ABOUT CAT

Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer based test given in India to test Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation, Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning. The Indian Institutes of Management(IIMs) use the test as an important component in selecting students for the business administration programs. The test is conducted every year by one of the IIM's based on a policy of rotation. In August 2011 it was announced that Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc) would use CAT, instead of the Joint Management Entrance Test (JMET), as part of the student selection process of their MBA and Masters in Management programmes from the academic year.

CAT is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management as a pre-requisite for admission to various management programmes of IIMs, Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

There are non-IIM institutions that have registered to avail the CAT scores to be used in their admission process. CAT score use is restricted only for admission to IIMs and non-IIM member institutions.

CAT is normally conducted every year during a 20 day testing window in the months of October and November. A candidate can appear for CAT 2011 only once during the 20-day testing window. The test score is valid for admission to the forthcoming academic year only.