CAT Date – Check Important Date of CAT 2023 Exam

CAT 2023 Exam registration was started on 2^nd August and the CAT exam 2023 application form's last date is 13th September 2023. The CAT 2023 official notification mentions about every important detail related to CAT Exam 2023, its Registration date, its application process and other specific details.

Therefore, if you are interested you and you have checked that you fulfill the eligibility criteria for CAT 2023, you can fill out the CAT Exam Application form. The deadline for the same is September 13th, 2023. 

In this article, you can Check Important Date of CAT 2023 Exam, CAT Exam syllabus overview, registration criteria and CAT 2023 eligibility criteria.

Read this article to get complete thorough knowledge of CAT exam 2023.

CAT Exam Important Date

Check Important dates of CAT 2023 Exam below:

Event	Date
CAT 2023 Exam Registration Date	2nd of August 2023
CAT Exam 2023 Application form Last Date	13th September 2023
Admit card release date	25th October 2023
CAT Date 2023	26th November 2023
CAT 2023 Result	In January (tentative)

CAT Exam 2023 Application Form Last Date

In order to get admission in Top MBA colleges in India such as IIMs, IITs or other top Management schools in India you will require to take an entrance exam that is accepted by that MBA institute. CAT exam is accepted at all IIMs and at many other top MBA colleges in India also. 

There are some MBA entrance exams also other than CAT that candidates can take to secure admission at one of the top MBA colleges. You can read about the MBA entrance exams other than CAT in this article.

The table below summarizes the important details mentioned in CAT official Notification 2023 related to the CAT exam 2023 application form's last date:

CAT Exam application start date	2nd August 2023
CAT Exam 2023 fees	Rs. 2400/- unreserved CategoryRs. 1200/- reserved Category
Application mode	Online
CAT Exam 2023 application form last date	13th September 2023

CAT Exam 2023 Highlights

The CAT Exam is a National Level entrance exam for admission to MBA programs in India. Over 2 lakhs students take CAT exam every year. They are required to score at least 99 percentile to get admission in IIMs and some other top MBA institutes. 

The exam is computer-based, with negative marking of -1 for each wrong answer. This exam requires you to answer both MCQ and non-MCQ questions. It is divided into three parts, with a total of 66 questions and a time limit of 120 minutes. 

The following table contains the whole details of the CAT exam question paper:

CAT Full form	Common Admission Test
Total no. of Questions	66 questions
Types of Questions	MCQ and Non MCQs – (TITA) Type in the Answer
Marking Scheme for CAT	-1 for each wrong answer in MCQ+3 for each correct answer in MCQ(no negative marking for TITA)
Total sections in paper	3 sections – VARC, DILR, QA
Total Questions in VARC	24
Total Questions in DILR	20
Total Questions in QA	22
Total marks	198 marks
Conducted by	IIM Lucknow
CAT 2023 official website	iimcat.ac.in

What is CAT exam?

The CAT – Common Admission Test is a computer-based test for candidates who are seeking postgraduate management admission to India's top MBA colleges. The CAT test is administered yearly by one of the Indian Institutes of Management.

An MBA from a reputable college can completely transform your job and future. MBA is available in many specializations like MBA in logistics and supply chain management, MBA in Finance, MBA in human resource management etc., you can pursue any specialization and get an ideal job. 

This exam consists of three sections: verbal ability and reading comprehension (VARC), data interpretation and logical reasoning (DILR), and quantitative ability (QA). Each part is given 40 minutes to finish. The online CAT exam is 2 hours long. 

The registration fee for the CAT exam 2023 is Rs. 2400 for unreserved students and Rs. 1200 for reserved students. 

Check the exam pattern of CAT 2023 and an overall analysis of CAT exam over the years. Also read about the syllabus for CAT 2023 below.

