CAT exam (common Admission Test) is a computer-based selection test conducted by the IIMs(Indian Institute of Management) for getting admission to IIMs and top colleges apart from IIMs. CAT Preparation Strategy is very crucial but, If we strategize it in a smart way it become easy to compete.
Some of the top institutions which accept CAT marks for admission apart from the IIMs are NMIMS, SPJIMR, FMS, IMT, IMI, etc.
Every year More than 2 lakhs applicants appear for the exam and only 5,000-6,000 students get selected for MBA/PGDM Courses.
CAT exams are conducted every year in three sessions in more than 150 cities in online mode and the duration of the exam is two hours.
Candidates have to solve 66 objective-type questions in the given time.
There are no expected changes in the pattern of the CAT exam in the year 2022.
It is the responsibility of an IIM to conduct this exam, IIM Lucknow or IIM Bangalore can be given the responsibility to conduct the CAT exam this year.
CAT exam was introduced in 1950, and it has undergone tremendous changes since 1950, in 2009 the exam shifted from pen-paper mode to a computer-based test.
CAT exam will be held most likely between November 25-30 this year. It is expected that the CAT exam schedule will be announced in the last week of July.
Application of the CAT 2022 will begin in the first week of August and go on till the end of September.
The application fee for the general candidates is INR 2,200/- and for the reserved candidates, is INR 1,100/-
CAT 2022 (Eligibility Criteria)
The minimum eligibility criteria for the CAT exam is graduation in any stream.
Given below are the detailed eligibility criteria for the CAT 2022
- Candidate must possess a bachelor’s degree with an aggregate score of 50-55% approximately or an equivalent score from a recognized university to appear in CAT 2022.
- Candidates who have completed a professional degree(CA/CS/ICWA) with the required percentage can also give the CAT exam.
- Candidates who are in the final year of bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification or awaiting their result can also take CAT 2022 exam.
CAT 2022 (Important Dates)
Before appearing for any exam, you must know the important dates for that particular exam.
Till now IIMs have not released the itinerary for the CAT exam.
So, here is the itinerary for the CAT exam 2022, all the dates given here are tentative.
| CAT 2022 Events | CAT 2022 Dates (Tentative) |
| CAT 2022 registrations start |
03-Aug-2022 |
| Registrations end | 23-Sep-2022 |
| CAT form correction | Fourth week of September 2022 |
| CAT admit card release | 26-Oct-2022 |
| Mock test release | the Fourth week of October 2022 |
| CAT 2022 exam | 27-Nov-2022 |
| CAT 2022 answer key release |
The first week of December 2022 |
| CAT answers key challenge |
The first week of December 2022 |
| CAT 2022 result declaration |
The first week of January 2023 |
CAT 2022 (Key Highlights)
Given below are the key highlights of the CAT entrance exam for the year 2022.
| Particulars | CAT Exam Details |
| CAT Full-Form | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Conducting institute | IIM Bangalore or IIM Lucknow |
| Exam level | National level |
| Exam frequency | Once a year |
| Exam Date | November 27, 2022 (tentative) |
| CAT exam fees | INR 2,200 (General category) and INR 1,100 (Reserved category) |
| Eligibility criteria | Graduation with 50-55 % aggregate marks approximately |
| Number of applications | Around 2-2.5 lakhs every year |
| Exam purpose | Admission into IIMs, SPJIMR, FMS, MDI, IMT, NMIMS and over 1,200 B-Schools in India |
| Course offered | MBA/PGDM |
| CAT syllabus | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)Quantitative Ability (QA) |
| CAT pattern | Computer Based Test (CBT) with objective-type questions |
| No. of test cities | 150-160 approximately |
| CAT exam website | https://iimcat.ac.in |
Section-wise syllabus CAT 2022
Knowing syllabus for the CAT exam before appearing for the exam is quite necessary.
In this section, we will discuss the section-wise syllabus for CAT 2022.
