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MBA CAT Exam 2023

The CAT exam is a computer-based test that is given by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in India. It is offered to MBA students who have completed their course in any of the IITs, IIMs and other higher education institutes across India.

 Saurav Anand 31/08/2022
MBA CAT Exam 2023

The CAT exam is a computer-based test that is given by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in India. It is offered to MBA students who have completed their course in any of the IITs, IIMs, and other higher education institutes across India. The exam consists of two papers: Objective Type and Subject Type. The objective type paper has 120 questions while the subject type paper has 120 questions. Each question carries four marks (one mark for each correct answer).

The CAT exam was first introduced in 1973 by IIM Calcutta and has since been administered at various times by different IIMs. The CAT Exam is conducted every year in July or August depending on the academic calendar of your institute.

The CAT 2023 exam will most likely be held on November 26. The exam will be held in three sessions across India, in approximately 156 cities. The dates for the CAT 2023 exam will be announced in July 2023, and registration will begin in August 2023.

Candidates who want to pursue an MBA from a top-tier B-School in India must take the CAT because approximately 1,200 MBA colleges accept the scores for admission to their PG management programs. The IIMs, MDI, SPJIMR, IMT, FMS, IM, IITs, GIM, GLIM, LIBA, NITIE, MICA, IRMA, KIIT SOM, BIMTech, AMU, JMI, and BHU are among the top MBA colleges that accept CAT scores for admission.

CAT Exam 2023 Highlights

The CAT is a common aptitude test used to assess a candidate’s business aptitude, reasoning, analytical, and English skills. Check out the key highlights of CAT 2023 below.

ParticularsCAT 2023 Exam Details 
CAT Full FormCommon Admission Test (CAT) 
Exam scheduleNovember 26, 2023 (tentative)
CAT exam feesINR 2,200 (General category) and INR 1,100 (Reserved category)
Eligibility criteriaGraduation with 50 % aggregate (45 % for SC/ST students)
Application modeOnline
Application feesINR 2,200 for General category INR 1,100 for SC/ST/PwD
CAT syllabusVerbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)Quantitative Ability (QA)
CAT exam websitehttps://iimcat.ac.in

Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT in the Non-IIM Category: 90% to 100%

Among the MBA institutions accepting CAT scores are highly rated and globally approved MBA/ PGDM colleges in addition to the IIMs. Some of the top MBA institutions, excluding IIMs, that will accept CAT 2021 scores of 90% or higher for MBA admission in 2022 are:

MBA CollegeMBA Fee (Rs. in Lakhs)The average salary in Placement  (Rs. in Lakhs)
SPJIMR, Mumbai19.0026.06
MDI Gurgaon21.3423.15
FMS New Delhi1.9226.20
IMI New Delhi19.2512.77
IMT Ghaziabad19.5312.42
DMS IIT Delhi9.6018.50
SJMSOM IIT Bombay10.0821.96

Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT: 80-90 Percentile

Top MBA colleges in India that accept CAT 80 percentile and above are highly recognized and globally approved MBA/PGDM programs. The list is shown below, along with their admittance status.

B-SchoolProgram Fee (Rs.in Lakhs)Average Placement (Rs.in lakhs)Admission Status
MICA Ahmedabad2113.9Opening Soon
NITIE Mumbai12.5819.95Opening Soon
Xavier University Bhubaneswar18.915.42Opening Soon
Great Lakes Chennai17.1512.8Opening Soon
TAPMI Manipal16.0011.20Opening Soon
IIM Kashipur MBA Analytics15.42Opening Soon
GIM Goa17.2110.71Opening Soon
IRMA Anand15.1710.76Opening Soon
FORE School of Management New Delhi15.9810.7Opening Soon
BIM Tiruchirappalli12.1410.60Opening Soon
K J Somaiya Institute of Management Mumbai18.789.41Opening Soon
LBSIM New Delhi12.99.67Opening Soon
Welingkar Mumbai12.899.2Opening Soon
NIRMA University9.529.00Opening Soon
Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani9.00Opening Soon

MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score: Cut off Percentile – 70-80

Many MBA Colleges that accept CAT percentiles in the 70-80 range give more weightage to the applicants’ profiles rather than just the CAT exam result. They are excellent MBA programs that consistently position students. The following is a list of some of the most prestigious MBA colleges:

B-SchoolProgram Fee (Rs.in Lakhs)Average Placement (Rs.in lakhs)
Great Lakes Institute of Management Gurgaon16.6511.00
BIMTECH Greater Noida128.2
SDMIMD Mysore11.27.7
SOIL Institute of Management15.30
CIMP Patna7.65
IFMR Graduate School of Business at KREA University14.5610
JAGSOM Bangalore1210
MDI Murshidabad12.1910.5
LIBA Chennai15.389
NIA Pune: National Insurance Academy9.4310.3
SDA Bocconi Asia Center18.611.4
IMI Kolkata: International Management Institute11.510.01
Rajagiri Business School6.007.90
Institute of Management Technology Nagpur12.127.98
BIIB Pune7.85
XIME Bangalore117.73
Indus Business Academy – IBA Bangalore8.516.92
KIIT School of Management  Bhubaneswar14.56.87
IBS Hyderabad: ICFAI Business School16.027.59
SIES College of Management Studies and SIES School of Business Studies , Navi Mumbai97.28
Welingkar Bangalore137.91
SRM University, Delhi-NCR3.506.00
Alliance School of Business148
ISBM Pune11.88.8
Jaipuria Institute of Management Lucknow10.456.73
IMI Bhubaneswar8.07
VIT Business School (VIT) Vellore7.025.1
Amrita School of Business Coimbatore12.66.68

MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score: Cut off Percentile – 60-70

A good number of MBA Colleges that accept CAT percentiles in the region of 60-70 provide a variety of MBA/PGDM programs and give more weightage to the candidates’ profiles rather than just the CAT test result. Some of them are highly ranked and excellent MBA programs that consistently place students. The following is a list of some of the most prestigious MBA colleges:

B-SchoolCat Cut off
Shiv Nadar University Greater Noida60-70
New Delhi Institute of Management – NDIM New Delhi60-70
Jindal Global Business School60-70
Institute of Management Technology, Hyderabad60-70
Chetana’s Institute of Management and Research – CIMR Mumbai60-70
Jaipuria Institute of Management Noida60-70
NTPC School of Business – NSB Noida60-70
Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management – VJIM Hyderabad60-70
Praxis Business School60-70
Birla Global University, Bhubaneswar60-70
Jaipuria Jaipur: Jaipuria Institute of Management60-70
Delhi School of Business60-70
EDII Ahmedabad60-70
IIMS Pune: International Institute of Management Studies60-70
IPE Hyderabad: Institute of Public Enterprise60-70
JIMS Rohini Delhi60-70
PSGIM Coimbatore60-70

MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score: Cut off Percentile – 50-60

MBA colleges that accept CAT percentiles in the 50-60 range offer reasonable fees and high placements. These institutions purposefully maintained the CAT cut-off reasonable since they give more weightage to the candidates’ profiles rather than just the CAT percentile. The following is a list of some of the most prestigious MBA colleges:

B-SchoolCat Cut off
FIIB Delhi: Fortune Institute of International Business50-60
Jaypee Business School Noida50-60
Sir Padampat Singhania University Udaipur50-60
Firebird Institute of Research in Management50-60
GBS Kolkata: Globsyn Business School, Kolkata50-60
IMS Ghaziabad: Institute of Management Studies50-60
Jaipuria Institute of Management (Jaipuria) Indore50-60
NSB Academy50-60
XIME Chennai: Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship50-60
XIME Kochi: Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship50-60
Jaipuria Ghaziabad50-60
RSB Chennai50-60
Apeejay School of Management, Dwarka, New Delhi50-60
Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication50-60
Pune Business School50-60
BULMIM New Delhi50-60
SJIM Bangalore50-60
IES Management College And Research Centre, Mumbai50-60
IMS Unison University Dehradun50-60
ITM Navi Mumbai: ITM Group of Institutions50-60
MET Mumbai50-60
RV Institute of Management50-60
SCMS Cochin: SCMS Cochin School of Business50-60
UPES School of Business: UPES University50-60
AIMS School of Business50-60
SRM School of Management Chennai50-60
Vivekanand Business School (VBS)50-60

