CAT 2023, Answer Key (Released), Response Sheet, Question Paper Analysis, Result, Cutoff

CAT 2023: Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow released the CAT 2023 response sheet in online mode on December 5. Candidates can download the official CAT answer key at iimcat.ac.in. Candidates can also raise objections against the CAT answer key by December 8. The authority conducted the CAT 2023 on November 26 at 375 test centres spread across 167 cities in India. Read this article by CareersToday to know all the details pertaining to CAT Exam 2023.

CAT Exam Is For What Purpose?

Around 2.88 lakh candidates appeared for the CAT exam 2023 out of 3.28 lakh registered eligible candidates. The overall attendance was approximately 88%. Common Admission Test or CAT exam is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) for admission to 21 IIMs and 1000+ top MBA colleges across India. The CAT exam is conducted for admission to their MBA/PGDM programmes. Around 2.55 lakh MBA aspirants take the test every year in online mode.

CAT Exam 2023 - Overview

As per CAT analysis, candidates found the paper moderately difficult. The CAT Quant section was doable and candidates could solve 14-15 questions from the same. The LRDI section was moderately difficult and the VARC section was quite lengthy. CAT 2023 exam is a business aptitude test and the CAT syllabus comprises three subjects namely- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Going by past year trends, the difficulty level of the CAT exam is moderate to high.

This year, the CAT score will also be accepted by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) for admission into MBA International Business and MBA Business Analytics courses. CAT exam scorecard is also accepted by about 1200 top B-schools in India for admission to management programs. Top non-IIM MBA colleges accepting CAT2023 are MDI Gurugram, SPJIMR, IMT, FMS, IM, IITs, GIM, GLIM, LIBA, NITIE, MICA, IRMA, etc.

CAT 2023 Answer Key

IIM released the CAT 2023 answer key on December 8, 2023. To download the CAT exam 2023 answer key, candidates need to visit the CAT official website of CAT - iimcat.ac.in and log in with their CAT 2023 ID and password. Candidates who appeared in CAT 2023 can check their answers and calculate the CAT exam percentile with the help of the CAT exam answer key.

CAT Score vs Percentile

Candidates who appeared in the CAT 2023 entrance exam, can calculate their estimated percentile by using the CAT score vs percentile tool. After calculating the CAT 2023 percentile, candidates will get to know their MBA admission chances. If a candidate can secure 95+ CAT percentile there are high chance they can get a call from IIMs. Click on the below-provided link to know all the details pertaining to CAT 2023 score vs percentile.

CAT 2023 Expected Score vs Percentil

Read more on CAT Percentile Predictor - Know How IIM CAT 2023 Percentile Calculated

CAT Exam 2023 Results

As per last year's trends, CAT exam result date 2023 will be in the second week of January 2024 and will be made available on the official website. Candidates can download it by clicking on the link corresponding to the CAT exam result 2023 and entering the login credentials (CAT ID and password). The CAT 2023 scorecard will be valid for a year i.e. till 2024.

CAT Exam 2023 Cutoff

The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) will separately release CAT 2023 cut-offs for the academic year 2024-26. The CAT accepting colleges will release the CAT 2023 cutoff in January 2024 after the declaration of the CAT result 2023. CAT cutoff for IIM is generally between 95-100 percentile for all categories. Below is the qualifying table of CAT cut-off percentiles of 20 IIMs:

There is no centralized counselling for the CAT 2023 as all the IIMs have their own individual admission policy which may include several steps. However, the baby IIMs have a Centralised Admission Process (CAP). Candidates should check the selection process of IIMs and other B-schools to which they want to apply.

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CAT 2023 selection process

Candidates who clear the CAT and meet the cutoff will be called for the CAT exam selection process. Each IIM and MBA college may have different admission processes which may include shortlisting of candidates based on CAT 2023 score, WAT, GD/PI. Check the detailed selection process below.

• Written Ability Test (WAT)
• Group Discussion (GD)
• Personal Interviews (PI)

CAT scores are accepted by all CAT participating institutes that include both IIMs and non-IIMs. Some of the Non-IIMs institutes accepting CAT scores include 6 IITs, IISc Bangalore, NITs, JNU, IMT Ghaziabad, IPU, MDI Gurgaon, and SPJIMR Mumbai.

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• IIM Admission 2024: Process Start, Criteria, Top Colleges List
• IIM Placements: Salary Package & Top Recruiting Companies

CAT 2023 Admit Card

The CAT 2023 admit card is an important document to take on the MBA CAT exam 2023 date. Candidates who have applied can download the CAT admit card online through the CAT login at the CAT official website. The CAT admit card 2023 was issued on November 7, at 4 PM. Here are important things for the candidates to know about the admit card. Know the process of how to download a CAT admit card.

