The CAT 2023 exam was held on Nov 26, 2023, in 3 slots and the overall paper analysis was moderate to difficult. CAT is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) for admission to 20 IIMs and over 1,000+ MBA colleges in India.
CAT 2023, also known as the Common Admission Test, is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) on a rotational basis every year. It is also the largest entrance exam for MBA admission in 20 IIMs and over 1,000 other top MBA colleges in India. IIM Calcutta unveils admission policy with a 30% weightage for the CAT exam.
The CAT 2023 exam was conducted in 3 slots on Nov 26, 2023, by IIM Lucknow. The CAT answer key is expected to be released in the first week of December 2023. CAT 2023 results are expected to be released in the second week of January 2024.
Table of Contents
- CAT 2023 Exam Highlights
- CAT 2023 Exam Analysis
- CAT 2023 Answer Key
- CAT 2023 Result
- CAT 2023 Cut off
- CAT 2023 Admit Card
- CAT 2023 Exam Dates
- CAT 2023 Exam Centers
- CAT 2023 Exam Pattern
- CAT 2023 Syllabus
- CAT 2023 Preparation Tips
- CAT Question Papers and Mock Test
- CAT 2023 Registration Process
- Application Fee for CAT 2023
- CAT 2023 Eligibility Criteria
- Top Non-IIMs Accepting CAT Scores for MBA/ PGDM Admission
CAT 2023 Exam Highlights
More than 2 lakh candidates register and apply for CAT every year. Shown below are the key highlights of the IIM CAT 2023 exam:
| Particulars | Details |
| CAT Exam Frequency | Annually |
| CAT Entrance Exam Sessions | 3 sessions - Morning, Afternoon & Evening on the same day |
| Conducted By | IIM |
| CAT 2023 Testing Mode | Computer-based but not an online exam |
| CAT Exam Duration | 120 Minutes |
| CAT Exam Sections | Quantitative Ability (QA) |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | |
| Details to Check in CAT 2023 Notification | CAT Exam details, Application fee, Registration dates, MBA courses by IIMs through CAT 2023 |
| Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT 2023 for MBA Admission 2024 | 20 IIMs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IITs, IMI, IMT& 1000 other MBA colleges in India |
| How to Apply for CAT 2023? | Online |
| Official Website for CAT 2023 Form Filling | iimcat.ac.in |
CAT 2023 Exam Analysis
CAT 2023 was conducted on Nov 26, 2023, in 3 different slots, candidates can check the CAT 2023 paper analysis slot-wise below. CAT results are expected in Jan 2024. Candidates can analyse their performance based on student and expert-based paper analysis.
CAT 2023 Slot 1 Exam Analysis
CAT 2023 Slot 1 was conducted from 8.30 am to 10.30 am on Nov 26, 2023.CAT 2023 Slot 1 Exam Analysis and all valuable information about VARC, DILR, and QA Difficulty, Questions, and Subject-wise Weightage are given below
| Particulars | Details |
| Number of Questions | 66 |
| Total Marks | 198 (3 marks each) |
| Overall Exam Difficulty | Moderate (Easier than last year) |
| Topics with maximum questions in VARC | RC (16 questions- 4 passages), 2 questions each from para jumbles, para completion, para summary, and odd one out) |
| Topics with maximum questions in DILR | 3 LR sets and only 1 DI set |
| Topics with maximum questions in QA | Arithmetic (9 questions), Algebra (8 questions from logarithm, modulus, AP/ GP), Geometry (3 questions), Numbers (1 question on rational numbers) |
CAT 2023 Slot 1 Difficulty Level
Candidates can check the overall difficulty of CAT 2023 slot 1 conducted from 8.30 am to 10.30 am on Nov 26, 2023, in the table given below
| Topic | Overall Difficulty Level |
| DILR | Moderate |
| VARC | VA was comparatively easier than RC |
| QA | Moderate |
CAT 2023 Slot 2 Paper Analysis
CAT 2023 Slot 2 was conducted from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm on Nov 26, 2023. Out of 4 RC episodes, 2 were difficult and 2 were doable. Surprisingly, in VA Section 1, the question was mandatory. For DILR, the 2 sets of games and tournaments and the intermediate mode were tough.
