CAT 2023: Exam Date, Notification, Registration, Syllabus

IIM Lucknow to Conduct CAT 2023: Check Key Changes in Pattern, Syllabus; Top 500 MBA Colleges to Accept Score for Admission 2024

Latest Update: 

• IIM Lucknow likely to conduct CAT 2023 on Nov 26, 2023
• CAT 2023 to be conducted in three slots
• Each slot will have time duration of two hours
• CAT Notification 2023 is likely to be Released on July 30, 2023 with Complete Schedule
• CAT Preparation: Check how to self prepare with best Books in Schedule time frame 
• CAT Coaching to Prepare for CAT 2023: Top CAT Coaching Institutes & Programmes
• CAT Registration 2023 likely to Start from August 2023 first week ​

Conducted by one of the six top IIMs every year by rotation, Common Admission Test (CAT) is the MBA entrance exam for MBA admission in 20 IIMs and other top B-schools. This year, CAT 2023 will be conducted by IIM Lucknow most likely on November 26, 2023 in more than 155 cities. With CAT 2023 score, MBA admission 2024 at 20000 seats in top colleges will be offered to the students. Considered as the most prestigious and the largest MBA Entrance exam for MBA admission, CAT witnesses more than 2 lakh applicants and the number is going up. CAT 2022 witnessed 2.55 lakh applicants and out of them 2.22 lakh appeared in the exam. Below are important CAT 2023 exam dates & details, Syllabus, Pattern, How to Prepare for CAT, Top MBA colleges accepting CAT and other key information

Table of Contents

1. What is CAT Exam?

2. CAT 2023 Exam: Key Features & Highlights

3. CAT Exam Pattern 2023: Key Changes & Revised Structure

4. CAT 2023 Exam Syllabus: Overall and Section wise syllabus

5. CAT Preparation: How to Prepare in 3 to 6 Months with CAT Books, Top CAT Coaching Institutes

6. CAT Eligibility Criteria 2023 for CAT entrance Exam

7. CAT 2023 Registration & Application: CAT 2023 Form Filling Process

8. Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT 2023 for Admission 2024

9. CAT 2023 Important Dates

10. CAT 2023 Admit Card

11. CAT 2023 Result & IIMs’ Admission Process

12. Important Changes in CAT over the Years

13. Important Points about CAT 2023

14. FAQs on CAT: Answers by Experts 

1. What is CAT Exam?
Common Admission Test - CAT 2023 is the mandatory entrance exam for MBA admission 2024 in all the 20 IIMs, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur; NITIE Mumbai and hundreds of other top B-schools in India. More than two lakh candidates appear in CAT every year to explore admission opportunity in MBA programmes offered by IIMs and other top MBA colleges in India. Salient Points about the Exam are:

• A computer based test conducted at more than 150 test cities and 300 test venues
• Since 2020, CAT exam duration is reduced to two hours from earlier three hours
• The exam is divided into three sections of Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension; Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning; Quantitative Ability
• Each Section in the exam has to be attempted in a fixed individual time limit.
• Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) will offer admission on the basis of CAT 2023 score only and will not accept any other test score

2. CAT 2023 Exam: Key Features & Highlights
Following are the key features of IIM CAT 2023 exam details like CAT Full Form, Notification, CAT 2023 exam dates, Eligibility, Exam Structure among other details

3. CAT Exam Pattern 2023: Key Changes & Revised Structure
Since 2015, CAT exam has remained on similar pattern, except for last three years which may be  followed for CAT 2023 also, in terms of time duration, number of questions and sections as under:

• 120 Minutes Exam: CAT 2023 is a computer delivered test of 2 hours duration but it is not an Online Exam
• 66 Questions: Like last year, CAT 2023 exam will have 66 questions divided in 3 sections of VARC, DILR and Quantitative Ability. Earlier it used to have 100 questions divided in three sections
• 18-20 No Penalty Questions: Out of 66 questions, there will be 18 or more questions which will not have negative marking. CAT 2023 exam is divided into MCQ and Non-MCQ type of questions and the Non-MCQs do not carry negative marking. In case any non-MCQ has negative marking, a few MCQs are changed to no negative marking questions.
• 48-50 CAT Questions with Negative Marking: More than 48 questions in CAT 2023 are of MCQ type and will carry penalty of 1/3 negative marking
• CAT cut off Requirement by IIMs: A Minimum qualifying score between 70 and 90 percentile in CAT 2023 is required by IIMs in each of the 3 sections to shortlist candidates for final admission round
• IIM Shortlisting Criteria: Apart from High score in each of the 3 sections in the exam, if you have good academic profile with diversity, work experience, you are a preferred candidate to get admission into IIMs.