CAT 2023 Exam Pattern Overview

See the table below. It gives an overview of the CAT 2023 Exam Pattern 

Total questions in CAT 2023	66
Total sections in paper	3 sections – VARC, DILR, QA
Total time duration	2 hours
Total Questions in VARC (40 minutes)	24 (34%-36% of CAT 2023 score)
Total Questions in DILR (40 minutes)	20 (32%-34% of CAT 2023 score)
Total Questions in QA (40 minutes)	22 (34% of CAT 2023 score)
Total marks	198 marks

Previous year CAT Exam Question Paper – Pattern 

Sections	Total Questions	MCQs	TITA Questions
VARC	24	21	3
DILR	20	14	6
QA	22	14	8
Total	66	49	17

What are the changes made in CAT Exam Pattern over the years?

The CAT Exam pattern hasn't always been same for every year. This exam has seen numerous changes over the years. The number of questions and the length of the exam have been changes from time to time.

In recent years, the CAT exam schedule has changed substantially. The table below depicts the changes of the CAT question paper pattern over time:

CAT exam for the year	Time duration	Total No. of question in CAT Exam
2012	140 minutes	60
2013	140 minutes	60
2014	170 minutes	100
2015	180 minutes	100
2016	180 minutes	100
2017	180 minutes	100
2018	180 minutes	100
2019	180 minutes	100
2020	120 minutes	76
2021	120 minutes	66
2022	120 minutes	66

CAT 2023 Exam Syllabus

There are numerous topics and chapters in the CAT Exam 2023 Syllabus, including Seat arrangements, Pie Charts, bar graphs, data interpretation, para jumble sentences, Reading comprehension, arithmetic, geometry, mensuration, logical reasoning, reading comprehension, and so on.

Remember to earn a high percentile in the CAT Exam, you must have a strong vocabulary, a solid maths foundation, good arithmetic skills, quick calculating techniques and better time management.

Check the table below. It summarizes the CAT 2023 Exam Syllabus.

Section	Questions	Important Topics
VARC (34-36%)	24 (30% VA and 70% RC)	Jumbled Paragraph Questions, Reading Comprehension Questions,Para Summary Questions, Para Completion Questions, Odd-sentence-out Questions
DILR (32-34%)	20 (50% DI and 50% LR)	Logical Sequence, Connectives, MatchingBar Graphs, Line Charts, Venn Diagram, Column GraphSyllogismPie Charts, cubesCalendars and ClocksBlood RelationsNumber and Letter SeriesBinary LogicCaseletsSeating Arrangement etc.
QA (34%)	22 (arithmetic has high weightage)	Number SystemsHCF & LCMProfit, Loss and DiscountCoordinate GeometrySequence and SeriesGeometryMixtures and AlligationsTime & Work Linear EquationsQuadratic Equations etc.

CAT Exam 2023 Eligibility

Check CAT 2023 Eligibility below:

• Bachelor's degree in any stream from a recognized university, 50% of the aggregate score in your UG degree for unreserved category student, 45% for reserved category student
• If you are in the final year of graduation, you can still apply for CAT exam 2023, but keep in mind that you must submit the appropriate documents that are asked related to your academic history within the time allotted by the administration.
• There is no any kind of age limit for the CAT 2023 exam. 

You are eligible to apply for this exam if you meet all of the CAT 2023 eligibility requirements, regardless of your age or the subject of your bachelor's degree.

CAT Exam 2023 Registration Process

The registration process for CAT 2023 is described in detail here. The application deadline for the CAT Exam 2023 is September 13th.

To have a better grasp of the CAT 2023 Registration Process and to prevent making mistakes when filling out the application form, go through the registration process mentioned below.

The official website of the CAT is www.iimcat.ac.in. Registration begins at 10:00 a.m. on August 2, 2023 and will close at 5:00 p.m. on September 13, 2023. 

The registration procedure for CAT 2023 is as follows:

• Step 1: First and foremost, you must register in order to create an individual User ID and Password.
• Step 2: Log in to the portal using the generated User ID and Password.
• Step 3: To complete the registration and application process, submit the application form after filling it out and paying the fees online.

Once payment has been done and the application form has been submitted, applicants will be unable to make modifications. 

After submitting the application form, make sure to print it. 

