the three different sections in the paper.
• Based on your strengths and weaknesses, make a list of topics and address the weak areas.
• Make good use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Telegram, and YouTube by joining online study groups.
• Devote an equal amount of time to the three different sections of the paper. Cover a topic from each section every day.
• Make sure to prepare for quantitative questions since the use of a calculator in the CAT exam is not allowed.

CAT Exam 2024 Eligibility

To appear for the CAT exam 2024, you have to fulfill the following eligibility criteria:

• Bachelor's degree: You should hold a Bachelor's degree from a recognized board with a minimum of 50% marks. For students belonging to a reserved category, the minimum is 45% marks. 
• The degree must be provided by any of the Universities included by an act of the central or a state legislature in India, or any other educational institutions established by an act of Parliament or are declared to be deemed as a University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, or hold an equivalent qualification recognized by the MHRD, India.
• Eligibility for the CAT exam 2024 also includes those candidates who are in the final year of their Bachelor's degree, appearing for their final exams, or awaiting the results for the same.

If a candidate can meet these CAT exam requirements, they qualify to appear for the exam.

CAT Exam Cut Off 2024

The CAT exam cut-off for IIM is typically up to 99 to 100 percentile for general category candidates. For the reserved category students (SC/ ST/ PwD), the CAT cutoff marks are slightly lower at the 97 to 98 percentile. For the CAT Exam Cut Off  2024, you need to wait for the exam to conclude.

CAT Exam 2024 Result

CAT entrance exam results will be announced on the official website of IIM-CAT. Candidates can log in using their User ID and Password. The result will only be available online, and you can download and save a digital copy or print it out. During admission into colleges, a copy of the result is usually required.

CAT Exam Selection Process

There are 20 Indian Institute of Management colleges and are considered the most prestigious set of institutions across India. The various IIMs are -Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Bodh Gaya, Calcutta, Indore, Kashipur, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Nagpur, Raipur, Ranchi, Rohtak, Sambalpur, Shillong, Sirmaur, Tiruchirappalli, Udaipur, Jammu and Visakhapatnam.

The overall selection procedure for the CAT entrance exam 2021 is more or less the same across all IIMs, however, the weightage of each component varies. The admission criteria for IIMs is an elaborate process.

Note: Each B-school follows its individual admission and student screening process. Make sure to check the admission process on the individual websites of the college you are interested in.

Step 1: CAT 2024 Entrance Test

1. Students will write the CAT 2024 entrance test in November 2024, after which the IIMs will announce the cutoffs – sectional and overall
2. Based on their performance, candidates will be selected for further rounds
3. Each IIM will take out their individual CAT exam 2024 cutoff and call students.

Step 2: GD and/or WAT

Candidates who clear the individual cutoff for respective IIMs will be called for a Writing Ability Test and a Group Discussion

Step 3: Personal Interview (PI)

The final round is the personal interview where candidates are judged on - knowledge, communication skills, overall academic performance, performance in previous rounds, and common sense.

Step 4: Individual Final Merit List

• Each IIM releases its admission criteria on its website.
• Based on the below factors the IIMs release their final merit list
• CAT exam score
• Overall performance in WAT, GD, and PI rounds
• Class 10th and 12th Marks
• Gender Diversity Factor
• Work Experience
• Reservations

 CAT Entrance Test

The test is India's most sought-after test for the MBA exam in India. The Exam gets you into the most prestigious institutes of India like the IIMs and other top B-schools. The exam requires the students to have a strong hold on the quantitative aptitude. The quant section include data interpretation, logical reasoning, and verbal ability. 

An aspirant needs to have a well-planned strategy, regular practice, and familiarity with the exam. One of the most important takeaways from the toppers is that the key to success is solving previous year's papers, taking mock tests, and staying updated on the latest CAT syllabus and trends. 

CAT Exam Date 2024

The CAT Exam Date 2024 is supposed to be November 24th. The Applications for CAT are open and the last date to fill out the form is September 13th, 2024. 

Interested students must complete registration before the last date and pay the requisite fee before 5 p.m.

The Important Dates regarding the CAT Exam are mentioned in the table below: 

Dates	Upcoming Exam Dates
01 Aug- 13 Sep 2024	CAT 2024 Registration Date (Ongoing)
Sep 2024	CAT 2024 form correction process (Tentative)
05- 24 Nov 2024	CAT 2024 admit card download
24 Nov 2024	CAT 2024 exam
Dec 2024	CAT 2024 answers key challenge (Tentative)
Dec 2024	CAT 2024 result announcement (Tentative)

What’s New in the CAT Exam 2024?

As you will appear for the CAT exam 2024, here’s what you need to know.

• The fee was increased for applicants in the General category from INR 2,500 and for candidates in the Reserved category to INR 1250. 
• In the CAT application form, candidates had to state if they had received their COVID-19 vaccination.
• Holders of FCAI degrees now meet expanded CAT eligibility requirements. They are now also qualified to take the CAT exam 2024.

CAT Exam Application Process 2024

The application process for CAT exam 2024 aspirants is a fully automated, online process and the official website for CAT registrations is iimcat.ac.in.

Aspirants must properly fill in the relevant and appropriate details for the CAT 2024 exam registration. With it, an application fee of ₹ 2,500 (₹ 1,250 for SC/ST/PwD), must also be deposited.

While applying, make sure you have the documents specified in this article close - by for uploading. Make sure the following is followed to avoid rejection of the application.

