The CAT 2023 exam will be held in three sessions on November 26, 2023. Every year, IIMs schedule the CAT exam for the last Sunday of November. According to current trends, CAT 2023 will be held at either IIM Lucknow or IIM Calcutta.
Arun sharma, read the article for CAT syllabus PDF. CAT books 2023 PDF, study notes PDF, paper pattern, CAT previous year papers, CAT exam 2023 application form due date, and preparation plan are all available.
The registration deadline for the CAT exam 2023 is likely to be August 3, 2023. The deadline for CAT 2023 application forms is likely to be September 21. To apply for CAT, you must have a bachelor's degree from a recognised university in any discipline. Last year, 2,55,501 people applied for the CAT. More than 2.6 lakh students are likely to take the CAT 2023 exam this year. Check CAT Registration Process, Form, and Fees
Last year's CAT exam pattern remained unchanged. The CAT question paper includes two types of questions: MCQs and TITAs. Candidates who intend to take the CAT in 2023 should download and solve CAT previous year papers.
Download CAT 2023 Syllabus PDF |
For IIMs, the CAT 2023 cut off (qualifying) ranges from 80 to 95 percentile. To achieve a 95+ percentile in the CAT 2023, one must correctly answer at least 60% of the questions. According to expert opinion, a score of 95-97 would be adequate to achieve a 99+ percentile. Examine CAT Score vs Percentile
CAT stands for Common Admission Test. It is a national-level MBA/PGDM entrance exam held for admission to 20 IIMs and 1000+ other B-schools that accept CAT scores. Every year, around 200,000 applicants apply for the CAT exam in order to get admission to one of the 5000+ MBA/PGDM seats.
Events | Dates (Tentative) |
---|---|
CAT 2023 notification | July 31, 2023 |
CAT 2023 registration date | August 3, 2023 |
CAT last date to apply 2023 |
Third week of September 2023 |
Last date to submit CAT registration fees | Third week of September 2023 |
CAT 2023 form correction window opens | Last week of September 2023 |
Last date to edit CAT application form | Last week of September 2023 |
CAT 2023 Admit Card | Last week of October 2023 |
CAT 2023 Mock Test | November 8, 2023 |
CAT 2023 Exam Date | November 26, 2023 |
CAT 2023 Answer Key and Response Sheet Release Date | First week of December 2023 |
CAT 2023 result date | Last week of December 2023 |
Check CAT 2023 Exam Dates
Particulars | Details |
---|---|
Name of Exam | CAT (Common Admission Test) |
CAT 2023 Conducting Body | IIM-C or IIM-L, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta or Lucknow |
CAT Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
Frequency of CAT exam | Once every year |
CAT Application Process | Online |
CAT Application Fees |
INR 2200 for GN category INR 1100 for Reserved category |
Minimum Marks Eligibility | 50% and 45% in Graduation for GN & Reserved category respectively |
Duration of CAT Exam | 2 Hours |
Number of Sections |
3 Sections: Quantitative Ability (QA) Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
Number of Questions | 66 |
Medium of Exam | English (Exam is conducted in CBT mode) |
Admission | 20 IIMs + Various other Institutes |
Courses Offered | MBA/ PGDM in various streams |
CAT Helpdesk | [email protected]; 1800-2090-830 |
CAT Official Website | Official CAT Registration Guide- Download PDF |
CAT stands for Common Admission Test. The CAT is the only national level entrance exam for MBA courses at IIMs. CAT was conducted on paper till 2008. The CAT exam has been administered as a computer-based test since 2009. On a yearly basis, one of the top six IIMs administers the CAT exam. IIMs introduced the CAT (full form- Common Admission Test) for admitting applicants to their MBA and PGDM courses. More than 500 business schools now accept CAT scores.
Check CAT Preparation Plan and Study Notes for QA, VARC, DILR
The CAT 2023 Notification will provide all pertinent information on the Common Admission Test. The CAT 2023 Notification will also include contact information and a link to the official CAT exam website, iimcat.ac.in.
