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COMMON ADMISSION TEST 2013

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
GENERAL


FORMAT OF CAT


1) I hear that CAT will be held online. Is that correct?
CAT is a computer-based test (CBT) and not an Internet-based test (IBT) i.e. a
candidate does not take the test on an Internet site. Instead of reading the questions
in a paper booklet and darkening the ovals on the answer-sheet, a candidate will
read the questions on a computer terminal and choose an answer by clicking on the
correct option.

2) How is the computer-based format different from the paper-based format?
The format of the test is more or less the same except that a candidate reads a
question on a computer terminal and clicks on the correct answer, instead of
reading on a paper booklet and using a pencil to darken the ovals on an answer
sheet.

3) Can I take the test from any computer?
No. A candidate will have to test on a pre-assigned workstation and will not have
a choice to choose his or her workstation, in the testing venue chosen by him/her
during the time of registration.

4) What does a CBT test looks like?
A CAT practice test is available on the website www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in for
candidates to get familiarised with the functionality and navigation of the actual
test.


TEST DURATION & PATTERN


1) How many sections are there in the test?
There will be two separately timed sections in the test. The sections are (a)
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (b) Verbal Ability & Logical
Reasoning.

2) How many questions are there in each of these sections?
There will be 30 questions in each section.

3) Can I move back and forth between the two sections?
No, each section will be timed separately. Once a section ends, candidates can no
longer go back to it.

4) Can I choose which section to attempt first?
No, candidates will be presented with the section on Quantitative Ability & Data
Interpretation first, followed by Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning.
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5) How will the separately timed sections work?
There will be an on-screen timer counting down from 1 hour 10 mins (i.e. 70
minutes) once a section begins. When the time is up, that section will end and you
will not be able to go back to it. The second section will then begin and the on-
screen timer will start counting down from 1 hour 10 minutes again. Once the
second section ends, the test will end.

6) Can I start on the second section if I finish the first section before the 70
minutes are up?
No, you will not have the ability to end the first section before the first 70 minutes
are up. However, you will be given an option to end the second section, and
therefore your test, before the second 70 minutes are up. If you choose to end your
test before the full duration is up, you will be required to wait at your testing
station until everyone is dismissed by the test administrator.

7) What is the duration of the test?
Each of the sections will be 1 hour and 10 minutes (i.e. 70 minutes). Including a
15-minute tutorial before the start of the test which candidates are advised to go
through, the total duration of the test will be 2 hours and 35 minutes.

8) What is the tutorial?
The tutorial provides a series of screens that will orient you to the computer-based
CAT. This will give you an opportunity to try the various features, including how
to navigate between questions in a section, review questions, etc. The tutorial has a
total duration of 15 minutes and candidates are advised to go through it entirely
before starting the actual exam sections. For a similar preview, candidates can take
a tour of the CAT 2013 Practice Test which will be available on
www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in.


SCHEDULING & REGISTRATION


1) Who is eligible to take the test?
The candidate must hold a Bachelors Degree, with at least 50% marks or
equivalent CGPA [45% in case of the candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste
(SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Differently Abled (DA) categories], awarded by
any of the Universities incorporated by an act of the central or state legislature in
India or other educational institutions established by an act of Parliament or
declared to be deemed as a University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, or
possess an equivalent qualification recognized by the Ministry of HRD,
Government of India (including the Associate Membership Examination (AMICE)
of the Institution of Civil Engineers (India) as an equivalent qualification).. The
percentage of marks obtained by the candidate in the bachelors degree would be
calculated based on the practice followed by the university/ institution from where
the candidate has obtained the degree. In case the candidates are awarded
grades/CGPA instead of marks, the conversion of grades/CGPA to percentage of
marks would be based on the procedure certified by the university/ institution from
where they have obtained the bachelors degree. In case the university/ institution
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does not have any scheme for converting CGPA into equivalent marks, the
equivalence would be established by dividing the candidates CGPA by the
maximum possible CGPA and multiplying the result with 100. Candidates
appearing for the final year of bachelors degree/equivalent qualification
examination and those who have completed degree requirements and are awaiting
results can also apply. IIMs may verify eligibility at various stages of the selection
process, the details of which are provided at the website www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in.

