CAT (Common Admission Test)

CAT 2023

Notification | Exam Dates | Application Form | Eligibility | Exam Pattern | Admit Card | Result | Counselling

Common Admission Test - CAT 2023 is a PG-level common entrance exam conducted by one of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) annually, for selecting students into their business management PG programs. Recently Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have also joined the list of institutes where CAT is a prerequisite for admission in various management programs offered by them.

CAT Sample Question papers with Key 

CAT 2023 Notification

CAT 2023 is organized and conducted by one of the IIMs. The Indian Institute of Management, has yet to release the notification for the Common Admission Test or CAT 2023 in July 2023. This national-level exam will be held on November 2023, in two sessions. The application process is scheduled to begin in August and closes on September 2023 (5 pm).

MAIN FEATURES OF THIS ARTICLE AT A GLANCE: 

CAT 2023 -  Important Dates 

The tentative schedule of CAT 2023 is tabulated below:

Top MBA Colleges in India Accepting CAT 2023 Score

CAT 2023 Registration and Application

Application Fee

Registration Fee: Non-Refundable 

Mode of Payment

Registration Fee can be paid through Credit/Debit Card/Net Banking/Cash Card & Wallet.

How to Register/Apply:

The CAT 2023 application should be submitted online only. Offline applications are not accepted for CAT Examination. For Online submission, visit the official website of CAT 2023.

CAT 2023 Registration

1) Visit CAT 2023 official website iimcat.ac.in. In "New Candidate Registration" click on "Register as New User".

2) Generate username and password by entering details like Name, DOB, Email ID, Mobile Number etc.

3) Fill in the required fields carefully as the details on this form cannot be changed once submitted.

4) Verify email id and mobile number to receive login password.

5) The candidate will also receive the login Password as an SMS on the registered mobile number.

CAT 2023 Application Form

1) Login using generated username and password to fill the application form.

2) Fill the application form with personal details like Address for Communication, Parent's Details, Gender, Category and Academic Details etc.

3) Upload the scanned images of the photograph and signature along with other required documents like caste certificate or PwD certificate etc.

4) Pay the requisite fee online mode.

4) Once all the required fields are filled with correct and authentic information and fees paid, submit the application form.

5) Once the candidate submits the application successfully, he/she will receive a confirmation email.

6) Candidates are advised to take a printout of the application for future reference.

CAT 2023 Application Correction

After a few days of last date of submission of applications, a correction window shall be opened by the Authorities concerned.  Candidates will be afforded an opportunity to carry out corrections if any with respect to data entered erroneously.  However, this facility is only for select data and only successfully registered candidates through CAT 2023 registration process.

CAT 2023 Application Form

CAT 2023 Eligibility

1) Bachelor’s Degree, with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% SC/ST/PWD category candidates), by a recognized University or educational institution.

2) Candidates appearing for the final year of the Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification examination and those who have completed degree requirements and are awaiting results can also apply.

3) Such candidates, if selected, will be allowed to join the programme, only if they submit a certificate from the Principal/Registrar of their University/Institution stating that they have completed all the requirements for obtaining the Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification on the date of the issue of the certificate.

4) Eligibility may be verified at different stages of the selection process.

CAT 2023 Percentage Calculation

i) The percentage would be calculated as per their respective University/Institution.

ii) In the case of grades / CGPA, the conversion of marks would be based on the procedure of the respective University/ institution.

iii) The equivalence will be taken by dividing the candidate’s CGPA by the maximum possible CGPA, and multiplying the result with 100 if there is no conversion.

Reservations in CAT Exam

As per the legal requirements, 15% of the seats are reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) and 7.5% for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates. 27% of seats are reserved for Other Backward Classes candidates belonging to the “non-creamy” layer (NC-OBC), 3% seats are reserved for Persons with Disability (PwD) candidates.

CAT 2023 Preparation | Study plan

CAT 2023 Exam Pattern

1) The exam is for 2 Hours of duration.

2) The examination will be conducted in Online Mode: Computer Based Test.

3) Total 66 questions which are divided into 3 Sections as mentioned below:

• Section 1: VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for a duration of 40 minutes.
• Section 2: DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning) for a duration of 40 minutes.
• Section 3: QA (Quantitative Analysis) for a duration of 40 minutes.

4) CAT 2023 questions are divided into two types viz., Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and non-Multiple Choice of Questions (non-MCQs).

CAT 2023 Exam Pattern

CAT 2023 Syllabus

CAT 2023 syllabus is comprised of subjects like

a) Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension,

b) Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning,

c) Quantitative Ability.

CAT 2023 Syllabus

CAT 2023: Test Centres

CAT 2023 Admit Cards

• Date of release of Admit Card (Hall Ticket) for CAT 2023 would be announced by IIM concerned and tentatively on 31.07.2023.