CAT Exam 2023 Dates

CAT Exam EventsCAT 2023 Exam Dates (tentative)
CAT Exam EventsCAT 2023 Exam Dates (tentative)
Notification release31-July-2023
CAT 2023 registrations startFirst week of August, 2023
Registrations endThird week of September, 2023
CAT form correctionLast week of September, 2023
CAT 2023 admit card releaseLast week of October, 2023
CAT mock test link activationFourth week of October, 2022
CAT 2023 exam date26-Nov-2023
CAT 2023 answer key releaseFirst week of December 2023
Answer key challenge processFirst week of December 2023
CAT 2023 result declarationFirst week of January 2024

CAT Exam 2023 Eligibility Criteria

The applicant must have a graduation grade point average of at least 50%. Students in their final year can also take the CAT exam. The CAT exam can be taken as many times as you want, and there is no age limit to apply.

QualificationPercentage/CGPA
Bachelor’s Degree from any institute (Recognized by UGC)50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD)
Engineering Degree- B.Tech/ B.E from any university (Recognized by AICTE/MHRD)50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD)
Students pursuing the final year of degree examination50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ ST/ PwD
  • The Reserved seats for OBC: 27%
  • The Reserved seats for SC Candidates: 15%
  • The Reserved seats for ST candidates: 7.5%
  • The Reserved seats for the person with disabilities: 3%

CAT 2023 Registration

  • CAT application forms will only be available online at iimcat.ac.in.
  • The first step in applying for the exam is to register for the CAT.
  • Only candidates who meet the eligibility requirements will be permitted to apply.
  • Candidates must have a working email address and password in order to register for CAT 2023.
  • Candidates will need their Class 10, 12, bachelor’s degree, personal ID number (Aadhaar, Voter ID, Passport number, etc.), scanned photograph, scanned signature, and net banking details to fill out the CAT application form 2023.
  • Candidates must select IIMs and courses only on the CAT application form. They are not required to fill out separate IIMs forms for MBA admission.
  • The CAT application fee is non-refundable, and form correction will be available for only certain fields of the form.

Documents Required

While filling out the application form, the candidate must also upload the required documents in the given format-

DocumentFormat
Photo.jpg/.jpeg
Signature.jpg/.jpeg
EWS/NC-OBC/SC/ST Certificatepdf
PwD Certificatepdf

Application Fee

After filling in all the details in the application form, the candidate must make the payment to complete the registration process.

  • For General, EWS, and NC-OBC, the application fee is INR 2,200/-
  • For SC, ST, and PwD, the application fee is INR 1,100/-
  • The fee can be paid online mode only.
  • Before submitting the application form and making the payment, the candidate will be able to preview the complete form.
  • After successful payment, the candidates will receive a confirmation email within a few minutes.