Make sure you register before the September 13th deadline for the CAT exam 2023 application form. 

Documents required for CAT 2023 Exam Registration 

In order to complete the registration form for CAT 2023 you will require to upload certain documents at the portal. Check the list of documents you may need to fill the CAT exam 2023 application form:

• Class 10^th and 12^th mark sheet
• secondary education and a bachelor's degree.
• Work experience certificate, if any
• passport-size photo (with white backdrop and not 6 months old).
• Scanned signature 
• Debit, Credit cards, Net Banking, or other payment methods are accepted 

Check the following before submitting any of your document:

1. Make sure that both the signature and the passport-sized photo must be scanned. 
2. Also, the files must be in.jpg or.jpeg format and no greater than 80 KB in size. 
3. It is very important to have a clear image with a resolution of at least 150px.

Admission Process at IIMs

Consider the following key elements about the IIM admissions process:

The CAT is the most important factor in IIM admission. Then there are the exam results, academic achievements, and personal interview.

If you perform well in the three crucial factors mentioned above, you will be admitted to an IIM.

The IIM Admissions Process is broken down into three stages. They are as follows:

1. Obtaining CAT exam results is the initial step.
2. The IIMs conduct individual interviews in the second step.
3. The final step is the IIMs WAT & PI 2024 Final Selection Process.

Your final admission offer will be based on how well you perform in each of the three IIM rounds listed above.

Other MBA entrance tests, in addition to the CAT, can be given to get admission to elite MBA programs. These include the XAT, SNAP, ATMA, CMAT, and others. For further information about other admission tests, please see the table below:

What other MBA entrance exams are there?

Additional MBA entrance exams are held around India for MBA students seeking admission to the best MBA colleges. Other entrance tests, in addition to the CAT, are listed below, along with the total number of questions, exam time duration, and official website where you can register.

Entrance Exam	No. of Questions	Time duration	Official Website to register
ATMA	180	180 minutes	atmaaims.com
XAT	102	210 minutes	xatonline.in
IIFT	110	120 minutes	www.iift.ac.in
NMAT by GMAC	108	120 minutes	www.mba.com/en-in/exams/nmat
SNAP	60	60 minutes	www.snaptest.org
GMAT	80	187 minutes	www.mba.com
PGDBA	50	180 minutes	www.pgdba.iitkgp.ac.in
IBSAT	140	120 minutes	ibsindia.org/admissions/
GATE	65	180 minutes	app.gate.iitk.ac.in

How to download CAT 2023 Mock Test?

You should surely take a huge number of mock exams and put in a lot of practice time in order to completely prepare for the CAT exam 2023 and get a high percentile. Mock examinations are the most effective way to prepare for competitive exams.

The CAT Mock papers are based on the most recent CAT test format and are equivalent to the actual exam. Taking practice exams may be the most efficient strategy to prepare for the CAT exam in 2023.

Mock CAT tests are regarded as the most important component of CAT preparation by the majority of top students at IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, and Kozhikode.  They recommend taking a big number of Mock tests and going through your flaws in each one.

Once the CAT mock papers are uploaded, you can download them from the CAT official website.

How to download CAT 2023 Admit Card

According to the CAT 2023 official notification, the CAT 2023 admit cards will be released on 25^th of October 2023. The CAT 2023 admit card is a must-have for the exam day. Candidates who have applied for the CAT 2023 exam can retrieve their admit cards online by logging in. 

Follow these steps to obtain your CAT 2023 admission card:

1. Only students who have enrolled will be able to obtain their CAT 2023 admission card.
2. Candidates can download and print their CAT 2023 admit card by visiting iimcat.ac.in and entering their CAT ID and password.
3. The CAT 2023 admission card will provide information regarding the exam site, date, and time.
4. Before traveling to the exam centre, double-check your admit card.

CAT Exam 2023 Preparation Tips 

How to prepare for CAT exam 2023?

CAT applicants generally begin their preparation as soon as possible. If you're not sure where to start with your CAT 2023 preparation, read the following tips. 

