Common Admission Test (CAT) Pattern

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is an all-India test conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) as an entrance exam for the management programmes of its seven business schools.

The test is multiple-choice based and traditionally comprises three sections that span the domains of arithmetical problem solving, geometry, statistics, data interpretation, logical reasoning, puzzles, and English language skills. It is held on the third Sunday of November each year. The test duration was two hours prior to year 2006, but since 2006, it has been extended to two and a half hours. The total number of questions has varied from 180 (prior to year 2000) to 150 (from 2001 to 2003) and has gradually decreased to 75 (in 2006 and 2007). This trend has seen the CAT evolve from a speed-based test to an exam that evaluates fundamental abilities of candidates in the aforementioned areas.

It is neither expected, nor possible, that all the questions be answered, so the CAT is also said to test the candidates' ability to prioritize under pressure.

The CAT is the first step for admission to the IIMs. After the test, by the second week of January next year, the IIMs declare exam scores and put up a list of candidates who are eligible for the next stage of a group discussion and an individual interview. The scores are relative and are calculated on a percentile basis for individual sections as well as for the total. Candidates invited for the next stage usually possess total scores that are in excess of 99 percentile and, more importantly, also possess balanced scores across all the individual sections.

More than 200,000 (230,000 in the year 2007) students compete for about 1500 seats in the IIMs.

CAT (as it is most commonly known across India) has evolved from a speed based simple test into a test which demands more proficiency in concepts and fundamentals.It is designed in such a way that it tests a candidate's analytical and logical abilities.

CAT Exam is Unpreditable because

1) No fixed Syllabus

2)No fixed Format

3) Negative Marking Impact 

Course Structure

1)Quants-------------(Arithmetic,Geometry,Algebra)

2)Data Interpretation (DI)

a) Data Interpretation: Interpreat the given data which is in the form of tables,charts,graphs (bar,pie)

b)Data Sufficiency: analyse the given data sufficient or not

c) Logical Ability: Connective logic, clocks,calendars,Blood relations,seating arrangement,logistics,networks

d)Logical Reasoning: analysis of argument

3)Verbal Ability:

a)Grammar

b)Vocabulary

c)Verbal Structures: para jumbles,para completion,summaries,facts,inferience,judgement,upstream/downstream

4)Reading Comprehension:

Some Modifications for CAT-2k9

1) 50% Marks in graduation

2)Duration changed from 120 min to 150 min

3) Number of multiple choices from 4 to 5

4)some rumours regarding CAT online tests from 2k9

Advantage if CAT becomes online

1) Flexibility: Examination centres open 24x7x365 

2)Validity extends from 1 year to 3 years

2) Any one can take test for every 3 months until he/she  gets good score

OMETS(other Management Entrance Tests)

1) XAT

2)SNAP

3)JMET(conducted by iit's and iisc)

4)IIFT

5)FMS

6)TISS

Evaluation Sheet (weightage):

CAT Score --30%

X standard --5%

XII standard--5%

Graduation--5%

work Exp----5%

Essay Writting-10%

GD-----------10%

PI------------20%

Quality of Academics--5%

Quality of Work Experience--5%