IIM CAT Exam 2023

The CAT exam is for getting admission to MBA colleges in India. IIM Lucknow will conduct the CAT Exam this year.  IIM CAT Exam 2023 registration started on 2^nd August and it will close on 13^th September. 

IIM CAT Exam 2023 will be held on 26^th November 2023. Candidates can expect the result by January 2024.

This article will assist you regarding the information of IIM CAT Exam 2023, its syllabus, its eligibility criteria, registration process, and instructions, topic-wise weightage of three sections – VARC, DILR, QA in the CAT Exam syllabus for MBA, and preparation tips to complete each of the three sections in IIM CAT Exam 2023.

The Common Admission Test (CAT), India's most esteemed national-level admission test, allows candidates to enter top business colleges. The IIMs (Indian Institute of Management) alternately administer this Common Admission Test.

The date of IIM CAT Exam 2023 is November 26, 2023. In 156 Indian cities, a computer-based exam is administered. As soon as feasible, prospective B-school students should begin using it to prepare for the CAT.

IIM CAT Exam 2023 Highlights

Exam	CAT Exam 2023
Conducted by	IIM Lucknow
Exam Centres	Exam in 156 cities in India
CAT 2023 Application	Online
Application fees for CAT 2023	2400
Mode of Exam	Computer-Based Test - CBT
Medium	English
Total no. of Questions	66
Types of Questions	MCQ and Type in the Answer-TITA
Marking Scheme	-1 for each wrong answer in MCQ+3 for each correct answer in MCQ(No negative marking for TITA)
No. of sections in paper	3 sections: -Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension,Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability
Total time duration	3 sections: -Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability
Total marks	198 marks

The Benefit of IIM CAT Exam 2023

In India, candidates applying to postgraduate management programs like the MBA take the CAT (Common Admission Test) exam. Following are the benefits of sitting for the IIM CAT Exam 2023

• A candidate's verbal, logical, mathematical, and data interpretation skills are assessed by the CAT test.
• CAT exam results are heavily weighed by business schools and management institutes when selecting candidates for their management programs.
• It serves as a starting point for candidates seeking employment in business and administration.
• The test is administered by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
• The CAT Exam provides access to the esteemed Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other premier management schools in India.
• Obtaining CAT clearance can significantly increase career prospects and pave the way for lucrative employment options in a variety of industries.
• As a result of CAT preparation, vital skills including critical thinking, problem-solving, time management, and decision-making are acquired.
• By enrolling in top management colleges through CAT, one has the chance to network with like-minded individuals and business professionals.
• The rigorous curriculum and exposure to top management programs promote business acumen, leadership skills, and the aptitude for strategic thought.

IIM CAT Exam 2023 Important Dates

The table below mentions the IIM CAT Exam 2023 Important Dates

IIM CAT Exam 2023 related events	Date
CAT Exam Registration date	2nd August – 13th September 2023
CAT Exam 2023 Date	26 November 2023
Admit Card release date	25th October
Result	January
Application fee	Rs. 2400/-
Official Website	iimcat.ac.in

Top MBA Colleges in India

A list of Top MBA colleges in India is given below

S.No.	Top MBA Colleges in India
1.	Indian Institute of Management - IIM Bangalore
2.	Indian Institute of Management - IIM Calcutta
3.	Indian Institute of Management - IIM Ahmedabad
4.	SP Jain Institute of Management and Research
5.	Indian Institute of Management - IIM Kozhikode
6.	Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur
7.	Indian Institute of Management - IIM Lucknow
8.	Indian Institute of Management - IIM Indore
9.	FMS New Delhi
10.	Management Development Institute, Gurgaon

IIM CAT Exam 2023 Eligibility

IIM CAT Exam 2023 eligibility is mentioned below. Check if you fulfill the IIM CAT exam 2023 eligibility criteria:

• The candidates must have a graduation degree from a recognized university in any stream (commerce/science/arts) with a minimum of 50% (45% for the candidates from the reserved category).
• Candidates in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply for the IIM CAT exam 2023, but they must provide the required documents of their academic background within the allotted time by the administration.
• In IIM CAT Exam, there is no maximum age limit for applying. 

You can apply for this exam if you meet the educational eligibility criteria mentioned above.

IIM CAT Exam 2023 Registration Process

Below are the Steps for Registration for the IIM CAT Exam 2023:

Registration for IIM CAT Exam 2023 will be open between 10:00 am on August 2, 2023, and 5:00 pm on September 13, 2023. You can register for this exam at the official website of CAT, www.iimcat.ac.in. 

Registration Process for IIM CAT Exam 2023:

Step 1: Create your individual User ID and set a Password by registering.

Step 2: Complete the application form by signing in using the User ID and Password.

Step 3: After you have filled out the application form for CAT, pay the application fees (Rs. 2400) online. There are no separate registration fees for other IIMs

Step 4: Submit the form and finish the registration and application process for IIM CAT Exam 2023.

Important Instructions regarding IIM CAT Exam 2023 Registration.

