Aspirant's Guide to CAT Exam: Syllabus, Registration, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Pattern, Preparation (2023)

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a very competitive management entrance examination. It is a national level exam for candidates who are seeking MBA admission to all prestigious 20 Indian Institutes of Management(IIMs) and other top B-Schools.CAT 2023 is conducted for admissions in the following courses for the 20 IIMs –

• Post Graduate Programmes in Management (PGP)
• Fellow Programmes in Management (FPM) [Doctoral]

There are around a hundred CAT participating institutions. The various management institutions are pan-India.

CAT 2023 exam is an important entrance exam for MBA aspirants. CAT Notification will be out in last week of July 2023. CAT 2023 exam will be conducted in November 26, 2023.

Even when the exam conducting body for CAT changes, the dates have mostly been the last Sunday of November. Keeping this trend in mind, CAT 2023 exam will be in November 26, 2023.

CAT 2023 will have 3 sections –

1. Quantitative Aptitude
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
3. Verbal Ability Reading Comprehension (VARC).

The CAT 2023 exam tests a candidate –

• quantitative skills
• analytical skills
• language skills
• comprehension skills.

CAT 2023 is a computer-based test. Since 2009 the CAT exam is conducted online. It is expected that aspirants have basic computer operating skills. They should be able to manage the speed and time because the duration of the CAT 2023 exam is 120 minutes or 2 hours.

Check out this interesting video. It gives a clear understating of the CAT test day guidelines - CAT Test Day Guidelines

CAT Study Material- The Complete Guide [2023 CAT Book PDF]

CAT 2023 test centres are spread across 150+ test cities. Candidates have the option to select any four test cities in order of their preference. The test site is allotted after the last date of registration is over. It will be one of the four preferred test cities.

Until 2013, the CAT exam was held over a 15 to 20-day long testing window. Starting in 2014, the IIMs shortened the CAT testing window. It was reduced to a single day.

CAT 2023 exam will be conducted in three sessions in a single day. The session is mentioned in the CAT 2023 Admit Card.

Let us also take you through the details of the Best CAT Coaching Institutes.

CAT 2023 Eligibility - Complete Details

The Candidates wanting to appear for CAT Exam 2023, must fulfil the following Eligibility Criteria:

1. The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline. They should have a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent CGPA.
2. The candidates belonging to the reserved categories – Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Differently Abled (DA) – need a minimum of 45% marks.
3. The candidate who has graduated in the old system of the 2 years graduation, is allowed to appear for CAT 2023. The degree must be UGC recognized.
4. Final year Graduation students can also apply for CAT 2023. If selected, these students will be allowed to join the Programme provisionally. He/she must submit a certificate from the Principal/Registrar of the College. It should state that the candidate has fulfilled all the requirements of obtaining the Bachelor’s Degree, or equivalent qualification on the date of the issue of the certificate.

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CAT question paper is a computer-based exam. It tests a candidate across three sections –

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI & LR)
3. Quantitative Ability (QA).

IIM Indore has announced the major changes in exam pattern, the total test duration is reduced by 2 hours.

Get Detailed Pattern and Procedure for CAT 2023 Exam 

The Sectional Marks and Time distribution, for CAT 2023 is given in the table below:

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1. The duration of the examination is 2 hours or 120 minutes.
2. Some questions in each section (Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning and Verbal and Reading Comprehension) are non-multiple-choice types. Direct answers must be typed on the screen.
3. Candidates are allowed to use a basic on-screen calculator.
4. Candidates will be allotted exactly 40 minutes for answering questions. Sectional jump is not allowed.
5. The on-screen timer will mark the remaining minutes for the test.
6. The trend suggests that 25 per cent of questions are Non-MCQs and 75% are MCQs.
7. The Non-MCQs will have a no-negative penalty.
8. Three (3) points will be awarded for each correct answer; one (1) point will be deducted for each wrong answer.
9. There is no penalty for questions that are left unanswered.
10. The candidate is not allowed to leave the examination in between.

CAT 2023 includes 3 sections. CAT 2023 does not have a predefined syllabus. However, the CAT syllabus and questions paper cover the below topics:

1. Section: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

Topics: Critical Reasoning; Paragraph Forming; Grammar; Vocabulary - Synonyms, Antonyms, Odd Man Out, Analogies; Reading Comprehension etc.

2. Section: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

Topics: Tables; Graphical Representations; Charts and any diagrammatical Representation- Bar Charts, Pie Charts, Cases, X-Y Charts involving Line Series etc.

3. Section: Quantitative Ability (QA)

Topics: Geometry; Trigonometry; Probability; Number System- GCD, LCM, Divisibility, Base System, The Remainder Theorem; Permutation & Combination; Speed; Time and Distance; etc.

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CAT 2023 Registration is an online process. There is no offline registration facility available for CAT 2023 exam.  The CAT 2023 Application Form is part of the CAT 2023 Registration form. The candidates can apply for CAT 2023 online.

A CAT registration id is generated after the completion of the online registration of CAT 2023. The unique CAT 2023 Registration ID enables the candidates to log in. They can fill out the CAT 2023 exam online application form. It is a combined CAT 2023 Online Registration and Application Form process.

The Registration and Application Form for CAT 2023 requires the candidates to fill up the following details:

• Academic Details
• Photograph
• Scanned Signature
• Category certificates (for category candidates as prescribed by the IIMs)

In case the candidates make errors in filling the CAT 2023 Application Form it cannot be rectified. The candidates must re-register in that case.

The Online Application Form for CAT has Programme details on all the 20 IIMs. The candidates filling up the CAT 2023 Online Application can mark the relevant Programmes as per their interest.

