CAT 2021 Exam Guidelines – All You Need To Know

CAT is the abbreviation for the Common Admission Test. It is an MBA entrance examination held at the all-India level.  The CAT 2021 Exam Guidelines and other important instructions pertaining to CAT 2021 Examination have been put forward by the IIMs.   The CAT scores will be used by the IIMs and other premier management institutions in India for their MBA and PGDM admissions for the 2022 session. The CAT 2021 Examination conducting body is IIM Ahmedabad.  This Examination can help candidates gain admission to the IIMs. 

There are several instructions and guidelines for the candidate to follow on the day of the exam, and several new ones have been added due to the current COVID-19 situation that has affected India and the entire world. So you must follow these CAT 2021 Exam Guidelines to complete your CAT 2021 Exam.

CAT 2021 Shift Timing

CAT 2021 exam will be conducted in three shifts on 28th November 2021. The shift timings are as follows.

Examination slots	Timings
Slot 1: Morning session	8:30 a.m.to 10:30 a.m.
Slot 2: Afternoon Session	12:30 p.m.to 2:30 p.m.
Slot 3: Evening Session	4:30 p.m to 6:30 p.m.

CAT 2021 Exam Day Workflow

1. Reach the Test Center ahead of time.
2. Now, Locate the lab assigned to you.
3. Next, Get your admit card scrutinised.
4. Drop your belongings such as bags, mobiles, in the designated area.
5. Patiently undergo the mandatory frisking.
6. Cooperate with the officials to get the required documents verified. 
7. Now proceed to the lab assigned to you and complete the registration formalities.
8. Next, locate your assigned console and log in to the test screen.
9. After logging in, verify and confirm your profile details. Then read the instructions and submit the declaration.
10. Start your test, when indicated. 
11. Once you have completed your test, provide your feedback and return the scribble pad.
12. Finally, exit the lab and return home.

Do not follow unfair practices 

Candidates must ensure that their conduct is beyond reproach and not engage in unfair practices, such as copying, carrying notes, etc. to secure more marks. Those found guilty of such practices will be prevented from completing the exam and mark their attempt invalid.

Seat Change Request

Candidates will not be permitted to request any seat change, nor will they be granted any at the last moment. They may sit only on the assigned seats. However, given the current situation, a gap is 2 seats is maintained between the candidates. 

No Bio-Breaks Allowed

Once the candidates enter the lab no bio-breaks will be allowed. So make sure that you plan accordingly. However, if it’s a medical emergency, candidates may be allowed the same, if there is no other way. Diabetics and such others must ensure to carry a medical certificate to display the same if the need arises. 

CAT 2021 Examination Pattern

The total number of questions is 76, of which 54 are MCQs and 22 are Non- MCQs.

Total Questions	76
MCQs	54
Non-MCQs	22
Number of questions in VARC section of CCAT	26
Number of questions in CAT DILR section	24
Number of questions in CAT QA section	26

Total Exam Time	2 Hours
Total Marks	228
Marks per right answer for MCQs	3
Negative Marking	1

CAT 2021 Guidelines for Persons with Disability

Candidates who come under the category of Persons with Disabilities are given an extra time of 20 minutes to complete the exam. They may also be assigned specific rooms on the ground floor or floors which can be accessed by lifts.

Candidates who have requested scribes must carry the Scribe Affidavit duly signed by the candidate and the scribe. Candidates who have requested wheelchairs as mentioned in their admit card will be provided with the same. Visually impaired candidates may be provided with the ‘Zoom’ feature as mentioned in their admit card. 

Format of Scribe Affidavit

Items Allowed in the CAT 2021 Examination Hall

The following documents should be available for a candidate when appearing at the Exam Lab/Hall for the Examination:

• Admit Card for CAT 2021
• Authorization Form
• Items related to Covid-19 related items
• Medical Certificate plus Scribe Affidavit
• Name Change Document, if applicable
• Photo Identity

Items Prohibited in the CAT 2021 Examination Hall

There is a list of several items that the candidates must not take into the examination hall. Some of these are:

• bag
• electronic gadgets
• jackets
• jewellery
• mobile phone
• shoes
• stationery items
• wallets
• watches

Any candidate who has a pacemaker or any metal implant in any part of the body has to produce a medical certificate proving this information at the time of the examination at the examination venue.

Important Documents: CAT 2021 Admit Card

The Admit Card/Hall Ticket is a key document that allows a candidate entry to the examination hall, showing that the candidate has been scrutinized and found eligible to take the CAT 2021 Examination. Carrying the Admit Card to the Examination Centre is mandatory. A candidate without an Admit Card will not be given entry to the Examination Hall. There are several details on the Admit Card which are required at the time of the Examination. These are: 

• Exam Date
• Name of the applicant
• PwD status
• Reference Number
• Registration Number
• Test Center address
• Test city
• Time/Session

The Admit Card is available online to download from the official portal of CAT. Print your copy of the Admit Card.  Then stick a passport size photograph to the specified area in the printout, and you are ready to take it to the Examination centre.

