Common Admission Test 2025 ( CAT )
Read in-depth CAT 2023 exam analysis by IMS India for slot 1, 2 and 3. Also know the total number of good attempts, slot wise difficulty levels and expected cut offs in CAT analysis 2023.
CAT 2023 exam analysis
CAT 2023 exam was conducted by IIM Lucknow today at various exam centres across India. The exam was held in three slots. The overall difficulty level of CAT 2023 paper was moderate with VARC and DILR being easy and Quantitative Aptitude being tough. The detailed CAT 2023 question paper analysis for slot 1, 2 and 3 have been shared here.
Shiksha will bring to you in-depth CAT exam analysis by MBA experts. In this blog, you will read detailed CAT 2023 analysis by IMS India. Read below for section-wise distribution of topics, difficulty levels, number of good attempts, sectional cut off and expected scoring pattern.
Check out: CAT 2023 live updates for key insights of exam day, question paper review, answer keys and cut offs
Given below is the section-wise break up of the CAT question paper:
| Section Name |
Duration |
MCQs |
TITA |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC |
40 mins |
20 | 4 | 24 |
| DILR |
40 mins |
14 | 6 | 20 |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
40 mins |
14 | 8 | 22 |
| Total |
120 mins |
48 | 18 | 66 |
The VARC section of CAT exam was as usual the toughest of the three. There were four Reading Comprehension passages with four questions each. The VA questions were based on parajumbles and odd sentence. Verbal Ability questions were easier than Reading Comprehension questions, as always. Check below, topic-wise distribution of questions in VARC section:
In CAT exam, each candidate gets 120 minutes to solve the paper. There are three sections in CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. For each section 40 minutes are allotted as sectional time limit. For PwD candidates, the sectional time limit is 53.20 minutes per section. Candidates have to complete each section within the given time limit. Since the CAT is an online mode exam, the test screen will move from first section to the next section automatically as soon as the time limit gets over. Thus candidates have to be mindful of the on-screen timer and pre-decide the number of questions to solve in each section. The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section of CAT has 24 questions, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section has 22 questions and Quantitative Aptitude section has 22 questions. It is not mandatory to solve all the questions in CAT so candidates can devise a strategy to use 40 minutes per section as per their strength and weakness.
CAT has 68 questions. Each question carries three marks. There is negative marking of minus one for incorrect attempts. There is no deduction of marks for unanswered questions. Total marks in 204.
| VARC Topics |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension |
16 |
Overall: Difficult |
| Passage 1: Return of wolves’ predation in a French region |
4 |
Easy |
| Passage 2: Current economies of North and South Korea |
4 |
Easy |
| Passage 3: Indian Ocean Literature |
4 |
Moderate |
| Passage 4:Modern materialism versus ancient societies |
t4 |
Difficulr |
| Verbal Ability |
08 |
Overall: Difficulty |
| Para jumble |
2 |
Easy to moderate |
| Para completion |
2 |
Easy |
| Para summary |
2 |
tEasy to moderate |
| Odd sentence out |
2 |
Easy to moderate |
Also Read:
The DILR section of CAT 2023 will have a total of 20 questions. There will be four sets, out of which two sets of LR with six questions each and the other two sets of DI with four questions each.
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| DILR Area |
Set Description |
No. of Questions |
Question Type |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Interpretation |
(Reasoning based DI) |
5 |
5 (1 MCQ, 4 TITA) |
Moderate to Difficult |
| Logical Reasoning |
(Arrangements) Professors in departments |
5 |
5 MCQ |
Easy to Moderate |
| Data Interpretation |
Visa Office Special Equation handling |
5 |
5 (3 MCQ, 2 TITA) |
Moderate to Difficult |
| Logical Reasoning |
Houses on sale |
5 |
5 (3 MCQ, 2 TITA) |
Moderate to Difficult |
Also Read:
This section of CAT 2023 can be of moderate difficulty level and be dominated by Arithmetic. Check topic wise break up of CAT Quantitative Aptitude section below:
| QA Topics |
No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic |
7 |
| Algebra |
8 |
| Geometry |
4 |
| Modern Maths |
2 |
| Numbers |
1 |
The CAT VARC section consisted of 16 Reading Comprehension questions and 8 Verbal Ability questions. About 12 RC questions were doable. One question in the Verbal Ability section was Mandatory. Overall the section was easy and an attempt of 17 to 19 questions with 70% accuracy will be considered good attempt.
