CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria | Age limit, Qualification, Reservation
The CAT exam, short for “Common Admission Test,” is a highly competitive entrance examination conducted in India. It is a computer-based test (CBT) that assesses a candidate’s aptitude in various areas such as quantitative ability, verbal ability, data interpretation, and logical reasoning.
The CAT exam is primarily used for admission into postgraduate management programs, particularly Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs, offered by prestigious business schools in India, including the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other leading management institutions.
CAT 2024 EXAM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA OVERVIEW
Applicant should have secured minimum 50% marks graduation. Student from final year can also attempt CAT exam. CAT exam can be attempted number of times and there is no age limit to apply for the same.
| QUALIFICATION | PERCENTAGE/CGPA |
| Bachelor’s Degree from any institute (Recognized by UGC) | 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD) |
| Engineering Degree- B.Tech/ B.E from any university (Recognized by AICTE/MHRD) | 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD) |
| Students pursuing final year of degree examination | 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD) |
- The Reserved seats for OBC: 27%
- The Reserved seats for SC Candidates: 15%
- The Reserved seats for ST candidates: 7.5%
- The Reserved seats for the person with disabilities: 5%
- Economically Weaker Section(EWS): Up to 10%
For more details & brief description, you can read below CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria.
Educational Qualification:-
Candidates should have completed a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university or educational institution. The degree should be awarded by a university that is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) or the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
For General & NC/OBC category there should be 50% minimum, for SC.ST & PwD category there should be 45% minimum percentage required.
Final Year Students:-
Candidates who are in the final year of their bachelor’s degree program are also eligible to apply for CAT. They need to provide proof of completing their degree requirements and obtaining the minimum required percentage or CGPA at the time of admission.
Age Limit:-
There is no specific age limit for appearing in the CAT exam. Candidates of any age can apply, provided they meet the educational qualification criteria.
Reservation and Relaxation:-
Certain categories such as Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Persons with Disability (PwD) are often provided relaxation in terms of educational qualification and percentage criteria, as per government regulations.
It’s important to note that eligibility criteria can vary from year to year and among different institutions. Therefore, candidates should carefully review the official CAT notification and the eligibility criteria specified by the specific business schools they are interested in before applying for the exam.
CAT EXAM ELIGIBILITY Vs IIM ELIGIBILITY
As mentioned above about CAT Exam eligibility criteria, now you can also see the below content for IIM selection criteria. There are some requirements that CAT aspirants have to fulfill as below.
IIM Eligibility:-
CAT Score:- Candidates need to appear for the CAT exam and obtain a competitive score that meets the cutoff set by the specific IIM they are applying to.
Minimum CAT Percentile:- Each IIM sets its own CAT percentile cutoff for shortlisting candidates. The cutoff can vary based on factors such as the number of applicants, program popularity, and seat availability.
Academic Performance:- IIMs may consider the candidate’s academic performance (percentage/CGPA) as one of the shortlisting criteria.
Work Experience:- Some IIMs may give weightage to work experience when shortlisting candidates.
Diversity Factors:- Some IIMs aim to have a diverse student body and may consider factors like gender, academic background, and more during the shortlisting process.
Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI):- Shortlisted candidates are typically invited for WAT and PI rounds, where their communication skills, subject knowledge, and overall suitability for the program are assessed.
Final Selection Criteria:- The final selection is based on the candidate’s performance in CAT, WAT, PI, academic record, work experience, and other factors. Each IIM may have its own unique criteria and weightages.
FAQs
Candidates need to have completed a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university or educational institution.
No, there is no specific age limit for appearing in the CAT exam. Candidates of any age can apply.
No, work experience is not a mandatory requirement for CAT eligibility. Both fresh graduates and candidates with work experience can apply.
Yes, foreign nationals, non-resident Indians (NRIs), and overseas citizens of India (OCIs) are also eligible to apply for the CAT exam.
