CAT 2023 registration closes today: Check how to apply and other important details

To apply for the CAT exam, candidates must have completed their graduation with at least 50 percent marks or equivalent. Alternatively, candidates should have a professional degree like CA/CS/ICWA/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI) with the required percentage. For more detailed eligibility criteria, applicants can refer to the notification available on the official website.

Candidates from the SC/ST/PwD categories will be charged a registration fee of Rs 1,200, while candidates from all other categories will have to pay Rs 2,400 to complete their application process.

Step 1. Visit the official website iimcat.ac.in.

Step 2. On the homepage, click on the IIM CAT 2023 registration link.

Step 3. Sign up and continue the application process.

Step 4. Fill out the form, pay the fee and submit your application.

The candidates can expect the results of the entrance test by the second week of January 2024. The CAT scores will remain valid until December 31, 2024.

Since 2015, the CAT exam has adhered to a consistent pattern, with the last three years serving as a reference for the 2023 edition.

CAT is a computer-delivered test with a duration of two hours, although it's important to note that it's not an online exam. Similar to the previous year, CAT 2023 will feature 66 questions divided into three sections- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension; Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning; and Quantitative Ability.

Out of the 66 questions, at least 18 will not carry negative markings. The exam comprises both Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Non-MCQs. If any non-MCQs have negative markings, a few MCQs will be altered to have no negative marking.

Over 48 questions in CAT are of MCQ type and will carry a negative marking in a 1:3 ratio.

IIMs typically require a minimum qualifying score between the 70th and 90th percentiles in the CAT exam in each of the three sections to shortlist candidates for the final admission round.