CAT Exam 2023 Centres

Andhra PradeshTirupati
Visakhapatnam
Kurnool
Nellore
Kakinada
Guntur
Rajahmundry
Vizianagaram
Vijayawada
AssamSilchar
Guwahati
Jorhat
Tezpur
Dibrugarh
Andaman and Nicobar IslandsPort Blair
Arunachal PradeshItanagar
BiharPatna
Muzaffarpur
Darbhanga
Aurangabad
Arrah
Bhagalpur
ChattisgarhRaipur
Bhillai
Bilaspur
ChandigarhChandigarh
Mohali
Delhi-NCRDelhi
Faridabad
Gurugram
Ghaziabad
Greater Noida
Meerut
New Delhi
Noida
HaryanaAmbala
Hisar
Karnal
Kurushetra
Panipat
Rohtak
GujaratSurat
Rajkot
Vadodara
Gandhinagar
Ahmedabad
Mehsana
Anand
GoaPanaji
Himachal PradeshShimla
Hamirpur
JharkhandBokaro
Ranchi
Jamshedpur
Dhanbad
Hazaribagh
Jammu and KashmirJammu
KarnatakaBelagav
Bengaluru
Dharwad
Hubbali
Kalaburagi
Mangaluru
Mysuru
Shivamogga
Udupi
KeralaTrivandrum
Kannur
Kollam
Ernakulam
Kottayam
Kozhikode
Thrissur
Madhya PradeshBhopal
Gwalior
Indore
Jabalpur
Sagar
Satna
Ujjain
MaharashtraMumbai
Nagpur
Amravati
Pune
Ahmednagar
Aurangabad-Maharashtra
Jalgaon
Kolhapur
Nanded
Nashik
Satara
Solapur
Ulhasnagar
Raigad
Thane
Palghar
Navi Mumbai
Vasai
MizoramAizawl
MeghalayaShillong
NagalandKohima
OdishaSambalpur
Cuttack
Balasore
Berhampur
Bhubaneswar
Dhenkanal
Rourkela
PuducherryPuducherry
PunjabAmritsar
Bhatinda
Jalandhar
Patiala
Ludhiana
Pathankot
Sangrur
RajasthanJaipur
Udaipur
Ajmer
Alwar
Bikaner
Jodhpur
Sikar
Kota
TelanganaHyderabad
Karim Nagar
Warangal
Tamil NaduMadurai
Chennai
Coimbatore
Trichy
Salem
Tirunelveli
Vellore
Uttar PradeshVaranasi
Agra
Jhansi
Lucknow
Aligarh
Allahabad
Bareilly
Gorakhpur
Kanpur
Moradabad
Muzaffarnagar
UttarakhandDehradun
Haldwani
Roorkee
West BengalSiliguri
Asansol
Bankura
Burdwan
Kolkata
Durgapur
Hooghly
Kalyani

CAT 2023 Exam Pattern

CAT 2023 exam pattern will be as follows:

Mode of ExaminationOnline (Computer-based)
Medium of ExaminationEnglish
Total Questions66
Time Allotted120 minutes
Questions Per SectionVARC: 24 DILR: 20 QA: 22
Time Allotted per Section40 minutes each
Type of QuestionsMCQs and TITA (Type in the Answer)
Marks Awarded for Correct Answer+3 for every right answer
Marks Deducted for Wrong Answer-1 for every wrong answer, TITA has no negative marking

CAT Exam 2023 Syllabus

The CAT 2023 exam, like all previous CAT exams, is divided into three sections. While there is no set syllabus for the CAT exam, it is heavily focused on school-based mathematics and English. The three sections of the exam are divided as follows:

SectionNo. of QuestionsTime AllottedMain Topics
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)2440 minutesReading comprehension, parajumbles, parasummary, verbal reasoning, etc.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)2040 minutesCharts, graphs, arrangements, blood relations, puzzles, etc.
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)2240 minutesAlgebra, arithmetic, number systems, geometry, etc.

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

  • Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction, Fill in the blanks, Cloze Test, Sentence Completion, Word Usage, Error Spotting, Jumbled Words, etc.
  • Reading comprehension and verbal ability are the two main components of the VARC section. The reading comprehension section of the VARC is important because it includes paragraphs of varying lengths with MCQ and TITA questions. The verbal ability section includes parajumbles, odd sentences, and so on.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

  • Coding & Decoding, Venn Diagram, Seating Arrangement, Logical Sequence, Graphs, Tables, Puzzles, Blood Relations, Data Sufficiency, Charts, Tables, Binary Logic.
  • Data Interpretation is a collection of questions based on various charts, graphs, and other forms of data presentation. The data for the answers must be extracted directly from the provided charts. The logical reasoning section also includes sets of questions about seating arrangements, blood relations, puzzles, and so on.

