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CAT Eligibility Criteria 2023: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) will release the eligibility criteria of CAT exam 2023 on its official website along with CAT notification 2023. CAT 2023 exam is expected to be held on November 26 for MBA / PGDM courses. Candidates willing to appear for the CAT entrance exam should meet the CAT 2023 eligibility criteria. As per the eligibility criteria for CAT 2023, candidates will have to meet certain parameters set up by the conducting body. Check the detailed IIM CAT eligibility criteria 2023 such as educational qualification, marks in the qualifying exam, age limit other detailed information in this article.
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CAT 2023 Eligibility Criteria
According to the CAT eligibility criteria, candidates who have completed any Bachelor’s Degree or its equivalents from a recognized university with 50% marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD) can apply for CAT exam 2023. Candidates before starting their preparation for CAT exam 2023 should first of all fulfill the eligibility criteria for CAT 2023. Aspirants to appear in CAT 2023 should meet the following requirements:
- Candidates have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a recognized university
- Have secured a minimum of 50% for the open category and 45 % for SC/ ST/ PwD category
- Are in the final year of bachelor’s degree. But such candidates will have to submit the certificate of completion from the principal or registrar of their university or institution on or before the date as stipulated by the respective IIMs.
CAT Eligibility 2023 – Other Key Highlights
Particulars |
Details |
Academic Qualification |
Graduation/ Bachelor’s Degree |
Required Marks in Graduate |
50% (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD) |
Age Limit for CAT 2023 |
No Age Restriction |
Work Experience |
Not Mandatory |
Reservation |
Based on Category |
Detailed eligibility criteria for CAT 2023 will be released on the official website of CAT 2023. There are certain points regarding academic details which form part of the eligibility criteria for CAT. Some of the important points are mentioned below:
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CAT exam eligibility concerning Educational Qualification
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Eligibility for CAT examination for final year graduate students
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CAT eligibility for students with backlogs
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CAT eligibility and reservation details
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CAT mark calculation and who is ineligible for CAT 2023
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Required work experience for CAT Exam 2023
Candidates who check CAT eligibility criteria should also know about the CAT exam – what CAT means, What it is for, etc. A brief introduction to the CAT exam is given below.
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2023- Academic Qualification
Eligibility Criteria of CAT 2023
Qualification |
Affiliation |
Percentage/ CGPA |
Bachelor’s Degree from any University/ Institute |
Recognized by UGC |
50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD) |
Engineering Degree – B.Tech/ B.E. from any University/ Institute |
Recognized by MHRD/ AICTE |
50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD) |
Students who appeared in the final year of the degree examination |
Recognized by MHRD/ AICTE/ UGC |
50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD) |
MHRD/ AICTE: The University shall be declared annexed by an Act of the Parliament or the State Legislature of India or shall be treated as a university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.
NOTE: The candidates who appeared in the final year of the degree examination should submit the certificate from the Registrar/ Principal of the respective institution or university. The certificate must state that they have met all the requirements for equivalent qualification on the date the certificate is issued.
CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria – Registration with Backlogs
One of the most common questions of students with any academic backlogs in their graduate program is whether they can enroll for the CAT 2023 exam. It should be clarified that CAT aspirants who have academic backlogs during their graduate program can apply and register for CAT exam without any problem.
Any candidate who scores above 50% (45% for the reserved category) in the degree (even in supplementary) can apply for CAT 2023. When completing the CAT 2023 registration form, ask, “Are you in your final year of your bachelor’s degree?” Select “Yes” to the question.
IIM CAT 2023 Eligibility- Reservation Criteria
IIMs will have their own individual selection criteria for admission. They follow the reservation guidelines set by the Government of India. To know CAT eligibility criteria for OBC, MBC, SC, ST, PwD, and General, see the table below:
Reservation Criteria
Category |
Reserved Percentage |
NC-OBC (Non-Creamy Other Backward Classes) |
27% |
SC (Scheduled Caste) |
15% |
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | up to 10% |
ST (Scheduled Tribe) |
7.5% |
PwD (Person with Disability) |
5% |
Reservation Policy for Person with Disability (PwD)
For the PwD category candidates, they must bring a PwD certificate issued by a competent authority. Candidates will be able to avail of the benefit provided for PwD only upon submission of the PwD certification issued by a competent authority. Details of various types of disabilities accepted under the PwD reservation are given below:
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Low vision/ blind candidates.
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Candidates with hearing impairment.
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Candidates with a locomotive disability or cerebral palsy.
