CAT Exam Analysis 2023: The Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow conducted the CAT 2023 exam on Sunday, November 26, 2023. The exams were conducted in three slots. According to candidates who appeared for the exam in slot 1, the difficulty level was moderate to difficult. The paper pattern also remained similar to that from the previous year. The difficulty level of CAT slot 2 and slot 3 exams also remained similar with a difficulty level of moderate to difficult. Candidates can check the detailed analysis, expected cutoff, and good attempts to qualify in all three slots from subject experts.
With the CAT 2023 exams being conducted smoothly, aspirants are now eagerly waiting for the announcement of the CAT answer key 2023 and the CAT results. Students clearing the exams with the required marks will be eligible for admission to B-schools across the country.
This article will provide aspirants with the initial response of candidates after each slot, the complete analysis of each section from experts in the fields, and the expected cutoff based on the difficulty level of the exam conducted. Students after appearing in their respective CAT 2023 slots can check the details of the examination and the latest updates here.
CAT Exam 2023 Slot Timings
Students must note that the first slot of the CAT exams is being conducted from 8:30 AM. Candidates who are scheduled to appear for the later slots can check below, the slot timing, reporting time to the centre, and the last permitted entry time for candidates before the commencement of the exam.
Slots | Exam Timings | Reporting Time | Last Entry Permitted |
Slot 1 | 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM | 7:00 AM | 8:15 AM |
Slot 2 | 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM | 11:00 AM | 12:15 PM |
Slot 3 | 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM | 3:00 PM | 4:15 PM |
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Keep Visiting this page for initial responses from candidates and individual CAT slot analysis.
For Detailed CAT 2023 Slot 3 Analysis - Click Here
For Detailed CAT 2023 Slot 2 Analysis - Click Here
For Detailed CAT 2023 Slot 1 Analysis - Click Here
CAT 2023 Analysis by Experts
According to subject experts, the CAT slot 3 exam remained similar to the first two slots. The DILR and Verbal ability section however had a few changes in the segments and the number of questions. The overall difficulty level of the CAT 2023 slot 3 exams was moderate to difficult.
CAT 2023 Slot 3 Analysis Initial Response
CAT slot 3 concluded at 6:30 pm today. According to students who appeared in the third slot, the exam was similar to slot 1 and slot 2 in terms of difficulty level. The VARC and DILR sections were moderate while the QA section was tough. The overall difficulty level for slot 3 DILR section was moderate to difficult.
According to students who completed slot 3 of the CAT exams the paper is moderate to tough. The DILR and QA section was tough compared to the CAT 2022 exam. The VARC section had an odd question that was not seen last year There was no Para Comprehension and DI set this year.
the CAT 2023 slot 3 QA section was lengthy according to students with a maximum number of questions asked from Algebra. Questions were also asked from Arithmetic but compared to other slots the arithmetic questions were low. The overall difficulty level of the CAT slot 3 exam was moderate to difficult.
CAT 2023 Slot 2 Analysis by Experts
According to experts, the structure of CAT 2023 Slot 2 remained largely similar to that of 2022, with 66 questions in total. The DILR and Verbal sections, however, saw some changes in segments and the number of MCQs and TITA. The Verbal Section had a few minor changes in segments with the Odd Sentence Questions being repeated after 2021. The VA Section had 2 questions each Summary, Paragraph Jumbles, Paragraph Completion, and Odd Sentence questions.
Experts suggest that as compared to the previous year the CAT 2023 exam was tougher.
The CAT 2023 Slot 2 examination was moderate as compared to the Slot 1 exam. The Verbal Ability section of slot 2 was straightforward, with diverse passages. The questions were predominantly inference-based, with a few testing factual knowledge. Overall, the Verbal Ability section was manageable.
The DILR section in slot 2 however was moderate to difficult while the questions were not overly conditional.
The quantitative Aptitude section was tougher than last year than the morning slot. The questions were lengthy to read but easy to solve for those whose concepts are clear. CAT 2023 Slot 2 included a mix of question types, presenting a balanced challenge to the candidates on the conceptual front. Selecting the questions that don’t eat up your time was inevitable.
CAT Slot 2 Analysis
- VARC section - easier than slot 1 and CAT 2022
- LRDI section - difficult compared to CAT 2023 slot 1
- QA section - difficult as compared to CAT 2023 slot 1
CAT 2023 Slot 2 Initial Response
CAT 2023 slot 2 exams concluded at 2:30 pm. Students who appeared for the exams have stated that the DILR section was doable with 2 questions from Median, boxes which were lengthy. Venn Diagrams and linear equations were not a part of slot 2 questions.
The overall difficulty level according to students for slot 2 quantitative analysis was moderate. Slot 2 had more arithmetic questions compared to slot 1 and the quantitative section had 14 to 15 questions which were doable.
The CAT Slot 2 VARC section was easy to moderate but was difficult as compared to the CAT exam in 2022. Reading Comprehension had 4 questions while 2 questions were asked in Para completion. 4 questions were asked from para jumbles.
CAT 2023 Slot 1 Sectional Breakup
Section | No of Questions |
VARC | 24 Questions |
DILR | 20 Questions |
QA | 22 Questions |
Total | 66 Questions |
CAT 2023 Slot 1: Ideal Attempts in VARC Section
Module | Total Questions | Difficulty Level |
Reading Comprehension | 16 Questions | 4 RC Passages | Moderate to Tough |
Para jumbles | 2 Questions | Easy to Moderate |
Parasummary | 2 Questions | Easy to Moderate |
Para jumbles - Out of Context | 2 Questions | Moderate to Tough |
Paracompletion | 2 Questions | Easy |
Total | 24 Questions | Good Attempts 15+ |
CAT 2023 Slot 1 Analysis - Initial Response
According to the students who appeared in the first slot of the CAT 2023 exams, the questions were repeated from the previous year's CAT exams. Students have also mentioned that one of the questions was from the CAT 2017 exam.
The VARC section was similar in terms of difficulty level to last year's CAT exam. The section was moderate in terms of difficulty level and questions were asked from Para Jumbles, Sentence filling, summary etc. A complete analysis of the CAT slot 1 exam is expected soon.
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