CAT Exam
CAT 2023 – The most popular entrance exam for MBA admissions to prestigious B-schools is the Common Admission Test, which is administered annually by the IIMs. For the class of 2024–26, students will be able to apply to IIMs and other prestigious institutions through CAT 2023.
Before being chosen for the institution’s subsequent selection processes, candidates for admission to MBA programmes must pass this exam and meet the cut-offs.
Here are highlights of the CAT EXAM
Highlights | Details |
Name of Exam | Common Admission Test |
Official Website for Exam | |
Regulating Body | The Indian Institute of Management |
Occurrence | Annual |
Mode of Registration | Online |
Mode of Exam | Online |
No. of Questions | 66 |
Time Allotted | 120 minutes |
Types of Questions | MCQs and TITA |
Sections in the Exam | 3 Sections VARC, DILR and QA |
Medium of Exam | English |
CAT 2023 Eligibility Requirements
Only eligible students will be permitted to apply when the CAT application form 2023 opens in August 2023. Every applicant must be aware of the eligibility requirements in advance and make the necessary preparations.
The applicant must have a bachelor’s degree in any field to meet CAT 2023 Eligibility Criteria and a combined score in the General and NC-OBC categories of at least 50%. The cutoff point is 45% for candidates who are SC, ST, or PWD.
Candidates who are undergraduates in their final year may also take the test with the goal of passing it and earning the necessary scores to graduate. Candidates’ admission will be revoked if they fail to present the same during admissions.
Everyone who meets the requirements above is welcome to apply for CAT Exam 2023, regardless of age.
The CAT exam is also open to applicants with professional degrees like CA, CS, or ICWS.
Age Limit: There is no age restriction to appear in the CAT exam.
Nationality: Only Indian citizens are eligible. Non-resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), Person of Indian Origin (PIO), and Foreign National candidates are not eligible to appear for the CAT exam.
CAT 2023 Application Registration Process
Through the official website, iimcat.ac.in, applicants must register for the CAT 2023 exam. Following are the instructions for completing the CAT application form 2023, together with a list of fees and documents needed to register.
Registration Process Steps by step guide
Firstly Candidates must click on “New Candidate Registration” on the official website, enter the necessary information, and submit.
The unique user ID and password for each candidate will be sent to the registered email and mobile number after verification.
The CAT application form 2023 can now be filled out by candidates.
In addition, the candidate will need to choose the city for the interview as well as the programmes of their interest.
In order to take the CAT, the candidate may select six cities.
Documents Required
The applicant must provide the necessary documents in the format specified while completing the CAT application form 2023.
A current passport-sized photo on a white background is required for the scanned copy of your picture. The image must be in JPEG format, and it cannot be larger than 100 KB.
Copy of your signature that has been scanned: The signature must be in JPEG format and should not be larger than 100 KB.
A scanned copy of the original certificate or temporary certificate that the university awarded you for your bachelor’s degree should be submitted. The certificate should be in PDF format, with a maximum file size of 500 KB.
Your caste/category certificate, scanned if necessary: For candidates in the reserved category, this is necessary (SC, ST, OBC-NC, and PwD). The certification ought to be in PDF format.
The application fee
The candidate must submit the payment to finalise registration after providing all the information requested in the CAT application form 2023.
The application fee for NC-OBC, EWS, and General is INR 2,200.
The application fee is INR 1,100 for people who are PwD, SC, and ST.
Only online payments may be made for the charge.
The candidate will have the option to preview the entire CAT application form 2023 before submitting it and paying the fee.
Within a few minutes of a successful payment, candidates will get a confirmation email.
Exam Pattern for CAT 2023
Three spots are available for the CAT exam. Even if the exam format and course material are the same for all slots, the level of difficulty may change. The CAT 2023 exam schedule is summarised here.
Mode of Examination | Online (Computer-based) |
Medium of Examination | English |
Total Questions | 66 |
Time Allotted | 120 minutes |
Questions Per Section | VARC: 24 DILR: 20 QA: 22 |
Time Allotted per Section | 40 minutes each |
Type of Questions | MCQs and TITA (Type in the Answer) |
Marks Awarded for Correct Answer | +3 for every right answer |
Marks Deducted for Wrong Answer | -1 for every wrong answer, TITA has no negative marking |
CAT 2023 Syllabus
The CAT 2023 exam is divided into 3 portions, much like all of the previous CAT exams. The CAT exam does not have a set course, however it does mostly focus on school-based English and arithmetic. The division of the three exam portions is shown below:
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Reading comprehension and verbal ability are the two key components of the VARC portion. The reading comprehension element of the VARC is a significant component and consists of paragraphs of various lengths with MCQ and TITA questions. The verbal aptitude test includes parajumbles, strange phrases, etc.
