Updated On : May 16, 2023
Summary: IIMs are widely recognized as the best institutes in India for Management. This is due to their comprehensive management courses, highly qualified faculty, excellent placements, and world-class infrastructure. Here is everything you need about CAT.
CAT is a gateway for students who wish to pursue a career in business and management at top IIMs in the country.
IIMs have a strong alumni network that helps students build their careers, making IIMs the top choice for management studies.
CAT is considered one of the toughest exams since it assesses your overall aptitude and preparedness for admission to a top-tier management program.
Obtain a comprehensive guide to learn more about the CAT exam 2023.
The CAT exam full form or abbreviation is Common Admission Test!
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is an all-India entrance exam that tests a candidate's aptitude and skills for admission to various post-graduate management programs offered by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top business schools in the country.
It is conducted annually by the Indian Institutes of Management. The exam is conducted in multiple slots, and the result is based on a percentile score.
Check: Why CAT Exam is Important?
Here’s a brief overview of the CAT exam 2023:
CAT Exam Particulars | CAT Exam Details |
CAT Full Form | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
Conducting Institute | IIMs |
Exam Level | National |
Exam Frequency | Once a year |
CAT Exam Date | To be notified |
CAT Exam Timings | To be notified |
CAT Exam Fees | To be notified |
Eligibility Criteria | Graduation with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST students) |
Number of Applications | 2.55 lakh (in 2022) |
Exam Purpose | Study at IIMs, SPJIMR, FMS, MDI, IMT and over 1,200 B-Schools in India |
Courses Offered | MBA/ PGDM |
CAT syllabus | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), Quantitative Ability (QA) |
CAT pattern | Computer Based Test (CBT) with MCQs and non-MCQs |
No. of test cities | 150 |
CAT exam website | https://iimcat.ac.in/ |
Exam helpdesk no. | 1-800-210-8720 (Toll-Free); cathelpdesk@iimcat.co.in |
Check: CAT Exam Marking Scheme 2023
Important events and dates are tabulated respectively.
CAT Exam Events | Tentative Dates |
CAT 2023 registration | Aug 2023 - Sep 2023 |
CAT 2023 form correction process | Sep 2023 |
CAT 2023 admit card download | Oct 2023 |
CAT 2023 mock test release | Nov 2023 |
CAT 2023 exam date | Nov 2023 |
CAT 2023 answer key challenge | Dec 2023 |
CAT 2023 result announcement | Dec 2023 |
Please note that these are tentative dates for the CAT exam this year.
The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree, with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA [45% in case of candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Persons with Disability (PwD) categories], from any recognised University or educational institution.
Candidates who have finished degree prerequisites and are awaiting results and taking the last year of the Bachelor's degree/equivalent qualification test are both eligible to apply.
Check: CAT Exam 2023 Eligibility Criteria
The application can change for this year. The information below is curated as per the previous year's data.
CAT application fees
Please be aware that regardless of how many institutes a candidate applies to, they only need to pay the registration cost once.
Candidates who are SC, ST, or PwD must upload a copy of their appropriate documentation while registering.
Under no circumstances are fees that have already been paid refundable.
Step 1: Registration for User ID and Password
Use the following browsers:
The registration form to create your User Profile appears as shown below.
Enter the OPT and Catcha and submit the declaration.
Step 2: Log in to CAT Website
You can access the website as a "Registered Candidate" and complete the CAT application using the system-generated User ID and Password you received after completing Step 1 above.
Enter your User ID/Password as shown below:
Step 3: Fill Application Form
The Application Form is categorised into the following six sections:
If you have another Professional Degree, add the degree and save.
Step 4: Pick the required program
Step 5: Pick a Test City
The drop-down box allows the applicant to choose any six test cities according to his or her preferences.
One of the six preferred test cities will be assigned after the registration deadline, pending availability.
Rarely will a candidate be assigned to a nearby test city if none of the chosen test cities is available.
Step 6: Make the Payment
An SC/ST/PwD candidate would pay Rs. 1150 to take the CAT, compared to Rs. 2300 for General/EWS/NC-OBC candidates. Read the transaction fees in the table below carefully before paying.
Overview of CAT Exam Pattern 2023:
CAT Paper Pattern 2023 | |
Mode of CAT exam | Computer Based Test |
CAT exam duration | 120 minutes 40 minutes per section |
Number of questions | 66 |
CAT total marks | 198 |
Language of question paper | English |
Number of answer choices | 4 |
Question Type | MCQ and non-MCQ |
Total Sections | 3 |
Mode of Paper | Online Only |
Question Types | MCQs and Non-MCQs (TITA) |
Section Names | 1. Quantitative Aptitude 2. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension 3. Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation |
CAT Exam 2023 syllabus overview is as follows:
CAT Admit Card is an official document issued by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) to candidates who have successfully registered for the Common Admission Test (CAT).
It is mandatory to carry the CAT Admit Card on the day of the exam as it contains important details like the candidate’s name, roll number, exam date, time, and venue.
General tips for planning your cat preparation
Check: CAT Books 2023
There will be 150 test cities where the CAT will be administered.
The CAT website will include the test cities, and the admit card will list the exam centre's name.
IIMs maintain the right, in their sole discretion, to alter any test centre, city, and/or time and day.