• Only registered candidates can download the CAT 2023 admit card.
• Candidates can access and download their CAT 2023 admit card at the official IIM CAT 2023 website, iimcat.ac.in by logging in with the CAT ID and password.
• The test centre, date, and other details of the CAT 2023 is present on the admit card.
• The CAT 2023 admit card is an important document to carry on the day of the examination.

CAT 2023 Exam Date

Candidates aspiring to appear for the CAT exam 2023 are advised to check important dates i.e. CAT 23 exam date, registration date, admit card, or result date. IIM Lucknow released the CAT official notification. Here, we provided the CAT exam dates.

CAT 2023 Exam - Overview

Candidates planning to appear for CAT 2023 must be aware of the important facts about the entrance exam. As usual, the time duration of the CAT exam this year is 2 hours, and the candidates will be tested across three sections namely DILR, VARC, and QA. Each section in the CAT 2023 will have limited sectional time, and negative marking for wrong answers.

Here are some important facts to know about CAT 2023, which the candidates going to appear for CAT must be aware of.

• CAT exam 2023 was held in three sessions in 167 cities.
• The CAT exam duration is 2 hours.
• Professor Sanjeet Singh from IIM Lucknow is the CAT 2023 exam convener.
• CAT 2023 admit card release date- November 7, 2023, Tuesday
• CAT 2023 exam was held on November 26, 2023, Sunday.
• Official CAT answer key released date - December 5, 2023
• Around 2.88 candidates appeared for the CAT this year.

CAT 2023 Mock Test

If you are seriously preparing for the CAT exam 2023 and want to score high percentile marks, it is necessary to attempt more and more mock tests to prepare for the CAT exam day. The CAT mock test is like an actual test prepared by experts based on the latest CAT exam pattern 2023. Mock tests are the best guide to prepare for the CAT exam 2023.

All CAT toppers studying in IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, and Kozhikode find CAT exam mocks the most important part of their preparation and recommend taking multiple mocks like taking the actual test and analyzing the mistakes in each mock.

Also, take the CAT Free Mock Test here

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CAT 2023 Exam Pattern

The CAT exam pattern 2023 is the same as last year and will consist of three sections - VARC, DILR, and QA. Each section will have 40 minutes. The paper will have both MCQ and SAQ (also called TITA). Most of the questions are MCQ-based. However, there are some short answer questions called TITA.

CAT Exam Time 2023

Each section of the CAT exam is time-bound. Once the time is up the screen automatically moves to the next section and the candidate cannot make any changes to the sections already attempted. So, you need to keep track of time and practice accordingly.

The three sessions for the CAT 2023 exam are as follows:

• Morning session (Slot 1): 8:30 am - 10:30 am
• Afternoon session (Slot 2): 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
• Evening session (Slot 3): 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm

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CAT Exam Analysis

As per the CAT slot 1 and slot 2 aspirant, both slots CAT 2023 question paper were moderate. The overall CAT 2023 analysis will be available on the exam day after the conclusion of all slot. On this page, we will provide slot-wise CAT 2023 exam analysis which includes an in-depth discussion of the difficulty level of all the CAT exam sections, test pattern, weightage of the topics, changes in CAT (if any), number of good attempts, and section-wise CAT cutoff.

CAT Exam 2023 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.

CAT Exam Question Paper

Candidates appearing for the CAT 2023 must be aware of the CAT syllabus. It is important to know that there is no officially released CAT exam 2023 syllabus. However, candidates can learn about the IIM CAT syllabus 2023 through CAT mock tests, sample papers, previous CAT questions, etc. To download the previous year's CAT questions paper and sample papers, check the table below.

CAT 2023 Exam Preparation

Common Admission Test, CAT is one of the toughest MBA entrance tests to crack. Around 2.5 lakh students registered for CAT 2022, out of which 2.2 lakhs appeared in the test. With that, the competition for admission into the top B-schools is very high. So candidates must have a solid plan and strategy to prepare for CAT 2023. Here are a few tips to prepare for the CAT 2023 exam-

• Draw your own study strategy: Each candidate should have a distinct strategy of preparation made based on their ability. So divide the entire CAT syllabus into various sections and parts, so you can properly allot time for each section and commit to it. Make sure you give each section enough time to prepare well.
• Assess your ability: Identify your strengths and weaknesses so you can devote more time to areas where you are weak in.
• Choose the Mode of Preparation: Decide where you want to self-prepare for CAT 2023 exam or go for coaching classes. If you choose the self-study, make sure to use only the CAT preparation materials, books, and other resources.
• Focus on Mock Exams: As you have done some preparation and the basic concepts are clear, it is time to go for mock tests. This will help you know how your preparation is going and areas where you lag behind, so you can direct your focus accordingly.

