Learn what to expect on the CAT exam pattern in 2023 and start cramming right away by reading up on it.
The CAT is often seen as one of the most important tests when applying to management schools. Students interested in getting an MBA almost always take the CAT exam by following the CAT exam pattern. More than 2,300,000 people are anticipated to take the test this year. The data demonstrated the test’s widespread appeal. However, why are so many aspirants considering taking the CAT? When compared to other exams, why should I take the CAT? This post will address these concerns and provide crucial CAT test information.
The CAT is an entrance exam that is given all around the country. The program’s end goal is to facilitate enrollment in advanced business programmes. Twenty Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and over a hundred business schools (B-Schools) accept the CAT as a means of admission. The CAT exam is rotated among the original IIMs each year, and the CAT exam pattern keeps changing every year.
CAT 2023: NOTIFICATION
The CAT 2023 notification for registration will be released in August. Visit the official website to find out about exam notifications, dates, and other important information.
EVENTS | DATES (TENTATIVE) |
NOTIFICATION RELEASE DATE OF CAT EXAM 2023 | 1st week of July |
REGISTRATION OF CAT 2023 | 1st week of August 2023 |
LAST DATE TO FILL OUT THE ONLINE APPLICATION FORM | 2nd week of September 2023 |
LAST DATE TO SUBMIT THE FEES FOR THE APPLICATION FORM | 2nd week of September 2023 |
BEGINNING OF APPLICATION CORRECTION FOR CAT 2023 | 3rd week of September 2023 |
ADMIT CARD AVAILABILITY FOR CAT 2023 | 4th week of October 2023 |
DATE OF EXAMINATION OF CAT 2023 | 4th week of November 2023 |
ANSWER KEY RELEASE DATE | 1st week of December 2023 |
LAST DATE TO SUBMIT AN OBJECTION | 2nd week of December 2023 |
CAT 2023 ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS | 1st week of January 2024 |
CAT 2023: OVERVIEW
Find the essential highlights and CAT exam pattern 2023 below:
PARTICULARS | DETAILS |
NAME OF THE EXAM | CAT 2023 |
OFFICIAL WEBSITE | iimcat.ac.in |
EXAM CONDUCTING AUTHORITY | Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) |
MODE OF THE EXAM | Computer-Based Mode (CBT) |
DURATION OF THE CAT EXAM | 2 Hours (120 Minutes) |
DURATION (SECTION-WISE) | 40 Minutes for (VARC, DILR, QA).
Each section -53 Minutes 20 Seconds for PwD candidates. |
SESSION (SLOT-WISE) |
|
NO. OF QUESTIONS | 66 Questions |
TOTAL MARKS | 198 marks |
CAT 2023: EXAM PATTERN
The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude make up the three slots that make up the CAT Pattern. To be considered for admission to IIM, an applicant must achieve a high score in each section in order to surpass the sectional score cut-offs.
Because there are no tutorials provided prior to the beginning of the exam, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the tutorials that may be found on the official website in great detail. In addition to having a high score in each of the three areas, candidates who have a strong academic profile that includes diversity and work experience will have a greater probability of being admitted to IIMs.
The information of the CAT Exam Pattern are shown in the following table, formatted according to the adjustments made in 2021:
PARTICULARS | DETAILS |
EXAM WINDOW | Three Sessions |
MODE OF CONDUCT | Computer-based |
SECTIONS |
|
TEST DURATION | 120 Minutes |
TOTAL NO. OF QUESTIONS | 66 |
DURATION OF EACH SECTION OF CAT | 40 Minutes |
TYPE OF QUESTIONS | MCQs & Non-MCQs |
EXPECTED MARKING SCHEME | -1 for each wrong answer
+3 for every correct answer |
SECTIONAL-DIVISION
SECTIONS | No. of Questions | Duration | Marks |
VERBAL ABILITY & READING COMPREHENSION
(VARC) |
24 | 40 minutes | 72 |
QUANTITATIVE ABILITY (QA) | 22 | 40 minutes | 66 |
DATA INTERPRETATION & LOGICAL REASONING (DILR) | 20 | 40 minutes | 60 |
CAT 2023: MARKING PATTERN
SECTION | MCQ | TITA Questions | Marks(MCQ) | Marks(TITA) |
VERBAL ABILITY AND READING COMPREHENSION | 20-21 | 4-5 | +3, -1 | +3, no negative |
DATA INTERPRETATION & LOGICAL REASONING | 20-21 | 2-3 | +3, -1 | +3, no negative |
QUANTITATIVE ABILITY | 20-21 | 4-5 | +3, -1 | +3, no negative |
CAT 2023: SYLLABUS
The CAT exam is broken up into three portions, and each of those areas carries a different amount of weight. The CAT curriculum is modelled around the examination format established by IIM Ahmedabad. Determine which of your sections should be prioritised depending on the strengths and flaws you have identified.
