IIMs conduct the CAT exam to provide admission into more than 5500s seats for the 2-year full-time residential MBA course. Candidates who decide to appear for the CAT exam must be well-versed in the syllabus of the CAT exam. The CAT Syllabus comprises 3 major sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. Approximately 68 questions are part of the CAT exam.
Each section has a specific number of questions, which are segregated into the MCQs and TITA questions. VARC is the first section in the actual CAT exam. It will include 24 questions from the VARC section. Almost 8 TITA (Type-in the Answer) questions will come from the Verbal Ability section. The RC (Reading Comprehension) section will have 16 questions. In this section, there will be 4 different RCs. Each RC will have 4 MCQ questions.
Now, DILR is the next section in the CAT exam, which is an online CBT test. This section will also comprise 22 questions. There are approximately 10-12 questions in the LR and DI sections each. Quants or Quantitative Aptitude is the last section with 22 questions only. Each question will have a different complexity level. 5 major chapters from the CAT QA syllabus are Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Modern Maths and Number System.
This was a short yet informative introduction to the CAT syllabus. An aspirant must aim to complete 75-80% CAT syllabus from every section to achieve 99.99%ile+ and reach amongst the top 1% candidates. Below, we will be covering the entire syllabus of the CAT exam, which you can follow to create a structured preparation plan.
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CAT Syllabus: Detailed Overview
| Main Particulars | Important Details |
| Name of the MBA examination | CAT Entrance Exam |
| Number of Sections | 3 |
| CAT Syllabus | Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Quantitative Aptitude |
| Exam Mode (Offline/Online) | Online (Computer-Based Test) |
| Total Number of Questions | 68 Questions |
| Section-Wise Questions | Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension: 24 Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning: 22 Quantitative Aptitude: 22 |
| CAT Exam Total Marks | 204 Marks |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions Type-In-The-Answer |
| CAT Marking Scheme (MCQ Questions) | +3 ( Per Correct Response) -1 (Every Wrong Attempt) 0 (Unanswered Questions) |
| Marking Pattern for TITA Questions | +3 Marks for every correct answer 0 marks for wrong or unanswered questions |
| Total Number of Slots | Slot 1, Slot 2, Slot 3 |
| Total Exam Duration | 120 minutes |
| Sectional Time Limit | 40 Minutes (Every Section) |
| CAT Paper Difficulty Level | It varies in all three slots every year |
| Sectional Wise Weightage | Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension: Approx 34-36% Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning: Approx 30% Quantitative Aptitude: Approx 32-34% |
| Note: The above information is taken from the CAT official sources. It’s subject to revision without any prior information. |
CAT Syllabus VARC: Latest and Official
In the online CAT exam, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension is the first section. Candidates appearing in the CAT exam get a sectional time limit of 40 minutes to attempt the VARC questions. It holds nearly 34-36% weightage and is the most scoring section in the Common Admission Test. Constant reading from top English resources like The Hindu, The Economist, Aeon, The New York Times, The Guardian, etc, will benefit you in solving RC questions. iQuanta offers exclusive modules like VARC Essentials Modules (500-word repository) and Engineer’s VARC Module, which has 60+ comprehensive videos with 30 hours of VARC content for extensive preparation. Your entire CAT syllabus from the VARC section will be covered through these resources. To know more about the main VARC topics, kindly check out the tabular content below.
CAT Syllabus VARC: Previous Year Topic-Wise Question Distribution
| CAT VARC Topics | No. of Questions |
| Reading Comprehension | 16 |
| Para Summary | 1-3 |
| Odd One Out | 1-3 |
| Para Jumble | 1-3* (This topic didn’t appear in the CAT 2024 exam) |
| Para Completion | 1-3 |
| Total Question | 24 |
CAT VARC Syllabus: Become a Top VARC Performer
We clearly understand that not all the CAT aspirants can be a top candidate in every section. Likewise, many engineers who are strong in Quants often face extreme difficulty in completing the CAT VARC Syllabus. That’s the reason we have a separate set of study modules known as the “Engineers’ VARC” for the engineering students. Also, we regularly share useful preparation tips from our expert’s desk, which have helped aspirants from our student community achieve a 99.99%ile in this section. Check out some of the best study tips that can elevate your VARC preparation game.
- Solve Past RCs: In our study modules, we have a compilation of previous year RCs, which every CAT aspirant must solve to develop familiarity with the common RC sources.
- Cover High-Priority Topics First: If you’re aiming to score 99.99%ile in the VARC, start by preparing for the RCs. Read and solve RCs from different genres to master perfection.
