CAT Exam 2023: Registration, Exam Dates, Eligibility & More

Heena KhubchandaniLast Updated: January 29, 2023

0 12 minutes read

CAT Exam 2023 is expected to be conducted on the last Sunday of November 2023 in 3 slots. This exam is conducted annually by one of the 20 IIMs. CAT application form 2023 will be released on the official website after the release of the official notification.

CAT 2023: A Quick Overview

To apply for the CAT exam 2023, you must have completed your graduation with a minimum of 50% (45% for SC/ST/PwD). Moreover, there is no upper age limit for the CAT exam.
As per the CAT Exam Pattern, the question paper will include 66 questions divided into three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension includes 24 questions, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning includes 20 questions, and Quantitative Ability includes 22 questions.
The total time duration will be 120 minutes.
According to the CAT marking scheme, 3 marks will be awarded for the correct answer. There is a negative marking of 1 mark for every wrong answer.
To start preparing for the CAT exam, you need to prepare effectively. It is recommended to solve the previous year’s question paper. Solving these papers will give you an idea about the type of questions asked and the difficulty levels.

What is CAT?

CAT full form is the Common Admission Test. A national-level MBA/ PGDM entrance test is conducted annually to get admission into the 20 IIMs and 1000+ other business schools that accept CAT scores.

More than a lakh students apply for the CAT exam to get admissions into the best business schools. Based on the previous year’s CAT cut-off, the maximum mark required to get into IIMs is 95%. However, other business schools admit students who get scores between 80%-95%.

In this post, we have explained everything about the CAT exam, including the CAT exam pattern, CAT syllabus, CAT exam dates, CAT preparation tips, and more.

CAT Exam Highlights 2023

Exam Name	CAT (Common Admission Test)
CAT Conducting Body	IIM (Yet to be announced)
CAT Official Website	iimcat.ac.in
Mode of CAT Application	Online
CAT Application Fees	INR 2200 for GN category INR 1100 for Reserved category
Minimum Marks Required To Apply	A minimum of 50% for general category and 45% for SC/ST/PwD.
Total Duration	2 hours
Number of Sections	3 sections (VARC, DILR, QA)
Total Number of Questions	66
Admissions	20 IIMs and other business schools that accept CAT scores.
Courses Offered	MBA and PGDM
CAT Helpdesk	[email protected]; 1800-2090-830

CAT Exam Dates 2023

The CAT exam dates 2023 are yet to be released will be released in the CAT official notification. Here is are the tentative dates for the CAT:

Events	Exam Dates (Tentative)
CAT official notification 2023	Last week of July 2023
CAT application form 2023 release	1st week of August 2023
Last date for CAT registration	2nd week of September 2023
CAT application form correction window	3rd week of September 2023
CAT Admit Card 2023	Last week of October 2023
CAT Exam 2023	Last week of November 2023
CAT Results 2023	1st week of December 2023

CAT Eligibility Criteria 2023

To apply for CAT exam, the candidates need to fulfill the CAT eligibility criteria. Here are the complete eligibility criteria:

The candidates must have a bachelor’s degree or any qualification equivalent in any discipline from a recognized university.
Candidates must have graduated with a minimum of 50%. However, the minimum mark for SC/ST/PwD category is 45%.
There is no upper age limit to apply for CAT 2023.
The final-year students can also apply for the exam. They will get admissions only if they get a minimum of 50% (40% for SC/ ST/ PwD). Candidates who have completed their final exam and are waiting for their results can also apply.
Candidates with CA/CS/ICWA degrees can also apply for CAT.
There is no limit on the number of attempts for the CAT exam.

CAT Registration 2023

The CAT application process will be online, and the application form will be available on the CAT official website. The CAT application form will be available for over 5-6 weeks from the start date.

