Approximately 9 months are left for the Common Admission Test which is India’s top most management exam. The very first thing one should know is the CAT 2026 syllabus. The exam has 3 sections – Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability. The official syllabus for CAT 2026 exam is not released by the authorities but based on the pattern and trends we have the latest syllabus pdf. The latest CAT syllabus 2026 pdf has been released by iQuanta. Caselets, reasoning based DI, Quant Based reasoning are the most important topics with highest weightage of LRDI CAT 2026 syllabus. Topics such as Time Speed Distance, Sequence & Series, Logarithms are the high weightage topics of Quants CAT syllabus. Science and technology, Philosophy, Business and Economics are high weightage RC genres of the CAT VARC syllabus.
If you aim to score a 99+ percentile in the exam, then it is crucial for you to cover the entire CAT 2026 syllabus first. Toppers have suggested that early preparation has helped them complete the entire syllabus twice and thrice. Check the high weightage topics and latest CAT 2026 syllabus PDF here.
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CAT 2026 Syllabus – VARC
| Category | Topics |
| Verbal Ability | Para jumbles – You get 4 jumbled sentences and you have to arrange it in the most logical order.Para Summary – You get a short paragraph and you have to select the best option that summarises the complete passage.Odd Sentence Out – There will be 5 jumbled sentences out of which one will be irrelevant to the context that you need to identify it.Sentence Completion – A sentence which is missing from the most logical position will be given and you have to identify it and place it correctly. |
| Reading Comprehension | RC Passages Author’s Tone Critical Reasoning |
CAT Syllabus – VARC Important Topics – Total Number of Questions in Last 8 Years
| Subtopic (Genre) | Count | Percentage |
| Science and Technology | 21 | 23.33% |
| Philosophy | 14 | 15.56% |
| Business and Economics | 11 | 12.22% |
| History | 11 | 12.22% |
| Art and Culture | 10 | 11.11% |
| Culture and Society | 10 | 11.11% |
| Environment | 9 | 10.00% |
| Psychology | 4 | 4.44% |
| Grand Total | 90 | 100.00% |
CAT 2026 Syllabus – Quantitative Aptitude
| Topic Area | Topics Covered |
| Arithmetic | • Percentages • Profit & Loss • SI & CI • Ratio & Proportion • Averages • Mixture and Alligation • Time & Work • Pipes & Cisterns • Time, Speed & Distance • Races • Trains & Boats |
| Algebra | • Linear Equations • Quadratic Equations • Polynomials • Indices & Surds • Logarithms • Inequalities • Sequence Series • Functions • Graphs • Modulus |
| Geometry | • Triangles • Quadrilaterals • Polygons • Circles • Mensuration – 3D • Coordinate Geometry |
| Number System | • Properties of Integer • Divisibility • Factors • Remainder Theorem • LCM & HCF • Factorial • Trailing Zeroes • Last Digits |
| Modern Maths | • Set Theory • Probability • Permutation & Combination |
CAT QA Syllabus – Most Important Topics and Total Number of Questions in Last 8 Years
| Topics | Questions |
| Time Speed Distance | 45 |
| Sequence & Series | 36 |
| Logarithms | 33 |
| Time and Work | 31 |
| Quadratic Equations | 29 |
| Functions | 29 |
| Percentage | 26 |
| Profit & Loss | 26 |
| Average | 26 |
| Mixture & Alligation | 26 |
| Factorials, GIF, Misc | 20 |
| Ratio and Proportion | 20 |
| Triangles | 20 |
| PNC | 18 |
| SI & CI | 17 |
| Mensuration | 16 |
| Linear Equation | 15 |
| Co-ordinate Geometry | 14 |
| Geometry (General) | 12 |
| Surds and Indices | 12 |
| Quadrilaterals | 12 |
| Polygons | 12 |
| Circle | 12 |
| Modulus | 9 |
| Divisibility & Remainder | 8 |
| Polynomials and Degree | 7 |
| Set Theory | 7 |
| Maxima Minima | 6 |
| Factors and its Properties | 4 |
| Classification of Numbers | 0 |
| LCM & HCF | 0 |
| Probability | 0 |
| Binomial Theorem | 0 |
| Line and Angles | 0 |
CAT 2026 Syllabus for LRDI
| Logical Reasoning | Data Interpretation |
| Puzzles | Pie Charts |
| Venn Diagrams | Line & Bar Graphs |
| Linear Arrangement | Cubes |
| Circular Arrangement | Scatter Chart |
| Caselets | Quant-based DI |
| Ranking and Order | Quant-based LR |
| Selection and Discussion | Table & Graphs |
| Games & Tournaments | DI Tables |
CAT LRDI Syllabus – Most Important Topics and Total Number of Questions in Last 8 Years
| Subtopic (Genre) | Count | % of Total |
| Caselets | 18 | 15.79% |
| Reasoning Based DI | 16 | 14.04% |
| Quant Based Reasoning | 13 | 11.40% |
| Venn Diagram | 10 | 8.77% |
| Special Charts | 9 | 7.89% |
| Scheduling Based Puzzle | 9 | 7.89% |
| Distribution Based Puzzles | 8 | 7.02% |
| Tables | 7 | 6.14% |
| Games & Tournament | 7 | 6.14% |
| Bar Graphs | 6 | 5.26% |
| Network & Routes | 5 | 4.39% |
| Ranking & Ordering | 3 | 2.63% |
| Arrangement | 3 | 2.63% |
| Grand Total | 114 | 100.00% |
CAT 2026 Syllabus PDF Download Now
CAT 2026 Syllabus – FAQs
No there is negligible change in the CAT exam syllabus, however the pattern of the exam might change from year to year.
One can complete the CAT syllabus in 3-6 months easily depending on the number of hours devoted for study.
Yes, the CAT syllabus is same for both engineers and non-engineers.
CAT exam is considered as one of the toughest management entrance exam and therefore, the syllabus is also not that easy. But with the right preparation strategy, you can easily complete the syllabus and ace the exam.
