CAT Eligibility Criteria 2024 : Age Limit, Qualification & Reservation Check Complete Details

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The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta has released the CAT 2024 eligibility criteria along with the CAT notification. These criteria outline the requirements candidates must meet to take the CAT exam. They include academic qualifications, past academic performance, and age limits.

Every year, over 3 lakh eligible candidates apply for this exam to gain admission to PGDM and MBA programs at IIMs and 1,200+ B-schools in India. Read this article to learn who can apply for CAT 2024, the age limit, and more.

👉 Read Also - CAT Exam Pattern 2024

CAT Eligibility Criteria 2024

To appear for the CAT 2024, candidates must meet certain requirements set by the conducting body. Before filling out the CAT application form and starting their preparation, candidates should understand the eligibility criteria. Here are the requirements for the CAT exam:

Candidates must have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a recognized university.
A minimum of 50% marks is required for the open category, and 45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
Final-year bachelor's degree students are also eligible to apply but must submit a completion certificate from their university's principal or registrar by the date stipulated by the respective IIMs.
While work experience is preferred and may add weightage, it is not mandatory for CAT exam eligibility in 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the pass mark for CAT?

Candidates with a bachelor's degree from a recognized university, securing 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD), can apply for the CAT exam 2024.

Can a 12th-pass student apply for CAT?

No, a 12th-pass student is not eligible for CAT. The CAT exam is an MBA entrance test, requiring candidates to have a bachelor's degree.

CAT Age Limit

It's essential for MBA aspirants to know the age criteria for the CAT exam. Here's what you need to know:

Minimum age eligibility: There is no minimum age limit for appearing in the CAT exam 2024. Candidates of any age can apply, provided they meet the degree requirements.
Maximum age limit: There is no maximum age limit for CAT 2024. Candidates can apply at any stage of their career as long as they have the required degree and marks.

CAT Eligibility Criteria 2024 - Academic Qualifications

For CAT 2024, IIM specifies the academic qualifications and required marks for candidates to be eligible to take the exam. Here's what you need to know:

CAT Eligibility for IIM

CAT Exam Qualification	Affiliation	Percentage/ CGPA
Bachelor’s Degree from any University/ Institute	Recognized by UGC	50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD)
Engineering Degree - B.Tech/ B.E. from any University/ Institute	Recognized by MHRD/ AICTE	50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD)
Students who appeared in the final year of the degree examination	Recognized by MHRD/ AICTE/ UGC	50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD)

There are no specific 12th-grade marks required to be eligible for the CAT exam. To apply, you must have a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks after completing intermediate education.

MHRD/AICTE Requirements: The university must be recognized by an Act of Parliament or the State Legislature in India or be considered a university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.

Note: Candidates who are in their final year of the degree program must submit a certificate from the Registrar or Principal of their institution. This certificate should confirm that they have completed all requirements for their degree as of the date it is issued.

CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2024: Graduation Marks

To apply for the CAT 2024 exam, you must have completed your graduation. Check the detailed eligibility criteria and minimum marks required for both general and reserved category candidates below.

Academic qualification for the CAT exam	Required affiliation	Required pass percentage
Bachelor’s/ Graduation Degree in any stream from any University	Recognized by UGC	Candidates belonging to General/ EWS/ NC-OBC category should have secured 50% marks and 45% for candidates belonging to SC/ ST/ PwD category
Engineering Degree – BTech/ BE	Recognized by MHRD/AICTE *
(CA/CS/ICWA/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)	Certificate granting organization
Students in their final year of graduation (or its equivalent) are also eligible to take CAT exam	Graduation fro University which should be recognized by AICT/ MHRD or UGC

CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria - Registration with Backlogs

If you're wondering whether you can apply for the CAT 2024 exam with backlogs, the answer is yes. You can still register for the exam even if you have not cleared all your subjects.

To be eligible for CAT 2024, you need to have at least 50% marks in your degree (or 45% for reserved categories), including any supplementary exams. When filling out the registration form, if you’re in your final year of your bachelor’s degree, simply select "Yes" when asked if you are in your final year.

IIM CAT 2024 Eligibility - Reservation Criteria

Different IIMs have their own admission rules and follow the reservation guidelines set by the Government of India. For details on eligibility based on categories like OBC, MBC, SC, ST, PwD, and General, see the table below.