3.1 CAT Pattern 2023: Revised Structure of Question Paper
The table below shares the sectional order, number and type of questions in each section, questions with and without negative marking for each section for the 2 hours exam 

Source: Based on CAT 2022 Pattern 

4. CAT 2023 Exam Syllabus: Overall and Section wise syllabus
Although the exam Syllabus is not pre-defined by IIMs, it overall tests the candidate on Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension; Quantitative Aptitude; Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning.During the last 5 years, CAT exam syllabus has substantially changed. Major changes in CAT Syllabus 2023 are:

• The Syllabus is changed and contains different type of questions with a combination of MCQs & Non-MCQs.
• 25-30% Questions are no penalty questions now
• Most of the changes in syllabus have taken place in the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Section as the share of Reading Comprehension based questions has increased as compared to Verbal Ability questions
• A few changes in syllabus have been introduced in Quantitative Ability section with more focus on Arithmetic questions

4.1 CAT Syllabus Section-Wise

Read More about CAT Syllabus

5. CAT Preparation: How to Prepare for the Exam?
A few months of devoted preparation can enable you to crack CAT exam as it requires ‘Smart Preparation.’ You can self prepare for the exam with best books; can join a coaching or can have a mix of self preparation and guidance from coaching. Key aspects of preparation, as per the experts, are:

• You should have strong basics with clarity on concepts
• Improve your weak areas and strengthen your strong areas
• Consistent revision is required with Mocks, practice tests, Quizzes
• Prepare a list of topics as per the syllabus and improve on each of them
• Form a peer group on social media for preparation
• Focus more on RC in VARC section; focus equally on DI & LR and practice more Arithmetic questions to clear the section wise cut offs
• Time Management with Accuracy & Speed is required. Consistently improve on them
• Consult best CAT preparation books and attempt their practice questions
• Read Interviews and tips from CAT Toppers studying at IIMs, FMS, SPJIMR, MDI, on their CAT preparation strategy published on MBAUniverse.com and other channels

5.1 Preparation for VARC, DILR, Quant
The section wise CAT preparation strategy is very important. Key tips to prepare for each section is as below:

5.1.1 Preparation for VARC

• Go through the Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension Syllabus 
• Choose the Best books
• Read the strategy for CAT Verbal Ability Preparation of past CAT toppers How to Ace CAT Verbal Ability
• Questions on RC passages in CAT constitute 70% share and Verbal questions are 30%. So focus and practice more RC based questions to crack CAT

Section-1: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC): Composition

Read More

5.1.2 Preparation for DILR
DILR is the 2^nd section in CAT exam. It plays very important role to clear the cut off percentile. The section has equal number of Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Questions. You need to practice more to score high in this section. Experts advise following tips to prepare for DILR:

• Data Interpretation questions for CAT test your analytical skills of interpreting the Data given to you in the form of Table, Chart, Graph or in other form
• Logical Reasoning for CAT constitutes 50% share in the newly created Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation Comprehension (DILR) Section in CAT
• The goal of scoring high in CAT 2023 can be achieved with small but consistent efforts and time devoted to the DILR section.
• DILR preparation for CAT requires you to first get as many as DILR practice questions for CAT
• To move in direct DILR preparation direction, it will be better to refer to DILR questions for CAT with solutions

Section-2: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR): Composition

Read More

5.1.3 Preparation for Quant
Quantitative Ability (QA) is the last section in CAT exam. It can improve or reduce your CAT score substantially. To score high in this section, experts advise following tips:

• A three dimensional approach is recommended on CAT Preparation for Quant section
• Strengthen your basics and formulae in Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Modern Math and allied topics
• Practise on variety of questions of different difficulty level
• Finally solve previous CAT papers and Mocks for each topic. The more you do it, the more expertise in Quant section for CAT, you will get.
• QA Sectional Composition

Section-3: Quantitative Ability (QA)

