CAT 2023: All You Need To Know || Expected Paper Pattern, Registration Fees, Important Dates

By BYJU'S CAT|Updated : July 19th, 2023

CAT 2023 will be conducted by IIM Lucknow on 26th November 2023 as per the latest notification released on 30th July 2023. Registrations have started from 2nd of August 2023. 

Common Admission Test or CAT is a computer-based entrance test conducted every year  by the IIMs for the aspirants who desire to get selected in the top-B schools of India. The test mainly comprises of three sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation, and Logical Reasoning. CAT score plays an important role in the selection procedure for getting admissions into the IIMs. 

As per the official authorities “Around 2.22 lakh candidates appeared for the exam out of 2.55 lakhs registered eligible candidates" in the year 2022 similar numbers can be expected this year too. 

Stay Tuned to BYJU'S Exam Prep to know complete details about the CAT 2023 Notification, exam pattern, marking scheme, etc.

Table of Content
 
CAT 2023 will be conducted by IIM Lucknow on 26th November 2023 as per the latest notification released on 30th July 2023. Registrations have started from 2nd of August 2023.

Common Admission Test or CAT is a computer-based entrance test conducted every year by the IIMs for the aspirants who desire to get selected in the top-B schools of India. The test mainly comprises of three sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation, and Logical Reasoning. CAT score plays an important role in the selection procedure for getting admissions into the IIMs.

As per the official authorities “Around 2.22 lakh candidates appeared for the exam out of 2.55 lakhs registered eligible candidates" in the year 2022 similar numbers can be expected this year too.

Stay Tuned to BYJU'S Exam Prep to know complete details about the CAT 2023 Notification, exam pattern, marking scheme, etc.

Overview Of CAT Exam

The CAT 2023 exam will be conducted in three sessions of 2 hours each, CAT 2023 is expected to follow the same exam pattern. Candidates aspiring to appear for the CAT exam 2023 need to know complete details about the CAT exam to score well in this exam. The table below contains complete details about the CAT exam:

Conducting Body

Indian Institute of Management

Exam Mode

Computer Based Test (CBT)

Sections

  • Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
  • Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
  • Quantitative Ability

Duration 

120 minutes

Total Questions

66

Negative Marking

Yes (-1 per incorrect response)

CAT Exam Important Dates 

The CAT 2023 notification has been released and the candidates will get to know the complete details about the dates on the BYJU'S Exam Prep App. Stay Tuned to BYJU'S Exam Prep app to get the complete details: 

EventsDates
CAT 2023 Notification Date30th July 2023 
CAT 2023 Registration Form Starts2nd Aug 2023 
CAT 2023 Registration Last Date13th Sep 2023 
CAT Form Correction DateTo Be Announced
CAT Admit Card Download25th Oct 2023 onwards
CAT 2023 Exam Date26th November 2023 
CAT 2023 Answer Key releaseTo Be Announced
CAT 2023 Result Date2nd Week of January 2024 

CAT Eligibility Criteria

In CAT 2021, there was a slight change in the eligibility criteria. The CAT committee has removed the minimum percentage of marks for CAT 2021. Also, the candidates in the final year of their Graduation Degree with “promotion/pass” instead of “award of marks” certificates in any of the last two years of the Bachelor’s Programme can enter the “Promotion or Pass” option in the application form. In CAT 2022 no change was seen in the eligibility criteria and similarly no change in CAT 2023. The eligibility criteria according to CAT 2023 is given below.

Education Qualification

Graduation

Age limit

There is no age limit

Work Experience

Not Mandatory but fetches weightage as per the duration of experience

Required Marks in Graduation

50%(General), 45%(SC/ ST/ PWD)

  • Candidates should have completed their Graduation Degree with at least 50% marks (General Category) and 45% marks (Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribe and PWD)
  • Final year students who have completed their degree requirements and are waiting for their results are also eligible.
  • Students with a professional degree are also eligible (CA/CS/ICWA/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)
  • There is no age limit for the candidates to apply for the CAT exam.

