Approximately 6,500 students from the Tricity area of Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula appeared for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2024 on Sunday. The national-level entrance exam, which is the primary gateway for admissions to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other leading business schools, was conducted by IIM Kozhikode.
Exam Logistics and National Participation
The test was administered across three sessions throughout the day. Nationally, the exam witnessed a massive turnout with over 2.95 lakh candidates registering. For the second consecutive year, Chandigarh did not have an exam centre. Aspirants from the city had to travel to the two centres established in Mohali's Sector 82 and 83.
Paper Analysis and Student Reactions
Coaching experts and students reported that the overall structure of the CAT 2024 question paper was largely consistent with the previous year. However, the difficulty level varied across different exam slots, particularly in the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability sections.
A significant change noted this year was the increase in non-MCQ type questions. This shift, according to many test-takers, could potentially impact their overall accuracy in the exam.
A student from PEC Chandigarh stated that while the exam was largely on expected lines, they found the Mathematics and Data Interpretation sections to be particularly challenging. Echoing a similar sentiment, a candidate from Chitkara University remarked that the DI section was tougher than the rest but expressed overall satisfaction with their attempt.
Post-Exam Process and Regional Preferences
Coaching professionals highlighted that the region continues to see a strong participation from students of diverse academic backgrounds, including those from commerce and humanities streams, showcasing the wide appeal of an MBA degree.
The results for CAT 2024 are expected by late December. Successful candidates will then progress to the next stage of the selection process, which typically comprises essay writing and personal interviews. The final selection criteria vary from institute to institute and often incorporate a candidate's past academic record, work experience, and performance in these subsequent rounds.
Among the top preferred management institutes for students in the Tricity region are IIM Sirmaur, IIM Amritsar, and the University Business School (UBS) at Panjab University.
