CAT 2020 Registration Ends at 5 PM on Sep 23; Dont Expect Further Extension- CAT 2020 Convener Prof Lowalekar tells MBAUniverse.com

IIM Indore has extended CAT 2020 Registration deadline upto 5.00 pm on September 23, 2020. CAT Convener has shared with MBAUniverse.com that there will not be any further extension of registration and has urged the test takers to register well in advance to allow themselves a hassle-free registration process and to avoid a last-minute rush.

Sharing with MBAUniverse.com, CAT 2020 Convenor Prof Harshal Lowalekar said, “Yes, the registration date has been extended to September 23, looking at COVID situation for the benefit of candidates. Some other changes are also mentioned in the new media release.” 

Immediate Steps you need for CAT Registration 2020

• Don’t wait for last date of CAT Registration. It may cause technical glitches
• Making payment of CAT registration fee on the last date/closing time of registration may get your payment stuck in transit. So, do it well in advance
• You need time to collect various documents and information to register and apply for CAT. So gather them all before proceeding for registration.
• Make sure to complete the CAT registration error free.
• To make online payment of registration fee of Rs.2000/- keep your Net banking/debit card/credit card or other payment instruments ready.

CAT 2020 exam is scheduled on Sunday, November 29, 2020 in 156 cities. Common Admission Test (CAT) is the largest MBA entrance exam, leading to admission opportunity in 1000+ MBA colleges including 20 IIMs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IITs among others. The exam  is being conducted as per previous year pattern and time lines.

Although all the candidates who apply for CAT 2020 will be treated at par by IIMs in centre and slot allotment, it is advised by CAT Convener to apply for CAT without waiting for last date on account of following reasons

Register and pay CAT application Fee Early? Advice by CAT Convener  
The advice to register and pay CAT 2020 fee early, comes from none other than but the CAT 2020 exam convener and IIM Indore faculty, Prof Harshal Lowalekar.  This is not without valid reason as shared with MBAUniverse.com by CAT Convener Prof Lowalekar, “Candidates should register and pay the fee soon (much before the deadline) as the traffic increases substantially towards the registration closing date and may lead to problems in registration or online payment related transactions.”

5 Reasons: Why you Should Register and Apply Early for CAT 2020
Although you need not rush too fast for registration, it will be good enough in your own interest to finalise the registration in next few days.  Timely registration for CAT 2020 will help you to avoid the technical glitches that you may face in last few days and will also let you know what documents in correct format you should upload while applying for the exam. Experts also suggest that early registration is good as during closing days you may face following issues:

1. Time needed to Read and Understand the process
CAT Centre 2020 has shared the registration guide and registration video. It is better to go through the same and understand each step of registration process for CAT 2020. You can complete it in parts also. All this requires time, so start and complete the process early.

It will be better to complete your CAT 2020 registration form early in all respects and submit the form. You never know what might happen at a later date. It will therefore be in fitness of things to ensure CAT 2020 registration early.

2. The 3 Step CAT Registration Process: The Sooner, the Better
CAT 2020 registration steps are simple and can be completed within the specified time although candidate can login again and again to complete the process. It will be better to register and apply in parts as and when you get time. For this you need some time and unless you initiate the process early, you may find it difficult to fill accurate information in the application form in time.

• Create a Profile
• Log in with system generated User ID and Password
• Submit Application after entering details and making online payment   

CAT 2020 registration process is more ‘user friendly’ as the guidelines are clear and substantial changes have also been incorporated in the registration process. Check the Step by Step CAT 2020 Registration process

3. Difficult to Gather, Scan & Upload Documents in Last days
You need to gather number of documents and scan many of them to upload in your CAT 2020 exam application form. It may become difficult to do all this exercise during closing days. It will be better to complete the process well in time.

Following are the mandatory items of information you will need during the CAT 2020 registration process. Keep them ready

• Educational history
• Mark sheets (10th /12th/ Degree/Diploma)
• Work experience, if any
• Applicable Certificates to upload (Affidavits, Reservation certificates among others)
• Scanned images of your passport size photo and signature. (The photo should not be more than six months old and should have a white background)
• Prepare a list of the IIM programmes to which you wish to apply
• Prepare a list of centres also where you wish to attend the final selection round

4. Making Choice of preferred 6 Test Cities
Out of 156 test cities, you need to choose 6 preferred test cities. Before opting for these test cities, you should be careful about your choice viewing the test city connectivity, your proposed journey plan among other factors.

