CAT Trends Over the Years : Paper Pattern, Scoring & Topic-wise Shifts

CAT stands as one of the most sought-after and highly competitive entrance examinations in India for those aiming to pursue management education. Over the past decade, CAT has seen notable fluctuations in registration numbers, gender participation, and exam difficulty levels due to factors like economic conditions, career trends, and educational shifts. While the number of registered candidates has generally increased, years like 2015, 2022, and 2023 witnessed significant spikes. The success rate, however, remains low averaging around 2%, indicating the intense competition for seats in top B-schools like the IIMs. Female and transgender participation has also shown a positive upward trend, contributing to a more inclusive exam environment. Furthermore, CAT's difficulty level has varied from moderate too difficult over the years, making strategic preparation essential. Additionally, not all registered candidates appear for the exam, which also impacts the competition ratio. These trends provide crucial insights for future aspirants regarding registration patterns, success probability, and preparation strategy.

CAT Registration Trends in the Last 10 Years

CAT is one of the most competitive entrance exams in India for management programs. Over the past decade, the number of candidates registering for CAT has shown notable fluctuations due to various factors like economic trends, job market conditions, and educational shifts. The following table presents year-wise CAT registration data from 2013 to 2023.

CAT Exam Year	Number of Candidates Registered	Increase/Decrease (%)
2013	1.95 lakh	-8.9%
2014	1.97 lakh	1.0%
2015	2.19 lakh	11.2%
2016	2.32 lakh	5.9%
2017	2.31 lakh	-0.4%
2018	2.41 lakh	4.3%
2019	2.44 lakh	1.2%
2020	2.28 lakh	-6.6%
2021	2.30 lakh	0.9%
2022	2.55 lakh	11%
2023	3.3 lakh	30%

As shown in the table, CAT registration numbers have generally risen over the years, with significant spikes in 2015, 2022, and 2023. However, a few years like 2013, 2017, and 2020 witnessed a decline, likely due to specific external factors affecting aspirant behavior.

CAT Registration Trend Over the Last 10 Years: A Growth Analysis

The number of students registering for the Common Admission Test (CAT) has seen several ups and downs over the past decade. While some years showed a decline, others witnessed a steady rise. To understand the overall growth, we calculate the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2012 to 2022 in the table below.

Particulars	Details
CAT Registrations in 2012	2,15,000
CAT Registrations in 2022	2,55,501
Total Years of CAT Exams	10
Annual Growth in CAT Registrations	6.06%

CAT Exam: Registered vs Appeared Candidates (2013-2023)

Over the past few years, there has been a consistent upward trend in the number of aspirants registering for the Common Admission Test (CAT). However, not all who register actually appears for the exam. The table below highlights the difference between registered and appeared candidates across various years.

CAT Exam Year	Number of Candidates Registered	Number of Candidates Appeared
2023	3.3 lakh	To be updated
2022	2,55,501	2,22,184
2021	2,29,969	1,91,660
2020	2,27,835	1,90,144
2019	2,44,169	2,09,926
2018	2,41,000	2,09,405
2017	2,31,067	1,99,632
2016	2,32,436	1,95,679
2015	2,18,664	1,79,602
2014	1,96,951	1,70,000
2013	1,94,516	1,73,714

The graph below shows the number of candidates who registered for and appeared in the CAT exam from 2013 to 2023, highlighting trends in student participation over the years.

Gender-wise CAT Registration Trends Over the Years

CAT has witnessed a consistent rise in the number of registrations over the past decade. Although male candidates have always dominated the registration figures, the participation of female candidates has steadily increased, reflecting a gradual shift toward gender balance.

CAT Exam Year-wise Data	Total number of candidates who enrolled	umber of male applicants	Number of female applicants	Number of transgender applicants
2023	3.3 lakh	2.23 lakh	1.17 lakh	N/A
2022	2,55,501	1,44,417	77,763	4
2021	2,29,969	1,24,808	66,850	2
2020	2,27,835	1,15,143	75,000	1
2019	2,44,169	1,34,917	75,004	5
2018	2,41,000	1,36,075	73,326	4
2017	2,31,067	1,53,027	78,009	31
2016	2,32,436	1,30,839	64,503	26
2015	2,18,664	1,21,291	58,270	41
2014	1,96,951	1,37,740	59,211	N/A
2013	1,94,516	1,38,107	56,409	N/A

CAT Exam Success Rate in India: How Competitive Is It Really?

CAT examination is considered highly challenging due to the stiff competition and the limited number of seats available in premier institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). Every year, around 2 to 3 lakh candidates appear for the exam, but only a small percentage make it to the top institutions.

