The detailed CAT Eligibility 2023 is explained here for CAT 2023 exam aspirants. The eligibility for the CAT exam hasn’t changed for the past several years. So the candidates can expect the same CAT eligibility criteria for the upcoming exam. Before starting with the preparation, candidates need to know the complete CAT 2023 eligibility criteria, and age limit to understand whether they are eligible for CAT or not. Please refer BYJU’S CAT College Predictor tool.
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It is always suggested to check the official website of respective IIMs to know the IIM exam eligibility. Note down if there are any special CAT eligibility criteria for IIMs. It is because, CAT is just an entrance exam, and scoring a good rank in CAT does not guarantee getting selected in the IIM selection process.
Read the article below and note down the important points related to CAT exam eligibility 2023.
CAT Eligibility 2023: Overview
Every year, IIM CAT publishes information about CAT exam eligibility criteria. The authority has the complete right to withdraw your application at any time during the selection process if there are disparities in your eligibility. So, before registering for the exam, you should examine the CAT Eligibility 2023.
The candidates must note that the exam conducting authority CAT IIM had made some changes in CAT eligibility due to the last 2 years of covid 19 pandemic. So, it is very important for all aspiring candidates to check the official CAT exam eligibility for IIM very carefully to avoid later-stage discrepancies.
CAT 2023 Eligibility: Important Highlights
The key criteria for CAT eligibility are summarised in the table below.
| Components | Details |
| CAT age limit | None |
| Educational Eligibility | Graduate |
| Work Experience | None |
| Minimum Marks in Graduation | 50% (45% for Reserved Category) |
| Reservation | As per Category |
CAT Eligibility: What is Included in It?
The detailed CAT eligibility criteria are given below. There are certain points regarding the CAT eligibility criteria that the candidate should be aware of. The points that are discussed in this article are as follows:
- CAT eligibility with respect to the educational qualification
- CAT exam eligibility for final-year graduate students
- CAT eligibility criteria for students with backlogs
- CAT eligibility and reservation details
Before going to the eligibility details, it is important to get familiar with the details about the CAT exam and what this exam is all about. A brief introduction to the CAT exam is given below. For further details about CAT, check the linked article.
What is CAT Entrance Exam?
The CAT exam is conducted annually by one of the IIMs based on a policy of rotation. The CAT exam works as a prerequisite to taking admission into prestigious management institutes in India. The CAT Exam has primarily 3 sections: Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning & Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension. CAT aspirants should check the pattern and the latest CAT 2023 syllabus to know about the detailed syllabus topics for the exam and prepare accordingly.
CAT 2023 will be tentatively conducted in the last week of November 2023. The result will be published in the last week of December 2023, tentatively. Individuals aspiring to take the CAT 2023 exam should check the latest CAT eligibility criteria before registering for the exam.
CAT Age Limit
According to the official CAT Exam Eligibility 2023, there is no maximum age for taking the test. As there are no restrictions on maximum age, candidates who desire to apply for CAT 2023 should only review the other CAT Eligibility criteria.
| CAT Exam Age Limit | Limitation |
| Upper Age Limit | Not Applicable |
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2023: Academic Qualification
| Qualification | Required Affiliation | Required Pass Percentage |
| Engineering Degree – B.Tech/ B.E. | Recognized by MHRD/AICTE * | 50% (45% for SC, ST, and PWD candidates) |
| Bachelor’s Degree from any University | Recognized by UGC | 50% (45% for SC, ST, and PWD candidates) |
| Students who are in their final year of a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are also eligible to take CAT Exam** | Continuing graduation from University Recognized by MHRD/AICTE or UGC | 50% (45% for SC, ST, and PWD candidates) |
Important Notes:
* The university has to be declared incorporated by an Act of the Parliament or State Legislature in India or declared as a Deemed to Be a University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.
** Such candidates have to submit a certificate from the Registrar/Principal of their
respective university or institution. The certificate must state that they have completed all the requirements for obtaining the equivalent qualification on the date of the issue of the certificate.
