CAT 2022 Exam: Dates, Applications, Fees, Eligibility, Preparation, Books, Syllabus
Common Admission Test or CAT is a management aptitude test conducted annually for admission to MBA/PGP programmes offered by the Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) and over 1,200 B-Schools in India. Every year, about 2.30 lakh candidates appear for the CAT exam, which is conducted in the month of November. CAT 2022 exam will be conducted on November 27, 2022 and the online registration process for the same will begin in the first week of August 2022.
MBA aspirants planning to appear for CAT 2022 exam must start the preparations from now on as about a year is required for full-proof preparation. Read all about the CAT 2022 exam in this article, including dates, application process, fees, eligibility criteria, syllabus, pattern, preparation, etc.
CAT 2022 Highlights
Every year, one of the top IIMs is given the responsibility to conduct the CAT exam. IIM Ahmedabad has been given the responsibility to conduct CAT 2021. The CAT 2022 convening institute will be announced by May 2022. Read below key highlights of CAT exam 2022:
| CAT Features | Details |
| Exam name | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Conducting institute | To be announced |
| Exam level | National |
| CAT syllabus |
|
| CAT pattern | CBT with MCQs and non-MCQs |
| No. of test cities | 159 |
| Exam frequency | Once a year |
| Exam schedule | November 27, 2022 (tentative) |
| Exam fees | INR 2,200 (General category) and INR 1,100 (Reserved category) |
| Eligibility | Graduation with 50 % aggregate (45 % for SC/ST students) |
| Number of applications | 2.31 lakh (In 2021) |
| Exam purpose | Admission into IIMs, SPJIMR, FMS, MDI, IMT and over 1,200 B-Schools in India |
| Course offered | MBA/PGDM |
| Exam helpdesk no. | 1-800-210-1088 (Toll Free) |
| Exam website | https://iimcat.ac.in |
CAT Eligibility Criteria
CAT is an entrance exam for admission to a PG-level course, thus the minimum qualification required is graduation. Check the CAT 2022 eligibility criteria below:
- Candidates must have completed graduation with minimum 50 per cent in aggregate (45 per cent for SC/ST/PwD candidates)
- Final year bachelor’s degree candidates are also eligible to appear CAT exam
- Candidates will professional qualifications such as CA/CS/ICWA can also appear in CAT
CAT 2022: Important Dates
CAT 2022 dates will be announced by the last week of July. Given below is the table indicating tentative dates and events:
| CAT 2022 Events | CAT 2022 Dates |
| CAT 2022 notification release | Last week of July, 2022 |
| CAT 2022 registrations start | First week of August, 2022 |
| Registrations end | Third week of September, 2022 |
| Form correction | Fourth week of September, 2022 |
| Mock test release | First week of October, 2022 |
| Admit card release | Last week of October, 2022 |
| Official tutorial release | First week of November, 2022 |
| CAT 2022 exam | 28-Nov-2022 (tentative) |
| Answer key release | First week of December, 2022 |
| Answer key challenge process | First week of November, 2022 |
| Final answer key release | Last week of November, 2022 |
| CAT 2022 result declaration | First week of January, 2023 |
CAT Exam Pattern 2022
CAT exam is a Computer Based Test (CBT) conducted at multiple test centres across the country. Check below CAT exam pattern highlights:
| CAT Exam Pattern 2022 | |
| Mode of CAT exam | Computer Based Test |
| Duration of exam | 120 minutes
40 minutes per section |
| CAT exam slots | Morning: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Afternoon: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM Evening: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
| Number of questions | 76 |
| Total marks | 228 |
| Language of question paper | English |
| Number of answer choices | 4 |
| Question Type | MCQ and non-MCQ |
| Marking Scheme | +3 for every right attempt
-1 for every wrong attempt 0 for wrong attempt in non-MCQ |
CAT Sections and Weightage
Check the table below for sectional distribution of questions and marks:
| CAT Sections | Number of Questions | Marks Allotted |
| VARC | 26 | 78 |
| DILR | 24 | 72 |
| QA | 26 | 78 |
CAT Preparation Tips
CAT 2022 preparation should start as early as January. Since the CAT exam syllabus is vast and the competition is high, one needs to devote ample time to score 95-99 percentile, to get IIMs or the top MBA colleges in India. Candidates planning to appear for CAT 2022, must divide their preparation into phases. In the first phase, they should complete the CAT syllabus with the help of CAT books. In the second phase, they should practice 25-30 CAT mock tests of different varieties. In the last phase, they should immerse themselves in revision. Given below are some articles on CAT preparation that candidates can read:
CAT 2022 Application Process
CAT 2022 registration cum application process will begin in the first week of August and conclude by the third week of September. The CAT registration cum application process is online and the candidates have to submit the forms at iimcat.ac.in website. Given below are the steps to register of CAT exam and fill the application form:
- Go to iimcat.ac.in website
- Click on ‘New User’
- Enter name, date of birth, nationality, email ID and mobile phone number
- Enter captcha code and click on ’submit’
- An OTP will be received on the email ID and mobile phone number
- Use the OTP to validate registration
- Next, fill personal details in the CAT application form
- Upload passport size photo and signature
- Fill academic details – class 10, 12 marks and UP, PG or professional degrees
- Select IIM Course, campuses and test city preference
- Make fee payment via debit/credit card, net banking or e-wallet