Kiarra Gaba, Blogger at Edumarz
CAT(Common Admission Test) is a complete computer-based test for candidates who aspire to get admission in graduate management programs. CAT was a paper-based test before 2009. With time the pattern, modes, and durations changed. The American firm Prometric was entrusted to conduct CAT online from 2009 to 2013. CAT is open to all graduates and is conducted to get admission into any management programs of IIM’s(Indian Institutes of Management) and all top B-schools across the country.
OVERVIEW :
REGISTRATION :
For registration, the candidates need to visit the official website first to apply for CAT.
After you login into the official website, register yourself as a new user and generate a new user ID and password.
Then login with the credentials and fill the application form.
The form will require your personal details, work experiences, academic results and experience, your preferred test city, etc.
Once you fill the form make sure that you check it entirely before submitting it because the website doesn’t allow correction once the form is submitted.
After the form submission, you need to pay the fee through any online mode like net banking, credit/ debit card, etc.
The candidates will receive the payment confirmation through email.
ELIGIBILITY :
The candidate must hold a graduation degree with a minimum of 50% or equal CGPA. Whereas 45% for SC/ ST/ PWD/ DA(Differently Abled).
Final year students appearing for the bachelor’s degree can also apply.
But the final year students/ applicants need to present their bachelor’s degree certificate at the time of admission.
The degree must be presented by the university or institution that is consolidated by the act of the central / state statutory body in India.
Candidates are expected to visit the official website to check the recently updated eligibility details before applying.
EXAM PATTERN :
SYLLABUS :
The CAT exam has three sections that test different skills and aspects of the candidate’s excellence. All three sections have different topics covered that need to be prepared. The topics are :
QUANTITATIVE ABILITY –
Averages
Ratio & Proportion
LCM and HCF
Percentages
Profit and Loss
Interest (Simple and Compound)
Speed, Time and Distance Time and Work
Number System
Algebra
Geometry/Mensuration
Pure Math
Venn diagrams
Linear Equations
Quadratic Equations
Complex Numbers
Logarithm
Progressions
Binomial Theorem
Surds and Indices
Inequalities
Permutation and Combination Probability Functions
Set Theory
Mixtures and Alligations
Coordinate Geometry
Trigonometry
DATA INTERPRETATION & LOGICAL REASONING –
Data comparison from Table
Graphs
Bar charts – Simple, Stacked, Composite Bar charts
Pie charts
Caselets
Data Analysis
Direction sense
Team formation
Seating Arrangement
Blood Relation
Clocks
Calendars
Binary logic
Logical Sequence
Assumption
Premise
Conclusion
Linear and matrix arrangement
Input-Output
Series
Syllogism
Cubes
Rows
Set Theory
Venn Diagrams
Network Diagrams
Quantitative Reasoning
Puzzles
VERBAL ABILITY AND READING COMPREHENSION –
The main idea in the passage
Assumption
Inferences, Statements, Arguments
Synonyms-antonyms
Phrasal meaning & Usage
Para Summary
Jumbled paragraphs
Odd sentence out of Jumbled paragraph
Error Corrections
Sequence of sentences
Vocabulary usage
Fill in the blanks
Completion of Paragraph
Analogies
Critical Reasoning
Sentence Completion
PREPARATION :
The best material to prepare yourself for the CAT exam or the books that candidates need to cover to pass through the exam are :
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma
Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by Sarvesh K Verma
How to prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma
How to prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K. Sinha
CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K. Sinha
CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri
Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT’- by Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay
‘Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT’ – by Nishit K Sinha
Arihant Book on Verbal Ability: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension by Ajay Singh
FEE STRUCTURE :
The fee structure for candidates can also vary with time, so the aspirants are required to give a look at the latest changes in the fee before they apply.
COURSES OFFERED :
Courses offered by IIMs through CAT vary. It usually offers postgraduate, doctoral, and executive programs. But a few institutions also offer Fellowship Programs in Management(FPM). Courses thereby offered through CAT are :
PGP (Post Graduate Program in Management)
PGP- FABM (Food and Agribusiness Management)
PGPEM (PGP in Enterprise Management)
PGPPM (PGP in Public Policy and Management)
EPGP (Executive Post Graduate Program in Management)
PGPSM (PGP in Sustainable Management)
PGPWE (PGP in Management for Working Executive)
PGPBM (PGP in Business Management)
FPM (Fellow Program in Management)
The syllabus for effectively clearing CAT is never precise. It usually varies depending on the recent CAT exam pattern. The changing syllabus or pattern can be checked over the official website or the websites dealing with the same information.
RESULT :
The result is always announced online.
To check your result you need to visit the official website.
The candidates who appeared for the test are informed via email about the result being available online.
The candidates are required to fill in their user ID and the password that they generated at the time of registration to view the result.
Once the result appears on your screen make sure you download it and print it out too for future reference.