CAT SYLLABUS

The CAT syllabus is extensive and encompasses a broad spectrum of topics. While the IIMs do not provide a fixed syllabus, the questions primarily revolve around middle school Math and English concepts. This article offers CAT aspirants access to the latest syllabus and PDF resources. It is important to note that the syllabus provided here is general in nature. For predicting interview or admission calls from top MBA colleges, students can make use of various tools like the CAT College Predictor.

In the CAT exam, questions are categorized into sections covering Reasoning, English, and Math. It is imperative for candidates to have a strong grasp of these fundamental concepts. The questions are strategically designed to challenge candidates and assess their ability to manage time effectively, along with their analytical and decision-making skills.

Before delving into the specifics of the CAT syllabus, it is essential to understand some key details about the exam itself. CAT, or the Common Admission Test, is conducted annually in India by one of the IIMs on a rotational basis. This computer-based test evaluates candidates in Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation, and Logical Reasoning. Initially introduced by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), CAT serves as a crucial selection criterion for various business administration programs.

Prior to exploring the detailed syllabus for CAT, it is beneficial to gain insight into the significant topics within each section. The table below highlights these essential topics, with detailed weightage provided for reference.

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CAT Quantitative Ability Syllabus

1. Number System

2. Arithmetic

3. Geometry and Mensuration

4. Algebra

5. Modern Mathematics

CAT DATA Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Syllabus

Data Interpretation

Logical Reasoning

CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Syllabus

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

Quantitative Ability Syllabus Weightage

In the Quantitative section of the CAT exam, there are several topics that are crucial and frequently appear in the question paper. This section typically comprises 22 questions, out of which 7 questions are Non-MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions).

Arithmetic and Algebra are dominant topics in the CAT exam.

Below are some of the most important syllabus topics for CAT along with their weightages:

CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension Syllabus Weightage

In the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section of CAT, there are a total of 24 questions, out of which 5 questions are Non-MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions).

Reading comprehension questions constitute 66% of the total VARC questions, while the remaining questions are based on Verbal Ability, including Parasummary, Parajumbles, and odd-sentence out.

Reading Comprehension questions are typically based on a provided paragraph, and candidates are required to answer 4-5 questions based on it. Most of the CAT RC questions are MCQs. Verbal Ability questions assess candidates command over the English language, covering grammar and language usage.

Below are some of the important syllabus topics for the CAT VARC section:

CAT Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation Syllabus Weightage

In the CAT Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation section, there are a total of 20 questions, out of which 6 are TITA (Type in the Answer) based questions. The distribution of questions in this section has varied over the years:

• Till CAT 2017, the section was equally divided into 2 parts with 16 questions each in DI & LR.
• In CAT 2018 & CAT 2019, Logical Reasoning had 20 questions and Data Interpretation had 12 questions.
• In CAT 2020, the section had 16 questions from Data Interpretation & 8 questions from Logical Reasoning.
• In CAT 2021, 20 questions were asked in the DILR section, out of which 5 were Non-MCQ.

In the Data Interpretation (DI) section, questions come in 3-4 sets, and candidates should understand the data sets properly to be able to attempt the complete set accurately.

Below is the topic-wise distribution of the DILR section over the years: