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- CAT 2023
CAT 2023 Exam Date, Registration, Pattern, Syllabus, Preparation, Question Papers, Cut off
- CAT 2023
- Eligibility
- Syllabus
- Preparation
When can I apply for CAT 2023?
CAT 2023 registration will begin in the first week of August 2023. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university will be able to apply for CAT 2023 till the third week of September 2023.
- 21 January, 2023 : IIM CAP 2023 Registration Last Date Extended, Apply till Jan 22
- 04 January, 2023 : CAT 2022 Topper Interview "Practice Makes Perfect"- Adarsh Singh, 99.8
- 04 January, 2023 : Qualifying CAT 2022 Cut off percentile released by IIMs, Check Here
- 03 January, 2023 : CAT Previous Year Papers are Available for Download, Check Here
- 02 January, 2023 : CAT 2022 Cut off and MBA Admission Criteria for IITs, Check Here
CAT 2023 exam will be conducted in 3 slots on November 26, 2023 likely by either IIM Lucknow or IIM Calcutta. CAT 2023 Registration will begin in the first week of August 2023 with the release of the official notification. As per CAT eligibility criteria, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks.
Candidates planning to take CAT 2023 must download and solve CAT question papers of previous years. As per the latest CAT Exam Pattern, the question paper comprises 66 questions divided into three sections- VARC (24), DILR(20), and QA(22). Check CAT Syllabus
Like previous years, CAT 2023 will have 2 types of questions- MCQs and TITA. As per CAT exam marking scheme, 3 marks are awarded for the correct answer. For incorrect MCQs, 1 mark is deducted and there is no negative marking for TITA questions. Check CAT 2023 Exam Pattern
CAT Cut off (qualifying) for IIMs ranges from 80-95 percentile. To get 95+ percentile in CAT 2023, once must attempt at least 60% of the questions with 95% accuracy. Check CAT Score Vs Percentile
CAT 2023 Exam Dates
Events | Dates (Tentative) |
CAT 2023 Official Notification | July 31, 2023 |
CAT 2023 Application form release date | August 3, 2023 |
Last date to apply for the application form | September 14, 2023 |
Last date to submit the fees for the Application Form | September 14, 2023 |
CAT 2023 Form Correction Window shall open | 3rd week of September 2023 |
CAT 2023 Admit Card Release date | October 27, 2023 |
CAT 2023 Exam date | November 26, 2023 |
CAT 2023 Result announcement date | January 2024 |
CAT 2023 Exam Highlights
Particulars | Details |
Name of Exam | CAT 2023 |
CAT Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
Frequency of CAT exam | Annually |
CAT Registration Process | Online |
Duration of the Exam | 120 minutes |
CAT Exam Sections |
|
Number of Questions | 66 |
Medium of CAT Exam | English |
Courses Offered | MBA/ PGDM in various streams at 20 IIMs, 8 IITs, and other top management colleges |
CAT 2023 Notification
CAT 2023 Notification will be released by the exam conducting IIM on July 31, 2023. CAT 2023 Notification will mention all the important details that the candidates require. CAT Notification PDF will be uploaded on the official IIM CAT website- iimcat.ac.in. The details mentioned in the official notification of CAT 2023 will include:
CAT 2023 Registration
CAT 2023 Registration has to be done online on the official website- iimcat.ac.in. Given below are the details on CAT registration process and fees.
New Registration
- Visit the official website for CAT 2023.
- Click on New Candidate Registration and fill in all the basic details- name, DOB, email address, phone number, and country of origin..
- A unique user ID and password will be sent to your registered email address and mobile number after verification.
Fill CAT 2023 Application Form
- Fill up the personal, academic, and work experience details such as father’s name, mother’s name, date of birth, gender, nationality, category, address, graduation percentage, class 10th & 12th marks, and full-time work experience.
- Choose the IIMs as per your preference and the course you want to take admission in.
- You can select up to six cities as CAT examination centers.
Upload Documents for CAT 2023 Registration
You need to upload the below-mentioned documents while filling up the application form:
Document | Format | File Size |
Photo | .JPG/ .JPEG | <= 80 Kb |
Signature | .JPG/ .JPEG | <= 80 Kb |
NC-OBC/SC/ST Certificate | <=200 Kb | |
PwD/DA Certificate | <=200 Kb |
Payment of CAT 2023 Application Fee
- Payment of CAT application fee can be done via online mode only.
- After making the payment, submit the online application form and download it for future reference.
Category | CAT Application Fee |
General/ EWS/ NC-OBC | INR 2,300 |
SC/ST/PwD | INR 1,150 |
CAT 2023 Exam Pattern
CAT 2023 will be conducted in 3 slots. The question paper will be as per the below-mentioned CAT exam pattern defined by the authorities.

Particulars | Details |
Mode of Examination | Online |
Total Duration | 120 minutes |
Type of Questions | MCQs and TITA-type questions |
Number of MCQs | 75% |
Number of TITA Questions | 25% |
Sectional Duration | 40 minutes |
Sections | 3- VARC, QA, DILR |
No. of Questions | 66 |
Section-wise Distribution of Questions |
|
Total Marks | 198 |
Marks Awarded for Correct Answer | 3 |
Negative Marking | -1 for every wrong MCQ answer; No Negative Marks for TITA type Questions |
Medium | English |
CAT 2023 Syllabus
CAT Exam Syllabus 2023 is divided into 3 sections- VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension), QA (Quantitative Aptitude), and DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning).
CAT Exam Section | CAT Syllabus Topics |
CAT VARC | Reading Comprehension- Passages of 400-500 words based on various fields like Management, Business, Science & Tech, Economy, Abstract, Literature, Art & Culture Verbal Ability- Para Jumbles, Summary, Sentence Completion, Odd Sentence Out, Antonyms & Synonyms, Error Detection |
CAT QA | Arithmetic- Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Time Speed & Distance, Mixtures, Ratio & Proportion, Percentage, Averages Geometry & Mensuration- Lines & Angles, Circles, Triangles, Polygons, Area & Volume of 2D and 3D figures Algebra- Quadratic Equations, Series, Inequalities, Functions, Surds & Indices Numbers and Modern Math (P&C, Probability) |
CAT DILR | Data Interpretation- Caselets, Tabular DI, DI sets based on Charts and Graphs Logical Reasoning- Syllogisms, Puzzles, Critical Reasoning, Blood Relations, Coding-Decoding, Statement & Assumption, Inference, Seating Arrangement, Ranking, Direction sense test |
CAT 2023 Admit Card
CAT 2023 Admit Card will be released in the last week of October 2023 on the official website- iimcat.ac.in.
- Successfully registered candidates will be able to download their CAT admit card by logging in with their registration id and password.
- CAT Admit Card is an important document that contains the details of test center, time & date of exam, and the important instructions for exam day.
- It is mandatory to carry CAT admit card to the allotted test center on the exam day.
CAT 2023 Exam Centers
CAT 2023 is expected to be held in CBT mode in 400+ test centers located in 153+ test cities.
- Candidates can choose 6 test center preferences while filling CAT 2023 application form.
- CAT exam center will be allotted to the candidates depending on their preference filled in the application form.
- CAT exam center allotted in the admit card cannot be changed under any circumstances.
CAT 2023 Answer Key
IIM will release CAT 2023 Answer Key 7-10 days after the conclusion of the exam. IIM will also release the response sheet for CAT 2023 exam along with the official answer sheet.
- Based on the tentative dates, CAT 2023 Answer Key will likely be released on or before December 7, 2023.
- Candidates will be able to calculate their scores using CAT 2023 answer keys.
- IIM will also open the answer key objection window for CAT exam 2023 for 3-4 days.
How to Check CAT 2023 Answer Key?
To check CAT 2023 Answer Key and Response Sheet, the step-by-step procedure is provided below:
- Login on the official CAT 2023 website using your user id and password.
- Click on the link for CAT 2023 Answer Key for downloading the PDF.
- Save CAT 2023 answer key pdf for your reference.
CAT 2023 Result
IIM will release CAT 2023 Result in the first week of January 2024. CAT Result 2023 will be released online only on the official website of IIM CAT 2023. Candidates who take CAT 2023 have to use their user id and password to check the result.
- The validity of CAT Result is 1 year from the date of its release.
- If, based on CAT 2023 result, you do not take admission to the 2024-26 batch, then you will have to take CAT exam again in 2024.
- You can download CAT scorecard on the official website till December 31, 2024
- CAT 2023 result cum scorecard will mention your overall and sectional scores & percentile.
How to Check CAT 2023 Result?
To check CAT 2023 Result, you must follow the below-mentioned steps:
- Visit the official CAT website- iimcat.ac.in 2023.
- Click on the link for CAT 2023 Score Card Download.
- Login using your CAT 2023 user id and password.
- Download your CAT score card from the redirected page.