Read More

5.2 Best Books for CAT Preparation
IIM CAT has been changing its pattern and every year different types of questions appear in the exam. During the last few years, the CAT has been modified completely.  Most of the CAT preparation books in the market are based on the previous CAT exam pattern but the best CAT books shared here have updated changes with the anticipated question type in CAT exam. While choosing the best books for CAT, it should be kept in mind that the books are conversant with the changed exam pattern and difficulty level. Few things to check in the books are:

• Should Provide conceptual clarity on the relevant CAT topic
• Rich on the exercises, practice questions and Mocks given after each topic
• Caters your need to focus more on the weak areas with variety of practice questions  
• Latest edition of CAT preparation Book offers the updated exam pattern and syllabus also

5.2.1: 10 Best books for CAT Preparation
If you are self-preparing for CAT or are preparing with the support of CAT coaching institute, in both the cases, the latest edition of the CAT books for preparation as shared below will help you in conceptual clarity, practice questions and attempting the sample papers

• How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT’- by Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay
• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha
• Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension by Ajay Singh
• Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
• How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma (Published by McGraw Hill)
• How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma (Published by McGraw Hill)
• Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K. Sinha
• CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri,Publisher Career Launcher
• How to prepare for Quantitative for the CAT by Arun Sharma, published by MGH Education
• Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha
• Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by  Sarvesh K Verma.. Read all about Arun Sharma CAT Books and Nishit K Sinha CAT Books

5.3 Preparing for CAT 2023 with CAT Coaching
CAT coaching institutes help you to prepare for CAT systematically without deviating from your preparation path. While offering smart and intensive preparation for CAT exam 2023, the top CAT coaching institutes help you to minimize the wastage of time with optimum utilization. There are 1 year, 6 months, 3 months and 2 months CAT preparation time modules offered by the good CAT coaching institutes that help you crack CAT with high score. If you need to clear the concepts and build your basics before practicing sessions, CAT toppers and experts suggest to start CAT preparation with a 6 month time margin. The preparation can be self, with the support of CAT online or offline coaching or a mix of both.

5.3.1 Top CAT Coaching Institute in India
The choice of CAT coaching mode depends upon your interest, time, money and preparation level while preparing for CAT 2023 exam. Shared below are the top coaching institutes with their key centres and available options for coaching:

CAT Coaching

5.4 Toppers’ Tips for CAT Preparation
Previous CAT Toppers studying at IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Udaipur, FMS, SPJIMR, MDI have shared with MBAUniverse.com their CAT preparation strategy and how they overcame their weak areas and scored high. The last minute CAT preparation tips from these CAT toppers are very helpful in improving your score in the exam. Check Below   

Read 100+ CAT Toppers’ Preparation Strategy 

How A Graphic Designer, Painter with B.Tech- Nancy Jain cracked CAT with 99.72 %ile & Got into IIM Calcutta for MBA 2021

How a BMS Graduate from DU working at DE Shaw, Nandan Goel cracked CAT with 99.95 %ile & Got into IIM Calcutta for MBA 2021

Pragya Malik cracked CAT with 99.52 %ile & Got into IIM Calcutta for MBA 2021

6. CAT Eligibility Criteria 2023
Below are the important points that determine CAT eligibility criteria 2023

• A candidate with minimum 50% marks in graduation can appear in CAT 2023
• A final year student in graduation can also appear in CAT 2023 conducted by IIM
• There is no age limit to apply and appear in CAT 2023

Read More

7. CAT 2023 Registration & Application: CAT 2023 Form Filling Process

• CAT Registration Date 2023 will open after release of CAT notification
• CAT 2023 registration process is online
• You can fill CAT Form 2023 online only on the official CAT website
• CAT 2023 registration fee is Rs.2400/- for General candidates. CAT exam fee should be paid online only
• The CAT Form 2023 opens in August first week after release of CAT Notification 2023

Read in detail step by step process how to register and apply for CAT 2023

7.1 CAT Registration Trends
More than 2.55 lakh candidates had registered last year for CAT 2022 exam. In 2021 2.30 Lakh applied for CAT; in 2020, 2.27 lakh candidates applied for CAT and in 2019, more than 2.44 lakh candidates had applied for CAT. It signified that candidates had to compete with more candidates in CAT exam and needed to score high to get shortlisted by top three IIMs and other top MBA colleges.