2. Analysing data and applying logic (DILR)
Data interpretation is answering a series of questions based on numerous graphs, charts, and other ways of presenting data. Direct data extraction from the provided charts is required to provide the answers. There are extra sets of questions based on seat assignments, kinship relationships, puzzles, etc. under the logical reasoning part.
3. Numerical aptitude (QA)
This part focuses on arithmetic because school maths is the only subject included in the QA syllabus. LCM and HCF, trigonometry, mensuration, probability, etc. are among the topics covered. The IIMs have recently lessened the difficulty of this segment.
CAT 2023 Preparation Tips
According to prior years, every year, more than 2 lakh applicants register for and take the CAT exam. As a result, there is fierce competition for admission to the best business schools. As a result, the CAT exam preparation process must be thorough and organised. Here are some pointers for CAT 2023 exam preparation. –
Develop a study plan: Utilise the time you have for preparation by breaking the syllabus up into different sections and phases. Set aside time each day to study for the CAT and make a commitment to it. Make sure each section of the paper receives the necessary time.
Establish the Basics: Determine which ideas you are unfamiliar with or find the most difficult. Spend time studying the various topics in each division to develop your understanding before you begin your CAT preparations.
Select the Preparation Method: You have the option of enrolling in a CAT coaching programme or studying independently. You will be led through each step of the preparation process via a coaching programme. Remember to use the right books and materials for your preparation if you decide to self-study.
Prioritise CAT 2023 Mock Test: Consider taking practise examinations as your preparation confidence grows. You can learn about your skills and shortcomings by taking the practice exams. You will be able to strengthen the areas where you are weakest.
CAT 2023 Exam Dates
Here is the tentative timeline for the CAT exam 2023.
Event | Tentative Timeline |
CAT 2023 Official Notification | July 2023 |
Start Date for Registration | August 2023 |
Last Date for Registration | September 2023 |
Opening of Form Correction Window | September 2023 |
Admit Card Release Date | October 2023 |
CAT 2023 Exam Date | November 2023 |
CAT 2023 Results Announcement | December 2023 |
Admit Card for CAT 2023
In October 2023, the CAT 2023 admit card will be released. For the same, keep in mind the following information:
- Admit cards will be available for download for those who successfully submit the CAT application form 2023 and register for the test.
- By entering their registration ID and password on the official website, candidates can obtain their admission cards. They could then download the admit card at that point.
- The admit card will have the exam’s location, time, and other specifics.
- On the day of the exam, candidates are required to have their admit cards with them.
Results of CAT 2023
On the official website CAT results will be released probably in December month. The CAT 2023 scores are going to be good through December 2023.
Cut-offs for the 2024–26 class will also be made public by the IIMs. Since each IIM has its own process for interviews and subsequent admission rounds, there is no centralised counselling for the CAT exam.
FAQ :
When will the CAT 2023 exam be conducted?
A: The most likely date for the CAT 2023 exam is November 26, 2023. On July 31, 2023, the exam date will be formally announced on the iimcat.ac.in website.
When can I apply for CAT 2023?
A: The registration period for CAT 2023 will start the first week of August. The conducting IIM will release the application schedule on July 31, 2023.
Which colleges accept a CAT score for MBA admission?
A: More than 1200 business schools in India accept the CAT score for admission in addition to the 20 IIMs. Top MBA schools that accept the CAT include SPJIMR, MDI, FMS, IMT, JIMS, GLIB, LIBA, GIM, XIMB, and others.
I have completed graduation from distance learning. Can I apply for the CAT?
A graduation or an equivalent degree from an accredited university meets the eligibility requirements for the CAT, hence the answer is yes. Any form of schooling may have produced the degree.
What is the minimum age to appear in the CAT exam?
A: The age requirement to take the CAT exam is neither minimum or maximum. Candidates need simply possess a diploma from a four-year college or university to be eligible.
What is the syllabus of the CAT exam?
A: All of the crucial topics for VARC, DILR, and quantitative aptitude are covered in the CAT syllabus, including English grammar, verbal ability, reading comprehension, data interpretation, tables, graphs, pie charts, logical reasoning, coding-decoding, series, family trees, sets, algebra, trigonometry, geometry, mensuration, and others.