- Save CAT 2023 result pdf for all future correspondence.
CAT 2023 Cut off
Qualifying CAT 2023 Cut off will be released by all IIMs for admission to 2024-26 MBA batch. It is mandatory to qualify both overall and sectional CAT cut offs to be eligible for participating in GD-PI rounds. Based on previous year cut off trends, the minimum qualifying cut off for top IIMs is tabulated below:
IIM | CAT Cut off DILR | CAT Cut off VARC | CAT Cut off QA | Overall CAT Cut off Percentile |
IIM Bangalore | 75 | 80 | 75 | 85 |
IIM Ahmedabad | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
IIM Lucknow | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 |
IIM Kozhikode | 75 | 75 | 75 | 80 |
IIM Calcutta | 80 | 80 | 75 | 85 |
IIM Indore | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 |
IIM Visakhapatnam | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
IIM Nagpur | 72 | 72 | 72 | 85 |
IIM Amritsar | 75 | 75 | 80 | 85 |
IIM Rohtak | - | - | - | 95 |
IIM Shillong | 75 | 75 | 75 | - |
CAT 2023 Cut off for IIM CAP Participating IIMs
IIM CAP (Common Admission Process) counselling process is conducted by one of the 9 participating IIMs. The qualifying CAT Cut off for these IIMs is available below:
CAP Participating IIM | Overall CAT Cut off Percentile |
IIM Udaipur | 92 |
IIM Sirmaur | 92 |
IIM Raipur | 92 |
IIM Kashipur | 92 |
IIM Ranchi | 92 |
IIM Trichy | 92 |
IIM Bodh Gaya | 92 |
IIM Jammu |
|
IIM Sambalpur |
|
CAT Latest Notifications
- 21 January, 2023 : IIM CAP 2023 Registration Last Date Extended, Apply till Jan 22
- 04 January, 2023 : CAT 2022 Topper Interview "Practice Makes Perfect"- Adarsh Singh, 99.8
- 04 January, 2023 : Qualifying CAT 2022 Cut off percentile released by IIMs, Check Here
- 03 January, 2023 : CAT Previous Year Papers are Available for Download, Check Here
- 02 January, 2023 : CAT 2022 Cut off and MBA Admission Criteria for IITs, Check Here
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2022 is that the candidate must have completed a graduation with a minimum of 50% marks. Also, 5% relaxation in qualifying marks will be given to reserved category candidates.
- Candidates in the final year of graduation are also allowed to complete CAT 2022 Registration. Moreover, there is no age limit to appear for the exam.
- Also, candidates with the reserved category can take the benefit of reservation policy while filling the online application form. Check CAT 2022 Reservation
CAT Eligibility 2022 Key Highlights
Abbreviation | Common Admission Test |
CAT Conducting Body | Indian Institute of Management |
CAT Minimum Educational Qualification | Bachelors Degree |
CAT Minimum Marks | 50% (General and NC/OBC) |
Relaxation | 5% for reserved categories |
CAT Age Limit | None |
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2022: Age Limit
There is no upper and lower limit criteria prescribed by the authority.
Criteria | Details |
Upper Age Limit | Not Applicable |
Lower Age Limit | Not Applicable |
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2022: Educational Qualification
Here is the minimum Educational Qualifications for CAT:
- The candidate should have completed his/her Bachelor’s degree program in any stream from a recognized university or have an equivalent qualification that is recognized by the Ministry of HRD, India.
- For general and NC-OBC category candidates, the minimum percentage required in the bachelor’s degree is 50%.
- Candidates from the reserved categories must attain a minimum aggregate percentage of 45% in the bachelor's program.
- For candidates who are awarded grades or CGPA, the conversion of grades or CGPA will be according to the process certified by the university/ institute.
- Candidates in the final year of the program or awaiting their results can also apply. In such cases, a candidate will have to submit a certificate issued by the Principal/Registrar of the College/Institution latest by the specified date. The certificate should state that the candidate has completed the requirements of the course.
