CAT

What is CAT?

CAT Stands for Common Admission Test. It is a national-level entrance exam for admission into top B-Schools in India. CAT score is a mandatory requirement for admission into the Indian Institutes of Management and affiliated Business Schools / Universities in India.

It is conducted every year on the last Sunday of November by one of the IIMs. The CAT Exam has 66 questions to be answered in 120 minutes.

Whooping average Domestic and International package (CTC) of IIMs and Other top Business Schools in India.

All top management schools providing admission through CAT in the country have an extraordinary track record of getting 100% placement with ecstatic salaries and job roles. These Business Schools have also been quite successful in getting a number of their students placed in organizations that offer international postings.

The IIMs and other Top 15 institutes claim an average placement salary of about INR 30 to 40 lakh per annum. The highest salary on offer for domestic placements can be as high as INR 60 lakh per annum and international placements is around 2.2 crores. The lowest salary on offer at these management institutes is about INR 12-15 lakh.

The average salary in the next level of 15 management institutes is about INR 15 to 20 lakh per annum. The lowest salary on offer ranges between INR 8-10 lakh and highest domestic salary ranges between INR 20-25 lakh and international placements is around 1.1 crores. And at the next level of 15 management institutes the average salary on offer is around INR 10 to 12 lakh per annum.

Only CAT is enough to get placed at IIM? NO

The IIMs follow a 2 stage selection process – the written exam (CAT) and the GWPI (Group discussion / Written ability test / Personal Interview). At most all of the IIMs shortlist the candidates by considering the performance based on written exam (CAT), academic background, work experience etc.

Shortlisted applicants are required to appear for the second stage of the admission process wherein they would go through a personal interview, written ability test and/or a group discussion. Most IIMs have now shifted to Written Ability Test (WAT) from Group Discussion (GD) as a part of the selection process. The final list of selected candidates is prepared taking into account your performance in the written exam, the GWPI process, academic background, work experience etc.

Weightage – Various Components of Selection Process

The weightage of various components in the selection process varies across institutes and varies from year-to-year for most institutes. In general, we can say that most of the premier B-schools give high weightage to performance in CAT/GD/WAT/PI rounds and relatively lesser weightage to other factors like academic profile, work ex etc.

At this stage, many students are given to understand that getting a call from an IIM is extremely difficult and converting a call even more so. Through this section we will try to dispel a few myths surrounding the selection process of the IIMs. In the process, we will also share the details of shortlisting at various stages.

Eligibility

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks or equivalent GPA (45% in case of SC, ST, PWD candidates)

NTA is confined to registration of candidates, conduct of the test, hosting of answer key, inviting challenges, finalising answer keys, preparing and declaring result and hosting Score Card. Merit list will be prepared by participating Universities/ organisations. Universities may conduct their individual counselling on the basis of the score card of CUET (UG)-2022 provided by NTA.

What to Prepare?

1. Quantitative Aptitude
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
3. Verbal Ability
4. Written Ability Test (WAT) – English Essays
5. Personal Interview