CAT Exam: Evolution Over the Years

The Common Aptitude Test commonly known as CAT has been unpredictable over the years since it started. Every year the number of candidates increases like in the year 2018, 2,40,338 candidates registered themselves for the CAT exam. Whereas in the year 2019, 2,44,169 candidates registered themselves.

One reason for this huge registration is the participation of all the top institutes of the country such as IIMs, FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, IITs, IMT, IMI among others accept CAT score to grant admission to the MBA aspirants. Candidates without CAT score cannot seek admission to the top institutes of the country especially the IIMs.

The CAT test has a long way. Whether making the exam to computer-based or no switching between the sections. It had changed almost every year. The exam pattern of CAT has always added some new concepts every year to cope up with the growing competition among the candidates of the exam. 

The evolution and variations in the CAT exam pattern, the admission criteria of the IIMs, and the way it is conducted are the main reasons why CAT is one of the toughest exams in the country, and getting good marks to get into IIMs is not a cakewalk. 

Since 2015, the CAT exam pattern has upheld to a great extent. The exam is also now held in a single day in two slots i.e. Morning and evening. This year the CAT will be conducted by IIM Indore. It has been clarified that the exam pattern is not changed for this year despite COVID - 19 pandemic. The number of questions and the duration to attempt them remains the same. 

CAT 2023 Exam Pattern Highlights

• CAT 2023 Exam date will be conducted on November 26, 2023.
• It will be a computer-based exam.
• The duration of the exam will be 120 minutes i.e. 2 hours.
• CAT exam 2023 will be conducted in the Morning and Afternoon sessions.
• The Exam will have 66 Questions divided into MCQs and Non-MCQ type questions.
• The exam is divided into three sections: VARC (24 questions); DILR (20 questions); Quant (22 questions).
• MCQs have negative marking for the wrong answer and Non-MCQs do not carry a penalty of negative marking.
• 46 to 49 questions will have negative marking (MCQs).
• The candidates need to choose and click on correct answer out of 4 answer options for MCQ type questions.
• 17 to 20 questions will have no negative marking (Non-MCQ/TITA).
• The answer must be typed in the given space on the computer screen for Non-MCQ.
• Score awarded for each correct answer: 3 marks.
• 1 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.
• Candidates can not move randomly to the questions. Instead, a fixed order of sections is provided from the beginning of the test.
• The time to attempt each section is 40 minutes. You cannot move to another section during this time.
• Tutorials by IIMs will release to understand the format of CAT 2023 Test and question pattern on the CAT 2023.
• 155 cities will be conducting the CAT 2023 exam.

CAT Exam 2023: As per Revised Pattern

• IIM Lucknow will be conducting the CAT 2023 exam as a computer-based test. As per the revised pattern, CAT 2023 will have 66 questions that will be divided into 3 sections – VARC, DILR, and Quant. Each section contains an individual time limit of 40 minutes. 
• The candidates are required to ensure a high score in each of the three sections as there is also a sectional score cut off in IIMs for shortlisting. This computer-based test will be for 2 hours and it will be conducted in two slots i.e.Morning and afternoon.
• Since 2015, the CAT exam pattern has stabilized to a great extent. The exam is also now held in a single day in two slots.
• The number of applicants for the CAT exam has gone up to 2.2 lakhs last year from 1.95 lakhs in 2013.

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