CAT - Common Admission Test

• Duration of exam: 120 minutes in total & 40 minutes for answering questions in each section
• No. of questions: Typically around 66 questions (may vary year to year)
• Weightage: VARC: ~24 questions DILR: ~20 questions QA: ~22 questions
• Marking scheme: +3 marks for each correct answer, -1 mark for each incorrect MCQ, No negative marking for TITA (non-MCQ) questions

• VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension): Reading comprehension, para jumbles, para summary, odd sentence out
  
• DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning): Graphs, charts, tables, puzzles, arrangements, logical grouping
  
• QA (Quantitative Aptitude): Arithmetic, algebra, number system, geometry, mensuration, probability, permutations & combinations

Registration: The CAT registration process is fully online. The sole official website for CAT 2025 is https://iimcat.ac.in. Candidates must create a login ID, fill out the application form, upload documents, select preferred exam cities, and pay the registration fee. Applicants must ensure all required documents are uploaded accurately to avoid form rejection. The registration window typically remains open for 4–6 weeks.

• Eligibility: Candidates applying for CAT 2025 should fulfill any one of the following conditions:                   

a) Completed Bachelor’s degree with the required percentage of marks                   

b) Completed professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA (CMA)/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)) with required percentage                   

c) Should be in the final year of Bachelor’s degree with required percentage. SC/ST/PwD candidates should have a minimum 45%. For General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates, the minimum is 50%

• Documents Required: Passport-size photograph, Signature, Category certificate (if applicable), PwD certificate (if applicable), Academic mark sheets
• Exam fee: ₹1300 for SC, ST and PwD category candidates. ₹2600 for all other categories of candidates.

The CAT selection process varies across institutions but generally involves three main stages: CAT score evaluation, Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI). IIMs and other top institutes shortlist candidates based on CAT percentile, academic profile, work experience, and diversity factors. The final merit list is prepared using a composite score that includes CAT percentile, performance in WAT/GD/PI, academic background, and other criteria set by the institution.