Given below is the syllabus for the quantitative aptitude section of the CAT exam.
| CAT Syllabus | Sub-Topics |
| Arithmetic | HCF, Number System, Ratio & Proportion, LCM, Simplification, Percentage, Average, Age Calculation, Distance, Time & Work |
| Algebra | Theory of Equations, Quadratic Equation, Permutation & Combination, Sequence & Series |
| Geometry | Angles, Lines, Triangles, Circles |
| Mensuration | Areas and Volumes- Rectangle, Squares, Triangle , Circles, Cubes, Cones, Spheres, Pipes and Cistern |
| Calculus | Maxima and Minima, Function |
| Trigonometry | Trigonometric Ratios, Heights and Distances |
Given below is the subject for the data interpretation and logical reasoning section of the CAT exam.
| Data Interpretation | Logical Reasoning |
| Bar Graph | Line Graph | Arrangements | Prepositions |
| Pie Chart | Tables | Data Arrangement | Puzzles |
| Caselets | Combination of Graphs | Assumptions | Statements |
| Data Sufficiency | Games and Tournaments | Clock and Calendars | Venn Diagram |
| – | – | Logical Matching | Logical Connectives |
Given below is the syllabus for the verbal ability and reading comprehension(VARC) section of the CAT exam
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | |
| Critical Reasoning | Grammar and Usage |
| Sentence Correction | Word Usage |
| Fill in the Blanks | Para Jumble |
| Para Completion | Idioms |
| Para Summary | – |
CAT 2022 (must-read books)
Knowing syllabus alone is not sufficient you must know about the study material for the exam you are planning to clear. It is also the part of CAT Preparation Strategy
In this section, we will discuss the section-wise must-read books to clear CAT 2022.
Given below are the best books for the quantitative aptitude section for CAT 2022, you can select any one of these books for your preparation. Our recommendation for this section is How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma.
| Books for CAT | Author Name/Publisher |
| Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT Common Admission Tests for Admission into IIMs |
Sarvesh K. Verma |
| How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT |
Arun Sharma |
| Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT |
Nishit K. Sinha |
given below are the best books for covering the DILR section of CAT 2022, our recommendation for this section would be How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma.
| Books for CAT | Author Name/Publisher |
| CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning |
Gautam Puri |
| Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT |
Nishit K. Sinha |
| How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT |
Arun Sharma |
Given below are the best book for covering the VARC section of CAT 2022, our recommendation for this section will be How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT.
| Books for CAT Exam | Author Name/ Publisher |
| How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT |
Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay |
| 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary Mass Market Paperback |
Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis/ Simon & Schuster |
| How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT |
Sharma and Upadhyay |
| PSC for VA for CAT | Nishit Sinha |
CAT Preparation Strategy tips
Given below are the Best tips for CAT Preparation Strategy 2022.
- First of all, focus on the reading, and read the best books for the CAT exam preparation, Magazines, newspaper, etc., to improve your reading skills.
- Practice as many questions as you can, you can solve questions from preparation books and also practice mock tests and previous year’s papers.
- Regularly keep a track record of your preparation level to know your strengths and weak points in each section.
- You should Target topics carrying more weightage in each section of CAT to score well in the exam.
- You have to manage your time too, to attempt maximum questions in time.
Exam pattern CAT 2022
Given below table shows the various elements of the CAT exam pattern for the year 2022, which one should know before appearing for the exam.
| Particulars | Events |
| Duration of the CAT Exam | 2 Hours (120 Minutes) |
| Name of the Section | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Aptitude (QA) |
| Section-wise Duration | 40 Minutes for Each Section (VARC, DILR, QA). |
| Number of Questions | 66 Questions |
| CAT exam total marks | 198 marks |
| Mode of the CAT 2022 exam | Computer-Based Mode (CBT) |
| CAT Marking Scheme | For every right answer, +3 will be awarded For every wrong answer in MCQs, -1 will be deducted No negative marks for non-MCQs |
List of colleges accepting CAT in 2022
Given below is the list of IIMs with the number of seats available in these colleges
| Name of the Institute |
Number of Seats |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 385 |
| IIM Bangalore | 412 |
| IIM Calcutta | 462 |
| IIM Lucknow | 436 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 375 |
| IIM Indore | 451 |
| IIM Trichy | 180 |
| IIM Amritsar | 60 |
| IIM Rohtak | 240 |
| IIM Bodhgaya | 60 |
| IIM Sambalpur | 160 |
| IIM Sirmaur | 60 |
| IIM Jammu | 45 |
| IIM Ranchi | PGDM-120 PGD HRM-48 |
| IIM Raipur | 210 |
| IIM Kashipur | 210 |
| IIM Shillong | 120 |
| IIM Udaipur | 180 |
| IIM Nagpur | 126 |
| IIM Visakhapatnam |
60 |
FAQs
Question: What is the marking scheme for CAT 2022?
Answer:
+3 marks are given for each correct answer and -1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer.
Question: Is the CAT a difficult exam?
Answer:
CAT exam is one of the most difficult MBA entrance exams in India.