CAT Exam Pattern- Overview

The candidates aspiring to take the CAT 2023 exam must know the CAT exam pattern so that they can prepare well. Given below is an overview of the CAT exam pattern:

ParticularsCAT 2023 (Expected)CAT 2022CAT 2021CAT 2020CAT 2019
Exam Duration2 hours2 hours2 hours2 hours3 hour 
*Sectional Duration40 minutes every section40 minutes every section40 minutes every section40 minutes each section60 minutes each section
Number of Questions in VARC24-2624242634
Number of Qs in QA22-2622222634
Number of Qs in DILR20-2420202432
Total66-76666676100
Official Websiteiimcat.ac.in
Medium of ExamOnline

*Note: PWD candidates will get 53 minutes and 20 seconds for each section

  • Section wise time limit - 40 minutes 

Marking Scheme is given below:

  • +3 marks for every correct answer
  • -1 marks for every incorrect answer
  • 0 marks for not attempted questions

* CAT 2023 Exam Pattern is tentative and is based on past year’s exam pattern

CAT Marking Scheme

The candidates will be marked in the CAT exam as per the following marking scheme:

Question Type

MCQs

NON-MCQs

Correct

+3

+3

Incorrect

-1

0

Non-attempted

0

0

Topic-Wise Weightage of Each Section Over the Years

VARC

TopicsCAT 2022CAT 2021CAT 2020CAT 2019
Reading Comprehension16161824
Para Jumbles3334
Para Summary3333
Odd One Out2223

QA

Topics

CAT 2022

CAT 2021

CAT 2020

CAT 2019

Arithmetic

8-9

7-10

10

14

Algebra

4-9

6-8

6-8

11-13

Geometry  & Mensuration

3-4

3-5

5-6

4-6

Number System

1-3

1-2

2-3

2-3

Modern Math

0-3

1

0-2

0-1

Overall

22

22

24

32

DILR

Topic​

Number of Sets in PYQP 2017-22​

Reasoning Based DI​

10​

Matrix and Grid​

7​

Matrix Arrangement​

7​

Venn Diagram​

7​

Scheduling and Matrix​

6​

Unconventional and Hybrid Games and Tournament​

6​

Mathematical AR​

4​

Order and ranking​

3​

Missing Data​

3​

Arithmetic Caselet​

3​

Logic Based Table​

3​

Routes and Networks​

3​

Gantt Chart​

2​

Maxima-Minima Concept​

2​

Algebra Caselet​

2​

Arithmetic Based DI​

2​

Misc​

11​

Expected Application Fees For CAT

Like every year as expected the CAT 2023 Registration fees has increased. Check below the application fees for the CAT 2023 exam given below for reference:

  • Rs. 2400 for all other candidates
  • Rs. 1200 for SC, ST, PWD category candidates

List Of The Documents Required For The CAT Exam

Check below the list of documents required for the CAT exam registration process:

  • A valid email address and phone number of the candidate
  • Marksheets of class 10th and 12th and Graduation (if cleared)
  • You must have valid ID Proof (Aadhaar Card/PAN Card/Voter Card/Passport etc.)
  • Candidates will also be required to upload certain documents like passport size photograph, signature, etc. along with their CAT application form
  • While scanning the documents, make sure that the document is not less than 150px/inch.
  • The signature should be done on the blank page in black ink.
  • Photograph and signature must be in jpeg/jpg format and the file size should not extend more than 80kb.
  • Excluding General Category candidates, other students need to submit their SC/ST/NC-OBC/EWS and PWD certificates
  • Payment can be done through credit card/debit card/net banking system

*The above-mentioned list of documents are subject to change as they are according to the notification of CAT.

CAT Exam Important Key Points

  • The CAT 2023 exam will be held on 26th November 2023.
  • The test will be conducted in 3 shifts as seen in CAT 2022.
  • Every year one of the IIMs conducts the CAT exam. CAT 2023 exam will be conducted by IIM Lucknow.

 

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FAQs on CAT 2023: All You Need To Know || Expected Paper Pattern, Registration Fees, Important Dates

  • The notification for CAT 2022 is yet to be released. It is however, expected that the CAT 2021 pattern will be followed. The marking pattern of CAT 2021 was +3 for every correct answer, -1 for every incorrect answer.

  • It is expected that CAT 2022 will follow the same pattern as of CAT 2021. CAT 2021 consisted of 66 questions spread across 3 sections- VARC, QA and DILR.

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