Ready to crack CAT?

The computer-based CAT 2016 will test candidates’ verbal ability and reading comprehension, data interpretation and logical reasoning and their quantitative abilities. It will be held on December 4, 2016 and will be conducted in two sessions on the same day.

Considering how more than 2,00,000 candidates registered to write the examination in 2015, marking a five-year high, the CAT examination board has put in place policies to manage the growing demand to appear for the test.

The examination will be conducted in 138 cities around India and those eligible to write the test will be given the option to select four cities, in order of their preference.

Only candidates who have a bachelor’s degree with at least 50 per cent marks or an equivalent CGPA are eligible to write the test.

Candidates completing their final year of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification and those who have completed degree requirements and are awaiting results are also eligible.

“The exam pattern is the same as that for CAT 2015. Sectional timing of 60 minutes, on-screen calculator and non-MCQs (multiple-choice questions) from CAT 2015 are all present this year too,” says Ramnath Kankadandi, CAT course director, T.I.M.E. institute.

“Students can breathe a sigh of relief as the test strategies that they have been working on, based on CAT ‘15, need not be dumped,” he added.

According to the IIM website, 27 per cent of seats will be reserved for Other Backward Classes (NC – OBC) candidates, 15 per cent for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates, 7.5 per cent for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates and 3 per cent for Differently Abled (DA) candidates.

Registration for CAT 2016 will begin on August 8, 2016 and close on September 22.