The academic qualification details of CAT Eligibility are tabulated below:
Qualification | University | Pass Percentage |
Engineering Degree – B. Tech/ B.E. | Recognized by MHRD/ UPSC/AICTE | 50% (45% for SC, ST, PWD candidates) |
Bachelor’s Degree from any University | Recognized by UGC | 50% (45% for SC, ST, PWD candidates) |
Students who are pursuing the final year of their Bachelor’s degree can also take the examination. | Continuing graduation from University Recognized by MHRD/ UPSC/AICTE or UGC | 50% (45% for SC, ST, PWD candidates) |
CA/CS/ICWA/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI) | Recognized by MHRD/ UPSC/AICTE | 50% (45% for SC, ST, PWD candidates) |
CAT Eligible Degrees
There are certain degrees that are considered equivalent to a bachelor's degree. Candidates who possess or are pursuing any of these degrees are also eligible to appear for CAT 2022. The equivalent qualifications valid for appearing in CAT are listed below:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Technology of 4-years duration completed after 10+2 or Post B.Sc. or Post Diploma.
- A degree equivalent to a bachelor's degree in Engineering and Technology of Professional Societies recognized by MHRD/UPSC/AICTE such as AMIE by Institution of Engineers, India or AMICE by Institute of Civil Engineers of India.
- Qualification is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree recognized by the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi.
- Candidates with CA/CS/ICWA degree (Gen: 50% & SC/ST/ PWD: 45%) can also apply.
- A candidate with any other qualification not listed here can also apply, but they will have to produce an equivalency certificate issued by the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi.
CAT Eligibility: Marks Calculation
As the respective Institutes or universities from which candidates have passed their graduation follow their own practice to calculate aggregate marks, percentage calculation in CAT will be based on that.
- Note 1: A recognized university is one that is constituted by an Act of the Central or State Legislature. It also includes any university or institute which is established by an act of Parliament or is declared as deemed to be a University under Section 3 of the UGC Act of 1956.
- Note 2: In the case of Universities that award grades or CGPA, but do not have a procedure for conversion of grades to the percentage, the equivalent percentage will be calculated by the given process:
- Candidate’s CGPA/Maximum CGPA) X 100 = Equivalent Percentage
CAT Eligibility 2022 for Final Year Students
The eligibility criteria for CAT is graduation, although final year students of various bachelor's degree courses can also take the test. However, a candidate will be admitted into a course only if he clears graduation with at least 50% marks. IIMs and other management institutes verify CAT eligibility at various stages of the selection process. After taking CAT 2022, shortlisted candidates must follow the following instructions-
- They must show an original certificate from the Principal/Head of the Department/Registrar/Director of the University/Institution certifying that they have obtained 50% marks or equivalent (45% in case of reserved category) based on latest available grades/marks.
- They must also submit a set of photocopy of the original certificates at the time of the interview.
For the PGP in IIMs, selected candidates will be allowed to join the program provisionally only if they submit a certificate, stating-
- They have completed all the requirements (the results may, however, be awaited) for obtaining the bachelor’s degree/ equivalent qualification on the date of issue of the certificate.
- Their admission will be confirmed only when they submit the original mark sheet and degree certificate of having passed the bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification referred to in the certificate issued by the Principal/Registrar of their college/institute.
- They must obtain at least 50% marks or equivalent. They must submit a photocopy of the mark sheets and degree certificate.
- Non-fulfillment of this condition will automatically result in the cancellation of the provisional admission.
- IIMs would not allow any candidate to join their program in case the candidate is unable to complete all the requirements for a bachelor degree.
CAT Eligibility vs IIM Eligibility: What is the Difference?
There are certain differences between eligibility norms of IIMs and CAT eligibility and candidates due to appear for the exam must be aware of those differences.
- There is no age limit defined in the eligibility norms of IIMs or CAT.
- Though 2 Years Bachelors's degree is not accepted by IIMs though acceptable to appear for CAT as per the old educational system.
- Apart from this, there are no particular differences unless defined by IIMs in particular.
- Work experience is preferential in IIMs along with the diversity of academic and co-curricular activities which are not mandatory to appear for CAT.
Who isn’t eligible for CAT?
The following aspirants are not eligible to sit for CAT:
- If the score of the candidate is less than 50% in graduation (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates), he or she is not eligible to apply for CAT.
- The candidates pursue both their bachelor's degree and professional degree but have yet to complete both of them.
- The candidate will be considered ineligible to appear for the exam if his/her graduation is not recognized by the UGC/AICTE/MHRD.
Work Experience Requirement for IIM
- It is not mandatory for candidates to hold any prior work experience.
- Although the CAT Application Form does ask for it, it is not a necessary condition to fulfil.
- It must be noted that at the time of final selection, this work experience may be given some weightage by the IIMs. However, the exact weightage is never revealed and it varies from one IIM to another.
- The bottom line is that work experience does not come into play till the last stage of final selection, and even then it does not play a deciding factor.
