{"id":17683,"date":"2025-09-26T11:29:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T11:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/blog\/?p=17683"},"modified":"2025-10-07T05:50:06","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T05:50:06","slug":"all-about-cat-entrance-exam-syllabus-fees-eligibility-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/blog\/all-about-cat-entrance-exam-syllabus-fees-eligibility-more\/","title":{"rendered":"All About CAT Entrance Exam: Syllabus, Fees, Eligibility & More"},"content":{"rendered":"

The <\/span>Common Admission Test (CAT)<\/b> is one of India\u2019s most prestigious entrance exams for admission into top MBA institutes like the <\/span>IIMs<\/b> and over 1,200 B-schools. If you’re an MBA aspirant aiming for a top percentile, understanding the CAT exam structure, eligibility, and preparation strategy is essential. Here\u2019s your <\/span>complete guide to the CAT Entrance Exam<\/b> including updated syllabus, fees, pattern, eligibility, and preparation tips.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CAT Exam Overview<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Feature<\/b><\/td>\nDetails<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Exam Name<\/span><\/td>\nCommon Admission Test (CAT)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Conducting Body<\/span><\/td>\nIndian Institute of Management (IIM)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mode of Examination<\/span><\/td>\nComputer-Based Test (CBT)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Frequency<\/span><\/td>\nOnce a Year<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Exam Duration<\/span><\/td>\n120 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tentative Exam Date<\/span><\/td>\nLast Sunday of November (every year)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

CAT Exam Syllabus<\/b><\/h2>\n

The CAT exam evaluates candidates on <\/span>three major sections<\/b>. While IIMs do not release an official syllabus, questions typically fall under the following topics:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)<\/b><\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Reading Comprehension Passages<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Para Jumbles<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Para Summary<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Sentence Correction<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Odd Sentence Out<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)<\/b><\/h3>\n
      \n
    • Bar Graphs, Line Charts, Pie Charts<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Caselets and Tables<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Logical Puzzles<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Seating Arrangement<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Blood Relations, Directions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      3. Quantitative Aptitude (QA)<\/b><\/h3>\n
        \n
      • Arithmetic (TSD, Percentages, Ratios)<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Algebra (Equations, Functions, Inequalities)<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Number System<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Geometry & Mensuration<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Modern Maths (Probability, P&C, Set Theory)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Preparation Tip<\/b>: Develop reading habits, strengthen basic arithmetic, and practice reasoning with time limits.<\/span><\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        CAT Exam Fees<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n
        Category<\/b><\/td>\nApplication Fee<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        General \/ NC-OBC<\/span><\/td>\n\u20b92,400<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        SC\/ST\/PwD<\/span><\/td>\n\u20b91,200<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

        CAT Eligibility Criteria<\/b><\/h2>\n

        To apply for the CAT entrance exam, candidates must meet the following eligibility conditions:<\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        • A <\/span>Bachelor\u2019s degree<\/b> with at least <\/span>50% marks<\/b> (45% for SC\/ST\/PwD)<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Final-year<\/b> undergraduate students can also apply<\/span><\/li>\n
        • No age limit<\/b> for appearing<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Unlimited attempts<\/b> allowed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          CAT Exam Pattern<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
          Section<\/b><\/td>\nNo. of Questions<\/b><\/td>\nTime Allotted<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          VARC<\/span><\/td>\n24<\/span><\/td>\n40 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          DILR<\/span><\/td>\n20<\/span><\/td>\n40 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          QA<\/span><\/td>\n22<\/span><\/td>\n40 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Total<\/span><\/td>\n66 Questions<\/span><\/td>\n120 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

          Marking Scheme<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n

            \n
          • +3<\/b> for every correct answer<\/span><\/li>\n
          • -1<\/b> for wrong answers (MCQs only)<\/span><\/li>\n
          • No negative marking<\/b> for TITA (Type In The Answer) questions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Best Books for CAT Preparation<\/b><\/h2>\n

             <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
            Section<\/b><\/td>\nRecommended Books<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
            VARC<\/span><\/td>\nWord Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
            <\/td>\nHow to Prepare for VARC for CAT by Arun Sharma<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
            DILR<\/span><\/td>\nLogical Reasoning and DI for CAT by Nishit K. Sinha<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
            QA<\/span><\/td>\nQuantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

            Final Thoughts<\/b><\/h2>\n

            CAT is not just a test of knowledge but of <\/span>speed, accuracy, and strategy<\/b>. Start early, take regular mock tests, and focus on time management. Scoring well in CAT opens the door to <\/span>top MBA colleges in India<\/b>, including <\/span>IIMs, FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon<\/b>, and others.<\/span><\/p>\n

            For more details on <\/span>CAT percentile vs MBA college<\/b>, <\/span>CAT cutoff for IIMs<\/b>, and <\/span>CAT accepting colleges 2025<\/b>, regularly visit the official CAT portal or trusted sources like <\/span>Career Mantra<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

            Keywords<\/b>:<\/span>
            \n<\/span> MBA schools by CAT percentile, CAT percentile vs MBA college, CAT cutoff for IIMs, MBA admission by CAT score, CAT accepting colleges 2025, MBA colleges for 70 percentile in CAT, Top B-schools by CAT score<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of India\u2019s most prestigious entrance exams for admission into top MBA institutes like the IIMs and over 1,200 B-schools. If you’re an MBA aspirant aiming for a top percentile, understanding the CAT exam structure, eligibility, and preparation strategy is essential. Here\u2019s your complete guide to the CAT Entrance […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18497,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[635,639,637,636,638],"class_list":["post-17683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-mba-colleges","tag-all-about-cat-entrance-exam","tag-cat-entrance-exam-cutoff-admission","tag-cat-entrance-exam-eligibility-criteria","tag-cat-exam-syllabus-and-pattern","tag-mba-admission-through-cat-exam"],"yoast_head":"\nAll About CAT Entrance Exam: Syllabus, Fees, Eligibility & More - Career Mantra<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of India\u2019s most prestigious entrance exams for admission into top MBA institutes.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/careermantra.net\/blog\/all-about-cat-entrance-exam-syllabus-fees-eligibility-more\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"All About CAT Entrance Exam: Syllabus, Fees, Eligibility & More - 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