Yes, CAT Registration are finally up…! CAT 2022 registrations up by 11% | MBAUniverse.com story confirmed

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MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
September 29, 2022
First published by MBAUniverse.com on September 14 and then confirmed on September 27, CAT 2022 Registrations numbers are indeed up! There is a whopping 11% increase in CAT 2022 registration numbers. Sharing this important development, Prof Ashis Mishra, CAT 2022 Convener, said, “There has been an increase of 11% in overall registrations.”
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First published by MBAUniverse.com on September 14 and then confirmed on September 27, CAT 2022 Registrations numbers are indeed up! There is a whopping 11% increase in CAT 2022 registration numbers. Last year, a total of 2.30 lakh students took the exam. While IIMs are yet to release exact numbers, about 2.55 lakh candidates have registered for CAT 2022 exam.

Sharing this important development, Prof Ashis Mishra, CAT 2022 Convener and IIMB faculty, said, “There has been an increase of 11% in overall registrations.” He further added, “there is also a 6% in category candidates’ registration.”

Prof Ashis Mishra attributed this increase to several proactive student-centric initiatives taken by IIM Bangalore, the convening IIM for CAT 2022. As has been reported extensively by MBAUniverse.com, CAT registration numbers have been stagnant for last decade with barely 1% Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR). 

CAT 2023 Registration Numbers All Time High; Increase by 30%: Go Up at 3.30 lakhs; Confirms CAT Convener Prof Sanjeet Singh

Student-centric changes by IIM Bangalore
IIM Bangalore, known for its progressive approach and digital-savvy, took several student-centric initiatives which led to the increase in CAT 2022 registrations.

Highlighting the importance of the same, Prof Ashis Mishra, said, “Student-centric changes will enhance the registration and other processes of CAT, thereby making it possible for candidates to focus on preparing for the examination itself.” 

Key steps included:

  1. Digital Marketing: In a first, to target candidates, particularly young working executives, IIM Bangalore initiated Digital Advertising Campaigns. These campaigns were used to create awareness about the opening of applications for CAT 2022 and the extension of the deadline.
  1. Focus on untapped geographies: This year, IIM Bangalore took concerted efforts to expand the geographical footprint of CAT candidates. For instance, steps were taken to enhance the visibility in North East by releasing announcements of CAT 2022 in publications in the Northeast. Similar steps were taken to reach candidates in all Union Territories.
  1. Expansion of Test Centres: This outreach campaign was taken alongside the increase in CAT test centres. This year, in many new locations like Manipur, Tripura, and Union Territories like Lakshadweep, Dadra, Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, and Ladakh and Leh, test centres have also been set up.
  1. Ease of Registration: In past students had during the peak rush hours like the last date to register, CAT website will crash or be very slow. To provide hassle-free registration experience, two payment gateways were also given for CAT 2022. Due to this and other initiatives, this year, the registration process was smooth and easy.
  1. Non-IIM B-school Visibility: As is well known, 100+ B-schools including several top notch B-schools including SPJIMR, MDI and All IITs officially register with IIMs as ‘non-CAT’ to accept CAT scores. While IIMs admit only 4% of CAT exam takers in their various course, these Non-IIM B-schools absorb the rest. However, in past, they were not given due importance in the process. This year, logos of non-institutions have also been placed on the CAT website to enhance their visibility.  

CAT Convenor bullish on Registration in MBAUniverse.com Interviews
On September 14, Prof Ashis Mishra, CAT Convener, had told MBAUniverse.com that CAT 2022 registration trends were better than the previous years. Prof Mishra told us, “So far, CAT 2022 registration trends have been better than the previous years.” He further added, “We are expecting a good number of aspirants to take the benefit of CAT 2022.” Last year, CAT 2021 registrations increased marginally to 2.30 lakhs from 2.28 lakhs in CAT 2020.

Then, after registrations were closed on September 21, he again reconfirmed the trend. Responding to MBAUniverse.com on September 26, Prof Mishra shared, “CAT registration this year is better than the last few years.” The last date for CAT 2022 registration was extended by 7 days from September 14, 2022. The process was finally closed on September 21 without any further extension.

As is well known, Common Admission Test (CAT) is the largest MBA entrance exam, leading to admission opportunity in top Indian B-schools including 20 IIMs, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, MDI, IITs B-schools among others. In the last decade, almost all the 20 IIMs and other top MBA colleges accepting CAT score have increased seats in their flagship program and have also launched new programs, but the total number of candidates registering for CAT exams have remained more or less same.

Stagnation in number of candidates applying for CAT and other exams for pursuing an MBA in India poses a big challenge to management education in India. While the total number of CAT applicants and actual candidates in CAT appeared for exam go up and down marginally, there is not much deviation in percentage of test takers. Comparative trend of last decade is below:

CAT Registrations: Previous 10 Years
IIMs release the data of CAT registrations and actual test takers a few days after the exam is over. Previous 10 years CAT registration trends reveal negligible growth

CAT Year
Candidate Registrations
% Increase/Decrease
2011
2.05
--
2012
2.14
4.4%
2013
1.95
-8.9%
2014
1.97
1.0%
2015
2.19
11.2%
2016
2.32
5.9%
2017
2.31
-0.4%
2018
2.41
4.3%
2019
2.44
1.2%
2020
2.28
-6.6%
2021
2.3
0.9%
2022 2.55 (estimated) 11%

Source: MBAUniverse.com Analysis

CAT Registrations: Compounded Annual Growth Rate in last 10 years
Going by the above trends, it is clear that from 2011 to 2021 CAT registrations have not gone up and reflect less than 1% growth as detailed below. Hence a growth of 11% this year is a great news.

CAT Registrations in 2011
2,14,000
CAT Registrations in 2021
2,29,969
Total Years of CAT Exams
10
Annual Growth in CAT Registrations
0.72%

Source: MBAUniverse.com Analysis

CAT Registrations Vs Actual CAT Exam takers: Comparative Analysis
While the total number of CAT applicants and actual candidates in CAT appeared for exam go up and down marginally, there is not much deviation in percentage of candidates who do not appear in the exam which remain between 14 to 17 percent. We will have to wait and see what CAT 2022 trends are.

CAT exam year
Total applicants
Total Actual test Takers
Percentage of CAT Test Takers
2021
2,29,969
1,91,660
83.4%
2020
2,27,835
1,90,144
83.4%
2019
2,44,169
2,09,926
86%
2018
2,41,000
2,09,405
87%
2017
231,067
199,632
86.4%
2016
232,436
195,679
84%

Source: MBAUniverse.com Analysis

The increase in CAT 2022 registrations by 11% would provide some relief to B-school leadership, admission chairpersons and all those associated with management education as this elusive growth is coming after many years.

Congratulations, IIM Bangalore Leadership and CAT 2022 Convenor Prof Ashis Mishra!

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on CAT 2022