IIM Programme Preference: Selecting IIM Courses during CAT Registration

Candidates need the following documents while filling the CAT application form:

• A recent passport size photo (color against white background)
• Scanned signature with black pen on white paper
• Any photo ID card like PAN card, Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport 
• Class 10 marksheet 
• Class 12 marksheet 
• Graduation marksheet 
• Permanent address proof 
• Work experience documents Reserved category students need to upload Category Certificate along with the CAT application form. The Certificate is available on the CAT website. Candidates can download, fill it, get it attested by competent authority and upload it as PDF with the CAT application form. 
• The PwD category students also have to fill the PwD form and Scribe affidavit along with the exam application form. This is necessary for getting scribe facility and PwD facility at the test centre. The CAT application form is same for students from all categories. Those belonging to a particular category (SC/ST/PwD) will be required to mention it in the relevant field of the CAT form.

CAT is a speed-based test of analytical aptitude, logical reasoning skills, data interpretation and English comprehension. Now, it may sound tough, but these are the skills which we are taught in school so there is nothing new to learn. What is required is to learn these subjects at advanced level. If you are an average student but have studied Science or Commerce in Class-12 and graduation, you will find a lot of familiar topics in Data Interpretation, Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning. All you will need is brush up the basics and practice the concepts on advanced-level problems.

However, since the competition is so high in CAT and less than 95 percentile can break your dream of joining a top college like IIM, the preparation for CAT requires a lot of focus, dedication, discipline and diligence. If you can do that, despite being an average student, you can crack the CAT exam.

Hope it was helpful!!!

No, there is no provision of changing the test centre after the CAT admit card has been released. In fact, there is no option to change the test centre allotted at any point of time during the exam cycle. Candidates get only one opportunity to change the test city choice at the time of form correction. Thus, it is very important to select test cities very carefully in the CAT application form. They must choose their first city preference as home town or the city where they are likely to be on the exam day or choose a city which is the closest to their hometown and they can reach there on time on the exam day. Also, to be allotted the desired test city, candidates must fill the CAT application for at the earliest, as the exam slot and test centres are allotted on first cum first served basis. If the seats get filled fore centres in one city, candidates are allotted a centre in the second city of their preference. Moreover, the CAT admit card is released a month before the exam so candidates must check the location of their allotted centre much in advance and make arrangements for reaching there on exam day on time.

Once the CAT application form is submitted, candidates are not allowed to make changes in it. In case, you've made errors, you need to fill a fresh CAT application form and pay the fees again. However, editing of certain fields such as photo, signature and test city preference is allowed during form correction process which starts 2-3 days after the CAT registration process concludes. The form correction window is opened for 3-4 days during which candidates can edit only these three fields. If they have made a mistake in any other field, they cannot edit it. No request for changes is accepted by the examination authorities. Thus, it is very important to fill the CAT application form correctly with valid details. Candidates must keep the important documents such as Aadhaar card, class 10, class 12, graduation certificates, birth Certificate address proof, work experience documents, etc. To cross check the information while filling the form. They must also be very careful in selecting Iims and courses as they will be eligible for only those Iims and courses which they shall have selected in the CAT form.

The CAT admit card is a main document of identification of the candidate. It is the proof that the candidate has fill the examination form and is eligible to appear in the exam. To help in candidate identification, the following details are mentioned on every candidate's CAT admit card. Candidate's name Candidate's roll number Candidate's gender Candidate's category Candidate's date of birth Candidate's signature Candidate's photo Candidate's address Examination year Examination date Examination slot Examination timings Reporting time Test centre address Google link to locate test centre Along with these details, other information such as exam day guidelines, examination process in the test lab, items to carry, items not to carry, activities prohibited, dress code and entry process are also mentioned on the CAT admit card. 

Yes, you can crack CAT through self study but it will require a lot of discipline and consistency on daily basis. You will need the most recommended books, best mock test series and online practice sessions. Join YouTube channels for online tutorial. Give yourself 9 months and study for 8 hours daily.

The CAT exam pattern and difficulty levels do not change drastically. The core syllabus of Quant, VARC, and DILR typically remains the same.

CAT exam pattern saw a major change in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic demanded a reduction in the exam duration. The exam sections remained the same, while the question count was reduced to 76 from 100, and the exam duration was reduced to 2 hours from 3 hours previously. In 2021, the question count was further reduced to 66. Without an intimation later, candidates found an additional 2 questions starting 2024. in 2024, and 2025, CAT exam has retained 68 questions to be answered within 120 minutes. CAT 2026 pattern is expected to follow the 68 question format.

Also Check: Changes in CAT Exam Pattern in Last 15 Years

CAT 2026 application form will be released in the first week of August 2026. CAT 2026 registration dates will be announced in the last week of July through an official notification.

The digital copy of the CAT admit card will not be accepted at the test centres as a valid document, thus you cannot show it, to gain entry. As per the official guidelines, only the colour print out of the admit card on A4 size sheet will be accepted as valid. Candidates must also affix a passport size photo, preferably the same as uploaded in the CAT application form.  

The examination authority does not accept digital admit card as valid document as it is to be signed and stamped by the test centre staff for proof of candidate’s attendance. One copy of the CAT admit card of every candidate is also retained by the authorities, thus the need for the print out.

In CAT Quantitative Aptitude, Arithmetic has the highest weightage with 7-8 questions in every shift. In VARC, Reading Comprehension has the maximum weightage with about 16 questions. In DILR, the number of questions are equally distributed.

Yes CAT syllabus is difficult to crack if you do not have enough time. There are three subjects in CAT- VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Most of candidates find RC passages tough to crack. In Quants, Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry pose significant challenge during preparation. In DILR, Reasoning questions often turnout to be tricky and confusion. 

There is no option to make changes in the CAT admit card. Details printed on the candidate's hall ticket will be final and non-editable. Incase, there is any error in the details mentioned on the CAT admit card, like name or roll number of the candidate., etc. then that can be rectified by contacting the CAT help desk.