Quantitative Ability (QA)

  • Algebra, Probability & Statistics, Mensuration, Profit & Loss, Geometry, Simple & Compound Interest, Permutation & Combination, Number System, Sequence & Series, etc.
  • This section focuses on mathematics because the QA syllabus is entirely based on school math. LCM and HCF, trigonometry, mensuration, probability, and other topics are covered. The IIMs have reduced the difficulty of this section in recent years.

CAT Syllabus 2022 Revisions and Changes

The CAT 2022 Exam Syllabus has been updated to reflect changes in the CAT pattern and structure. Given IIMs’ reputation for introducing changes to the CAT exam every year, a few changes are introduced in the CAT syllabus 2022 as the exam pattern for CAT is also changed. The CAT syllabus has been changed again this year, with fewer questions in the exam.

Changes to the CAT Syllabus in 2022

The CAT 2022 syllabus has been revised and now follows a different pattern and structure. There have been significant changes to the CAT syllabus.

i) The CAT will be divided into three sections with fewer questions

ii) Sectional weightage in the CAT syllabus is as follows:

  • Section-1: VARC – 34% weightage
  • Section-2: DILR – 32% wightage
  • Section-3: Quant – 34% weightage

iii) Questions on topics such as sentence correction, fill-in-the-blanks, and sentence completion are no longer included in the CAT exam.

iv) The number of sections is increased from two to three, and DILR is now a single section. It is given a lot of weight in the IIM shortlisting process, and you must clear the cut-offs in this section as well as the other two.

v) The CAT exam now includes 25% to 28% of questions with no negative marking. The topics for non-MCQ questions are the same as for MCQ questions with negative markings.

Best CAT Preparation Books

There are numerous books available on the market for CAT preparation. Candidates must exercise caution when selecting books to read. Experts advise that CAT syllabus preparation books be comprehensive, have up-to-date exam patterns, and include question banks. Take a look at the list of best books for CAT exam, which has been carefully curated after reviewing all available options and consulting our CAT experts.

1) CAT Books for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

  • CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning- Gautam Puri
  • Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT-Nishit K Sinha
  • Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency- Ananta Ashisha
  • How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT- Arun Sharma

2) CAT Books for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

  • How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT- Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay/Arihant
  • How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT- Sharma, and Upadhyay
  • 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary Mass Market Paperback- Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis/ Simon & Schuster
  • High School English Grammar & Composition- Wren & Martin

3) CAT Books for Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

  • NCERT Mathematics Books (Class 9 to 10)- NCERT
  • How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT- Arun Sharma
  • Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations- Abhijit Guha
  • Quantitative Aptitude for CAT- Nishit Sinha
  • Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT- Sarvesh Sharma

How and when to start preparing for CAT Exam 2023?

According to previous years, over 2 lakh candidates register for the CAT exam each year, and nearly 2 lakh take it. As a result, admission to the top B-schools is extremely competitive. As a result, preparations for the CAT exam must be relentless, with a study plan in place. Here are some pointers to help you prepare for the CAT 2023 exam:

  • Prepare a Study Strategy: Divide the syllabus into sections and phases based on the amount of time you have for preparation. Set aside time each day for CAT preparation and stick to it. You must ensure that each section of the paper receives adequate attention.
  • Establish the Fundamentals: Identify the concepts that you are unfamiliar with or struggle with the most. Devote time to each section’s various topics and establish your understanding at the start of your CAT preparations.
  • Select the Preparation Mode: You can study independently or enroll in a CAT coaching program. A coaching program will walk you through the entire preparation process. Remember to consult the appropriate books and materials for your preparation if you choose to self-study.
  • Mock Exams: As your preparation improves, consider administering mock exams. Mock exams will assist you in identifying your weaknesses and strengths. It will allow you to improve on your weaker areas.

