CAT 2023 Live Updates: Slot 3 paper moderate to difficult, analysis here

Gautam Puri - Vice Chairman and MD, Career Launcher has shared section-wise difficulty level. Check here

The test takers from CAT 2023 slot 3 found the difficulty level of the paper from this slot to be similar to the previous 2 slots of the day, ie. moderate to difficult. There were a total of 66 questions (all 3 sections combined), for which students were allowed a total of 120 minutes. The overall difficulty level in Slot 3 was moderate to difficult.

CAT 2023 slot 3 ended at 6.30pm. The exam analysis will be available soon. Keep checking this space for latest updates.

Bhushan Bapat, Head of Academics, CAT Division at Supergrads by Toprankers has shared the analysis

VARC - 16 RC questions heavy on critical reasoning. 2 passages tough with easy questions. 2 passages easy with tricky questions. 2 questions on Para Jumbles (TITA), 2 questions on Para Jumbles Odd Variety (TITA), 2 questions on Para Summary and 2 questions on missing sentence.

DILR - All four sets had 5 questions each with 2 sets having 4 out of 5 questions as TITA questions. One set on 3x3 grid with box having coins from 1to9 and median values given. One set on 3 people taking rides from 9 am till 5 pm. One set on companies generating rev from start year till end year with some missing values. One set on 2 day average for three people getting numbers between 1-9. 2 sets were definitely doable.

QA had questions from Geometry, SICI, time and work, factor theory , ratio and percentage, difference between max possible and min possible values concept, TSD, Numbers, averages. Heavy on algebra. Time consuming questions.

Bhushan Bapat, Head of Academics, CAT Division at Supergrads by Toprankers has shared the analysis

With not any surprises, CAT 2023 Slot 1 was on the same lines as of previous years. The only change coming in the topics on which the questions were asked especially in DILR & QA

Overall 66 questions distributed as VARC-24, DILR - 20 and QA22. VARC saw the return of odd one out questions. Overall it was easy to moderate. DI LR sets were lengthy and were based on conceptual understanding of topics including statistics too. Overall the level can be ranked as Moderate to tough. QA presented

Surprises with not as many questions as last year which could have been solved in no time i.e. level 1 questions.

Stil the section was Moderate with a couple of tough questions on geometry and some tricky questions from Arithmetic and Algebra!!

VARC - 16 RC questions heavily using the word 'except' followed by 2 questions on Para Jumbles (TITA), 2 questions on Para Jumbles Odd Variety (TITA), 2 questions on Para Summary and 2 questions on Para Completion.

DILR - All four sets had 5 questions each with 2 sets having 4 out of 5 questions as TITA questions. No DI set, all were from LR with one from arrangement with a number of variables involved.

QA had questions from Geometry, Co-ordinate Geometry, finding roots and values, ratio and percentage, clock concept, TSD, Numbers.

CAT 2023 slot 3 begins at 4.30 pm. The examination will get over at 6.30 pm.

CAT 2023 slot 2 is over. The complete analysis can be checked here

Gautam Puri - Vice Chairman and MD, Career Launcher has shared the difficulty level for each section

• VARC: The VARC section was almost the same as slot 1 from the day (CAT 2023). However, it was easier than slot 2 of the previous year (CAT 2022). There were 24 questions that needed to be solved in 40 minutes. There was one mandatory question in the section. (Candidates could at least aim for 12-14 questions)
• DILR: CAT 2023 DILR was moderate in difficulty, same as slot 1, but compared to the previous year (CAT 2022) it was difficult. The section included 20 questions, and the time allotted was 40 minutes. (Candidates could at least aim for 8-9 questions)
• QA: This year's QA section was slightly more difficult than slot 1 of the day and much more difficult than slot 2 of 2022. In 40 minutes, you had to answer 22 questions (Candidates could at least aim for 9-10 questions).
• Total: The paper was similar in difficulty level compared to slot 1 of today and slightly on the difficult side compared to slot 2 of CAT 2022. (Candidates could at least aim for 30 questions).

According to Sumit Singh Gandhi (Rahul) , CEO Founder CATKing, compared to the previous year definitely the paper was on the tougher side, one notch higher than CAT 2022. Check complete analysis here.

The Verbal Ability section was relatively straightforward, with a mix of diverse passages. The questions were predominantly inference-based, with a few testing factual knowledge. Overall, the Verbal Ability section leaned more towards the manageable side.

The DILR section in CAT 2023 Slot 2 ranged from moderate to difficult. While the questions were not overly conditional, solving the set was crucial for answering all questions accurately.

Quantitative Aptitude in CAT 2023 Slot 2 the section was tougher than last year and the morning slot. The questions, while lengthy to read, were generally easy to solve for those whose concepts are clear. The exam started up with All Algebra 7 Questions coming together back to back intimidating the students who feared Algebra Module. Notably, the geometry questions were limited to two, deviating from the past trend. CAT 2023 Slot 2 displayed a fair 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.

IIM CAT 2023 Slot 2 is difficult than Slot 1, says students and experts.

Checked detailed analysis of the CAT 2023 shift 1 exam here.

After the exam is over, IIM Lucknow will release the provisional answer key of CAT 2023 and invite objections from candidates. Next, the final answer key and result will be announced.

By: Ramnatah Kanakadandi, Senior Course Director, T.I.M.E

The CAT 2023 morning session unfolded smoothly, aligning with the expected criteria. Although the exam displayed a higher level of complexity compared to its predecessor, it maintained adherence to the established framework observed in previous years. It is noteworthy that there were no significant deviations from the expected examination pattern

The evaluation scheme was the same as that of the earlier years - Three marks for a correct answer and a penalty of a mark for a wrongly marked MCQ. Non-MCQs have no negative marks.

VARC: VARC was moderate to difficult. There were 24 questions that needed to be solved in 40 minutes. (The paper was a little easier compared to the previous year)

DILR: CAT 2023 DILR in shift 1 was moderate in difficulty compared to the previous year. The section included 20 questions, and the time allotted was 40 minutes. (The paper was on the same level as the previous year)

QA: This year's QA section had 8-9 doable questions. In 40 minutes, you had to answer 22 questions (especially the Algebra section was difficult).

Overall: The paper was difficult overall, and it was a little more challenging than the previous year.

Analysis by Gautam Puri - Vice Chairman and MD, Career Launcher.

The QA section was rated as moderate to tough, with a higher level of difficulty compared to CAT 2022.

• Arithmetic covered questions on profit and loss, mixtures, simple interest and compound interest (SICI), time-speed-distance, and time and work.
• Algebra posed tougher challenges, including questions on algebraic expressions (3-4 questions), logarithms, and geometry.
• Geometry included questions on right-angle triangles, coordinate geometry, and an area-finding scenario in an arithmetic progression.
• Modern Maths introduced permutation and combination, while probability was absent.

Algebra: 7 questions.

Mixture and Alligation: 1 question.

Venn Diagram (VPAR): 2 questions.

Time, Speed, and Distance (TSD): 2 questions (1 easy, 1 lengthy).

Modern Maths & Percentage mixed question: 1 question.

Clocks & Calendars: 1 question.

Geometry questions and Number system questions were present.

– Sumit Singh Gandhi (Rahul) , CATKing

• 24 questions
• The section presented a challenging set of questions, emphasizing the importance of selecting the right set for maximum efficiency. Most candidates found two sets doable.

– Sumit Singh Gandhi (Rahul) , CATKing

• 24 questions
• Reading comprehension was dominated in the verbal section. There were 4 passages with 4 questions each. More inference-based questions and not factual, there were close options too so it needed little focus while solving.
• TITA Verbal ability was overall Moderate.
• ut of Context (OOC) Questions, involving 5 statements with tricky connections.
• Parajumbles questions, each with 4 statements.
• Parasummary questions, with options that were easy but closely related.
• Paragraph completion questions, which were very easy to solve.

– Sumit Singh Gandhi (Rahul) , CATKing

VARC: 24 questions

DI LR: 20

Quants: 22 questions

– Sumit Singh Gandhi (Rahul) , CATKing

The VARC section in shift 1 was moderate with reading comprehension dominating; DILR section was on the difficult side. In the Quants section, Algebra & Arithmetic dominated the exam and some elements of statistics was seen.

– Sumit Singh Gandhi (Rahul) , CEO Founder CATKing

The official answer key of the CAT exam will be released after a few days.

Meanwhile, coaching centres are likely to publish unofficial versions soon after the exam is over. Candidates can check it for reference but they are advised to go with the official version issued by IIM Lucknow.

To know how to calculate the percentile score of the CAT examination, click here.

Candidates can check paper analysis of CAT 2023 here after the exam ends.

How to utilise time properly during the CAT exam? Check tips shared by Bhushan Bapat, Head of Academics, CAT Division at Supergrads by Toprankers here.

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IIM Lucknow is going to conduct the CAT 2023 examination today, November 26, in three shifts.