CAT Exams
The common admission test
CAT Exam 2022 is expected to be held on November 27, 2022, as every year one of 20 IIMs conducts the examination on the last Sunday of November. CAT 2022 official notification will be released in the last week of July and CAT 2022 Registration process will begin in August 2022. Meanwhile, students can download CAT Question Papers to get a better understanding of the type of questions and the difficulty level of the questions asked in the paper.
- CAT 2022 Exam Pattern has been revised and the total number of questions further reduced to 66 from 76 along with the reduction in the total number of marks to 198 from 228.
- CAT 2022 Syllabus includes 3 major subjects i.e. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation, and Quantitative Aptitude & the number of questions to be asked from these subjects are 24, 20, and 22 respectively.
- In the 2021 examination, the eligibility criteria has been for final year candidates, however, any changes in CAT 2022 Eligibility criteria will be released with official notification.
What is CAT Exam? CAT is a Common Admission Test conducted for admission in 20 IIMs and other participating institutes. Candidates qualifying CAT Cut Off will be offered admission in around 5000+ seats. Based on the previous year’s trends, candidates with 90+ Percentiles can apply for the admission process of IIMs. Read the article to know more about CAT 2022 preparation plan, study notes, pattern, syllabus, important dates, and much more.
CAT 2021 Admission Process Latest Updates:
CAT 2021 IIM Admission Criteria have been released by all the IIMs on their official websites. CAT 2021 IIM admission criteria include 3 stages- shortlisting of candidates based on the qualifying CAT 2021 Cut off scores, screening for WAT/ PI, and preparation of final merit list based on composite scores. IIM-K has started the online registration for Stage 1 of the admission process from January 7 and the last date to register for stage 1 of IIM Rohtak is January 21, 2022. Check CAT 2021 IIM Rohtak Admission Criteria
CAT Exam 2022 Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Name & Frequency of Exam | CAT Common Admission Test, Once in a year |
| CAT 2022 Conducting Body | IIM, Indian Institute of Management |
| CAT Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
| CAT Application Process | Online |
| CAT Application Fees | Rs 2200 & Rs 1100 for GN & Reserved category respectively |
| Minimum Eligibility | 50% and 45% in Graduation for GN & Reserved category respectively |
| Duration of CAT Exam | 2 Hours |
| Number of Sections | 3 (Quantitative Ability-34, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension-34, and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning-32) |
| Medium of Exam | English (Exam is conducted in CBT mode) |
| Admission | 20 IIMs + Various other Institutes |
| Courses Offered | MBA/ PGDM in various streams |
| CAT Helpdesk | cathelpdesk@iimcat.ac.in; 1800-2090-830 |
CAT 2022 Exam Dates
| Events of CAT Exam | Dates (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| CAT 2022 Official Notification | 4th week of July 2022 |
| CAT 2022 Application form release date | 1st week of August 2022 |
| Last date to apply for the application form | 2nd week of September 2022 |
| Last date to submit the fees for the Application Form | 2nd week of September 2022 |
| CAT 2022 Form Correction Window shall open | 3rd week of September 2022 |
| CAT 2022 Admit Card Release date | 4th week of October 2022 |
| CAT 2022 Exam date | 4th week of November 2022 |
| CAT 2022 Result announcement date | 1st week of December 2022 |
Changes Introduced in CAT
In the last few years, various changes had been introduced in CAT. In the 2021 examination also, the conducting body had introduced changes in eligibility, pattern, registration fees, etc. The important changes are mentioned below:
- Application Fees Revised – CAT application fee has been increased to INR 2200 from 2000 for GN and to INR 1100 from 1000 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. Read More CAT 2022 Registration Fee
- Reduction in Total Number of Questions – Based on the new exam pattern, there will be a total of 66 questions in the exam.
- Reduction in Section & Overall Time Limit – Since the total number of questions has been reduced the sectional time limit has also been reduced to 40 minutes for each section and the overall time limit has also been reduced to 2 hours.
- Changes in Eligibility Criteria – Due to COVID-19, a few changes had been introduced in CAT eligibility criteria which enables 2020, 2021 pass out candidates to appear for the exam without fulfilling the minimum eligibility criteria.
CAT 2022 Eligibility Criteria
CAT 2022 Eligibilityis 50% in graduation for general candidates and CA, CS, ICWA degrees are also eligible to take the exam. There is no limit to take the CAT exam. Some of the important details related to the eligibility criteria are mentioned below:
- Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a recognized institution or institute in any field.
- The candidates must have an average score of 50% marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PWD category candidates) or equivalent in the respective exam.
- Candidates who are appearing for the final year of Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification examination and those who have completed their final examination and are awaiting results can also apply.
- Applicants with a professional degree (CA, CS, or ICWA) are also eligible.
CAT 2022 Registration
CAT 2022 Registration can be done only in online mode. Candidates can register themselves for CAT 2022 on the official website.
Steps to Fill CAT 2022 Registration Form
- Step 1: CAT 2022 Registration:
- Visit the official website for CAT 2022.
- To access the application form, log in again using your CAT 2022 user ID and password
- A user ID and password will be sent to the candidate’s registered email address and mobile number after verification.