To obtain a PDF copy of the CAT exam notification, go to the official IIM CAT website and click on the PDF link for the CAT Information Bulletin. Candidates can also obtain key materials from the CAT official website, such as the CAT Eligibility PDF and the IIM Selection Process PDF. Other vital certifications such as scribe affidavits, disabilities, and categories are also accessible for completing out the CAT application form.
The CAT Notification includes all pertinent information regarding the CAT exam dates, application form release date, registration costs, number of test centres, reservation criteria, CAT exam eligibility, exam pattern, and any changes in the curriculum. It should be noted that the list of curricula offered by all IIMs is also included in the official CAT notification. The following information can be found in CAT information bulletin 2023:
CAT Eligibility: Information on CAT exam eligibility is provided for all categories of candidates. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD).
Dates and Fees for CAT Registration: The start date, end date, and hour of CAT registration are all mentioned in the notification. The notification also includes the registration fees for each category. Registration costs for the CAT exam are non-refundable.
CAT Exam Date: The CAT exam notice includes the exam date, number of shifts, and mode of examination.
CAT Reservation Criteria: In order to be eligible for reservation advantages, candidates must carefully select their category when filling out the CAT application form, as no changes can be made later.
CAT Test Centres: The number of CAT test cities is mentioned in the CAT notice. Any test city or centre may be cancelled or added at any time by the IIMs. CAT 2023 will be held in over 150 places across India.
CAT Admission system: Each IIM has its unique selection system and qualifying requirements for MBA admissions. The CAT exam is an important part of the selection process. IIMs might also consider previous academic performance, employment experience, and other factors when shortlisting individuals.
IIMs and Courses Available: The CAT Notification starts with a list of IIMs, their official websites, and the PGP courses available through the CAT exam.
To see how the official CAT Notification (Information Bulletin) looks, go here.
Before enrolling for the CAT exam, candidates must read the official CAT announcement pdf. The CAT notification trends for the last five years are shown in the table below.
CAT Notification | Release Date |
---|---|
CAT notification 2022 | July 31, 2022 |
CAT notification 2021 | July 31, 2021 |
CAT notification 2020 | July 29, 2020 |
CAT notification 2019 | July 26, 2019 |
CAT notification 2018 | July 29, 2018 |
CAT notification 2017 | July 29, 2017 |
On a yearly basis, one of the six top IIMs administers the CAT exam. IIM Bangalore held the CAT last year on November 27, 2022. On November 28, 2021, IIM Ahmedabad administered the CAT exam.
To fill up CAT 2023 application forms, candidates must meet specific qualifying criteria established by the exam's administrators.
Graduation: A bachelor's degree or its equivalent in any discipline from a recognized university is required.
Minimum Marks: Candidates must have a minimum of 50% in their graduation. The minimum aggregate marks for reserved category candidates are 45%. Check out CAT 2023. Reservation
Age: There is no upper age limit for appearing in CAT 2023.
Final Year Students: Final-year students may also apply for the exam; however, they will only be admitted if they get the required mark of 50% (40% for SC/ ST/ PwD) after graduation. Furthermore, those who have finished their final exam and are awaiting results can also apply.
Professional Degrees: Candidates with CA/CS/ICWA degrees are also eligible to fill out the CAT application form.
Number of Attempts: There is no restriction to the number of CAT exam tries.
After completing the basic registration for the CAT exam, the CAT Login 2023 and password are generated. To obtain CAT login information, qualified candidates should go to iimcat.ac.in and fill out the basic registration details such as name, number, gender, nationality, date of birth, email id, and so on, and then submit the form. The created CAT login information are displayed on the screen and delivered to the candidate's registered email address. The CAT Login user id is an eight-digit number, while the CAT Login password is a seven-digit number. Login information for CAT 2023 is used to complete the application form, make form adjustments, and download the admission card, answer key, and result.
If you have forgotten your CAT 2023 Login credentials, such as your password and user ID, you can retrieve them by following the instructions below:
Every year around 2 lakh candidates register for CAT exam. CAT Registration is the first step in getting admission to MBA programs offered by IIMs, IITs, and other top colleges. IIM Banglore will release CAT 2023 Application Form on August 3 (tentative). CAT 2023 registration process is completely online and the application forms are made available at iimcat.ac.in.
