The CAT, explained properly.
The Common Admission Test is a computer-based exam run by the Indian Institutes of Management, one IIM taking a turn each year. Its scores are used by the IIMs and by hundreds of other B-schools for MBA and PGDM admissions.
Exam pattern
This pattern has been in place since CAT 2024 and was repeated in CAT 2025.
| Section | Questions | Time | Max marks | What it contains |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 24 | 40 min | 72 | 4 RC passages (16 Qs), plus para-jumbles, odd sentence out and para summary (8 Qs) |
| DILR: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 22 | 40 min | 66 | 4 sets of 5 to 6 questions on tables, charts, arrangements, games and tournaments |
| QA: Quantitative Ability | 22 | 40 min | 66 | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry and mensuration, number systems, modern maths |
| Total | 68 | 120 min | 204 | Sections are always taken in the order VARC, DILR, QA |
Locked sectional timers
You get exactly 40 minutes per section and cannot move between sections. Leftover time does not carry over.
Two question types
Multiple choice questions (MCQs) with four options, and type-in-the-answer (TITA) questions where you key in a number or sequence.
On-screen calculator
A basic calculator is available on screen. Questions are written to reward estimation, so do not lean on it.
Eligibility
- A bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST and PwD candidates).
- Final-year undergraduates and those awaiting results can apply. Admission is then provisional on finishing the degree.
- There is no age limit and no limit on the number of attempts.
- Professional qualifications such as CA, CS and ICWA are accepted.
Reservation at the IIMs
| SC | 15% |
|---|---|
| ST | 7.5% |
| NC-OBC | 27% |
| EWS | up to 10% |
| PwD (horizontal) | 5% |
The usual CAT calendar
The pattern of recent years. Exact dates are announced each summer in the official notification.
- Late JulyOfficial notification published on iimcat.ac.in.
- Early August to mid SeptemberRegistration window. You choose up to five preferred test cities.
- Late October to early NovemberAdmit cards released for download.
- Last Sunday of NovemberExam day, held in three slots across about 170 cities.
- Early DecemberProvisional answer key and response sheets released, with a short window to raise objections.
- Late December to early JanuaryResults declared as scaled scores and percentiles.
- January to AprilShortlists, then WAT, GD and personal interview rounds at individual institutes.
Registration fee
Fees are revised from time to time. Check the current figure on the official site before you pay.
Syllabus by section
The IIMs do not publish a formal syllabus. These are the topics that appear year after year.
VARC
- Reading comprehension: philosophy, economics, science, culture
- Para-jumbles (TITA)
- Odd sentence out (TITA)
- Para summary
DILR
- Tables, bar and line charts, caselets
- Seating and scheduling arrangements
- Tournaments, games and scoring
- Venn diagrams, routes and networks
- Quant-heavy puzzles
QA
- Arithmetic: percentages, profit and loss, ratios, time and work, TSD (the biggest block)
- Algebra: equations, inequalities, functions, progressions, logs
- Geometry and mensuration
- Number systems
- Permutations, combinations and probability
How scores become percentiles
Because the exam runs in three slots with different papers, raw marks are first normalised so a hard slot does not penalise you. The IIMs use an equipercentile method: performance is compared within each slot and mapped onto a common scale.
The result is a scaled score for each section and overall. Your percentile is the share of all candidates who scored below you. Shortlists use percentiles, usually with a minimum in every section as well as overall.
What this means for you
Do not panic if your slot feels harder. Everyone in it found it hard too, and normalisation corrects for that.
Estimate my percentileAfter the exam: how IIMs shortlist
1. Shortlist
A composite score combines your CAT percentile with Class 10 and 12 marks, graduation marks, work experience and diversity factors such as gender and academic background.
2. WAT, GD and PI
Shortlisted candidates take a written ability test or group discussion and a personal interview, now often online.
3. Final offer
The final score reweights CAT, interview performance and profile. At many IIMs CAT matters less than half of the final score.
Frequently asked questions
How many attempts are allowed?
Unlimited. Many candidates take the CAT two or three times.
How long is a CAT score valid?
It is valid for one admission cycle, until about 31 December of the year after the exam.
Can I choose my slot?
No. Slots are allotted by the IIMs. You only choose preferred test cities.
Is there negative marking on TITA questions?
No. Only wrong MCQ answers lose a mark. See the marking scheme.
Information on this page reflects recent CAT cycles. Rules can change, so treat iimcat.ac.in as the final authority.