Taking a gap year to prepare for the CAT is quite a common and accepted approach among MBA aspirants. In fact, it often reflects a clear sense of purpose and dedication. The key lies in how effectively you articulate and present this decision.

Since you completed your graduation in 2023 and dedicated yourself to CAT preparation, you can frame your experience strategically:

What to Highlight:

- Dedicated preparation for the CAT demonstrates commitment and goal clarity.

- Any online courses or certifications you completed (for example, Excel, Python, Marketing, etc.) add credibility and show initiative.

- Volunteering, freelancing, blogging, or content creation—even if unpaid—indicate that you remained productive and engaged.

- Short-term or remote internships are valuable and should be mentioned.

- If you mentored peers or juniors, include this as evidence of leadership or responsibility.

— How to Present This on Your Resume:

You might create a section such as:

Academic & Professional Development (2023–2024)

- Full-time preparation for CAT 2024, focusing on Quantitative Aptitude, LRDI, and Verbal Ability.

- Completed online certifications in [specific courses].

- Participated in mock group discussions, personal interviews, and kept abreast of current affairs for overall profile building.

In interviews, be honest and confident about your gap year. Explain how this period contributed to both personal and professional growth. Business schools value self-awareness, dedication, and the ability to make intentional choices.

If you need assistance framing your resume or drafting a gap justification statement, I’d be glad to help.

Wishing you the very best for CAT. Stay focused—you’re on the right track.

Dear Aspirant

Your rank at eleven thousand eight hundred eighty seven under the OBC reservation has a strong chance for admission to the Computer Science Engineering (CSE) program at one of the three CUSAT campuses The exact seat depends on opening and closing ranks for CSE in each campus and the round of counselling

CUSAT campuses offering BTech CSE
• School of Engineering Thrikkakkara – flagship campus in Kochi
• CUCEK Kuttanad – second campus in Alappuzha district
• Lakeside campus does not offer CSE so only two campuses are relevant

Previous closing ranks under OBC quota for CSE
• Thrikkakkara campus closed near rank one thousand
• CUCEK Kuttanad closed around six thousand two hundred in 2024

Your likelihood with rank 11887
• Thrikkakkara campus is unlikely as CSE closes much lower than your rank
• CUCEK has potential since closing ranks in recent years have extended into the high six thousands
• Seats may remain open in later rounds so you may gain admission at CUCEK

Other CSE seat possibilities under OBC
• School of Engineering might open seats in spot or mop up rounds if higher ranked students do not confirm
• CUCEK will likely accept OBC candidates up to rank one two thousand to thirteen thousand
• Keep an eye on real time counselling as closing ranks may shift downward with seat cancellations

Alternative branches and campuses
If CSE is not available at CUCEK you may consider similar branches like Electronics and Communication Engineering Information Technology Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering closing beyond twelve thousand under OBC
You may also add interdisciplinary programs or lateral entry courses available in Lakeside or Thrikkakkara depending on available seats

Counselling strategy recommendations
• Register and fill choices on the CUSAT admissions portal in all counselling rounds
• Place CUCEK CSE as a high preference followed by ECE or IT at Thrikkakkara or CUCEK
• Monitor round wise closing ranks through the portal or official communications
• Participate in mop up and spot rounds where seats are more likely available near your rank

Key considerations
• Cutoffs decrease between rounds allowing more opportunities in later phases
• OBC candidates compete within their category reducing competition compared to open rankings
• CUCEK is your best target campus for CSE at your rank under OBC
• You must have all documents ready like previous marksheet category certificate and CUSAT admit card for verification

Let me know if you would like a suggested list of choices tailored to your academic interest or want help tracking counselling round data

Hello aspirant,

Since MBA is a post-graduate program, the primary requirement for eligibility for the CAT exam is graduation or an equivalent degree; that is, each candidate must be in their final year of study or have completed graduation.  Both students in the Reserved and Unreserved categories must meet the minimum score requirements, yet their overall percentages differ.

