CAT 2021 registrations: 7 important points to keep in mind while filling the application form

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The registrations for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2021 have been opened by IIM Ahmedabad from August 4, 2021. As CAT provides you admission to top B-Schools in India including all the IIMs, all aspirants of MBA must register for the examination, in the prescribed format. The application forms for CAT 2021 are now open and can be filled online only at iimcat.ac.in. By no other means can the form be submitted for the same. Anyone can register for CAT 2021 latest by 15th September 2021, 5 PM.

The admit cards for the exam, which is scheduled for 28th November 2021, will be available from 27th October 2021 onwards. However, admit cards will be issued to only those candidates who apply successfully. Therefore, you must ensure that all details and images provided by you are authentic and meet the given specifications while filling in the application form. So, knowing how to apply correctly is equally important to know the syllabus and exam pattern.

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7 very important things that candidates need to take care of in the CAT application form are:

1. Upload images according to specifications

Incorrect images being uploaded is one of the major reasons for the rejection of CAT application forms. Take note that the candidates need to upload their photograph and signature, both of which should be scanned images. The photo should be in passport size with the dimensions as 30mm X 45mm. Similarly, the specified dimensions for the signature are 80mm X 35mm. Both, the photograph and the signature, are required to be uploaded in the .jpg or .jpeg file format of size, not more than 80KB each.

Further, the candidates belonging to any of the special categories (EWS/NC-OBC/SC/ST/PwD) need to upload a certificate as well that proves the same. The certificates to be submitted are available on the CAT 2021 official website. Applicants need to self-attest the certificates and then upload them as scanned PDF documents.

2. Preferences for test city

For CAT 2021, the candidates have to fill in 6 test cities for taking the test. However, you should fill the cities numbered 1 to 6 in order of your preference. One city can be selected only once. So, the applicants must carefully select all 6 options. The decision may be based on your home town, your travel comfort, and so on.

3. Calculate the percentages correctly 

Under the section of ‘academic qualifications in the application form, candidates are required to mention their aggregate percentages. The candidates need to enter their aggregate percentages in each of the respective exams such as in class 10th, class 12th, undergraduate, and so on. The point to be noted here is that the percentage has to be entered in the nnn.nn format. Although there are 3 Ns before the decimal, the candidates have to enter the percentage as 98.26, and not 098.26.

4. Selection of correct programs at various IIMs

The form also asks the applicant to select the programs for which he/she wants to apply. IIMs offer many courses including PGP, PGP-FABM, PGP-ABM, ePGP, PGP-SM, and others. However, not all IIMs offer all courses. So, one needs to make sure that he/she selects the correct courses, rather than randomly applying to different IIMs.

For example, if you want to apply for PGP to all the 20 IIMs. Then, you will need to tick the box for PGP under all the 20 IIMs.

5. Cross-check before final submission

Although there is a form correction window every year, one must always cross-check and be double sure before clicking the submit button, to be on the safer side. Details such as spellings of the name, phone number, email id, etc. must be thoroughly cross-checked.

6. Pay the fee only once

Sometimes, it happens that while applying, the fee gets deducted from the applicant’s bank account but the receipt does not get generated. If there is such a case, do not pay the fee again. The amount is likely to be credited back to your account within a week. However, if it does not get credited, then you must contact the bank.

7. Filling the form before the deadline lapses

It is not a compulsion that the applicant has to sit at once and fill the whole form in one go. For filling the form, you can do it in sessions, i.e you can fill some fields, save the session, and pick it up from wherever you had left it. Given this, the applicants must ensure that they submit their form and the fee well within the last date and before the deadline lapses. To reiterate for this year, the registration closes at 5 PM on September 15, 2021.

Keep a check of the above-mentioned things and all the best!

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