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How to Prepare for CAT Exam at Home

The CAT exam, also known as the Common Admission Test, is an entrance exam for admission to postgraduate management programs in India. Students have questions like it is possible to prepare for the CAT exam at home, without joining a coaching institute. We share with you the five tips to prepare for CAT exam at home below.

• Tip 1: Effective time management is crucial for CAT exam preparation at home.
• Tip 2: Utilizing online resources, such as study materials and mock tests, is essential for comprehensive preparation.
• Tip 3: Creating a study plan and adhering to a disciplined schedule can significantly aid in preparing for the CAT exam at home.
• Tip 4: Regular practice of aptitude, logical reasoning, and data interpretation is crucial for success in the CAT exam.
• Tip 5: Self-assessment through analyzing CAT 2023 mock test performance and identifying strengths and weaknesses is crucial for continuous improvement.

The CAT exam can be effectively prepared for at home by managing time, utilizing online resources, following a study plan, practicing key subjects, and self-assessing through mock tests.

CAT Toppers Tips and Preparation Strategy

Most of the CAT toppers start their exam preparation in April-May. However, even if you start the preparation in July, you can score 99+ percentile if you follow a focused plan. Check the CAT topper tips below and know how previous year's toppers prepared for the CAT exam.

CAT 2023 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates who passed a 3-year bachelor's degree from any stream from a UGC-recognized degree are eligible to apply for CAT 2023. Check the detailed eligibility criteria below:

• Bachelor's degree from a recognized university with minimum 50% marks (45% in case of SC, ST, and PWD/DA category).
• Candidates who have done CA/CS/ICWA and have scored the required percentage can also appear for CAT 2023
• Candidates who are in the final year of their bachelor's degree can apply for the CAT exam 2023

CAT Exam 2023 Application Form

As per the CAT form date 2023, the application form has been released in online mode on August 2. Interested and eligible candidates can fill out the CAT 2023 application form till September 21, 2023. Candidates can fill out the CAT form 2023 at the official website, iimcat.ac.in. Candidates are required to pay the CAT 2023 registration fee of INR 2,400 for the general category and INR 1,200 for the reserved category.

CAT 2023 Registration Process | How to Register for the CAT Exam

The CAT registration 2023 exam consists of three steps. Candidates will have to complete all steps in order to successfully apply. As per CAT 2023 registration date, the window was available from August 2 to September 21. The stages of CAT 2023 registration are:

• Creating CAT login credentials
• Filling up the academic details in the application for CAT 2023
• Paying CAT 2023 registration fee

How to fill CAT 2023 application form step by step

The candidates can follow the step-by-step process below to fill out the CAT registration 2023 form.

• Visit the official website of CAT exam 2023, iimcat.ac.in CAT 2023
• On the home page, click on the “New Candidate Registration”
• A new page will open. Enter the following details
  • Name of the Candidate
  • Date of Birth
  • Email Address
  • Country
  • Mobile Number and
  • Captcha
• After filling in the required information, click on “Generate OTP”. OTP will be sent to the registered email ID and mobile number. Enter the received OPT to verify your email ID and mobile number.
• Now login again, using the CAT ID and password created, and fill in the following details.
  • Personal Details
  • Other Personal Details
  • Communication Address
  • Emergency Contact Details
• Upload Documents (in a prescribed format and size)
• Provide academic details of SSC/ Class 10, HSC/ Class 12, Bachelor’s Degree Details, Master’s Degree Details, and Other Professional Degree Details
• Enter only full-time work experience
• Select exam cities. Candidates can choose up to six cities as their preferred exam cites
• Pay the CAT 2023 registration fee through any of the available methods
  • For General Category Candidates: Rs 2400
  • For SC/ ST/ PwD: Rs 1200
• Take a printout of the filled CAT 2023 application for future reference

NOTE: If you have any queries about how to fill CAT exam application form, check the CAT 2023 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to get a clear idea about it.

The correction window for the submitted CAT 2023 application form has been closed on September 28, 2023, at 5 PM. It was opened on September 25, 2023, at 5 PM.