Reservation Criteria

Category	Reserved Percentage
NC-OBC (Non-Creamy Other Backward Classes)	27%
SC (Scheduled Caste)	15%
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)	up to 10%
ST (Scheduled Tribe)	7.5%
PwD (Person with Disability)	5%

Reservation Policy for Persons with Disabilities (PwD)

Candidates applying under the PwD category must provide a PwD certificate from an authorized authority. To receive the PwD benefits, you need to submit this certificate. The types of disabilities covered include:

Low Vision/Blindness: Candidates who are visually impaired or blind.
Hearing Impairment: Candidates with hearing disabilities.
Locomotive Disabilities/Cerebral Palsy: Candidates with physical disabilities or cerebral palsy.

CAT Study Material

CAT Study Material
CAT Previous Year Question Paper	CAT Mock Test
CAT Chapterwise Previous Year Question

CAT Eligibility Criteria 2024 - Marks Calculation

The CAT percentile calculation depends on how your institution or university calculates marks. To determine eligibility:

CGPA to Percentage: Convert your CGPA to a percentage based on your institution's method. If there’s no method provided, use this formula: (CGPA / Maximum CGPA) × 100.

For example, if your CGPA is 8.8 out of 10, your percentage would be: (8.8 / 10) × 100 = 88%.

Who’s Not Eligible for CAT 2024?

Incomplete Degrees: If you’re finishing a professional degree (CS/ CA/ ICWA) without a bachelor’s degree.
Dual Degrees: If you’re pursuing both a bachelor’s and a professional degree but haven’t completed both.
Low Scores: If your degree score is below 50% (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD candidates).
Unrecognized Degrees: If your degree isn’t recognized by MHRD/ AICTE/ UGC.

CAT Eligibility Criteria - Work Experience Requirements

You don’t need work experience to apply for CAT 2024. Even if the application asks about work experience, it’s not required. Some IIMs may consider work experience during the final selection, but the weightage given varies and is not specified.

IIM Eligibility vs. CAT Eligibility

There are small differences between CAT eligibility and IIM admission requirements:

Age Limit: There’s no age limit for CAT or IIM admissions.
Degree Requirements: CAT accepts a two-year bachelor’s degree, while IIMs generally require a three-year bachelor’s degree.

Other than these points, CAT qualifications and IIM requirements are mostly aligned.

FAQs

Here are 7 FAQs based on the provided content about the CAT 2024 eligibility criteria:

Que. 1 - What are the academic qualifications required for CAT 2024?

To be eligible for CAT 2024, candidates must have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a recognized university with at least 50% marks for general category candidates and 45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates. Final-year students can also apply but need to provide a completion certificate by the date specified by the respective IIMs.

Que. 2 - Is there an age limit to apply for CAT 2024?

No, there is no minimum or maximum age limit for appearing in the CAT 2024 exam. Candidates of any age can apply as long as they meet the degree requirements.

Que. 3 - Can I apply for CAT 2024 if I have backlogs in my degree?

Yes, candidates with backlogs can register for the CAT 2024 exam. However, they must have at least 50% marks in their degree (45% for reserved categories) and must complete their degree requirements by the time specified by the IIMs.

Que. 4 - Do I need work experience to apply for CAT 2024?

No, work experience is not mandatory for CAT 2024 eligibility. While work experience can add weightage during the final selection process at some IIMs, it is not required to take the CAT exam.

Que. 5 - What is the reservation policy for CAT 2024? The reservation policy for CAT 2024 follows the guidelines set by the Government of India. The reserved percentages are: 27% for NC-OBC, 15% for SC, up to 10% for EWS, 7.5% for ST, and 5% for PwD candidates. PwD candidates must provide a valid PwD certificate from an authorized authority.

Que. 6 - How are marks calculated for CAT 2024 eligibility if my university uses a CGPA system?

If your university uses a CGPA system, you can convert your CGPA to a percentage using the formula: (CGPA / Maximum CGPA) × 100. For example, if your CGPA is 8.8 out of 10, your percentage would be: (8.8 / 10) × 100 = 88%.

Que. 7 - Who is not eligible to apply for CAT 2024?

Candidates are not eligible if they have an incomplete degree, are pursuing both a bachelor's and a professional degree without completing both, have a degree score below 50% (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates), or possess a degree not recognized by MHRD/AICTE/UGC.

Conclusion

Understanding CAT 2024 eligibility is vital for aspirants aiming for MBA and PGDM programs at IIMs and top B-schools in India. Key requirements include a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) and no age restrictions. Final-year students and those with backlogs can apply if they meet the necessary conditions. The CAT exam follows a comprehensive reservation policy, ensuring opportunities for diverse candidates. Work experience is not mandatory but can be beneficial. Candidates should also be aware of CGPA to percentage conversions. Meeting these criteria allows candidates to confidently apply and pursue their management goals.