Common Admission Test popularly known by its abbreviated name of CAT is an entrance examination held for admissions primarily into IIMs and also provides admission to other top notch B-Schools in India like FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai, IMI New Delhi, IMT Ghaziabad and hundreds of other top MBA colleges in India. IIMs will be only accepting the scores of CAT 2021 for admissions in 2022 as per their convention.
CAT is the most important entrance test not only because it opens the gateway for 2 years full time post graduate management program (MBA/PGDM), CAT is also the key for one year MBA programmes in IIMs and other prominent management institutes. It is also needed and acts as a score card when trying for Fellowship Programs in Management (FPM) in IIMs.
Since 2012, Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have also started accepting CAT scores for their Management programs.
Number of Questions in CAT 2021 | 100 questions divided in 3 sections(In 2020, the pattern was changed and there were 76 questions in all divided into three sections.) |
Time duration of CAT 2021 | 3 hours(In 2020, the pattern was changed and the total time alloted was reduced to 2 hours.) |
Sectional Time limit | 1 hour for 1 section(In 2020, the pattern was changed and there were three sections with 40 minutes time limit per section. |
Name of sections and number of questions | VARC-34 Questions; DILR-32 questions; Quant-34 questions(In 2020, the pattern was changed and there were 76 questions in all with sections distributed as VARC- 26 Questions, LRDI – 24 Questions and Quants- 26 Questions.) |
Expected CAT 2021 Difficulty level | Moderate to Difficult |
Order of Sections | Pre-fixed, no change allowed |
Paper Source | Every year one of the six old IIMs takes the charge to conduct the CAT. In 2019 it was conducted by IIM Kozhikode while the latest 2020 version came from IIM Indore. This year CAT is expected to be conducted by IIM Ahmedabad which conducted CAT in 2015 when the mode of examination was shifted from offline to Computer Based Test for the first time. |
Mode of examination | CBT (Computer Based Test) |
CAT has limitised its testing canvas in Verbal Ability and has completely eliminated questions based on vocabulary explicitly like fill in the blanks, sentence correction, synonyms, antonyms,etc. It now tests Reading Comprehension (RC Skills) and in Verbal Ability restricts its testing pointers to Para Jumbles, Odd one out and Summary Questions.
A rigorous list of topics from where questions are asked is as follows-
Inferences, Statements, Arguments | 10-12 Questions |
Main idea in the RC Passage | 2-3 Questions |
Author’s assumption | 2-3 Questions |
Meaning of the phrase | 3-4 Questions |
Para Summary | 3-4 Questions |
Jumbled paragraphs | 3-4 Questions |
Pick Out of Context Sentence | 2-3 Questions |
Sequence of sentences | 1-2 Questions |
Critical Reasoning | 2-3 Questions |
Data Interpretation skills do not have a difference on the basis of form of data but the data differs from other examinations in its ability to discomfort a student who attempts to comprehend the data given in the graph or table. It requires analysis, focus and observation to get through the craftly placed elements in a DI caselet. Logical Reasoning in CAT differs from other examinations on the basis that it does not ask individual logical reasoning question (like blood relations, series, coding-decoding, etc) and the questions always appear in caselets for example linear arrangement caselet, tabular caselet, circular arrangement, grouping and llikewise other forms of caselets, not limiting to the aforementioned types.
A rigorous list of topics from where caselets are formed is as follows
The syllabus of Quantitative Aptitude can be primarily said to be based on High School level Mathematics. But a few chapters like Permutations and Combinations (and according to some boards the chapters on Progressions, Logarithms,etc.) might be additional. However, whatever chapters are included this section can never be assumed as a pure mathematical section because of the touch of logic given to the questions. Many questions in the past CAT year papers can be seen testing awareness and wiry nature of a candidate more than their command over formulas and theoroms.
