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Common Admissions Test or CAT is conducted every year for all those candidates who wish to get into some of the top management universities in India, like the Indian Institute of Management or IIMs. This exam is conducted for all those who want to pursue their higher education in MBA/PGDM courses and make a career in it. With the only minimum eligibility criteria being a graduate, almost anyone can take the exam. However, with the preparation for the CAT exam comes many advantages which the final-year graduates get, unlike working professionals. Continue reading this blog to know all the advantages the CAT exam students in final year graduation will get while preparing for the entrance test.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Common Admission Test |
| Exam Level | National |
| Pattern of Exam | Computer-Based Test with MCQs |
| Number of Exam Cities | 155 |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Fees | General- INR 2300 SC/ST/OBS- INR 1150 |
| Eligibility | Graduate with 50% marks (general) and 45% marks (SC/ST students) |
Also Read: IIM MBA Admission 2023: Dates, CAT, Selection Criteria, Executive MBA, Fees
Benefits for CAT Exam Appearing Students in Final Year Graduation
It is up to the student/candidate when they are ready to appear in the CAT examination. They can either appear in the final year of their graduation or after. Below are some of the advantages that come with the preparation of the same:
- Have Work Experience Before Starting MBA Studies: IIM allows all the selected candidates to defer their admission for two years. This is for all those who wish to work and gain some experience in the field. Keep in mind, that around 10 per cent of seats are kept for such candidates. If a candidate in his/her final year clears the entrance exam for IIM also gets an option to work for two years and work.
- No Gap Year: The preparation for the CAT exam for getting admission to IIM takes about nine to twelve months. A candidate who is in his/her final year will have enough time to prepare for the same.
- No Income Loss: Many times, professionals who wish to take the CAT exam feel the need to leave their jobs and study. If not leave the job, they find it quite difficult to balance their work and job. While, on the other hand, students preparing for the exam while studying don’t find it difficult to balance between the two.
- Advantage of Coaching: The main advantage for students still in their final year is that they can easily take time to attend coaching programs, unlike working professionals. Any working professional upon clearing the exam will see one issue – lack of time and the art of balancing the two. However, keep in mind opting for coaching is not necessary, anyone can apply as it will help them get a structured and organized preparation.
Also Read: MBA Colleges Through CAT Score
Other Alternatives for CAT?
Didn’t score well in the CAT entrance exam? Worry not, there are several other options through which you can get admission to fulfil your dream of pursuing an MBA. Here are all the other options other than the CAT exam which you can look into.
- Other Management Entrance Exams (OMETs)
Apart from the CAT exam, there are several other entrance exams which can be cleared to pursue your higher education in MBA. Another popular exam is the GMAT which is conducted for all those candidates who want to pursue their education in MBA abroad. However, there are several Indian universities as well which accept this exam. These colleges include: IIM, BITS Pilani, and XIMB to name a few.
2. Appear Next Year
When candidates feel they haven’t performed well in the entrance exam, they usually decide to prepare and take the exam once again next year. They plan to prepare again but this time with a different exam strategy and practice even harder.
3. Online MBA
Another best option for those who feel that they haven’t performed well in the CAT exam is to opt for the online MBA option. Over the years, online MBA has become quite a popular choice even especially for those working professional who don’t have the time to prepare for entrance exams.
Also Read: Online MBA vs Full-Time MBA: Which One Should You Choose?
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FAQs
Yes, as per the eligibility criteria of the CAT examination, any student in their final year of graduation can appear for the CAT exam. However, the student will have to provide their final degree certificate at the time of admission.
The 3 sections that appear in the CAT exam are Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI/LR) and Quantitative Ability (QA).
Clearing the CAT exam is a hard nut to crack and is considered to be one of the most challenging exams in India. However, with a proper exam strategy and hard work, any challenge can be conquered.
This was all about the “CAT exam appearing students in final year graduation”. For more informative blogs, check out our Management Exams Section, or you can learn more about us by visiting our Indian exams page.