| Particulars | Details |
| Number of Questions | 66 |
| Total Marks | 198 (3 marks each) |
| Overall Exam Difficulty | Moderate to Difficult |
| Topics with maximum questions in VARC | Reading Comprehension- 16 questions (4 passages), Para jumbles- 2 questions, Para Summary- 2 questions, Para Completion- 2 questions, Odd One Out- 2 questions |
| Topics with maximum questions in DILR | 4 sets with 5 questions each- LR based, no direct DI set |
| Topics with maximum questions in QA | Algebra had maximum questions (9-10), Arithmetic (5-6), Geometry (3) |
CAT 2023 Slot 2 Difficulty Level
Candidates can check the overall difficulty of CAT 2023 slot 1 conducted from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm on Nov 26, 2023, in the table given below
| Topic | Overall Difficulty Level |
| DILR | Easy |
| VARC | Moderate to Difficult |
| QA | Difficult |
CAT 2023 Slot 3 Paper Analysis
CAT 2023 Slot 3 was conducted from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm on Nov 26, 2023. Overall difficulty and subject-wise distribution of questions for VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Aptitude. Compared to Site 1 and Site 2, the DILR section of Site 3 was the most difficult.
| Particulars | Details |
| Number of Questions | 66 |
| Total Marks | 198 (3 marks each) |
| Overall Exam Difficulty | Moderate to Difficult |
| Topics with maximum questions in VARC | 4 RC passages (16 questions) |
| Topics with maximum questions in DILR | 4 Sets with 5 questions each |
| Topics with maximum questions in QA | Arithmetic (8), Algebra (7), Number System (4), Geometry (3) |
CAT 2023 Slot 3 Difficulty Level
Candidates can check the overall difficulty of CAT 2023 slot 3 conducted from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm on Nov 26, 2023, in the table given below
| Topic | Overall Difficulty Level |
| DILR | Easy to Moderate |
| VARC | Difficult |
| QA | Moderate to Difficult |
Read More: CAT Previous Year Paper Analysis
CAT 2023 Answer Key
The CAT 2023 answer key will be released by IIM which is expected to be released in the first week of December 2023. Additionally, the response sheet for the CAT 2023 exam will also be released along with the official answer sheet. Candidates can check the CAT 2023 answer key slot-wise PDFs in the table given below
| CAT 2023 Exam Slot-wise | CAT 2023 Question Paper with Answer Key |
| CAT 2023 Slot 1 | To Be Updated |
| CAT 2023 Slot 2 | To Be Updated |
| CAT 2023 Slot 3 | To Be Updated |
How to Check CAT 2023 Answer Key?
Listed below is the step-by-step procedure to check the CAT 2023 answer key:
- Login on the official CAT 2023 website using your user id and password
- Click on the link for CAT 2023 Answer Key to download the PDF
- Save the pdf of the CAT 2023 answer key for future reference
CAT 2023 Result
IIMs will release the CAT 2023 result in the first week of January 2024 (tentatively). The result will be released online on the official website of IIM CAT 2023. Candidates who attempt the CAT 2023 exam should use their user id and password to check the result. More details about the CAT 2023 results are as follows:
- The validity of the CAT 2023 result is one year from the date of its release
- If the candidate does not take admission to the 2024-26 batch based on the CAT 2023 result, then he/she will have to take the CAT exam again in 2024
- The CAT scorecard can be downloaded on the official website till 31st December 2024
- The CAT 2023 result cum scorecard will include details of the overall and sectional scores & percentile of the candidate.
How to Check CAT 2023 Result?
Listed below are the steps to be followed to check the CAT 2023 results:
- Visit the official CAT website.
