The 1st and 2nd slots of CAT 2023 exams have concluded, and it’s time for students who participated in this session, as well as those gearing up for the 3rd slot, to delve into the CAT 2023 slot 1 & 2 analysis.
IIM Lucknow has successfully wrapped up the initial session of CAT 2023 exams. The examination commenced at 8:30 am and concluded at 10:30 am on November 26, 2023. Participants of the first slot and those awaiting the second (12:30 pm) and third (4:30 pm) slots can now review the comprehensive analysis, gauge the difficulty level, explore the question types, and assess the preliminary responses of slot 1 candidates.
In accordance with the outlined schedule, the CAT 2023 exam unfolds across three slots. The first slot concluded at 10:30 am, with the second slot scheduled from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm, and the third slot from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Participants are tasked with tackling questions from three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Quantitative Aptitude (QA), and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR). The total duration of the exam remains set at 120 minutes.
Also, read Free CAT 2023 Mock Test: Your Key to Success!
For the third consecutive year, CAT maintains a consistent exam pattern: 66 questions in 2 hours. Overall difficulty surpassed CAT 2022 – section 1.
The CAT exam pattern assesses candidates’ speed and accuracy in solving mathematical and reasoning problems. Emphasizing aptitude and logical reasoning skills, it’s crucial for CAT 2023 aspirants to familiarize themselves with the latest exam pattern. This understanding aids in navigating the CAT question paper structure and marking scheme.
The CAT 2023 question paper will consist of three sections:
1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
3. Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
In CAT 2023:
It is crucial for students to take note of the CAT exam schedule, particularly the timings for the first slot commencing at 8:30 AM. Candidates slated for subsequent slots should refer to the details below, including slot timings, reporting times, and the last permissible entry time before the exam kicks off.
There is no alteration in the number of questions. The exam pattern/structure remained consistent with that of 2022, with Arithmetic and Algebra continuing to play a significant role as dominant factors in the examination, as has been the norm. The majority of the questions came from the Arithmetic section.
In the questions, Previous Year Questions (PYQs) were included. However, there were one to two surprising elements, such as a Clock question (involving finding angles) that appeared. This falls under Logical Reasoning and involves calculations. It reappeared in the paper after several years, so students should anticipate similar surprises in Slot 2 and Slot 3. However, there’s no need to worry; the good news is that no changes have been made, bringing considerable relief to students preparing for Slot 2 and Slot 3. Therefore, stay calm, take a deep breath, focus, and excel in the exam.
The Quant section was deemed moderate, with some students finding it easy and others challenging. Approach the exam with confidence. The Reading Comprehension (RC) section featured a challenging passage on Literature and a straightforward one on the Village of France, along with one centered on Culture. A passage on Natural Sciences (Ocean World), a favorite CAT topic, was also included. LRDI was challenging, but it may be easier in the next slot.
| Section | Difficulty Level | Questions | Time Limit | Additional Notes |
| VARC | Moderate to Difficult | 24 | 40 minutes | Comparatively easier than the previous year |
| DILR | Moderate | 20 | 40 minutes | Echoing the difficulty level of the previous year |
| QA | Difficult | 22 | 40 minutes | 8-9 doable questions, especially challenging in the Algebra section |
| Takeaway | Challenging | – | – | Surpassed the difficulty of the previous year |
The CAT 2023 Slot 1 was scheduled for November 26, 2023, from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. The overall difficulty level is expected to be moderate to high, with 66 questions to be attempted in 2 hours.
| Section | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level | Time Allotted |
| VARC | 24 | Moderate | 40 minutes |
| DILR | 20 | Moderate | 40 minutes |
| QA | 22 | Moderate to High | 40 minutes |
Now, let’s delve into the detailed analysis of each section:
The VARC section had an overall difficulty level ranging from easy to moderate. It consisted of 24 questions, with 16 from Reading Comprehension (RC) and 8 from Verbal Ability (VA).
