What's New in CAT 2023: IIM Lucknow was the conducting authority for the CAT 2023 exam which was held on November 26, 2023 . Aspirants had a clear understanding of the latest changes in CAT 2023 from the CAT 2023 notification . The CAT registration 2023 commenced on August 2, 2023 , and the deadline was September 21, 2023 . Candidates who intend to take the CAT exam this year need to be aware of certain key information. The duration of the CAT 2023 exam is expected to last two hours, and the candidates will be evaluated in three sections—DILR, VARC, and QA. Every section of the CAT 2023 will have a specified amount of time allotted for it, and the wrong answers will lead to negative markings.
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The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) administers the highly competitive CAT management entrance exam for candidates seeking admission to a range of
MBA courses
across the nation. The conducting authority, which is one of the IIMs, makes modifications or changes to the CAT exam pattern, curriculum, or other relevant aspects available in the year leading up to the exam. The article will give you a clear understanding of the latest changes in the CAT exam.
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What's New in CAT 2023?
Over the last 5 years, the substantial changes have been noticed in the CAT exam pattern 2023 have been mentioned below:
- The CAT 2023 will be administered by IIM Lucknow on November 26, 2023.
- The CAT 2023 will be conducted as a Computer-Based Test (CBT) over a duration of 2 hours. However, it will not be administered as an online exam.
- The CAT exam this year will include 66 questions, segregated into three sections: VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Ability. Earlier, the total number of questions was 100 divided into three sections.
- The CAT syllabus 2023 has been revised, and it now includes a variety of questions that include MCQs and non-MCQs.
- 25–30% of questions no longer carry a penalty.
- As more questions are focused on Reading Comprehension than Verbal Ability, the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Sections of the curriculum have seen the maximum level of modifications.
- The Quantitative Ability component of the curriculum has seen some revisions, with an increased emphasis on problems involving Arithmetic.
- There will be 18 or more questions out of 66 that will have no negative marking. Both MCQ and non-MCQ questions will be asked in the CAT 2023 exam, and there will be no negative marking for non-MCQs. A few MCQs will be converted to questions with no negative marking in the event that any non-MCQs have negative marking.
- In the CAT 2023 exam, there will be more than 48 multiple-choice questions that will result in a penalty of 1/3 negative marking.
- IIMs will shortlist applicants for the final admission round based on a minimum qualifying score required by the IIMs, ranging between 70 and 90 percentile, in each of the three sections of the CAT exam.
- In addition to having a high CAT exam score in each of the three sections, IIMs favor applicants with strong academic backgrounds diversity, and a variety of professional experiences.
CAT 2023 Revised Structure of Question Paper
Check the table below to gain insight into the revised structure of the CAT question paper.
Name of the Section | Time Limit | MCQs (with Negative Marking) | Non-MCQs (TITA Questions without Negative Marking) | Total Questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Section-1: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 40 Minutes | 21 | 3 | 24 |
Section-2: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 40 Minutes | 16 | 4 | 20 |
Section-3: Quantitative Ability (QA) | 40 Minutes | 14 | 8 | 22 |
Total (Overall) | 120 Minutes | 41 | 15 | 66 |
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What is a Good CAT 2023 Percentile/ Score?
CAT 2023 Conducting Body
Based on the historical rotation of the responsibility for conducting CAT among the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), IIM Lucknow is likely to be the institute that may conduct CAT 2023. IIM Lucknow was established in 1984 as the fourth Indian Institute of Management under the supervision of IIM Bangalore. IIM Lucknow is accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and can be regarded as one of the few institutes in India to have this international accreditation. For its academic rigour and overall performance, IIM Lucknow consistently ranks among the top management institutes in India and is widely recognized on a national as well as international level. The institution has a large and active alumni network that is crucial to preserving connections with companies and employers and fostering the professional development of current students.
What's New in CAT 2023: Exam Highlights
No changes have been observed in the main aspects of the CAT 2023 exam till now. The most important highlights of the CAT 2023 exam have been provided below.
Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
Conducting Authority | IIM Lucknow |
Exam Purpose | Admission into various postgraduate management programs, such as MBA, PGDM, and other management courses, offered by the IIMs and many other prestigious business schools across India. |
Exam Format | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
Exam Sections | Three sections - Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA) |
Number of Questions | 66 |
Duration |
The exam duration is 2 hours (120 minutes).
Each section has a specific time limit of 40 minutes, and candidates cannot switch between sections during the exam.
|
Difficulty Level |
Challenging and difficult nature
The exam evaluates candidates' problem-solving abilities, analytical skills, time management, and overall aptitude for management studies.
|
Exam Frequency | CAT is conducted once a year, usually in November or December |
Eligibility | Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university or institute. |
Application Process | Interested candidates must register and apply online during the specified registration period. The application process usually starts a few months before the exam date. |
Results and Admission | After the CAT exam, results are typically declared in January. Based on their CAT scores, candidates are shortlisted for further selection rounds, such as Group Discussion (GD), Written Ability Test (WAT), and Personal Interview (PI), conducted by individual IIMs and other participating institutes. |
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CAT 2023: Check Out Seat Reservation Policy at IIMs
What's New in CAT 2023: Eligibility Criteria
The CAT eligibility criteria 2023 are expected to be the same as last year. The specific eligibility requirements for CAT 2023 will be officially announced by the conducting IIM, i.e IIM Lucknow, in the notification. However, the eligibility criteria for CAT exam have generally been as follows:
Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
Educational Qualification |
|
Minimum Percentage |
|
Age Limit | There is no age limit for candidates applying to appear for the CAT exam. |
Reservation | As per the Indian government regulations, there are provisions for reservation of seats for candidates belonging to SC (Scheduled Caste), ST (Scheduled Tribe), OBC (Other Backward Classes), PwD (Persons with Disability), and other categories. Specific details about the reservation policy will be provided in the official CAT notification. |
Changes in CAT 2023 Exam Pattern
The CAT exam pattern 2023 is expected to be analogous to the exam pattern of last year.
- The CAT exam pattern consists of three sections, namely, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
- The exam will be conducted in a computer-based mode over an overall time limit of 2 hours or 120 minutes.
- A total of 66 questions will be asked in the CAT 2023 exam.
- The total marks for the CAT 2023 will be 198.
- Each section has a specific time limit of 40 minutes.
- Candidates can navigate between sections and attempt questions in any order they prefer.
- The application fee that needs to be submitted along with the CAT application form 2023 has been increased to INR 1200 for SC, ST, and PwD category candidates, and INR 2400 for all other categories of candidates.
However, the exam pattern is subject to change, and IIM Lucknow may introduce modifications for CAT 2023. Therefore, it is crucial to verify the latest exam pattern on the official CAT website or IIM Lucknow’s official notification. Here is the general exam pattern for CAT:
Name of the Section | Number of Questions | Syllabus |
|---|---|---|
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | Around 34-36 questions |
|
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | Around 32-34 questions |
|
Quantitative Ability (QA) | Around 34-36 questions |
|
Marking Scheme
- Each correct answer usually awards 3 marks.
- Each incorrect answer will result in a negative marking of 1 mark.
- There will be no negative marking for non-MCQs.
However, specific marking schemes may vary from year to year, so it's crucial to check the official CAT website for the latest information on the marking pattern.
Also Read:
List of MBA Colleges Accepting 90-95 Percentile in CAT 2023
CAT 2023 Slot Timings
The slot timings for the CAT exam are usually announced by the conducting IIM closer to the exam date. CAT is typically conducted in multiple sessions or slots on the same day or over multiple days. The exact schedule and slot timings are provided to the candidates during the CAT registration and admit card download process. The CAT 2023 exam will be administered in three sessions, as follows:
- Morning session (Slot 1): 8:30 am to 10:30 am
- Afternoon session (Slot 2): 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
- Evening session (Slot 3): 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
To stay updated on the latest information about CAT 2023 and the organizing IIM, candidates must regularly visit the official website of the CAT exam (iimcat.ac.in) and keep an eye on official announcements from IIM Lucknow.
Related Links:
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Filling CAT 2023 Application Form | |
|---|---|
CAT 2023 Study Plan for Students in Final Year of Graduation |
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