CAT Registration Process 2023

New Candidate Registration: Create Account, Generate User ID, and Password:

Candidates appearing for the first time need to generate their login credentials: User ID and password on the official website. Follow the steps on how to fill CAT application form:

Go to the official website, click on the “Register” tab, and go to the “New Candidate Registration” section.
Enter your basic information, including your full name, email address, phone number, DOB, and more.
Once you have entered all the details, click on “Submit” to generate an OTP.
Enter the OTP and click on “I Agree and Submit.”
Once done, your CAT unique user ID and password will be sent to your registered email address.

Fill Out The CAT Application Form

Now that you have registered, you need to log in to the official website with the user ID and password to fill the application form. Follow the steps given below:

You need to enter your personal details, academic details, work experiences, your choice of IIM, and your preferred CAT exam center.
Upload the scanned copy of following documents:
- 10th mark sheet.
- 12th mark sheet.
- Bachelor’s degree mark sheet.
- Final year certificate from Principal and previous year mark sheet (if the candidate is in the final year college.)
- Work experience document.
- Category certificate.
- Scanned copy of passport size photo and signature. [Your passport size photo should not be more than six months old].

Here are the document guidelines you need to follow while uploading the documents:

Documents Required	Dimensions	Format	File Size
Passport Size Photograph	30mm X 45mm	.jpg or .jpeg	Not more than 80 KB
Signature	80mm X 35mm	.jpg or .jpeg	Not more than 80 KB
EWS/NC-OBC/SC/ST	Download the certificate from the CAT official website, enter the required information and self-attest, and scan it as a PDF document.

CAT Application Fees

Once you have filled in your details and uploaded all the documents, you need to pay the CAT application fees. You can pay the fees via Debit Card. Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI, or online wallets.

Category	CAT Application Fees
General/EWS/NC-OBC	Rs. 2200/-
SC/ST/PwD	Rs. 1100/-

CAT Application Form Correction Window 2023

The CAT Application form correction window 2023 will open a few days after the CAT registration is completed. The candidates who have paid their application fees within the given time can edit the following details:

Signature
Photograph
Test Centers

CAT Exam Pattern 2023

The CAT authorities revised the CAT exam pattern 2023 and the same changes will be applied for the CAT exam 2023. The question paper is divided into three sections and has 66 questions.

The CAT exam 2023 will be conducted online in over 438 test centers in over 158 cities.
The exam will be conducted only in the English language.
The total time duration of the exam is 120 minutes. The sectional time limit is 40 minutes for each section.
The question paper includes only MCQs and TITA-type questions.
The paper includes 66 questions. (70-75% MCQs and 25-30% TITA-type questions)
The candidates will be awarded 3 marks for every correct answer, and 1 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer. However, there is no negative marking for TITA-type questions.
The CAT question paper includes 3 sections
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

Sectional Division Of Questions

Sections	Total Number Of Questions	Total Marks
CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension	24	72
CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning	20	60
CAT Quantitative Ability	22	66
Total	66	198

CAT Marking Scheme

Here is the CAT marking scheme for both MCQs and TITA questions:

Particulars	MCQs	TITA-Type Questions
Correct Answer	+3	+3
Wrong Answer	-1	No negative marking
Questions Not Answered	–	–

CAT Syllabus 2023

The CAT syllabus includes topics from all the CAT sections: VARC, DILR, and QA.

The CAT VARC syllabus consists of grammar, vocabulary, RC passages, and more topics.
The CAT DILR includes DI sets based on tables, caselets, and graphs & charts. The LR section is based on analytical & non-verbal reasoning.
CAT QA Syllabus includes basic class 10th and 12th Mathematics topics.

