Summary: The Common Admission Test (CAT) is an important entrance exam for admission to the Indian Institutes of Management and other top B-schools in India. The article answers why CAT Exam is important?

Pursuing an MBA degree from one of the top B-schools in India is a dream come true. The first step itself is the toughest one i.e., writing CAT. This exam is not only India’s flagship management entrance exam but is also one of the toughest to crack.

It primarily evaluates candidates’ time management skills and their capacity to remain calm under pressure.

It is constructed in such a way that the testing authorities analyze you on multiple aspects at the same time.   

Here are reasons indicating why CAT exam is important? 

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Why CAT Exam is Important?

With a desire to make a career in management, more than 2 lakh candidates register for CAT every year for a few thousand seats in India’s top business schools.

2.25 lakh students registered for CAT 2022, and around 2.22 lakh appeared for the exam.

Apart from the IIMs, 90 non-IIM institutions used CAT 2022 scores for admission into their management programmes.   

CAT is not only the gateway to getting into one of the top B-Schools, but preparing for CAT in itself is an enriching process and a rewarding experience.

It transforms you for the better. In this article, we further discuss the importance of writing CAT. 

Why is CAT exam important?

Reasons to take the CAT Exam: 

Why writing CAT is important if you desire to build a career in management? 

Here are the advantages of CAT exam:

1 - The Top B-school Tag 

Looking for an IIM tag, write CAT. And even if you do not get into one of the 21 IIMs in the country, you can still pursue your management education from a top-notch b-school like SPJIMR, NITIE, FMS, MDI, IITs, etc. The fact is that mostly all the big names in the field of management education consider your CAT score for admission into their flagship programmes. 

Check: CAT Exam Pattern 2024

2 - The Top Company Tag 

Want to work for world leaders across sectors, write CAT. All the recruiters are well aware of the fact that the campuses of IIMs and other tier-one b-schools in the country are the breeding grounds for intelligent minds. So, they prefer recruiting from these campuses. Get into one and start your career with the best. 

Check: Participating institutes of IIM

3 - The Top Salary Package Tag 

Dreaming of a high salary package from the start of your career, write CAT. The recruiters offer high salaries to the brilliant minds studying at the IIMs and the top-notch b-schools in the country. To be a part of the high-earning population, the first step is to appear for CAT. 

4 - The Top Entrepreneur Tag 

Don’t want a high-paying job but instead wish to be a well-known entrepreneur, write CAT. Your ability to get seed capital for starting a new business improves tremendously if you study at a premier B-school in the country. You also get to interact with people from diverse backgrounds, where you can brainstorm your ideas and get a better handle on things. 

Check: How to Improve Vocabulary for CAT Exam?

 5 - CAT Exam is one of the few tests accepted by all the IIMs

Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are India's pinnacle of management education. 

Their courses are highly acclaimed, and their faculty is among the best-trained in the world. IIMs offer tailor-made courses to meet the changing needs of the corporate world. Students are exposed to the latest management practices and gain a thorough understanding of the complexities of the global business environment.

The IIMs also have a strong alumni network, which provides an invaluable source of contacts and resources for students.

Check: CAT Cut off

6 - CAT offers a level playing field for all students

CAT offers a level playing field for all students because the exam is conducted the same way for everyone. The exam includes the same number of questions, difficulty level, and time frame for completion. 

The test is also objective, meaning it tests a student's knowledge and skills in a specific area rather than their personal opinions or beliefs. This helps to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. 

In addition, using multiple-choice questions makes the exam easy to grade, allowing for greater fairness and accuracy when evaluating student performance.

Check: CAT Exam Question Papers

7 - Jobs in the Public Sectors

CAT (Competitive Ability Test) provides an ideal platform for students to assess their ability to compete in the public sector job market. 

The CAT exam is also important for candidates seeking a career in public sector banks and government organizations. A good CAT score is an added advantage for them as it helps them to get into top-notch organizations.

The results of the CAT test indicate the candidate's potential and help employers to make better hiring decisions. 

8 - Studying in International schools

A good CAT score also helps the candidates to get admission to some of the best international business schools. 

This helps them to pursue their MBAs from the best institutes in the world and gain valuable experience.

Check: How to prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT?

The importance of writing CAT goes beyond the above-mentioned reasons. Here are a few more reasons why CAT exam is important in India?

• CAT offers a level ground for all aspirants. It evaluates a student's knowledge and skills in a specific area (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Aptitude (QA)) rather than their personal opinions or beliefs. This helps to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. 
• CAT offers an ideal platform for students to assess their ability to compete in the public sector job market. Not only private firms but even public sector firms go for their employee hunt on the campus of top-notch b-schools in the country. 
• CAT scores are a gateway to some of the best international business schools. Yes, the CAT score is also considered by international b-schools like Singapore Management University, Skema Business School in France, HEC Paris, ESCP Europe Business School in Germany, etc. 

Irrespective of whether or not you score well in CAT, the process of CAT prep is one which allows you an opportunity for personal growth. As it is one of the toughest exams in India, preparing for it automatically enhances work ethics, dedication and time management skills. And later, being a student at a prestigious business school gives you the chance to network with prominent business people, alumni, and faculty. This can assist you in creating a solid professional network that will ultimately boost your career.   

Check:  CAT Online Coaching

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can be said that the CAT exam is essential for aspiring MBA students. It not only helps them get admission into the top-notch business schools in India but also allows them to pursue their MBAs from the best international business schools. A good CAT score helps the candidates to get into the top organizations and gain a successful career.

Check: Why CAT exam is important for MBA?