- Click on the link for CAT 2023 Score Card Download
- Log in using your CAT 2023 user id and password
- Download the CAT scorecard from the redirected page
- Save the PDF of the CAT 2023 result for all future reference.
CAT 2023 Cut off
The qualifying CAT 2023 cut-off for admission to the 2024-26 MBA batch will be released by all IIMs. It is mandatory for candidates to qualify in both overall and sectional CAT cut-offs to be eligible for participating in GD-PI rounds. Shown below is the minimum qualifying cut-off for top IIMs based on previous year trends:
Overall CAT Cut-off
The overall CAT cut-off for various IIMs is as follows:
| IIM | Overall Cut-off Percentile |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 80 |
| IIM Bangalore | 85 |
| IIM Calcutta | 85 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 85 |
| IIM Shillong | - |
| IIM Lucknow | 90 |
| IIM Raipur | 93 |
| IIM Rohtak | 95 |
| IIM Kashipur | 93 |
| IIM Ranchi | 93 |
| IIM Indore | 90 |
| IIM Tiruchirapalli | 93 |
| IIM Udaipur | 93 |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | 94 |
| IIM Amritsar | 85 |
| IIM Nagpur | 85 |
| IIM Jammu | 93 |
| IIM Visakhapatnam | 80 |
| IIM Sambalpur | 93 |
| IIM Sirmaur | 93 |
Sectional CAT Cut-off
The sectional CAT cut-off for various IIMS are as follows:
| IIM | Cut off Percentile for QA | Cut off Percentile for DILR | Cut off Percentile for VARC |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| IIM Bangalore | 75 | 75 | 80 |
| IIM Calcutta | 75 | 80 | 80 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| IIM Shillong | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| IIM Lucknow | 85 | 85 | 85 |
| IIM Raipur | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| IIM Rohtak | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| IIM Kashipur | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| IIM Ranchi | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| IIM Indore | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| IIM Tiruchirapalli | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| IIM Udaipur | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| IIM Amritsar | 80 | 75 | 75 |
| IIM Nagpur | 72 | 72 | 72 |
| IIM Jammu | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| IIM Visakhapatnam | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| IIM Sambalpur | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| IIM Sirmaur | 70 | 70 | 70 |
CAT 2023 Admit Card
The CAT 2023 admit card has been released on Nov 7, 2023, on the official website of CAT 2023. Registered candidates can download their CAT admit card by logging in with their registration ID and password.
The CAT admit card is an important document that contains the details of the test centre, the time & date of the exam, and all other instructions for exam day. It is mandatory for candidates to carry the CAT admit card to the allotted test centre on exam day. The CAT exam centre allotted in the admit card cannot be changed under any circumstances.
| CAT Exam Pattern 2023 | CAT Syllabus 2023 |
CAT 2023 Exam Dates
Candidates must complete the registration and application process within the timeline. The dates for CAT 2023 exam and other related events are tabulated below:
| Events | Dates |
| CAT 2023 Notification Date | Jul 31, 2023 |
| CAT 2023 Registration Begins | Aug 2, 2023 |
| CAT 2023 Registration Last Date | Sept 21, 2023 |
| Last Date to Submit the Fees for the Application Form | Sept 13, 2023 |
| CAT 2023 Form Correction Window Open | Sept 25, 2023 |
| CAT 2023 Admit Card Release Date | Nov 7, 2023 (out) |
| CAT 2023 Exam Date | Nov 26, 2023 |
| CAT 2023 Result Announcement Date | Jan 2024 (tentative) |
Also Check: CAT Exam Day Guidelines 2023
CAT 2023 Exam Centers
CAT 2023 exam will be held in computer-based testing mode in 400+ test centres located in 156 Indian cities. Candidates can choose up to 6 test centre preferences while filling out the CAT 2023 application form. The CAT 2023 exam centres are tabulated below:
| Ahmedabad | Gaya |
| Ambala | Gurgaon |
| Amravati | Rajkot |
| Anand | Guwahati |
| Aurangabad | Hassan |
| Bahadurgarh | Indore |
| Balasore | Itanagar |
| Belgaum | Jabalpur |
| Bengaluru | Jalgaon |
| Berhampur | Jammu |
| Bhopal | Jamshedpur |
| Bhubaneshwar | Kochi |
| Bidar | Kolhapur |
| Chandigarh | Kollam |
| Chikkaballapur | Madgaon |
| Cuttack | Mandya |
| Davanagere | Mumbai |
| Dhanbad | Mysore |
| Dibrugarh | Nagpur |
| Faridabad | Panipat |
CAT 2023 Exam Pattern
CAT 2023 is conducted online through a computer-based test in three slots. A total of 66 questions need to be attempted for a duration of 120 minutes.
