CAT Exam 2022: Admit Card (27 Oct), Registration (Over), CAT 2022 Date (27 Nov), Syllabus, Pattern

CAT, also known as Common Admission Test, is the country's most sought-after MBA Entrance Exam. The CAT Exam is administered by one of the IIMs each year on a rotational basis. CAT 2022 Exam is a computer-based MBA entrance test conducted nationally for admission to all the IIMs and other Top MBA Colleges. CAT Exam for MBA, also known as the IIM Entrance exam, helps you take admission into approx 20 IIMs and over 1,200 B-schools across the country.

• CAT Exam consists of three sections, namely Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). 
• The CAT Entrance Exam covers both MCQ & Non-MCQ questions.

The difficulty level of the CAT Exam is usually moderate to difficult due to the level of the competition and the high number of applicants. 

CAT Exam Registration 2022 is now closed. It was started on 3 August 2022 and extended up to 21 September 2022. The notification highlights a slight change in the CAT registration fee, which is now ₹2300 for the general category and ₹1500 for the reserved category. CAT test cities have also been reduced from 156 to 150. 

Applicants of CAT 2022 must also note that a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI) professional degree is also accepted as valid CAT eligibility. 

• 27 October 2022: CAT 2022 admit card release date
• 23-26 September 2022: Availability of CAT Exam 2022 form correction window
• 21 September 2022: CAT 2022 Registration last date (Previously, it was 14 September 2022)
• 3 August 2022: CAT Registration 2022 Started. Applicants can now visit the official website to apply online. 
• 31 July 2022: CAT 2022 Notification is released by IIM Bangalore.

CAT Exam Notification 2022 was released on 31 July 2022 on the official website. Along with the CAT 2022 notification, details about the CAT exam application, registration details, important dates, syllabus, and other details have also been announced by IIM Bangalore. Applicants must go through the CAT Exam Notification 2022 to ensure they understand all the essential details about the exam. 

The CAT exam 2022 Information Bulletin contains the basic information about the CAT MBA Exam that every applicant must know. 

• Download CAT Exam 2022 Notification PDF

If you plan to appear for CAT 2022, you must know and understand all the details about the exam. 

What is the Purpose of IIM CAT?

The purpose of the CAT Exam is to provide a common score for admissions to all MBA colleges. All participating CAT MBA Colleges release cutoffs based on CAT Scores and call individuals for further rounds. Applicants who wish to pursue MBA from top business colleges in India must apply for the CAT exam. Besides the IIMs, 88 non-IIM institutions use their scores for admission into their MBA courses.

Every year, the Common Admission Test or CAT is conducted by different IIMs on a rotational basis, and around 5100 MBA seats are offered by the IIMs alone. As a national-level management aptitude test, approximately 2.30 lakh candidates register for this exam yearly. 

The CAT 2022 Conducting IIM has announced the official notification on 31 July 2022 on CAT 2022 official website. Note the table below to know which IIM will conduct the CAT 2022 exam. 

IIM has announced the official CAT 2022 Exam Date on the official website. The CAT Exam Date 2022 includes all important dates such as notification release date, application form date, and more. The below-mentioned timeline for the CAT Exam 2022 is as per the latest official updates.

CAT Exam Time 2022

CAT Exam time duration is 120 minutes which includes section time of 40 minutes for each section. The CAT Exam 2022 will be held in three slots, and the timings for each are mentioned below. 

Candidates who wish to appear for the upcoming CAT 2022 must know its eligibility criteria. The basic CAT eligibility is a graduate degree from a recognized university or equivalent. Every applicant must check the CAT Exam Eligibility details before applying for the examination to avoid disqualification at a later stage.

Recently, CAT Eligibility added Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI) professional degree as an acceptable eligibility criteria. In 2021, IIM had eliminated the minimum grades (45 percent and 50 percent [Or comparable CGPA] correspondingly) for appearing for the CAT Exam. This exception was made to ensure that candidates who finished their bachelor's degrees in 2020 and 2022 are fairly represented. Candidates could enter the “Promotion/ Pass” option in the CAT 2022 Application Form instead of marks.

CAT Age Limit 

As per the official eligibility criteria, there is no upper age limit for CAT Exam 2022. As long as the applicant satisfies other CAT eligibility, there is no limitation on CAT Exam Age Limit.

CAT 2022 Educational Qualification

Candidates with the following educational qualifications can apply for CAT Exam 2022.

• Must have completed UGC recognized Bachelor's degree with 50% marks for general category and 45% for SC, ST, and PWD/DA category.
• Applicants with a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA/FIAI) minimum required percentage can apply for CAT Exam 2022.
• Candidates in the final year of a Bachelor's degree with the required percentage may also apply.

