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The short answer
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer-based test for admission to postgraduate management programmes. It is conducted every year by one of the Indian Institutes of Management, taking turns, and the score is used by the IIMs and by many other business schools. A score alone does not give you a seat: institutes add their own stages, such as a written task, a group exercise or an interview, and weigh your academic record and work experience in their own way. You need a bachelor's degree to apply, and the official notice sets the exact marks and category rules.
Admission rules change; confirm with the official notice.
The basics
Conducted by
One of the IIMs, in rotation
The organising IIM changes; the official CAT site carries the notice.
Mode
Computer-based test
Taken at test centres.
Sections
Verbal and reading, data and logic, quantitative
Names and timings are set in the notice.
Who it is for
Graduates and final-year students
Check the exact degree and marks rule.
Held
Once a year
Registration opens months before the test.
How the score is used
The score opens the door to a selection process. It is not the whole decision.
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IIMs and other top institutesOwn process
Each institute shortlists by score and then runs its own stages. Weightage for your school marks, graduation, gender diversity and work experience differs from one institute to another.
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Other business schools that accept CATCheck list
Many institutes use the score and then their own interview. Some also accept other tests, so check which exams each one lists.
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Programmes beyond a regular MBAVaries
Some programmes in finance, analytics, agribusiness or executive management also use CAT. The programme page tells you which test it accepts.
How to plan for CAT
- Read the current notice for eligibility, the registration window, test pattern and fees before you start preparing.
- Check your own record against the eligibility rule early, including the minimum marks for your category and whether you can apply in your final year.
- Take a full mock test before you buy any course, so you know which section needs the most work.
- Build a routine across the three areas: reading and comprehension, data and logical reasoning, and quantitative ability. Revisit the basics from Class 9 to 10 mathematics for the quantitative part.
- List the institutes you would genuinely consider, and read each one's admission page for the stages after the test.
- Decide in advance how many attempts you are willing to make, and what you will do if the result does not match your plan.
Is CAT the right exam for you?
CAT suits students who have decided that a management degree from a business school is the next step and who are comfortable with reading, data and mathematics under time pressure. If you are still weighing study against work, start with whether to do an MBA or take a job and come back to the exam afterwards.
Some business schools accept other national or state-level tests, and some admit through their own process. Do not assume that CAT is the only door. A shortlist of institutes tells you which tests you actually need.
Choosing a programme after the score
Compare programmes on what they teach, how they place students, what they cost in total and how they are approved, instead of relying on rankings or advertisements. The same caution applies to claims about placement packages: see how to read college placement claims.
If you are comparing specialisations such as marketing, finance or operations, how to choose an MBA specialisation walks through the decision. Candidates from engineering backgrounds can also read MBA vs M.Tech vs a job after engineering.
Frequently asked questions
Official sources to check
Use these for current rules and dates. We do not set or control admission criteria.
