CAT 2021 conducted in three slots in computer-based mode

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2021 was conducted across the country on November 28 by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad.

The institute followed the same exam format as 2020 but reduced the number of questions to make the entrance exam less lengthy.

CAT 2021 was held in three slots in computer-based mode. Slot 1 was conducted from 8.30am to 10.30 am. Slot 2 from 12.30pm to 2.30pm and Slot 3 from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.

The number of questions has been reduced to about 66.

The paper was rated "moderate" by students who took the Slot 1 exam. Students who took the Slot 2 exam said the English and QA sections were easier than the other components.

Here's how to figure out your percentile score:

• Calculate the total number of candidates (N) who appeared for CAT.
• Assign a rank (r), based on the scaled scores obtained in the QA section, to all candidates who appeared for CAT. In case of two or more candidates obtaining identical scaled scores in the QA section, assign identical ranks to all those candidates.
• Calculate the percentile score (P) of a candidate with rank (r) in the QA section as P = [(N − r)/N] x 100
• Round off the calculated percentile score (P) of a candidate up to two decimal points

The CAT 2021 paper had two types of questions – MCQs and TITAs or non-MCQs. The MCQs come with a negative marking and TITA don't carry a negative mark. This year, 3 marks would be awarded for every correct answer and 1/3 would be deducted for every incorrect answer.

At the time of evaluation, raw scores are calculated and then be scaled and normalised as per the Scaled Score Calculation. For this, the score obtained by a candidate in a particular section will be taken and then normalised against the maximum score in that section.