Besides the Admit Card, you must have a photo ID with you, which could be any government-issued photo documents/identity cards. The Admit Card should specify which documents are acceptable as government IDs. Please carry at least 2 of the acceptable IDs that you are safe even if one is not accepted for some reason, or carry all that you have from the below-listed IDs: 

• Aadhar card
• College ID
• Driving license
• Employer ID
• Identification affidavit
• PAN card
• Passport
• Voter ID

The process to Followed on the Day of the CAT 2021 Exam

There is a workflow for the examination day which the staff at the centre will guide you through. The workflow appears like the one listed below:

1. Reach the Examination Centre well in time
2. Locate the examination lab and have your Admit Card Checked.
3. Have your cell phone, bag, etc., deposited.
4. Go through the process of frisking.
5. Go through document verification.
6. Go through the registration process at the block/lab
7. Complete the process of registration
8. At your specified console, log into the Test screen
9. Conduct verification of your profile information
10. Read the instructions and the declaration and agree to the declaration
11. Begin your Examination
12. When the Examination is complete, register your feedback
13. Give back the scribble pad you were given
14. Move out of the lad
15. Leave the Examination centre

Dos for the CAT 2021 Exam Date 

• Have a printout on an A4 size sheet of the admit card. Ensure that you paste a clear photograph and that the signature is clear.
• The reporting time at the Examination centre is 7:30 AM in case of the forenoon session and 1:00 PM when it is the afternoon session.
• Deposit all of your prohibited belongings right at the gate itself.  The proper arrangement is available for doing this. 
• Maintain silence and no break your queue at the time of any of the following stages:
• Exam hall entry
• Exiting the test centre
• Process of biometric verification
• Process of document verification
• Be cooperative at the time of document verification as well as while frisking.
• For answering MCQs use the mouse.  For non-MCQs, use an on-screen keyboard. 
• You will be issued a writing pad and pen.  Be careful; no extra pad will be given. Return pad and pen after Examination completion to the person invigilating. The pad must also be intact.  Do not try to tear pages and carry them with you.
• You can seek help from the invigilator during the Examination.
• Once you are in the Examination Lad/Hall, mark your attendance by signing the form when asked to do so.
• Give the admit card, duly signed, to the invigilator in the Lab/Hall.

Don’ts for the CAT 2021 Exam Date 

• Do not appear for more than one Examination.  Attempting more than one session will attract cancellation.
• Don’t be late. Entry for the forenoon session will close at 8:45 AM and for the forenoon one at 2:15 PM. If you get late, your attempt will be cancelled.
• Do not carry any gadgets to the Examination Lab/Hall; else, your attempt will be cancelled. Only gadgets medically essential and allowed by the authorities can be carried inside. 
• Leave your footwear outside the examination hall/lab. Do not carry them inside.
• Do not wear clothes with pockets.
• Do not wear heavy make-up.
• Do not attempt to cheat or copy as it has the penalty of cancellation of paper for the candidate. 
• Do not argue or get into an altercation with anyone at the centre.  You might be barred from sitting for the Examination that day. 
• Do not use the keyboard as it will lock the computer.  
• Do not cause disturbance or disturb others, as action will be taken against you.
• Do not request a bio break. Once in the Examination Lab/Hall, only a break for a medical emergency is allowed. 
• People accompanying must not enter the Examination centre premises.
• On the day of the Examination, any request for change in exam lab/test centre/console shall not be entertained.
• Don’t encourage or provoke anyone to commit or be part of any malpractice.
• Keep your hands free of any mehndi, as this will interfere with the biometric process. 

COVID-19 Guidelines

With the Admit Card for CAT, a set of COVID-19 related guidelines have been released to be followed at the examination centre.

• Follow social distancing with the examination staff and other examinees.
• Mask wearing is mandatory.  No mask means no exam for the candidate. 
• Thermo gun will be used to check the temperature of every examinee.  Those with raised temperatures will be kept out of the Examination centre. 
• The examinee has to bring a hand sanitiser (50 ml) and water bottle, both transparent containers.  Sharing will not be allowed.

Self Declaration Form

This self-declaration form is a recent addition, given the current Covid scenario. It is available along with the admit card. All candidates must fill it and submit to the officials on reaching the centre, failing which they may not be allowed to write the exam.  

Conclusion

There are several instructions and guidelines associated with the CAT 2021 Examination.   Please read them all and do not take any of them lightly, as a single slip could cause you from being allowed to attempt the Examination.  

FAQ