In 2024, around 2.8 lakh students appeared for the CAT exam, out of the 3.3 lakh who had registered. Despite the large number of test-takers, the success rate is just around 2%, meaning that only 2 out of every 100 candidates succeed in securing a seat in premier management institutions.

This low success rate highlights how challenging the exam is, not just in terms of syllabus and difficulty level, but also due to the fierce competition among highly prepared candidates.

Year	Registered Candidates	Appeared Candidates	Approx. Success Rate
2024	3.3 lakh	2.8 lakh	2%
2023	3.3 lakh	2.88 lakh	2%
2022	2.55 lakh	2.22 lakh	2%
2021	2.30 lakh	1.91 lakh	2%
2020	2.27 lakh	1.90 lakh	2%

The success rate is calculated based on the number of students who qualify for admission to the top IIMs and other top-tier B-schools, making CAT a true test of aptitude, preparation, and performance under pressure.

Percentage Increase or Decrease in CAT Registrations (Year-wise Analysis)

The number of candidates registering for the CAT exam fluctuates each year due to multiple factors like career trends, economic conditions, exam difficulty, and pandemic impacts. While some years show sharp increases in interest, others reflect a drop in numbers. Notably, in 2023, CAT saw a significant surge of 28.6%, highlighting renewed interest among management aspirants. However, in 2024, there has been a slight dip of 0.3%. Here's a year-wise breakdown of the percentage increase or decrease in CAT registrations:

CAT Exam Year	Increase/Decrease in Registration (%)
CAT 2024	-0.3%
CAT 2023	+28.6%
CAT 2022	+11%
CAT 2021	+0.9%
CAT 2020	-6.6%
CAT 2019	+1.2%
CAT 2018	+4.3%
CAT 2017	-0.4%
CAT 2016	+5.9%

CAT Difficulty Level in India (Year-wise)

CAT is known for its unpredictable pattern and varying difficulty levels each year. Understanding the past trends in exam difficulty helps aspirants better prepare for what lies ahead. The competition level depends not only on the number of test takers but also on how tough the paper is, which affects overall percentile scores and selection chances. Here is a year-wise analysis of the CAT exam's difficulty level, based on expert reviews, student feedback, and percentile trends:

CAT Exam Year	Competitiveness / Difficulty Level
CAT 2024	Moderate
CAT 2023	Difficult
CAT 2022	Moderate to Difficult
CAT 2021	Moderate to Difficult
CAT 2020	Moderate to Difficult
CAT 2019	Easy to Moderate
CAT 2018	Moderate to Difficult
CAT 2017	Moderate to Difficult
CAT 2016	Moderate

This trend shows that most CAT exams in recent years have ranged from moderate to difficult, with only a few exceptions like CAT 2019, which was slightly easier. The variation in difficulty is one of the reasons why CAT requires a dynamic preparation strategy not just memorization but adaptability, time management, and strong conceptual clarity.

Read More:

• CAT Exam Syllabus 2025
• CAT Exam 2025 Dates
• CAT Exam Pattern 2025
• CAT Question Paper

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the CAT success rate so low despite high registration numbers? +

Ans: The success rate of CAT remains low because of the limited number of seats in top-tier IIMs and the extremely high level of competition. Out of lakhs of test-takers, only a few thousand make it to premier institutes. Additionally, success isn't just about clearing the written test—factors like academic profile, work experience, and performance in the WAT-PI (Written Ability Test – Personal Interview) rounds also impact final selection.

How is the CAT percentile calculated, and what does it signify? +

Ans: A candidate’s CAT percentile indicates their relative performance compared to other test-takers across the country. It is not a percentage of marks but a rank-based metric. For example, if your percentile is 99, you’ve scored better than 99% of the test-takers. Percentiles are calculated for each section and the overall score, which B-schools use to shortlist candidates. It ensures fair comparison across different test slots and difficulty levels.

What strategies can aspirants adopt to improve their chances in CAT despite the low success rate? +

Ans: To improve chances of success, aspirants should focus on time-bound practice, section-wise preparation, and regular mock tests. Analyzing past year papers and understanding question trends is essential. Joining coaching, participating in peer discussions, and maintaining a strong profile (academics + extra-curriculars + work experience) also boost one’s selection prospects, especially in the final admission rounds.

What are the major reasons behind aspirants registering but not appearing for CAT? +

Ans: Several factors can cause a gap between registration and actual attendance, including last-minute preparation issues, personal or health-related reasons, overlapping exams, job interviews, or a loss of confidence. Some candidates also register as a backup plan or practice, without serious intent to appear.

Related News