More details on the CAT 2023 exam pattern are shown below:
- Exam Mode: CAT 2023 examination is conducted through online mode via a computer-based test
- Type of Questions: There will be two types of questions in the CAT exam – objective and subjective questions (MCQs and TITA-type questions). 75% of the questions will be MCQ-type questions and 25% will be TITA questions
- Time Duration: A total of 2 hours will be given to solve the CAT 2023 question paper. Each sectional duration will be 40 minutes
- Total Questions and Marks: A total of 66 questions should be attempted for a total mark of 198
- Marking Scheme: 3 marks will be awarded for each correct answer
- Negative Marking Scheme: 1 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer or each question attempted in the objective type section. However, there is no negative marking done in the subjective section.
Section-wise Distribution of Questions in CAT 2023
Tabulated below is the section-wise distribution of CAT 2023 questions:
| Sections | Number of Questions |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 20 |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 24 |
| Quantitative Ability | 22 |
| CAT Geometry Questions | CAT VARC Questions |
CAT 2023 Syllabus
The CAT 2023 syllabus compromise of all three sections namely Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Ability. It is very generalized and questions are mostly based on middle school Mathematics and English subjects or topics. More detail about the CAT 2023 syllabus is explained below:
| Sections | CAT Syllabus Topics |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | Reading Comprehension- Passages of 400-500 words based on various fields like Management, Business, Science & Tech, Economy, Abstract, Literature, Art & Culture |
| Verbal Ability- Para Jumbles, Summary, Sentence Completion, Odd Sentence Out, Antonyms & Synonyms, Error Detection | |
| Quantitative Ability | Arithmetic- Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Time Speed & Distance, Mixtures, Ratio & Proportion, Percentage, Averages |
| Geometry & Mensuration- Lines & Angles, Circles, Triangles, Polygons, Area & Volume of 2D and 3D figures | |
| Algebra- Quadratic Equations, Series, Inequalities, Functions, Surds & Indices | |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | Data Interpretation- Caselets, Tabular DI, DI sets based on Charts and Graphs |
| Logical Reasoning- Syllogisms, Puzzles, Critical Reasoning, Blood Relations, Coding-Decoding, Statement & Assumption, Inference, Seating Arrangement, Ranking, Direction sense test |
CAT 2023 Preparation Tips
CAT is considered one of India's most challenging management entrance exams, but aspirants still have ample time to prepare for CAT 2023. Some of the CAT 2023 preparation tips mentioned below can help candidates in scoring well in the exam:
- Firstly, candidates have to understand the exam pattern and syllabus thoroughly.
- One needs to also identify the sections in which they are strong and weak.
- Aspirants should focus mainly on the weaker sections and continue practising the topics in which they are strong.
- CAT aspirants should go through some of the previous year’s question papers to be more familiar with the exam pattern and the difficulty of the questions
- One should always follow books from renowned writers as references.
- Several mock tests are also available online, which can help in the CAT exam preparation.
- Self-study is essential to be able to crack CAT 2023.
| How to Prepare for CAT Using Arun Sharma Books? | How to Prepare for CAT Exam at Home? |
CAT Question Papers and Mock Test
It is extremely important for candidates to solve the CAT Previous Years Question Papers to get an idea of the exam pattern, important topics, and difficulty level, and to improve time management. CAT mock tests are another way in which candidates can prepare well for their CAT exams.