- IIMs have been known to have a mixed batch comprising both fresh graduates and students with work experience.
CAT Reservation Criteria 2022
- IIMs follow the reservation guideline of the central government for admission to their MBA programs.
- Consequently, the reservation norms are also applicable to CAT 2022.
- There are two types of reservations of seats at IIMs – Caste based reservation and Reservation for Differently abled individuals.
- Following the 124th Amendment Bill in the Constitution of India, IIMs have also introduced the EWS quota this year.
- Persons who are not covered under the scheme of reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs and whose family has a gross annual income below Rs 8 lakh are only identified as EWS for the benefit of reservation.
Caste Based Reservation Policy
The candidates falling in the SC, ST, or NC-OBC category fall under the aegis of Caste-based reservation policy. The rules which apply to these categories are as follows:
- Candidates who belong to the SC or ST categories must have scored an aggregate of 45% in their Bachelor’s degree program.
- Candidates who belong to the NC-OBC category must have scored an aggregate of 50% in their Bachelor’s degree program.
The distribution of seat reservation based on caste is given below:
CATEGORY | PERCENT OF SEATS RESERVED |
Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
Other Backwards Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (NC-OBC) | 27% |
EWS | 10% |
CAT Essential Certificates
Those applying under the Differently Abled category must upload a PwD/DA certificate at the time of applying. They also need to produce the original certificate at the time of interview in the desired format:
- NC-OBC Certificate
- SC-ST Certificate
- DA/PwD Certificate
- Format for Final Year Certificate
- Format for Candidate Identification Affidavit
CAT Latest Notifications
- 21 January, 2023 : IIM CAP 2023 Registration Last Date Extended, Apply till Jan 22
- 04 January, 2023 : CAT 2022 Topper Interview "Practice Makes Perfect"- Adarsh Singh, 99.8
- 04 January, 2023 : Qualifying CAT 2022 Cut off percentile released by IIMs, Check Here
- 03 January, 2023 : CAT Previous Year Papers are Available for Download, Check Here
- 02 January, 2023 : CAT 2022 Cut off and MBA Admission Criteria for IITs, Check Here
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus includes sections like Algebra, Geometry, Number Systems, Geometry, and Modern Maths. As per the experience of CAT test-takers, the difficulty level of questions asked from CAT QA syllabus is moderate to high.
- Based on the changes introduced in CAT Exam Pattern last year, a total of 22 questions worth 66 marks will be asked from CAT 2022 Syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude.
- As per CAT 2022 QA marking scheme, 3 marks will be awarded for every correct answer and 1 mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
- In 2021, CAT question paper for QA comprised 14 MCQs and 8 TITA-type questions, and attempting 16-17 questions was considered good. Check CAT QA Exam Analysis
- CAT Quantitative Aptitude Preparation should begin early as it requires more practice and focus to learn various formulas, tips & tricks of solving mathematical problems in less time. Download CAT QA Question Papers
- CAT QA Section can be the most decisive subject when it comes to deciding the CAT Cut off, which ranges from 70-85 percentile in the Quantitative Aptitude Section.
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Exam Pattern 2022 (Updated)
Here are all the necessary details candidates need to know about CAT QA Exam Pattern:
Pattern | Details |
Total Questions in CAT Quantitative Aptitude Section | 22 |
Total Marks in Quantitative Aptitude For CAT Section | 66 |
Type of Questions in Quantitative Section | MCQs and TITA (non-MCQ) |
Total MCQs in Quant for CAT Section | 14-15 |
Total Non-MCQs (TITA) in QA Section | 7-8 |
Time Limit | 40 minutes |
Difficulty in Quantitative Aptitude For CAT Section | Moderate to High |
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus 2022
CAT Aspirants must be perfectly acquainted with CAT quantitative aptitude syllabus which has been determined based on the past years question papers. This is crucial for preparation, so here is the CAT QA Syllabus for your reference:
CAT QA Syllabus | ||
Coordinate Geometry | Mensuration | LCM & HCF |
Set theory & Function | Probability | Quadratic and Linear Equations |
Number System | Averages | Complex Numbers |
Ratio, Proportion & Variation | Speed, Time and Distance | Geometry |
Compound Interest | Profit, Loss and Discount | Algebra |
Trigonometry | Permutation and Combination | Progressions and Series |
Quantitative Aptitude Questions | Quantitative Aptitude Shortcut Techniques for CAT | Number System Shortcut for CAT |
Shortcuts in Averages | Remainder Concepts | Circles |
Factorials | Power Cycle | Relatives Speed |
Arithmetic Progression | Polygons | Harmonic Progression |
Quadrilaterals | Points, Lines and Planes | Circles |
Angles | Geometric Progression | Weighted Average |
Graphical Division Geometry | Similar Triangles | Derangement |
Applications of Averages | Conditional probability | Application of Power Cycle |
Constant Product Rule | Laws in Set Theory | Properties of Ratio |
Triangles | Boats and Streams for CAT | Escalator Questions for CAT |
CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Syllabus includes topics like puzzles on words & letters, seating arrangements, blood relations, etc. As per CAT test-takers, the difficulty level of questions asked from CAT DILR syllabus is moderate to high.