The CAT application data is treated as final, and no change in it is permitted
at a later stage. In case of detection of any variation in the data provided at
the CAT stage with the actual data your candidature may be nullified.

Prospective candidates must have the following throughout the selection
process.
1. CAT 2013 Voucher
2. Pay-in Slip copy in case of Offline Voucher Purchase/ Printout of Email
Confirmation for the Payment in case of Online Voucher Purchase.
3. Valid and unique Email ID
4. CAT Registration Number / Testing ID (provided to you after completion
of your online registration)

2) Can I appear for CAT for practice purpose, though I am aware that I am not
eligible?
No.

3) Is there any age restriction for appearing in CAT?
No, there is no age restriction for appearing in CAT.

4) What is the fee for the test?
The fee is Rs.1600. If you belong to the SC/ST/DA(PWD) category the applicable
fee is Rs.800.

5) Where do I pay my fees?
This year, 30 more Axis branches have been added to provide CAT 2013
candidates even greater convenience. From any of these select bank locations,
vouchers will be available for purchase during the CAT 2013 registration until 24
September 2013. You can visit www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in for the list of Axis Bank
branches. New this year, candidates have the added convenience to purchase
vouchers online from 5 August through 24 September 2013 via the IIM CAT
website www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in.

6) When does the sale of voucher start and end?
Sale of vouchers starts on Monday, 5 August 2013 at selected Axis Bank
branches as well as online on the website www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in and ends on
Tuesday, 24 September 2013.

7) How can I purchase a voucher?
For online vouchers purchases, you will go to www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in and locate
on the website the voucher section. Once there, you will follow the instructions
and complete the appropriate forms in a similar manner as in the paper voucher
option to register and schedule.
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For paper voucher purchases, you are required to fill pay-in-slip at the selected
Axis Bank branches to obtain the voucher. There will be two copies of the pay-in-
slip. The bank will retain one copy of the filled pay-in-slip and the other will be
stamped and given back to you. Please retain your copy of the pay-in-slip with
you during the entire selection process.
Note: The name on the pay-in-slip must match the name appearing on the
12
th
/Diploma/Degree Certificate.

8) When and how do I register for CAT 2013 after buying the voucher?
Online registration for CAT 2013 will begin on Monday, 5 August 2013 and end
on Thursday, 26 September 2013. Additional instructions for the online
application and registration process are also available on the website
www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in.

9) Where can I find the voucher number required for registration?
In case of Online Voucher Purchase, voucher number will be sent to your mobile
number through an SMS and email address.

In case of Offline Voucher Purchase, You can find the voucher number under the
scratch-off area of the voucher you purchase from an Axis Bank branch. Please use
a coin to scratch off gently so the voucher number does not become illegible.
Vouchers will not be refunded under any circumstances.

10) Can I use my coaching institutes or a friends email address when registering
for CAT?
No, you need to have a valid and unique email address.

11) Is there a restriction on what can be entered within the address fields during
the online registration?
Yes, you need to limit each address line to 30 characters including spaces. Special
characters are acceptable.

12) When will CAT be held and can I choose a test date?
CAT will be held during the period Wednesday, 16 October 2013 Monday, 11
November 2013. Yes, you can choose a test date, test time, and venue across 40
cities all over India, subject to availability.

13) From where can I get the list of test centres?
A list of test centres will be available on the website www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in.

14) When will I get my Admit Card?
a. Soon after you fill-in, review, and submit your personal information during the
online application, an automated confirmation email, which will contain your
Application Summary, will be sent to the email address provided by you.
b. After submitting your personal information, you are expected to continue
registration by scheduling your test date, test time, and venue. Once you have
submitted this scheduling information, a 2
nd
automated confirmation email,
which will contain your CAT 2013 Admit Card, will be sent to the email
address provided by you. Only at this stage is your CAT 2013 registration
complete.
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15) What details will be mentioned in the Admit Card?
The admit card will contain the name of the candidate, test date, time, venue,
confirmation number, CAT Registration Number / Testing ID and instructions for
the candidate.