• You cannot make any changes after the payment and submission of the application form. So be careful while you are filling out the form.
• You should print the application form once it has been submitted.
• Make sure to register yourself before the CAT Registration last date arrives i.e. 13^th September. 
• Note: you should visit the official website and check the documents required to submit for CAT 2023 registration.

IIM Admission Process 2023

After CAT notification, IIMs announce their respective admission procedures. Your performance in three key areas will determine whether you are admitted to an IIM: your exam results, your academic standing, and your performance in the personal interview phase. There are three stages that the IIM Admission Process must go through. They are as follows:

Step 1: CAT exam performance

Step 2: Personal interview round

Step 3: WAT & PI Round of IIMs Final Selection Process 2024

Your performance in each of the three stages of the IIMs selection process will determine the final admission offer you get.

IIM CAT Exam 2023 Pattern: Changes over the years

CAT Exam 2022 was of moderate level with 66 questions in total, similarly, the no. of questions for IIM CAT Exam 2021 was 66 with a time duration of 120 minutes, whereas for the year 2020, the no. of questions was 76 with a time duration of 120 minutes.

The table below shows the IIM CAT Exam pattern for various years:

CAT exam for the year	No. of Questions and Time allotted
2018	100 questions in 180 minutes
2019	100 questions in 180 minutes
2020	76 questions in 120 minutes
2021	66 questions in 120 minutes
2022	66 questions in 120 minutes
2023	66 questions to be attempted in 120 minutes

IIM CAT Exam 2023 Syllabus

IIM CAT Exam 2023 Syllabus has so many topics and chapters. You need a strong vocabulary along with good calculation skills and time management to get a high CAT Exam Score

The table below gives an overview of the IIM CAT Exam 2023 Syllabus for MBA.

Section	Weightage	Questions (40 minutes for each section)
VARC	34-36%	24
DILR	32-34%	20
QA	34%	22

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Syllabus in CAT exam 2023

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension in IIM CAT Exam 2023 consists of two parts – Verbal ability, VA and Reading comprehension, RC. 

The total weightage for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension in CAT 2023 is 32-34%.

Topics under VARC in CAT exam 2023

• Jumbled Paragraph Questions
• Reading Comprehension Questions
• Para Summary Questions
• Para Completion Questions
• Odd-sentence-out Questions

Verbal ability - Jumbled Paragraphs, Para-summary, Picking the Odd sentence out from a jumbled paragraph. This part is for 30% marks of the VARC section.

Reading Comprehension –Long & Short RC Passages, A good vocabulary is needed to deal with such questions. This part holds the highest weightage of 70% marks in this section.

Candidates get 40 minutes for this section.

Preparation Tips for VARC in CAT 2023

How to prepare for VARC in CAT Exam 2023, following are the tips of preparation of VARC

• VARC being an important part of the CAT exam 2023, comprises 32-34% weightage in CAT exam 2023. You need to focus and practice a lot for this section.
• Start the preparation as early as possible, go through the syllabus of VARC, and make a schedule to cover it.
• Strengthen your vocabulary and grammar base
• RC has 70% weightage in VARC, so your preparation for this section should not lack in any way.
• Make sure you have to practice enough to complete the VARC section of the paper in 40 minutes because this is the limited time that will be allotted for this section in the exam. 
• Utilizing more of your time in this section may be disadvantageous to you.
• The perfect method to prepare for VARC is to solve mock/sample papers and a variety of questions about VARC.
• The questions are a bit tricky, you need a good vocabulary and knowledge of certain current affairs and international issues. 
• you will get some of the paragraphs based on prominent personalities, make sure you carefully read the RC passages before answering.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Syllabus in CAT Exam 2023

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section is divided into two parts – Data Interpretation, DI and Logical Reasoning, LR.

Topics under DILR in CAT exam 2023:

• Logical Sequence, Connectives, Matching
• Bar Graphs, Line Charts, Venn Diagram, Column Graph
• Syllogism
• Pie Charts, cubes
• Calendars and Clocks
• Blood Relations
• Number and Letter Series
• Binary Logic
• Caselets
• Seating Arrangement

Data Interpretation –Charts, Data Tables, Bar Graphs, Vein Diagrams. 

DI part accounts for 50% marks of overall DILR/LIDR Section.

Logical Reasoning –This part comprises 50% of the total DILR marks. You need to practice questions regarding Seating Arrangement, Team Formation, Blood Relation, Clocks, Time and Calendars, Direction questions, Family related questions.

40 minutes will be your time to complete the DILR section in IIM CAT Exam 2023.

Preparation Tips for DILR in CAT 2023

• If you want to start the preparation of DILR for IIM CAT Exam 2023, then keep the following preparation tips in mind that will help you in your preparation for DILR in CAT 2023.
• DILR section of the paper is related to bar graphs, vein diagram Tables, Charts, and Series.
• Strengthen your calculation skills, and time management for solving the question of DILR in CAT 2023.
• DI and LR - These 2 parts of this section are of the same weightage i.e. 50-50%. This whole section comprises 32% of the total CAT score so your preparation for this section also should not lack in any way.
• To make your mathematics base strong, you should carefully memorize the multiplication tables, roots, and cubes.
• Practicing sample papers will add to your efficiency. It’s the only way to complete your IIM CAT Exam 2023 preparation.
• Practice as many questions as possible related to vein diagrams, caselets, syllogism, etc. take help from online videos and coaching centers. 
• Select a good book for preparing DILR section.
• Keep in mind that you will have only 40 minutes for this section in your CAT exam 2023.

