CAT Exam

CAT Exam Pattern 2023: 

The CAT 2023 Exam Pattern will constitute 3 sections :

• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension ( VARC )
• Interpretation and Logical Reasoning ( DILR )
• Quantitative Ability ( QA )

The CAT Exam is held as a Computer Based Test ( CBT ) with a duration of 2 hours . Each section has an individual time limit of 40 minutes each . The CAT 2022 Exam Pattern is given below which should give an idea about what you can expect in CAT 2023 .

Sections of Exam (in that order)	No of questions	Multiple Choice Questions	Non – MCQs	Time Limit
VARC	24	21	3	16 questions of RC 4 passages of 4 questions each, 8 Questions of Verbal ability- 3 parajumbles ,2 para completions,3 Para summary
DILR	20	14	6	4 sets of 5 questions each Bar Graph, Arrangements, Missing Data and Puzzles (games)
QA	22	14	8	Dominated by questions of Arithmetic and Algebra.
Total	66	49	17

 

CAT 2023 :Exam Highlights

Some of the major points to keep in mind with regard to the CAT exam pattern are :

Key Components	Details
No. of Questions	66 (tentative)
Sections in Exam	3; VARC,DILR and QA
Exam Duration	2 hours
Time Allotted Per Section	40 minutes
Slots for Exam	3
Mode of Exam	Computer-based Exam
Medium of Instruction	English
Types  of Questions	MCQ and TITA
CAT Marking Scheme	+3 for every right answer -1 for every wrong answer TITA has no negative marking

CAT VARC Exam Pattern

The VARC section in CAT 2023 is expected to have 24 questions in total . In the verbal section , the CAT exam pattern of the past years indicates that the section consists of two primary components , i.e. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension .

Reading Comprehension :

• This section accounts for over 67 % of the question ( 16 questions out of 24 )
• Question Format : MCQs with a few TITA ( Type in the Answer ) questions
• There will be 4 passages comprising 4 questions each .

Verbal Ability

• Relatively small subsection with only 8 questions
• The expected division of the questions , as per CAT 2022 , is 3 parajumbles , 2 para completions , 3 parasummary

Based on the CAT DILR exam pattern , here is the breakup of the sets :

• The section will have 4 sets comprising 5 questions each.
• Each set lends a maximum of 15 marks .
• The most common areas questioned include bar graphs , arrangements , missing data and puzzles ( games ) .

CAT Quant Exam Pattern

This is the section that most candidates prepare extensively . This is because the CAT exam pattern and syllabus for this section are the most fleshed out among all the other sections . It is the section that can make or break the exam for most candidates .

• The quant section has a total of 22 questions .
• As the CAT quant exam pattern has no sub – sections all the questions are focused on the mathematical skills of the candidates .
• Based on past trends , the questions are dominated by arithmetic and algebra and also include geometry .

CAT Exam Pattern : Important Points to Remember

• Candidates cannot choose the order of the sections back and forth between sections . The fixed order of the exam is- VARC , followed by DILR and then Quant .
• CAT has two types of questions- MCQ – based and TITA ( type in the answer ) . The MCQ type has a negative marking of 1 for every wrong answer . The TITA questions have no negative marking .

CAT Score vs Percentile 2023(Expected)

The anticipated CAT 2023 score vs. percentile range is shown below based on the CAT cut off marks and percentiles from the previous year :

CAT Percentile	CAT VARC Score	CAT DILR Score	CAT QA Score	CAT Score
99+	34-35	28-30	36-37	98-102
98+	32-33	27-28	30-32	90-93
95+	32-34	20-21	28-30	80-82
90+	29-30	17-19	26-27	72-75
85+	24-35	14-15	20-22	59-61
80+	20-22	11-13	15-16	46-48

 

CAT Exam Slots & Time to Release Slot wise

Below are the CAT Time slot wise CAT Analysis release time by mydream mba .