Important:
It should be noted that the percentage an individual obtains in the bachelor’s degree would be calculated on the basis of practice followed by the concerned institution or university. If a percentage conversion scheme is unavailable for a particular university, the candidate’s CGPA will be divided by the maximum possible CGPA and multiplied the result by 100.
Video on CAT Eligibility Criteria 2023
CAT Exam Eligibility: Latest Changes
The authority did not alter the requirements for taking the CAT Exam in 2022. Candidates taking the upcoming exam should therefore anticipate the same CAT Eligibility 2023. However, during the previous few years, eligibility has changed as a result of the announcements listed below.
- The minimal percentage requirement will be fully eliminated for the coming exam, according to CAT Authorities.
- According to the official CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria, applicants with graduation backlogs are also free to apply for CAT 2023.
- Work experience is not mandatory.
CAT Eligibility with Backlogs
It should be noted that the official IIM admission policy does not state that candidates with backlogs cannot apply for the CAT exam. So, any candidate with a backlog in the final year of graduation is also eligible to apply for CAT and complete the registration. To get more information about this, visit CAT Registration with Backlogs.
| CAT Registration With Backlogs |
CAT Eligibility: Reservation Details
The IIMs have included some reservations for the different category students applying for any of the business administration programmes. The reservation details of the IIMs are explained below in a comprehensive way.
| Category | Reserved Percentage |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 15% |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 7.5% |
| NC-OBC (Non-creamy Other Backward Classes) | 27% |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | up to 10% |
| PWD (Person With Disability) | 5% |
It should be noted that the candidates belonging to any of the above-mentioned castes are required to upload the caste certificate during registration and carry a photocopy of it during document verification. For further details about the caste certificate, check the below-given article.
Check: CAT Caste Certificate Format
In the case of PwD category students, they must bring a PwD certificate issued by a competent authority. The different categories of disabilities that are accepted under PwD reservation are the individuals with:
- Blindness or partial blindness
- Hearing disabilities
- Locomotor disabilities (dwarfism, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, and acid attack victims)
- Other disabilities like autism, any mental illness, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, etc.
PwD candidates are suggested to go through Section 39 of the PWD Act, 1995, to check the list of all disabilities under this category. Candidates applying for the PwD category should have at least 40% of disability as certified by any medical authority.
Importance of CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2023
It is extremely important for CAT aspirants to be completely acquainted with the CAT eligibility details before applying for the exam. During CAT 2023 registration, candidates will be asked to fill in their details and submit the respective documents on the portal. In case of any discrepancies later, the candidature of the candidates can be cancelled without prior notice. It should also be noted that being eligible for CAT does not guarantee admission into the IIMs or any other B-school. CAT scores will be used to shortlist candidates for the further rounds of selection (WAT and PI).
CAT 2023 exam will be conducted on November 26, 2023 (Last Sunday) tentatively by one of the IIMs. Every year, almost 2-3 lakh candidates appear for the exam, and only a few make it to their preferred institute. Having proper CAT preparation is the key to ace it.
Stay tuned to BYJU’S and download BYJU’S – The Learning App to get complete assistance for CAT exam 2023 preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions on CAT Eligibility
Who decides CAT Eligibility Criteria?
The IIM CAT decides CAT Eligibility Criteria every year to conduct the national-level MBA exam CAT.
What is CAT Age Limit?
Age is not an obstacle to taking the CAT Exam. Candidates of all ages are eligible to apply for this exam. Candidates must have graduated with a minimum of 50% (45% for the Reserved Category) to be eligible for the CAT Exam.
What is CAT Eligibility for poor students?
Candidates would be classified as poor students if their family income is less than Rs. 8 lakhs annually. To use this service, users must submit an Income and Asset Certificate in accordance with the CAT Eligibility Criteria 2023.
Is a backlog candidate eligible for CAT 2023?
Yes, applicants with backlogs are still eligible to apply for the CAT Exam. However, they have to achieve a 50% grade for their graduation (45% for the reserved category).