• The photograph ought not to be over a half-year-old. The photograph ought to be inside the components of 30mm X 45mm and in .jpg or .jpeg design. The photograph ought not to be under 150 px/inch in goal.
• Filtered Signature: The mark should be inside the elements of 30mm X 35mm and in .jpg or .jpeg. It ought to be clear and on a white background.
• NC-OBC/SC/ST Certificate: If you have a place with NC-OBC, SC, or ST class, you should download the position testament from the CAT Website, enter the necessary data, self-confirm it, and transfer its examined duplicate as a PDF archive.
• PwD Certificate: If you have a place with the PwD class, you need to download the PwD authentication from the CAT site, fill it, self-validate it, and transfer its filtered duplicate as a PDF record.

CAT registration is a three-step process that includes online registration, filling up the CAT entrance exam application form, and payment of fees.

Step 1: To apply candidates must register on the official website by following the steps:

• Open the official CAT exam website in a new window or click: iimcat.ac.in
• Click on 'New Candidate Registration Behavioural
• Enter name, DOB, email address, mobile number, and nationality
• Click on 'Generate OTP'
• With the successful registration, OTP is generated and sent to the registered mobile.
• Verify the CAT registration process and status by entering the OTP.

Step 2: Fill up the CAT Application Form after verification, a user ID and password will be sent to the mentioned email ID and mobile number. Log in with these credentials for further process

Step 3: Payment and Application Fee depositing

• After filling in the lengthy and true details of the first sections, click on 'save and continue'.
• The fee payment window will appear.
• The CAT exam 2024 Application Fee is as follows:
• General and NC-OBC:- ₹ 2,500
• SC, ST and PwD:- ₹ 1,250

CAT Exam Pattern

The CAT entrance exam question paper is divided into three main segments: Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning.

For an easier understanding of the exam pattern, read below:

Number of sections	3
Number of questions	66
Total marks	198
CAT exam time duration	120 mins 40 minutes for each section
Question type	MCQ & Non-MCQs
Marking pattern	+3 for correct entry -1 for incorrect entry No negative marking for non-MCQs

Documents required for the CAT entrance exam

Before starting the CAT exam Registration 2024 process, remember to keep handy these 10 key documents required to complete the registration process:

1. Documents related to your Educational history from class 10 onwards
2. Mark sheets – Class-10
3. Mark Sheet – Class 12th
4. Mark sheet – Bachelor’s Degree/Diploma
5. Final Year Certificate from the HoD/Principal (If in the final year of bachelor’s degree) also previous year mark sheet
6. Work experience Document, if any
7. Applicable Certificates to Upload (Category/Affidavits)
8. Scanned images of your passport-size photo and signature. See detail below.
9. Keep ready the list of the IIM programs one wishes to apply to before filling in the application form.
10. Keep ready the Registration fee payment instruments like Debit/Credit cards and net banking. 

CAT Exam Centers

CAT Exam 2024 will be held in 150 centers across India - in all states. You can find out the test center nearest to you by visiting the official website of IIM-CAT. We have given the process of checking the nearest CAT exam center below.

1. Visit the official website
2. On the top right corner click on ‘Exam Cities’
3. From a top-down menu, you need to select your state
4. You will be shown a list of centers in your state

Exam Day Guidelines

There are certain guidelines that candidates need to follow. In this section, we will discuss the documents to carry and the items prohibited in the exam hall.

Documents to Carry:

• Two printouts of admit cards with photos affixed on them.
• Photo identity proof like PAN, Aadhar card, Passport, Voter ID card, etc.
• If you have changed the name, then the name change document as well.
• PwD or Scribe certificate if you belong to the PwD category.

Items Prohibited:

• Phone, calculator, iPad, watch, or any other electronic item.
• Bags or purses
• Jewellery or accessories that contain metal
• Closed footwear
• Jackets or clothes with pockets
• Eatables or beverages

CAT Exam 2024 Answer Key

The CAT Exam 2024 Answer Key will be live once the exam is done on the official website. 

Candidates can download it to compare their responses and estimate their scores, with an option to challenge discrepancies. 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

CAT Analysis

To ace this competitive exam, it is very important to understand and analyze the question papers from previous years.

From 2015 to 2018, the exam pattern has remained unchanged. There were 34 questions from the QA section, 32 from LR & DI, and 34 from VARC.

You may be wondering about the significance of this analysis, so, here are some of its uses:

• It helps you understand the pattern of the exam. This aids you in applying strategic plans to solve these papers.
• It helps you understand the level of difficulty. You can figure out which sections are more difficult and tailor your study plan accordingly.
• It helps you figure out the important topics so that you can identify them and focus on preparing them better.

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FAQs - CAT Exam 2024

What is the CAT Exam's full form?

CAT stands for Common Admission Test, which is a computer-based test for admission to a graduate management program.

How many times is the CAT Exam conducted in a year?

The CAT entrance exam is conducted once a year, usually in November or December.

What is the CAT Exam for?

The CAT entrance exam is meant for a 2-year MBA program. However, you can also apply for an MBA program based on other management exams like XAT, MAT, CMAT, etc. You can get a list of MBA colleges with low CAT scores with our Sunstone blog.

How many attempts for the CAT exam are allowed?

There is no limit to the number of times that a candidate can take the CAT entrance exam.

Can we use the calculator in the CAT Exam?

No, a calculator in the CAT exam is not allowed. 

What is the CAT Exam Date 2024?

The CAT Exam Date 2024 is November 24, 2024. 

What is the CAT Exam Syllabus?

The CAT Exam Syllabus includes 3 major topics, which are DI & LR, VARC, and QA. A student needs to score good marks in each section to pass the exam. 

What is the CAT Exam Date for the MBA?

The CAT Exam will be held on 24th Nov 2024. Students need to pass the CAT Exam to pursue an MBA. 

What is the CAT Exam 2024 registration date?

The CAT exam registrations started on 1st Aug and the last date of registration is the 13th Sept 2024.+