Although the trends in CAT registrations since 2010 show a downward journey initially, but from 2013 it has been showing a rising registration count reflecting the regaining trust of CAT aspirants and anticipation of better career opportunities after completing MBA/PGP from an IIM or other top B-school

Source: MBAUniverse.com Research & Analysis 

8. Top Colleges Accepting CAT 2023 with Cut off Percentile
More than Top 100 MBA colleges in India are accepting CAT 2023 score for MBA admission 2024. Apart from 20 IIMs, other top CAT MBA colleges in non-IIM category, include FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai, SJMSoM IIT Mumbai, DoMS IIT Delhi among others. Some of the top colleges accepting CAT 2023 with their expected cut offs are as below:

8.1 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)

8.2 Top MBA Colleges in Non-IIM Category
Following are the CAT cut off for top MBA colleges in India

Check and Read all about the CAT Accepting Colleges

8.3 MBA Programmes Offered by IIMs through CAT
Apart from being the most important entrance test for the 2 years full time post graduate management program (MBA/PGDM), CAT 2023 is the gateway for one year MBA programmes in IIMs and other prominent management institutes.Following are the various management programmes at IIMs in which admission 2023 is available through Common Admission Test 2023

9. CAT 2023 Important Dates
Following are the CAT 2023 important dates like CAT Notification date, CAT exam date, and for other different activities related to the CAT exam 2023:

10. CAT 2023 Admit Card
CAT 2023 Admit Card download will start from October 2023 last week, immediately with the release of the CAT hall ticket by IIMs. IIMs will upload the CAT 2023 Admit card on official CAT exam website 2023. The CAT admit card release date may be extended by a few days in case the last date of registration for CAT 2023 exam is extended. The last date to download the CAT Admit Card is CAT 2023 exam date. 

3 Steps to Download CAT 2023 Admit Card

1. Logon to CAT official Website
2. Enter CAT Login ID & Password & Click on ‘Admit Card’
3. Click on Download & Take Print of CAT Admit card

11. CAT 2023 Result & IIMs’ Admission Process
CAT 2023 exam official result declaration date is 2^nd week of January 2024. However, IIMs release the CAT result much earlier. Last year also, CAT 2022 result was released as early as on Dec 21, 2022 instead of officially announced date of Jan second week. It is likely that CAT 2023 result may be released on January 4, 2024 or earlier, in morning hours. Immediately after the CAT result declaration, IIMs will start announcing their shortlist on the basis of CAT scores and other parameters in their shortlisting criteria for final selection round. The final admission offer will be made to the candidates in the months of April/May 2024 by IIMs

IIMs release their individual admission process after CAT notification. The admission process in IIMs depends upon your performance in three major areas – Your CAT 2023 exam score; your academic record and performance in Personal Interview round. There are three stages through which IIM Admission Process is completed, they are:

• Stage-1: Performance in CAT Exam
• Stage-2: Shortlisting by IIMs for PI round
• Stage-3: IIMs Final Selection Process 2024 comprising WAT & PI Round

Your final admission offer depends upon your performance in all the above three stages of IIMs selection process. While the older IIMs conduct their individual selection process, 9 new and baby IIMs conduct common admission process (CAP) for admission. Remaining IIMs conduct their individual selection process.

11.1 Top IIMs Conduct Individual Admission Process
IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode, Shillong individually shortlist the candidates and conduct their own admission process that award high weightage to academics, diversity, work experience apart from CAT exam score

11.2 Common Admission Process (CAP) for 9 IIMs
The final selection process at 9 new IIMs is conducted as a common process. One of the six new IIMs co-ordinates this selection process which is referred to as Common Admission Process (CAP). The CAP 2024 will consist of common WAT and PI round for 9 new IIMs namely IIM Kashipur, Raipur, Ranchi,  Trichy,Udaipur and some of the newest IIMs like IIM Bodhgaya, Sambalpur, Sirmaur, Jammu.

11.3 IIM Nagpur, IIM Rohtak, IIM Visakhapatnam to conduct individual admission process
IIM Nagpur, IIM Rohtak and IIM Visakhapatnam do not participate in CAP round and conduct their own final selection process to make admission offer to the students. The final admission offers will be generated as per the merit lists prepared on the basis of CAT scores, Academic profile, Work experience and gender diversity in accordance with the weightage awarded to each of these factors.  

