CAT 2023 presented a similar exam structure as previous years with 66 questions across Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (24 questions), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (20 questions), and Quantitative Aptitude (22 questions). In this article we will present a CAT 2023 Exam Analysis.
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension:
The section covered diverse topics with 4 Reading Comprehension passages with 4 questions each. There were 2 questions for each of Parajumbles, Fill in the sentence, Odd one out, and ParaSummary. Here is a detailed overview of the passages across the three slots.
| Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | |
| Easy | Return of wolves’ predation in a French region | Second-hand Shopping and Fast Fashion | Colonialism and Global Warming (The Nutmeg’s Curse) |
| Current economies of North and South Korea. | Translated Streaming in Europe | Understanding Romantic Aesthetics | |
| Difficult | Indian Ocean Literature | Why Liberalism Failed (Book Review) | Cultural Patrimony Laws |
| Modern materialism versus ancient societies | What is a Historical Fact | Rationality by Steven Pinker | |
| Good Attempts: 16-18 | Good Attempts: 17-19 | Good Attempts: 16-18 |
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Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning:
CAT 2023’s DILR section tested logical prowess with 4 sets of 5 questions each. Here is a detailed overview of the types of sets asked across the three slots.
| Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | |
| Easy | Professors in departments | 5 firms – Funds raised in consecutive years | Number of enrollments in offline and online courses |
| Gig workers and Restaurants, Mathematical Reasoning Involved Measures of Central Tendency |
Draw competition | Six Police Stations with map (route-based) | |
| Difficult | Houses on sale | 3 friends visited a park. Many rides. Scheduling questions |
Projects and scores of 3 boys and 3 girls |
| Visa Office Special Equation handling | Nine Boxes – sudoku type puzzle | AC Company – 4 Dealers | |
| Good attempts: 9-11 | Good attempts: 10-12 | Good attempts: 9-11 |
Quantitative Aptitude:
In the QA section, questions from arithmetic, algebra, modern math, geometry, and numbers were asked. Each slot presented unique challenges for aspirants.
| Area | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
| Arithmetic | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Algebra | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| Modern Math | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Geometry | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Numbers | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Good attempts | 9-11 | 9-11 | 9-11 |
The Quantitative Aptitude section was notably the toughest in the last 5 years, challenging test-takers’ mathematical skills.
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Percentile Projections:
As per the CAT 2023 Exam Analysis, For 99.9%ile seekers, the score targets ranged between 102 and 105, with section-wise breakdowns provided. Detailed percentile estimates are given for Verbal, DI & LR, and Quant.
Initial Estimates: Overall
| Percentile | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
| 99.9%ile | 102 | 105 | 101 |
| 99.5%ile | 89 | 91 | 87 |
| 99%ile | 80 | 81 | 77 |
| 98%ile | 71 | 73 | 70 |
| 95%ile | 57 | 59 | 56 |
| 90%ile | 49 | 50 | 48 |
| 85%ile | 40 | 41 | 39 |
| 80%ile | 36 | 36 | 35 |
Initial Estimates: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
| Percentile | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
| 99.9%ile | 48 | 50 | 46 |
| 99.5%ile | 44 | 46 | 42 |
| 99%ile | 40 | 42 | 38 |
| 98%ile | 36 | 38 | 34 |
| 95%ile | 30 | 32 | 28 |
| 90%ile | 25 | 26 | 23 |
| 85%ile | 21 | 22 | 20 |
| 80%ile | 19 | 20 | 18 |
Initial Estimates: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
| Percentile | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
| 99.9%ile | 36 | 38 | 36 |
| 99.5%ile | 32 | 34 | 32 |
| 99%ile | 28 | 30 | 28 |
| 98%ile | 25 | 26 | 25 |
| 95%ile | 19 | 20 | 19 |
| 90%ile | 16 | 17 | 16 |
| 85%ile | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| 80%ile | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Initial Estimates: Quantitative Aptitude
| Percentile | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
| 99.9%ile | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| 99.5%ile | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| 99%ile | 27 | 26 | 26 |
| 98%ile | 23 | 23 | 23 |
| 95%ile | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 90%ile | 15 | 14 | 14 |
| 85%ile | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| 80%ile | 10 | 10 | 10 |
It's important to note that these scores are initial estimates, and the real story will unfold with revised estimates coming out 2-3 days after the CAT Response Sheet is available. Aspirants are cautioned against making big decisions about B-School applications based solely on these initial estimates. Consider them as the opening act in the CAT 2023 performance journey, promising more clarity in the revised projections.
While waiting for the release of the official answer key, know your expected percentile with the help of InsideIIM's percentile predictor tool.
Note - All percentile estimates and question data have been taken from the analysis released by IMS & Career Launcher.
