Saumya
Saumya Jain
Assistant Manager- Content
Updated on Nov 26, 2023 12:43 IST

Check out CAT 2023 student reactions and reviews to know the difficulty level of the exam being held today.

CAT 2023 Students Reaction and Reviews

CAT 2023 Students' Reaction and Reviews

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

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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?

A:

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:

  • CAT 2023: November 26
  • CAT 2022: November 27
  • CAT 2021: November 28
  • CAT 2020: November 29 
  • CAT 2019: November 24

Q:   Will CAT exam 2025 also be conducted in three shifts?

A:

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?

A:
CAT exam is held in three slots for the past three years. Earlier it used to be held in two slots of three hours each, but since 2020 it is held in three slots of two hours each. The three slots are conducted between 8 am to 4 pm. The first slot is held from 8:30 am to 10:30 am, the second slot is held from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm and the third slot is held from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. In these three slots, about 2.22 Lacs candidates are accommodated at over 400 test centres in about 150 plus cities across India. The exam slots are allotted to candidates by the examination authorities as per the receipt of applications and candidates cannot request for change of examination slot. They have to give the test in the slot mentioned on the admit card.

“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.”

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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?

A:
For PwD candidates, facilities in CAT exam include, relaxation of marks in graduation. The minimum score required by PwD candidate in graduation for appearing in CAT exam is 45 per cent aggregate. Apart from that, such candidates are provided scribe service at the exam centre. To avail the service such candidates have to fill the relevant form during registration process. The CAT exam authorities follow government rule viz. PwD candidate which is, 'Person with Benchmark Disability' means a person with not less than forty percent of a specified disability where the specified disability has not been defined in measurable terms and includes a person with disability where the specified disability has been defined in measurable terms, as certified by the certifying authority, as defined in The Rights of Persons with Disabilities ACT 2016 (RPwD ACT 2016). The categories of disability are, blindness and low vision, deaf and hard of hearing, locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy, autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness, multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (d), f) other 'specified disabilities' mentioned in 'The Schedule' of the RPwD ACT 2016.

Q:   What are the items to carry on the CAT exam day?

A:
Every candidate must carry a blue/black ball point pen and a few copies of their passport size photo to the exam centre. They must not carry any stationary item other than the pen. Ever since the COVID-19 outbreak, CAT candidates are required to carry drinking water, hand sanitizer, face mask and gloves along with them. Candidates have to carry drinking water in a transparent bottle and a 100 ml bottle of hand sanitizer. The hand sanitizer bottle should also be transparent. Candidates who have diabetes can carry fruits as per medical prescription. No other item will be allowed inside the exam venue. Candidates must not carry bags or valuables as there will be no arrangement for depositing while candidates appear for the exam. Candidates must also not carry notebooks or rough paper to the CAT exam centre. Any candidate found with an unauthorised item will be disqualified.

Q:   What are the dos and don'ts for CAT exam day?

A:
On the CAT exam day, candidates have to follow a number of guidelines which include cooperating with the exam centre staff during identification process, following instructions given be the invigilator and following the test navigation for solving the questions. There are some key dos and don'ts that candidates should follow on the CAT exam day, which have been listed below: CAT exam day dos: 1. Reach the examination centre at the reporting time mentioned on your CAT admit card. 2. Carry two copies of the CAT admit card, one photo ID card, passport size photos and duly filled COVID-19 declaration form 3. PwD candidates should carry the relevant certificates and documents as prescribed by the examination authorities. 4. Carry a blue/black ball point pen for signing the attendance sheet 5. Carry personal drinking water, hand sanitizer, face masks and gloves 6. Cooperate with the test centre staff and follow the instructions 7. While entering the answers, use only the computer mouse. Do not touch the keyboard as doing so will lead to screen locking. CAT exam day don'ts: 1. Do not carry prohibited items such as bags, purses, pencil box, beepers, wrist watch, calculators, mobile phones, electronic devices, scanners, cameras, wireless/Bluetooth transmission or any such communication devices. 2. Don't wear closed shoes, jewellery made of metal, jackets, clothes with pockets, mehendi on palms. Socks are allowed inside it. 3. Don't wear caps, hoodies or jackets/shirts with pockets 4. Don't be late for the exam. The entry gates will be closed 15 minutes before the commencement of exam. No candidate will be allowed to enter the exam centre after that. 5. Don't cheat or indulge in mal practice. You can be disqualified due to any such ACT. 6. Don't create a ruckus inside the test lab 7. Don't leave your seat until the exam duration gets over and the invigilator announces exit.

Q:   Which IIM will conduct CAT 2024 exam?

A:

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:

Check out the video below to get the detailed CAT 2023 Students Reactions and Reviews for Slot 1:

CAT Percentile predictor prepared by Shiksha.com helps students to get their predicted CAT percentile on the basis of their expected exam score. So, predict your CAT score by clicking the link below:

CAT Percentile Predictor

Check CAT cut offs and predict calls from IIMs and Non-IIMs accepting CAT score for admission. Check Fees, Placement Reviews, Admission, Shortlist Criteria and Eligibility of all CAT participating colleges by clicking the link below:

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About the Author
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Saumya Jain
Assistant Manager- Content

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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