CAT Registration 2023: Application Form, Deadline, Fees, Process, Documents

CAT 2023 will be held tentatively on November 26th, 2023. It is India's most popular admission test for MBA/PGDM programs.

Registration for CAT 2023 will commence on August 2 (10 a.m.). Candidates must visit the official IIM CAT website- iimcat.ac.in- to establish a user id and password, fill out the CAT registration form, and pay the CAT registration costs. The deadline for CAT 2023 registration is September 13 (5 PM). Read the article to learn about CAT Registration dates, procedures, costs, needed paperwork, and more.

IIM Lucknow has issued the CAT 2023 announcement, which includes the exam date, registration deadline, and other details. Students having a Bachelor's degree from a recognized university and a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD students) may apply for the CAT 2023 test. Examine the CAT 2023 Eligibility Criteria.

CAT Registration 2023 Last Date

The deadline for CAT Registration 2023 is September 13, 2023 (5 PM). IIM establishes the CAT registration deadline at the start of the application process. Occasionally, the test administering IIM may extend the CAT registration deadline to satisfy certain needs.

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a highly competitive and popular entrance test for admission to management programs at Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). It is a computer-based assessment of a candidate's aptitude and abilities in areas such as Quantitative Ability (QA), Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR). Apart from the IIMs, CAT scores are accepted for admission to many other famous management colleges and business schools in India.

The competition for the CAT is quite fierce, and applicants must properly prepare to succeed in the test. The CAT curriculum includes a wide variety of subjects, requiring constant and concentrated study over many months. This committed effort enables applicants to not only gain the essential information but also to build the abilities needed to face the test with confidence and obtain outstanding results.

CAT 2023 Introduction

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a well-known national admission exam held in India. It acts as a springboard to famous institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top-tier management schools. This difficult test, held annually by one of the IIMs, is critical in identifying people with remarkable potential for future leadership positions in business.

The national-level exam is held in over 156 places around the country. It is used by 20 IIMs and a number of other notable institutions, like S.P. Jain, FMS, MDI, and others, to assess the eligibility of potential MBA applicants. This thorough test provides a realistic evaluation of applicants' aptitude for pursuing MBA study.

CAT 2023 Notification

The notification for CAT 2023 registration, one of the highly anticipated exams, will be released in August. Make sure to stay updated and informed about the latest exam notifications, important dates, and other essential information by regularly visiting the official website. Keeping yourself well-informed will greatly contribute to your preparation for this prestigious exam.

Here are some of the tentative dates for CAT 2023.

Exam Dates

Events	Dates
Notification Release Date of CAT Exam 2023	4th week of July 2023
Registration of CAT 2023	1st week of August 2023
Last date to fill out the Online Application form	2nd week of September 2023
Last date to submit the fees for the Application Form	2nd week of September 2023
Beginning of Application Correction for CAT 2023	3rd week of September 2023
Admit Card availability for CAT 2023	4th week of October 2023
Date Of Examination of CAT 2023	4th week of November 2023
Answer Key Release Date	1st week of December 2023
Last date to submit an objection	2nd week of December 2023
CAT 2023 Announcement of Results	1st week of January 2024

Exam Pattern 2023: Key Changes & Revised Structure

Since 2015, the CAT test has maintained a consistent pattern, with the exception of the previous three years, which may be repeated in 2023 in terms of time length, number of questions, and sections, as follows:

• 120 Minutes Exam: The CAT is a two-hour computer-based examination, however, it is not an online exam.
• 66 Questions: This year's test, like previous years, will consist of 66 questions split into three sections: VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Ability. Previously, there were 100 questions split into three portions.

•  There will be at least 18 questions with no negative marking out of a total of 66. The test is split between MCQ and Non-MCQ questions, with Non-MCQs carrying no negative marking. If any non-MCQ gets a negative marking, a few MCQs are modified to have no negative marking.
• 48-50 Questions with Negative Marking: More than 48 questions of the CAT are of the MCQ kind, with a negative marking penalty of 1/3.
• Cut-off Requirement by IIMs: IIMs seek a minimum qualifying score in the CAT test between 70 and 90 percentile in each of the three parts to select applicants for the final admission stage.
• IIM Shortlisting Criteria: Aside from a high score in each of the three portions of the test, you are a favored candidate for admission into IIMs if you have an excellent academic profile with diversity and job experience

CAT Exam 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 

Exam components	MCQs (With negative marking)	Non-MCQs  (TITA Qs Without negative marking)	Total Questions
Section-1: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)(Time limit: 40 Minutes)	21	3	24
Section-2: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)(Time Limit: 40 Minutes)	16	4	20
Section-3: Quantitative Ability (QA)(Time Limit: 40 Minutes)	14	8	22
Total (Overall) (Time limit: 120 Minutes)	41	15	66

Source: Based on CAT 2022 Pattern

CAT Exam Syllabus: Overall and Section-wise syllabus

Although the exam syllabus is not pre-defined by IIMs, it examines the applicant on Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation, and Logical Reasoning. The CAT test curriculum has evolved significantly during the previous five years. The following are significant changes in Syllabus 2023:

• The syllabus has been altered and now includes a variety of questions, including MCQs and non-MCQs.
• There are no penalty questions for 25-30% of the questions currently.

