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COMMON ADMISSION TEST 2012 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS GENERAL
FORMAT OF CAT
Q.1) I hear that CAT will be held online. Is that correct?
Ans. CAT is a computer-based test (CBT) and not an Internet-based test (IBT) i.e. a candidate does not take the test on an Internet site. Instead of reading the questions in a paper booklet and darkening the ovals on the answer-sheet, a candidate will read the questions on a computer terminal and choose an answer by clicking on the correct option.
Q.2) How is the computer-based format different from the paper-based format?
Ans. The format of the test is more or less the same except that a candidate reads a question on a computer terminal and clicks on the correct answer, instead of reading on a paper booklet and using a pencil to darken the ovals on an answer sheet.
Q.3) Can I take the test from any computer?
Ans. No. A candidate will have to test on a pre-assigned workstation and will not have a choice to choose his or her workstation, in the testing venue chosen by him/her during the time of registration.
Q.4) What does a CBT test looks like?
Ans. A CAT practice test is available on the website www.catiim.in for candidates to get familiarised with the functionality and navigation of the actual test.
TEST DURATION & PATTERN
Q.1) How many sections are there in the test?
Ans. There will be two separately timed sections in the test. The sections are (a) Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (b) Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning.
Q.2) How many questions are there in each of these sections?
Ans. There will be 30 questions in each section.
Q.3) Can I move back and forth between the two sections?
Ans. No, each section will be timed separately. Once a section ends, candidates can no longer go back to it.
Q.4) Can I choose which section to attempt first?
Ans. No, candidates will be presented with the section on Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation first, followed by Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning.
Q.5) How will the separately timed sections work?
Ans. There will be an on-screen timer counting down from 1 hour 10 mins (i.e. 70 minutes) once a section begins. When the time is up, that section will end and you will not be able to go back to it. The second section will then begin and the on-screen timer will start counting down from 1 hour 10 minutes again. Once the second section ends, the test will end.
Q.6) Can I start on the second section if I finish the first section before the 70 minutes are up?
Ans. No, you will not have the ability to end the first section before the first 70 minutes are up. However, you will be given an option to end the second section, and therefore your test, before the second 70 minutes are up. If you choose to end your test before the full duration is up, you will be required to wait at your testing station until everyone is dismissed by the test administrator.
Q.7) What is the duration of the test?
Ans. Each of the sections will be 1 hour and 10 minutes (i.e. 70 minutes). Including a 15-minute tutorial before the start of the test which candidates are advised to go through, the total duration of the test will be 2 hours and 35 minutes.
Q.8) What is the tutorial?
Ans. The tutorial provides a series of screens that will orient you to the computer-based CAT. This will give you an opportunity to try the various features, including how to navigate between questions in a section, review questions, etc. The tutorial has a total duration of 15 minutes and candidates are advised to go through it entirely before starting the actual exam sections. For a similar preview, candidates can take a tour of the CAT 2012 Practice Test which will be available on www.catiim.in
SCHEDULING & REGISTRATION
Q.1) Who is eligible to take the test?
Ans. The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree, with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA [45% in case of the candidates belonging
to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Differently Abled (DA) categories], awarded by any of the Universities incorporated by an
act of the central or state legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an act of Parliament or declared to be
deemed as a University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification recognized by the Ministry of HRD,
Government of India. The percentage of marks obtained by the candidate in the bachelor’s degree would be calculated based on the practice
followed by the university/ institution from where the candidate has obtained the degree. In case the candidates are awarded grades/CGPA
instead of marks, the conversion of grades/CGPA to percentage of marks would be based on the procedure certified by the university/ institution
from where they have obtained the bachelor’s degree. In case the university/ institution does not have any 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
with 100. Candidates appearing for the final year of bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification examination and those who have completed degree
requirements and are awaiting results can also apply. IIMs may verify eligibility at various stages of the selection process, the details of
which are provided at the website www.catiim.in.
