CAT Syllabus, Notification, Admit Card & Exam Pattern

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Introduction

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of India’s most prestigious and competitive entrance exams for admission to various management programs offered by Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top business schools. As CAT 2023 approaches, aspiring candidates cheer up to ace this challenging examination. Understanding the CAT syllabus, exam pattern, and the notification process is crucial for success.

CAT 2023 Examination
Exam Conducting Body	Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow
Exam Name	Common Admission Test (CAT 2023)
Courses Offered	Post Graduate and Fellow/Doctorate programmes
Type of Exam	Entrance Test
Frequency	Once in a year
Eligibility	Graduate
Examination Mode	Online Computer-Based Test
Sessions	3 Sessions
Duration of Exam	2 hours
CAT Exam Date 2023	26th November 2023
Validity of CAT score	1 year
No. of Test Centres	150 cities
Official website	www.iimcat.ac.in

Admit Card of CAT (From 7th November)

CAT released their official notification on 7th November, you can now check all the details from the given link below and we’ve also provided the direct link so you can easily download your admit card.
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CAT 2023 Notification

The CAT exam notification is typically released by the conducting IIM in late July or early August. It contains essential information about the exam date, registration process, eligibility criteria, and important dates. Aspirants can find the notification on the official CAT website and in leading newspapers. The notification also includes details regarding exam centers, registration fees, and the application timeline.

CAT 2023 Exam Date Out

The important dates for the CAT entrance exam 2023 have been released along with its official notification. Common Admission Test CAT 2023 will be conducted in three sessions on 26th November 2023 (Sunday). Check all the important dates for CAT 2023 from the below table.

CAT 2023 Details	Dates
CAT 2023 Notification	30th July 2023
CAT Exam 2023 Registration Start	02nd August 2023 (10 am)
CAT 2023 Registration Deadline	13th September 2023 (5 pm)
CAT Admit Card 2023	7th November 2023
CAT Exam Date 2023	26th November 2023 (Sunday) [Session 1: 8:30 am – 10:30 am Session 2: 12:30 pm – 02:30 pm Session 3: 04:30 pm – 06:30 pm]
CAT Answer Key 2023	December 2023
CAT 2023 Solution Key Challenge Process	December 2023
CAT 2023 Result Declaration	2nd week of January 2023

CAT 2023 Exam Pattern

The CAT exam pattern usually remains consistent each year. Aspirants should familiarize themselves with the exam structure to formulate an effective preparation strategy. Here is an overview of the CAT 2023 exam pattern:

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1. Sections: The CAT exam comprises three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
2. Duration: The exam duration is usually 2 hours or 120 minutes, with 40 minutes allotted to each section.
3. Question Types: CAT predominantly features multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and a few non-MCQs. Candidates are required to choose the correct answer from the given options. Non-MCQs don’t have answer choices, and candidates need to type the answer using the virtual keyboard.
4. Marking Scheme: CAT follows a scoring pattern where correct answers carry a +3 mark, and incorrect answers result in a penalty of -1 mark. However, non-MCQs do not have negative markings.

CAT 2023 Exam Pattern
Sections	No. of Questions	Marks	Time Duration
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	26	78	40 minutes
Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI)	24	72	40 minutes
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	26	78	40 minutes
Total	76	228	120 minutes

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CAT 2023 Syllabus

Understanding the CAT syllabus is essential for a comprehensive preparation strategy. While the syllabus is not officially defined, it generally covers the following areas:

1. Quantitative Ability: This section tests a candidate’s mathematical and problem-solving skills. Topics include arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number systems, and modern mathematics.
2. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension: Proficiency in English language skills, including reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and critical reasoning, is assessed in this section.
3. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning: This segment evaluates a candidate’s ability to interpret data, make inferences, and solve complex logical puzzles. Topics cover data analysis, tables, graphs, and logical reasoning.

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CAT Exam Fees 2023

The CAT exam registration fees for the candidates of the General category is Rs, 2300 and Rs. 1150 for SC, ST and PwD candidates. During the process of CAT 2023 Registration, the candidate has to pay the required application fee which is to be paid through online mode only (Credit/Debit Card or Net Banking).

Category	Application fee
General Category	Rs. 2200/-
SC/ST/PWD Category	Rs. 1100/-

Changes Made to CAT 2023

There have been numerous changes made to CAT 2023 from the previous years and all the changes from exam duration to the number of centres selected has been mentioned in the below table. 

Parameters	Previously	Current
Exam duration	3 hours	2 hours
Exam slots	2	3
Questions in the VARC section	100	76
Total score	300	228
Questions in the DILR section	34	26
Questions in the QA section	32	24
Questions in QA section	34	26
Exam City	425	158
No. of Exam Centre to choose	4	6

CAT Eligibility Criteria 2023

• Bachelor’s Degree Requirement:

Cats aspiring for greatness are expected to have completed a Bachelor’s degree program. This educational milestone is a testament to the cat’s commitment to intellectual pursuits.

• Minimum Marks or CGPA:

To ensure that only the most academically proficient cats cut, a minimum of 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA is required. This criterion ensures that cats are not only book-smart but possess a solid foundation in their chosen field of study.

• Relaxation for Special Categories:

Recognizing the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the feline world, there is a relaxation in the eligibility criteria for certain categories. Cats belonging to SC/ST/PwD categories must have a minimum of 45% marks or equivalent CGPA to be eligible, allowing for equal opportunities for all.

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Universities Accepting CAT Scores

Following IIM & Non-IIM universities accept admissions to Postgraduate & doctorate programs through CAT Scores.  

IIM Universities Accepting CAT Scores

Check the list of IIM Universities that accept CAT scores for admission to postgraduate and doctorate programs. 

1. IIM Calcutta
2. IIM Ahmedabad
3. IIM Bangalore
4. IIM Lucknow
5. IIM Kozhikode
6. IIM Indore
7. IIM Shillong
8. IIM Rohtak
9. IIM Ranchi
10. IIM Raipur
11. IIM Udaipur
12. IIM Nagpur
13. IIM Tiruchirappalli
14. IIM Kashipur
15. IIM Visakhapatnam
16. IIM Bodh Gaya
17. IIM Amritsar
18. IIM Sambalpur
19. IIM Sirmaur
20. IIM Jammu

Non-IIM Universities Accepting CAT Scores

Check the list of non-IIM universities that accept CAT Scores for admission to postgraduate and doctorate programmes. 

1. FMS, Delhi University
2. SPJIMR, Mumbai
3. MDI, Gurgaon
4. IMT, Ghaziabad
5. IIT Kanpur-IME
6. IMI, Delhi
7. IIT Delhi – DoMs
8. IIT Bombay-SJMSOM
9. IIT Madras-DoMs
10. IIT Roorkee-DoMs
11. IIT Kharagpur-VGoSM
12. IIT Dhanbad-ISM
13. Great Lakes Institute of Management
14. IMT, Nagpur
15. IMI, Kolkata
16. IPE, Hyderabad
17. ITM, University
18. Institute of Management, Nirma University
19. IIITM, Gwalior
20. Goa Institute of Management (GIM), Goa

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