Exam Overview
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
34 questions
60 minutes
66 marks
Verbal Ability (VARC)
24 questions
40 minutes
72 marks
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
32 questions
60 minutes
60 marks
Exam Pattern
- Computer Based Test (CBT)
- Duration: 2 hours (40 minutes per section)
- Total Questions: 66 (reduced from 100 in 2020)
- Total Marks: 198
- Negative Marking: -1 for wrong MCQs, no penalty for non-MCQs
Important Dates
- Registration: August - September
- Admit Card: October
- Exam Date: Last Sunday of November
- Result Declaration: January
- Interviews: February - April
Scoring Pattern
- Scaled scores calculated for each section
- Percentile calculated based on performance relative to other candidates
- Composite score used for final percentile
- Sectional percentile also important for many B-schools
Percentile Analysis
IIM Call Predictor
99%ile+
95%ile+
90%ile+
80%ile+
B-School Tiers
Tier 1 (99+ %ile)
- IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta
- ISB Hyderabad
- FMS Delhi
- XLRI Jamshedpur
- SPJIMR Mumbai
Tier 2 (95-98 %ile)
- IIM Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode
- MDI Gurgaon
- IIFT Delhi/Kolkata
- NITIE Mumbai
Tier 3 (90-94 %ile)
- IIM Shillong, Rohtak, Udaipur
- IMT Ghaziabad
- TISS Mumbai
- SIBM Pune
Recommended Resources
Quantitative Aptitude
- Quantitative Aptitude - R.S. Aggarwal
- Quantum CAT - Sarvesh Sharma
- NCERT Mathematics (Class 9-12)
- Arun Sharma's CAT Preparation Books
Verbal Ability
- Word Power Made Easy - Norman Lewis
- High School English Grammar - Wren & Martin
- Editorials from The Hindu/Indian Express
- How to Prepare for Verbal Ability - Arun Sharma
DILR
- Logical Reasoning - Arun Sharma
- Data Interpretation - Nishit Sinha
- Previous Year CAT Papers
- Online DI-LR Practice Sets
Online Resources
- CAT Official Website (for notifications)
- Rodha (YouTube Channel)
- 2IIM CAT Preparation
- Byju's CAT Classroom
- TestFunda Mock Tests
Preparation Strategy
3-Month Plan
Divide time equally among sections. Focus on concept building in month 1, practice in month 2, and mocks in month 3.
Sectional Strategy
Identify strong/weak areas. Allocate time accordingly. Aim for 85%+ accuracy in strong areas.
Time Management
Practice with strict time limits. Develop section-wise time allocation strategy.
Mock Tests
Take 15-20 full-length mocks. Analyze each test thoroughly to identify improvement areas.
Reading Habit
Read 2-3 editorials daily. Improves reading speed and comprehension for VARC section.
Stress Management
Maintain healthy routine. Include breaks and physical activity in study schedule.