Overview: Before planning your CAT 2024 preparation strategy the first thing you must ensure is whether you meet the 2024 CAT eligibility criteria, a mandatory requirement for admission into all IIMs.

• Common Admission Test (CAT) exam is a gateway for students who wish to pursue a career in business and management at top IIMs (Indian Institute of Management) and other top business schools in the country.
• IIMs have a strong alumni network that helps students build their careers, making IIMs the top choice for management studies.
• Examination Authorities will release the CAT exam 2024 notification once the previous examination cycle is over.

With the help of this blog, let's learn everything about CAT Exam Eligibility 2024! 

Download FREE Study Material for CAT Exam 2024 by SuperGrads

CAT Exam Eligibility 2024

So, who is eligible for CAT exam?

Candidates applying for CAT entrance exam 2024 should fulfil any one of the conditions: 

• General, EWS and CAT entrance exam eligibility criteria for OBA categories - Graduate with a minimum of 50% in bachelor's degree.
• Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Persons with Disability (PwD) categories - Graduate with a minimum of 45% of bachelor’s degree.
• Candidates who have completed professional degrees CA/CS/ICWA/ Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India with the required percentage. 
• Final year Bachelor’s degree students can also apply. 

Candidates applying for CAT 2023 should fulfill any one of the following conditions:

• a) Completed bachelor’s degree with the required percentage of marks*.
• b) Completed professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)) with required percentage*.
• c) Should be in the final year of bachelor’s degree with required percentage*. *SC/ST/PwD candidates should have a minimum 45%. For General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates, the minimum is 50%.

CAT Exam Eligibility Age Limit? 

As per the CAT exam eligibility age, there is no age limit defined as of yet.

CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria for Graduates

• It should be noted that a candidate appearing for the final year of the Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification examination and those who have completed degree requirements and are awaiting results can also apply.  
• However, it may be noted that such candidates, if selected, will be allowed to join the program provisionally only if they submit a certificate from the Principal/Registrar of their University/Institution (issued on or before the date as stipulated by the respective IIM) stating that they have completed all the requirements for obtaining the bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification on the date of issue of the certificate.  

Note: IIMs may check eligibility at any selection stage, detailed on www.iimcat.ac.in. Meeting minimum criteria doesn't guarantee shortlisting. Candidates must keep a valid, unique email and mobile number throughout the process.

Check: CAT Exam Subjects 2024

As per the legal requirements the CAT exam eligibility criteria for different categories have the following seats reserved respectively for all the categories:

• Scheduled Caste (SC)- 15%
• Scheduled Tribe (ST)-7.5%  
• Other Backward Classes- 27% 
• Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)- Up to 10% 

CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2024: Person with Benchmark Disabilities

• Under The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 5% of seats are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD), defined as individuals with at least 40% of a specified disability, as certified by an authority.
• The Act lists specific disabilities, including blindness, deafness, locomotor disabilities, autism, intellectual disabilities, and more, ensuring inclusive education opportunities.

Note: Candidates from reserved categories (SC/ST/NC-OBC/EWS/PwD) should review eligibility carefully before applying. Although IIMs aim to adhere to legal reservation proportions, these candidates must meet minimum eligibility and performance standards for admission consideration.

Check: List of Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT 2024 Scores

It is important for the reserved category candidate to:  

• Note the eligibility to give CAT exam carefully before applying.
• Meet the minimum eligibility to write CAT exam and a certain minimum level of performance to be considered for the admission process for CAT exam.
• Understand that no change in the category is entertained after CAT registration.

Boost your CAT preparation: CAT 2024 Online Coaching

Can students in the last year of their bachelor's degree apply? 

CAT exam eligibility for IIM

Yes! Candidates appearing for the final year of the Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification examination and those who have completed degree requirements and are awaiting results can also apply.

However, it may be noted that such candidates, if selected, will be allowed to join the program provisionally only if they submit a certificate from the Principal/Registrar of their University/Institution (issued on or before the date as stipulated by the respective IIM) stating that they have completed all the requirements for obtaining the Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification on the date of issue of the certificate.

Prepare with: CAT Mock Tests 2024

Eligibility Criteria of CAT 2024: CAT Percentage Calculation

• The CAT exam eligibility percentage of marks obtained by the candidate would be calculated based on the practice followed by the respective University/ Institution.  
• Regarding grades/ CGPA, the conversion to percentage of marks would be based on the procedure certified by the respective University/ Institution. 
• If any University/ Institution confirms that there is no scheme for converting CGPA into equivalent marks, the equivalence would be established by dividing the candidate’s CGPA by the maximum possible CGPA and multiplying the result by 100.  

Check: CAT Marks vs Percentile

A candidate needs to understand that:  

• IIMs may verify eligibility for CAT 2024 exam in India at various stages of the selection process. 
• Mere fulfilment of the CAT 2024 minimum eligibility to appear in CAT exam will not ensure consideration for shortlisting by IIMs. 
• A valid and unique email account and a mobile phone number throughout the selection process are a must.  

Check: CAT Exam Pattern 2024

CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2024: Selection Criteria

IIMs may verify eligibility criteria for CAT at various stages of the selection process, the details of which are provided at the website www.iimcat.ac.in.

Applicants should note that the mere fulfilment of the minimum eligibility criteria for CAT entrance exam will not ensure consideration for shortlisting by IIMs. 

Candidates must declare and maintain a valid and unique email account and mobile phone number throughout the selection.

Check: CAT Exam Previous Year Question Paper

CAT Exam Eligibility Category Reservations 2024

The IIMs fulfil all the legal requirements as stated by the Government of India regarding reservation of seats, stated as under: 

• 15% of the seats are reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) 
• 7.5% for Scheduled Tribe (ST)  
• 27% of the seats are reserved for Other Backward Classes (OBC) belonging to the “non-creamy” layer (NC-OBC) 
• Up to 10% of the seats are reserved for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)  
• 5% seats are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) [as per the provisions of The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016]  

Conclusion: CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2024 are designed to ensure that the candidates who take the test possess the skills and aptitude necessary to succeed in a competitive business environment. Apart from IIMs, thousands of other B-schools offer MBAs based on CAT scores. Therefore, it is important to note that the CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2024 may vary for other management colleges, so it is important to check with the institute before applying for the CAT.

Check: CAT Exam Preparation 2024