16) Will the Admit Card be sent to me as a hard copy by mail?
No. The admit card will be sent to the email address provided by you, only after
you have filled in your online application and scheduled your test. It is therefore,
mandatory for you to have a valid email account throughout the selection process.
Note: Admit Card is a mandatory requirement in order to test. You must
bring a print out of your Admit Card to the test centre.

17) Are there any special provisions for Differently Abled candidates?
Yes. Please refer to the FAQs for DA Candidates for more details.

18) What are the different time slots for scheduling the test for a typical testing
day?
A typical testing day for CAT will have 2 exam sessions. Candidates are allowed
to schedule for any one of the sessions, subject to availability. Session timings
are as follows:
a. Session 1: Testing will begin at 10 AM. Candidates are required to arrive
at the test centre no later than 8:30 AM for security checks, identity
verification, and checking in.

b. Session 2: Testing will begin at 3:15 PM. Candidates are required to arrive
at the test centre no later than 1:45 PM for security checks, identity
verification, and checking in.

19) Can I appear for CAT 2013 more than once during the testing window?
No. You can appear for CAT 2013 only once. It will be deemed a fraudulent
activity if one attempts to appear for CAT 2013 more than once. Admit Cards and
photo IDs of the candidates will be checked, and candidate pictures and biometric
information will also be captured at the test centre.

20) If I have made any mistake(s) while registering for CAT 2013, can I make
changes later to rectify?
If you make mistakes while entering the application data, you may login to
www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in or https://iim.prometric.com and select Edit Profile to
make changes to your personal details such as address or Edit Application to
make changes to your application data such as educational information or
interview location. For security reasons, editing of candidates full name and
username will not be allowed. To reschedule your appointment, select Reschedule
an Appointment to choose a different test centre, date and time of your test, of
course, subject to availability. The ability to edit application profile and
registration details will be available until the registration window is closed i.e. till
11:59 PM on 26 September 2013, IST.
Note: If you make changes to your profile or reschedule, you must carry the
most recent admit card and attend the most recent test session.



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21) What are the timings to contact the Candidate Care helpline?
The FAQs, IVRS and online instructions are designed to enable self-service. You
are requested to use these tools which can guide you through the entire process and
help answer most of your queries. In case you are still facing issues, then CAT
Candidate Care Support is available by phone and email.
Phone: 1-800-419-0080
Webmail: http://www.prometric.com/IIM-CAT/contactus

Phone support availability:
Registration Phase: 5 August 2013 26 September 2013, 9:00AM to 6:00PM
from Mondays to Saturdays.
Pre-testing window: 27 September 2013 15 October 2013, 9:00AM to 6:00PM
from Mondays to Saturdays.
Testing window: 16 October 2013 11 November 2013, 8:00AM to 7:00PM daily
Post-testing window: 12 November 2013 - 31 J anuary 2014, 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Mondays to Fridays

CAT Candidate Care will be closed on the following national public holidays:
Friday, 09 August 2013 Idul Fitr
Thursday, 15 August 2013-Independence day
Wednesday, 02 October 2013- Mahatma Gandhis birthday
Monday, 14 October 2013- Dussehra
Monday, 04 November 2013- Diwali
Wednesday, 25 December 2013-Christmas
Wednesday, 01 J anuary 2014-New Years Day


Webmail support availability:
Webmail support will be available from 4 August 2013 until the end of February
2014. Queries, received by webmail, will be responded to within 2 business days.
Do not send the same email multiple times, as it will delay the response process.


RESCHEDULING & CANCELLATION


1) What is the deadline to reschedule the test?
You can reschedule the location, date and time of your test within the registration
window (5 August 26 September 2013). No reschedules are permitted once the
registration window has closed.

2) Is there any rescheduling fee?
No.

