Last Verified: 2026-03-01 from official conducting body notifications.
Official Overview & Examination Scope
Purpose, Scope & Academic Impact
The gold standard for management education in India. CAT evaluates verbal ability, reading comprehension, data interpretation, logical reasoning, and quantitative aptitude. Scores are accepted by all 21 IIMs, FMS Delhi (famous for exceptional ROI), SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, and IIT management schools.
Eligibility Criteria & Academic Qualifications
Exam Pattern & Test Structure
Total: 198 Marks (66 Questions)| Section / Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section I: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 Questions (16 RC + 8 VA) | 72 Marks | 40 Minutes |
| Section II: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 Questions (4 sets of 5 Qs) | 60 Marks | 40 Minutes |
| Section III: Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 Questions | 66 Marks | 40 Minutes |
+3 marks for correct response, -1 mark for incorrect response on MCQs. Non-MCQ TITA (Type In The Answer) questions have zero negative marking. Total 198 Marks.
Negative Marking Rule: -1 mark on MCQs only. Zero penalty on TITA questions.
Recommended Preparation Roadmap & Strategy
Cutoff Trends & Score Benchmark
IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta require 99.5+ percentile (~85-95 marks out of 198) plus exceptional academic profile; FMS Delhi requires 99.7+ percentile.
Participating Institutes / Career Pathways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TITA in CAT?
TITA stands for "Type In The Answer" (non-MCQ questions) where candidates type numeric answers using an on-screen keyboard. TITA questions carry no negative marking.
How long is a CAT score valid?
A CAT score is valid for 1 year for admissions to the academic session commencing in the following year.
Related Examinations & Pathways
Explore other national, state-level, or professional examinations in this discipline.
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)
GATE is the premier national benchmark examination testing deep technical competence across 30 engineering and science disciplines. GATE score is the universal qualification for M.Tech admissions in IITs, IISc, and NITs (via COAP and CCMT), and the premier recruitment criterion for Indian public sector giants like ONGC, IOCL, NTPC, BHEL, and PowerGrid.
IIITH PGEE (IIIT Hyderabad Postgraduate Entrance Exam)
IIITH PGEE is the independent entrance examination conducted by IIIT Hyderabad, recognized as India's foremost institution for Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence research. Unlike most institutes that rely solely on GATE, IIITH conducts PGEE to evaluate programming logic, discrete mathematics, and problem-solving.
BITS HD (BITS Pilani Higher Degree Admission Test)
BITS HD is conducted by BITS Pilani for admissions into higher degree postgraduate programs (M.E. in Microelectronics, Software Systems, Mechanical, Biotechnology, and M.Pharm). Admissions consider both GATE qualified candidates and BITS HD test qualifiers in dedicated admission streams.