Complete CAT 2023 Exam Details | Books, Course and Strategy

On the last Sunday of November 2023 (tentative), the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) will hold the CAT 2023 exam. This time IIM Lucknow, will probably conduct the exam. The institute plans to release the official announcement of the CAT 2023 exam in July. The online registration session for CAT 2023 might open in August 2023. The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2023 application is available at iimcat.ac.in, the official website for the CAT. IIMs and other CAT participating institutions will use CAT scores to shortlist candidates for admission.

For admission to postgraduate management programs, IIMs administer the Common Admission Test (CAT), a national-level management entrance test. It is one of India's most difficult MBA entrance tests. Every year, almost 2 lakh applicants take the exam to get considered for admission to the MBA/PGDM programs provided by IIMs and other CAT universities. About 1200 B-schools in India use the CAT exam to select students for their postgraduate management programs.

The article provides all applicants with information on numerous significant elements related to the CAT exam.

Complete CAT 2023 Exam Details | Books,Course and Strategy

CAT 2023 - Overview

The following table lists the key CAT exam highlights for candidates to review:

Particulars Details
Name of the Examination CAT 2023
Official Website of CAT iimcat.ac.in
Exam Frequency Once in a year
Registration Mode Online
Exam Duration 120 minutes
Exam Mode Online
Language English
No.of Questions 66
Exam Sections
  • Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
  • Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
  • Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Courses Offered

MBA/PGDM course in various disciplines at 20 IIMs, 8 IITs, and other top management and business schools

CAT 2023 - Latest Notifications

On July 31, 2023, IIM, administering the test, will release the CAT 2023 Notification. The CAT 2023 Notification will include all the crucial information candidates need.

The official IIM CAT website, iimcat.ac.in, will upload the PDF of the CAT Notification. The official CAT 2023 notification will contain the following information:

  • List of IIMs, links to their official websites, and PGP and MBA programs each one offers
  • Criteria for Eligibility
  • Date & Reserving Slots for the CAT 2023 Exam
  • Dates, duration, and category-specific fees for CAT registration
  • IIM Selection Procedure in a Nutshell
  • CAT Test Cities
  • Official CAT 2023 Website

CAT 2023 - Important Dates

The important dates for the CAT Exam 2023 are in the table below.

Events Dates (Tentative)
Release Date of the Official Notification 31st July, 2023
Start Date of Application Form 3rd August, 2023
Last Date of Appliation Form 14th September, 2023
Opening of Form Correction Window 3rd week of September, 2023
Release Date of the Admit Card 27th October, 2023
Date of Examination 26th November, 2023
Announcement Date of the Result January 2024

CAT 2023 - Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must meet the following requirements to fill out the CAT Application form:

  • Bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a recognized university in any discipline.
  • A minimum percentile of 50% in graduation (45% for candidates from the reserved categories).
  • The authorities have set no age limit requirements.
  • Students in their final year can also apply for the exam if they graduate before the admission deadline and meet the graduation marks requirements.
  • Candidates with professional degrees, such as a CA, CS, or ICWA, also can apply to take the CAT exam.

CAT 2023 - Application Form

Registration for the 2023 CAT exam will most probably start in the first week of August 2023. The only mode of submission for CAT applications is online.

Candidates can fill out the CAT application form at the official website, iimcat.ac.in, if they want to participate in CAT 2023. Candidates must pay the CAT registration cost of Rs. 2,300 for general category candidates and Rs. 1,150 for reserved category candidates after completing the application.

CAT 2023 - Registration Process

  • CAT application forms are available online at the iimcat.ac.in.
  • The initial step in applying for the exam is registering for the CAT.
  • Only those who satisfy the eligibility requirements may apply.
  • Candidates need a working email ID and password to register for CAT 2023.
  • Candidates will need their Class 10, Class 12 and bachelor's degree certificate, personal ID number (Aadhaar, Voter ID, Passport number, etc.), scanned photograph, scanned signature, and net banking information to complete the CAT application form 2023.
  • IIMs and courses must get chosen by candidates solely on the CAT application form. They don't have to complete separate IIMs forms to get admitted for an MBA.
  • Only some fields of the application form will be eligible for form correction, and the CAT application fee is not refundable.

CAT 2023 - Admit Card

On the official website, iimcat.ac.in, the CAT 2023 Admit Card will be made available in the last week of October 2023.

  • Successfully registered applicants can log in with their registration ID and password to download their CAT admission card.
  • The CAT Admit Card is an important document that includes information on the test site, the time and date of the exam, and crucial instructions for exam day.
  • On the examination day, you must bring your CAT admit card to the designated testing center.

CAT 2023 - Exam Pattern

There will be three slots available for CAT 2023. According to the official CAT exam pattern listed below, the question paper will follow that format.

Particulars Details
Mode of the Examination Online
Exam Duration 120 minutes
Question Type
  • Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
  • TITA-type Questions
Total no.of Questions 66
No.of MCQs 75%
No.of TITA Questions 25%
Sectional Limit 40 minutes
No.of Sections 3 (QA, DILR, VARC)
Sectional-wise Question Count
  • QA- 22
  • VARC- 24
  • DILR- 20
Total Marks 198
Marking Scheme +3 marks for each correct answer, -1 mark for each wrong MCQ and no negative marking for TITA (non-MCQ) questions.
Exam Medium English

CAT 2023 - Results

In the first week of January 2024, tentatively, IIM will announce the CAT 2023 Results. Only the official IIM CAT 2023 website will host the online publication of the CAT Result 2023. CAT 2023 candidates must log in using their username and password to view their results.

  • One year after the date of its release, CAT Results are still valid.
  • You will need to retake the CAT exam in 2024 if your CAT 2023 results indicate that you should not get admission to the 2024–26 batch.
  • Until December 31, 2024, you can get your CAT scorecard from the official website.
  • Your overall and sectional scores and percentile will get listed on your CAT 2023 result cumulative scorecard.

How Can I Check My CAT 2023 Score?

Follow the steps to check the CAT 2023 Result:

  • Visit iimcat.ac.in, the official CAT website.
  • Select the Download CAT 2023 Score Card link.
  • Use your CAT 2023 user ID and password to log in.
  • From the page, you will get directed to download your CAT scorecard.
  • Save the PDF of the CAT 2023 result for all upcoming correspondence.

CAT 2023 - Selection Process

Candidates who pass the CAT exam must participate in the CAT selection procedure after the 2023 CAT results.

Shortlisting of applicants based on CAT score, WAT, and GD/PI will be a part of the admissions procedures at each IIM and MBA college. Check out the selection procedure in detail below.

CAT 2023 - Cut-Off

All IIMs will publish the qualifying CAT 2023 Cut-off for the 2024–26 MBA batch. To be qualified to participate in the GD-PI rounds, candidates must meet the overall and sectional CAT cut-offs. The minimal qualifying cut-off for top IIMs is listed below based on patterns from previous years' cut-offs:

IIM CAT Cut-off Percentile
IIM Ahmedabad 99-100
IIM Bangalore 99-100
IIM Calcutta 99
IIM Lucknow 97-98
IIM Indore 97-98
IIM Kozhikode 97-98
IIM Amritsar 95-96
IIM Nagpur 95-96
IIM Sambalpur 95-96
IIM Trichy 94-95
IIM Raipur 94-95
IIM Ranchi 94-95
IIM Kashipur 94-95
IIM Vizag 92-94
IIM Rohtak 92-94
IIM Udaipur 92-94
IIM Bodhgaya 92-94
IIM Shillong 90
IIM Sirmaur 90
IIM Jammu 90

CAT 2023 - Syllabus

The three sections of the CAT Exam Syllabus 2023 are VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension) ,DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning) and QA (Quantitative Aptitude).