| Area / Questions |
No. of Questions |
Type of questions |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension |
16 |
MCQ |
Overall: Easy to Moderste |
| RC-1: Second-hand Shopping and Fast Fashion |
4 |
MCQ |
Easy |
| RC-2: Translated Streaming on Netflix in Europe |
4 |
MCQ |
Easy |
| RC-3: Why Liberalism Failed (Book Review) |
4 |
MCQ |
Moderate |
| RC-4: What is Historical Fact |
4 |
MCQ |
Difficult |
| Verbal Ability |
08 |
MCQ & TITA |
Overall: Easy |
| Para jumbles (4 sentences) |
2 |
TITA |
1 Easy, 1 Moderate |
| Para-completion |
2 |
MCQ |
2 Easy |
| Summary |
2 |
MCQ |
1 Easy, 1 Moderate |
| Odd Sentence Questions |
2 |
TITA |
1 Easy, 1 Moderate |
The structure of DILR section of CAT 2023 slot 2 was same as slot 1 and the questions were moderate in terms of difficulty level. An attempt of10 to 12 questions with 75-80 % accuracy will be considered good performance.
In CAT exam, there are 20 questions in the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning section and the total sectional marks is 60 out of 198. In CAT 2020, there were 24 question on DILR and the sectional marks were 72. In CAT 2021 and CAT 2022, there were 20 questions and the sectional marks were 60. The 20 questions are equally divided into both Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. That means, Both Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning have 10 questions each. The questions are mostly in sets. There’s rarely any standalone question in DILR.
Some of the top MBA entrance exams carrying a high weightage of Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning questions are MAH CET, ATMA, CAT, CMAT, XAT IIFT, to name a few.
| Area |
Set Description |
No. of Questions |
Question Type |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DI |
5 firms – Funds raised in consecutive years |
5 |
4 MCQ, 1 TITA |
Easy to Medium |
| DI |
Draw competition |
5 |
3 MCQ, 2 TITA |
Medium to Difficult |
| LR |
3 friends visited a park. |
5 |
3 MCQ, 2 TITA |
Medium to Difficult |
| DI |
Nine Boxes – sudoku type puzzle |
5 |
2 MCQ, 3 TITA |
Medium to Difficult |
CAT 2023 slot 2 Quantitative Aptitude questions were slightly tougher in terms of level of difficulty compared to CAT 2023 Slot 1. There were 8 questions in TITA format in this section. Overall, an attempt of 9 to 11 questions with accuracy of approximately 75-80% will be a good performance.
| Area/Q Type |
No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic |
7 |
| Algebra |
8 |
| Modern Math |
2 |
| Geometry |
3 |
Also Read:
In the CAT 2023 slot 3, VARC section consisted of 16 Reading Comprehension questions and 8 Verbal Ability questions. Overall, the section was Medium. An attempt of 16 to 18 questions with70 % accuracy will be considered a good performance in VARC section of CAT 2023 slot 3.
| Area / Questions |
No. of Questions |
Question Type |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension |
16 |
MCQ |
Overall: Moderate |
| RC-1: Colonialism and Global Warming (The Nutmeg’s Curse) |
4 |
MCQ |
Easy |
| RC-2: Understanding Romantic Aesthetics |
4 |
MCQ |
Easy |
| RC-3: Cultural Patrimony Laws |
4 |
MCQ |
Easy-Moderate |
| RC-4: Rationality by Steven Pinker |
4 |
MCQ |
Difficult |
| Verbal Ability |
08 |
MCQ & TITA |
Overall: Easy |
| Para jumbles (4 sentences) |
2 |
TITA |
1 Easy, 1 Moderate |
| Para-completion |
2 |
MCQ |
1 Easy, 1 Moderate |
| Summary |
2 |
MCQ |
1 Easy, 1 Moderate |
| Odd Sentence Questions |
2 |
TITA |
1 Easy, 1 Moderate |
This section of CAT 2023 slot 3 had moderate to high difficulty level questions. Like slot 1 and slot 2, slot 3 also had four DILR sets having five questions each. An attempt of 9 to 11 questions with 75-80% accuracy will be considered a good performance.
| Area |
Set Description |
No. of Questions |
Question Type |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DI |
Number of enrollments in offline and online courses |
5 |
3 MCQ, 2 TITA |
Easy to Medium |
| LR |
Six police stations with maps (route based set) |
5 |
3 MCQ, |
Medium |
| DI |
Project and test scores of 3 boys and 3 girls |
5 |
3 MCQ, 2 TITA |
Medium to Difficult |
| DI |
AC company – 4 dealers |
5 |
3 MCQ, 2 TITA |
Medium to Difficult |
The Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT 2023 slot 3 was slightly tougher in terms of level of difficulty compared to slot 1 and slot 2 and was dominated by Arithmetic. There were 8 TITA questions in this section. Overall, an attempt of 9 to 11 questions with 75-80% accuracy of can be considered a good performance.