• Candidates are required to download and take a print out of the Admit card before the stipulated last date.

• Candidates must visit official portal to download their Admit Cards by logging in with their log in ID and Password obtained at the time of submitting their application on line. Only the candidates who could successfully submitted their application can download the Admit Cards from the official portal.

CAT 2023 Admit Card

CAT 2023 Answer Key

• After conducting the CAT 2023, authorities concerned shall upload provisional Answer Key online mode on the appointed date (to be announced for CAT 2023).
• Candidates are required to check the provisional CAT 2023 answer key on the official website and in case of any difference or errors in the answer key, such of the candidates can file on line objection.
• Taking into consideration all the objections, authorities concerned shall release final key on the appointed date (to be announced for CAT 2023) on the official website, which will be final. Candidates can check the same online.

CAT 2023 Results

CAT 2023 authorities will announce results in online mode only. Candidates are required to check their results on the official website iimcat.ac.in Following are steps involved in downloading CAT 2023 results by the candidates:

• Candidates must visit official website of CAT 2023 iimcat.ac.in Click on tab “CAT 202 Result”, enter User ID and Password and log in.
• Click on the tab “IIM CAT Score Card “ result of CAT 2023 shall appear on the screen.
• Then download score card of CAT 2023, take a print out for future reference. 

dCAT 2023 results

CAT 2023: Counselling (Admission and Selection Process)

• Post-declaration of CAT 2023 results, each IIM would commence the process of shortlisting the students for WAT (Written Ability Test)/PI (Personal Interview) and release its own set of IIM admission criteria, including CAT Qualifying Cut Offs separately for every category, academic parameters, personality parameters, the formula for calculating the final admission score. However, new IIMs would conduct Centralized Admission Process (CAP) for selection of candidates for admission into their institutes which has been dealt with separately in this article.
• Following is the list of IIMs (non-CAP). which do not participate in CAP for selection of candidates for admission into their Institutes.
  • IIM Ahmedabad
  • IIM Bangalore
  • IIM Kolkata
  • IIM Lucknow
  • IIM Kozhikode
  • IIM Indore
  • IIM Visakhapatnam
  • IIM Shillong
  • IIM Rohtak
  • IIM Shillong
  • IIM Nagpur
  • IIM Amritsar
• CAT 2023 (Non-CAP) process of selection candidates comprises of three (3) Stages. (1) Shortlisting of candidates based on CAT score. (2) Screening of candidates through WAT (Written Ability Test)/GD (Group Discussion)/PI (Personal Interview).  (3) Calculation of Composite Score.

• Non-IIMs that accept CAT 2023 scores publish their admission schedule and selection procedure separately. It is expected that over 1300 MBA institutes across India accept CAT 2023 score for admission into their respective Institutes, which might also include GD-PI rounds before confirming admission.

• Individual IIM shall forward Call Letters to the shortlisted candidates for IIM CAT 2023

• Call Letter bears the information like (1) Registration Link (2) Last date for registration for Counselling (3) Details of WAT/PI rounds, dates, location, and slots. (4) List of documents to be submitted for verification.
• Candidates are required to report at the Venue of Interview on the appointed date, time along with the following original documents, together with two sets of self-certified photo copies and 4 Passport size photographs.
  • Counselling Call letter
  • Score Card
  • Admit Card
  • Memorandum of Marks issued from 10^th to Graduation level
  • Caste Certificate, if applicable
• Post-verification of documents etc., all successful candidates are required to visit official website of CAT IIM, fill in the registration form on line, choose the desired IIM and lock their options for CAT 2023 After receiving the notification for allocation of a seat via SMS or Email, candidates must report at the designated IIM and submit their seat allocation order and complete other formalities of that IIM, as may be required, including payment of fee etc.
• CAT 2023 Parameters vis-à-vis Weightage for calculating final composite score of candidates:

After taking into consideration various parameters and weightages they carry for each parameter, final composite score of a candidate will be calculated.  The following table depicts the same.

CAT 2023: CAP (Common Admission Process) for 9 new IIMs:

The process of admission in 9 (nine) new IIMs is common and the responsibility of conducting CAP shall be taken by one of these 9 IIMs in rotation every year.   Following is the list of new IIMs that participate in Common Admission Process (CAP):

• IIM Udaipur
• IIM Tiruchirappalli
• IIM Kashipur
• IIM Raipur
• IIM Ranchi
• IIM Bodh Gaya
• IIM Jammu
• IIM Sambalpur
• IIM Sirmaur

Participating IIMs in CAP shall forward a list of candidates shortlisted for WAT/PI to the concerned IIM conducting CAP for the particular year. Qualifying CAT cut off, admission parameters and weightage are common to all CAP participating IIMs. After the WAT/PI, final marks/scores obtained by the candidates shall be shared with all the CAP participating IIMs. These 9 new IIMs based on the final marks/scores received by them declare their own merit list of candidates selected for admission and forward allocation/admission letter to the successful candidates by the respective IIMs.  The final list can also be accessed by the successful candidates through the respective website of the IIM concerned.