CAT Syllabus For Verbal Ability And Reading Comprehension

Para Completion	Para Jumbles
Pronouns	Solved Sample Questions
Clauses	Reading Comprehension
Phrase Modifiers	Parts of Speech
Articles	Error in Tenses
Prepositions	Fill in the Blanks

CAT Syllabus For Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

Bar Graph	Blood Relations
Solved Questions on DILR	Statement and Assumptions
Pie Charts and Tables	Clocks and Calendars
Puzzles	Venn Diagram
Syllogisms	Seating Arrangement

CAT Syllabus For Quantitative Ability

Topic Wise Important Formulas for QA	Number System
Algebra	Arithmetic
Modern Math	Geometry
Trigonometry	Cube & Square Roots
Mensuration	Mean, Mode Median

CAT Admit Card 2023

The CAT authorities will announce the CAT admit card 2023 in the 4th week of October 2023. The hall ticket will be available on the official website.

The admit card includes the exam details, including exam center details, slot, exam time, and a few important instructions.
Students need to carry a hard copy of their admit card and valid ID proof on the exam day.

How To Download CAT Admit Card 2023?

Visit the CAT official website.
Enter your unique log-in details.
Go to “Download CAT admit card 2023.”
The CAT hall ticket will be shown on the screen.
Download the CAT admit card and take a printout of the same.

CAT Results 2023

CAT result 2023 will be released after the commencement of the exam on the official website. The date for 2023 results is yet to confirm.

Here are a few things you need to know about the CAT results:

The results will be valid for one year from the date of release.
The scorecard has details about the overall and sectional marks and percentages.
The list of CAT toppers is also released along with the results.

CAT Preparation Tips 2023

CAT exam will be conducted in the last week of November, 2023. Hence, you need not worry. You have a lot of time to prepare for the exam. Here are some of the best CAT preparation tips which will help you prepare for the examination.

You need to solve and analyze previous year’s CAT exam papers, check the subject-wise CAT exam analysis, and cover the important topics first.
Refer to some of the best CAT books written by well-known CAT authors like Arum Sharma and Nishit K Sinha.
Join online and offline CAT coaching.
Attend various section-wise and full-length test series given by the best CAT institutes.
Solve section-wise sample question papers.

Best CAT Books For Exam Preparation

CAT Preparation Books For Verbal Ability And Reading Comprehension

Here are some of the CAT Preparation Books For Verbal Ability And Reading Comprehension:

How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT \| 9th Edition	Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension(with 3 Free AIMCATs) \| CAT \| First Edition \| By Pearson
Wiley’s Verbal Ability and Reasoning for Competitive Examinations	Arihant Publications Approach to REASONING Verbal, Non-Verbal & Analytical
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT\| Fourth Edition	Verbal Ability & Comprehension for CAT/ XAT/ IIFT/ CMAT/ MAT/ Bank PO/ SSC
30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary by Wilfred Funk and Norman Lewis	A Communicative Grammar Of English
Word Power Made Easy: The Complete Handbook for Building a Superior Vocabulary	Word Power Made Easy

Best Quantitative Aptitude Books for CAT Preparation

Here are some of the Best Quantitative Aptitude Books for CAT Preparation:

Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations	Fast Track Objective Arithmetic
A Modern Approach To Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning (2 Colour Edition)	Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT Common Admission Tests for Admission into IIMs(Old Edition)
Magical Book on Quicker Maths	How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT
Quantitative Aptitude for CAT	The Pearson Guide To Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examinations
Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Dinesh K. Sinha	Quantitative Aptitude for CAT, XAT & other MBA Entrance Exams

Best Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning Books for CAT Preparation

Here are some of the best data interpretation and logical reasoning books which will make your CAT preparation easy.

How to Prepare for DATA INTERPRETATION for CAT

Analytical Reasoning (2018-2019) Session By Mk Panday

Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT| Seventh Edition| By Pearson

How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT’ – by Arun Sharma (Published by McGraw Hill)

CAT Mock Test 2023

Mock tests for CAT will be released on the official website a few weeks before the exam.
The total time to solve these mock tests will be 2 hours, and the sectional time limit for each section is 40 minutes.
Solving these CAT mock tests will help the candidates to get familiar with the exam instructions, procedures, and the type of questions asked.

Previous Year CAT Paper Analysis

The CAT exam analysis will help the candidates understand the difficulty level of the questions, CAT important topics, topic-wise weightage, and the type of questions that will be asked in the exam.

