How can I prepare for CAT? What should I refer for preparation for CAT among books, websites, youtube channels, etc.?

Hi.

• CAT (Common Admission Test)
• MAT (Management Aptitude Test)
• CMAT (Common Management Admission Test)
• XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)
• ATMA (AIMS Test for Management Admissions)
• MAH CET (Maharashtra Common Entrance Test)
• DPAT  (University's in-house test) 

Hi.

• Government-Mandated Reservations: GIBS is an AICTE-approved and UGC-recognized institution and follows government regulations. For candidates from reserved categories (SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwD), GIBS offers a relaxation in the minimum aggregate marks required in their qualifying degree:
  • General Category: Minimum 50% aggregate marks in graduation.
  • Reserved Categories (SC, ST, etc.): Minimum 45% aggregate marks in graduation.
• Evaluation and Weightage: The selection process is holistic. While a valid CAT or MAT score is required, the score is only one component of the selection process. The institute also gives weightage to:
  • Academic performance (10th, 12th, graduation).
  • Performance in the Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI).
  • Statement of Purpose (SOP).
  • Participation in sports, extracurricular activities, and work experience.
• Specific Quotas: GIBS also has specific internal seat allocations:
  • Approximately 20% of seats are reserved under the management quota, filled through an alternate process that still requires meeting basic eligibility and entrance exam qualification.
  • Around 10% of seats are allocated to NRI and international applicants.

Hi.

• Percentile Range: The typical CAT cutoff for admission to the PGDM programme at GIBS is generally between the 60 to 70 percentile.
• Consistency: This range has remained relatively consistent over the last few years (2022-2024), generally stabilizing around the 60th percentile as a baseline for consideration.
• Scholarship Consideration: Achieving a higher percentile (70+) can significantly increase a candidate's chances of securing scholarships. 

• Percentile Range: The MAT cutoff tends to be slightly higher in percentile terms compared to CAT, typically ranging from 64 to 75 percentile.
• Consistency: The overall MAT cutoff for the PGDM programme has consistently been around the 64th percentile in recent years (2021-2024).
• Score Range: In terms of raw scores (out of 800), a score in the range of 500-600 marks is generally considered competitive for admission. 

Getting into the MBA programme of NIT Trichy with a 300 SC CAT rank is somewhat uncertain. As the recent data sets suggest, NIT Trichy's CAT cutoff for SC category admission stands around 65th percentile. A 300 SC rank could be borderline depending on how many SC candidates apply and the quality of the overall candidate pool.
In CAT marks terms, to reach around the 300 SC rank, you'd likely need a CAT percentile of 65–70, which roughly translates to a CAT score of about 60–65 out of 198, assuming the normalization and difficulty remain similar. 
However, final admission also depends on other factors like your academic profile, work experience, and performance in interview, not just CAT. So while you're in a reasonable range, make sure to strengthen your overall profile.