CAT 2023 General Instructions

1) No changes are entertained once the registration process is done.

2) Applicants should note that the mere fulfilment of minimum eligibility criteria will not ensure consideration for shortlisting by IIMs.

3) Candidates must have a valid and unique email account and mobile number throughout the selection process.

4) At the time of CAT Application registration, SC / ST / NC-OBC / PWD certificate(s) must be uploaded.

5) Registration of Candidate will get cancelled if failed to upload caste/class certificate.

6) Reach the test centre by 7:30 AM for morning session/1.00 PM for the afternoon session.

7) Candidates are not allowed inside the test centre after 8:45 AM/1:00 PM.

8) Candidates must carry original ID proof.

9) Candidates must handover their admit cards to the invigilator.

10) Electronic gadgets, written/blank paper/books, calculators etc are not allowed.

11) The fingerprint of the candidate is taken on the day of the test.

CAT 2023 Exam Centers List State Wise

CAT 2023: TIPS TO CRACK THE EXAMINATION

CAT 2023 slated to be conducted on 27.11.2023 is one of the toughest and biggest MBA Entrance examinations conducted at National level in India.  As per statistics of last year, more than 2 (two) lakh aspiring candidates appeared for CAT 2023 and this year the number is likely to increase, keeping in view of highest demand for admissions to MBA in top MBA Institutes in prestigious IIMs etc. in India.

Before we discuss on the tips for aspiring candidates, it is necessary to recapitulate various attributes of CAT 2023 with respect to pattern of examination.  In the first step, candidates are required to thoroughly understand the pattern of examination, before they plan their strategy or approach.

CAT 2023 comprises of 3 (three) sections viz., VARL, DILR & QA.

Second Phase  (Admission Phase)  comprises of WAT/GD/PI conducted by the respective B Schools

CAT 2023: How to deal with MCQs/Non-MCQs (TITA Questions)

A quick look at the scores/marks and weightages being awarded to candidates as mentioned in the previous paragraphs, it can be observed that maximum marks are allocated to CAT 2023 examination (25) and Personal Interview/GD (30). This gives a clue to candidates that they should focus maximum on these Papers/facets of CAT 2023.  Out of 100, remaining marks are allocated to WAT (10), 10^th Class marks (10), 12^th Marks (05), graduation marks (10) and work experience (10).  So, equal importance to be given to the remaining Papers/facets to crack CAT 2023 to achieve highest sectional cut off.

Another important facet of CAT 2023 is non-MCQs (TITA questions).  It is expected that with the syllabus mentioned in the foregoing paragraphs, candidates will have an idea how to prepare for MCQs.  But more attention is required on TITA (Type within the Answer) Questions. 

With the CAT 2023 approaching, it is time for the candidates to focus on ways and means to maximize score and enhancement of time management skills by building a strategy for a planned preparation.  While QA (Quantitative Ability) is calculation-specific and the strategy should be to develop speed in calculations, VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension) requires reading the passages quickly and to catch the key points in the given passage to answer correctly within the timeframe. 

A decent score in the DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning) Section increases overall percentile and the individual Sectional cut off. To crack this section, it is essential to develop good comprehension skills by solving previous years Question papers of CAT.  Candidates must carefully work out logical conditions to arrive at a missing detail or numbers, which will eventually direct them to the right answer.

How to deal with TITA questions (Type in the Answer) in CAT 2023:

As already mentioned in the previous paragraphs, for TITA (Non-Multiple Choice of Questions) questions, candidates are required to type the answers directly on the keyboard with no choices being provided, leaving no room for guess work.  On the other hand, due to absence of negative marking, candidates might spend more time on these questions, which might eventually waste their precious time.

The concept of TITA questions was introduced primarily to assess the comprehension and writing abilities of candidates within the given time.  Following are few tips for cracking TITA (Type in the Answer) Non-MCQs in CAT 2023:

• In view of time-consuming to attempt non-MCQs (TITA), it is advisable to answer these questions at the end of the test by allocating appropriate time.

• Candidates must develop skills with appropriate strategy through practicing mock tests, answering previous TITA questions, which would help to solve these questions within the time limit as “time is the essence”.

• Candidates must adopt section-wise strategy in answering TITA questions by attempting less time-consuming and easy questions first.

Post- CAT 2023: Admission Phase Tests

Candidates who clear CAT 2023 are required to gear up themselves to face the second challenge under Phase II i.e., WAT/GD/PI.  

