The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer based test for admission in graduate management programs. The test consists of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability.The exam is taken online over a period of three hours, with one hour per section. In 2020, due to the COVID precautions, The Indian Institutes of Management Indore decided to conduct the CAT Exam in 2 hours with 40 minutes devoted to each section. The Indian Institutes of Management started this exam and use the test for selecting students for their business administration programs (MBA or PGDM). The test is conducted every year by one of the Indian Institutes of Managements based on a policy of rotation.
In August 2011, it was announced that Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc) would also use the CAT scores, instead of the Joint Management Entrance Test (JMET), to select students for their management programmes starting with the 2012-15 batch.
Before 2009, CAT was a paper based test conducted on a single day for all candidates. The pattern, number of questions and duration have seen considerable variations over the years.
On 1 May 2009, it was announced that CAT would be a Computer Based Test starting from 2009. The American firm Prometric was entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the test from 2009 to 2013. The first computer based CAT was marred with technical snags. The issue was so serious that it prompted the Government of India to seek a report from the convenor. The trouble was diagnosed as ‘Conficker’ and ‘W32 Nimda’, the two viruses that attacked the system display of the test, causing server slow down. Since 2014 onward, CAT has been conducted by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). CAT 2015 and CAT 2016 were 180-minute tests consisting of 100 questions (34 from Quantitative Ability, 34 from Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension , and 32 from Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. CAT 2020 onwards, the exam duration has been reduced to two hours, with 40 minutes allotted per section.
CAT 2023 Notification Date
CAT 2023 Notification has been released by the conducting IIM on their official website by July 30, 2023. This year IIM Lucknow is going to hold the CAT exam.
| Event | Dates (OUT) |
| CAT 2023 Official Website Update | July 30, 2023 |
| CAT 2023 Official Notification | July 30, 2023 |
| CAT 2023 Registration begins | August 2, 2023 |
| CAT 2023 Registration ends | September 20, 2023 |
| CAT 2023 Date | November 26, 2023 |
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2023 highlights the basic eligibility required for CAT 2023 exam. Educational qualification is an important requirement that candidates should fulfill to appear in CAT 2023. At least 50% in Bachelor’s degree is necessary for general-category students and 45% for reserved-category students. CAT 2023 exam date is Nov 26 and the application form has been released on the official website.
As far as age is concerned, there is no upper or lower age limit to apply for CAT 2023 exam. Students in their final year of graduation can apply for CAT exam, but they must submit all the relevant documents at the time of admission at their respective IIM institute.
CAT eligibility criteria for candidates with a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA/FCAI) is 50% or above for general category students and a minimum of 45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
A reservation policy has been made for reserved category students who are willing to appear for the CAT exam.
Candidates can check out the list of IIMs accepting CAT exam scores.
CAT 2023 Exam Eligibility Highlights
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Conducting Body | IIM |
| Age Limit | No age bar |
| Educational Qualification | 50% in Bachelor’s Degree |
| Work Experience | Work experience not mandatory |
| Reservation Policy | As per specified |
CAT 2023 Eligibility Criteria
CAT 2023 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit
As per the conducting authority, there is no age bar to apply for the CAT 2023 exam. Students appearing for CAT 2023 should therefore meet the other minimum requirements as there is no CAT eligibility age limit for taking the exam.
CAT 2023 Eligibility 12th Marks
Class 12th marks are not required for CAT exam, however, IIMs consider the 12th percentage as a selection criteria for MBA admissions. To appear for CAT exam, candidates only require graduation marks of 50%. This is the minimum eligibility requirement for general-category students. For students belonging to the reserved category, 45% in graduation is mandatory.
CAT 2023 Eligibility Criteria: Educational Qualification
The authority has prescribed a certain educational qualification applicable for CAT 2023 exam. The details of the educational qualification have been mentioned below:
- Candidates must complete their graduation in any discipline from a recognized university/institute.
- For general category students, at least 50% is required in Bachelor’s degree to become eligible for the exam. But the minimum percentage requirement for students who come under the reserved category is 45%.
- Final-year students can also apply on the condition that if they qualify the exam, they will be selected provisionally. They must submit the required documents to their respective IIM on or before the prescribed date.
- Candidates with a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA/FCAI) can appear in CAT exam.
| 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 | |
| Students who are in their final year of Bachelor’s/ graduation degree can sit for the examination. | Continuing graduation from any University that is recognized by either MHRD/ UPSC/AICTE or UGC | |
| CA, CS, ICWA, or Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI) | Recognized by MHRD/ UPSC/AICTE |
CAT 2023 Exam Date and Time
CAT 2023 exam date and time is provided here for the 3 shifts- morning, afternoon, evening.
- CAT 2023 exam date and time slot 1 is November 26, 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
- CAT 2023 exam date and time slot 2 is November 26, 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM.
- CAT 2023 exam date and time slot 3 is November 26, 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
CAT 2023 Exam Date: Key Events
CAT Exam 2023 comprises a series of important events starting with CAT notification release date to CAT result release date. Given below are the dates for the key events of CAT 2023 exam:
| Important Events | Dates (OUT) |
| CAT 2023 notification | July 30, 2023 |
| CAT 2023 registration start date | August 2, 2023 (10 AM) |
| CAT exam 2023 application form last date (Extended) | |
| CAT Form Correction dates | Fourth week of September 2023 |
| CAT Admit Card 2023 release date | October 25, 2023 |
| CAT Exam Date 2023 | November 26, 2023 |
| CAT 2023 Answer Key release date | First week of December 2023 |
| CAT 2023 result date | 2nd week of January 2024 |
CAT 2023 Registration Fee
CAT Exam Fees can be paid online only (Net banking, Credit Card, or Debit Card). The category-wise fee is given below:
| Category | Application Fee |
| General/NC-OBC (Non-Creamy Layer Other Backward Classes) | INR 2400 |
| SC (Scheduled Caste)/ST (Scheduled Tribe) | INR 1200 |
| PwD (Persons with Disability)/DA (Differently Abled) | INR 1200 |
CAT Total Questions
Total questions in CAT 2023 are 66, distributed across the three sections. CAT comprises 66 questions from 2021. In 2020, it comprised 76 questions. Before 2020, total questions in CAT were 100.
| Section | Total Questions in CAT 2023 |
| VARC | 24 |
| DILR | 20 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 22 |