Direct Link for CAT 2023 Registration |
CAT exam 2023 application form last date will be in the third week of September 2023. You will be allowed to apply only till 5:00 PM. No applications will be accepted after the closure of the application window of CAT 2023.
The official video instruction for CAT 2023 Registration is provided below.
Candidates must create their login credentials- CAT ID and Password- on the official website-iimcat.ac.in by following the processes outlined below:
Log in with the user ID and password you created in the previous stage to complete the CAT application form 2023. The following information must be entered into the CAT application form:
Personal Details: Date of Birth, Category, Gender, Nationality, Details of Parents, Address of correspondence, Emergency contact details.
Academic Details: Academic information includes class 10th and 12th grade point averages, graduation and postgraduate scores, and professional degree/course information.
Work Experience Details: Although not required, you can submit details about your full-time work experience in this section.
IIM Programme Preference: Candidates must choose an IIM institute, a programme, and a city for the interview.
CAT Exam City Preference: Candidates can choose from a list of six CAT exam cities based on their time and travel convenience. Exam Centres for the CAT 2023 Exam
Scanned photographs of the following documents must be supplied when completing the CAT application form 2023:
Photograph: A recent photograph (within the last 6 months) in.jpg/.jpeg format. The file must be less than or equal to 80kb in size.
Signature: Only black ink on white paper should be used for signatures. The image size (.jpg/.jpeg) should not exceed 80kb. The suggested size is 80mm x 35mm.
SC/ ST/ NC-OBC Certificate: A scanned copy of the category certificate in PDF format that has been self-attested. The maximum permitted file size is 200 kb.
PwD Certificate: The PwD certificate can be obtained on the official CAT 2023 website. Fill out the form, self-attest, and upload as a 200 kb or smaller PDF file.
Read CAT Document Upload Guidelines
After completing the preceding steps, the CAT 2023 application cost must be paid online. Debit cards can be used to pay the CAT registration cost. Credit cards, Net Banking, UPI, and online wallets are all options.
Category | CAT Application Fee |
---|---|
General/ NC-OBC/ EWS | INR 2300 |
SC/ ST | INR 1150 |
PwD/ DA | INR 1150 |
The CAT Form Correction feature is a one-time opportunity to correct any mistakes in the editable fields. Candidates who have paid the application fee by the deadline can edit the following information
Signature
Photograph
Test City Preferences
CAT Registration Statistics
CAT Exam Year | Total Number of Registrations |
---|---|
2022 | 2,55,501 |
2021 | 2,29,969 |
2020 | 2,27,835 |
2019 | 2,44,169 |
2018 | 2,41,000 |
2017 | 2,31,000 |
2016 | 2,32,292 |
2015 | 2,18,664 |
2014 | 2,18,664 |
2013 | 1,94,000 |
2012 | 2,15,000 |
2011 | 2,05,000 |
2010 | 2,04,000 |
2009 | 2,42,000 |
2008 | 2,90,000 |
IIM Ahmedabad altered the CAT exam pattern in 2021, and these changes have been carried over to the 2022 exam as well. This year is projected to be the same. So, according to the CAT Exam Pattern 2023, the question paper will be divided into three sections, each with 66 questions.
Exam style: The CAT 2023 exam will be held in online CBT style at 438+ test centres spread across 158+ major cities in India.
CAT Exam Medium: The CAT exam is solely given in English.
Duration of the CAT Exam: 120 minutes for the complete paper
Sectional Time Limit: Sectional Each of the three portions has a time limit of 40 minutes.
Type of Questions: MCQs and TITA-style questions are the most common types of questions.
Number of Questions: 66 questions (70-75% MCQs and 25-30% TITA-type questions)
Number of Sections: 3 sections- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Quantitative Aptitude (QA), and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR).
CAT Marking Scheme: 3 marks awarded for every correct answer and 1 mark deducted for every wrong answer. No negative marking for TITA-type questions.
Sectional Distribution of Questions:
CAT Section | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
---|---|---|
CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 24 | 72 |
CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 20 | 60 |
CAT Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 66 |
Total | 66 | 198 |
The MCQ and TITA marking scheme for the CAT exam is provided below:
Particulars | MCQs | TITA-type Questions |
---|---|---|
Correct Answer | +3 | +3 |
Incorrect Answer | -1 | No Negative Marking |
Unanswered | - | - |
The conducting IIM reviews the CAT exam pattern annually to make sure it meets their requirements. The test pattern hasn't changed this year, as was to be expected. The list of IIMs that host the CAT test per year, along with patterns of modifications to the CAT question paper format, is tabulated below:
CAT Exam Year | CAT Exam Conducting IIM | CAT Question Paper Pattern over the years | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of Sections | Exam Duration | Number of Slots | Numer of Questions | Remarks | ||
2022 | IIM Bangalore | 3- VARC, DILR, QA | 120 minutes | 3 | 66 | No surprise changes in the paper pattern. QA toughest in 2 years. Para Completion questions came as a surprise in VARC. |
2021 | IIM Ahmedabad | 3- VARC, DILR, Quant | 120 minutes | 3 | 66 | No prior information of revision in exam pattern. CAT question paper came as a surprise for the candidates. |
2020 | IIM Indore | 3- VARC, DILR, Quant | 120 minutes | 3 | 76 | Number of questions reduced to 76 and exam conducted in 3 slots instead of 2. |
2019 | IIM Kozhikode | 3- VARC, DILR, Quant | 180 minutes | 2 | 100 | - |
2018 | IIM Calcutta | 3- VARC, DILR, Quant | 180 minutes | 2 | 100 | CAT Quant section was rated to be the toughest of the last 10 years. |
2017 | IIM Lucknow | 3- VARC, DILR, Quant | 180 minutes | 2 | 100 | - |
2016 | IIM Bangalore | 3- VARC, DILR, Quant | 180 minutes | 2 | 100 | For the first time, CAT exam was conducted in the first week of December instead of the last week of November |
2015 | IIM Ahmedabad | 3- VARC, DILR, Quant | 180 minutes | 2 | 100 |
|
2014 | IIM Indore | 2- VALR, QADI | 170 minutes | 4 | 100 | Drastic change in the number of questions from the years 2011-13. Number of questions increased from 60 to 100. |
The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Quantitative Aptitude (QA), and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) topics included in the CAT Syllabus are the three subjects.
Topics like grammar, vocabulary, RC passages, and para jumbles are included in the CAT VARC Syllabus.
The CAT DILR Syllabus consists of LR problems based on analytical and non-verbal reasoning, caselets, and DI tasks based on tables, graphs, and charts.
Mathematical concepts from classes 10 and 12—such as arithmetic, algebra, numbers, and geometry—are included in the CAT Quant Syllabus.
Understanding the kind of questions and the level of difficulty on the CAT exam is facilitated by reviewing previous year's question papers. Additionally, regularly completing 1-2 question papers will help you increase your speed and accuracy when responding to questions. To study for the CAT 2023 exam, candidates can download the question papers from the previous year that are provided below.
Section & Slot Number | CAT Question Paper 2022 | CAT Question Paper 2021 | CAT Question Paper 2020 | CAT Question Paper 2019 |
---|---|---|---|---|
CAT Quant Slot 1 | Download | Download | Download | Download |
CAT DILR Slot 1 | Download | Download | Download | Download |
CAT VARC Slot 1 | Download | Download | Download | Download |
Two to three weeks prior to the exam date, the CAT 2023 Mock Test will be made available on the official website.
The CAT 2023 Mock Test will be 120 minutes in total, with a 40-minute sectional time limit. On iimcat.ac.in, the official links to take the practise exams will be made available.
Aspirants can access online tests using the CAT 2023 Mock Test Link to get accustomed to the features, directions, and format of computer-based assessments.
Direct Link to take CAT Mock Test |
The CAT exam last year was moderately challenging overall, with QA being the most challenging section. In contrast to the previous two years, VARC was surprisingly simpler in 2022, although DILR remained the most time-consuming. Review the CAT Exam Analysis by Slot (2022-2014).
Section | No. of Questions | Question Distribution | Level of Difficulty | Good Attempt |
---|---|---|---|---|
CAT VARC Exam Analysis | 24 | 21 MCQs and 3 TITA questions:
|
Easy to Moderate | 16-18 |
CAT DILR Exam Analysis | 20 |
14 MCQs and 6 TITA questions: 4 sets with 5 questions each
|
Moderate and Lengthy | 12-13 |
CAT QA Exam Analysis | 22 |
14 MCQs and 8 TITA questions
|
Moderate to Difficult | 13-14 |
Overall | 66 | 49 MCQs and 17 TITA questions | Moderate | 40-45 |
Section | No. of Questions | Question Distribution | Level of Difficulty | Good Attempt |
---|---|---|---|---|
CAT VARC | 24 | 18 MCQs and 6 TITA questions:
|
Easy to Moderate | 17-19 |
CAT DILR | 20 | 14 MCQs and 6 TITA questions- 4 Sets with 5 questions each | Moderate | 12-13 |
CAT QA | 22 |
14 MCQs and 8 TITA questions
|
Moderate-Difficult | 13-15 |
Overall | 66 | 46 MCQs and 20 TITA questions | Moderate | 38-43 |
Section | No. of Questions | Question Distribution | Level of Difficulty | Good Attempt |
---|---|---|---|---|
CAT VARC | 24 | 21 MCQs and 3 TITA questions:
|
Easy | 18-20 |
CAT DILR | 20 | 14 MCQs and 6 TITA questions- 4 Sets with 5 questions each | Moderate to Difficult | 11-13 |
CAT QA | 22 |
14 MCQs and 8 TITA questions
|
Difficult | 12-14 |
Overall | 66 | 49 MCQs and 17 TITA questions | Moderate to Difficult | 37-42 |
Aspirants for the CAT 2023 exam can also enroll in a coaching course to get ready for the test. The top teachers with years of experience are offered by CAT Coaching Institutes.
Additionally, CAT coaching facilities offer specially selected practise papers, overall and sectional mock exams, doubt-clearing sessions, etc.
Many CAT hopefuls can engage and exchange techniques and thoughts on a forum made available by CAT coachings.
You can schedule a single demo session with a few institutes before choosing a tutoring centre. The table below lists a few of the city-specific coaching facilities:
CAT Coaching Centers in Delhi | CAT Coaching Centers in Hyderabad |
CAT Coaching Centers in Mumbai | CAT Coaching Centers in Chennai |
The COVID-19 epidemic has resulted in a significant shift towards online coaching for a number of MBA tests, including the CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, NMAT, etc. For CAT preparation, there are many online coaching facilities, study channels, YouTube channels, and online study materials.
Candidates who want to perform well on the CAT exam in 2023 must review the advice of experts. The following are the most crucial advice to remember:
CAT Exam Study Plan to Score above 99 percentile | Number of Days for Preparation |
---|---|
Arithmetic | 20-25 |
Algebra + Geometry | 5 + 6 |
Reading Comprehension (mostly practice at least 3-4 passages every day) | 15 |
Parajumbles + Vocabulary | 4 |
LR Puzzles | 8 |
DI sets based on bar graphs, tables, and pie charts (especially the combination questions) | 8 |
Solving Sample Papers, Previous Year Papers, and Mock Tests | 15 |
Total | 55-60 days |
To master the CAT exam, candidates must unquestionably get the Arun Sharma CAT Books 2023 PDF or buy the books. Below is a list of essential Arun Sharma CAT books for your reference:
Arun Sharma CAT Books 2023 |
---|
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT |
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT |
How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT |
How to prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT |
To be admitted to the best IIMs for MBA programmes, every CAT exam candidate aspires to achieve a score above the 99th percentile. But tackling all of the questions on the CAT exam paper isn't enough to achieve a 99+ percentile. A thorough comprehension of the CAT exam format and marking scheme, as well as the development of speed and accuracy, are necessary for scoring 99+ percentile. The following are some key tips on how to attempt the CAT exam paper and achieve a 99+ percentile:
Concentrate on precision rather than quantity. Only attempt questions that you are certain about, as erroneous responses will result in a negative marking of one mark each incorrect answer. According to experts, attempting 80% of the questions with 100% accuracy is sufficient to score above the 99th percentile.
Choosing the proper questions is critical for a high CAT exam result. Begin with the simple questions and work your way up to the more time-consuming ones. Allow no more than two minutes for any question. If you are unable to solve the problem, mark it for later and move on to the next question.
Many students are perplexed by the CAT exam score normalisation process. As a result, predicting their CAT exam performance becomes incredibly challenging. Because the CAT exam is given in three sessions, the difficulty level varies. CAT score normalisation is the process of calculating scaled scores to ensure that all applicants, regardless of CAT exam slot, are scored on an equivalent degree of difficulty. Read CAT Score Calculation and Normalisation for more information.
Because the CAT exam is timed, time management is 50% of the equation for passing with a 99+ percentile. Time management, according to toppers and experts, is the game changer in the CAT exam. So, practice sectional and overall mock tests with a timer set as per the actual exam duration. Measure your progress and attempt more and more such sample papers to improve your time management.
In the CAT 2023 exam, candidates will have 40 minutes to complete each part. To clear the overall and sectional CAT cut offs, candidates must attempt a respectable number of questions in all parts.
CAT Exam Section | Number of Questions | Good Attempts to score 99+ percentile |
---|---|---|
VARC | 24 | 17-18 |
DILR | 20 | 14-15 |
Quant | 22 | 15-16 |
Overall | 66 | 46-49 |
The conducting IIM will release the CAT 2023 Admit Card in the last week of October 2023. It will be accessible via the official website-iimcat.ac.in.
The following are the methods to download the CAT 2023 Admit Card:
The link to download the CAT Admit Card 2023 will be available at iimcat.ac.in under the registered candidates login. For your convenience, a direct link to get the CAT 2023 Admit Card will be provided below.
CAT Admit Card 2023 Download Link |
The CAT exam will be held on November 26, 2023. For all three berths, the schedule will remain the same as in 2022. The CAT Exam Day Schedule 2023 is provided here.
Particulars | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
---|---|---|---|
CAT Exam Time | 8:30 am to 10:30 pm | 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm | 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm |
CAT Exam Reporting Time | 7:00 am | 11:00 am | 3:00 am |
CAT Exam Center Entry Closing Time | 8:15 am | 12:15 pm | 4:15 pm |
CAT Exam Time for PwD Candidates | 8:30 am to 11:10 am | 12:30 pm to 3:10 pm | 4:30 pm to 7:10 pm |
Candidates taking the CAT 2023 exam must follow the exam day instructions:
CAT exam day reporting: To prevent any inconvenience and finish the biometric screening on time, candidates must be at their respective test centre at least 1.5 hours before the scheduled CAT exam time.
Carry all necessary documents: All candidates must bring a printout of their CAT Admit Card as well as a photo ID to the test centre for verification. Aadhar Card, Voter ID Card, Passport, PAN Card, Driving License, or a Photo ID issued by the present educational institute or employer are all acceptable forms of identification.
Do not carry prohibited items: Certain items are not permitted inside the CAT exam hall. As a result, CAT exam candidates are urged to avoid bringing goods such as jewellery, bags and wallets, calculators, watches, mobile phones, and other electronic devices.
Use Google Map Link feature to locate CAT exam center: The Google Map Link feature on the CAT Admit Card, which was introduced by IIM Ahmedabad last year to check the exact location of the allotted test centre, is expected to be available for this year's CAT exam as well.
Follow COVID-19 guidelines: All the candidates going for CAT exam need to follow the COVID-19 rules of wearing a mask, social distance, hand sanitization, thermal screening, and completing the duly-filled self declaration form.
Do not talk to anyone after your CAT exam has started. This might be considered as cheating and may lead to disqualification.
Candidates must be fully aware of the procedure they must follow on the day of the CAT exam. Candidates must complete a few procedures before beginning the exam.
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