Written Ability Test (WAT): CAT 2023:

In the recent years, majority of B Schools and IIMs have dispensed with/replaced the Group Discussion and are basing on Written Ability Test.  Hence WAT has assumed much importance for the candidates to fare well.  This is the first round of second phase.  In this round of WAT, candidates are required to write essays on the given topic within the prescribed time. 

This round is aimed to test the writing skills, logical thinking on the topic, positive or negative views of the candidate.  Hence, candidates are required to prepare the essay portraying the candidate’s logical thinking on the topic by depicting them point-wise so that the Evaluator is impressed with the presentation of the essay.  Candidates to note that they should never deviate from the subject matter and avoid exaggerations. Thoughts of the candidates must be practicable as far as possible.

Group Discussion (GD): CAT 2023:

Group Discussion round is aimed to test the knowledge base, analytical and communicating skills.  About 8 to 10 candidates will be asked to sit in a room and the Examiner provides them with a topic or an issue to discuss and suggest solutions.  During discussions in GD, several positive and negative opinions emerge on the given topic. Many a times, candidates with fluency in English and good communicating skills dominate the group leading the other group members.  To achieve success in this round, candidates must articulate themselves with a positive approach and convincing capacity with full knowledge on the subject.  Candidates must present their firm view point without mincing words.   Such an attitude will be developed, if the candidate attends mock GDs and constant reading of Newspapers and other General Knowledge/Awareness books.  Communicating skills are more important to crack Group Discussion.

Personal Interview (PI): CAT 2023:

Personal Interview will be the last and most important phase before admission is offered to candidates.  Almost all the MBA Colleges/Institutes, including IIMs/SLRI, FMS, SPJIMR, MDI conduct PI before offering admission to successful candidates.

Personal Interview is aimed to test the verbal communication skills, presence of mind of the candidate.  Interviewers test the views and knowledge of the candidates and their presence of mind through various questions.  Following are major topics based on which questions are normally asked in the Personal Interviews.

• Tell about yourself
• Why did you choose MBA and B College?
• Previous experience and Previous organization/company
• Past Academic qualifications/Colleges studied
• Candidate’s Home town/City/State
• Extracurricular activities
• Based on SOP (Statement of Purpose) submitted by the candidate.
• Current events in India and world.

Candidates must prepare themselves based on the above main topics and attend mock interviews with friends or faculties or seniors and get rid of nervousness and understand various pre-requisites of a Personal Interview for achieving success.

General Tips to Crack CAT 2023

The biggest task before the candidates is to target his/her efforts to enhance thinking capacity, speed of learning and power to retain whatever learnt to unravel their potential for the best possible results in solving the Sectional questions in CAT 2023.

So, hard work, strong academic background, sincere efforts with planned preparation is paramount importance to secure highest marks in CAT 2023. Following few tips may help candidates to prepare well and enhance the chances of success in the impending CAT 2023.

• Candidates must understand the syllabus and exam pattern of CAT 2023

• Keep a hard copy of complete syllabus till the examination and go through the same from time to time to ensure that no topic is missed. In accordance with the topics in the syllabus select/procure suitable study material /Previous Question Papers and relevant books.

• Draw a time table covering the entire syllabus and leave at least a fortnight’s time before CAT 2023 for revision of the syllabus.

• Carry out appropriate analysis/review of your study pattern and find out loose ends/mistakes and make adjustments/corrections accordingly.

• It is always advisable to make notes of all topics being studied for revision purpose.
• Time Management in solving the problems/answers is more important. So, focus on mock tests/solving previous question papers setting prescribed time limit and ensure to learn time management which will eventually help in the main examination. 

• Set appropriate goals by dividing one topic at a time and accomplish them on daily basis. Though the syllabus initially appears to the candidate as voluminous, over time, with accomplishing the goals every day, one can understand that the entire syllabus can be covered successfully before the examination.

• Students should first attempt to study the theory part and understand the same thoroughly. Then the student should start solving the problems.  Such an approach will enable the student to understand problem-solving in a logical way that will help in solving problems correctly in the CAT 2023, within the timeframe.

• List out doubts/clarifications required on the topics and seek help from the Seniors or Faculties from time to time.

• Students can also consider joining a crash course, which will help them to master the subjects in a planned strategic manner with appropriate guidance from the faculties.

• Another important tip for the students is to avoid distraction from the main goal of preparation for the examination. Strong determination alone helps the students to avoid diversion from attention or focus on the main goal.

• Studying non-stop for long hours would deplete the productivity of the students. Hence, students are required to take this into account while preparing their timetable to ensure that there will be a minimum “recess time” to refresh themselves before commencing the next session of study. No doubt, students tend to study for long hours before examinations.
• To enhance productivity, it is a must to rest or relax at defined intervals, which does not mean watching blue screen.  Students should relax by doing short workouts or meditation etc. which will enhance their concentration on their study.

Top MBA Colleges in India Accepting CAT 2023 Score