A rigorous list of topics from where questions are asked is as follows-
Averages; Ratio & Proportion | 1-2 Questions |
Speed, Time and Distance; Time and Work | 1-2 Questions |
Percentages, Profit and Loss | 1-2 Questions |
Number System | 2-3 Questions |
Algebra | 2-3 Questions |
Geometry/Mensuration | 4-5 Questions |
Linear Equations; Quadratic Equations Complex Numbers | 1-2 Questions |
Logarithm; Progressions | 1-2 Questions |
Binomial Theorem | 1-2 Questions |
Surds and Indices; Inequalities | 1-2 Questions |
Permutation and Combination | 1-2 Questions |
Probability Functions | 1-2 Questions |
Set Theory; Mixtures and Alligations | 1-2 Questions |
Co-ordinate Geometry | 1-2 Questions |
Trigonometry | 1-2 Questions |
CMAT Exam Pattern 2021 | CMAT 2021 Paper Details |
---|---|
CMAT 2021 Exam Date | May 8, 2021 |
CMAT 2021 Test Conducting Authority | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
Total Questions in CMAT 2021 Exam | 125 with option to attempt newly added 25 questions |
CMAT 2021 Exam Duration | 3½ Hours |
CMAT 2021 Test slots | 2 (Morning 9AM to 12.30PM, Evening 3PM to 6.30PM) |
Type of Questions | MCQs-Objective Type Multiple Choice Questions |
Mode of CMAT 2021 Exam | Online Computer Based Test |
CMAT Scoring Pattern | +4 Marks for each correct answer |
Total Maximum Marks in CMAT | 500 |
Negative Marking | -1 Mark for Each Wrong Answer |
Section in XAT 2021 Exam Pattern | Number of questions |
---|---|
Part-1 | 75 Total MCQs |
Verbal and Logical Ability | 26 |
Decision Making | 21 |
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation | 28 |
Part-2 | 25 Total MCQs |
General Knowledge | 25 |
Total questions (Part 1 + Part 2) | 100 |
Mode of Exam | Computer Based Test |
---|---|
Total Questions in XAT Exam | 100 (based on 2021) |
Sectional Division of Exam | Part I - Verbal and Logical Ability Decision Making Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation Part II - General Knowledge |
Test Duration | 3 Hours (165 minutes for Paper –I and 15 minutes for Paper- II) |
Exam Difficulty Level | Moderate to Difficult |
Maximum Marks | 100 (based on 2021) |
Scoring Pattern | +1 for every correct answer. |
Negative Marking | 1/4 of the Marks allotted for correct answer Also, Each un-attempted question beyond 8 questions will carry a negative marking penalty of 0.10 mark per unattempted question in revised XAT exam pattern. |
Mode of Exam | Computer Based Test |
Total Questions in IIFT Exam | 110 (based on Last Year number) |
Sectional Division of Exam | 4 Sections with different number of Questions in Each Section |
Test Duration | 2 Hours (3 PM to 5 PM) |
IIFT Exam Details: Test sections | 4 Sections as under: Quantitative Analysis Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning General Awareness |
Exam Difficulty Level | Moderate to Difficult |
Maximum Marks | 300 |
Scoring Pattern | Varying Scoring pattern of 1.5 Mark to 3 Marks for each correct answer |
Negative Marking | 1/3 of the Marks allotted for correct answer |
Importance of Sectional Score | Candidates to qualify in each section and achieve the minimum cut offs |
SNAP 2020 | SNAP 2019 | |
Duration | 60 minutes | 120 minutes |
Total no. of questions | 60 | 110 |
General English: Reading Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Verbal Ability | 15 | 34 |
Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency | 20 | 35 |
Analytical & Logical Reasoning | 25 | 36 |
Analytical & Logical Reasoning | Nil | 5 |
Scoring Pattern: +1 mark for each correct answer and ¼ negative marking for each incorrect answer. |
Element | NMAT Exam Pattern 2020 |
Total questions | 108 |
Overall time limit to attempt the exam | 2 hours |
Type of questions | All MCQs |
Answer options for MCQs | 5 |
Marks awarded for each correct answer | 1 |
Negative marking | No negative marking |
Exam difficulty level | Moderate |
Number of sections | 3 |
Name of section-1 with number of questions | Language Skills-36 |
Name of Section-2 with number of questions | Logical Reasoning-36 |
Name of Section-3 with number of questions | Quantitative Skills-36 |
Facility to choose order of sections | Yes, but once chosen has to follow |
Individual Sectional time limit | Yes, varying time limit of 28 minutes to 52 minutes |
Top MBA colleges accepting exam score | NMIMS, VIT, XIMB |
Exam difficulty level | Moderate |
Section Name | Number of questions | Allotted time in minutes |
---|---|---|
Language Skills | 36 | 28 |
Quantitative Skills | 36 | 52 |
Logical Reasoning | 36 | 40 |
Total | 120 | 120 |
Component | Weightage for TISS Admission 2021 | Last Year Weightage |
TISSNET 2021 Exam | 30% | 100% upto the shortisting stage. No Weightage in final selection process |
TISSMAT | 40% | 30% |
Pre Interview Test | Replaced by TISSMAT in 2021 | 40% |
Personal Interview | 30% | 30% |
TISS-NET PATTERN | |
TISS NET 2021 pattern | Highlights |
TISSNET Full Form | Tata Institute of Social Sciences National Entrance Test (TISSNET) |
TISS 2021 Paper pattern | Online Computer Based Test |
No of Questions | 100 |
Maximum Score | 100 Marks |
Type of questions | MCQS |
Time limit | 100 Minutes |
Maximum marks per question | 1 |
Negative Marking | No negative Marking |
No of Areas | 3 Sections; sub-divided into 6 effective areas |
No of Choices per question | 4 |
TISS NET 2021 Sectional Composition | ||
Section Name | Number of questions | Key Sectional Components |
English Proficiency | 30 | Vocabulary, Fill in the blanks, synonyms, antonyms, Grammar based Error Correction, odd one out, Jumbled paragraphs, Short and long RC Passages |
Mathematics & Logical Reasoning | 30 | Arithmetic, Number System, P&C, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Mensuration, Direction, Clocks & Calendars, Series, Arrangements, DI sets, graphs, charts, table |
General Awareness | 40 | Conventional & Static GK, Current Affairs, social and cultural issues, national policies/ campaigns, international events, literature/art/culture, sports, books/authors/ awards, constitution, science, politics, economics, history |
Total Questions | 100 | GK commands highest weightage in TISSNET exam |
TISS-MAT PATTERN- | |
TISSMAT 2021 | Conducted after TISSNET exam result is declared and candidates are shortlisted for PI round |
Maximum Marks in TISSMAT Exam 2021 | 50 |
Total Questions in TISSMAT 2021 | 50 |
TISS MAT 2021 Time duration | 45 Minutes |
Number of Sections in TISSMAT 2021 Exam | 4 (Comprehension, Management Data Interpretation, Business Awareness, Descriptive Writing) |
Type of Questions in TISSMAT 2021 | MCQs + Descriptive Writing |