• The CAT exam is divided into three parts, each of which requires a significant amount of hard work and determination to complete the curriculum and practice
• You must practice enough to be able to complete all three sections of the CAT exam in the allocated period of 40 minutes. The whole exam is for 120 minutes
• Remember that simply completing the syllabus is not enough; you must also practice as many mock papers as possible. 
• Toppers from IIM Ahmedabad, Kozhikode, and other top MBA universities have indicated that mock paper practice is essential for CAT preparation. Mock papers might help you identify your inadequacies and weak points so that you can improve. 
• Another advantage of taking practice exams is that you will have enough practice to pass the exam in the allotted time. 

Check out the preparation advice listed below and get started as soon as possible.

• Get an overview of the CAT 2023 Syllabus 
• Select either online or offline coaching based on your convenience 
• Focus on clearing concepts from basics, do not try to skip topics
• Do not skip any single topic from the CAT 2023 syllabus 
• You can also prepare notes for quick revision
• Learn Time management
• Mock papers and practice papers are must
• Be focused and try to stay away from distractions.

Top MBA Colleges in India Accepting CAT Score?

S. No.	MBA Colleges in India Accepting CAT score	Location
1	IIM Ahmedabad	Gujarat
2	IIM Bangalore	Karnataka
3	IIM Kozhikode	Kerala
4	IIM Calcutta	West Bengal
5	Indian Institute of Technology Delhi	Delhi
6	IIM Lucknow	Uttar Pradesh
7	National Institute of Industrial Engineering	Maharashtra
8	IIM Indore	Madhya Pradesh
9	XLRI-Xavier School of Management	Jharkhand
10	Indian Institute of Technology Bombay	Maharashtra
11	IIM Raipur	Chhattisgarh
12	IIM Rohtak	Haryana
13	Management Development Institute	Haryana
14	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	West Bengal
15	Indian Institute of Technology Madras	Tamil Nadu
16	IIM Udaipur	Rajasthan
17	Symbiosis Institute of Business Management	Maharashtra
18	Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee	Uttarakhand
19	IIM Kashipur	Uttarakhand
20	S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research	Maharashtra

Top MBA Colleges In India Without CAT

Admission to the Top MBA colleges in India is dependent on CAT score. However, some of India's top MBA colleges accept admission without a CAT score. These institutes provide MBA admission using other MBA entrance examinations such as XAT, SNAP, GMAT, and so on.

See the table below for a list of the best MBA Colleges in India that do not require the CAT:

MBA Colleges without CAT	Location
XLRI – Xavier School of Management	Jamshedpur
Great Lakes Institute of Management	Chennai
Symbiosis Institute of Business Management	Pune
S. P. Jain Institute of Management & Research	Mumbai
ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education	Hyderabad
Chandigarh University	Mohali
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham	Coimbatore
SVKM`s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies	Mumbai
Jamia Millia Islamia	New Delhi
Mudra Institute of Communications	Ahmedabad
Institute of Management Technology	Ghaziabad
University of Petroleum and Energy Studies	Dehradun
T. A. Pai Management Institute	Manipal
Xavier Institute of Management	Bhubaneshwar
Anna University	Chennai
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology	Bhubaneswar
Lovely Professional University	Phagwara
International Management Institute	Delhi

Frequently Asked Questions about CAT Date - Check Important Date of CAT 2023 Exam

Q. How to download CAT 2023 official notification?

Ans. Steps to Download CAT 2023 notification pdf

It is critical to carefully read the official notification issued in relation to the CAT exam 2023. If you want to download the CAT official notification 2023, follow the instructions outlined below:

1. To download the CAT 2023 notification, go to the CAT official website iimcat.ac.in and click on the PDF link for the CAT Information Bulletin. 
2. You can also get additional PDFs of the CAT Eligibility requirements, the IIM Selection Process, and other key information from the CAT official website. 
3. You can also receive all of the relevant credentials for completing the CAT Exam 2023 application form on iimcat.ac.in, such as scribe affidavits, cast certificates, and disability certificates.