- Enter your name, date of birth, email address, phone number, and country of origin.
- Step 2: Filling out the Application Form:
- The candidates have to fill up their personal details such as name, father’s name, date of birth, gender, nationality, category, mobile number, email Id, address.
- The candidates have to select the IIMs of their preference and the course they want to take.
- The candidate can choose up to six cities as an examination center.
- Step 3: Payment of Application Fee for CAT 2022:
- After all the required personal details, the candidates have to pay for the application form by Debit/credit card/Internet Banking or any other money wallet.
- Submit the online application form and download the application form for future reference.
CAT 2022 Registration Fees
There has been an increase in CAT Registration fees. The fees now charged to complete the application form is mentioned in the table below:
| Category | CAT Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General/ NC-OBC | INR 2,200 |
| SC/ST/PWD | INR 1,100 |
CAT Form Correction 2022
CAT 2022 form correction window will also be provided to candidates for a period of 2-3 days. During that time period candidates can edit the following details:
- Photograph
- Signature
- Test City Preferences.
CAT Form correction option will only be valid for those candidates who will pay the required registration fee within the specified deadline.
CAT 2022 Exam Pattern
The important details and changes CAT Exam Pattern are mentioned below:
- Time Duration & Total Questions: CAT test duration has been trimmed to 120 minutes from 180 minutes.
- Total Sections: CAT consists of following three sections:
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Questions: 24
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Questions: 22
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI & LR) Questions: 20
- TITA Type Questions – No Negative Marks: Around 25% or 20-25 questions will be TITA-type questions in CAT 2021. No marks will be deducted for wrong answers while answering TITA-type questions that means candidates can score high marks if they solve TITA questions with a 90% accuracy rate.
- MCQ Type Questions: Remaining 70-75% CAT question paper will have MCQ type questions only. Candidates will also face negative marks for marking wrong answers in the case of MCQ-type questions.
- CAT Marking Scheme: For every correct answer 3 marks will be awarded and a penalty of 1/3 negative marks is there for wrong answers.
| Mode of CAT Exam | Online |
| Duration of CAT Exam | 120 Minutes; 40 minutes for each section |
| Type of Questions Asked in CAT | MCQ and TITA Type Questions |
| Sections | 3 sections i.e. VARC, QA, DILR |
| Number of Questions | 66 |
| Total Marks | 198 |
| Marks Awarded | +3 Marks for every correct answer |
| Negative Marking | -1 marks for every wrong MCQ answer; No Negative Marks for TITA type Questions |
| Medium | English |
CAT Syllabus 2022
- As per trends, CAT Syllabus is derived from 10th -12th standard chapters and largely remains undefined.
- Also, every year conducting IIM releases a CAT Mock Test which highlights question types and syllabus.
CAT is a competitive examination for which almost every year more than 2 Lakh candidates appear. So, the aspirants have to prepare well to crack the examination. The aspirants can develop strategies that would help them in scoring well.
- The weak areas need to be addressed with the help of self-study or some mentor or coaching institutes.
- Sections like Verbal Ability and Reading comprehension could be difficult and only be craked with continuous practice.
- Conceptual questions are becoming less intensive with more occurrence of IQ based questions in every section.
Subject Wise Preparation for CAT 2021:
| CAT Subject | CAT Preparation Tips |
|---|---|
| CAT DILR Preparation |
|
| CAT VARC Preparation |
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| CAT Quant Preparation |
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CAT Toppers Preparation Tips
CAT exam pattern is slowly moving towards an IQ-based Test rather than a Knowledge-based test. Preparation tips from toppers are helpful in building the right preparation plan by learning from their experience.
| CAT Topper | DILR Preparation Tips | VARC Preparation Tips | QA Preparation Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT Topper Prakhar Sinha |
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| CAT Topper Aditya Shukla | |||
| CAT Toppers Rishu Raj | |||
| CAT Toppers Maharshi Nagori |
CAT Question Papers and Mock Tests
CAT previous year’s questions are helpful in understanding the type of questions and difficulty level of the paper. Other than that, regular practice of solving 1-2 question papers will help you in improving the speed and accuracy level of answering the questions. Candidates can also check and download the previous year’s question papers to prepare for the exam.
CAT 2022 Mock Test
- CAT 2022 Mock Test will be released on the official website a few weeks before the exam date.
- The total time duration of CAT 2022 Mock test is 120 minutes with a sectional time limit of 40 minutes. The official links of the mock tests will be released at iimcat.ac.in can be accessed directly by clicking on the link.
- CAT 2022 Mock Test Link offers aspirants to access an online mock test to become familiar with computer based test instructions, procedures, and features.
CAT Coaching Centers
Aspirants planning to appear for CAT 2022 can also opt for a coaching institute to prepare for the exam. CAT coaching centers will help you in preparing for the exam by providing the study notes, practice papers, mock tests, practice sessions, etc.
