CAT 2024 Exam Date and Timings

CAT Exam 2024 date is Sunday, November 24, 2024 and the CAT exam timings will remain divided in three slots – Morning, Afternoon and Evening. There will be hardly a few minutes gap between the preceding CAT exam slot getting over, and beginning of reporting for next CAT exam slot. IIM Calcutta is conducting CAT 2024 exam after a gap of five years. Earlier IIM Calcutta conducted CAT in 2018. Last year 3.30 lakh candidates had registered for CAT 2023 and 2.88 lakh candidates appeared in CAT exam. It is expected this number would go up in CAT 2024. 

Read the Table of Contents below to know all about the different activities on CAT 2024 Exam Date and Time to appear in CAT exam without facing any technical glitches: 

Table of Contents

1. Important Instructions for CAT 2024 Exam Date and Time
2. CAT 2024 Exam Date & Time at a Glance
3. CAT 2024 Slot-1 Exam Date & Exam Timing Category Wise
4. CAT 2024 Slot-2 Exam Date & Exam Timing Category Wise
5. CAT 2024 Slot-3 Exam Date & Exam Timing Category Wise
6. Important Note on CAT Exam Date & Time
7. How to Get Ready for CAT 2024 Exam Date?
8. CAT 2024 Exam date Activity: Important Do’s and Don’ts
9. How to Locate your Seat on CAT Exam Date? Know the Process
10. Activities to Do Before Start of CAT Exam
11. Previous CAT Exam Advertisements

1. Important Instructions for CAT 2024 Exam Date and Time

• No candidate will be allowed to appear in all the CAT exam slots on CAT exam day 2024 other than the allotted exam slot
• To avoid any delay due to Covid protocol and GoI guidelines, CAT Centre has advised the candidates to reach the test centre 90 minutes before the exam commencement time
• The CAT 2024 exam timing for slot-1 begins at 8.30 AM followed by slot-2 at 12.30 PM and slot-3 at 4.30 PM.

2. CAT 2024 Exam Date and Time at a Glance
Check below the CAT 2024 Exam dates and Time for different exam slots:

3. CAT 2024 Slot-1 Exam Date & Exam Timing Category Wise

Complete details about the CAT Exam 2024 Slot-1 timing, CAT 2024 exam reporting time and the CAT 2024 exam timing for entry to the exam centre are given below. No candidate is permitted to enter the CAT test centre after the close of entry at CAT exam centre. 

CAT 2024 Exam Date & Time for Slot-1: Morning Session
CAT Exam Date Slot-1: November 24, 2024

• CAT Exam Time Slot-1 (Gen/OBC/SC/ST Candidates): 8.30 AM to 10.30 AM
• CAT Exam Time Slot-1 (PwD candidates): 8.30 AM to 11.10 AM
• CAT Exam Reporting Time Slot-1: 7.00 AM
• CAT Exam Entry Closing Time Slot-1: 8.15 AM 

4. CAT 2024 Slot-2 Exam Date & Exam Timing Category Wise
CAT Exam 2024 Slot-2 begins in afternoon. Check below the CAT 2024 exam Slot-2 reporting time, CAT 2024 exam timing for entry to the exam centre. No candidate is permitted to enter the CAT test centre after the close of entry at CAT exam centre. 

CAT 2024 Exam Date & Time for Slot-2: Afternoon Session

• CAT Exam Date Slot-2: November 24, 2024
• CAT Exam Time Slot-2 (Gen/OBC/SC/ST Candidates): 12.30 PM to 2.30 PM
• CAT Exam Time Slot-2 (PwD candidates): 12.30 PM to 3.10 PM
• CAT Exam Reporting Time Slot-2: 11 AM
• CAT Exam Entry Closing Time Slot-2: 12.15 PM

5. CAT 2024 Slot-3 Exam Date & Exam Timing Category Wise
CAT Exam 2024 Slot-3 begins in late afternoon. Check below the CAT 2024 exam Slot-3 reporting time, CAT 2024 exam timing for entry to the exam centre. No candidate is permitted to enter the CAT test centre after the close of entry at CAT exam centre. 

