Applications can be submitted online for the Common Admission Test (CAT) till 5 pm on September 13. Admissions to post-graduate and fellowship programmes in Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are based on the score of this challenging aptitude test.
The website to apply is www.iimcat.ac.in
The CAT will take place on November 26 in three shifts and the results are scheduled to be announced during the third week of January next year.
Eligibility to apply is a degree with 50-percent marks. Final-year degree students can also apply. The cut-off mark is 45 percent for applicants belonging to Scheduled Caste/Tribe and differently abled categories.
Those who have earned membership as chartered accountants (CA), company secretaries (CS) and cost accountants (CA) can also apply. The application fee is Rs 2,400. It is Rs 1,200 for Scheduled Caste/Tribe and differently abled category applicants.
Test centres
The test centres in Kerala are: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur.
Candidates can give their choice of six centres while applying. Admit cards could be downloaded from the site after October 25.
Test pattern
There are three sections in the computer-based exam: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability.
There will be multiple-choice as well as other types of questions. All correct answers will carry three marks each and a wrong answer will lead to a negative mark.
Candidates should type the answers of questions which are not of the multiple-choice type.
Space will be set apart on the screen to do calculations. A calculator will be available on the screen. Candidates are not allowed to carry their own calculators. A mock test will be available on the website during the last week of October.
Contact mail, number
An FAQ on the site aims to clear the doubts of candidates. The email address to contact for help is cathelpdesk@iimcat.co.in
This email address could be used for enquiry when the confirmation mail is not received after submitting application. The helpdesk number is 18002108720.
Separate selections
Each IIM has its own selection process. Apart from CAT score, the IIMs conduct separate written exams, group discussions and interviews. Academic record of the candidate, work experience and gender are also considered for selection.
A few business schools other than IIMs also conduct admissions based on the CAT score. The list of these institutions is available on the website. There is one such business school in Kerala, three in Tamil Nadu and two in Karnataka. The IIM in Kerala is at Kozhikode.