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2023 – Marks Calculation
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The CAT percentage calculation will be based on the fact that the respective institutions or universities where the candidates have passed their degrees will follow their own procedure for calculating the total marks.
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For CGPA and grades, marks will be converted into percentages based on the practice certified by the respective institution or university.
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In another case, if no institution or university offers any plans for change, the percentage will be calculated by dividing the student’s CGPA by the maximum CGPA and multiplying the result by 100.
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For example,
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If a candidate has a CGPA of 8.8 and a maximum of 10 CGPA, then 8.8/10 = 0.88 and multiplying the result with 100 = 0.88 X 100 = 88%
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Who is not eligible for CAT 2023?
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If the candidate is in the process of completing their professional degree (CS/ CA/ ICWA) without appearing for their bachelor’s degree.
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The candidate is pursuing both a bachelor’s degree and a professional degree but has not yet completed both.
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If the candidate’s score in the degree is less than 50% (45% for SC/ ST/ PWT candidates), he or she is ineligible to apply for the CAT.
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If the degree is not recognized by MHRD/ AICTE/ UGC, the candidate will be considered ineligible for the CAT examination.
CAT Eligibility Criteria – Work Experience Requirements
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Candidates are not required to have any prior work experience.
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Even if the CAT Application Form 2023 asks for it, there is no necessary condition to fulfill it.
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It should be noted that during the final examination, some weightage may be given by IIMs for this work experience. However, the exact weightage has never been revealed and it will vary from one IIM to another IIM.
CAT Age Limit
As per the official eligibility criteria, there is no upper age limit for CAT Exam 2023. As long as the applicant satisfies other CAT eligibility, there is no limitation on CAT Age Limit.
CAT Exam Educational Qualification
Candidates with the following educational qualifications can apply for CAT 2023.
- Must have completed UGC recognized Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks for the general category and 45% for SC, ST, and PWD/DA categories.
- Applicants with a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA/FIAI) minimum required percentage can apply for CAT Exam 2023.
- Candidates in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree with the required percentage may also apply.
CAT Reservation Policy
The reservation policy for the CAT Exam is as per the government’s legal requirement. The details are as follows:
Category in CAT Exam | Reservation Policy |
Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
Other Backward Classes “non-creamy” layer (NC-OBC) | 27% |
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | 10% |
CAT Previous Question Papers PDF
The applicants must be able to complete CAT Previous Year Papers quickly and correctly. Because the CAT is one of the most difficult MBA Exams and IIMs are the top choices for candidates looking to pursue an MBA. Therefore, you must comprehend how to complete the CAT question paper quickly and accurately. So please download the question papers given below and solve them. This can be used as a test for how far you have reached in your preparation for the actual exam.
CAT Mock Test PDF: Download Link
Candidates preparing for the upcoming CAT Exam can refer to the mock test PDF below.
CAT Mock Test 2022 | |
CAT 2022 Slot 1 DILR | |
CAT 2022 Slot 1 VARC | |
CAT 2022 Slot 1 QA |
The CAT Mock Test PDF for 2020 is available here for download. Eligible candidates can use this PDF for reference
CAT Mock Test 2020 | |
CAT 2020 Slot 1 DILR | |
CAT 2020 Slot 1 VARC | |
CAT 2020 Slot 1 QA |
Note: Your SC/ST/PwD/NC-OBC original certificates must be shown, and a photocopy of the certificates should be submitted during the interview process of CAT 2023. No change in the category will be entertained after CAT Exam registration; hence, the applicants are advised to pay attention while registering.
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FAQ’s
- What is CAT?
- CAT stands for Common Admission Test. It is a highly competitive entrance exam in India conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to their MBA and other management programs.
- Who is eligible to appear for CAT?
- Candidates with a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or institution with at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates) are eligible to take the CAT exam. Final-year undergraduate students can also apply.
- How can I apply for the CAT?
- CAT application forms are typically available online, and you need to visit the official CAT website during the registration period. Fill out the application form, pay the application fee, and follow the specified instructions.
- What is the CAT exam pattern?
- CAT is a computer-based test (CBT) that consists of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). The exam duration is usually 180 minutes.
- Is there negative marking in CAT?
- Yes, CAT has a penalty for wrong answers. Typically, there is a deduction of 1 mark for each incorrect answer, and no negative marking for unattempted questions.
- How can I prepare for CAT?
- CAT preparation requires a structured study plan, practice, and a good understanding of the exam pattern. Many candidates enroll in coaching programs, while others self-prepare using CAT study materials and mock tests.