CAT Exam Pattern
It is anticipated that the CAT exam pattern 2023 would follow the same format as the CAT 2022. The CAT 2023 announcement is anticipated to be made public in the final week of July 2023, and the exam is tentatively scheduled for the final Sunday in November 2023.
Due to the pandemic, the CAT paper has changed over the past few years, with fewer questions and a change in time. In order to identify the various sections for study and create the most effective exam strategies, applicants will need a solid understanding of the CAT Exam Pattern 2023.
Each of the three components of the CAT Exam has a separate time limit of 40 minutes.
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension: 24 questions
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning: 20 questions
- Quantitative Aptitude: 22 questions
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CAT 2023: Exam Highlights
The following are some key considerations about the CAT exam pattern:
Key Components | Details |
No. of Questions | 66 (tentative) |
Sections in Exam | 3; VARC, DILR and QA |
Exam Duration | 2 hours |
Time Allotted per Section | 40 minutes |
Slots for Exam | 3 |
Mode of Exam | Computer-based Exam |
Medium of Instruction | English |
Types of Questions | MCQ and TITA |
CAT Marking Scheme | +3 for every right answer -1 for every wrong answer TITA has no negative marking |
CAT Exam Schedule
The CAT 2023 Exam Pattern will constitute 3 sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Â Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
The 2 hour CAT Exam is administered as a computer-based test (CBT). There is a 40-minute time limit for each section. Below is the CAT 2022 Exam Pattern, which should give you a good indication of what to expect in CAT 2023.
Sections of Exam (in that order) | No of questions | Multiple Choice Questions | Non – MCQs | Time Limit |
VARC | 24 | 21 | 3 | 16 questions of RC – 4 passages of 4 questions each. 8 Questions of Verbal ability – 3 parajumbles, 2 para completions, 3 parasummary |
DILR | 20 | 14 | 6 | 4 sets of 5 questions each Areas questioned – Bar Graph, Arrangements, Missing Data and Puzzles (Games) |
QA | 22 | 14 | 8 | Dominated by questions of Arithmetic and Algebra. |
Total | 66 | 49 | 17 |
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Exam Pattern for CAT VARC
There should be a total of 24 questions in the VARC section of the CAT 2023. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension are the two main components of the verbal part, according to the CAT exam pattern from previous years.
Reading Comprehension:
- 16 of the 24 questions in this part, or more than 67% of the total, are in this section.
- Question Format: MCQs with a few TITA (Type in the Answer) questions
- There will be 4 passages comprising 4 questions each.
Verbal Ability
- 8 questions make up this subsection's relatively small size.
- According to CAT 2022, the questions should be divided into three parajumbles, two para completions, and three parasummaries.
CAT DILR Exam Pattern
The second portion of the CAT Exam is called Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. The VARC component of the CAT Exam must first be submitted before candidates are permitted to attempt it. It is by far the most active part of the CAT, with new categories of problems appearing virtually annually. When choosing the questions, it is advised to exercise extreme caution.
Here is the breakdown of the sets based on the CAT DILR exam pattern:
- The section will have 4 sets comprising 5 questions each.
- Each set lends a maximum of 15 marks.
- Bar graphs, arrangements, missing data, and riddles (games) are the topics that are most frequently questioned.
CAT Quant Exam Pattern
The majority of candidates spend the most time practising for this section. This is due to the fact that compared to the other sections, the CAT exam structure and material for this component are the most detailed. For the majority of candidates, it is the section that can make or break the exam.
- The quant section has a total of 22 questions.
- The CAT Quant exam structure has no sub-sections, therefore all of the questions are geared towards testing candidates' mathematical abilities.
- According to historical patterns, geometry and arithmetic are also often asked questions.
CAT Exam Pattern: Important Points to Remember
- The sequence of the sections cannot be changed by candidates, nor can they switch between sections. The exam is always administered in the following order: VARC, DILR, and then Quant.
- Both MCQ-based and TITA (type in the answer) questions are available on the CAT. Every incorrect response receives a negative marking of 1 in the MCQ format. There are no failing grades on the TITA questions.
- Candidates will be given 4 alternatives for the MCQs, and for the non-MCQs, the response must be entered.
- During the exam, students will have access to an on-screen calculator.
- Candidates can use the offered on-screen clock to check the time.
Exam Pattern: CAT Marking Scheme
The marking method for the MCQ and TITA questions is different, however the exam pattern is similar to the one from the previous year. Here is a summary of the CAT 2023 marking system.
Type of Question | Correct Response | Incorrect Response |
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) | +3 | -1 |
Type in the Answer (TITA) | +3 | 0 |
FAQs
Registrations for CAT 2023 are anticipated to open in August 2023. The registration form must be completed by anyone who wants to take the CAT exam and who meets the eligibility requirements.
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When registrations begin, probably in the first week of August 2023, those who intend to participate in the CAT 2023 examination can submit an application. To finish the process and receive the admission card, you must correctly complete the registration form, upload the required papers, and pay the registration price.
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Calculators are not permitted within the exam room. The fundamental equations and formulae needed for the CAT should be memorised and practised by candidates.
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