Reading comprehension, verbal reasoning, and grammar are all components of the VARC.
The Quant part covers mathematical concepts that are covered in classes 9 and 10, including the Number System, Geometry, Mensuration, Algebra, and Arithmetic. The DILR area includes sets that are based on number series, graphs, data sufficiency, and other ideas that are commonly used in reasoning.
As a result of the high frequency with which they appear on the CAT exam, the following subject areas need your attention:
DETAILED SECTION-WISE CAT SYLLABUS 2023:
SYLLABUS | TOPICS | WEIGHTAGE |
 VERBAL ABILITY | Questions like Para jumbles, Summary Based, Sentence exclusion. | Questions – 8 to 10 |
READING COMPREHENSION | RC passages | Almost 16 questions in the VARC section are based on RCs. |
QUANTITATIVE ABILITY | Number System, Algebra, Geometry, Arithmetic, Mensuration. | Arithmetic and algebra dominate the section, with nearly 8 questions from each area. |
DATA INTERPRETATION & LOGICAL REASONING | Seating arrangement, DI-based reasoning, Grid-Based DI, Graphs. Tables, Data Caselets | An almost equal number of sets are from DI and LR. |
THE FOLLOWING IS A COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF THE CURRICULUM FOR CAT 2023:
VARC SECTION
The VARC section is the first one to be worked through in the exam. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension are the two subparts that it is comprised of. Take a look at some of the most important subjects covered in this section:
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                        VARC SYLLABUS | ||
Fill in the blanks | Para Completion and inference | Verbal Logic |
Verbal Reasoning | Subject-verb agreement | Para Jumbles |
Sentence completion | Foreign language words used in English | Different usage of the same word |
Grammar | Reading Comprehension | Idioms |
Syllogisms | Analogies | Antonyms |
Jumbled paragraphs | Sentence correction | One-word substitution |
Parts of speech | Preposition | Types of Clauses |
Phrases Modifiers | Errors in tenses | Articles usage |
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DILR SECTION
Following the completion of the VARC portion comes the DILR section, which is to be attempted. It is further broken down into two sections, which are titled “Data Interpretation” and “Logical Reasoning,” respectively.
Below is the list of most important DILR topics:
                            DILR SYLLABUS | ||
Blood Relations | Clocks and Calendars | Syllogism |
Series | Statements | Venn Diagram |
Proposition | Data Arrangement | Data Structures |
Direction Sense | Family Tree | Tables |
Coding-Decoding | Binary Logic | Pie Charts |
Assumptions | Seating Arrangement | Data Sufficiency |
Puzzles | Sets & Caselets | Bars & Line Graphs |
QA SECTION
When taking the CAT exam, the section on quantitative aptitude is the very last one to be attempted. The vocabulary for the aptitude section is the most extensive of all the sections. Candidates devote the majority of their time to studying for the multiple-choice questions portion of the exam.
Check out these important topics of QA:
                             QA SYLLABUS | ||
Geometry | Ratios and Proportion | Inequalities |
Trigonometry | In-equations Quadratic and linear equations | Work and Time |
Algebra | Surds and Indices | Percentages |
Mensuration | Time-Speed-Distance | Logarithms |
Partnership (Accounts) | Number System | Square Root and Cube Root |
Profit & Loss | Geometric Progression | Probability |
Mean, mode, median | Binomial theorem | Simple interest and compound interest |
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