CAT 2020 result is out and what's the great next step?
CAT 2020 result has been declared on the evening of January 2 and it is available on the official website ‘iimcat.ac.in’
Candidates who wrote the exam on November 29, can now see the CAT 2020 result on the above website and download the marksheet.
After scrolling down, candidates can find CAT 2020 exam schedule on the left side below the yellow portion.
There will be a box with title next to the exam schedule which will be titled ‘Download CAT 2020 Score Card’ and below it there will be a button ‘Login’
Post clicking ‘Login’ applicants have to enter their CAT 2020 exam user id and password and then click ‘login’ button to access the CAT 2020 result and respective marksheet (score card).
CAT 2020 result will have details like name of the candidate, roll-number, category, overall scores and percentile.
Candidates have to remember that this CAT 2020 result will have validity till 31 December 2021.
Post CAT 2020 result declaration, IIMs will commence admission process taking into account the cutoff obtained in the exam.
About the exam
CAT also known as Common Admission Test is a computer based test conducted by Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) to admit students into it for various management courses.
This is one of the most prestigious exams in India and is also considered to be the most toughest too.
Also, even non IIM management educational institutions conduct admissions into them for management courses based on CAT scores.
Every year, one of the well-known IIM in this country takes a turn to conduct CAT. IIM Indore took the turn to conduct CAT this year (CAT 2020).
About CAT 2020
The registration for CAT 2020 began by 10 am on August 5 of 2020.
The last date to submit application for CAT 2020 exam was 5 pm of September 23 last year.
The halltickets for the exam were made available for download from 5 pm of October 28 last year. The exam was conducted on 29 November last year.
The CAT 2020 result was declared on 2 January.
Prior to declaration of CAT 2020 result and after CAT 2020 exam was conducted, provisional answer key was published on 8 December last year.
Candidates who attended the exam could see the answer key and challenge it in case of any mistakes on them.
The final answer key was released after taking into account the objections on 31 December 2020.
Cutoff
Candidates confirmed of good performace after seeing the CAT 2020 result must look out for cutoff.
Authorities will bring out cutoff marks for all categories.
Students whose marks in CAT 2020 exam are either equal to or more than the specified cutoff can participate in the admission process.
Management education aspirants must remember that cutoff is different for every year. There is a point here to remember.
There are two types of CAT cutoff. While one is qualifying CAT cutoff, the other is final CAT cutoff.
Qualifying CAT cutoff comes into the picture during the first stage of shortlisting. The final CAT cutoff is released after CAT result date.
The final CAT 2020 cutoff will be higher. A couple of institutes like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode have already brought out the minimum CAT 2020 cutoff in their admission policy itself.
Application
Candidates who have checked the CAT 2020 result and are assured of good peformance after even checking the cutoff can begin applying for various b-schools taking part in the exam.
Post applying for various b-schools, applicants have to attend written ability test (WAT), personal interview (PI) and group discussion (GD).
Candidates willing to apply for IIMs after ensuring good score in CAT 2020 result will also have to check for cutoffs of various IIMs.
After ensuring good cutoff and score in CAT 2020 result, candidates will select WAT and PI rounds.
Based on performance in WAT/PI rounds, candidates will be selected finally for admission into IIMs.
It is to note that the b-schools who provide admission to students with low scores in CAT 2020 result too are no less popular.
IBS Hyderabad, GITAM Hyderabad Business School, Galgotias of Greater Noida, IIHMR of Jaipur are among them.
CAT 2020 score
Management education enthusiasts must remember that CAT 2020 result (score) will be used for admission by more than 80 educational institutions for providing admission into them.
These institutions are from both private and public domains and located across various states and Union Territories in India.
Most of the non IIM b-schools are located in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
Points to remember
Post CAT 2020 result, candidates keen on IIM admission must remember there can be changes in the usual admission procedure.
While IIMs conducted written ability test, group discussion and personal interview as per the usual trend, this time there could be changes in this schedule due to COVID-19 situation.
Candidates focusing on IIMs must take note of this point and visit official websites to keep track of changes.
Final year students
There is another aspect to CAT 2020 result in connection with final year college students.
Students of final year degree courses who have passed CAT 2020 exam will get provisional admission only in IIM.
The head of the college or institution must sign the certificate. Minimum pass percentage is 50, the same is 45% for reserved category candidates.
Other factors
CAT 2020 result is vital for admission into IIMs. However candidates must remember that various other factors also govern admissions.
Marks in classes 10 or 12, work experience, academic background are factors other than CAT 2020 result that are also considered during IIM admission.
It would be good if candidates have something impressive in these aspects also.
S Vishnu Sharmaa now works with collegechalo.com in the news team. His work involves writing articles related to the education sector in India with a keen focus on higher education issues. Journalism has always been a passion for him. He has more than 10 years of enriching experience with various media organizations like Eenadu, Webdunia, News Today, Infodea. He also has a strong interest in writing about defence and railway related issues.