The CAT 2023 exam was moderately difficult. Here is the detailed CAT exam analysis 2023, which will help you prepare for the exam in the right way.

CAT Exam Analysis 2023: Slot 1

Sections	No. Of Questions	Distribution Of Questions	Difficulty Levels	Good Attempts
CAT VARC	24	The paper included 19 MCQs and 5 TITA-type questions: 4 RC passages with 4 questions each. 3 questions each on para jumbles and para summary. 2 on the odd one out.	Moderately Difficult	16-18
CAT DILR	20	The paper included 15 MCQs and 5 TITA-type questions: 2 sets with 6 questions each 2 sets with 4 questions each	Moderate	12-15
CAT QA	22	11 questions from Arithmetic 5 from Algebra 3 questions from Geometry, 2 from Numbers, and 1 from Modern Math	Moderately Difficult	14-16
Total	66		Moderate	45-50

CAT Exam Analysis 2023: Slot 2

Sections	No. Of Questions	Distribution Of Questions	Difficulty Levels	Good Attempts
CAT VARC	24	The paper included 19 MCQs and 5 TITA-type questions: 4 RC passages with 4 questions each. 3 questions each on para jumbles and para summary. 2 questions on odd one out.	Moderately Difficult	16-18
CAT DILR	20	The paper included 15 MCQs and 5 TITA-type questions: 2 sets with 6 questions each 2 sets with 4 questions each	Moderate	13-15
CAT QA	22	11 questions from Arithmetic 5 from Algebra 3 questions from Geometry, 2 from Numbers, and 1 from Modern Math	Moderately Difficult	14-16
Total	66		Moderate	48-53

CAT Exam Analysis 2023: Slot 3

Sections	No. Of Questions	Distribution Of Questions	Difficulty Levels	Good Attempts
CAT VARC	24	The paper included 19 MCQs and 5 TITA-type questions: 4 RC passages with 4 questions each. 3 questions each on para jumbles and para summary. 2 questions on odd one out.	Moderately Difficult	17-19
CAT DILR	20	The paper included 15 MCQs and 5 TITA-type questions: 2 sets with 6 questions each 2 sets with 4 questions each	Moderate	12-15
CAT QA	22	11 questions from Arithmetic 6 from Algebra 4 questions from Geometry,, and 1 from Modern Math	Moderate	13-16
Total	66		Moderate	50-55

CAT Cut Off

The CAT Cut off is the minimum CAT percentage required for candidates to apply in one of the IIMs, IITs, and other colleges that accept CAT scores.

Candidates need to clear the sectional, and overall cut-offs to apply in one of the IIMs.
The CAT cut-off 2023 for the academic year 2023-25 will be released by the CAT conducting body for shortlisting candidates for group discussion and personal interview rounds.

CAT Admission Process

Every MBA and management college have their own selection process and criteria to provide admissions for MBA and PGDM courses.

The admission process is divided into three stages:

Once you clear the cut-off and fill out the application form on the official website for the respective institute.
Group discussion and personal interview shortlist will be released based on the candidate’s CAT results, work experience, gender diversity, academic performance, etc.
The conducting body will prepare the merit list after the candidates appear for the GD/PI round.

Conclusion

CAT is a national-level MBA/ PGDM entrance test conducted annually to get admission into the 20 IIMs and 1000+ other business schools that accept CAT scores. The exam is expected to be conducted on the last Sunday of November 2023 in 3 slots.

To apply for the CAT exam 2023, you must have completed your graduation with a minimum of 50% (45% for SC/ST/PwD). The CAT question paper is divided into 3 sections: VARC, DILR, and QA.

After the CAT exam is conducted, the results will be released on the official website. Once the candidates cross the cutoff, they will be shortlisted for the GD/PI round conducted by the IIMs and CAT score accepting colleges.

Here in this post, we explained everything about the CAT exam 2023 in detail.