CAT - Common Admission Test for MBA Admissions
CAT - known as Common Admission Test is all-India national level computer based test conducted by IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) as entrance exam for admission to management programmes. Based on CAT percentile score, candidates are called for next stage of selection rejection process which usually consists of Group Discussion, Essay and Personal Interview (GDPI). CAT is multiple-choice based test with penalties for wrong answers.
CAT 2017 Update
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow will conduct the Common Admission Test (CAT) in 2017. The CAT 2017 will be conducted on Sunday, 26 November in two sessions. Last year 2,32,434 candidates applied for CAT.
What is Syllabus of CAT?
This is the most frequent question asked when one starts preparing for CAT. CAT is a test with no predefined syllabus, however past trends suggest that CAT tests in general aptitude including Verbal Ability (English), Quant Ability (Mathematics), Logical Reasoning (LR) and Data Interpretation (DI) skills.
Similar to CAT, there are other admission tests - MAT, XAT, CMAT and SNAP. There are some B-Schools (like IIFT and IRMA) which conduct their own exam. And there are state level entrance tests for admission to colleges in respective states.
English or Verbal Ability
Reading comprehension, verbal reasoning, syllogisms, analogies, antonyms and synonyms, fill in the blanks, sentence correction, idioms, etc.
Maths or Quant Ability
Number systems, geometry, trigonometry, probability, permutation combination, algebra, mensuration, time and work, averages, percentages, profit and loss, quadratic and linear equations, etc.
Data Interpretation
Interpretation and analysis of data based on text, tables, graphs (line, area), charts (column, bar, pie), venn diagram, etc.
Logical Reasoning
Clocks, calendars, binary logic, seating arrangement, blood relations, logical sequence, assumption, premise, conclusion, linear and matrix arrangement, etc.
CAT New Paper Pattern
There are three sections: Quantitative Ability (QA, 34 questions), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR, 32 questions) and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VRC, 34 questions). The duration of the exam is 180 minutes. There is no separate time limit on sections.