CAT 2023 Analysis by IMS India: Check Slot 1, 2 and 3 Paper Analysis
Common Admission Test 2025 ( CAT )
Admit Card - 5 Nov '25 - 30 Nov '25
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.
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- CAT 2023 Exam Analysis Highlights
- CAT 2023 Analysis, Slot 1: VARC
- CAT 2023 Analysis Slot 1: DILR
- CAT 2023 Analysis Slot 1: Quantitative Aptitude
- CAT 2023 Analysis Slot 2 VARC
- CAT 2023 Analysis Slot 2 DILR
- CAT 2023 Slot 3 Analysis, VARC
- CAT 2023 Slot 3 Analysis, DILR
- CAT 2023 Slot 3 Analysis, Quantitative Ability
- CAT 2023 Score vs Percentile Slot 1
- CAT 2023 Score vs Percentile Slot 2
- CAT 2023 Score vs Percentile Slot 3
CAT 2023 Exam Analysis Highlights
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 |
CAT 2023 Analysis, Slot 1: VARC
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 2025, the following changes were seen:
- The fee amount is increased from INR 2,500 to INR 2,600 for General category candidates and from INR 1,250 to INR 1300 for Reserved category candidates.
- In the DILR section, number of questions increased from 20 to 22.
- The total marks of CAT DILR section increased from 60 to 66.
- The total marks of CAT exam increased from 198 to 204.
- Candidates can select five cities instead of six.
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.
| 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:
CAT 2023 Analysis Slot 1: DILR
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:
- CAT 2023 slot 1 answer key and question paper analysis
- CAT 2023 slot 2 answer key and question paper analysis
- CAT 2023 Slot 3 Answer Key and question paper analysis
- CAT 2023 question paper PDF slot 1, 2, 3
- CAT 2023 student reactions and reviews
CAT 2023 Analysis Slot 1: Quantitative Aptitude
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 |
CAT 2023 Analysis Slot 2 VARC
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 |
CAT 2023 Analysis Slot 2 DILR
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.
CAT has a total of 68 question. Each section carries 3 marks for correct attempt and -1 marks for incorrect attempt. There is no deduction of marks for unanswered questions. Therefore, the total marks of CAT is 204.
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 Analysis, Quantitative Ability
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:
- CAT score vs percentile and marks vs percentile
- Understanding CAT normalization process
- How Scaled CAT Score will be Calculated for Three Slots?
- Colleges Accepting CAT percentile above 90
- Colleges Accepting CAT percentile from 80-90
- Colleges Accepting CAT percentile from 70-80
- Colleges Accepting CAT percentile from 60-70
- Colleges Accepting CAT percentile from 50-60
CAT 2023 Slot 3 Analysis, VARC
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 |
CAT 2023 Slot 3 Analysis, DILR
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 |
CAT 2023 Slot 3 Analysis, Quantitative Ability
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 |
CAT 2023 Score vs Percentile Slot 1
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 |
CAT 2023 Score vs Percentile Slot 2
| 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 |
CAT 2023 Score vs Percentile Slot 3
| 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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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a week ago
With a 300 SC category rank in CAT, your chances for NIT Trichy MBA are relatively high. Based on 2025 data, NIT Trichy generally shortlists SC candidates with CAT percentiles around 60-65. To achieve a 300 rank under SC category, you would need about a 65-70 percentile, or a score of roughly 60-65
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Contributor-Level 10
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PGCET and CAT serve distinct purposes. The PGCET is primarily conducted for MBA admissions in colleges in the state of Karnataka, specifically for government colleges and private universities with lower fees. CAT is a national level exam for top-ranking B-schools and colleges such as the IIMs that h
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
That's a wonderful goal to push your son toward right at the start. To obtain previous CAT model papers, you can check many available popular exam preparation books in any bookstore or online store. Coaching interest such as TIME, IMS, Career Launcher, etc., usually have mock tests and sample papers
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Contributor-Level 10
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Yes, you can get admission to Jaypee Business School (JBS), Noida for MBA even if you don't have CAT. JBS accepts scores from several other exams such as MAT, CMAT, XAT, GMAT, ATMA, and also CUET-PG. Just make sure you have a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks, then apply with any of those va
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 3 weeks ago
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Contributor-Level 9
Answered 3 weeks ago
For candidates pursuing MBA, the eligibility criteria includes merit and entrance based selection. Whereas, for BBA, candidates must qualify Class 12 with a minimum aggregate. JIIT CDOE MBA on the other hand, is offered based on the minimum aggregate of graduation. However, for the final admission,
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Contributor-Level 8
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Yes, students can get MBA admission into Galgotia University without CAT. The university accepts other national entrance exams for MBA programme. The university accepts entrance exams such as MAT, CMAT, XAT, SAT, and other. It is mandatory to qualify one of the entrance exams.
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Contributor-Level 9
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Yes, students can get admission in Greater Noida Institute of Technology without CAT. CAT is one of the accepted entrance exams at Greater Noida Institute of Technology. The other accepted entrance exams are MAT, NMAT, XAT, CMAT, and others. If a student's CAT score is not good, worry not other acce
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Contributor-Level 8
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No, candidates can not get into Management Development Institute, Gurgaon without CAT as the college offers admissions to students on the basis of their entrance exam scores. The college accepts various national level exams such as CAT, MAT, XAT, GMAT, etc. for admission to its PGDM programmes, foll
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Contributor-Level 8
CAT is a computer based test which is conducted in three shifts. The CAT is conducted for two hours in which candidates have to solve 68 questions.
These 68 questions are divided into three sections Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension VARC Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning DILR and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). The VARC section has 24 questions, the DILR section has 28 questions and QA section has 22 question. Each question carries 3 marks for correct entry and -1 for incorrect entry. There is no negative marking for unanswered question. A unique aspect of CAT is the sectional time limit. Each section has a time limit of 40 minutes (53.20 minutes for PwD candidates).
Candidates have to complete the section within the time limit as the moment the onscreen timer shows 0 minutes left, the screen will automatically move to the next section. There is no option to go back to older questions. Also, candidates have to follow the question paper chronology. They have to first solve the VARC section, then the DILR section and then the QA section.