The CAT application data is treated as final and no change in it is permitted at a later stage. In case of detection of any variation in the
data provided at the CAT stage with the actual data your candidature may be nullified.
Prospective candidates must have the following throughout the selection process.
1. CAT 2012 Voucher
2. Pay-in Slip
3. Valid and unique Email ID
4. CAT Registration Number / Testing ID (provided to you after completion of your online registration)
Q.2) Can I appear for CAT for practice purpose, though I am aware that I am not eligible?
Ans. No.
Q.3) Is there any age restriction for appearing in CAT?
Ans. No, there is no age restriction for appearing in CAT.
Q.4) What is the fee for the test?
Ans. The fee is Rs.1600. If you belong to the SC/ST category the applicable fee is Rs.800.
Q.5) Where do I pay my fees?
Ans. Candidates are required to purchase a CAT voucher at selected Axis Bank branches from 30 July - 17 September 2012. You can visit www.catiim.in for the list of Axis Bank branches.
Q.6) When does the sale of voucher start and end?
Ans. Sale of vouchers starts on Monday, 30 July 2012 at selected Axis Bank branches and ends on Monday, 17 September 2012.
Q.7) How can I purchase a voucher?
Ans. You are required to fill a pay-in-slip at the selected Axis Bank branches to obtain the voucher. There will be two copies of the pay-in-slip. The bank will retain one copy of the filled pay-in-slip and the other will be stamped and given back to you. Please retain your copy of the pay-in-slip with you during the entire selection process.
Note: The name on the pay-in-slip must match the name appearing on the school-leaving certificate.
Q.8) When and how do I register for CAT 2012 after buying the voucher?
Ans. Online registration for CAT 2012 will begin on Monday, 30 July 2012 and end on Wednesday, 19 September 2012. Additional instructions for the online application and registration process are also available on the website www.catiim.in.
Q.9) Where can I find the voucher number required for registration?
Ans. You can find the voucher number under the scratch-off area of the voucher you purchase at an Axis Bank branch. Please use a coin to scratch off gently so the voucher number does not become illegible. Vouchers will not be refunded under any circumstances.
Q.10) Can I use my coaching institute’s or a friend’s email address when registering for CAT?
Ans. No, you need to have a valid and unique email address.
Q.11) Is there a restriction on what can be entered within the address fields during the online registration?
Ans. Yes, you need to limit each address line to 30 characters including spaces. Special characters are acceptable.
Q.12) When will CAT be held and can I choose a test date?
Ans. CAT will be held during the period Thursday, 11 October 2012 - Tuesday, 6 Nonember 2012. Yes, you can choose a test date, test time, and venue across 36 cities all over India, subject to availability.
Q.13) From where can I get the list of test centres?
Ans. A list of test centres will be available on the website www.catiim.in.
Q.14) When will I get my Admit Card?
Ans. a.) Soon after you fill-in, review, and submit your personal information during the online application, an automated
confirmation email, which will contain your Application Summary, will be sent to the email address provided by you.
b.) After submitting your personal information, you are expected to continue registration by scheduling your test date, test time, and
venue. Once you have submitted this scheduling information, a 2nd automated confirmation email, which will contain your CAT 2012 Admit Card,
will be sent to the email address provided by you. Only at this stage is your CAT 2012 registration complete.
Q.15) What details will be mentioned in the Admit Card?
Ans. The admit card will contain the name of the candidate, test date, time, venue, confirmation number, CAT Registration Number / Testing ID and instructions for the candidate.
Q.16) Will the Admit Card be sent to me as a hard copy by mail?
Ans. No. The admit card will be sent to the email address provided by you, only after you have filled in your online application and scheduled your test. It is therefore, mandatory for you to have a valid email account throughout the selection process.
Note: Admit Card is a mandatory requirement in order to test. You must bring a print out of your Admit Card to the test centre.
Q.17) Are there any special provisions for Differently Abled candidates?
Ans. Yes. Please refer to the FAQs for DA Candidates for more details.
Q.18) What are the different time slots for scheduling the test for a typical testing day?
Ans. A typical testing day for CAT will have 2 exam sessions. Candidates are allowed to schedule for any one of the sessions, subject to availability. Session timings are as follows:
a. Session 1: Testing will begin at 10 AM. Candidates are required to arrive at the test centre no later than 8:30 AM for security checks, identity verification, and checking in.
b. Session 2: Testing will begin at 3:15 PM. Candidates are required to arrive at the test centre no later than 1:45 PM for security checks, identity verification, and checking in.
Q.19) Can I appear for CAT 2012 more than once during the testing window?
Ans. No. You can appear for CAT 2012 only once. It will be deemed a fraudulent activity if one attempts to appear for CAT 2012 more than once. Admit Cards and picture IDs of the candidates will be checked, and candidate pictures and biometric information will also be captured at the test centre.
Q.20) If I have made any mistake(s) while registering for CAT 2012, can I make changes later to rectify?
Ans. If you make mistakes while entering the application data, you may login to
www.catiim.in or https://iim.prometric.com and select “Edit Profile”
to make changes to your personal details such as address or “Edit Application” to make changes to your application data such as
educational information or interview location. For security reasons, editing of candidate’s full name and username will not be
allowed. To reschedule your appointment, select “Reschedule an Appointment” to choose a different test centre, date and time of
your test, of course, subject to availability. The ability to edit application profile and registration details will be available
until the registration window is closed i.e. till 11:59 PM on 19 September 2012, IST.
Note: If you make changes to your profile or reschedule, you must carry the most recent admit card and attend the most recent test session.
Q.21) What are the timings to contact the Candidate Care helpline?
Ans. The FAQs, IVRS and online instructions are designed to enable self-service. You are requested to use these tools which can
guide you through the entire process and help answer most of your queries. In case you are still facing issues, then CAT Candidate Care
Support is available by phone and email.
Phone: 1-800-102-2256
Webmail: http://www.prometric.com/IIM-CAT/contactus
Phone support availability:
Registration Phase: 30 July - 19 September 2012, 9:00AM to 6:00PM from Mondays to Saturdays.
Pre-testing window: 20 September - 10 October 2012, 9:00AM to 6:00PM from Mondays to Saturdays.
Testing window: 11 October - 6 November 2012, 8:00AM to 7:00PM daily.
Post-testing window: 7 November 2012- 31 January 2013, 9:00AM to 6:00PM Mondays to Fridays .
CAT Candidate Care will be closed on the following national public holidays:
* Friday, 10 August 2012 – Janamastami
* Wednesday, 15 August 2012 – Independence Day
* Monday, 20 August 2012 – Idu’l Fitr
* Tuesday, 02 October 2012 – Mahatma Ghandhi's Birthday
* Wednesday, 24 October 2012 – Dussehra
* Tuesday, 13 November 2012 - Diwali
* Tuesday, 25 December 2012 – Christmas
* Tuesday, 01 January 2013 – New Year’s Day
* Saturday, 26 January 2013 – Republic Day
Webmail support availability:
Webmail support will be available from 30 July 2012 until the end of the first week of February 2013. Queries, received by webmail, will be responded to within 2 business days. Do not send the same email multiple times, as it will delay the response process.
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Process |
Date |
Other information |
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IVRS Available
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17 August 2011 |
1-800-103-7383
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Advertisement Date
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7 August 2011
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Published in selected National Dailies
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| Voucher Sale |
17 August – 1 October 2011 |
Fees payment & voucher (fee receipt) from AXIS Bank branches |
| Registration Window |
17 August – 4 October 2011 |
Register by logging into www.catiim.in |
| Test Dates & Centre |
22 October – 18 November 2011 |
Test Centre information available on registration portal or www.catiim.in |
| Exam Results |
11 January 2011 |
www.catiim.in |
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