Over the last decade, the CAT registration trend has been as below:

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1. The candidate must log on to the official website for CAT 2023: https://iimcat.ac.in
2. The candidate must register with a valid Email ID and Phone Number.
3. The application fee for Foreign candidates is $125 (+ Bank charges as applicable)
4. The IIM conducting body sends the Login Credentials via mail or SMS to the candidates.
5. On receiving the Login credentials, the candidates must log in to the Application window. Fill up the Online CAT 2023 Application Form. Details required are:
   1. Personal Details
   2. Contact Details
   3. Academic Details
   4. Work Experience
   5. Selection of IIMs to apply for
   6. Selecting the Test Centers and the Interview Cities
6. Upload the necessary documents with the form:
   1. Scanned copy of Candidate’s Photograph in jpeg format
   2. Scanned copy of Candidate’s Signature in jpeg format
7. The candidates must ensure that Photograph and the Signature are clear and appropriate.
8. It is advisable for the candidates to review the Application Form.

Candidates must pay the application fee online. Complete and save the CAT 2023 Application Form. Click on the PAY tab. Pay the CAT 2023 Application Fee via Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, ATM-cum-Debit Cards, Cash Card & Wallet.

1. The CAT 2023 Registration Fee for the General Category is INR 2200.
2. The CAT 2023  Reserved Category (SC, ST, PwD) is INR 1100.

Candidates can write the official CAT 2023 mock test. A test link is published on the official website iimcat.ac.in.

The candidates should start preparing for CAT 2023 exam within 1 year and start practicing mock tests from July for better results.

There is a separate mock test link available for PwD candidates with low vision. Check out the link here - CAT Mock Test For PwD Candidates.

CAT 2023 Admit Card is a mandatory document. It must be carried on the day of the exam to the CAT Examination Hall. 

CAT 2023 Admit Card is issued by the IIM conducting body. It is available on the official CAT 2023 website. NO hard copy of the CAT 2023 Admit Card will be sent to any candidate.

To download the Admit Card, the candidate must log in to the official Website- https://iimcat.ac.in/. Take print out of the CAT 2023 Admit Card. The Admit Card is available for download till the exam day

The Admit Card will be released between October – November 2023.

Steps to download, CAT 2023 Admit Card:

1. Log on to the official website of the Indian Institute of Management- https://iimcat.ac.in.
2. Click on the ‘Download ADMIT CARD 2023’ tab.
3. Enter login credentials.
4. Review all the details on CAT 2023 hall ticket.
5. After reviewing click on the Download Admit Card Tab
6. Save and Print the CAT 2023 Admit Card
7. Preserve it till the examination day.
8. CAT 2023 Admit Card will contain the following details:
   • The candidate’s name, as entered in the registration/application form of CAT 2023.
   • The Examination date of CAT 2023, along with the slot of the exam.
   • The candidate’s User ID/Registration Number.
   • The candidate’s Test System Number. It is an important information. The candidate is authorized to use only the allotted test system. It will display the candidate’s particulars.
   • The CAT Exam 2023 Test Centre address
   • The candidate’s PWA/DA Status.
9. The candidate must carry a photo ID Proof to the Examination Hall. Only CAT 2023 Admit Card and a valid photo ID Proof are allowed inside the Examination Hall.
10. The Candidate must report 90 minutes before the CAT 2023 exam.

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CAT 2023 is conducted for admissions to MBA/PGDM Programmes in 20 Indian Institute of Management, and more than a hundred participating management institutions in India.

Get Complete Info on CAT Exam Centres

Candidates can select up to 4 preferred cities from the drop-down menu. The authorities allot an exam center in the city of the candidate’s first preference. In case it is available the next preferred city is allotted.

On a rational basis, the candidate must register as soon as the Registration Form is released.

The Result of CAT 2023 is sent to the candidates in the percentile format. CAT score can be received via SMS as well.

CAT 2023 Scorecards are available online. Candidates can check CAT 2023 results by logging in to the official website- https://iimcat.ac.in.  The portal can be accessed via unique IDs and Passwords.

The steps to download the Scorecard is as follows:

1. The candidate must Log in with his/her respective credentials, on the official website: https://iimcat.ac.in
2. Click on ‘Download Score Card for CAT 2023’.
3. ‘Login to View/Download Application Form/Scorecard’ tab on the Website.
4. The candidate is then directed to the Results Portal, where he/she shall fill in his/her Login credentials.
5. The respective result will appear on the screen, which can be downloaded and saved by the candidate for future use.

The Scorecard of CAT 2023 Result, will bear the following information:

1. Scores section-wise
2. Overall scaled percentiles.

CAT 2023 Results will only be Online. IIM conducting body will not send any hard copy of the CAT 2023 Score cards. 

The percentile represents the rank of the candidate in an examination. It is relative to the rest of the candidates who appeared for the same examination, in the same time frame.

For example, there were 10 students who gave an exam, including you. If you ranked 1st, then there are 9 students behind you. 90% of the test-takers are ranked after you. This implies you have a 90 percentile score. If you stood 3rd, then there are 7 test-takers ranked after you. You will have a 70%tile score in this case.

Similarly, if 1000 people appeared, including yourself. You ranked 75th, then there were effectively 925 test-takers who were ranked below you. As they scored lesser marks than you did. In this case, your percentile score will be:

(925/1000) x 100 = 92.5 percentile.

If 2,00,000 people appear for the CAT exam in a certain year. The net score for all candidates will be calculated. All test-takers will be sorted in descending order of their marks in CAT. If you rank 1,500 your percentile score will be:

(198500/200000) x 100 = 99.25 %tile.

After the completion of the CAT 2023 exam, the CAT convener provided slot-wise statistics on the total number of candidates appearing for the exam.