• The majority of syllabus modifications have occurred in the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Sections since the proportion of Reading Comprehension-based questions has risen in comparison to Verbal Ability questions.
• A few adjustments to the curriculum have been made in the Quantitative Ability part, with a greater emphasis on Arithmetic problems.

CAT Syllabus Section-Wise

Sectional Division	Overview of Topics in the Syllabus 2023	Weightage in exam
Quantitative Ability (QA)	Arithmetic, Modern Math, Number SystemAlgebra, Mensuration, Trigonometry, Geometry	36%
Data Interpretation& Logical Reasoning (DILR)	Data Charts, Data Tables, Bar Graphs, Venn Diagrams, Seating arrangement, Team formation, Clocks & Calendars	30%
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)	Long & Short PassagesJumbled Paragraphs; Para-summaryPicking the Out of context sentence from a jumbled paragraph	34%

 CAT 2023 Registration & Application Form Filling Process

1. The Registration Date will become available upon the issuance of the CAT notice.
2. The registration procedure is completed online.
3. Only on the official CAT website can you fill out the Registration Form online.

4. For general candidates, the CAT registration fee is Rs.2400/-. The test cost should only be paid online.
5. The Registration Form 2023 will be available in the first week of August, after the issuance of the Notification.

Top Colleges Accepting CAT with Cut-off Percentile

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

Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)

Top IIMs	CAT Cut off percentile (Minimum criteria)
IIM Ahmedabad	80
IIM Bangalore	85
IIM Calcutta	85
IIM Lucknow	90
IIM Indore	90
IIM Kozhikode	90
IIM Tiruchirappalli	95
IIM Shillong	90
IIM Udaipur	95
IIM Rohtak	95

Top MBA Colleges in Non-IIM Category

Following are the expected CAT cut off for top MBA colleges in India

Top B Schools	Expected CAT 2023 Cut Off Percentile
Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) New Delhi	97
Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon	94
SPJIMR Mumbai	85
International Management Institute (IMI) New Delhi	90
Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Ghaziabad	90
K J Somaiya Institute of Management Mumbai	85
T. A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal	85
FORE School of Management (FSM) New Delhi	85+
Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management (LBSIM) New Delhi	85
Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM) Chennai	80

MBA Programmes Offered by IIMs

Apart from being the most significant entrance exam for the two-year full-time postgraduate management program (MBA/PGDM), CAT is also the entry point for one-year MBA programs at IIMs and other prestigious management schools. The following are the many management programs at IIMs that are up for admission in 2024 through the Common Admission Test 2023.

Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	MBA Programmes Open for Admission 2024 through CAT 2023
IIM Ahmedabad	PGP, PGP-FABM
IIM Amritsar	MBA, EMBA, MBA-Business Analytics, MBA-HRM
IIM Bangalore	PGP, PGPEM, PGPBA
IIM Bodh Gaya	PGP
IIM Calcutta	MBA
IIM Indore	PGP, PGP-HRM
IIM Jammu	MBA
IIM Kashipur	MBA, MBA (Analytics), EMBA
IIM Kozhikode	PGP, PGP-BL, PGP-F, PGP-LSM, EPGP (At Kochi campus)
IIM Lucknow	PGP, PGP-ABM, PGP-SM
IIM Nagpur	PGP
IIM Raipur	PGP
IIM Ranchi	PGP, PGP-HRM, PGP (Business Analytics)
IIM Rohtak	PGP, EPGPX, EPGDSM
IIM Sambalpur	MBA, Executive MBA
IIM Shillong	PGP, PGPEX, PGPWE
IIM Sirmaur	MBA, MBA (T&HM)
IIM Tiruchirappalli	PGP, PGPM-HR, PGPBM
IIM Udaipur	MBA, MBA-DEM, MBA-GSCM, PGDBAWE
IIM Visakhapatnam	PGP, PGPEX, PGPDGM

Frequently Asked Questions about CAT Registration 2023

Q. When is the CAT 2023 exam?

Ans. According to statistics, the projected CAT 2023 test date is November 26, 2023, since this exam is often held on the final Sunday of November.

Q. When should I submit my application for the CAT 2023?

Ans. After the registration period has begun, you may apply for the CAT 2023. Candidates should anticipate notice and registration to be completed by the end of July 2023 and the beginning of August 2023, respectively.

Q. When is the CAT 2023 registration deadline?

Ans. The IIM CAT authorities have yet to announce the CAT 2023 registration date. According to current patterns, registration will most likely begin in the first week of August 2023.

Q. Can I prepare for the CAT Exam 2023 in six months?

Ans. Candidates with great commitment may prepare for the CAT Exam 2023 in 6 months. Invest 7-8 hours every day in studying, taking practice exams, and solving previous years' exam question papers to pass the CAT 2023 in 6 months.

Q. Which IIM will announce the CAT test date in 2023?

Ans. The IIM hosting the CAT 2023 has not yet been announced. IIM Bangalore hosted the CAT in three sessions on November 27, 2022.