Answer Options in TISSMAT entrance exam 2021 | 4 for MCQs |
Negative Marking in TISSMAT 2021 entrance exam | 0.25 Mark for each Wrong Answer |
TISS MAT Weightage for MA HRM final selection | 40% (Increased from earlier 30%) |
TISS MAT 2021: Sectional Composition, Scoring Pattern, Type of Questions | |||
Section Name | Number of questions | Total Marks | Topics Covered in the Section |
Comprehension | 10 | 10 | Reading a write-up on a management related subject and answering questions related to the passage |
Management Data Interpretation | 15 | 15 | Interpreting graphs, charts, and data across multiple sources. Performing basic operations with data collected from multiple sources |
Business Awareness | 10 | 10 | Knowledge of contemporary events, news, related to the economy, business, human resource management, and labour studies |
Descriptive Writing | 01 | 15 | Topics will be drawn on current social/economic/political/business/organization related issues. Candidates will be evaluated based on their thought process, multifaceted viewpoints and conviction on the topic. |
Total Questions | 36 | 50 | Maximum Time: 45 Minutes; Maximum Marks:50 |
Top MBA Colleges in India | Location | Flagship Program | Approx Tuition Fees in lacs | Average/Mean/Median Salary | Accepted Exam | Percentile Cut-Off |
IIM Calcutta | Kolkata | MBA-PGP | 27 | 27.5 | CAT | 99.8 |
IIM Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad | PGP | 23 | 26 | CAT | 99.9 |
IIM Bangalore | Bangalore | PGP | 23 | 24.54 | CAT | 99.8 |
Indian School of Business (ISB) | Hyderabad | PGP | 24.5 | 24.5 | GMAT/GRE | 700 Marks in GMAT |
XLRI Xavier School of Management | Jamshedpur | PGDM (BM) | 20 | 24.3 | XAT | 96 |
IIM Lucknow | Lucknow | PGP | 15 | 24.25 | CAT | 99.5 |
IISc | Bangalore | MMS | 2.5 | 24.1 | CAT | 99 |
FMS Delhi | New Delhi | MBA (Full-time) | 2 | 23.2 | CAT | 99.5 |
Xavier School of Rural Management | Bhubaneswar | MBA-BM | 17.5 | 23 | XAT/GMAT/CAT/x-GMAT | 90 |
SPJIMR Mumbai | Mumbai | PGDM | 17.5 | 22 | GMAT/CAT/XAT | 98 |
NITIE Mumbai | Mumbai | PGDIE | 7.5 | 20.8 | CAT | 98.5 |
IIT Bombay – Shailesh J Mehta School of Management Mumbai | Mumbai | MBA | 8.3 | 20.8 | CAT | 98 ( Sectional Cut off also) |
IIM Indore | Indore | PGP | 16.5 | 20.79 | CAT | 99 |
IIM Kozhikode | Kozhikode | PGP | 19 | 20.67 | CAT | 99.5 |
SIBM Pune | Pune | MBA | 19 | 20.14 | SNAP | 98 |
TISS | Mumbai | MA - HR and labour Relations and many more | 2.5 | 20.05 | TISS - NET | 75 marks |
MDI Gurgoan – Management development Institute | Gurugram | PGPM | 18 | 19.1 | CAT | 99 |
DMS IIT Delhi | New Delhi | MBA | 9.5 | 18.47 | CAT | 97 |
IIFT | New Delhi/ Kolkata | MBA (International Business) | 17.5 | 18 | IIFT | 95 |
NMIMS School of Business Management | Mumbai | MBA | 20 | 17.79 | NMAT/GRE/GMAT | 210 |
JBIMS – Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management studies | Mumbai | MMS | 3 | 17.4 | CAT/CMAT, MH-CET | 99.9 |
IIM Shillong | Shilong | PGP | 15 | 16.5 | CAT | 98 |
IIT Kharagpur | Kharagpur | MBA | 9 | 16.11 | CAT | 97 |
SCMHRD | Pune | MBA | 18.5 | 15.64 | SNAP | 97 |
IIM Ranchi | Ranchi | PGDM | 15 | 15.02 | CAT | 95 |
IIM Raipur | Raipur | PGP | 13 | 14.5 | CAT | 95 |
IIM Kashipur | Kashipur | PGP | 11 | 13.82 | CAT | 95 |
