CAT Exam Pattern 2023: Section-wise Paper Pattern & Marking Scheme
CAT Exam Pattern 2023: This year, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow is the official exam-conducting body to organise the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2023 on November 26, 2023. Furthermore, IIMs have prescribed the CAT 2023 exam pattern that all registered aspirants must have access to. The CAT exam will be a computer-based test, and there will be a total of three sections in the examination. Candidates appearing for the exam must be well-versed with the syllabus and exam pattern before starting their preparation.
*Steps to practice unlimited questions are mentioned below in this article.
The question paper comprises 22-23 questions from VARC & QA sections and 20-21 questions from the DILR section (see detailed breakdown below). Before starting the preparation, it is important for candidates to know the exam pattern. It will help them know the sections, number of questions, marking scheme, duration, and more information about the exam. Read on to get more details.
IIM CAT Exam Pattern 2023
The CAT question paper is divided into three sections: VARC, DILR & QA. Furthermore, each section contains MCQ and Non-MCQ questions. Candidates must solve both MCQ and Non-MCQ type questions. It is highly important for aspirants to understand all aspects of the IIM CAT exam to formulate a detailed preparation strategy.
The exam pattern is the first and foremost step toward streamlining the preparation plan. We have tabulated the important details regarding the CAT paper pattern below:
+3 for Every Correct Answer -1 for Each Wrong Answer No Negative Marks for Non-MCQ
CAT Marks Distribution
The below table represents the total number of MCQ and Non-MCQ questions for each section of the CAT exam. Let us have a glimpse of the detailed section-wise total number of questions and maximum marks from the table below:
Sections
Total Questions
MCQs
Non-MCQs
Maximum Marks
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
24
19
5
72
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
20
15
5
60
Quantitative Ability (QA)
22
14
8
66
Total
66
48
18
198
Steps To Practice Unlimited CAT Exam Questions
To take the CAT free practice test on Embibe, candidates must follow the steps below:
1st Step: Visit Embibe’s official website, i.e., embibe.com.
2nd Step: Use the mobile number/email to log in.
3rd Step: Click on the “Getting a Government Job” menu bar.
4th Step: Select the Goal “Management” from the Dropdown and click “Next”.
5th Step: Select “CAT” and click “Next”.
6th Step: Select the preferred language and click “Done”.
7th Step: Click “Practice” from the header section.
8th Step: Scroll down to the “Subjects” section.
9th Step: Click on any CAT subjects.
10th Step: Scroll down to click on the chapters from the selected subject to begin the practice.
Overall & Sectional Duration of CAT Exam 2023
Candidates appearing for the Common Admission test can verify the overall and sectional duration. Each section must be completed within 40 minutes, while PwD category candidates will be given 53 minutes and 20 seconds to answer the section correctly. Aspirants will not be allowed to switch between sections. After the completion of one section, the candidate will be able to move to the next one.
However, candidates can switch between questions within the same sections. With the help of having prior knowledge of the CAT exam pattern and syllabus, it is possible to know the subject, topics, and marking scheme.
The time varies for different category aspirants varies widely. Let’s have a look at the below table for the CAT exam sectional time distribution:
Sections
Number of Questions
Duration
Duration (For PwD Category)
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
24
40 Minutes
53 Minutes & 20 Seconds
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
20
40 Minutes
53 Minutes & 20 Seconds
Quantitative Ability
22
40 Minutes
53 Minutes & 20 Seconds
TOTAL
66
120 Minutes
160 Minutes
IIM CAT Marking Scheme
Through the marking scheme, candidates will get to know the total marks awarded for each correct answer and the marks that must be deducted for the wrong answer. Check the CAT marking scheme below:
For each correct answer, three marks are awarded.
For each wrong answer, one mark will be deducted.
No marks will be deducted for unattempted questions.
No marks will be deducted for Non-MCQs.
CAT Syllabus 2023
The topics to be covered in these sections are given below:
Sections
Topics
Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Verbal Ability English Usage or Grammar Close Passage Synonyms Antonyms Facts-Inferences-Judgments Jumbled Paragraph Reading Comprehension Verbal Reasoning
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Caselets Blood Relations Calendars Bar Graphs Column Graphs Tables Cubes Clocks Binary Logic Line Charts Combination of two or more types linked to each other Syllogism Venn Diagrams Pie Chart Number and Letter Series Seating Arrangement
CAT consists of 66 questions, and the total marks will be 198 marks divided into 3 sections as VARC will have 24 questions, DILR will have 20 questions & QA will have 22 questions.
The CAT exam will include both MCQ as well as Non-MCQ questions.
Candidates must make use of a screen calculator for calculation during the exam.
Screen lock will appear on the screen as the exam is logged in.
Candidates will be provided with rough work, which should be submitted at the exam hall while leaving the hall.
The computer screen will open only after the invigilator provides the notification.
All computer screens in the exam hall run simultaneously.
Candidates must accommodate themselves on the computer designated to them.
The exam has to be attempted in a prescribed order, and the candidate should not switch between sections.
It is to be noted that candidates have to clear all three sections separately to pass the CAT 2023.
Following are the frequently asked questions and their answers related to CAT Exam Pattern 2023:
Q: How many sections are in the CAT exam 2023?
Ans: The CAT exam mainly includes three sections, i.e., Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).
Q: Is the CAT exam conducted online?
Ans: Yes. The Indian Institute of Management conducts the CAT exam in a computer-based test (CBT) mode.
Q: What is the CAT marking scheme?
Ans: Three marks are awarded for correct answers. However, there are negative markings, and one mark is deducted for each incorrect answer.
Q: How many questions are asked in the CAT exam?
Ans: The CAT question paper consists of both MCQ and Non-MCQ questions. Furthermore, a total of 48 MCQs and 18 Non-MCQs are in the exam.
Q: What is the sectional time limit for the CAT exam?
Ans: The sectional time of the CAT exam is 40 minutes for general candidates. However, PwD candidates get 53 minutes and 20 seconds to finish each section.
We hope this article on the CAT Exam Pattern 2023 helps you. If you have any questions, feel free to check our app. We will surely help you.
Stay tuned to Embibe for the latest IIM CAT exam 2023 updates.