Acronym

CAT

Type

Computer-based standardized test.

Developer /

Jointly conducted by the IIMs. Technical

administrator

support is provided by TCS.

Knowledge /

Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation,

skills tested

Data Sufficiency, Verbal Ability, Reading

Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, and
Analytical Reasoning.

Purpose

Admission to post-graduate management

programs (MBA, etc.) in IIMs and various
other Indian universities and colleges.

Year started

1950

Duration

2 hours and 50 minutes.

Score / grade

0-450

range

Score / grade

1 year

validity

Offered

Once a year (usually in November).

Countries /

354 centres in 99 cities and towns all

regions

over India.

Languages

English

Annual no. of
test takers

173,738 in 2013[1]

Prerequisites /

Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with at

eligibility criteria least 50 % marks or equivalent GPA (45 % in

case of SC, ST, PWD candidates). Final year
undergraduate students also eligible.

Fee

1600 (US$25) for general category

candidates.[2]
800 (US$13) for SC / ST / DA (PWD)
category candidates.

Scores / grades

Various business schools in India.

used by

Website

iimcat.ac.in (for CAT 2014).

KEY STEPS
B-schools in India follow a 2 stage selection process the written exam and the GWPI (Group
discussion / Written ability test / Personal Interview). A good understanding of this process will
help you identify the B-schools which would better suit your requirements as well as the steps for
getting
into
the
same.

STEP

1:

APPLICATION

AND

ELIGIBILITY

The notifications for admission to most national-level management institutes are released in the
period between July and October and the written exams of these institutes are conducted between
October and February. These institutes release their GDPI shortlists between December and March,
and the next stage which comprises GD, essay & interview is held in the period between January
and April (May for lower rung b-schools ). The final results of most national-level management
institutes are released in the period between February and May with the new academic year
typically
beginning
in
June/July.
The eligibility requirement for most management institutes is a graduation degree in any field.
Usually, the minimum percentage in graduation is 50 to gain eligibility to apply to most
management institutes. The students from the reserved categories(SC/ST/PH ) need only 45% at
govt b-schools like IIMs. A qualification equivalent to a degree is also considered adequate
provided
it
is
recognised
by
the
appropriate
authority.

STEP

2:

WRITTEN

EXAM

The written exams can be classified into 2 categories common exams like CAT, XAT, SNAP, and
CMAT and another category of Institute specific exams such as TISSNET, NMAT, IIFT, MICAT and
IBSAT.
Management entrance exams test a student's aptitude and proficiency in the test areas like Verbal
Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation, Data Sufficiency,
Reasoning, General Awareness etc. The number of questions, sections, the duration of the exam,
the number of questions from each area and the level of toughness of the paper varies from exam
to
exam.

STEP

3:

INTERVIEW

SHORTLIST

A shortlist of candidates is prepared after the first stage taking into account the performance in the
written exam, academic backgroud, work-experience, extra-curricular achievements etc. The
shortlisted applicants are required to appear for the second round - GDPI, wherein they would go
through a personal interview, written ability test and/or a group discussion. The final list of
selected candidates is prepared taking into account the performance in the written exam, the GWPI
stage,
academic
background,
work
experience
etc.

STEP

4:

ADMISSION

OFFER

The admission offers are made taking into account your performance in various components of the
selection process. The weightage of these components varies across institutes and varies from year
to year for most Institutes. In general, we can say that the non-IIM institutes give increasing
importance to the entrance exam (CAT in this case) with the remaining weight being allocated
between the GD and PIs. However, for the IIMs we need to be a little more careful before drawing
any generalisations.