IMT Ghaziabad | Ghaziabad | PGDM | 18.5 | 13.6 | CAT/GMAT/XAT | 90 |
IIM Udaipur | Udaipur | MBA | 9.5 | 13.5 | CAT | 95 |
IIM Udaipur | Udaipur | MBA | 14 | 13.2 | CAT | 95 |
IMI Delhi – International Management Institute | New Delhi | PGDM | 13 | 13.07 | CAT | 90 |
DFS, Delhi University | Delhi | MBA Finance | 0.3 | 13 | CAT | 96 |
Great Lakes Institute of Management | Chennai | PGDM (One-year) | 11 | 13 | CAT/GMAT/XAT/CMAT | 90 |
IIM Trichy | Trichy | PGP | 16.5 | 13 | CAT | 95 |
MICA | Ahmedabad | PGDM - C | 20 | 13 | CAT/XAT + MICAT | 85 |
DoMS IIT Madras | Chennai | MBA | 8 | 12.5 | CAT/GMAT | 90 |
IIM Nagpur | Nagpur | PGP | 11.5 | 12.5 | CAT | 92 |
IIM Vishakhapatnam | Vishakhapatnam | PGP | 12 | 12.5 | CAT | 95 |
IIT Kanpur | Kanpur | MBA | 3 | 12 | CAT | 93 |
GIM – Goa Institute of Management | Goa | PGDM | 11 | 12 | CAT/XAT/GMAT/CMAT | 90 |
IIM Rohtak | Rohtak | PGP | 14 | 11.8 | CAT | 90 |
IIM Jammu | Jammu | MBA | 13 | 11.2 | CAT | 95 |
TAPMI Manipal – T A Pai Management Institute | Manipal | PGDM | 15 | 11.06 | CAT/XAT/GMAT | 85 |
SIIB Pune – Symbiosis Institute of International Business | Pune | SIIB | 10 | 11 | SNAP | 94 |
IIM Bodhgaya | Bodhgaya | PGP | 11 | 11 | CAT | 95 |
IRMA – Institute of Rural Management Anand | Anand | PGDRM | 11 | 11 | CAT/XAT | 85 |
Delhi school of Economics | New Delhi | MBA | 0.35 | 10.68 | CAT | 95 |
NMIMS School of Buiness Management | Bangalore | PGDM | 20 | 10.5 | NMAT/GMAT/GRE | 200 |
IIT Roorkee – Indian Institute of Technology | Roorkee | MBA | 6.2 | 10.33 | CAT/GMAT | 93 |
FORE School of Management | New Delhi | PGDM | 16 | 10.1 | CAT/XAT/GMAT | 85 |
SIMSR KJ Somaiya Institute of Management | Mumbai | PGDM | 15.5 | 10.05 | CAT/XAT/GMAT | 88 |
SIMSREE | Mumbai | PGDBM | 1.4 | 10 | CAT/CMAT/MHCET | 85 in CAT / 99.96 in CMAT and MHCET |
LIBA – Loyaola Institute of Business Administration | Chennai | PGDM | 12 | 9.5 | CAT/XAT | 85 |
NIBM | Pune | PGDM in Banking and Finance | 12 | 9.5 | CAT/XAT/CMAT | 80 |
BIM Tiruchirappalli | Tiruchirappalli | MBA | 14 | 9.3 | CAT | 80 |
IIM Sambalpur | Sambalpur | PGP | 10 | 9.23 | CAT | 95 |
Welingkar Institute of Management | Mumbai | PGDM | 11 | 9.2 | CAT/MAT/XAT/CMAT/ATMA | 78 |
BITS Pilani | Pilani | MBA | 8.5 | 9.18 | CAT/XAT/GMAT | 88 |
UBS | Chandigarh | MBA | 1.5 | 9 | CAT | 90 |
Institute of Management – Nirma University | Ahmedabad | MBA | 9.5 | 9 | CAT | 80 |
LBSIM | New Delhi | PGDM | 12 | 9 | GMAT/CAT | 85 |
IFMR Graduate School of Business, KREA University | Andra Pradesh | MBA/PGDM | 13.5 | 8.7 | CAT/XAT/GMAT/GRE | 78 |
SRCC- GBO | Delhi | MBA | 3.5 | 8.5 | SRCC GBO Exam | _ |
NIA | Pune | PGDM | 11.3 | 8.5 | CAT | 70 |
DSM Delhi Technical University | Delhi | MBA | 4 | 8 | CAT | 70 |
BIMTECH – Birla Institute of Management Technology | New Delhi | PGDM | 12 | 8 | CAT/XAT/GMAT | 78 |
BHU – Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi | MBA | 1 | 7.5 | BHU PET | 80 |
Vellore Institute of Technology | Vellore | MBA – VITBS | 7 | 7.25 | CAT/XAT/GMAT/CMAT.ATMA/NMAT | 80 |
IIFM | Bhopal | PGDFM/PGDSM | 6.5 | 7 | CAT/XAT | 80 |
PUMBA | Pune | MBA | 1.4 | 6 | MH-CET/CAT/CMAT | 78 |
NIT Trichy | Tiruchirappalli | MBA-PGDM | 2.5 | 6 | CAT | 78 |
XISS | Ranchi | PGDM | 8 | 6 | XAT/CAT/CMAT | 75 |
Jamia Millia Islamia | New Delhi | MBA | 0.5 | 4.5 | JMI Entrance | _ |