About CAT

  • Full Form: Common Admission Test
  • Purpose: CAT is a national-level entrance exam for admission to MBA / PGP programs at Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and over 100 other top management institutes in India.
  • Conducted By: One of the IIMs on a rotating basis each year.
  • Mode:Computer-Based Test (CBT), online only.
  • Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes)
  • Correct answer: +3 marks
  • Wrong answer (MCQs): –1 mark
  • TITA questions: No negative marking

CAT result is given in percentile, not marks.

  • 99 percentile = You performed better than 99% candidates
  • Top IIMs usually require 98–99.5+ percentile
  • New IIMs: 90–95 percentile
  • Good private colleges: 80–90 percentile

CAT is only Stage 1.

After CAT score:

  1. Colleges shortlist candidates
  2. You face:
    • GD (Group Discussion) / WAT (Written Ability Test)
    • PI (Personal Interview)
  3. Final selection depends on:
    • CAT score
    • Academics
    • Work experience
    • Interview performance
  • CAT is tough but predictable
  • Not about solving all questions
  • Smart selection of questions is key
  • Accuracy matters more than attempts

CAT is ideal for students who:

  • Want a management career
  • Like problem-solving & analysis
  • Aim for leadership roles
  • Want career growth and good salary