When to start preparing for CAT 2023?

The tentative CAT 2023 exam date is in November, and if you plan to take the exam, you should begin CAT preparation in March-April. However, if you begin preparing now, you will be able to pass. All you have to do is make four-month plans from August to November.

CAT Exam 2023 Admit Card

The CAT 2023 admit card will be available in October 2023. Here are a few details to remember in this regard:

  • Candidates who have successfully registered for the exam can download their admit cards.
  • Candidates can obtain their admit cards by visiting the official website and entering their registration ID and password. The admit card would then be available for download.
  • The admit card will include the test location, date, and other exam information.
  • On the day of the examination, candidates must bring their admit cards with them.

CAT Exam 2023 Results

The CAT results will be posted on the official website in December. The results of the CAT 2023 will be valid until December 2024.

Cut-offs for the 2024-26 batch will also be released by the IIMs. There is no centralized counseling for the CAT exam because each IIM has its own procedure for interviews and subsequent admission rounds.

Frequently Asked Questions-

Q1. What are the subjects for the CAT exam?

Ans. The syllabus of the CAT 2022 exam includes all the important topics from these four subjects: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. The candidates need to focus mainly on Algebra, Geometry, Arithmetic, Tables, Graphs, Venn Diagram, Blood Relation, Number Series, Coding-Decoding, Reading Comprehension, Parajumbles, and Verbal Ability.

Q2. Does the CAT syllabus change every year?

Ans. The CAT syllabus remains the same every year. In fact, the syllabus has remained the same since the inception of the exam. However, the distribution of questions within each section of the question paper changes every year. For example, if in one-year Algebra dominates the QA section then the next year, Arithmetic dominates it.

Q3. Is the CAT exam tough for MBA?

Ans. Common Admission Test, abbreviated as CAT, is a national-level MBA Entrance Test conducted by IIMs for admission into various MBA specializations. The CAT exam’s competition level is a little more challenging than the other MBA exam, as more than 2 Lakhs (approx) candidates appear for this exam every year.

Q4. Which section of the CAT exam is the toughest?

Ans. Although the CAT exam is tough overall, it has been seen over the years that most test takers find VARC tough, as the Reading Comprehension passages are long and tricky. At times, reasoning questions also turn out to be lengthy and time-consuming. 

Q5. What is the duration of the CAT exam?

Ans. The duration of the CAT exam is 120 minutes (two hours). For each section, 40 minutes have been allotted. For PwD candidates the total time allotted is 180 minutes, with a sectional time limit of 53 minutes.

Q6. What are the fees for the CAT exam?

Ans. Fees for the general category are Rs. 2000/- and Rs. 1000/- for SC/ST/PWD applicants.

Q7. Is there any age limit for taking the CAT exam?

Ans. No, there is no age limit for taking the CAT exam.

Q8 Can I bring my own calculator to the test center?

Ans. No, physical calculators are strictly prohibited. Rather you can use an on-screen calculator.

Q9. Are 3 months enough for CAT?

Ans. The aspirants must attempt a decent number of CAT mock tests to analyze their mistakes. If the candidates follow an effective study plan, then 3 months would be enough to prepare for the CAT exam.

Q10. How can I get 99 percentile in CAT?

Ans. How to Get a CAT 2022 Score of 99+ Percentile

  1. Find Out Your Strengths and Weaknesses.
  2. Practice Solving Questions.
  3. Work on Time Management.
  4. Check CAT Exam Analysis.
  5. Check CAT Toppers Tips.
  6. Check Our CAT Preparation Tips.

Q11. Is 600 hours enough for CAT?

Ans. CAT preparation requires roughly around 300 to 500 hours of serious preparation time.

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