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The exam pattern for CAT 2023 will be similar to that of 2022, although the overall number of questions will be lowered. As a result, applicants are urged to visit the website on a regular basis to ensure that they do not miss any CAT Exam updates. Any changes to the CAT pattern will be posted here. Candidates should be familiar with the most recent CAT exam paper pattern so that they can create efficient exam-day strategies. They must be aware of the grading scheme, sectional time restrictions, and other pertinent information. The CAT exam pattern has changed, and all candidates must be aware of this.
The CAT paper format will stay unchanged from 2020, although the total number of questions will be lowered. As a result, candidates should visit the website on a frequent basis to ensure that they do not miss any updates. The Computer-Based Test (CAT) will be conducted online (CBT). The CAT exam pattern has lately undergone a few adjustments. This section discusses the highlights of the CAT exam pattern 2023.
Duration: The total time allocated for the CAT has been decreased to 2 hours (120 minutes), with no breaks. Previously, the exam lasted three hours. Candidates must plan their strategy based on the length of the CAT exam.
Objective and non-objective type questions: Approximately 70%-75 percent of questions are objective type questions (MCQs), with the remaining 25%-30% being non-objective type, descriptive questions (Non-MCQs).
Sectional Time Limit: Candidates will have only 40 minutes to complete each part. There will be no additional time given to candidates to complete the part. It is also forbidden to move between the parts.
| Elements | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination type | Online, Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Number of sections | 3 sections- Verbal & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude |
| Duration of exam | 120 minutes (40 minutes per section) |
| Medium | English |
| Marking scheme | +3 marks for correct answer & -1 mark for the incorrect answer (MCQ) +3 marks for the correct answer. No negative marking. (TITA Questions) |
Note: The question paper in 2020 contained a total of 76 questions. In the year 2023, the number of questions is anticipated to remain the same. Candidates are, however, advised to wait until the entire number of questions is officially announced.
Depending on the student's skills and weaknesses, each component requires a varied level of preparation. Candidates can view the CAT exam pattern in PDF format on the internet. The CAT difficulty level ranges from mild to challenging. The CAT pattern 2023 is broken down into sections.
| AT Subjects | Abbreviation | Total Number of Questions (as per 2020) | Level of Difficulty | Number of MCQ (as per 2020) | Number of Non-MCQ (as per 2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | VARC | 26 | Moderate to Difficult | 18 | 8 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | DILR | 24 | Moderate to Difficult | 18 | 6 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | QA | 26 | Moderate to Difficult | 18 | 8 |
| Total | 76 | 54 | 22 |
Section-wise CAT 2023: Time duration
Duration of each section: Candidates will have two hours to answer all of the questions. Each section must be completed in under 40 minutes. During the exam, no sections can be replaced or swapped.
Previous years' CAT exam duration: Prior to 2020, the CAT exam was 180 minutes long, or 3 hours.
DA and PWD Duration: Persons with Disabilities and DA (Differently Abled) candidates will be allocated 53 minutes and 20 seconds to complete each section.
Below is a table containing information about the CAT 2023 question paper, including the types of questions, marks awarded for correct answers, and marks deducted for each incorrect answer, as well as questions that were not attempted.
| Type of Question | Correct Answer | Incorrect Answer | Non-attempted Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCQ | 3 | -1 | 0 |
| Non-MCQ | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Before taking the CAT exam, students need have a fundamental understanding of how to answer questions. Candidates should examine the following choices when answering questions.
Save and go to Next: Candidates should select one answer, save it, and then go on to the next question.
Clear Response: Candidates will be given the option of removing their response to the question they were asked.
Mark for Review and Next: If a candidate is doubtful about an answer, they can flag it for review, answer it, and go on to the next question.
Note: Use the mouse provided for answering questions. If you use the system keyboard, the computer screen will be locked.
To find out what each colour on the panel represents, look at the information below.
| Panel Colour | What it Indicates |
| Red | The question was not answered and is not marked for review. |
| Green | The question was answered and not reviewed. |
| Grey | Question not viewed or visited. |
| Violet | The question is marked for review and not yet answered. |
| Violet with Green tick | The question was marked and answered for review. |
The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude components of the CAT question paper for 2023 will be separated into three sections (QA). The various types of questions that could be asked in each part are covered further down. Candidates are encouraged to review the topics/types and practise similar questions in order to improve their speed and accuracy.
| Topic | Expected Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Seating Arrangement, and Data Arrangement | 2-3 Questions |
| Graphs Related | 5-6 Questions |
| Syllogisms and Venn Diagrams | 2-3 Questions |
| Blood Relations | 2-3 Questions |
| Clocks and Calendars | 1-2 Questions |
| Assumption and Binary Logic | 1-2 Questions |
| Puzzles | 1-2 Questions |
| Tables and Caselets | 3-5 Questions |
| Data Sufficiency | 3-5 Questions |
| CAT 2023 Exam Pattern Quantitative Aptitude | |
|---|---|
| Topic | Expected Number of Questions |
| Number System, Basic Arithmetic | 4-8 Questions |
| Algebra | 3-5 Questions |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 3-5 Questions |
| Time, Speed, and Distance | 1-3 Questions |
| Probability | 1-2 Questions |
| Permutation & Combination | 1-2 Questions |
| Trigonometry, Logarithms, and Sets | 1-3 Questions |
| Profit, Loss, and Discounts | 1-2 Questions |
| Time and Work | 1-2 Questions |
| Simple Interest and Compound Interest | 1-2 Questions |
| CAT 2023 Exam Pattern Verbal Ability | |
|---|---|
| Topic | Expected Number of Questions |
| Reading Comprehension | 15-18 Questions |
| Para-Jumbles | 3-4 Questions |
| Para-Summary | 2-3 Questions |
| Sentence Completion and Correction | 2-3 Questions |
| Fill in the Blanks | 1-2 Questions |
| Odd Sentences | 1-2 Questions |
| Vocabulary Based | 1-2 Questions |
