There is no age limit for the CAT exam. If your age lies in the bracket of 20-40 years, you can sit for the CAT exam at any point in your life. CAT is one of the most prestigious exams that allows aspirants to get admission into B-school programs at reputed institutions. If you are also going to appear for the upcoming CAT exam and understand the eligibility criteria in detail, then you have landed on the right page. This blog will help you know the detailed eligibility criteria and how you can prepare for the upcoming exam. Let's get started and have a look!
CAT Exam Eligibility
The registration process for the upcoming CAT exam has started in full swing. The minimum level of education qualification for the CAT exam is a graduation. Even if you have completed your post-graduation then it's up to you whether you want to mention it or not while applying for the CAT exam. In addition to that, you also have the option to give details about the professional degree or any other additional degree in the CAT application form.
To qualify with your educational background for the CAT exam application, you need to fall under any of the categories below:
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Bachelor's degree in any stream from any university that is UGC recognised, percentage should be 50% for General/EWS/NC-OBC and 45% for SC, ST, and PWD. candidates
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Engineering degree BTech/BE from MHRD/AICTE recognised institution, percentage should be 50% for General/EWS/NC-OBC and 45% for SC, ST, PwD. candidates
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Candidates in the last year of their Bachelor's degree are also eligible for the CAT exam, studying in an institution recognised by any authoritative body like MHRD, AICTE, or UGC. The percentage should be 50% for General/EWS/NC-OBC and 45% for SC, ST, and PWD candidates
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CA/CS/ICA/FIAI certified candidates who have received certifications from a recognised certification organisation with a percentage of 50% for General/EWS/NC-OBC and 45% for SC, ST, PWD, are also eligible
Read More: What is the Minimum Questions to Attempt in CAT?
CAT Age Limit
There is no boundary on age limit for the CAT exam, which is like a cherry on top of a cake. Aspirants in the age bracket of 20 to 40 years can easily apply for the CAT exam without any hassle. The CAT exam is eligible to give you admission to various PG programmes that include Executive MBA, PhD, and FPM. If you are a fresh graduate or a working professional, you can always go for the CAT exam without any hassle.
Non-Eligibility for CAT Exam
There are situations when a candidate will not be eligible for the CAT exam. Below is the list of conditions under which a candidate is not eligible to apply for the CAT exam.
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If you have not scored 50% in graduation, then you are not eligible to sit for the CAT exam, and 45% in the case of SC/ST/PwR category
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If you don't have a Bachelor's or any other equivalent degree like CA/CS/ICWA
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If your two years of Bachelor's degree don't make an average of 50% (45% in case of SC/ST/PwD)
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If you are not in the final year of your Bachelor's degree
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If you are pursuing and have not completed your professional degree, like CA/CS/ICWA
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If your Bachelor's degree is not recognised by UGC/AICTE/MHRD
Reservation Criteria
Most of the competitive exams have a reservation criterion for the candidates, but the CAT exam doesn't have so. You will not face any reservation criteria in the CAT exam, except that only 5% relaxation marks are provided to the candidates from the SC/ST/PWD categories. So, your efforts are your mere supporters in the CAT exam, and you can easily get an edge over your competition if you have prepared enough.
How to Prepare for the CAT Exam?
This section will primarily focus on the key tips that you can inculcate to prepare for the upcoming CAT exam. Let's have a look!
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Stay acquainted with the syllabus
To kickstart your CAT exam preparation, you must be well-versed with the latest syllabus of the exam. This will help you prepare in the right direction. CAT preparation books will provide you with the entire syllabus under one roof. This will also help you understand the exam pattern which will be very helpful on the day of the examination.
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Align a meticulous timetable
An effective and meticulous timetable will help you conquer your exam effectively. Design a timetable in such a way that you have ample time to complete your preparation and get started with the practice and revision sessions. Also, make sure that you have achievable milestones while preparing the timetable that will give you a sense of accomplishment and boost your confidence for the examination time.
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Leverage previous year papers
CAT previous year question papers will act as your best friends while preparing for the CAT exam. The previous year's papers will help you get an idea about the trends being followed in the examination. In addition to that, it will also give you a clear idea about the conceptual clarity that you need to have to tackle a variety of questions on the day of the examination. Moreover, you will also get a clear picture of the marking scheme and difficulty level of the questions being asked in the examination.
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Focus on conceptual clarity
The best way to conquer the CAT exam is to have impeccable conceptual clarity. Rather than mugging up the concepts, if you focus on understanding the concepts then it will help you in the long run. You can come across a diverse variety of questions on the day of the examination. If you have conceptual clarity, you have a high chance of tackling any type of question you encounter. Moreover, it will boost your confidence levels for the examination.
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Practice with mock test papers
CAT mock test papers are the best way to practice extensively for the final examination. Once you have completed your preparation for the exam, you should give as many mock tests as possible. Mock tests mimic the real exam conditions. When you solve the paper in a time-bound fashion, you will understand whether you can complete your exam well in time or not. This will help you understand whether you are on the right track with your predation or not.
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Have faith in your preparation
While preparing for the CAT examination, there will be times when you will lose faith in your preparation. You need to have faith in your hard work and perseverance to succeed in the examination. Take short breaks and focus on your overall well-being so you can work extensively. Also, stay hydrated and keep a close eye on your overall diet and well-being.
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Final Thoughts
The CAT exam can be easily conquered if you stay focused on your goal and increase your chances on the day of the examination. Practice as much as you can and learn the art of time management to excel in the examination. The more you practice, the better your chances of excelling in the examination. Also, make sure that you focus on understanding the concepts so you can tackle any type of question asked on the day of the examination.
All the Best!