CAT Reservation Policy

The reservation policy for the CAT exam is per the government's legal requirement. The details are as follows:

Note: Your SC/ST/PwD/NC-OBC original certificates must be shown, and a photocopy of the certificates should be submitted during the interview. No change in the category will be entertained after CAT registration; hence, the applicants are advised to pay attention while registering.

CAT 2022 Registration is now closed on the official website of IIM CAT. CAT Registration 2022 start date was 3 August 2022 and ended on 21 September 2022. Earlier, the CAT registration last date was 14th September 2022, but it has been extended officially by the authority. To apply for the CAT Exam 2022, candidates must fill out the CAT 2022 Form on the official website before the last date. CAT Exam fee 2022 has been increased since last year. Candidates can check the CAT registration year-wise trend for the eligible candidates.

How to Apply for CAT Exam 2022?

To successfully apply for the CAT 2022, applicants must go through the CAT 2022 registration details and know the stepwise process of how to fill out the CAT exam form. Interested candidates can apply for the exam through the official website once the registration link gets active.

How to Fill CAT Application Form 2022?

The step-by-step process of filling out the registration form for the CAT Exam is given below. 

1. CAT Registration
2. Submit the Application Form
3. Upload Documents
4. Select CAT Test City
5. Pay Application Fee

Follow the steps to apply online for the CAT 2022 exam. Please note that the registration can be done through online mode only; there is no offline mode available.

1. Visit the official website and register to generate a unique User ID and password for the CAT website.
2. Register on the website using the credentials.
3. Fill in the following information to successfully create your user profile
   • Name of Candidate
   • Date of Birth
   • Email Address
   • Mobile Number
4.  After submitting the CAT Registration Form, you will receive your Login Details on the registered email address.

CAT Login and Fill in the CAT Form

Fill in the CAT Application Form. The form asks for the following details

• Personal Details
• Academic Qualifications
• Work Experience
• Programmes
• Test City- Applicants can select any Six Test Cities as per their preference
• Payment

CAT Application Form Correction

CAT Form Correction Window is now open for editing (23-26 September 2022). Applicants who successfully register for the CAT Exam 2022 may edit certain parts of their application form and make the required correction. It is important to note that details like name, DOB, email ID, and phone number cannot be changed in the CAT form. Candidates may change the photograph, signature, and exam center. 

CAT Exam Fee

The CAT 2022 Application fee is updated and released along with the official notification. The CAT Registration Fee is as follows.

Note: The final amount to be paid may vary, as it will incorporate applicable additional charges. The CAT form fee can be paid online via net banking/credit card/debit card.

Documents Required to Fill CAT 2022 Application Form

• Class 10th & 12th, Bachelor’s Degree and/or higher education mark sheet
• Scanned passport-size photographs and signatures. The sizes are: Photograph- 30 mm (width) x 45 mm (height), Signature- 80 mm (width) x 35 mm (height) and the Image Resolution must be 150px/inch (min) for each.

Note: Candidates are advised to print the receipt for future reference. After successful payment, students shall take the printout of their online application form for CAT 2022. Keep a copy of your application no., login ID & Password.

CAT Exam is conducted in an online mode and is a computer-based test. 

• CAT Exam is conducted in the English language only. 
• The exam has three sections- VARC, DILR, and QA
• Candidates appearing for the CAT exam must solve MCQ and Non-MCQ questions.
• There is a sectional time limit of 40 minutes for each section. 
• There is a negative marking of 1 mark for every wrong answer, and every correct answer is 3 marks. Please note that no negative marking exists for TITA (Non-MCQs) questions. Learn the best tips to reduce Negative Marking in CAT Exam.

Note the table below to get an expected CAT Paper Pattern and number of questions. 

CAT has changed over the years regarding exam patterns, the number of questions, and time duration. 

The CAT 2022 Syllabus consists of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. Thoroughly understand the syllabus for CAT Exam to check the list of topics to be covered for the exam.

CAT Quantitative Ability Syllabus 2022

Following are the topics asked in the Quant section of the CAT Exam. Practice CAT quant questions regularly to level up the preparation. Also, check how to prepare quantitative aptitude for CAT in an effective manner. 

CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning Syllabus 2022

The DILR section of the CAT exam is majorly divided into Data Interpretation and Reasoning. Download DILR CAT Questions PDF to improve the score in the section. 

