Criteria for eligibility for CAT and other information related to it

The CAT Eligibility Criteria is the list of requirements you have to meet in order to take and pass the test. This is a reference to academic qualifications, the age limit, and academic records, as well as other relevant elements. Each year, the CAT's governing authorities announce the criteria for eligibility for the exam to be held in September.

The CAT exam will take place on the 27th of November. The authority that conducts the exam has released the eligibility requirements for CAT, upon which you may take the test. The official notification for CAT has been out and registrations start on the 1st week in August. It is mandatory to sign up for CAT via the official website. Applications will be open until mid-September. After you have submitted the necessary information and uploaded all required documents, you'll need to be able to make payment for the fee using online payment methods.

If you're planning to take the CAT exam, it is important to be aware of the eligibility requirements for the test. This article explains the specifics of eligibility criteria for CAT and other requirements.

CAT

The test that is computer-based (Common Admission Test) is administered through the Indian Institutes of Management. It is among the most difficult and popular entrance tests for MBA and PGDM admissions. CAT scores are recognized by more than 20 IIMs and a plethora of B-schools across India. The IIM IIMs are given the task to conduct the CAT exam. more than 2 lakh students take the CAT each year hoping to be accepted into their dream school. Due to the limited number of seats for admission as well as the very high cut-offs for applicants, the contest is extremely competitive for the test.

The CAT tests candidates' ability to solve problems, and make decisions in time and resource management. It comprises three parts, which include areas such as verbal, quant reasoning, reasoning, as well as interpretation of data. Since the past few years, there have been some changes to the exam structure but the level of difficulty and difficulty of the test has remained the same through. To pass the CAT test it is essential to keep speed and accuracy throughout each of the three areas.

CAT Eligibility Criteria

In 2021, the CAT committee introduced a few exemptions to eligibility criteria because of the pandemic. For the present year, the criteria used in the past have been reinstated. The guidelines and rules for CAT eligibility could be understood as follows:

Academic Qualification

Each year students from various academic backgrounds can apply for the CAT:

1. The candidate must hold an undergraduate degree or equivalent in any field with at least 50 percent marks or an equivalent CGPA (45 percent in the cases of SC/STor PwD Candidates).

2. The bachelor's degree of the candidate must be recognized by one of the universities that are incorporated into the legislation of the state or central legislative body in India or any other educational institution founded through the Act of Parliament or declared to be a university in accordance with Article 3 in the UGC Act, 1956, or have an equivalent qualification recognized as a University by the Ministry of HRD, Government of India.

3. Candidates who are taking an examination in the last year of their Bachelor's degree or equivalent examination, and those who have passed examinations for degrees but are still waiting for results may also be qualified. Such candidates, if qualified, will be allowed to join the course conditionally, only if they produce a certificate from the Principal / Registrar of their University/institution.

The candidate must provide the certificate by June 30, 2023 (issued by June 30th, 2023) to prove that the applicant is following all prerequisites for getting the bachelor's degree/equivalent as of the date of the issue of the certificate. Additionally, candidates who have backlogs are eligible to apply for CAT but they need to clear them prior to applying for admission to any B-school.

4. The percentage of marks secured in a bachelor's degree will be calculated based on the standard pattern followed by the concerned University/Institution.

For CGPA as well as grades, this conversion process is dependent on the method established by the institution or university. If any University/institution confirms that there is no scheme for converting grades/CGPA into equivalent marks, the equivalence would be established by dividing the candidate's CGPA by the maximum possible CGPA and multiplying the result by 100.

Age Limits

There are no age limits for the CAT. You can therefore take the test at any time.

Experience

The eligibility criteria for CAT don't stipulate any work experience that is required. Therefore, both students who are fresh and those with experience can take the test. However, some B-schools consider work experiences when deciding to admit applicants.

Number of Attempts

The CAT exam can be taken multiple times over the course of your life.

Do you know in 2011, the IITs as well as IISc started to accept the CAT score for MBA/M.Mgt. in lieu of JMET (Joint Management Entrance Test)?

NOTE: IIMs do not choose candidates who are not capable of meeting the above-described criteria.

The institutes that participate in the selection process verify the eligibility of applicants at different stages in the process of selection. (The details of the verification process are on the official IIM website.)

