The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer-based test for admission into graduate management programs in b-schools across India. The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) started this exam and use the test for selecting students for their business administration programs (MBA or PGDM). Many other b-schools in India consider CAT for the first level of their admission processes.The test is conducted every year by one of the IIMs based on a policy of rotation.

The minimum eligibility criteria for CAT is graduation. You need to fulfil any one of the following conditions:

• You hold a Bachelor’s Degree, with the required marks, awarded by any recognized University or educational institution.
• You are appearing for the final year of Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification examination.
• You have completed degree requirements and are awaiting results.
• You have completed a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)) with the required marks.

Required Marks:

• 50% if you belong to General, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) or Other Backward Castes – Non Creamy (NC-OBC) category.
• 45% if you belong to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) or Persons with Disability (PwD) category.

Each college that considers CAT as its admission test / one of its admission tests has its own eligibility criteria. Candidates must check the eligibility criteria of individual colleges before applying to them through CAT.