CAT exam is conducted every year for admission to the Indian Institute of Management i.e. IIM located across the country. Through CAT 2023, candidates will be given admission in various management courses and doctoral courses.
The application form for the Common Admission Test has been made available on August 2023. Interested candidates can fill their application form by visiting the official website iimcat.ac.in.

The CAT exam will be conducted in the last week of November 2023 after the application process is over. Students who have passed the examination will be called for Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI).
After completion of various process, candidates can take admission in various IIMs institutes and business schools in the country. Candidates can read this page in full for other information of CAT Exam like application process, eligibility, and criteria, seat details, etc.
For your information, let us know that every year about 2 lakh candidates appear in the CAT exam. To join this, candidates must first complete the application process through an online medium.
CAT Exam 2023
CAT Exam Overview
Name of Exam | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
Conducted by | IIM |
Exam Level | National Level |
Language | English |
Exam frequency | Once a year |
Exam Mode | Online |
Registration Mode | Online |
Exam Duration | 3 Hours |
Helpline Number | 18002090830 |
Official Website | https://iimcat.ac.in |
CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria
Qualification | Required Affiliation | Required Percentage |
Bachelor’s Degree from any University | Recognized by UGC | 50% (45% for SC, ST, PWD candidates) |
Engineering Degree – B.Tech/ B.E. | Recognized by MHRD/AICTE | 50% (45% for SC, ST, PWD candidates) |
Students who are in their final year of Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are also eligible take CAT Exam | Continuing graduation from University Recognized by MHRD/AICTE or UGC | 50% (45% for SC, ST, PWD candidates) |
CAT 2023 Exam Date
Event | Dates |
Notification Released | 4th week of July 2023 |
Start Online Registration | August 2023(10:00 AM) |
Last Date to Apply Online | 2nd week of September 2023(5:00 PM) |
Application Form Correction Date | 3rd week of September 2023 |
Admit Card Release Date | 4th week of October 2023 |
Exam Date | 4th week of November 2023 |
Result Release Date | December 2023 |
Application Fees
- General, OBC category candidates will have to pay an application fee of ₹ 2000.
- SC, ST, PWD category candidates will have to pay an application fee of ₹ 1000.
- The application fee will have to be paid through online mode by credit card, debit card and net banking.
- Application form will not be accepted without application fee.
IIM Reservation
Based on the CAT score, some seats have been reserved for different categories for admission in MBA Management course at IIM.
Category | Reservation |
Scheduled Cast (SC) | 15% |
Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
OBC (Non Creamy layer) | 27% |
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | 10% |
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) | 5% |
CAT Exam Pattern
It is very important for the candidates to know the exam pattern to join the CAT 2023 entrance exam. See below for the CAT 2022 exam pattern.
Section | No of Question | Marks |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | MCQ – 34 | 102 |
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | MCQ – 32 | 102 |
Quantitative Ability | MCQ – 34 | 96 |
Total | 100 | 300 |
CAT Exam Syllabus
The syllabus for CAT is remain same as the previous year syllabus. You can download the whole syllabus from click on the below link. The major section of this syllabus are:
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension(VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Aptitude(QA)
CAT Exam Preparation Tips
- The first thing you have to do is to collect the syllabus and read it carefully. Mark your weak and strong points in the syllabus.
- Now, collect last 10 years question papers to know the question pattern and types of question asked.
- Give more focus on your weakness so that you can have a good understanding before examination.
- After completing few topics, try to attempt mock test.
- While taking mock test do not use calculator as you will not be allowed to carry calculator during exam.
- Mock test will show you the exact situation of your preparation and give you knowledge about different types of question.
- Follow your timetable strictly and give mock test regularly.
Click Here to Read – How to Prepare for CAT 2023?
CAT Admit Card
CAT Admit Cards will be issued a few days before the 2023 Admission Test. CAT Admit Card will be issued online through CAT’s official website iimcat.ac.in from where you will be able to download the admit card by entering the registration number / ID and password.
At the time of examination (CBT), the candidates have to go with the admit card and a valid identity card, without the admit card and valid identity card, you will not be given entry in the examination hall. In the admit card, the candidates will have to enter the exam date, exam time, personal details, registration number, examination center, etc.
CAT Result
The result will be declared in the 1st week of December 2023. Candidates can check answer key and final result at the official website. Also, we will provide a direct link to check result for CAT 2023 Exam.
We hope this post will help you to know about the details of CAT Exam. If you want to get any latest update of CAT Exam then visit this page regular basis or follow us on Facebook to get instant notification.
CAT Exam FAQs
Q1: What is a CAT?
Ans: CAT is Common Admission Test. It is a computer based exam. Every year lakhs of students appear in this exam. This examination is conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM). Students study business administration programs through CAT and make a career in this field. There is no maximum age limit for this examination.
Q2: IIM What is it?
Ans: IIM Its full name is Indian Institute of Management. IIM By MBA Entrance test is conducted for selection of students for the programs called CAT. The score provided by CAT is only IIM. Not only this but also accredited by many other management schools.
Q3: How much time is sufficient to prepare for CAT?
Ans: Experts and qualified students claim that if the student studies smart and aiming, then six months time is sufficient to prepare for the CAT exam. In order to score good marks in this exam, candidates are required to score sufficiently. An adequate score does not mean that you answer all the questions. You should try for your selection to answer as many questions and all the answers are correct. Many of the top ranked students in the last few years say that they have passed the exam by studying 2-3 hours daily in a span of only six months. For this, you need to know the exam pattern.
Q4: I have not obtained my Bachelor degree or any professional degree like CA / CS / ICWA etc. Am I eligible to appear in CAT 2023?
Ans: Any candidate who has not graduated, or has not obtained any professional degree like CA / CS / ICWA etc., is not eligible to apply for CAT Exam.
Q5: Can I take a CAT exam just for practice? Although I know I’m not qualified?
Ans: If the candidates do not meet the eligibility criteria, then they are not allowed to sit in this exam just for practice. With this, sitting on it will be considered as one of your efforts.
Q6: I have not completed my graduation but I am in the final year of my professional degree. Can I give CAT Exam 2023?
Ans: No, only the final year students of Bachelor degree are eligible to sit in this exam. Students of the final year of the professional degree are not allowed to give this exam. Apart from this, the minimum percentage criteria qualification is also required to be fulfilled for any candidate applying for CAT 2023.
Q7: I am a general category candidate and have 49% marks in graduation degree. I have also obtained a master’s degree with 51%. Am I eligible to apply for CAT Exam?
Ans: No, as per CAT 2021 notification, to be eligible to apply for CAT 2021, candidates must have at least 50% marks in their graduation degree.
Q8: I am a PWD category candidate with 44% in graduation and 46% in master’s degree. Am I eligible to apply for CAT 2022?
Ans: No, according to the CAT 2021 notification, to be eligible to apply for CAT 2021, candidates need to have a minimum of 45% marks in their graduation degree.