Understand the CAT Cut Off

The CAT exam is super important for students who want to go to good business schools in India. To get into these schools, you need to score a certain minimum mark, and that’s called the CAT cutoff. In this article, we’ll talk about why CAT cutoffs are important and the factors that affect CAT cut off. 

CAT Exam: Overview

• Exam date: 26 November 2023, Sunday.
• Exam duration: 2 hours (120 minutes).
• Exam mode: Computer-based test (CBT).
• Exam sections: 3 sections
  • Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): 24 questions, 40 minutes.
  • Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): 20 questions, 40 minutes.
  • Quantitative Aptitude (QA): 22 questions, 40 minutes.
• Total number of questions: 66.
• Total marks: 198 (3 marks per question).
• Negative marking: For each incorrect response, one mark is deducted from the final score. No mark reduction if TITA-type questions are answered wrong. 
• Registration: CAT 2023 registration has begun on 2 August 2023 onwards. The registration deadline is 13 September 2023.
• Result: CAT 2023 result will be announced in January 2024.

CAT Exam: Timeline

Why is it important to know the previous year’s CAT cut off?

It is important to know the previous year’s CAT cut off for the following reasons:

• To set realistic expectations: Knowing the previous year’s cut off can help you to set realistic expectations for your performance. This will help you to stay motivated and focused during your preparation.
• To identify your target B-schools: By comparing your mock test scores to the previous year’s cut-offs, you can identify the B-schools that you are most likely to be shortlisted for. This will help you to focus your preparation on the B-schools that are most important to you.
• To develop a strategic preparation plan: Once you know the previous year’s cut off, you can develop a strategic preparation plan. This will help you to focus your time and energy on the areas where you need to improve the most.
• To avoid surprises: Knowing the previous year’s cut off can help you to avoid surprises on the day of the exam. If you know that you need to score a certain percentile to be shortlisted for your target B-schools, you will be less likely to panic during the exam.

In addition to the above reasons, knowing the previous year’s CAT cut off can also help you to:

• Understand the competition: By comparing your mock test scores to the previous year’s cut-offs, you can get a sense of the competition that you will be facing on the day of the exam.
• Track your progress: By comparing your mock test scores to the previous year’s cut-offs, you can track your progress over time and identify the areas where you need to improve.
• Stay motivated: Knowing the previous year’s cut-offs can help you stay motivated during your preparation. If you see that you are making progress and that you are close to achieving your target percentile, you will be more likely to stay motivated and focused.

Knowing the previous year’s CAT cut off is an important part of CAT preparation. It can help you set realistic expectations, identify your target B-schools, develop a strategic preparation plan, avoid surprises, understand the competition, track your progress, and stay motivated.

Factors that affect CAT Cut off

Several factors affect the CAT cut-off every year. These include:

• Number of test takers: The higher the number of test takers, the higher the cut-offs are likely to be. This is because there is more competition for the limited number of seats available.
• Difficulty level of the exam: If the exam is more difficult, the cut-offs are likely to be lower, as fewer candidates will score high marks. Conversely, if the exam is easier, the cut-offs are likely to be higher.
• Number of seats available: The number of seats available at each B-school also affects the cut-offs. B-schools with fewer seats typically have higher cut-offs, as there is more competition for each seat.
• Past admission trends: B-schools also consider their past admission trends when setting cut-offs. For example, if a B-school has been admitting candidates with high CAT percentiles in recent years, it is likely to set higher cut-offs in the future.

In addition to these factors, B-schools may also consider other factors such as the candidate’s academic profile, work experience, and diversity when making admission decisions. However, the CAT cut-off is typically the most important factor.

It is important to note that the CAT cut-offs vary from B-school to B-school. The top IIMs, for example, typically have higher cut-offs than the newer IIMs and other B-schools.

Here are some additional factors that may affect the CAT cut-off:

• Category: B-schools typically have lower cut-offs for reserved categories such as SC, ST, and OBC candidates.
• Gender: Some B-schools may have lower cut-offs for female candidates to promote gender diversity.

Candidates should carefully research the cut-offs of their target B-schools before appearing for the CAT exam. This will help them to set realistic expectations and to prepare accordingly.