Quantitative Ability Syllabus for CAT Exam 2023

QA covers all the basic maths questions like arithmetic, mensuration, Algebra, geometry, etc. 

Weightage of QA in IIM CAT exam 2023 is around 34%.

Topics under QA in CAT exam 2023

• Number Systems
• HCF & LCM
• Profit, Loss, and Discount
• Coordinate Geometry
• Sequence and Series
• Geometry
• Mixtures and Allegations
• Time & Work 
• Linear Equations
• Quadratic Equations
• Percentages
• Simple and Compound Interest
• Inequalities
• Surds & Indices
• Probability
• Permutation and Combination
• Set Theory & Function
• Ratio & Proportion
• Complex Numbers
• Logarithm
• Speed, Time & Distance
• Averages
• Mensuration
• Trigonometry

Remember to prepare your best to complete this section in 40 minutes.

Preparation Tips for QA in CAT 2023

• QA has 34% of the total CAT 2023 score, and this section also gets only 40 minutes to solve.
• This section is to check your conceptual clarity. And you need good practice to complete this section within the time limit.
• After completing all the topics in this section, go for the mock papers and sample papers to check your practice.
• Practicing is the only key to achieving good marks in IIM CAT Exam 2023.

CAT Exam 2023 and Important Points

CAT Exam 2023 which will be held on 26^th November 2023 will be conducted in 156 cities in three shifts

1. Morning shift 
2. Afternoon shift 
3. Evening shift 

• An on-screen calculator will be provided,
• There will be a digital clock on the screen for the time.
• Loose sheets for doing rough work will be provided and the sheets need to be submitted in the exam hall at the end of the exam.
• You can get the Practice set for IIM CAT Exam 2023 from the official website of CAT (iimcat.ac.in). 

IIM CAT exam 2023 Preparation Tips

• Overview of the Syllabus before starting your preparation
• Learn better time management 
• Choose good books for your preparation
• Online or Offline Coaching classes can be very helpful
• Practicing mock Tests and sample papers adds to your confidence and helps you find your weak points
• Clear all concepts and leave no doubt unsolved
• Make revision notes and try to avoid distractions as much as you can

Frequently Asked Questions about IIM CAT Exam 2023

Q. Is CAT exam a National Level Exam?

Ans. Yes, the Common Admission Test (CAT) is India's most esteemed national-level admission test, it allows candidates to enter top business colleges. The IIMs (Indian Institute of Management) alternately conducts this Common Admission Test.

Q. What is the benefit of CAT Exam?

Ans. Following are the benefits of sitting for IIM CAT Exam 2023

• A candidate's verbal, logical, mathematical, and data interpretation skills are assessed by the CAT test.
• CAT exam results are heavily weighed by business schools and management institutes when selecting candidates for their management programs.
• It serves as a starting point for candidates seeking employment in business and administration.
• The test is administered by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
• The CAT Exam provides access to the esteemed Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other premier management schools in India.

Q. How can I register for CAT Exam 2023?

Ans. Registration Process for IIM CAT Exam 2023:

Step 1: Create your individual User ID and set a Password by registering.

Step 2: Complete the application form by signing in using the User ID and Password.

Step 3: After you have filled out the application form for CAT, pay the application fees (Rs. 2400) online. There are no separate registration fees for other IIMs

Step 4: Submit the form and finish the registration and application process for IIM CAT Exam 2023.

Important Instructions regarding IIM CAT Exam 2023 Registration.

• You cannot make any changes after the payment and submission of the application form. So be careful while you are filling the form.
• You should print the application form once it has been submitted.
• Make sure to register yourself before the CAT Registration last date arrives i.e. 13^th September. 
• Note: you should visit the official website iimcat.ac.in and check the documents required to submit for CAT 2023 registration.

Q. What is the last date of CAT 2023 Registration?

Ans. IIM CAT Exam 2023 registration started on 2^nd August and it will close on 13^th September. 

Q. What is the admission process for IIM 2023?

Ans. There are three stages that the IIM Admission Process must go through. They are as follows:

Step 1: CAT exam performance

Step 2: Personal Interview Round

Step 3: WAT & PI Round of IIMs Final Selection Process 2024

Your performance in each of the three stages of the IIMs selection process will determine the final admission offer you get.

Q. What is the CAT exam Syllabus?

Ans. CAT Exam syllabus:

• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension - VARC; 
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning - DILR and 
• Quantitative Ability – QA

Q. What is the marking scheme of CAT Exam 2023?

Ans. For each wrong answer, you will get  -1 and for each right answer you will get +3 marks in MCQs and there will be no negative marking for Non-MCQ questions that are the TITA (type in the Answer) questions.