Section Name Topic Name
VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension)
  • Verbal Ability- Antonyms & Synonyms, Odd Sentence Out, Para Jumbles, Error Detection, Summary, etc.
  • Reading Comprehension- Passage Test of 400-500 words based on several topics such as Art & Culture, Management, Economy, Science & Technology, Business, etc.
DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning)
  • Data Interpretation- Tabular DI, Graphs, Charts, Caselets, etc.
  • Logical Reasoning- Puzzles, Blood Relations, Syllogisms, Critical Reasoning, Coding-Decoding, Inference, Statement & Assumption, Seat Arrangement, Direction Test, Ranking, etc.
QA (Quantitative Aptitude)
  • Arithmetic- Percentages, Average, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion, Time Speed & Distance, Time & Work, Mixtures, etc.
  • Algebra- Functions, Series, Surds & Indices, Inequalities, Quadratic Equations, etc.
  • Mensuration & Geometry- Lines & Angles, Triangles, Circles, Polygons, Area & Volume of 2D & 3D figures, etc.
  • Number System- Problems on Numbers, HCF & LCM, etc.
  • Modern Maths- Permutation & Combinations, Probability

CAT 2023 - Previous Years Papers

It is beneficial to practice CAT previous year questions to evaluate the difficulty of the test. Candidates should also complete mock exams and practice tests to assess their level of preparation. The applicants must analyze their performance and concentrate on their strong and weak points.

To help you with all aspects of the CAT Exam, we have offered a collection of CAT Previous Year Question Papers and their solutions.

CAT 2023 - Books to Prepare from

Candidates can use these recommended books below to prepare for the CAT examination.

CAT Section Name CAT Book Name Author Name
VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension) Word Power Made Easy Norman Lewis
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension Ajay Singh
How to Prepare for VARC for CAT Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT Nishit K Sinha
DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning) Data Interpretation for CAT Nishit K Sinha
How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT Arun Sharma
A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning R S Aggarwal
QA (Quantitative Aptitude) How to Prepare for QA for CAT Arun Sharma
Quantum CAT S K Verma
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations R S Aggarwal
Quantitative Aptitude for MBA Entrance Exams Abhijit Guha

CAT 2023 - Preparation Strategy

One of the most difficult MBA entry tests to succeed in is the Common Admission Test or CAT. A total of 2.5 lakh students enrolled for the CAT 2022, and 2.2 lakh of them took the exam.

As a result, there is fierce rivalry for seats in the best business schools. As a result, candidates must have a well-thought-out plan and approach for the CAT exam. Here are some tips for CAT 2023 exam preparation:

  • Create your own study plan

Each applicant should have a unique plan of approach depending on their aptitude. So that you can adequately assign time for each area and commit to it, divide the complete CAT syllabus into multiple sections and parts. Give each section adequate time to prepare effectively.

  • Evaluate your potential

Determine your strengths and weaknesses so that you can focus more on your areas of weakness.

  • Decide on your preferred preparation method

Attend coaching sessions or self-study for the CAT 2023 exam. Use the CAT preparation materials, books, and other resources if you decide to self-study.

  • Focus on Mock Test

Now that you've studied and understood the fundamentals, it's time to take some mock exams. You will be able to focus your attention appropriately if you know how your preparation is progressing and where you fall short.

Conclusion

To keep up with news and information, candidates must frequently visit the CAT website. Because of the high level of competition, candidates need to prepare well to pass the test.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Do IIMs offer any documents or instructions on how to take the CAT 2023 Exam?

Ans. The IIMs publish a CAT practice test and a detailed user manual on their official website, iimcat.ac.in. You can become accustomed to the navigation and functionality of the real exam. Additionally, CAT Mock Exams and CAT Old Question Papers with Answers are available on Physics Wallah.

Q2. Can I change the order of the sections on the CAT question paper?

Ans. No, you must respond to the sections in the correct order. The candidates are in the same order. Additionally, each component has a 40-minute time limit, after which you will get immediately sent to the following section.

Q3. Can I submit my paper early and exit the test center before the allotted time?

Ans. No, you cannot submit the test before the allotted two hours of the test have passed. You are not permitted to get up from your seat or leave the test center early.

Q4. When should I begin getting ready for the CAT 2023?

Ans. Because the CAT exam syllabus is extensive and the level of difficulty of the paper is high, candidates must dedicate at least 6 to 9 months to prepare. It takes 4-6 months to cover the CAT syllabus completely. Therefore, candidates should preferably begin their CAT 2023 preparations in March.

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