3) Can I cancel the test?
No. Under no circumstances will a cancellation/refund be allowed.




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4) If I do not take my test, will I be eligible for a refund?
No. Your fees will not be refunded in case you do not appear for your test as per
your scheduled location, date and time.


CATEGORY SELCTION

1) What are the categories available when applying for CAT?
The different categories are the following:
General
Scheduled Caste (SC)
Scheduled Tribe (ST)
Non Creamy Other Backward Class (NC-OBC)
o NC-OBC Minority

Note 1: Until further communication, all candidates applying under the NC
OBC Minority category shall be inevitably considered under the NC OBC
category provided they meet the NC OBC eligibility as explained in question
number (3) below.
Note 2: No changes in the category will be entertained after the closure of
registration window.

2) Who belongs to the SC/ST categories?
If you belong to SC or ST categories, your caste/tribe must be listed in the
Government of India schedule. The caste certificate that you send to IIM should be
in the Government approved format and should clearly state: (a) Name of your
caste/tribe; (b) Whether you belong to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe; (c)
District and the State or Union Territory of your ordinary residence; and (d) the
appropriate Government of India schedule under which your caste/tribe is
approved by it as Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe.

3) Who belongs to the NC-OBC category?
Candidates will belong to the Non Creamy Other Backward Class (NC-OBC) if
their caste/community appears in the Central List of Other Backward Classes
which is recognised as a Backward Class under:
i. Government of India, Ministry of Welfare Resolution No.
12011/68/93-BCC (C) dated 10
th
September, 1993 published in the
Gazette of India Extraordinary Part-I Section-I dated the 13
th

September, 1993.
ii. Government of India, Ministry of Welfare Resolution No. 12011/9/94-
BCC dated 19.10.1994 published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary
Part-I, Section-1, No. 163 dated 20.10.1994
For an updated list of state-wise OBCs eligible for availing the benefit of
reservation and information in respect of the creamy layer visit the website
http://www.ncbc.nic.in.

4) Who belongs to the NC-OBC Minority category?
Candidates belonging to Minorities, as defined in clause (c) of Section 2 of the
National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, and also belonging to the Socially
and Educationally Backward Classes/ OBCs in the Central lists of SEBCs/ OBCs
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as per Resolution No. 12011/68/93-DCC(C) of the Ministry of Welfare/ Social
J ustice and Empowerment as modified from time to time by that Ministry, based
on the advice of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).

5) Are the reservations for Minorities in force today?
The 4.5% of reservation for minorities among OBC Non-Creamy Layer is not in
force today as the Honble High Court Andhra Pradesh in PIL Nos 1, 22 and 56 of
2012 has set aside the resolution of MHRD dated 22.12.2011 through which a sub-
quota of 4.5% in favour of OBC (minorities) from out of 27% quota for OBCs was
carved out. The Central Government in consultation with the Dept. of Legal
Affairs had filed a Special Leave Petition in the Honble Supreme Court against
the aforesaid J udgement and the same is pending consideration.

6) Why are IIMs collecting information about NC-OBC Minorities?
Since the judgement of the Honble High Court Andhra Pradesh in the
aforementioned cases, MHRD had required (vide D.O.No. 21-61/2012-TS.II) that
Centrally Funded Technical Institutes may provide necessary flexibility in the
admission system. Hence IIMs are collecting information about NC-OBC
Minorities.

7) Will NC-OBC Minority reservations be available for admissions in 2014?
Please note that availability of reservation for NC-OBC-Minority are currently not
in force until any further legal developments and MHRD directives. All
applications under NC OBC Minority category shall be inevitably considered
under the NC OBC category, provided they meet the eligibility criteria


TESTING DAY


1) What is the reporting time for the test?
One and a half (1.5) hours prior to the test time. If the test begins at 10 AM, you
must reach the test centre no later than 8:30 AM. If the test begins at 3:15 PM, you
must reach the test centre no later than 1:45 PM.