For more information, you can visit our site through following link:

https://bschool.careers360.com/exams/cat

Thank you

Hi aspirant,

1. The Common Admission Test ( CAT ) is a highly competitive , computer - based entrance exam .
2. CAT is administered annually by one of the IIMs for admission to its postgraduate management programs (MBA) as well as those of multiple other top business schools in India .
3. It primarily assesses candidates' VARC , DILR , and QA skills.
4. The exam lasts 120 minutes , with 40 minutes allotted to each section .
5. The questions are a mix of multiple choice questions with negative marking for bad responses and type-in-the-answer questions with no negative marking .
6. Scoring is based on a raw score , which is then normalized across exam slots to account for differences in difficulty , yielding a scaled score and a percentile that represents a candidate's performance in comparison to other test takers .

CAT 2024 Question Paper With Solutions

You can also refer to the link given above for more information on the same.

All the best!

Hi aspirant,

1. In general, PUMBA (Pune University's Department of Management Sciences) requires a higher CAT percentile, usually between 94 and 96.
2. Nevertheless, final selection is based on a comprehensive process that includes your CAT score (which usually carries 50% weightage), performance in the Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds (30% weightage), academic record (10% weightage), and work experience (10% weightage).
3. Even though your CAT score is strong, a strong performance in the subsequent selection rounds will be essential for admission.
4. It is recommended to contact the institution directly for latest and up-to-date information.

PUMBA MBA

You can refer to the link attached above for more information on the same.

All the best!

Hi aspirant,

1. Vadodara is an MHT CET exam center located outside of Maharashtra .
2. This makes it easier for Gujarati applicants to take the exam.
3. When completing your MHT CET application form, you will have the option of selecting your chosen exam centers , including those situated outside of Maharashtra.

MHT CET Exam Centres 2025

You can refer to the link given above for more information on the same.

All the best!

Hello dear,

The CAT exam requires a significant amount of time for preparation, including brushing up on basic concepts and practicing advanced problem-solving. Starting too early can feel overwhelming and may not be sustainable with other academic commitments.

The CAT exam requires a level of focus and maturity that is not always present in class 9. Starting preparation at this stage can be challenging to maintain. At class 9, you're primarily focused on learning foundational concepts. So you just need to boost your fundamentals by practicing more and more at class 9 because the Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT syllabus includes all the topics of Mathematics from Class 9 to 10 such as Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra, Trigonometry and Mensuration.

Start Preparation 12 Months Prior:

• Begin your CAT preparation around 12 months before the exam date.
• Dedicate 5 to 6 hours daily for studying, focusing on smart work rather than just hard work.

Identify Weak Sections:

• Recognize your weak section at the start of your preparation.
• Allocate more time and attention to improving your weak areas while maintaining practice in all sections

I hope you got your answer, That's all Thank you.

IIFT CAT Cutoff 2024

IIFT Delhi

General: 95–98 percentile

OBC: 90+

SC: 85–95

ST/PwD: 75–93

IIFT Kolkata

General: 85–95 percentile

OBC/SC/ST: 50–95 (varies)

Note: Final selection also includes WAT, GD, PI, academics, and work experience.

Many colleges accept low CAT scores or have their own exams. Some examples:

Lovely Professional University (LPU)

Amity University

UPES Dehradun

Jaipuria Institute of Management

ITM Navi Mumbai

These often have GD/PI rounds after application.

Hi aspirant,

CAT 2024 Slot 1 , held on November 24 , 2024 , was widely regarded as being of easy to moderate difficulty , and significantly easier than CAT 2023 .

1. The total number of questions increased from 66 to 68, mostly due to two new questions in the DILR section, and there were no para jumbles in VARC.
2. VARC was rated as intermediate , with an emphasis on reading comprehension.
3. DILR , despite the increased number of questions , was generally seen as simpler than the previous year , with a combination of 4- and 5-question sets.
4. Quantitative Aptitude was likewise evaluated as easier than CAT 2023, with a heavy emphasis on Arithmetic and Algebra .

CAT 2024 Slot 1 Question Paper and Answers

Kindly refer to the link given above for the slot 1 question paper along with the answer key.

All the best!