- As per CAT Exam Pattern 2022, a total of 20 questions worth 60 marks will be asked from CAT 2022 Syllabus for DILR.
- CAT DILR Question Paper has questions in the form of sets. Last year, there were 4 DILR sets- 2 with 6 questions each, and 2 with 4 questions each. Check CAT DIRL Exam Analysis
- Questions from CAT Logical Reasoning Syllabus are asked from topics like blood relations, seating arrangements, puzzles, etc., and in CAT DI, questions are based on data represented in tables, charts, etc. Also Check CAT Cut off
- CAT Quantitative Aptitude Preparation should primarily be focused on solving mock tests, sample papers, and questions of varying levels of difficulty from CAT DILR preparation books.
CAT DILR Exam Pattern (Updated)
Section Name | Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning |
Allotted Time | 40 minutes |
Total Number of Questions | 20 |
Number of Data Interpretation Questions | 8-10 |
Number of Logical Reasoning Questions | 8-12 |
Total Marks | 60 |
Type of Questions | MCQs, Non-MCQs |
Marks Awarded for Each Correct Answer | + 3 |
Negative Marks for Each Wrong Answer | -1 |
Difficulty Level of Questions | Moderate to Difficult |
CAT Data Interpretation Syllabus
Topic | Description |
Tables and Charts | Comparison of data for various years and ages |
Graph, Bar diagram | Data analysis, comparison of various years, groups, and classes |
Tables, Pie chart | Decoding and determining the data of missing period, taking clues, and interpreting the missing links |
Graphs, Charts | Data analysis and finding conclusions, making future projections |
CAT Logical Reasoning Syllabus
Topic | Description |
Arrangements/Rankings/Team Formation | Seating arrangement, ranks, types of team formation |
Quantitative Reasoning/Puzzles | Arithmetic, geometrical data, puzzles on words, letters, arrangements, seating |
Syllogisms/Logical Deduction | Questions based on statements and arguments |
Venn Diagrams/Binary Logic | Questions on set theory and network diagrams |
CAT Latest Notifications
- 21 January, 2023 : IIM CAP 2023 Registration Last Date Extended, Apply till Jan 22
- 04 January, 2023 : CAT 2022 Topper Interview "Practice Makes Perfect"- Adarsh Singh, 99.8
- 04 January, 2023 : Qualifying CAT 2022 Cut off percentile released by IIMs, Check Here
- 03 January, 2023 : CAT Previous Year Papers are Available for Download, Check Here
- 02 January, 2023 : CAT 2022 Cut off and MBA Admission Criteria for IITs, Check Here
CAT Preparation 2022 should start with the understanding of the detailed syllabus of the 3 sections i.e. VARC, DILR & QA, and deciding on which subject to start with. Check CAT 2022 Syllabus
- Based on the experience of test-takers, CAT DILR preparation takes time as the topics involve the thinking process whereas on the other hand CAT VARC Preparation does not take must time because calculations are not involved in this subject.
- CAT Quant Preparation needs more focus as you need to learn various formulas and should have good knowledge of tips & tricks of solving mathematical questions in less time.
- Candidates are advised to follow the 6 month timetable which should include all the 3 subjects, important sub-topics, and solving CAT previous years’ question paper.
- Topics like Reading Comprehension and Para-jumbles in VARC, Graphs, and Charts in DILR, and Number System and Geometry in Quant carry maximum weightage. Therefore it is necessary for CAT aspirants to be thorough with the CAT Exam Pattern 2022.