Click here to Enrol for CAT Coaching in TOPSHALA
Best Books for CAT 2022 Preparation
Ekansh Agrawal (CAT 2020 99.98 Percentile) solved 60% of the book Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma. Many books can be preferred while preparing for CAT. Check out CAT Books for Preparation
| Books | Authors |
|---|---|
| NCERT Maths from 8th to 10th | NCERT |
| Quantitative Aptitude for MBA Entrance Examinations | Abhijit Guha |
| Quantitative Aptitude for MBA Entrance Examinations | R.S. Aggarwal |
| How to prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Arun Sharma/TATA McGRAW HILL |
| Puzzles and some other number books | Shakuntla Devi |
| Higher Algebra | Hall and Knight |
| Crack The Cat Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation | Vivek Gupta and Sandeep Amar |
| Course in Mental Ability and Quantitative Aptitude | Edgar Thorpe |
| Fundamental of Reasoning A Logic Book | Robert M. Johnson |
| Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis |
| Business English and Communication | Clark Grade C |
| All about Words | Rosenblum and Nurenberg |
| How to Prepare for the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT | Arun Sharma & Meenakshi |
CAT 2022 Admit Card
CAT 2022 admit card will be available on the official website. Candidates who will successfully submit the application form will be able to access their admit cards. To the exam center, the candidate must bring a printout of your admit card as well as a valid photo ID. The important details related to exam center, exam timings, etc will be mentioned in your admit card.
Steps to Download CAT 2022 Admit Card
- Step 1: Visit the official website at iimcat.ac.in.
- Step 2: Enter your User Id and Password and click on ‘Download CAT 2022 Admit Card’
- Step 3: Download the document and take the printout.
- Step 4: Save the soft copy of admit card for future reference.
Documents Required with CAT Admit Card
Candidates will have to carry the following documents to the exam center.
- Self Declaration Form
- Aadhar Card or valid ID proof
- Passport size photographs
CAT 2022 Exam Centers
In the 2021 session, the exam was held in 158 test cities. CAT 2022 is also expected to be held in the same exam centers.
- While filling CAT Application Form, you will get the opportunity to select up to 6 exam centers.
- CAT test center allotted to the candidates will depend on the city of their preference filled in the application form.
- CAT exam centers once allotted cannot be changed under any circumstances.
CAT Cut off 2022
The qualifying CAT 2022 cut off for admission in the 2023-25 batch will be released by the respective IIMs. To become eligible for the admission process candidates will have to clear the sectional as well as overall cut off decided by the institutes. Candidates can check the table below to get an idea about the overall and section cut off of top IIMs. Also Check CAT Cut off for IITs
| IIMs | Category | DILR | VARC | QA | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Bangalore CAT Cut off & Admission Criteria | General | 75 | 80 | 75 | 85 |
| IIM Ahmedabad CAT Cut off & Admission Criteria | General | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
| IIM Lucknow CAT Cut off & Admission Criteria | General | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 |
| IIM Kozhikode CAT Cut off & Admission Criteria | General | 75 | 75 | 75 | 80 |
| IIM Calcutta CAT Cut off & Admission Criteria | General | 80 | 80 | 75 | 85 |
CAT Reservation Criteria
As per the legal necessity, CAT 2022 have the reservation on the basis of different category such as:
| Reserved Categories | Percentage of Reservation of seats |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe | 7.5% |
| NC- OBC | 27% |
| EWS | 10% |
| PWD | 5% |
CAT 2022 Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. Due to some reasons, I have changed my name after completing my Bachelor’s. So which name should I write in my CAT Application Form?
Ans. Any candidate who has changed their name is advised to write the changed name while filling up the CAT application form. However, you should also provide supporting documents to your changed name at the time of examination, interview, and admission process.
Ques. I have completed a dual degree program i.e. Bachelor and Master. Which course marks should I enter in CAT Registration?
Ans. You need to enter the aggregate marks of Bachelor’s degree under the bachelor’s score section and the same process should be repeated for Masters’s.
Ques. Can a Third Year student apply for CAT 2022?
Ans. Yes, third-year students can apply for CAT, i.e. candidates in the final year of graduation can apply for CAT. However, admission is subject to the candidates providing proof of graduation such as mark sheets and the college they have been admitted to.
Ques: Can I use CAT 2022 scores to take admission in Non IIMs?
Ans: Yes, you can apply for admission in CAT participating colleges. That is if the college accepts CAT scores and a candidate is also fulfilling the eligibility criteria of that college then he/ she can apply for admission in that college.
Ques: Is there any limit to attempting CAT 2022?
Ans: No, there is no such limit set for the number of attempts taken for the exam. Candidates can take CAT every year.
Ques: Can I fill the CAT application form in offline mode also?
Ans: No, Only online application is accepted for CAT 2022. CAT application fees can also be paid online only.
Ques: What are the uneditable details in CAT 2022 application form?
Ans: The uneditable details in CAT 2022 application forms are Name, email address, mobile number, etc. During that time period candidates can edit the following details:
- Photograph
- Signature
- Test City Preferences.
Ques: How exam center preferences can I fill in CAT 2022 application form?
Ans: Candidates can pick from up to six cities to take the test during the time of application process. However, the final allotment of exam center will be done by the conducting body only.
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