Q. Are calculators and hand watches allowed at CAT exam centers?

Ans. No, calculators and personal watches are not allowed at CAT exam centers. Some important points to keep in mind related to CAT exam center:

• You will get to use an on-screen calculator in the CAT exam room, your personal calculator will not be permitted.
• A digital clock will be displayed on the screen for your computer. In the examination room, your personal watches are not allowed.
• You will be given extra sheets for rough work, which you must submit in the exam room at the end of the exam.

Q. Can I get admission at top MBA colleges without CAT?

Ans. Yes, you can get admission at top MBA colleges in India without taking CAT.

Admission to the Top MBA colleges in India is dependent on CAT score. But, some of India's top MBA colleges accept admission without a CAT score. These institutes provide MBA admission using other MBA entrance examinations such as XAT, SNAP, GMAT, and so on.

See the table below for a list of the best MBA Colleges in India that do not require the CAT:

MBA Colleges without CAT	Location
XLRI – Xavier School of Management	Jamshedpur
Great Lakes Institute of Management	Chennai
Symbiosis Institute of Business Management	Pune
S. P. Jain Institute of Management & Research	Mumbai
ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education	Hyderabad
Chandigarh University	Mohali
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham	Coimbatore
SVKM`s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies	Mumbai
Jamia Millia Islamia	New Delhi
Mudra Institute of Communications	Ahmedabad
Institute of Management Technology	Ghaziabad
University of Petroleum and Energy Studies	Dehradun
T. A. Pai Management Institute	Manipal
Xavier Institute of Management	Bhubaneshwar
Anna University	Chennai
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology	Bhubaneswar
Lovely Professional University	Phagwara
International Management Institute	Delhi

Q. When is the last date for CAT exam 2023 registration?

Ans. The last date for CAT Exam application is 13th September 2023.

Q. What are the documents required for CAT 2023 Application form?

Ans. In order to complete the registration form for CAT 2023 you will be required to upload certain documents at the portal. Check the list of documents you may need to fill the CAT exam 2023 application form:

• Class 10^th and 12^th mark sheet
• secondary education and a bachelor's degree.
• Work experience certificate, if any
• passport-size photo (with a white backdrop and not 6 months old).
• Scanned signature 
• Debit, Credit cards, Net Banking, or other payment methods are accepted

Check the following before submitting any of your document

1. Make sure that both the signature and the passport-sized photo must be scanned. 
2. Also, the files must be in.jpg or.jpeg format and no greater than 80 KB in size. 
3. It is very important to have a clear image with a resolution of at least 150px.

Q. How to check CAT 2023 Important dates?

Ans. The CAT 2023 official notification is now available on the CAT website. You may find the CAT significant dates on the CAT official website, or you can find the CAT 2023 essential dates in the table below:

CAT 2023 Events	Date
CAT Exam 2023 Registration start date	2nd of August 2023
CAT form Last date 2023	13th September 2023
Admit card release date	25th October 2023
CAT 2023 Exam date	26th November 2023
CAT 2023 Result	In January (tentative)

Q. What is the admission process at IIM 2023?

Ans. Consider the following key elements about the IIM admissions process:

The CAT is the most important factor in IIM admission. Then there are the exam results, academic achievements, and personal interview.

If you perform well in the three crucial factors mentioned above, you will be admitted to an IIM.

The IIM Admissions Process is broken down into three stages. They are as follows:

1. Obtaining CAT exam results is the initial step.
2. The IIMs conduct individual interviews in the second step.
3. The final step is the IIMs WAT & PI 2024 Final Selection Process.

Your final admission offer will be based on how well you perform in each of the three IIM rounds listed above.

Other MBA entrance tests, in addition to the CAT, can be given to get admission to elite MBA programs. These include the XAT, SNAP, ATMA, CMAT, and others. For further information about other admission tests, please see the table below.