It is very much possible that you may not be allotted the 1^st preferred test city and are allotted 2^nd or 3^rd preferred one. If the test cities are not carefully chosen, you may get into hot water in case your expected test city is not allotted.

The allotment of test centre will be on ‘random’ basis subject to availability. The aspirant has to fill in the choice of 6 preferred test cities.

5. Overcrowding in last few days
A key reason behind the suggestion to register and apply for CAT 2020 early is the anticipated overcrowding for CAT 2020 registration during last few days. There is the risk of technical glitches coming up during the last days of CAT 2020 registration due to which it may become difficult to register and complete the application form as the server may go slow and may throw time out signal.

6. CAT 2020 Registration Fee may get stuck
Sometimes, while making payment of CAT registration fee in closing days, your payment may also get stuck in transit. It should be noted that no refund of CAT 2020 application fee will be made to you, if your account is debited and the fee is stuck in transit. You need to register and apply again.

Going for Late Registration, Many Candidates Miss CAT Every Year
In the past, many candidates who did not finalise their CAT registration early and left for later days, missed CAT exam as they could not apply due to one or other reason. Advising the CAT 2020 aspirants not to delay their CAT Registration 2020, Prof Lowalekar said, “It is better to complete the process early and not to leave it for later.  Several candidates lose out on the opportunity to register each year simply because they push it closer to the deadline.” 

So, despite the fact that all the candidates who register till last date of submitting CAT application 2020 are treated at par, the earlier you apply the better you will be.

Now the dilemma of CAT aspirants whether they should go for early registration or should wait for last days is well explained. It is advisable to take your time to register, although you don't need to rush, but simultaneously avoid registration during the last few days. CAT 2020 registration window will come to close on September 16, 2020 at 5 PM.    

Important Dates for CAT Exam 2020
Following are the CAT 2020 important dates as announced by CAT Centre 2020 for different activities

Activity	Important Dates
CAT 2020 Official Website Launch	July 29, 2020
CAT 2020 Notification Date	August 2, 2020
CAT 2020 Registration Start Date	August 5, 2020
Last Date to Apply for CAT 2020	September 23, 2020
CAT 2020 Registration & Application Fee	Rs.2000/-
CAT 2020 Admit card Download Start date	October 28, 2020
Last Date for CAT 2020 Admit Card Download	November 29, 2020
CAT 2020 Exam date	November 29, 2020

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Many Changes in CAT Exam 2020
IIM Indore which is conducting CAT 2020 on November 29, 2020 has released the complete exam schedule with many changes in exam pattern. In a message to CAT aspirants Prof Lowalekar said, “Take utmost care of your own health in these times and not to worry too much about the exam. IIMs are committed to conducting exam in a safe and secure manner.” Apart from extending the, CAT Registration Deadline to September 23, other key changes announced by IIM Indore in CAT 2020, are:

1. CAT 2020 Exam in Three Session: Will be conducted on November 29, 2020 (Sunday) in three sessions – Morning, After noon and Evening.  Earlier there were two sessions announced. So, there will be an extra session this year to accommodate social distancing norms.
2. CAT 2020 Exam Duration Reduced to only 2 Hrs: The revised duration of the test will be 120 minutes.
3. CAT 2020 Exam to have Three Sections: Section I: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension; Section II: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning; Section III: Quantitative Ability
4. Section wise time limit set to 40 mins: Candidates will be allotted only 40 minutes for answering questions in each section. They will not be allowed to switch from one section to another while answering questions in a section. This will change the way candidates prepare and take the exam. 

More than 2.4 lakh candidates are expected to apply for CAT 2020. During last three years there is steady rise in number of CAT exam applicants. There were 2.31 lakh applicants in CAT 2017 which increased to 2.41 lakh in CAT 2018 and to 2.44 lakh in CAT 2019. CAT registration process remains open for more than 40 days from August 5 to September 16, 2020.

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on CAT 2020