Hello Jay, thanks for asking!

The Common Admission Test (CAT) conducted by the Cochin University of Science And Technology (CUSAT) is an Entrance exam for B.Tech in 11 streams, Integrated M.Sc Photonics, BBA LLB, BVoc and BVoc LLB. CUSAT conducts this test for admission to just 3 campuses - School of Engineering(SOE), Cochin University College of Engineering, Kuttanad (CUCEK) and Lakeside Campus. CUSAT CAT is conducted exclusively for admission for UG programs into these 3 campuses only.

You must have selected Integrated MSc Photonics from the dropdown list during the time of registration so that you can be considered for that undergraduate course. The question paers for both B.Tech and Integrated MSc are the same - 125 questions from Mathematics, 75 from Physics and 50 from Chemistry, so a total of 250 questions for a maximum of 750 marks (3 marks for each right answer). This a Computer- Based Test so some technical glitches are expected. I had given CAT last year and ranks upto 11300 have made it to the ranklist. However, closing ranks for CUSAT changes very rapidly every year, so you cannot predict whether you will land the course or not. That is one of the main problems faced by students while applying to CUSAT.

There are only 20 seats available for MSc Photonics. So be prepared to face some tough competition.

Cut off rank for last year's exam (2018) is 2372 for general.

Cut off rank for 2017 is 1380

Cut off rank for 2016 is 1685

Since you have good marks, your rank might be below 5000.One thing that I have noticed is that CUSAT is not the first choice of most people who have made it in the rank list. Many of them may drop CUSAT if they think that they will get a good college in KEAM , JEE or NEET. So, that is one advantage of applying to CUSAT. You must check the website everyday as they might put last-years cutoff, counselling details, spot admission etc.