Q. What is the CAT 2023 exam pattern?

Ans. See the table below to understand the CAT 2023 Exam Pattern 

Total questions in CAT 2023	66
Total sections in paper	3 sections – VARC, DILR, QA
Total time duration	2 hours
Total Questions in VARC (40 minutes)	24 (34%-36% of CAT 2023 score)
Total Questions in DILR (40 minutes)	20 (32%-34% of CAT 2023 score)
Total Questions in QA (40 minutes)	22 (34% of CAT 2023 score)
Total marks	198 marks

Q. What are topics in QA in CAT 2023?

Ans. The quant is one of the toughest section in CAT exam. You need to practice very hard for this section. Some of the topics of Quant section are listed below:

• Number Systems
• HCF & LCM
• Profit, Loss and Discount
• Coordinate Geometry
• Sequence and Series
• Geometry
• Mixtures and Alligations
• Time & Work 
• Linear Equations
• Quadratic Equations etc.

Q. What are the topics in VARC in CAT 2023?

Ans. VARC syllabus is listed below:

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

Q. What are the topics in DILR in CAT 2023?

Ans. DILR syllabus is mentioned below:

• 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 etc.

Q. What is the best strategy to prepare for CAT exam 2023? 

Ans. Best strategy for preparing for CAT exam 2023 is to practice more and more mock papers. You should surely take a huge number of mock exams and put in a lot of practice time in order to completely prepare for the CAT exam 2023 and get a high percentile. Mock examinations are the most effective way to prepare for competitive exams.

Once the CAT mock papers are uploaded, you can download them from the CAT official website.

• The CAT exam is divided into three parts, each of which requires a significant amount of hard work and determination to complete the curriculum and practice
• You must practice enough to be able to complete all three sections of the CAT exam in the allocated period of 40 minutes. The whole exam is for 120 minutes
• Remember that simply completing the syllabus is not enough; you must also practice as many mock papers as possible. 
• Toppers from IIM Ahmedabad, Kozhikode, and other top MBA universities have indicated that mock paper practice is essential for CAT preparation. Mock papers might help you identify your inadequacies and weak points so that you can improve. 
• Another advantage of taking practice exams is that you will have enough practice to pass the exam in the allotted time. 
• The CAT Mock papers are based on the most recent CAT test format and are equivalent to the actual exam. Taking practice exams may be the most efficient strategy to prepare for the CAT exam in 2023.
• Mock CAT tests are regarded as the most important component of CAT preparation by the majority of top students at IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, and Kozhikode.  They recommend taking a big number of Mock tests and going through your flaws in each one.

Q. What are the Top MBA Colleges in India Accepting CAT?

Ans. Top MBA Colleges in India Accepting CAT are:

S. No.	MBA Colleges in India Accepting CAT	Location
1	IIM Ahmedabad	Gujarat
2	IIM Bangalore	Karnataka
3	IIM Kozhikode	Kerala
4	IIM Calcutta	West Bengal
5	Indian Institute of Technology Delhi	Delhi
6	IIM Lucknow	Uttar Pradesh
7	National Institute of Industrial Engineering	Maharashtra
8	IIM Indore	Madhya Pradesh
9	XLRI-Xavier School of Management	Jharkhand
10	Indian Institute of Technology Bombay	Maharashtra

Q. What was the pattern of previous year CAT question paper?

Ans. Previous year CAT Exam question paper pattern is shown in the table below:

Sections	Total Questions	MCQs	TITA Questions
VARC	24	21	3
DILR	20	14	6
QA	22	14	8
Total	66	49	17

Q. How can I download the CAT 2023 Admit Card?

Ans. According to the CAT 2023 official notification, the CAT 2023 admit cards will be released on 25^th of October 2023. The CAT 2023 admit card is a must-have for the exam day. Candidates who have applied for the CAT 2023 exam can retrieve their admit cards online by logging in. 

Follow these steps to obtain your CAT 2023 admission card:

1. Only students who have enrolled will be able to obtain their CAT 2023 admission card.
2. Candidates can download and print their CAT 2023 admit card by visiting iimcat.ac.in and entering their CAT ID and password.
3. The CAT 2023 admission card will provide information regarding the exam site, date, and time.
4. Before traveling to the exam centre, double-check your admit card.