The CAT 2023 mock test will be released by IIM a week before the exam date. The official mock tests will be released on the official website and candidates can access the same using their application id and password. The mock test will be in line with the actual paper pattern and syllabus of CAT 2023.
| CAT 2021 Question Paper |
| CAT 2020 Question Paper |
| CAT 2019 Question Paper |
| CAT 2018 Question Paper |
| CAT 2017 Question Paper |
CAT 2023 Registration and Application Process
CAT 2023 registration should be done online on the official website. Shown below are the steps to be followed as a part of the CAT 2023 registration and application process:
- Candidates need to get themselves registered by entering their required details such as name, date of birth, email address, country, and mobile number.
- A unique user ID and password will be sent to the candidate’s registered email address and mobile number post verification.
- After registration, candidates have to complete the application form and fill in other details such as name, address, education qualification, etc.
- Personal, academic, and work experience details such as father’s name, mother’s name, date of birth, gender, nationality, category, address, graduation percentage, class 10th & 12th marks, and full-time work experience should also be entered.
- Aspirants have the option to choose the IIMs as per their preference and also the course that they want to pursue.
- Up to 6 cities can be selected as preferred CAT examination centres.
- All required documents asked during the registration procedure such as photo, signature, NC-OBC/SC/ST Certificate, PwD/DA Certificate, etc, should be uploaded.
- The CAT application fee specific to the candidates’ category should be paid via online mode only.
- All the details filled in the application form should be rechecked after uploading all the documents and before submitting the form.
- A printout of the application form should be kept for future reference.
Documents Required for CAT 2023
The following documents are required to be uploaded during the CAT 2023 registration process:
- Scanned copy of Caste Certificate
- Bachelor's degree marks certificates and provisional certificates
- Scanned photographs and signature images
- Class 10th and 12th passing certificate/ mark sheet
| Is CAT Exam Tough? | How to Start Preparing For CAT 2023? |
Application Fee for CAT 2023
CAT aspirants can submit the application fee by online payment mode only. Fee payment can be made using a Credit card/ Debit card/ Net Banking and UPI payment gateways.
Find below the CAT 2023 application fee for various categories:
| Category | Application Fee |
| For candidates belonging to SC/ ST/ PWD | INR 1,100 |
| All other category candidates | INR 2,200 |
CAT 2023 Eligibility Criteria
Aspirants need to check if they fulfil all the CAT eligibility requirements before applying for the exam. More details on the CAT 2023 eligibility criteria are given below:
- Graduation: CAT applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent degree from a recognized college/ university or institute
- Minimum Marks: A minimum of 50% marks is required in case of general category candidates (45% marks for SC/ ST/ PWD candidates) in the qualifying exam
- Age: There is no age or attempt limit to apply for CAT 2023
- Final Year Students: Students in the final year of their bachelor’s degree are also eligible to apply. Candidates having professional degrees like CA/ CS/ ICWA can also apply.
Top Non-IIMs Accepting CAT Scores for MBA/ PGDM Admission
Several top non-IIMs accept CAT scores for admission to their MBA program. Given below is the list of non-IIM colleges accepting CAT scores and their expected cut-offs based on previous year trends:
![Chandigarh University, [CU] Chandigarh](https://media.getmyuni.com/azure/college-image/small/chandigarh-university-mohali.jpg)
![Sri Krishna Arts and Science College, [SKASC] Coimbatore](https://media.getmyuni.com/azure/college-image/small/sri-krishna-arts-and-science-college-skasc-coimbatore.jpg)
![VIT University, [VIT] Vellore](https://media.getmyuni.com/azure/college-image/small/vit-university-vit-vellore.jpg)
![Lovely Professional University, [LPU] Jalandhar](https://media.getmyuni.com/azure/college-image/small/lovely-professional-university-lpu-jalandhar.jpg)
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