The Common Admission Test held annually by the IIMs is the most common entrance exam for MBA admissions to top-notch B-schools. CAT 2023 will allow students to apply for admission to IIMs among other top institutes for the batch of 2024-26. Top non-IIM MBA colleges accepting CAT 2023 are MDI Gurugram, SPJIMR, IMT, FMS, IM, IITs, GIM, GLIM, LIBA, NITIE, MICA, IRMA, etc.
CAT Important Dates
| Event | Exam Timeline |
|---|---|
| CAT 2023 Official Notification | 30th July 2023 |
| Start Date for Registration | 2nd August 2023 |
| Last Date for Registration | 13th September 2023 |
| Admit Card Release Date | 25th October 2023 |
| CAT 2023 Exam Date | 26th November 2023 |
Results will be announced after the First week of January 2024.
CAT Exam Pattern
The CAT exam is held in 3 slots. While the exam pattern and syllabus are the same for all slots, the level of difficulty might vary. Here is an overview of the exam pattern-
| CAT 2023 | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Examination | Online (Computer-based) |
| Medium of Examination | English |
| Total Questions | 66 |
| Questions Per Section | VARC: 24 DILR: 20 QA: 22 |
| Time Allotted | 120 minutes |
| Time Allotted per Section | 40 minutes each |
| Type of Questions | MCQs and TITA (Type in the Answer) |
| Marking Scheme | +3 for every right answer -1 for every wrong answer TITA has no negative marking |
Exam Syllabus
Candidates should note that there is no officially released syllabus. However, candidates can check the CAT syllabus 2023 drawn on the basis of previous CAT questions. Here are some of CAT 2023 important topics and the number of questions for each of the sections – VARC, DILR, and QA.
| Sections | No of questions | Time allotted (in minutes) | Important topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 | Reading comprehension, para jumbles, para summary, verbal reasoning, etc. |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 40 | Charts, graphs, arrangements, blood relations, puzzles, etc. |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 40 | Algebra, arithmetic, number systems, geometry, permutations and combinations, mensuration, etc. |
| Total | 66 | 120 |
CAT 2023 Syllabus Section wise
- VARC– Verbal Ability, and Reading Comprehension
- LRDI – Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
- QA – Quantitative Aptitude section
CAT VARC Syllabus 2023
The VARC section is the first section of the CAT question paper and has a sectional time limit of 40 minutes. CAT VARC section is divided into two sub-parts, Verbal Ability, and Reading Comprehension. This section of the CAT exam course is dominated by the RC questions. Have a look at the important VARC topics for the CAT exam syllabus for MBA 2023.
| VARC Syllabus of CAT | ||
| Para completion and inference | Verbal logic | Fill in the blanks |
| Subject-verb agreement | Para jumbles | Verbal reasoning |
| Foreign language words used in English | Sentence completion | Different usage of same word |
| Idioms | Grammar | Reading Comprehension |
| Antonyms | Syllogisms | Analogies |
| Sentence correction | Jumbled Paragraphs | One word substitution |
| Types of clauses | Parts of speech | Preposition |
| Errors in tenses | Phrases modifiers | Article usage |
- In the CAT exam, there will be around 8 Verbal Ability questions
- CAT VARC section will have both MCQs and Non-MCQs questions which means for Non-MCQ questions, candidates will have to type the answers.
- There will be no negative marking for non-MCQ questions
- Types of questions in CAT VARC include:
- Para-Jumbles
- Reading Comprehension
- Basic Vocabulary
- Odd one out
- Analogies
- Verbal Reasoning
- Error correction in a paragraph
Syllabus of CAT VARC – Important Topics and Weightage
| CAT 2023 VARC Topics | Number of questions in the CAT exam | Difficulty level (Expected) |
| Reading Comprehension | 16 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Para jumbles | 3 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Summary | 3 | Easy to Moderate |
| Odd Sentences | 2 | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | 24 | Moderate to Difficult |
CAT LRDI Syllabus 2023
CAT DILR is the next section after VARC which candidates need to solve within the stipulated time (40 minutes). Like CAT VARC, this section also has two sub-sections- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning.
| Clocks and Calendars | Syllogism | Blood Relations |
| Statements | Venn Diagram | Series |
| Data Arrangement | Propositions | Data Structure |
| Family Tree | Tables | Direction Sense |
| Pie Charts | Coding-Decoding | Binary Logic |
| Seating Arrangements | Assumptions | Data Sufficiency |
| Bars & Line Graphs | Puzzles | Seta & Caselets |
CAT Syllabus Data Interpretation (DI)
- There will be around 14 Data Interpretation questions will be asked in CAT 2023
- As per trends, CAT DI questions are usually on moderate to high difficulty level
- The data Interpretation section will have MCQs and Non-MCQs questions
- No negative marking scheme is applicable on non-MCQ questions of the CAT DI section
- For CAT DI MCQs questions, a negative marking scheme is applicable
CAT Syllabus Logical Reasoning (LR)
- As per the CAT exam syllabus for MBA 2023, there will be around 10 Logical Reasoning questions will be asked in the CAT exam
- It is expected that the difficulty level of the CAT LR section will on moderate to high level
- This section will also have both (MCQs and Non-MCQs) types of questions
- The total number of questions in the CAT LR section may vary
- There will be negative marking for CAT Logical Reasoning questions but not for non-MCQs
Important Topics and Weightage
| CAT DILR 2023 Topics | Number of questions | Level of difficulty |
| Data Interpretation | 6 | Easy |
| Data Interpretation | 4 | Moderate |
| Logical Reasoning | 6 | Easy to moderate |
| Logical Reasoning | 6 | Moderate to difficult |
| Overall | 20 | Moderate to difficult |
CAT QA Syllabus 2023
The CAT Quantitative Aptitude is the last section of the question paper and has to be solved in the CAT exam sectional time limit.
| Ratio and Proportion | Geometry | Inequalities |
| Work and Time | Trigonometry | In-equations Quadratic and linear equations |
| Percentages | Algebra | Surds and Indices |
| Time-Speed-Distance | Logarithms | Mensuration |
| Square Root and Cube Root | Number System | Partnership (Accounts) |
| Geometric Progression | Probability | Profit & Loss |
| Binomial Theorem | Mean, Median, Mode | Simple interest and compound interest |
CAT Syllabus Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
- CAT QA section will have both MCQs and Non-MCQs questions
- The number of MCQs and Non-MCQs questions in the CAT QA section varies every year
- There will be negative marking for MCQs but not for non-MCQs
CAT Quantitative Aptitude 2023 Important Topics and Weightage
| CAT 2023 QA Syllabus | Number of questions | Difficulty level |
| Algebra | 5 | Moderate |
| Arithmetic | 10 | Moderate |
| Modern Maths | 4 | Moderate |
| Geometry | 3 | Moderate |
| Overall | 22 | Moderate |
Important Topics for CAT Quantitative Aptitude Section
| Algebra Topics for CAT 2023 | Linear Equations, Basic Algebraic Formulae, Number of integer solutions, Problems on ages, Finding out roots, Quadratic Equations, Higher Degree Equations, Maxima and Minima, Inequalities, Descartes Rule of Signs, Modifications of Graphs, Functions, Logarithm, The Smallest value in maximum function |
| Arithmetic Topics for CAT 2023 | Percentages, Averages, Mean Median Mode, Simple and Compound Interest. Ratio and Proportion, Time and Work, Profit and Loss Mixtures and Allegations, Time Speed and Distance |
| Geometry Topics for CAT 2023 | Triangles – Basic Concepts, Lines and Angles, Similar Triangles, Area, Angles, Polygons, Coordinate Geometry, Circles, Trigonometry, Solids/ Mensuration – 3D Geometry |
| Number System Topics for CAT 2023 | Properties of Numbers, Basic of Numbers, Divisibility and Factors, Divisibility Rules, Finding Out the Last Digit, Highest Common Factor and Lowest Common Multiple, Number of Trailing Zeroes, Finding Out Last Two Digits, Basic Divisibility Rules, Finding out Remainders, Simplifying the Dividend (Single and/or Multiple Divisors), Binomial Theorem, Euler’s Theorem, Fermat’s Theorem, Wilson’s Theorem, Pattern Recognition and Cyclicity of Remainders, Conversion of Bases, Addition / Subtraction / Multiplication in different bases, Base Systems |
| Modern Maths Topics for CAT 2023 | Binomial Theorem, Sequence and Series, Permutation and Combination, Set Theory, Probability |