- Ask Your Doubts Regularly: Our faculties resolve 100+ doubts every day from VARC, DILR and QA. Join our student communities and drop your doubts to get a solution in <8 minutes.
- Learn Reading Techniques: While solving the RCs, your primary motive should be to extract the main idea of the passage. Boost your reading speed via skimming and skipping strategies.
DILR CAT Syllabus 2026: Most Important Topics
It’s very important to demonstrate logical reasoning, problem-solving, decision-making and critical thinking skills to qualify for the LRDI section. Basically, it’s the combination of charts, tables and puzzles which require an active presence of mind to solve them. Mainly, the DILR section has 4 different sets with 5 questions each.
However, the pattern for the DILR section was different in the CAT 2024. The first 3 sets had 4 questions each. There were 5 questions each in the remaining 2 sets. Go through the detailed DILR CAT syllabus below. It will help you to develop familiarity with the type of DILR questions that appear in the original CAT exam.
CAT Syllabus DILR: Key Topics and Weightage
| Section | Topics Covered | Weightage |
| Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation | Line & Bar Graphs Circular Arrangements Linear Arrangements Venn Diagrams Binary Logics Distribution DI Tables Games and Tournaments Selection Cube Network Flow Diagrams Quant-Based LR Quant-Based DI Caselets Pie Charts | Approx 30% |
CAT Syllabus LRDI: Past 3 Year Analysis
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | |||
| CAT Exam Year | CAT 2022 | CAT 2023 | CAT 2024 |
| Total Number of Questions | 20 (4 sets of 5 questions each) | 20 (4 sets of 5 questions each) | 22 (3 sets of 4 questions each, 2 sets of 5 questions each) |
| Paper Difficulty Level | Intermediate | Intermediate to Complex | Medium |
| Changes in the DILR Section | No Changes | There were 0 changes in the DILR section format | There was an increase in the total number of questions. Also, one more set was added in this section. |
CAT LRDI Syllabus: Solve 12-14 Questions in 25 Minutes
LRDI involves pie charts, graphs, tables, etc, which require access to the accurate techniques for choosing the correct answer. For this, you will have to join the best CAT online course in India, which provides well-structured preparation to complete the CAT syllabus for the DILR section. If you join iQuanta, here are a few common preparation tips that iQuanta CAT faculty members regularly share across our student communities, which have helped the CAT aspirants to solve DILR sets seamlessly.
- Master Basic Approaches: Enrol for the best CAT online course to obtain prominent information about the vital DILR concepts and shortcuts.
- Practice CAT-level Sets: Solve 50 DILR sets daily, which are focused according to the CAT exam pattern and level. Maintain an error log to keep track of your mistakes.
- Select Best DILR Resources: Purchase the resources that will brush up your conceptual understanding about LRDI topics from the basic level.
- Attempt Mocks Every Alternate Day: Start appearing for the sectionals & mocks on an alternate basis. This will stimulate your speed & accuracy. As a result, you’ll solve 12-14 correct questions in 25 minutes.
CAT Syllabus Quantitative Aptitude: Key Topics
Quants is the toughest section in the CAT exam only if you have not covered the 80% high-weightage topics from the CAT Syllabus. Maximum questions in the QA section will appear from Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry. Pay attention to shortcuts and formulas essential to solve every QA question. Ensure that you indulge often in mental calculations to efficiently utilise the 40 minutes of sectional time limit. List of the fundamental topics from the QA section is below.
Quantitative Aptitude CAT Syllabus: Complete List
| CAT QA Syllabus | Major Topics |
| Arithmetic | Percentages Profit and Loss Simple Interest and Compound Interest Ratio and Proportion Averages Mixture and Allegation Time and Work Pipes and Cisterns Time, Speed and Distance Races Trains and Boats |
| Algebra | Linear Equation Quadratic Equation Polynomials Indices & Surds Logarithms Inequalities Sequence & Series Functions Graphs Modulus |
| Number System | Properties of Integers Divisibility Remainder Theorem Factors LCM & HCF Factorial Trailing Zeroes Last Digits |
| Modern Maths | Set Theory Probability Permutation & Combination |
| Geometry | Triangles Quadrilaterals Polygons Circles Mensuration-3D Coordinate Geometry. |
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Topic-Wise Weightage
| Topic | CAT 2022 (Approx Questions) | CAT 2023 (Approx Questions) | CAT 2024 (Approx Questions) |
| Average, Ratio, Mixture & Alligation | 3-5 | 4-6 | 3-5 |
| Profit & Loss, SI, CI, Percentages | 1-3 | 2-3 | 2-3 |
| TSD & Time and Work | 3-5 | 2-3 | 2-3 |
| Geometry | 3 | 3 | 2-3 |
| Quadratic, Polynomials & Simple Equations | 1-3 | 3-4 | 1-2 |
| Progression and Series | 1-3 | 2 | 1-2 |
| Inequalities, Modulus & Functions | 3-4 | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Logarithm, Surds & Indices | 0-1 | 1-3 | 2 |
| Probability and P&C | 1 | 1 | 0-1 |
| Number System | 1 | 1-2 | 2-3 |
| Venn Diagrams | 0 | 0 | 0 |
CAT QA Syllabus: Score 99.99%ile in Quants
Quantitative Aptitude is the core of the CAT syllabus. Students from a non-mathematics background face extreme difficulty in remembering important formulas and concepts. Thus, at iQuanta, we have an exclusive and unique course for them. Subsequently, we also have a diversified student community on WhatsApp, Facebook, etc, where CAT aspirants get instant resolution on their doubts, connect with peers and share knowledge.