Data Interpretation Topics asked in CAT Exam 

• Tables
• Venn Diagram
• Line Chart
• Pie Chart
• Scatter Plot
• Radar Chart
• Bar Graph
• Column Graph
• Routes and Network
• Bubble Chart
• Data Caselets - Reasoning-Based DI

Also, check how to prepare data interpretation for CAT to score well in the section. 

Logical Reasoning Topics asked in CAT Exam

Candidates can go through CAT Logical Reasoning Questions to evaluate what kind of questions are asked in the CAT exam. Experts have also curated a detailed guide on how to prepare logical reasoning for CAT to help you ace the section in the upcoming exam. 

• Team Formation
• Arrangements
• Order and Ranking
• Binary Logic
• Games and Tournaments

CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Syllabus 2022

As per the past trends and questions asked in the CAT exam, the following topics are covered under the CAT syllabus for VARC. Download VARC Questions PDF to practice the section. 

• Para Summary
• Para Jumbles (with and without options)
• Odd One Out
• Reading Comprehension

Download CAT Syllabus PDF

Candidates preparing for CAT 2022 can also download the CAT Syllabus PDF from the direct link mentioned below. It is a compilation of all the topics to be asked under all three syllabus sections.

☛ Download CAT 2022 Syllabus PDF

Candidates preparing for CAT 2022 should have complete knowledge of the syllabus and paper pattern to begin with. Conceptual clarity, regular practice, and excellent time management are key to acing the CAT Exam. Applicants can also follow expert CAT preparation tips to ensure their preparation strategy is efficient and result oriented. 

To begin with, learn how much time is required to prepare for CAT exam. Depending on the time left for the CAT exam, design a daily timetable for CAT preparation as per your needs to have a disciplined approach. 

• Prepare for CAT 2021 Exam in 1 Month with 30 Days Study Plan
• You can also prepare for CAT Exam in 2 months with expert guidance and the right strategy. 

Approximately more than 2 Lakh candidates apply for the CAT exam each year. As the competition is intense, it is important to have a clear preparation plan and a clear CAT 2022 on 1st attempt. Learn through detailed analysis if the CAT Exam is tough?

CAT Practice Set Papers

The best way to understand the questions asked in the examination is by practicing the previous year's CAT question papers. Attempt the CAT Papers online and strategies for your exam preparation accordingly. 

CAT Previous Year Question Papers

The best way to learn and analyze what to study for the CAT Exam is by analyzing the Previous Years CAT Question Papers. Download the CAT question paper PDF and solve them in an exam setting. After solving each paper, analyze the question paper for mistakes and update your preparation strategy accordingly.

As the CAT paper pattern has been evolving over the years, it is important to solve multiple previous year CAT question papers. 

• CAT 2021 Question Paper
• CAT 2020 Question Paper
• CAT 2019 Question Paper
• CAT 2018 Question Paper
• CAT 2017 Question Paper
• CAT 2016 Question Paper

CAT Online Preparation - CAT Coaching 

Level up your CAT online preparation with the guidance of India's top teachers with a proven track record. The CAT online coaching will help you cover the syllabus promptly with a good understanding of all the critical concepts. You will also be able to learn the best tricks to solve the questions with ease and speed. 

As the CAT exam is held online, it is a good option to prepare for the CAT exam online. It is also convenient for aspirants preparing for CAT while working or studying. CAT online preparation allows you to study at your own pace and per your schedule. 

CAT Mock Test

Regular practice with BYJU'S Exam Prep CAT test series will ensure that you are prepared to handle all kinds of questions in the exam. The CAT Mock test is designed by experts based on the latest exam pattern and question trend. The CAT Online mock test also helps you solve all your doubts and strengthen the concepts. 

CAT Official Mock Test 2022

CAT Official Mock Test 2022 will be released by the first week of October 2022. IIM will release the official CAT mock test PDF on the official website. Candidates taking the CAT 2022 exam can take the official mock examinations available at IIM CAT official website. The IIM CAT mock test aims to familiarize applicants with the types of questions commonly given in exams. The direct link to download and practice the CAT mock test will be mentioned below.

CAT Quizzes

Understand the topic, learn the formulas, comprehend the best trick to solve the questions, and attempt the CAT quizzes. Solve CAT Quant quiz to excel at solving all types of problems with improved accuracy and speed. Also, solve the Logical Reasoning Quiz for CAT, DI Quiz, and Verbal Quiz For CAT.

Candidates preparing for CAT 2022 must choose the Best Books for CAT Preparation to cover all three sections and practice ample questions comprehensively. Choosing the right set of books for the CAT exam is highly recommended as it saves a lot of time and provides conceptual clarity. 

CAT Exam Books for VARC 

As per the expert recommendation and topper’s preference, below are the Best VARC Books for CAT 2022. 