CAT Preparation 2022: Exclusive Study Plan for 1 Year
CAT Preparation Plan for VARC
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | |
Topic | Approx. Number of Days Required |
English Usage/Grammar | 8 |
Sentence correction | 8 |
Fill in the blanks | 8 |
Para completion | 20 |
Jumbled paragraph | 20 |
Odd sentence out | 20 |
Para summary | 20 |
Verbal reasoning | 6 |
Critical Reasoning | 6 |
Reading Comprehension | 24 |
CAT Preparation Plan for DILR
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | |
Topic | Approx. Number of Days Required |
Arrangements | 11 |
Venn Diagrams | 6 |
Set theory | 8 |
Selections & Ordering | 11 |
Networks & Routes | 6 |
Games & Tournaments | 8 |
DI based reasoning | 8 |
Tables | 8 |
Graphs | 19 |
Charts | 14 |
Caselets | 8 |
Combinations | 6 |
Data Sufficiency | 6 |
CAT Preparation Plan for QA
Quantitative Ability | |
Topic | Approx. Number of Days Required |
Number System | 15 |
Averages | 6 |
Percentages | 5 |
Profit, loss & discount | 6 |
Simple & compound interest | 5 |
TSD | 6 |
Time & work | 4 |
Mixtures & allegation | 4 |
Ratio & proportion | 4 |
Linear equations | 4 |
Quadratic equations | 5 |
Inequalities | 4 |
Logarithm | 4 |
Progressions | 4 |
Surds & Indices | 4 |
P&C | 9 |
Probability | 5 |
Functions | 4 |
Geometry | 15 |
Coordinate geometry | 3 |
Mensuration | 8 |
CAT Preparation 2022: Time Required for Each Subject
For the candidate's convenience, find a breakdown of the ideal time that should be devoted to each subject for each day. This timetable can be modified based on the candidate's preference.
Day | 2 hours | 1-2 hours | 1 hour |
Monday | QA | DI/LR | VA/RC |
Tuesday | QA | DI/LR | VA/RC |
Wednesday | QA | DI/LR | VA/RC |
Thursday | QA | DI/LR | VA/RC |
Friday | QA | DI/LR | VA/RC |
Saturday | Take a Full-length Mock (3 Hours) | ||
Sunday | Mock Analysis( 2-3 Hours) and retaking the same mock (3 Hours) |
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Important Topics, Syllabus, and Tips | CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Important Topics, Syllabus, and Tips | CAT Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning Important Topics, Syllabus, and Tips |
CAT Preparation 2022: How to Prepare for CAT Quantitative Aptitude?
Candidates should begin revision with the Number System section and then follow it up with Algebra, Permutation and Combination and other topics
Important Topics | Answering Tips |
Number System | Elementary concepts of remainders, Divisibility rules, Concepts of Digits, Elementary Properties of Numbers, Factorization, HCF, and LCM |
Algebra | Linear and Quadratic Equations, Logarithms, Progressions, Functions |
Geometry | Similar triangles, Pythagoras Theorem, Fundamentals of Circles, Mensuration, Polygons |
Arithmetic | Percentage, TSD, Ratio, Profit & Loss |
Modern Maths | Set Theory, Sequence & Series, Principles of Counting |
- Lay the foundation and brush up on the concepts. If you don’t know the basics of any topic, you cannot solve complex questions.
- Learn time-saving techniques like tables till 40, squares up to 30, cubes up to 20, and percentage equivalent of fractions till 25.
- Maintain a formula book. Note down all the essential and direct formulas and go through them regularly.
- Practice solving questions within 2 minutes. This is the average time you get to spend on each question in CAT 2022 Quant section
- When you attempt QA in mocks, break the entire section into three parts as per the difficulty level of the question- easy, moderate, and difficult.
- You need to solve more questions in less time. It is better to solve 3 easy questions than 1 difficult question.
CAT Quant Study Material | |
Tricks to Solve QA Questions in 1 Minute | How to Prepare for CAT Arithmetic? |
How to Prepare for CAT Geometry? | How to Prepare for CAT Algebra? |
How to Prepare for CAT Mensuration? | How to Prepare for CAT Trigonometry? |
Shortcut Methods for CAT QA | Importact Formulas for CAT QA |
CAT Preparation 2022: How to Prepare for CAT DILR?
For the past two years, DI/LR has proved to be the most difficult of the three sections. The absence of a set syllabus makes preparing for this section difficult. Practice is the only way to ace this section. You can follow the tips mentioned below:
- Syllogism is a very scoring section and thus candidates should pay ample attention and use Venn diagrams to solve important questions
- To solve questions that are formed on the basis of inequality, candidates should use the King, Soldier, and Public Technique For questions that involve arrangements, candidates should start by solving questions that have a small number of variables, and then gradually move up to questions that have more. For e.g. starting by solving questions that have only 5 variables and then moving to questions that have 7-8.