In addition, our experts also share preparation tips regularly for the QA section, which has helped multiple aspirants from our student community reach the 99.99%ile in the Quantitative Aptitude. Hereby, below we are sharing the fundamental study tips straightaway from iQuanta teaching experts that guarantee 100% effective results.
- Study from the Non-Engineers QA module where iQuanta CAT expert faculty cover basic concepts from the 6th-10th grade NCERT mathematical textbooks.
- Watch 70+ study modules where every particular QA topic from the CAT syllabus has been explained from the ground to the complex levels.
- Solve 300+ questions from our CAT full course. Each question is designed in relevance to the CAT exam level and pattern, which gives a higher edge to the students.
- Easily master the QA important formulas, tricks and shortcuts that our teaching experts will share in the student community groups.
CAT Syllabus Preparation Strategy: 100% Valuable Tips & Tricks
There are 2.95 lakh successful registrations for the CAT exam 2025. This number signifies that competition is going to be extremely tough this year. It also states that the number might increase in 2026, and so will the level of competition. Henceforth, your main target should be to cover the overall syllabus from all aspects.
Consider following these 10 useful tips, which will help you to cover the 100% CAT syllabus 3-4 months before the actual exam. Next, you can utilise the remaining 3-4 months for revising the syllabus, appearing for sectionals and full-length mocks. Allocate a proper time for mock analysis to review and improve the weak concepts.
- Check high-scoring topics from QA, DILR and VARC.
- Prioritize to cover the high-weightage topics.
- Spend more time on the weak topics from every section.
- Read for 1-2 hours daily to strengthen your RC skills.
- Write important QA formulas in a notebook.
- Refer to Barron’s List and Norman Lewis-Word Power Made Easy for VARC.
- Aim to develop speed and command an 85-90% accuracy rate.
- Practice sets from different levels.
- Learn to scan a set in the first 30 seconds only.
- Solve the CAT PYQs from the past 5 years, sectionals and full-length mocks.
iQuanta CAT Course 2026
Final Words
Obtaining accurate information about the CAT syllabus should be your first step for structured CAT preparation. Once you have a detailed understanding of the syllabus of the CAT exam, your preparation will be on the right track. If you seek in-depth guidance in completing the entire CAT syllabus, then iQuanta is the most suitable online learning platform for you. Since its establishment, our experts have helped 1200+ students to score 99%ile in the CAT exam.
So far, we have built a team of 50+ teaching professionals, 4.1 lakh+ student community on Facebook, 24+M online students and much more. We strive to help every student achieve a good CAT score,i.e., 151+, which results in a high CAT percentile. There are 500+ online courses on our platform to prepare for different management courses. Connect now with our experts via a 1:1 free counselling session and enrol for an online CAT course that fits your CAT preparation plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the syllabus of the CAT exam?
The CAT exam syllabus includes the top 3 sections, which are Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension.
How much time does it take to complete the CAT syllabus?
It depends on the calibre of an individual candidate. Most students prefer dedicating at least 8-12 months to CAT preparation. You can also align your preparation as per your dream B-school.
How should I complete the CAT syllabus?
Note down all the significant topics from the VARC, DILR and QA. Cover the foundational topics from the crucial topics, and then complete the remaining syllabus.
Which is the best institute for online CAT preparation?
With a proven record of helping 500+ students in CAT 2024, iQuanta has set another example for providing the best resources and guidance to achieve 99.99%ile in the CAT exam.
Does the CAT exam syllabus change every year?
IIMs – the official conducting body of the CAT entrance exam, has not made any changes to the CAT syllabus of the CAT exam. However, slight changes took place in the total number of questions in the CAT 2024 question paper.
