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Management & Study Abroad

Common Admission Test (CAT)

Conducted by Indian Institutes of Management (one IIM convenes each year).

Held
Once a year (late November)
Mode
Computer-based test
Level
National

Used by the IIMs and hundreds of other B-schools for MBA/PGP admissions.

Eligibility

  1. 1.Bachelor's degree with at least 50% (45% for SC/ST/PwD)
  2. 2.or final-year students

Stages

  1. 1.CAT score
  2. 2.Institute shortlist
  3. 3.WAT/GD/PI
  4. 4.Final merit (also weights academics and work experience)

Exam pattern

Sections
VARC, DILR, QA, each with its own 40-minute timer
Duration
120 minutes
Marking
+3 correct; −1 for wrong MCQs; no negative marks for TITA

Patterns, dates, age limits and vacancies change with every notification. Use this page to get oriented, then confirm every detail on the official website before you apply. Compiled 2026-10-31.