- Important topics in DI/LR include: Seating Arrangement, Blood Relations, Propositions, Syllogism, Data Arrangement, Puzzles, Statements & Assumptions
- Candidates should re-read the questions multiple times in this section because it is easy to misinterpret questions that complex logic
Important Terms in CAT DILR |
“none”, “all”, or “some” |
Positive and negative prefixes like “non”, “dis”, or “un” |
“unless” and “only” |
CAT DILR Study Material | |
How to Prepare for CAT DILR Seating Arrangement? | How to Prepare for CAT DILR Syllogisms? |
How to Prepare for CAT DILR Venn Diagram for Probability? | CAT DILR Calendar Questions |
How to Prepare for CAT DILR Puzzles? | How to Prepare for CAT DILR Clocks and Calendars? |
How to Prepare for CAT DILR Blood Relations? | How to Prepare for CAT DILR Statement and Assumptions? |
How to Prepare for CAT DILR Combination and Graphs? | CAT DILR Bar Graph |
CAT DILR Pie Charts and Tables | CAT Solved Questions on DILR |
CAT Preparation 2022: How to Prepare for CAT VARC?
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension is the section that scares a lot of aspirants. The section is designed to test your English skills in depth. It consists of the following types of questions.
- For unseen passages in the ‘Reading Comprehension’ section, candidates should select the questions and passages that they are comfortable with. Thus, if someone is comfortable with factual passages, they should try to avoid inferential questions that involve critical thinking
- Candidates should not just apply guesswork or answer blindly in grammar-related questions or in sentence correction sections that involve applied knowledge. Candidates need to make sure that at least an educated deduction is made on the basis of inference. If a question is too complex, the candidate should move on to the next question.
- Use a two-step strategy. Divide the VARC section into one section that includes Reading Comprehension and include the rest in the second section.
- Due to the fact that para jumbles and deductive logic require logic, candidates can move to and fro between the questions in order to make the most accurate choice. For eg. in para jumbles, test takers can pinpoint the beginning and end of a logical pair and remove the choice that does not seem to fit.
- When attempting the Reading Comprehensions section, read the questions before reading the passage.
- Candidates that are currently attaining above 85%ile should focus on the following: Vocabulary and Sentence Completion, Grammar, Deductive Logic, Para Jumbles, Critical Reasoning, Para-Completion, Summary Questions
Topic | Number of Questions |
Reading Comprehension | 24 |
Sentence Correction | 3 |
Summary | 3 |
Para Jumble | 4 |
Quick Links for Topic-wise CAT VARC Preparation:
CAT VARC Study Material | |
How to Prepare for CAT VARC Para Jumbles? | How to Prepare for CAT VARC Para Completion? |
How to Prepare for CAT VARC Fill in the Blanks? | Solved Questions on CAT VARC |
How to Prepare for CAT VARC Phrase Modifiers? | How to Prepare for CAT VARC Pronouns? |
How to Prepare for CAT VARC Type of Clauses? | CAT VARC Type of Articles |
CAT RC Tips: Types of Passage, Pattern, and Tips | How to Prepare for CAT VARC Prepositions? |
CAT VARC Parts of Speech | How to Prepare for CAT VARC Error in Tenses? |
CAT Preparation Through Online Mode
With the growth of technology in the education sector, online coaching classes have grown in popularity and candidates are opting for them for various competitive exams. Though Online Coaching Centre provides smart tips and preparation strategies, no less than an offline coaching institute, the difficulty lies in choosing a good online coaching learning center. Best Online Exam Coaching Institute for CAT 2022:
- IMS Learning
- Career Launcher
- T.I.M.E
- Byju’s and Unacademy Plus.
CAT Preparation 2022: Join Online CAT Study Groups
- There are numerous groups on Facebook and other community portals for CAT aspirants. It is beneficial to join these groups for doubt clearing sessions and practice. Discuss important topics, tricks, and strategies by interacting with fellow aspirants.
- Personal Whatsapp groups with friends can also be created. There are certain moderated forums on Facebook like Handakafunda Facebook Group for like-minded aspirants. In Addition, 2IIM also has a FB forum. Discussion on a particular topic is quite an affair on these forums.
- To top on, there are a couple of quora threads like IIM preparation which is an interactive space for IIM alumni, CAT trainers students.

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Shortlist & Apply
24/7 Counselling
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