• A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal
• How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay/Arihant
• 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary Mass Market Paperback by Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis/ Simon & Schuster
• How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Sharma and Upadhyay

CAT Books for DILR

Note the section below to get the Best CAT Books for DILR

• CAT 2018 Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri
• Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT by Nishit K. Sinha
• Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashish

CAT Preparation Books for Quant

Below are the Best Books for CAT Preparation for Quantitative Aptitude section

• NCERT Mathematics Books (Class 6 to 10)
• How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma
• Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by Sarvesh Sharma
• Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha

CAT 2022 cut off is announced by individual IIMs after releasing the CAT result & scorecard. The institutes announced the CAT cutoff for IIM admission 2021 on their official websites after the result declaration. CAT cutoff is declared in two forms:

• Qualifying CAT Cut Off
• Final CAT 2022 Cut Off

Also, check the previous year's IIM CAT Cut Off to have a better understanding of the level of the exam. 

CAT Cutoff 2021

The IIM cutoff for CAT Exam 2021 for the general category is given below.

Admit Card for the upcoming CAT Exam 2022 will be issued to all the registered candidates on the official website by the last week of October 2022. The direct link to download the CAT hall ticket will be updated after release. CAT Admit Card is a must-have document for all applicants as candidates will not be able to take the exam without the hall ticket

The CAT admit card contains all details about the candidate and exam center, such as name, application number, DOB, Date & Day of the test, exam time, exam center, and more. Candidates can access their admit card by logging in with their CAT Login and password.

How to Download the CAT Admit Card?

• Log in to the official website using your user id and password.
• Click on the admit card tab.
• Go to download and save your copy of the CAT 2022 admit card.

Ensure you go through the CAT 2022 Admit Card details to check for discrepancies. It is important to note that the CAT Admit Card will only be available online and will not.

CAT Exam Day Instructions 

Candidates appearing for the CAT 2022 must note the Dos and Don’ts for the CAT Exam. The instructions are also printed on the admit card. Along with the set of instructions for the CAT exam day, there is a list of documents to be carried and a list of prohibited items. Candidates can take a look at the CAT 2022 Exam day events on the flowchart below:

What to carry for CAT Exam 2022?

Candidates must bring the following documents to the CAT exam center to get access to the exam hall:

• CAT admit card 
• Valid Identity Proof
• Additional photograph
• Self-declaration issued with CAT admit card
• Covid safety-related items such as sanitizer, face masks, etc
• Name change document (If Required)
• Medical Certificate & Scribe Affidavit (If Required) 

What not to carry for CAT 2022?

A list of items is prohibited in the CAT exam center.

• Calculator, watch, phone, iPad, or any other electronic item
• Eatables and beverages
• Bags and purses
• Jewelry and accessories that contain metal
• Jackets and clothes with pockets
• Closed footwear

CAT Exam Center

CAT Exam is conducted in various test centers across the country. Candidates must select 6 test cities' preferences at the time of the application form. The allotted CAT exam center details are released on the admit card. CAT 2022 will be conducted in 150 cities across India. 

Exam experts provide detailed CAT Exam Analysis, which includes valuable information about the CAT exam, such as the difficulty level, sectional weightage, kinds of questions asked, and more. Along with the CAT exam analysis, you get details about the expected CAT cutoff and more.

Candidates preparing for CAT 2022 must also go through the previous year's CAT exam analysis to get a clear picture of what’s coming. Get detailed section-wise CAT paper analysis 2021 for all the slots. 

• CAT Exam Analysis 2021 - Slot 3
• CAT Exam Analysis 2021- Slot 2
• CAT Exam Analysis 2021 - Slot 1

Difficulty Level of CAT Exam

Check the table below for the overall difficulty level of the CAT Exam in the past five years:

IIM releases the CAT response sheet on the official CAT login portal a few days after the exam. Candidates who have appeared for the CAT exam will be able to login and download the CAT response sheet, which includes the questions asked and the applicant’s response to it. Candidates can calculate their scores and prepare for the upcoming rounds. 

The CAT response sheet is released along with the answer key. It contains the answer marked by the candidate and the official answer as per the CAT answer key. 

After the completion of CAT 2022, the exam conducting IIM will release the provisional and final answer key on its official site. IIM releases the CAT Answer Key for Slots 1, 2, & 3 separately on its official site. The direct link to check the CAT answer key will be updated below. 

The CAT answer key PDF also contains the CAT response sheet. Candidates can match their responses with the official answer key to calculate the score. 

How to Download the CAT Answer Key?

