IIM-CAT OVERVIEW

IIM-CAT is a Computer Based Test which scores a person on the basis of Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation, Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning.

Pattern of IIM-CAT 2020 

Duration of the examination is 120 minutes, with 40 minutes per section. There are three sections, ‘Quantitative Aptitude (QA)’, ‘Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)’ and ‘Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VRC)’. Some questions in each section may not be of multiple-choice type. Instead, direct answers are to be typed on the screen. The tutorials will clearly explain this change. Also, we will allow use of basic on-screen calculator for computation.

Candidates will be allotted exactly 40 minutes for answering questions in each section and they cannot switch from one section to another while answering questions in a section. Tutorial to understand the format of the examination is available on the CAT website.

Candidates are advised to work on the tutorials, available on the website, well in advance.

The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) started this exam and the use of test for selecting students for their business administration programs. The test is conducted every year under the aegis of one of the IIM's based on a policy of rotation. Since 2014, IIM-CAT has been conducted by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as an online Computer Based Exam. IIM-CAT is taken by approximately 2.3 Lakh students for admission to various MBA programs conducted by the 20 IIMs, 23 IITs, IIScs, NITs, FMS, and about 100 other Business Schools.

Structure of the IIM-CAT : This test is different from the exams, subjects and testing methods that students in India are familiar with. Most exams that students have given so far such as Class X boards, XII boards and College exams are knowledge based and subjective in nature. In these classical exams, ability to mug up (learn by rote) and write long subject answers translates into good scores, while in the IIM-CAT ability to answer objective questions needs you to have the intelligence to apply your knowledge. So the challenges in this exam are :

1. Understanding the concepts tested on the IIM-CAT
2. Developing the ability to apply concepts to solve questions
3. Ability to understand the confusing and tricky language of questions
4. Familiarity with newer types of questions. Example Data Sufficiency, Critical Reasoning, etc
5. Attempting a greater number of questions in a short time span to maximize scores