The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2024, a gateway to admissions in over 1,200 premier management programs across India, successfully concluded on November 24. Organized by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, the exam witnessed the participation of approximately 2.93 lakh candidates from across the nation. Known for opening doors to esteemed institutions like the 21 IIMs, CAT remains a key milestone for MBA aspirants.
This year’s exam also followed a two-hour format divided into three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Each section was allocated a strict 40-minute time limit, and candidates were restricted from revisiting sections once their time expired. The test comprised a mix of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and Type-In-The-Answer (TITA) questions, with a marking scheme of +3 for correct answers, -1 for incorrect MCQs, and no negative marking for TITA questions.
Changes in Exam Pattern
CAT 2024 saw slight adjustments in the DILR section, with the number of questions increasing compared to previous years. The exam had a total of 68 questions distributed as follows:
- VARC: 24 questions
- DILR: 22 questions (up by two questions from last year)
- QA: 22 questions
Section-Wise Analysis
VARC
The VARC section featured 24 questions, maintaining a structure consistent with recent CAT exams. It included topics like Reading Comprehension, Para Odd One Out, Para Summary, and Sentence Placement. The Reading Comprehension (RC) section had five passages, two of which were moderately challenging. The remaining passages were relatively straightforward.
DILR
The DILR section was rated as easy to moderate in difficulty. It consisted of five sets: two sets with five questions each and three sets with four questions each. Test-takers reported that one set was particularly manageable, while the others required strategic problem-solving.
QA
The QA section was moderately challenging and predominantly focused on arithmetic. Other topics included speed, distance, and time; ratio; profit and loss; probability; algebra; series questions; and geometry. The section featured 22 questions, including around 10 TITA questions, which provided a balance of familiar and novel problem types.
Cut offs
Experts noted that CAT 2024 was comparatively easier than the past two years, which could lead to higher admissions cutoffs. The cutoff scores vary across IIMs, with premier institutes like IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Lucknow, Calcutta, Indore, and Kozhikode generally requiring percentiles in the 90–99 range. Newer IIMs often have lower thresholds.
Candidates must clear both sectional and overall cutoffs to be eligible for further rounds, which include Writing Ability Tests (WAT), Group Discussions (GD), and Personal Interviews (PI). Additionally, the final selection is based on CAT scores, academic records, work experience, and diversity factors.
There are two types of cutoffs associated with CAT:
- Qualifying Cutoff (Eligibility Cutoff): This is the minimum score required to be eligible for a WAT/GD-PI call. It is determined before the results are announced.
- Final Cutoff (IIM Call Cutoff): This score threshold shortlists candidates for the WAT/GD-PI rounds and is determined after the results are declared..
While meeting the qualifying cutoff secures eligibility for interview rounds, it does not guarantee selection. Similarly, clearing the final cutoff indicates shortlisting but not admission.
What’s Next?
The authorities will likely announce CAT 2024 results in early January. Aspirants eagerly await the announcement to gauge their performance and plan their next steps (WAT, GD-PI) in the admission process to India’s leading management programs.
