CAT Application Process

There are over 170 cities where CAT exam is held. These 170 cities are spread across India consist of metropolitan cities, capital cities, Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Candidate can select up to five cities for allotment of test centre. The process of test city selection is a part of CAT application process. In the CAT application form, there is a field in which candidates have to select the cities. They need to select the city of preference in order of 1 to 5. The examination authorities will try to allot the test centre in the city of first preference. Thus, candidates must fill all the five cities carefully. They must choose their home city of city of current residence as the first preference. The test city option can only be changed during the form correction window. After that, the request for change of the city will not be accepted by the exam authorities.

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.

Yes, candidates can fill out the CAT application form on one day and pay the fee on another day, as it is not mandatory to register for the CAT exam, fill out the application form, or pay the fee in one go. The registration and application window will remain open for candidates who have registered for the exam and created an ID until the last date of form submission. The applicant can log in and check/fill/edit the CAT application form anytime during the form-filling period. Only the phone number and email ID will not be editable once registration is complete. However, candidates need to submit the CAT form and application fee before the deadline to be eligible to appear for the exam. The CAT application form will not be submitted until the fee payment is completed. The fee can be paid via debit card, credit card, net banking, and UPI wallet.

No, the CAT application form can only be filled out online on the official website iimcat.ac.in. There is no option to submit the CAT form in offline mode. Candidates will have to create an account on the CAT website once the registrations begin and fill out the CAT form through that candidate account. Candidates must also note that no other website hosts the CAT form other than iimcat.ac.in 

There is no provision of paying CAT fees in cash, challan or Demand Draft either. The CAT registration fee can be paid online only through Internet banking, credit/debit cards or mobile wallets only. The payment window will be available in the candidate dashboard as part of the CAT application form. Candidates have to simply follow the instructions to pay the fee. Candidates must note that fee payment is mandatory for CAT form filling. Until the fee is paid successfully, the form will not be accepted. Thus, candidates must check the fee payment acknowledgement slip after making the payment.

CAT registration cum application form link is activated at iimcat.ac.in.in website. The CAT 2024 registration link was made live on August 1, 2024. Candidates will have to open this url: iimcat.ac.in to register for CAT 2024 and fill the application form before the registration deadline (September 13, 2024). The CAT application process includes uploading of relevant documents and payment of fees, without which the application will not be submitted. There will be six sections in CAT application form which candidates will be required to fill. They are - personal details, academic details, work experience, programmes, test city and fee payment. 

In Personal Details section, the candidates will have to enter details such as name, date of birth, father's name, category, gender, nationality, communication address, email ID, mobile phone number, etc.

In Academic Details section of the form, candidates have to enter class 10 and 12 exam scores, Bachelor's degree details and marksheet and details of other professional courses (if any).

In Work Experience section, candidates have to fill relevant work-experience if any, they need to fill in details such as name of the company, duration, etc.

In the programmes section, applicants have to select IIMs and MBA programmes of their choice. In the test city section candidates have to select test city for allotment of exam centre. Candidates can select up to six cities from the given list.

In the payment section, candidates have to pay the registration fee via Credit/Debit Card, Internet Banking or Paytm/PayU mobile wallets.