12. Important Changes in CAT over the Years
Journey of IIM-CAT has witnessed substantial changes. In recent years, number of sections and type of questions in CAT have changed substantially. Important changes in pattern and conduct of CAT are shared below: 

• CAT has changed from Paper Based to Computer based test
• CAT now has 3 sections instead of 2
• CAT has introduced 25 to 30 percent questions with No Negative marking

CAT Exam pattern over the past 12 years since it was computerized in 2009 has gone for perceptible changes. CAT paper pattern prior to 2009 was paper-pen based. CAT exam format was changed from paper based exam to CAT online computer based test in 2009. Even after that CAT paper pattern continued changing from 3 sections to 2 and then CAT pattern was changed to 3 sections in 2015. Since then CAT is following similar pattern. CAT 2023 pattern also remains the same as that of CAT exam 2023 pattern with 3 sections and 3 hours time although the number of MCQs and Non-MCQs may change.

13. Important Points about CAT 2023
Key points to note about CAT exam are given below:

13.1 When CAT is Conducted?

• CAT is conducted annually.
• Now conducted preferably on the last Sunday of November every year
• The exam is conducted on a single day in three sessions – morning, afternoon and evening with a duration of 2 hours for each session. From 2015 to 2019, CAT was 3 hour, two session exam.
• The change in sessions and time duration was made due to Covid-19 pandemic.

13.2 What is Mode of CAT?
CAT is a computer based entrance test of two hours duration

13.3 When to look for CAT Notification and complete CAT Information?
IIMs release all the details about CAT in leading news papers on the last Sunday of July every year. A day before this publication, the CAT convener sends the press release with important details about CAT on the designated web portals. The process to register and apply for CAT starts in the 1^st week of August.

13.4 How difficult is CAT?
Despite being a highly competitive and most important MBA entrance exam in India, the difficulty level of CAT is considered moderate to high.

13.5 Scoring Pattern in CAT
Each correct answer in CAT is awarded with 3 marks. The raw score obtained in CAT is converted to scaled score and then converted to percentile score after allowing for equating and normalizing the scores for both the sessions in CAT.

IIMs and other top MBA colleges consider percentile awarded in CAT to shortlist the candidates for final selection round.

14. FAQs on CAT: Answers by Experts

Q. How many Questions are expected in CAT 2023?
A. CAT 2023 exam is expected to consist of 66 questions

Q. How difficult is the CAT exam
A. While some of the questions are of moderate difficulty level, some are more difficult

Q. Do IIMs provide any document and guide how to attempt CAT 2023 Exam?
A. IIMs release CAT practice test with complete navigation guide on the official website iimcat.ac.in. You can familiarize yourself with the functionality and navigation of the actual exam. You can also attempt CAT Mock Tests and CAT previous years question papers with answers at MBAUniverse.com

Q. Quant and DI questions in CAT require too much calculations. Can I take a calculator to the testing centre?
A. No, but the onscreen calculator is available throughout the exam. You can use that

Q. What is the Scoring Pattern in CAT 2023? Do the wrong answers carry any penalty of negative marking?
A. The CAT question paper is divided into MCQs and Non-MCQs. Each correct answer in CAT 2023 is awarded +3 marks for all the questions but the MCQs carry a penalty of -1 mark for each wrong answer. For the Non-MCQs (Known as TITA Questions), there is no penalty of negative marking. Besides there is no penalty for any unattempted questions whether MCQ or Non-MCQ.

Q. How a Non-MCQ is different from MCQ type question?
A. For a non-MCQ type question, you must type the answer in the given space while for the MCQ you only need to click on the most appropriate answer option

Q. What is the number of Non-MCQs overall and section wise in the CAT question paper?
A. Out of the total overall questions in CAT exam, there are about 25% Non-MCQs. The same principle applies to each section. Exact number of Non-MCQs in CAT 2023 depends upon the total questions in the Exam.

Q. Can I choose the order of sections while attempting the CAT question paper?
A. No, You should answer the sections in a pre-specified order. This order is same for all the candidates. Besides, each section has an individual time limit of 40 minutes, so after the individual section time is over, you will be taken to next section automatically.

Q. Can I submit the paper early and leave the test center before the exam time is over?
A. No, the CAT paper cannot be submitted before the test duration of 2 hours is over. You can neither leave your seat, nor can leave the test centre early