CAT 2024 registration closing tomorrow; fee, exam pattern, selection process at IIMs

NEW DELHI : The Indian Institution of Management Calcutta (IIM Calcutta) will close the Common Admission Test 2024 (CAT 2024) registration tomorrow, September 13. Interested and eligible candidates can fill up the CAT 2024 registration form by visiting the official website, iimcat.ac.in. The CAT 2024 admit card will be issued on November 4.

Candidates are required to pay an application fee to complete the CAT 2024 registration process. The CAT 2024 registration fee is Rs 2, 500 for General, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates and Rs 1, 250 for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Person with Disabilities (PwD) applicants.

CAT 2024 exam date and pattern

CAT 2024 exam will be held on November 24. The CAT 2024 exam will be held in three shifts – first shift will be from 8:30 am to 10:30 am, second shift from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm and third shift from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. The CAT 2024 exam will be held in online mode.

The CAT 2024 exam will have three sections - verbal ability and reading comprehension (VARC), data interpretation and logical reasoning (DILR), and quantitative aptitude (QA). There will be a total of 66 questions in CAT 2024 paper. As per CAT 2024 marking scheme, candidates will get 3 marks for each correct answer and one mark will be deducted for each incorrect response. There will be no negative marking for incorrect answers.

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CAT 2024: Selection process at IIMs

After the CAT results are declared, each IIM prepares a shortlist based on CAT scores and other factors. The shortlisting process varies slightly for each IIM, but generally includes:

• CAT Cut-off : Candidates are required meet the minimum percentile cut-off for each section and the overall CAT score. The cut-off varies for each IIM and across different categories. Most IIMs give substantial weight to the CAT score, typically around 30-50%.
• Academic Record : Marks in Class 10, 12, and graduation are considered.
• Work Experience : Many IIMs consider work experience, with weightage for candidates with relevant work experience, typically in managerial or technical roles.
• Written Ability Test (WAT) : A written test where candidates are required to write an essay on a given topic. The essay could be related to current affairs, abstract topics, or business-related issues. This stage assesses a candidate's ability to express their thoughts, structure their argument, and communicate effectively in writing.
• Group Discussion (GD) : Some IIMs conduct a group discussion, where a group of candidates discusses a topic provided by the panel. The discussion could range from business, politics, economics, or social issues. It tests a candidate's communication skills, teamwork, leadership, and ability to articulate their points clearly.
• Personal Interview (PI) : A personal interview is conducted by a panel of faculty members and industry experts. The interview could focus on - personal background, career goals, motivation for pursuing an MBA, knowledge of current events, academics, work experience, and extracurricular achievements.