Check: CAT Exam Centres 2023
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is an all-India standardised test conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). The CAT is held yearly to shortlist applicants for admission to the IIMs and other top B-schools in India.
The CAT exam consists of three sections: Quantitative Ability (QA), Verbal Ability (VA) and Logical Reasoning (LR). The total duration of the exam is three hours. The exam is conducted in a computer-based format and is divided into two slots.
The Quantitative Ability section tests the candidate's quantitative, problem-solving, and data interpretation skills. The Verbal Ability section tests the candidate's reading comprehension, verbal reasoning and grammar skills. The Logical Reasoning section tests the candidate's ability to identify patterns, draw inferences, and make decisions.
Regarding difficulty, the Quantitative Ability section is considered the toughest section. It tests the candidate's knowledge of basic mathematics, algebra, geometry, arithmetic, statistics, and data interpretation. The Verbal Ability section is considered the easiest and tests the candidate's basic English grammar and vocabulary knowledge. The Logical Reasoning section is considered the second-toughest section and tests the candidate's ability to reason logically and make decisions.
Overall, the CAT exam requires high preparation and practice to ace the test. It is important to understand the concepts covered in the three sections and practice different types of questions to become comfortable with the exam format.
Check: CAT Exam Cut Off 2023
The CAT exam answer key is a set of answers to the questions that appear on the CAT exam.
The answer key is released by the exam conducting body, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM).
The answer key includes the correct answers to the multiple-choice questions on the exam.
Candidates can use the answer key to check their responses and calculate their scores.
Please be aware that IIMs use their own, maybe separate, criteria to shortlist applicants for the interview round. Written Ability Tests (WAT), Group Discussions (GD), and Personal Interviews may all be a part of the process (PI).
An essential factor in the admissions process is performed on the CAT exam.
IIMs may also shortlist and rank applicants at different stages of the admissions process using other criteria such as the applicant's prior academic performance, pertinent job experience, gender and academic diversity, and other comparable inputs.
Between IIMs, there may be differences in the procedures, academic cutoffs, and weights given to the evaluation metrics. Consult the admissions policies of each IIM on their separate websites for more details.
Check: CAT Exam Preparation 2023
According to regulatory regulations, 15% of the seats are set aside for applicants from Scheduled Castes (SC), 7.5% for applicants from Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 27% for applicants from Other Backward Classes who are "Non-Creamy."
Layer (NC-OBC), up to 10% for applicants from economically disadvantaged groups (EWS) and 5% for those with benchmark disabilities (PwD).
According to The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act 2016), "Person with Benchmark Disability" refers to a person who, as certified by the certifying authority, has at least forty per cent (40%) of a specified disability when that disability has not been defined in measurable terms.
This definition also includes people with disabilities where the specified disability has been defined in measurable terms.
"Specified disability" refers to the conditions listed in the RPwD Act 2016's Schedule. The types of disabilities include:
Check: CAT Exam Marks vs Percentile 2023
IIM CAT cut-offs are the minimum scores required to be eligible for admission to the Indian Institute of Management (IIM).
The cut-offs are determined based on the number of available seats, the number of applicants, and the difficulty level of the exam.
The cut-offs are typically higher for the prominent IIMs such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta.
Check the official website for CAT Exam fees and other CAT exam information.
Here is the seat matrix for the management program at each IIM.
IIM campus | PGP/MBA seats |
IIM Ahmedabad | 385 |
IIM Bangalore | 430 |
IIM Calcutta | 210 |
IIM Lucknow | 436 |
IIM Kozhikode | 375 |
IIM Raipur | 210 |
IIM Udaipur | 260 |
IIM Rohtak | 240 |
IIM Visakhapatnam | 60 |
IIM Trichy | 180 |
IIM Sambalpur | 120 |
IIM Ranchi | 240 |
IIM Bodhgaya | 120 |
IIM Sirmaur | 60 |
IIM Jammu | 120 |
IIM Amritsar | 60 |
IIM Shillong | 120 |
IIM Kashipur | 210 |
IIM Nagpur | 130 |
IIM Indore | 451 |
Check: CAT Exam Top Colleges 2023
The outcome of the CAT MBA Program depends on the individual.
If you are willing to put in the hard work and effort, you can expect to gain valuable knowledge, skills, and experiences to help you in your career.
You may better understand the business world and gain the credentials to help you succeed.
Additionally, the program may provide the opportunity to network with potential employers and create a strong professional network.
The CAT exam is important in applying to a top business school in India. Preparing well for the CAT exam and clearly understanding its topics and concepts is important. With the right preparation and focus, a successful CAT exam result can help you achieve your goal of getting into a top business school.
Check: CAT Exam Subjects 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the CAT exam open to international students?
Can I take the CAT exam with an existing degree?
How many times can I take the CAT exam?
Is there any age limit to appear for the CAT exam?
What important topics should I focus on while preparing for the CAT exam?
Quantitative aptitude - Algebra, Arithmetic, Number System, Modern Math, Geometry & Mensuration
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension - Reading Comprehension Passages, Para-Jumbles (VA), Para-Summary (VA), Odd Sentences Out (VA), Fill in the Blanks
CAT Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation - Seating Arrangement, and Data Arrangement, Blood Relations, Syllogisms & Venn Diagrams, Assumption & Binary Logic, Clocks & Calendars, Puzzles, Data Sufficiency, Graphs Related, Tables & Caselets