The CAT Answer Key can be downloaded from the official website after logging in.

• Visit the official IIM CAT website.
• You can use CAT login credentials which the username and password
• CAT answer key will appear on the screen

After checking the CAT Answer Key, you have a window to raise objections and submit the challenges. The final answer key will be released after the objection window. 

Previous Year CAT Answer Key 

The candidates can also download previous years' CAT Response Sheet cum Answer Key from the links below.

• CAT Answer Key 2021 Slot 1 PDF
• CAT Answer Key 2021 Slot 2 PDF
• CAT Answer Key 2021 Slot 3 PDF
• CAT Slot 1 Answer Key 2020 PDF
• CAT Slot 2 Answer Key 2020 PDF
• CAT Answer Key 2020 Slot 3 PDF

CAT Result 2022 will be announced on the official website as a scorecard. As per the past timeline, CAT 2022 result is expected to be released in January 2023. CAT Result is released as a scorecard, and applicants can log in to access it. The CAT 2022 Scorecard contains each candidate's scores and percentile (sectional and overall). 

Steps to Check CAT Result 2022

Follow the steps mentioned below to check the CAT MBA Result 

• Log in to the official website using your User ID and Password
• You will find the scorecard
• The result will be available on the same website as per the schedule.
• You can also download the CAT result cum scorecard for future reference.

CAT Score vs Percentile

CAT Scorecard and result contains both CAT score and percentile. CAT score validity is for 1 year from the date of the result. It is important to understand both as they hold importance to getting admission to IIMs and other MBA colleges. Raw CAT score is converted to CAT percentile using the normalization process released by IIM. Learn how to calculate CAT percentile for the upcoming exam.

The key steps are to calculate the overall and sectional CAT percentile scores obtained by a candidate. 

• Step 1 - Total number of candidates who appeared for CAT 2022 in all three shifts. 
• Step 2- A rank will be assigned to all candidates who appeared for CAT. This will be based on the scaled scores obtained in the QA, DILR & VARC sections.

The CAT scaled scores are deduced after considering several factors and steps to normalize the score obtained by any CATspirant. First, for CAT normalization, the raw scores of any candidate are calculated by counting the number of correct and incorrect answers. 

The raw scores for each candidate are then normalized, taking into consideration the following factors: 

• The difficulty level of the slot/shift he/she has appeared for the CAT exam
• Scores of top scorers in that slot

This process is done for both section-wise scaled scores and Overall scores.

Year wise CAT Score vs Percentile

A glance at the table provided below for the following years and learn how many marks you need to achieve and to secure to get 90+ percentile in Total. Check the details about CAT Score vs Percentile.

Experts have also curated a detailed strategy on how to score 100 percentile in CAT Exam. 

All IIMs accept CAT Scores. In 2021, the CAT score was accepted by 20 IIMs and 88 non-IIM institutions. Check the complete list of colleges accepting CAT scores. Below mentioned is the list of IIMs, along with the seat intake details. Check Colleges Accepting CAT Score 80 90 Percentile.

Apart from the IIMs. check the list of best colleges for MBA in various cities. 

• MBA Colleges in Bangalore
• MBA Colleges in Mumbai
• MBA Colleges in Delhi
• MBA Colleges in Pune
• MBA Colleges in Kolkata

MBA Admissions after CAT

The CAT selection process for MBA colleges will begin soon with the CAT 2022 exam and results. The list of candidates shortlisted for future rounds will be published on the respective IIM's websites. Each IIM shall send interview letters to the shortlisted candidates directly for CAT exam counseling. 

You will be selected based on:

• Written Ability Test (WAT)
• Group Discussion (GD)
• Personal Interview (PI)
• Academic Records

CAT GD WAT: You will be called for a CAT Writing Ability Test and/or a Group Discussion based on your performance in CAT.

CAT Personal Interview: This is the final round where you will be judged on several factors such as communication skills, academic performance, General Awareness, performance in the previous round, and more.

• Also, Check: Group Discussion Topics

CAT Result: IIM Individual Final Merit List: All the IIMs then release the final merit list based on several factors such as CAT score, your performance in WAT/AWA, Group Discussion and Personal Interview, 10th, 12th, Graduation marks, Gender Diversity, Work Experience, and Reservations.

CAT vs other MBA Exams

Several MBA entrance exams apart from CAT are held for MBA admissions to various colleges. Certain colleges, like XLRI, Symbiosis, IIFT, etc., administer their own MBA exams for admission. If you wish to pursue MBA from abroad, go through the details about GMAT vs CAT. 

Check details about all the MBA exams to make an informed decision

FAQ