What's the main difference between the CAT and IIM eligibility criteria?

The CAT eligibility criteria haven't changed much in the past. However, some changes were made in 2014 which caused conflicts between the CAT exam eligibility criteria and IIMs Admission requirements.

In accordance with the eligibility requirements for CAT applicants who have at least two years after graduation are able to be CAT-tested, however, they are not permitted to study management at IIM unless they have earned an education degree that has at least three years of duration. Other factors, such as your work experience, extracurriculars, academic record, and score in the process of selection can affect your admission to IIMs. Although the requirement for work experience is a prerequisite for certain MBA programs at IIMs along with some other institutions, it is not necessary to pass the CAT test. Other than that, the requirements for admission to CAT and IIM is the same.

Who isn't eligible for CAT?

In accordance with IIMs, the following conditions could render you unqualified for CAT

·         If you've never graduated from any bachelor's program nor seeking one.

·         If you've earned a professional education, however, not a bachelor’s degree.

·         If you have a score of less than 50% for the General Category and less than 45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates.

·         If your Bachelor's Degree cannot be recognized by AICTE/UGC/MHRD. of India.

·         What is the Reservation Criteria in IIMs?

·         IIMs respect the reservation structure:

·         In the past the eligibility requirements for the CAT exam has been the same since the year 2014. For more information, go to the official website of the CAT.

·         Last but not least, keep in mind that being CAT eligible does not guarantee acceptance into any of the most prestigious B-schools. Your admission decision will be based on a variety of factors, including your profile and CAT results your performance in entrance rounds (GD/WAT/PI) and so on. However, you should be aware of this information to ensure that you fill out all the necessary information on your request for. If you make any omissions the application will be liable to be cancelled by the authorities at any time without notice.

FAQs Regarding CAT Eligibility

1. What is the credibility of CAT scores?

The scorecard for CAT is valid for one year only.

2. Do I have to take the CAT exam in my 3rd year?

If it's the last year of your diploma You can take the CAT test.

3. Does CAT only apply to MBA/PGDM courses?

Yes, they require scores from CAT only for MBA and PGDM admissions.

4. Who decides who determines the CAT Exam Inadmissibility?

The criteria for eligibility to CAT is determined and approved by IIMs.

5. Are class 12th marks taken into consideration in CAT?

The marks for class 12th are not relevant to the CAT's eligibility.

6. Can I give CAT after my master's degree?

Yes, you can take CAT in the wake of any master's degree.

7. Do I have the chance to be admitted into IIM after my 12th grade?

You are able to get into only the integrated five-year courses offered by certain IIMs. But, you are not able to apply for admission to a two-year MBA/PGDM program or take CAT exams without a bachelor's degree.

8. How do I gain admission to an IIM without having to take CAT?

In the case of MBA/PGDM admissions, IIMs require CAT scores. However, they will also accept GMAT scores. Therefore, if you decide not to take CAT, you must have a great score on the GMAT.

9. Can CAT scores be accepted by any B-schools in other countries?

Yes, there are some international institutions accepting CAT scores to get an MBA/MIM/other management master's. They comprise HEC Paris, SP Jain School of Global Management, Singapore Management University and more.

10. Can I take part in CAT if I have an outstanding backlog from graduation?

Yes, you are able to take the CAT even if you have a backlog. But, you must be cleared of it prior to gaining admission to any of the B-schools.

11. Do 12th-grade passes count for the CAT?

You do not need to be a graduate student or in your last year of graduation to be able to sit for the CAT.

12. Do 12th marks affect the CAT?

Marks from the 12th class do not matter in CAT; however, they do affect the admissions to B-school.

13. Can I give CAT after BSC?

Yes, you are able to take CAT following any bachelor's degree as long as it's recognized by UGC or an equivalent authority.

14. What are the marks for passing the CAT exam?

There aren't any passing marks specified by the CAT committee. But, each B-school does have different cut-offs for CAT. Therefore, if you're looking for a particular group of B-schools, you must know their cut-off numbers and then study them according to them. The majority of top B-schools have cut-off of 90plus percentiles.

15. Can I pass CAT on my first attempt?

Absolutely, you can. Many freshers and professionals are able to pass the CAT on the first try through focused and committed preparation. It's no surprise that a portion of the 99 percentiles passed in the first try. You can also try it!