All You Need to Know About the CAT Admit Card: Availability Dates, Download Procedure, and Essential Exam-Day Instructions.

The CAT notification is expected to be published on the official website in July 2023. It will include information on the CAT Exam Date, the reservation policy, the CAT 2023 registration dates, the eligibility criteria, and so on. CAT is expected to be held on Sunday, November 26th, 2023, based on past trends.

Introduction:

The CAT Admit Card, a vital document for aspirants appearing in the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2023, is much more than just an entry pass to the examination hall. It is a symbolic representation of the hard work, dedication, and aspirations of thousands of MBA hopefuls. Released by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), the CAT Admit Card contains critical information about the candidate and the exam, making it an indispensable asset for a successful test experience. In this article, we unravel the significance of the CAT Admit Card, how to download it, and the imperative instructions that candidates must adhere to on the day of the examination.

CAT ADMIT CARD:

The CAT (Common Admission Test) admit card is usually released in the month of October, approximately two to three weeks before the exam date. 

• For CAT 2023, the admit card is expected to be released in the fourth week of October 2023.
• Candidates who have successfully registered for the exam and have paid the application fee can download their admit card from the official CAT website iimcat.ac.in. 
• The admit card will contain important details such as the candidate’s name, roll number, exam date, time, and venue.
• To download the CAT admit card, candidates need to log in to the CAT website using their login ID and password. 
• Once logged in, they will be able to download and take a printout of their admit card. 
• It is advisable to verify all the details mentioned on the admit card and keep it safe till the completion of the admission process.
• Candidates should carry a printed copy of the admit card to the exam center along with a valid photo ID proof such as Aadhar Card, Passport, Driving License, etc.
• Without the admit card, candidates will not be allowed to take the CAT exam.

CAT APPLICATION

To apply for CAT (Common Admission Test) 2023, follow these steps:

1. Visit the official website of CAT, iimcat.ac.in, and click on the “Register” button.
2. Fill in your basic information such as name, date of birth, email address, mobile number, and create a login ID and password.
3. Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email with your login details.
4. Login to the CAT application portal using your login ID and password.
5. Fill in your personal and academic details, such as your address, education qualification, work experience (if any), etc.
6. Select the IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) and other participating institutes where you wish to apply.
7. Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and other required documents such as category certificate (if applicable).
8. Pay the application fee through online mode using a credit card, debit card, or net banking.
9. Once you have completed the application process, submit the form and take a printout of the confirmation page for future reference.

The application fee for CAT 2023 is expected to be around Rs. 2200 for general category candidates and Rs. 1100 for SC/ST/PWD candidates. The exact fee amount will be announced by the conducting authority at the time of registration.

Essential Exam-Day Instructions

The CAT Admit Card not only serves as an entry pass but also comes with crucial instructions that candidates must adhere to on the day of the examination. Some of the essential exam-day instructions include:

• Reporting Time: Candidates must reach the exam centre well before the reporting time mentioned on the admit card to complete the necessary verification procedures.
• Valid Photo ID: Along with the admit card, candidates must carry a valid photo ID proof (e.g., Aadhar card, passport, driving license) for verification purposes.
• Admit Card Preservation: The admit card must be kept safe until the completion of the admission process, as it may be required during counseling or interview rounds.
• Prohibited Items: Candidates are strictly prohibited from carrying electronic gadgets, calculators, study materials, or any other unauthorized items into the examination hall.

CAT ELIGIBILITY

To avoid any last-minute chaos, the applicants must read over the CAT eligibility criteria. The following is a list of the CAT eligibility criteria for CAT 2023, broken down by category:

QUALIFICATION

• Applicants for the CAT exam must hold a bachelor’s degree from an institution that is recognised, regardless of the discipline in which they studied.
• Students in their senior year who will graduate in 2023 are also eligible for the CAT.
• The minimum percentage requirements for CAT eligibility were eliminated (45% and 50% for general and reserved categories, respectively).

AGE LIMIT

The CAT Test has no upper age limit.

NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS

The number of times one can take the CAT exam is unlimited. You are free to make as many appearances as you like.

RESERVATION

Category	Reserved Seats
Schedule Cast (SC)	15%
Schedule Tribe (ST)	7.5%
Other Backward Classes (NC-OBC)	27%
PWD(Persons with Disability)	3%

CAT RESULT

The CAT (Common Admission Test) results are usually declared in the month of January, tentatively in the second week of the month. 

• For CAT 2023, the results are expected to be declared in the second week of January 2024.
• Candidates will be able to check their results by logging in to the official CAT website iimcat.ac.in using their login ID and password. 
• The CAT scorecard will contain the candidate’s overall percentile score and section-wise percentile scores.
• After the declaration of results, the participating institutes will release their respective cutoffs, and candidates who meet the cutoff criteria will be called for further selection rounds such as group discussion, personal interview, and written ability test.
• It is important to note that the CAT percentile scores are valid for one year only, and candidates who wish to apply for admission to MBA or other management programs in the current academic year must take the CAT exam again if they have not secured the desired percentile score in the previous attempt.

CAT Syllabus 

The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) part of the CAT assesses the test taker’s English language proficiency and reading comprehension. It has both MCQs and other types of questions. In this section, you’ll be tested on your knowledge of the English language as well as your reading comprehension, vocabulary, and speed. Aspirants who want to do well on the VARC should work on their reading comprehension, vocabulary, and question-type practise. The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) component of the exam measures a candidate’s analytical thinking skills and propensity to draw reasonable conclusions from given data.

Some of the questions are multiple choice, while others are not. Data interpretation, data sufficiency, logical reasoning, and analytical reasoning questions await hopefuls in this section. Successful candidates for DILR have honed their analytical skills by working on a wide variety of logical puzzles and have become adept at managing their time efficiently. Mathematical and problem-solving skills are tested and judged in the QA part. It has both multiple-choice and essay questions. In this part, you’ll find questions on a wide range of mathematical topics, from basic arithmetic to algebra and geometry to the number system and contemporary mathematics. A strong conceptual understanding of mathematical principles, extensive problem-solving practise, and careful attention to time management during calculations are all necessary for success in QA.

Exam Grading and Difficulty

Aspirants must be familiar with the CAT exam’s scoring system. In multiple-choice questions, a correct response is worth three points, while an erroneous one is worth minus one point. There are no negative points assigned to non-MCQ items. The CAT test can be anywhere from somewhat demanding to extremely challenging. Aspirants need to practise answering several types of questions and come up with solid test-taking tactics in order to succeed.