| Area/Q Type |
No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic |
8 |
| Algebra |
4 |
| Modern Math |
4 |
| Geometry |
3 |
| Numbers |
3 |
Check below, CAT 2023 scores and percentiles as estimated by IMS India experts.
| CAT Percentile |
VARC Score |
DILR Score |
QA Score |
Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.5 %ile |
45 |
33 |
48 |
104 |
| 99 %ile |
41 |
29 |
42 |
97 |
| 98 %ile |
37 |
26 |
37 |
86 |
| 95%ile |
32 |
21 |
28 |
72 |
| 90%ile |
27 |
17 |
23 |
59 |
| 85%ile |
23 |
15 |
19 |
52 |
| 80%ile |
21 |
13 |
16 |
44 |
| Percentile |
Score VARC Score |
Score DILR Score |
QA Score |
Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 %ile |
50 |
38 |
46 |
108 |
| 99.5 %ile |
46 |
34 |
30 |
91 |
| 99 %ile |
42 |
30 |
26 |
81 |
| 98 %ile |
38 |
26 |
23 |
73 |
| 95%ile |
32 |
20 |
18 |
59 |
| 90%ile |
26 |
17 |
14 |
50 |
| 85%ile |
22 |
13 |
12 |
41 |
| 80%ile |
20 |
11 |
10 |
36 |
| 75%ile |
18 |
10 |
9 |
32 |
| 70%ile |
16 |
9 |
8 |
30 |
| Percentile |
Score VARC Score |
Score DILR Score |
QA Score |
Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 %ile |
46 |
36 |
46 |
104 |
| 99.5 %ile |
42 |
32 |
30 |
87 |
| 99 %ile |
38 |
28 |
26 |
77 |
| 98 %ile |
34 |
25 |
23 |
70 |
| 95%ile |
28 |
19 |
18 |
56 |
| 90%ile |
23 |
16 |
14 |
48 |
| 85%ile |
20 |
13 |
12 |
39 |
| 80%ile |
18 |
11 |
10 |
35 |
| 75%ile |
16 |
10 |
9 |
30 |
| 70%ile |
14 |
9 |
8 |
28 |
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Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 days ago
No, CAT scores are not important for enrollment into Masters of Business Administration course at Chitkara University. Because CAT is not the only scores which are considered by the university, it also accepts the scores of MAT/ XAT/ NMAT/ CMAT.
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
Minimum qualifying cut off for IIM Ahmedabad is 95 percentile whereas for IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta, it is 85. However final cut offs for these three top IIMs are between 99 to 100 percentile.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 5 days ago
GIBS is pretty flexible when it comes to entrance exams. They accept almost all the common management tests — CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, ATMA, State CET, and even GMAT. In my batch itself, we had students who came through different exams, not just CAT.
Honestly, that's one thing I liked about GIBS — they d
M
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 6 days ago
Yes, you can join Adarsh Institute of Management and Information Technology without appearing for CAT. This is because, the institute also accepts other tests. The accepted exams include CAT/ XAT/ MAT/ CMAT/ KMAT/ PGCET/ GMAT. Hence, if you have appeared for any of these, you can still apply.
M
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
Yes, Myra School of Business does offer CAT scores based Scholarships upto INR 1.5 lakh. In recognition of outstanding performance in CAT, MSB awards special scholarships as follows:
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
LISAA School of Design, Bangalore BDes admission is done based on performance in the in-house entrance test. LISAA CAT is conducted at the LISAA centres. Candidates need to connect with the admission team to set up a time slot. Besides, it is important that the eligibility criteria is fulfilled.
M
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
Yes, you can absolutely get admission into the MBA programme without clearing CAT or MAT, because the university follows a flexible admission pathway that allows students to apply through its own entrance exam called CUCET. This exam acts as the primary route for MBA admissions, and it is designed t
s
Beginner-Level 3
Answered a week ago
No, CAT is not mandatory for School of Business and Management, Christ University MBA admissions. Students can alternatively submit scores of other national-level management exams. These include MAT/ XAT/ CMAT/ ATMA and GMAT/ GRE are also accepted.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
You can download your CDAC C-CAT 2026 response sheet by logging in to the official C-DAC Candidate Portal using your form number and password.
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Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
Yes, JAGSoM accepts CAT scores as part of its multi-stage admission process. Candidates are shortlisted for selection rounds based on their entrance exam scores.
B
Contributor-Level 6
In CAT 2025, the following changes were seen: