The exam analysis is a systematic breakdown of the question paper so you can understand its dynamics. We will analyze the exam paper, assessing its difficulty level, marks distribution, weightage asserted by each topic, and others.
You can check this space after 24th November 2024 for an updated exam analysis for this year. In this article, we have discussed the 2023 question in detail with our experts analyzing the paper so you can have insight and give that desired edge to your preparation.
The difficulty level and the other parameters are established through a consensus from the aspirants who appeared for the 2023 exam, for you to have an idea of what might this year’s paper look like.
Before we begin let us check the generic pattern of the 2023 question for you to have a framework while you are analyzing the patterns.
| CAT Exam Sections | Number of Questions | Weightage |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 72 |
| Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI) | 20 | 60 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 66 |
CAT Exam Analysis 2024
The CAT 2023 Exam Pattern remained unchanged and followed the paths of CAT 2022, with 66 questions like the previous year. However, there were changes in the composition of MCQs and Non-MCQs within each section. The CAT 2023 paper was a bit on the difficult side of the scale as compared to the CAT 2022.
Mr. Arun Sharma, a leading CAT expert in India, remarked:
“While the overall exam pattern remained consistent with last year, the Quantitative section in the CAT 2023 exam paper presented the toughest questions seen in the past five years!“
Here is the Summary of the CAT 2023 exam, Below is his assessment of the difficulty level for each section of CAT 2023 on a scale of 1-10:
| Sections | CAT 2022 Difficulty Level | CAT 2023 Difficulty Level |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 7 | 6 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 7 | 8 |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 6 | 8-9 |
| Overall | 7 | 8-9 |
CAT 2023 Score Vs Percentile
There is a fine line between a score and a percentile. The score for the exam refers to your individual score as an aspirant for the exam. However, the concept of percentile compares your scores with the others in the test.
A percentile is usually a favored parameter for every exam since it establishes your credibility amongst all the other candidates.
Let us check the status of the CAT 2023 Score vs. Percentile data in detail below.
| CAT 2023 Score | CAT 2023 Percentile |
| 100 | 138.59 |
| 99.95 | 106.95 |
| 95 | 54.86 |
| 85 | 42.29 |
| 80 | 41.19 |
The cut-off for 99th percentile: The cut-off for the 99 percentile in CAT for 2023 was 77 to 83 % depending on the slot. You can check this official notification here to have an idea on how the CAT percentile is calculated.
Now that we know how the entire structure works when it comes to the CAT question paper, let us now analyze the sections and dig a bit deeper.
CAT 2023 Slot 1 Exam Analysis
Slot-1 of the CAT 2023 exam:
- Exam Timing: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
- Total Questions: 66 questions in total.
- MCQs: There were 47 Multiple Choice Questions.
- Non-MCQs: 19 questions were Non-Multiple Choice Questions.
- Marks: +3 marks for each correct answer.
- Negative Marking (MCQs): -1 mark for each wrong answer.
- Negative Marking (TITA): No negative marking for Type-In-The-Answer questions.
- Difficulty Level: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) was moderate, while Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA) were difficult.
- Overall Difficulty: The overall difficulty level of the exam was considered difficult.
- VARC had 4 RC passages and Verbal Ability questions.
- DILR had 4 sets rated difficult.
- Algebra and Arithmetic dominate QA, rated a bit more difficult.
| Sections | Total Questions | MCQs | TITA |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 24 | 20 | 4 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 20 | 12 | 8 |
| Quantitative Ability | 22 | 15 | 7 |
| Total | 66 | 47 | 19 |
CAT 2023 Slot 2 Exam Analysis
The afternoon slot of the exam was difficult than 2022 and comprised of the below details.
- Exam Timing: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM.
- Marks: +3 marks for each correct answer.
- Negative Marking (MCQs): -1 mark for each wrong answer.
- Negative Marking (TITA): No negative marking for Type-In-The-Answer questions.
- Difficulty Level: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) was moderate, while Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA) were difficult.
- Overall Difficulty: VARC Moderate, DILR & Quant Difficult
- VARC had easy to moderate RC passages.
- DILR followed the same pattern with a medium to difficult level.
- QA was tougher, with a focus on Algebra.
| Sections | Total Questions | MCQs | TITA |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 24 | 20 | 4 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 20 | 12 | 8 |
| Quantitative Ability | 22 | 14 | 8 |
| Total | 66 | 47 | 19 |
CAT 2023 Slot 3 Exam Analysis
- Exam Timing: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
- Marks: +3 marks for each correct answer.
- Negative Marking (MCQs): -1 mark for each wrong answer.
- Negative Marking (TITA): No negative marking for Type-In-The-Answer questions.
- VARC lacked direct Grammar or Vocabulary questions.
- DILR was the toughest for the Slot 3 paper.
- QA was more challenging, dominated by Arithmetic as compared to Slot 1, and lacked modern math. Some questions were tricky.
The weightage of the third slot is as follows.
| Sections | Total Questions | MCQs | TITA |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 24 | 20 | 4 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 20 | 12 | 8 |
| Quantitative Ability | 26 | 14 | 8 |
| Total | 66 | 47 | 19 |
CAT Analysis – Question Paper Pattern
| Year | Conducting Institute | Exam Duration | Sections | Exam Date(s) |
| CAT 2014 | IIM Indore | 170 Minutes | 2 Sections: | November 16 & November 22, 2014 |
| 1. Quantitative Ability | ||||
| 2. Data Interpretation | ||||
| CAT 2015 | IIM Ahmedabad | 180 minutes | 3 Sections: | November 29, 2015 |
| 1. Quantitative Ability | ||||
| 2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | ||||
| 3. Verbal and Reading Comprehension | ||||
| CAT 2016 | IIM-Bangalore | 180 minutes | 3 Sections: | December 4, 2016 |
| 1. Quantitative Ability | ||||
| 2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | ||||
| 3. Verbal and Reading Comprehension | ||||
| CAT 2017 | IIM Ahmedabad | 180 minutes | 3 Sections: | November 26, 2017 |
| 1. Quantitative Ability | ||||
| 2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | ||||
| 3. Verbal and Reading Comprehension | ||||
| CAT 2018 | IIM Calcutta | 180 minutes | 3 Sections: | November 25, 2018 |
| 1. Quantitative Ability | ||||
| 2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | ||||
| 3. Verbal and Reading Comprehension | ||||
| CAT 2019 | IIM Kozhikode | 180 minutes | 3 Sections: | November 24, 2019 |
| 1. Quantitative Ability | ||||
| 2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | ||||
| 3. Verbal and Reading Comprehension | ||||
| CAT 2020 | IIM Indore | 120 minutes | 3 Sections: | November 29, 2020 |
| 1. Quantitative Ability | ||||
| 2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | ||||
| 3. Verbal and Reading Comprehension | ||||
| CAT 2021 | IIM Ahmedabad | 120 minutes | 3 Sections: | November 28, 2021 |
| 1. Quantitative Ability | ||||
| 2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | ||||
| 3. Verbal and Reading Comprehension | ||||
| CAT 2022 | IIM Bangalore | 120 minutes | 3 Sections: | November 27, 2022 |
| 1. Quantitative Ability | ||||
| 2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | ||||
| 3. Verbal and Reading Comprehension |
Conclusion
The concept of analyzing an exam is directly connected to making the exam a bit more accessible to future aspirants. The syllabus is huge in itself, and the vastness can only be conquered through a detailed study of the patterns and the weightage history of the questions.
It acts as a quick reference guide for your preparation and helps you channel your labor and effort in the most judicial way possible.
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