CAT 2023 Exam Slot	Release Time
CAT Morning Slot: 8.30 AM to 10.30 AM	11 AM
CAT Afternoon Slot: 12.30 AM to 2.30 PM	3 PM
CAT Evening Slot 4.30 PM to 6.30 PM	7 PM
Overall CAT 2023 Exam Analysis	8 PM

CAT 2023 Paper Analysis: Check Expected Exam Pattern

Pattern of CAT 2023 exam

CAT 2023 Exam Components	CAT 2023 Pattern
Test duration	2 hrs (120 Minutes)
Test sessions/Slots	3 (Morning, Afternoon and Evening)
Total questions	66
Total score	198
Number of Sections in CAT question paper	3 (VAR; DILR; QA)
Time Allotted for Each Section in CAT exam	40 Minutes
Total Questions in VARC Section	24
Total Questions in DILR Section	20
Total Questions in QA Section	22

 

CAT Result 2023 : Important Points

IIMs will likely released the CAT 2023 result in the last week of December 2023 , during the evening hours . The candidates are suggested to must go through the important instructions given by IIMs regarding CAT 2023 Result declaration and about downloading of scorecards.

 

• After the declaration of result , the candidates will be intimated through the SMS on their registered mobile number for downloading their scorecard . Please note , that the scorecard will be released only online and there will be no sending of scorecard hardcopies via post .
• CAT Result contains the overall and sectional scaled scores of the candidates . The overall scaled score is calculated on the overall raw scores of the candidates and is not the sum of the scaled scores of the VARC , DILR and QA sections .
• The validity of the CAT scorecard will be till Jan 2024 ( tentative ) .
• Candidates must note , that getting the CAT Scorecard does not guarantee admission to them into the MBA colleges . But , the IIMs and non – IIMs release their own individual cut offs and follow their own selection procedure for admission into the MBA / PGDM courses .

 

Details Mentioned on CAT Scorecard 2023

The CAT scorecard 2023 will be comprised of the following details :

• CAT registration number and user Id of the candidate .
• The name , category and gender of the candidate .
• Candidate’s Date of birth.
• Date and time of the examination.
• Contact details and email id of the candidate
• CAT overall scaled score .
• CAT section – wise score .
• CAT section – wise percentile score .
• CAT overall percentile score .

 

Factors Determining CAT Cut Offs

CAT cut off percentile for each institute was be determined on the basis of several factors that affect the admission process . Some of the key factors that determine IIM cut offs category wise , are mentioned below :

• Difficulty level of the CAT exam
• Number of aspirants who appeared for the exam
• Number of aspirants who cleared the exam
• Number of seats in a particular institute
• All India ranking of the institute

CAT Cut Offs 2023

CAT 2023 cut offs for IIM admission are estimated to be in the range of 95-100 percentile for General candidates . Check below the table indicating qualifying IIM cut offs for CAT 2022 based on IIM admission criteria 2023. For the next academic session , the cut offs will be announced later this year .

IIM	Qualifying CAT cut offs
IIM Ahmedabad	85
IIM Bangalore	85
IIM Calcutta	85
IIM Lucknow	90
IIM Indore	90
IIM Kozhikode	85
IIM Amritsar	90
IIM Nagpur	85
IIM Sambalpur	93
IIM Trichy	93
IIM Raipur	93
IIM Ranchi	90
IIM Kashipur	94
IIM Vizag	80
IIM Udaipur	93
IIM Bodhgaya	93
IIM Shillong	75
IIM Sirmaur	92
IIM Rohtak	95
IIM Nagpur	85
IIM Jammu	93

CAT Cut off 2023 for Top MBA Colleges (Non-IIM)

Presented below are the expected CAT 2023 cut off percentiles for General category students for admission to top MBA colleges (Non-IIM) in the upcoming academic session:

Top MBA College	CAT Cut offs (percentile)
FMS, Delhi	98-99
SPJIMR,MUMBAI	95-97
IMT, Ghaziabad	95-97
JBIMS, Mumbai	96
MDI, Gurgaon	97-99
IMI, New Delhi	90
XIM, Bhubaneshwar	91
GIM Goa	85
K J Somaiya, Mumbai	86
TAPMI, Manipal	80
FORE, New Delhi	85
IFMR, Chennai	80
IRMA, Anand	80
MICA, Ahmedabad	80
LIBA, Chennai	70
XIME, Bangalore	70

At present there are 20 IIMS and the 21st IIM is likely to join the family of IIMs soon . NITIE Mumbai may soon be awarded the status of IIM Mumbai . If you are looking for IIM Admission 2023 updates , you are at the right place . mydream mba has researched each IIM selection and admission criteria . This article below shares all about the IIMS Admission stages from application submission to selection . Let’s begin with the various Admission

 

IIM Admissions 2023 : Stages

IIM Admission process goes through following six stages

Admissions 2023 Stages	Key Components	Time Lines & Process
Stage – l : CAT Registration & Application	10 Years High Registration Number with 2.56 Lakh candidates applying for CAT 2022	Closed on Sept 21 , 2022
Stags – 2 : Preliminary Screening with CAT Cut offs	Based on Minimum CAT Overall and Sectional score	As announced in each IIM Admission Policy 2023
Stage – 3 : Shortlist for Pl round	Based on CAT score , Profile , Work Ex and other components	Released after CAT Result declaration by each IIM
Stage – 4 : Final Selection Round	Comprises PI – WAT . A few may conduct GD also	Conducted from Feb to April , individually by 11 Old & New IIMs and as a Common Admission Process by 9 new and baby IIMS
Stage – 5 : Generation of Final Merit List	Based on weightages awarded to all the components	Released in April / May . IIMs substantially reduce the CAT weightage in final selection
Stage – 6 : Making Final Admission Offer	Depending upon the Seats , candidates are given admission offer	IIMs send admission offers in April / May . Candidates need to pay admission fee in time

After the implementation of IIM Act 2017, almost all of the IIMS confer MBA degree on completion of the management programme. Earlier all the IIMs used to award Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGD More than 6000 candidates are offered MBA admission in Indian Institutes of Management (IIMS) every year. Since IIMs are considered as the best Management Institutes in the country, doing MBA from top IIM is the dream of every MBA aspirant. IIM Admission 2023 Policy is being released individually by each IIM.

 

List of Executive MBA from IIMs

Along with the list of IIMs offering EPGP,will also discuss the duration, eligibility, fees, and experience requirement of the respective IIMs. Read the complete article to know all about executive MBA from IIMs.

 

IIMs	Programme offered
IIM Ahmedabad	E-Mode Post Graduate Programme (ePGP)
IIM Bangalore	EPGP (IIM Bangalore Executive MBA)
IIM Calcutta	MBAEx PGPEX-VLM(Visionary Leadership in Manufacturing)
IIM Lucknow	Post-Graduate Programme in Management for Working Executives(PGPWE) International Programme in Management for Executives or IPMX(One-year MBA)
IIM Indore	Post Graduate Programme in Management for Working Executives(PGPMX)
IIM Kozhikode	Executive Post Graduate Programmes (EPGP)
IIM Shillong	Master in Business Administration (Working Executives)Post Graduate Program for Executives (Managing Business in Emerging Economies)
IIM Raipur	Post Graduate Program in Management for Working Executives
IIM Ranchi	PGEXP
IIM Rohtak	Executive PG Diploma Programme in Management Executive Post Graduate Diploma In Sports Management
IIM Kashipur	Management Development Programmes (MDPs)
IIM Trichy	Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (ePGP)
IIM Udaipur	One-Year MBA Global Supply Chain Management One-Year MBA Digital Enterprise Management
IIM Amritsar	Management Development Programmes (MDPs)
IIM Bodh Gaya	Management Development Programmes (MDPs)
IIM Nagpur	Customized Programmes  Open Enrollment Programmes
IIM Sambalpur	PGPx   MDP
IIM Sirmaur	–
IIM Visakhapatnam	PGPx
IIM Jammu	MDPs   FDPs

1.CAT 2023 EXAM Date

Check the table below to get all updated official schedules for the CAT Exam 2023 Date.

CAT 2023 Events	CAT Exam Date
Notification release	30th July 2023
CAT Exam 2023 registration start date	2nd August 2023 (10 AM)
CAT 2023 last date to apply	13th September 2023 (5 PM)
Release of the admit card	25th October Onwards
CAT exam date	26th November 2023
Declaration	2nd Week of January 2024

2.CAT 2023 Exam Scoring Scheme

CAT Marking Scheme 2023 section wise and overall is as below:

CAT Test Section with total Qs	Marking Scheme	Total Maximum Marks
VARC – 24 Qs	+3 for each right answer	72
DILR – 20 Qs	+3 for each right answer	60
Quant – 22 Qs	+3 for each right answer	66
Total Marks	–	198
Negative Marking Scheme in CAT 2023	-1 for each wrong answer	Only for 48-50 MCQs
No Negative Marking Scheme in CAT 2023	TITA questions not to carry negative marking	Only for 18-20 Non MCQs

3. CAT 2023 Test Pattern: Sections, Number & Type of Questions

CAT exam is changed to 2 hours exam. Earlier it was of 3 hours duration. Key details are shared below

• CAT 2023 Exam is of 2 Hours duration like last year.
• CAT 2023 exam slots are Morning, Afternoon and Evening sessions
• CAT 2023 Exam to have 66 Questions divided into MCQs and Non-MCQ type questions

CAT 2023 pattern: Sectional Composition of Questions

CAT 2023 will have the pattern as shown below in the table which shares the CAT exam sectional order from Section-1 to Section-3, number and type of questions in each section, questions with and without negative marking for each section

 

CAT 2023 exam components	Total questions	Total MCQs (With negative marking)	Total Non-MCQs (Without negative marking)	Highlights
Section-1: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)	24	19	5	4 RC Passages with MCQs; VA Non MCQs divided into Para jumbles, Para Summary, and Out of Context Sentences
Section-2: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)	20	16	4	LR – 10 Ques   DI – 10 Ques   All in Sets of 3 & 4 Qs
Section-3: Quantitative Ability (QA)	22	16	6	High on Arithmetic. Other on Log, Geometry, Roots, Algebra
Total	66	51	15	—

4. Detailed Section wise Pattern for CAT 2023 for VARC, DILR, QA

The section wise key CAT 2023 exam pattern for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability with difficulty level are:

Section-1: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

• Total questions: 24
• RC passages: 4-5
• Share of RC Based Questions: 70%
• Type of RC Based questions: All MCQs with 1/3 negative marking
• VA questions: 5-6
• Type of VA Questions: Non-MCQs without negative marking
• LOD: Moderate to Very difficult
• Section Highlights:
• No Grammar or vocabulary based questions
• Verbal Ability questions confines to 3 topics – Jumbled paragraph; Para summary; picking the odd sentence out of the jumbled sentences
• Read in Detail How to Prepare for VARC in CAT

Section-2: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

• Total questions: 20 
• Share of DI questions: 10
• Share of LR questions: 10
• Type of Questions: MCQs: 75%; Non-MCQs: 25%
• LOD: Moderate to difficult
• Section Highlights:
• Questions appear in set of 4
• Time crunch is faced by test takers as questions are more time consuming

Read How to Prepare for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning in CAT

Section-3: Quantitative Ability (QA)

• Total questions: 22
• Type of Questions: MCQs: 14-16; Non-MCQs: 6-8
• LOD: Moderate to difficult
• Section Highlights:
• More questions are on Arithmetic – Percentage, Profit & Loss, Time & speed, Work/days, Compound interest

 

FAQs on CAT Exam Pattern