2) What are the identification documents required to be carried to the test
centre?
Candidates will need to bring the following identification documents on the test
day:
a. CAT 2013 Admit Card
b. At least one original (not photocopied / scanned copy) and valid (not expired)
photo identification. The name on your photo identification must match your
name as entered in the CAT application. Acceptable forms of photo
identification are limited to Driver's license, Passport, PAN Card, Voter ID,
College ID (supported with a valid ATM/Credit/Debit Card with your name),
Employee ID, Unique Identification Card (UID), or a notarised Affidavit (in
English) with Photo, Signature, Date of Birth and Residential Address.
Photocopies of the original are not acceptable. Candidates will not be permitted
to take the test if photo identification is not presented.
c. A valid document as proof of SC/ST eligibility (if applicable).

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If you are a Differently Abled candidate and have requested for support during the
test, please carry the copy of the authorisation of the support mailed to you by
Prometric.

Important: Admit Card and one photo identification, mentioned above, are
mandatory in order to test.

Note: You will have to store all other personal items at the test centre at your own
risk. Please do not bring any other items to the test centre, as they are not permitted
into the testing centre.

3) Does the name need to match with the names appearing on the identification
documents?
Your name needs to be exactly identical to the name on your school-leaving
certificate.
Note: -
If the name has been changed due to events such as marriage, you must show the
relevant document mentioned below and submit a photocopy at the time of the test,
interview and at the time of joining a programme.
Marriage Certificate, Divorce Decree, Legal Name Change Document

4) What are the permitted materials I can bring with me to the test centre?
None. You will not be permitted to bring any personal items to the test centre,
including but not limited to wrist-watch, pen, cellphones, calculators, etc.

5) What is the duration and pattern of the test?
The total duration is 2 hours 35 minutes including a 15-minute tutorial. CAT is a
multiple choice test, delivered in 2 sections, 70 minutes per section. The actual test
will contain 60 questions, 30 questions per section. For further details, refer to Test
Duration & Pattern.

6) Do I have any breaks during the test?
No, you will not be given any breaks during the test.

7) Will I be provided with any scratch paper for rough work and calculations
during the test?
At the test centre, each candidate will be seated at a desk with a computer terminal
and he/she will be provided with a pencil, eraser and scratch paper for calculations.
Rough work cannot be done on any other paper/sheet, as nothing will be allowed
inside the testing room. On completion of the test, candidates will have to hand all
the scratch paper and stationery back to the Administrator.









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SCORING

1) How will my initial raw scores be calculated?
Your raw scores will be calculated for each section based on the number of
questions you answered correctly, incorrectly, or omitted. You will be given +3
points for each correct answer and -1 point for each incorrect answer. There will be
no points for questions that are not answered. This scoring methodology ensures
that candidates are only awarded points for what they know. For further details,
refer to the Development, Scoring & Equating Process.

2) What happens after my initial raw scores are calculated?
The CAT, like virtually all large-scale exams, will utilise multiple forms, or
versions, of the test. While all forms are carefully assembled to ensure that the
content is comparable, the difficulty of each form may vary slightly. Such minor
differences in the overall difficulty level cannot be accurately measured until after
all of the forms have been administered and the results analysed. To facilitate this
comparison, each form will contain equating blocks comprising a pre-defined
number of statistically profiled questions selected from a large item bank. By
comparing candidate responses to these equating blocks across multiple forms, the
ability level of the individuals can be evaluated and the precise difficulty of the
forms calculated. The raw scores are then adjusted, as necessary, through a process
called equating. Equating assures fairness for all candidates by allowing accurate
comparisons to be made of performance across all of the test forms. Equated raw
scores are then placed on a common scale or metric to ensure appropriate
interpretation of the scores. This process is called scaling. For details, refer to the
Development, Scoring & Equating Process.

3) What scores will be presented to me on results day?
Three scaled scores will be presented for each candidate: an overall scaled score
and two separate scaled scores for each section. As the two sections evaluate
distinct sets of knowledge and skills, scores do not correlate across sections. A
high score in one section does not guarantee a high score in another section.
Percentile rankings are provided for each individual section as well as for the
overall exam score. Raw scores will not be made available under any
circumstances as they do not represent a fair interpretation of your performance in
relation to other candidates who have taken the CAT during the same testing
window. For details, refer to the Development, Scoring & Equating Process.