CAT 2024 Exam Date & Time for Slot-3: Evening Session

• CAT Exam Date Slot-3: November 24, 2024
• CAT Exam Time Slot-3 (Gen/OBC/SC/ST Candidates): 4.30 PM to 6.30 PM
• CAT Exam Time Slot-3 (PwD candidates): 4.30 PM to 6.30 PM
• CAT Exam Reporting Time Slot-3: 3 PM
• CAT Exam Entry Closing Time Slot-3: 3.15 PM 

6. Important Note on CAT Exam Date & Time

• Please arrive at the CAT Test Centre at least 30 minutes before the gate closure time of the CAT Test Venue
• A day before your CAT exam date, visit the Test Venue to ascertain about the distance and transport system between your place of stay and the test venue. 
• Add some more time to the total time taken in reaching the CAT exam centre.
• No candidate will be allowed to leave the testing room before the completion of CAT exam
• No Break during the exam time will allowed. The candidate must use the rest room before exam commencement 

7. How to Get Ready for CAT 2024 Exam Date?
Remember the following to gather and complete before the CAT 2024 Exam Date:

• Check if you have taken Print of your CAT Admit card on an A4 size paper.
• Check if you have pasted your photograph on CAT admit card. If not, paste the identical photograph as uploaded at the time of completing the CAT Registration Form at the indicated place.
• Please note that CAT Admit Card is valid only if the candidate's photograph and signature images are legibly printed.
• Keep the CAT Admit Card ready to carry on CAT exam date with you. CAT Admit card is to be produced for verification at the time of the test.
• Keep ready at least one original (not photocopied or scanned) valid (not expired) photo identification card. This ID is needed to be produced for verification at the CAT Exam centre on the CAT exam date.
• Valid and acceptable Photo IDs are: College ID, Employer ID, Driving License, Passport, PAN Card, Voter ID, Aadhar Card, Identification Affidavit). The candidate's photograph and  signature should be legibly printed and visible on the photo ID card and should match the name on Admit Card. The Photo ID card should not be damaged or smudged.
• Locate your CAT test centre and its accessibility a day before the test so that you can reach the test centre on time on the CAT exam date.  

8. CAT 2024 Exam date Activity: Important Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

• Arrive at the CAT exam centre on the CAT exam date 90 minutes before the commencement of the CAT exam
• Carry Admit Card & Photo ID Card inside the CAT test hall 
• Wear Mask, Gloves, keep personal hand sanitizer (50ml), transparent water Bottle, 2 simple pens and the test related documents (Admit Card, ID Card etc.). No other items will be permitted inside the test centre
• Candidates must follow the guidelines starting from point of entry in the test venue till his/her exit from the test venue.
• Your temperature may be checked at the entry to the test venue via a Thermo Gun. 
• Candidates having symptoms of fever, cough, and cold may be required to sit in a separate isolation room/place with adequate safety measures.
• At the registration desk, you will be directed to sanitize your hands using the sanitizer
• Allow PwD candidates to get into test centre first as they will get priority entry

Don’ts

• Do not carry Mobile phones, electronic gadgets, watches, calculators, stationary items, papers, wallets, goggles or similar such things as they are not allowed inside the test hall on CAT exam date.
• Do not wear any jewellery or other items containing metal, you may be asked to remove them.
• Don’t wear shoes and socks, you have to remove your footwear before entering the test hall.
• Don’t carry valuables on CAT exam date to CAT exam centre. There is no facility for safekeeping of your personal belongings outside the test hall and CAT Centre is not responsible for its loss.
• Don’t ask your friends and relatives to accompany you as they will not be allowed inside the test centre. 

9. How to Locate your Seat on CAT Exam Date? Know the Process
On CAT 2024 exam date, IIMs may not display Mapping of 'Candidate Application Number and the Lab Number' outside the test venue. The same will be provided to you individually at the time of your entry to the test venue after the verification of your Admit Card and Photo Identification Proof to locate your seat. For any correspondence with CAT Centre you must provide your CAT Registration Number.  

10. Activities to Do Before Start of CAT Exam

• Before you enter the CAT testing hall use the wash room as you are not allowed to go to wash room during the CAT exam duration.
• You will be provided with small writing pad for rough work. This will have to be returned after the test.
• You should clearly write your name and registration number on the rough pad.

11. CAT Exam Date & Time: Previous Year Advertisement as Released by IIMs
Below is shared the CAT exam advertisement of previous year as released by IIMs. This short CAT advertisement cum notification contains not only the CAT exam date & time but also other important information which you will also find in CAT 2024 Advertisement:

• CAT Exam Date, Slots with Complete Timeline including Registration dates, Admit card date, Exam date, Result date
• Official CAT Website
• Name of 20 IIMs accepting CAT score
• CAT Exam Registration Fees
• CAT Eligibility Criteria
• CAT Exam Centres
• Reservation Criteria in CAT and other key details