Check out CAT 2023 student reactions and reviews to know the difficulty level of the exam being held today.
CAT 2023 is being held today in three slots. Shiksha visited a CAT test centre in Noida to speak with the test takers and find out their experience of the exam. According to the candidates who appeared for the first slot of CAT exam from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, the paper was moderate in terms of difficulty level.
Since the CAT exam is usually moderate to tough, test takers were not surprised by the difficulty level. Read below for detailed CAT 2023 student reactions and watch the video of the exam review.
CAT 2023 Student Reactions and Reviews
Aastha
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“The difficulty level of the exam was moderate. I think the VARC section was easier than the last time. The DILR section was tougher. And QA was also moderate level. This was my second attempt.”
Mahima
Q: What is the CAT 2024 exam date?
Q: Will CAT exam 2025 also be conducted in three shifts?
Yes, the CAT 2025 exam will be conducted in three shifts. Until 2019, CAT was conducted in two shifts and the exam duration used to be 180 minutes. However, in 2020, the number of shifts were increased to three and exam duration was reduced to 120 minutes in order to follow the social distancing guidelines for COVID-19. Since the COVID-9 pandemic appropriate behaviour had to be followed at public places and gatherings, the examination authorities increased the number of exam slots to ensure a limited number of candidates can be accommodated at any exam centre in a given exam slot by following social distancing and seating arrangement with gap. Since then, the CAT is conducted in three shifts - morning, afternoon and evening. In CAT 2025 too, there will be three slots which will be allotted to applicants in no particular order. The CAT exam slot timings will be - 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Q: What are the CAT exam slot timings?
“VARC and DILR sections were doable but I created a big blunder in the QA section. I attempted 22 questions in the VARC, 19 questions in DILR and 12 questions in the QA section.”
Nikita
“The exam was average. I was attempting it for the first time. The QA section was difficult. But, I think if you study well for the CAT exam, then one can easily crack it. I was not able to attempt all the questions because of the negative markings.”
Aarti
“The exam was not very difficult. It was moderate. For me, VARC and DILR was difficult but the QA section was easy and doable. I attempted good number of questions in regards with the sectional time limit. “
Abhishek
“The exam was moderate. I would say if you have prepared well using the CAT mock tests, then the exam was doable. The DILR section was moderate and VARC section was easier. It was basically similar to last year. The QA section was a bit difficult. I practiced from the previous years’ CAT question papers and also I took about 30 mock tests. The type of questions were similar as the last year but there were no repetitions. The exam was overall easy to moderate as compared to last year. I was able to attempt 38 questions out of 66 questions. Since there was negative marking as well, so I am confident about the 38 questions.”
Q: What are the facilities for PwD candidates in CAT exam?
Q: What are the items to carry on the CAT exam day?
Q: What are the dos and don'ts for CAT exam day?
Q: Which IIM will conduct CAT 2024 exam?
The top 6 Indian Institute of Management are given the responsibility to conduct the Common Admission Test exam. Each of the top Indian Institutes of Management conducts the exam rotation-wise after a gap of five years. The responsibility to conduct the CAT 2023 was given to IIM Lucknow. Professor Sanjeet Singh had been appointed as the CAT convener. For CAT 2024, IIM Calcutta will be the exam convening institute. IIM Calcutta will be responsible for preparation and conduct of the exam without glitches, in collaboration with TCS for test labs and centres. The institute will design the question papers, exam pattern and guidelines, as well as manage the conduct of exam and preparation of admit card, answer key and result.
CAT Conducting Indian Institute of Management Over the Years:
- 2023: IIM Lucknow
- 2022: IIM Bangalore
- 2021: IIM Ahmedabad
- 2020: IIM Indore
- 2019: IIM Kozhikode
- 2018: IIM Calcutta
- 2017: IIM Lucknow
- 2016: IIM Bangalore
- 2015: IIM Ahmedabad
- 2014: IIM Indore
- 2013: IIM Indore
- 2012: IIM Kozhikode
- 2011: IIM Calcutta
- 2010: IIM Lucknow
- 2009: IIM Ahmedabad
For more information, you may visit the Shiksha Common Admission Test page. (https://www.shiksha.com/mba/cat-exam). I hope this will help you.