4) What is a percentile ranking?
A percentile rank is the percentage of scores that fall below a given score. For
example: a 75 percentile would imply that your score is greater than or equal to
75% of the total CAT test-takers. For details, refer to the Development, Scoring &
Equating Process.








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RESULTS


1) Will I get to see my scores on the test day?
No.

2) Within how many days can I expect the results?
Information about the CAT 2013 results are expected to be declared on 14 J anuary
2014 on the website www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in.

3) How does one know if he/she has been shortlisted by IIMs for interviews?
More information will be shared by the IIMs after the CAT 2013 results are
declared on 14 J anuary 2014.


OTHER INFORMATION

1) In case I purchased a voucher and missed registering in the registration
window, can I still register myself?
No. You can only schedule the appointment within the registration window: 5
August 26 September. No exceptions will be permitted.

2) In case I purchased a voucher and have not registered myself, will I be
refunded?
No. Vouchers once sold cannot be refunded.

3) If I do not get my Admit Card, whom should I contact?
You need to login on the website www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in or
https://iim.prometric.com using your username & password and select Resend
Admit Card. The Admit Card will be emailed on the email address provided
during registration. There is also an option for you to print your Admit Card
directly from the website.

4) In case the website does not work and I am unable to schedule myself, how
should I register?
If the registration website is not accessible for any reason, please close your
Internet browser and try again. You can register for and schedule your test anytime
between 5 August and 26 September.

5) If the voucher does not work, who is the contact person?
Please contact the CAT Candidate Care on 1-800-419-0080.

6) Can the voucher be refunded?
Voucher once sold cannot be refunded under any circumstances including but not
limited to loss of voucher, inability to read voucher number due to mishandling of
the voucher by candidate, candidate being ineligible for taking CAT, CAT not
being a prerequisite for a programme, and rejection of candidate registration due to
incomplete and/or incorrect information.

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7) Can I make any changes to my postal address after I have submitted my
application form?
Yes, you may login to www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in or https://iim.prometric.com and
select Edit Profile to make changes to your personal details such as address. Note
that no changes may be made after 26 September 2013.

8) Are there any special CAT 2013 notices that I to be aware of?
Yes. All candidates who want to appear for CAT have to agree to a Non-
Disclosure Agreement (NDA) at the time of the test. Disclosing, publishing,
reproducing, transmitting, storing, or facilitating transmission and storage of the
contents of the CAT or any information therein in whole or part thereof in any
form or by any means, verbal and/or written, electronically or mechanically for any
purpose, shall be in violation of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 and/or the Copyright
Act, 1957 and/or the Information Technology Act, 2000. Such actions and/or
abetment thereof as aforementioned may constitute a cognizable offence
punishable with imprisonment for a term up to three years and fine up to Rs. two
lakhs. All CAT candidates are prohibited from disclosing, publishing,
reproducing, or transmitting the test, in whole or in part, in any form or by
any means, verbal or written, electronic or mechanical and for any purpose.
The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) will take legal action against
anyone found to be in violation of this NDA.


IMPORTANT DATES

Process Date Other information
IVRS Available 5 August 2013 1-800-419-0080
Advertisement Date 28 J uly 2013 Published in selected National Dailies
Voucher Sale 5 August 24 September 2013
Fees payment & voucher (fee receipt)
from Axis Bank branches or online on
the website www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in
Registration
Window 5 August 26 September 2013
Register by logging into
www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in
Rescheduling
Window 5 August 26 September 2013 On Website www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in
Test Dates &
Centre
16 October 11 November
2013
Test Centre information available on
registration portal or
www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in
Exam Results 14 J anuary 2014
Information on CAT 2013 results will
be available on
www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in

Important: You must read the Registration Guide before you begin your
registration process. The document is provided at www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in.

Additional information is available on www.prometric.com.