| VARC Part | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
| Reading Comprehension | 15-16 | Moderate |
| Verbal Ability | 7-8 | Moderate to Difficult |
The RCs covered diverse topics with a moderate difficulty level:
| RC Topics | Difficulty Level | No. of Questions |
| Science | Moderate | 5 |
| Philosophy | Moderate | 3 |
| History | Moderate | 4 |
| Literature | Moderate | 4 |
The DILR section’s overall difficulty ranged from moderate to high, featuring 4 sets with 7-8 TITA questions.
| Topic | Set | Difficulty Level |
| Distribution | Set 1 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Statistics | Set 2 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Maps and Networks | Set 3 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Arrangement | Set 4 | Moderate to Difficult |
The QA section posed a moderate to high difficulty level, with a focus on Algebra and Arithmetic. It included 22 questions, with 8-9 considered doable.
| Topic | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
| Arithmetic | 7-9 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Algebra | 5-7 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Number System | 2-3 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Geometry | 2-3 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Modern Maths | 3-4 | Moderate to Difficult |
CAT 2022 slot 1 exhibited a slightly higher difficulty level compared to CAT 2021. VARC included varying difficulty levels, with para-completion questions replacing odd-sentence-out questions.
| Section | Ideal Raw Score for 99 Percentile |
| VARC | 39-40 |
| DILR | 29-30 |
| QA | 37-38 |
| VARC Topics | No. of Questions | Ideal Attempts |
| Reading Comprehension | 15 | 14 |
| Odd-sentence out | 2 | 2 |
| Para Jumbles | 3 | 3 |
| Para Summary | 3 | 3 |
| DILR Topics | No. of Questions | Ideal Attempts |
| Metroline | 5 | 3 |
| University team data | 5 | 3 |
| Girls Graph | 5 | 4 |
| Token | 5 | 2 |
| QA Topics | No. of Questions | Ideal Attempts |
| Arithmetic | 7-8 | 5 |
| Algebra | 7-8 | 5 |
| Number System | 1 | 1 |
| Geometry | 2-3 | 3 |
| Modern Maths | 2 | 2 |
In summary, CAT 2023 Slot 1 maintains a challenging pattern, while CAT 2022 Slot 1 presents increased difficulty, emphasizing the need for strategic preparation.
Don’t get too comfortable. The VARC in Slot 1 was moderately difficult, while LRDI posed a slight challenge. Although you may have prepared well for Quant by following our Mock Tests, remember that the difficulty level can change, as has always been the case with CAT. This is why there’s a concept of scaled scores and normalization, as all three slots are not equal, akin to the diversity of our fingers (please change this example). Your exam strategy for Slot 2 and Slot 3 should involve a wise selection of all three sections. Avoid traps and choose questions carefully. The positive aspect is that there are no brand new questions, and there’s no change in the CAT exam paper pattern.
Students are encouraged to revisit this page for the latest updates, including initial responses from candidates and individual CAT slot analyses.👈
The second session occurred from 12:30 to 14:30 pm, maintaining a difficulty level similar to Slot 1 but slightly higher than 2022.
Following the trend of Slot 1, CAT 2023 Slot 2 maintained a comparable overall difficulty level, featuring Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
VARC: Similar to Slot 1 but easier than 2022 Slot 2, this section had 24 questions with a 40-minute time limit (1 mandatory question). Around 12-14 questions were deemed doable.
DILR: Maintaining Slot 1’s difficulty, CAT 2023 DILR was considered tougher than 2022 Slot 2. With 20 questions and 40 minutes allocated, around 8-9 questions were considered doable.
QA: Slightly more challenging than Slot 1, the QA section in CAT 2023 featured 22 questions within a 40-minute timeframe, with around 9-10 questions considered doable.
Overall, the paper mirrored Slot 1’s difficulty level and leaned slightly towards the challenging side compared to CAT 2022 Slot 2, with approximately 30 doable questions.
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