CAT 2023 Question Paper: Conducted on 26th November 2023, the CAT 2023 exam was rated as moderate to difficult, with a well-balanced mix of VARC, DILR, and QA sections.
Download the CAT 2023 slot-wise question papers for all three sections to understand the pattern, difficulty level, and question types.
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Also Check Slot-wise CAT Live Analysis Here –
Table of Contents
CAT 2023 VARC Question Paper
The VARC section in CAT 2023 was moderate to tricky, dominated by Reading Comprehension passages and inference-based questions. There were also a few summary-type questions, while para-jumbles continued to test logical flow.
| CAT VARC Question Paper 2023 | Download PDF |
| CAT 2023 VARC Question Paper Slot 1 | Click Here |
| CAT 2023 VARC Question Paper Slot 2 | Click Here |
| CAT 2023 VARC Question Paper Slot 3 | Click Here |
CAT 2023 DILR Question Paper
DILR in CAT 2023 was the toughest section for most test-takers, with complex reasoning sets and time-consuming data arrangements. Regular practice from these papers can help improve speed and logical accuracy.
| CAT DILR Question Paper 2023 | Download PDF |
| CAT 2023 DILR Question Paper Slot 1 | Click Here |
| CAT 2023 DILR Question Paper Slot 2 | Click Here |
| CAT 2023 DILR Question Paper Slot 3 | Click Here |
CAT 2023 QA Question Paper
The QA section was moderate, with Arithmetic and Algebra dominating the paper. Questions were a mix of direct formula-based and concept-driven ones, testing both accuracy and time management.
| CAT QA Question Paper 2023 | Download PDF |
| CAT 2023 QA Question Paper Slot 1 | Click Here |
| CAT 2023 QA Question Paper Slot 2 | Click Here |
| CAT 2023 QA Question Paper Slot 3 | Click Here |
Also Check – Download CAT 2024 Question Paper PDF
CAT 2023 Exam – Overall Analysis
The exam pattern remained consistent with the previous year, but there was one notable surprise – the VARC section in Slot 2 included a mandatory Verbal Ability question, which was not present in the other two slots.
Based on student feedback and expert reviews, here are some key takeaways from the CAT 2023 exam:
- Slot 2 was considered the easiest, so its scores are expected to be scaled down slightly.
- In Slot 1, the DILR section turned out to be the most challenging among all slots.
- The QA section in CAT 2023 was tougher compared to CAT 2022.
- Within QA, Slot 3 was found to be harder than Slots 1 and 2.
- Overall, CAT 2023 was quite challenging across all three sections, testing both accuracy and time management.
Check the detailed CAT 2023 paper analysis for expert insights on slot-wise difficulty, section trends, and score vs percentile mapping.
CAT 2023 Exam Analysis – Difficulty Level
The overall difficulty level of CAT 2023 was higher than CAT 2022. The paper followed the same format, with 66 questions to be solved in 120 minutes, divided into three sections of 40 minutes each:
- VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension) – 24 questions
- DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning) – 20 questions
- QA (Quantitative Ability) – 22 questions
Although the pattern remained unchanged, the difficulty varied slightly across slots, with a few notable differences in each section.
Here’s how each section compared:
| Section | Slot-Wise Difficulty Level |
| VARC | The toughest VARC was seen in Slot 1, while Slot 2 was moderate and Slot 3 was the easiest among all. |
| DILR | Slot 3 was the most challenging with complex and time-consuming sets. Slot 1 was moderately difficult, and Slot 2 was the easiest. |
| QA | Slot 3 appeared toughest due to lengthy arithmetic and algebra questions. Slot 2 was balanced, while Slot 1 was comparatively smoother. |
Overall, DILR stood out as the hardest section in CAT 2023, while VARC was the most manageable.
Also Check – CAT 2025 Admit Card Release Date
How to Use CAT Previous Year Papers for CAT 2025 Preparation
Solving CAT previous year question papers is one of the smartest ways to strengthen your CAT 2025 preparation. Here’s how they make a difference:
- Use them to understand evolving question styles and difficulty trends in each section.
- Check which topics appeared frequently so you can prioritise your study plan.
- Practise these papers to build speed, accuracy, and exam stamina.
- Compare your approach with expert solutions to find quicker problem-solving methods.
- Learn to manage sectional timing and question selection, both crucial for scoring high in 2025.
Conclusion
The CAT 2023 question papers and analysis offer valuable insights into the exam’s structure, difficulty level, and changing trends. Reviewing these papers helps aspirants understand section-wise weightage and question patterns that are likely to repeat in future exams. By practising slot-wise papers, candidates can refine their strategy, strengthen weak areas, and build confidence for CAT 2025. Use these papers as mock tests to simulate real exam conditions and boost your overall preparation.
