CAT 2010 is being coordinated by IIM-Lucknow, with IIM-Calcutta supporting it. Prometric shall again conduct this years CAT exam (on behalf of IIM’s) with MeritTrac Services Pvt. Ltd and the Everonn Education Ltd. as test delivery partners.

For those uninitiated in to CAT, let us start with a small write up on what is CAT.

CAT (Common Admission Test) is the most competitive management entrance exam in India and is one of the toughest in the whole world. You might already be knowing this, but let me tell you again that CAT enables you to get admission to not only thirteen famed IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Indore, Kashipur, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Raipur, Ranchi, Rohtak, Shillong, Tiruchirappalli, Udaipur), but also close to 149 (as in CAT 2010) top-rung management institutes in India. In addition to these institutes which has registered for using the CAT scores, there are a lot of other good management institutes, which uses the CAT scores in their admission process.

For the fresh CAT examinees, let me tell you that CAT is only the first step for admissions to these management institutes. CAT scores are used to shortlist the candidates for further selection processes (like GD & Interview), the admission process of each management institutes varying from one another.

CAT is supposed to be a very competitive exam but than, there is a good news for you - although number of IIMs have increased (nine in CAT 2010, thirteen in CAT 2011), resulting in increased number of IIM seats (1800 in CAT 2008, 1950 in CAT 2009, almost 2600 in CAT 2010), number of candidates appearing in CAT is reducing from last 3 years (2.5 lakh in CAT 2008, 2.15 lakh in CAT 2009, 1.86 lakh in CAT 2010). So you have fewer number of competitor, is not that a good news?

More about CAT can be found in the official CAT website.

Not all the candidates who appear in CAT gets a seat in IIMs. So which are the other registered non-IIM management institutes which used CAT-2010 scores for admissions? Click here to download the list of these institutes along with their websites. You can find the list of CAT 2011 list of non-IIM management institutes later this webpage.

CAT 2011 would be held in test location in following 36 cities/towns:

Where are the CAT 2011 exam venues in these locations? You can find the exam sites in this webpage.

Eligibility for appearing in CAT is very simple: Minimum 50% marks (45% in case SC/ST/DA (Differently abled) categories) or equivalent CGPA in your Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university.

Final year students can also apply, provided only if he/she submits a certificate latest by June 30, 2012 from the Principal/Registrar of his/her College/Institute (issued on or before June 30, 2012) stating that the candidate has completed all the requirements for obtaining the bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification on the date of the issue of the certificate.

You can apply for CAT 2011 only online.

But before you go on to register online for CAT 2011, you have to purchase the CAT 2011 Vouchers from one of the designated Axis bank. The price of the voucher (i.e. CAT 2011 exam application fee) is Rs. 1600/= for Open category candidates and Rs. 800/= for Reserved category candidates.

You have to use the voucher no. while registering online for CAT 2011.Where can you find a CAT designated Axis bank near you? Click here to find the list of Axis bank where CAT 2010 application form vouchers would be available.

Date of Sale of CAT 2011 Vouchers: 17th August to 26th September 2011 .

Dates for CAT 2011 Registration: 17th August to 28th September 2011.

CAT 2011 Test Dates : 22nd October to 18th November 2011

CAT 2011 Result Date: 11th January 2011.

Hope this information enables you to apply for CAT 2011 confidently. Although the information posted here is for CAT 2011 examinees, even the future CAT aspirants can use this information to know about the exam, say for CAT 2012 notification. If you are keen on appearing in CAT 2012, I would like to forecast following dates so that you can schedule your preparation accordingly.