Also Read:
- CAT 2023 Live Updates; Answer Key Solutions, Question Paper, Expected Cutoff
- CAT exam analysis 2023 for sessions 1, 2 and 3
- CAT 2023 Slot 1 answer key PDF and question paper analysis
- CAT 2023 Slot 1 answer key PDF and question paper analysis
Check out the video below to get the detailed CAT 2023 Students Reactions and Reviews for Slot 1:
Also Read:
- CAT exam analysis
- CAT answer key and response sheet
- CAT result download
- CAT cut offs for top colleges
- CAT score vs CAT percentile
- CAT score normalisation process
Read More:
With over 7 years of editorial experience, Saumya has been a writer at Shiksha for over four years. With a bachelor's degree in English literature from Delhi University, she loves to write. A true Delhiite and her l... Read Full Bio
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Student Forum
Answered Yesterday
No, meeting the CAT cutoff percentile is not the only criteria for admission. IIM Lucknow admission is a two-stage process. In the first stage, candidates are shortlisted for the WAT and PI round on the basis of their performance in the CAT, scholastic achievement, and relevant work experience. In t
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
The IIM Lucknow CAT qualifying cutoff 2024 has been released for admission to PGP, PGP-ABM, and PGP-SM courses for different categories. For 2025 admission, the IIM Lucknow PGP-ABM qualifying CAT cutoff is 85 percentile (overall) for the students belonging to the general category in the AI quota. Fo
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
Hey! I've been in your shoes, so I totally get how you're feeling right now. Scoring the 78 percentile in CAT is a solid achievement, and you might be wondering whether it's enough to get into PIBM Pune. Let me tell you, PIBM looks beyond just numbers—they focus on your overall profile rather than j
S
Beginner-Level 1
Answered Yesterday
MBA in Human Resources Admission is based on either numerous admission tests such as the CAT, MAT, SNAP, CMAT, and others, or on merit. After passing the entrance tests, the student must go through a Group Discussion and Personal Interview Round to be further screened. Students need to hold their b
P
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 2 days ago
No, your CAT 2026 attempt will not be considerd a gap year because you will be in your final year when you take the exam in November 2026.
- The CAT exam is usually held in November every year.
- Since you graduate in November 2026, you will still be a student at the time of the exam.
- A gap year is counted
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
The admission threshold at top IIMs based on CAT scores stands higher than 50 percent hence students with this percentile will have access to other acclaimed B-schools. These colleges form a list of institutions that could accept your application for admission:
- University Business School (UBS), Chand
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
It is mandatory to clear CAT examination to seek admission at IIM Ahmedabad. The Institute considers CAT percentile for the admission to MBA, along with the understanding of the CAT percentile for IIM Ahmedabad that reached up to 99.6 in the past years which shows how challenging it is for a candida
A
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 6 days ago
Yes, the CAT 2025 exam will be conducted in three shifts. Until 2019, CAT was conducted in two shifts and the exam duration used to be 180 minutes. However, in 2020, the number of shifts were increased to three and exam duration was reduced to 120 minutes in order to follow the social distancing gui
C
Contributor-Level 8
Answered a week ago
Yes, candidates can get into the Vidyasagar University MBA course with the CAT percentile. As per the admission guidelines of the university, candidates are shortlisted for the MBA course based on multiple national-level exams such as MAT/XAT/ ATMA/ CMAT. Candidates must make sure to apply for the e
P
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
No, CAT is not compulsory for admission to AIMS Mumbai. Aspirants with a valid score in any of the accepted entrance exam such as XAT, CMAT, ATMA, MAH CET, etc. can get admission provided they also fulfil the eligibility requirements. Candidates need to provide the entrance exam score in the applica
N
Contributor-Level 10
The CAT exam is always conducted on the last Sunday of November every year so the CAT 2024 exam is expected to be conducted on Nov 24, 2024. Official announcement of the CAT 2024 exam date will be made by the convening IIM on Jul 30, 2024. The announcement will be made at the iimcat.ac.in website as well as in all the national dailies across India. We at Shiksha also notify the aspirants through our communication channels. Registrations cum application process for CAT 2024 will begin from the first week of August and end in the third week of September 2024.
Check below CAT exam dates for last five years: