Just 60 days left for CAT 2025, and you’re panicking to a huge extent? Even with the last-minute CAT preparation tips, you can still ace this entrance exam. What’s most important is the complete hold of the CAT syllabus. Most students face complexities while resolving questions from the Quantitative Section due to an end number of formulas and calculations. Reportedly, it’s expected that the QA section will consist of 22 questions. 14 will be MCQs and 8 will be Non-MCQs. If you’re also struggling with the same issue and can’t complete the whole syllabus from QA, then here are the 12 most important topics that you can study to obtain maximum marks.
These 12 high-weightage Quant topics will account for around 80% of the weightage in the QA section. In this article, we will be sharing the most valuable insights from Topper’s Desk (Aditya Kumar – CAT 2024: 99.75%iler) about the CAT Quants syllabus. He has shared the complete breakdown of which topics you must cover, which you can skip, and what the proven strategies are to solve CAT QA PYQs and QA 250 Series, curated by Indrajeet Sir (Founder & CEO: iQuanta & Quants Wizard). Apart from this, you will get to know the chapter-wise breakdown for PYQs from the CAT 2024, CAT 2023 and CAT 2022. Adhere to this strategy and hit the sectional cut-off in the CAT QA section alongside acing the VARC and DILR sections.
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Why is CAT 2025 Quants About Basics & Speed?
There is no IIT-Level maths in the CAT QA. Clearly, you won’t come across challenging topics in the Quants section. It is built on the mathematical topics from the 6th to 10th grades. The main purpose of this top MBA entrance exam is to gauge your clarity, speed and grip on foundational knowledge. It’s a way of evaluating students on how fast they solve the CAT Quants questions with a maximum accuracy of 85-90%. With high clarity and quick speed, CAT aspirants can solve most questions without any hindrance, which will eventually boost their confidence.
If you clear your basics from these 12 topics and practice at a reflex speed, you will easily solve 80% QA questions with minimum calculations in mocks and later in the original exam. On achieving this goal, you can skip the remaining 20% topics from the CAT QA syllabus and avoid unnecessary stress and tension in the actual exam.
CAT Quant Syllabus 2025 Breakdown: What to Attempt & What Should You Skip
Over the years, it has been observed that at least 14-15 questions appear every year in the CAT QA section from Arithmetic and Algebra. All the topics have a substantial importance, but you can skip the 20% less popular topics while preparing for the CAT Quants section. Out of all the topics, “Time, Speed and Distance” is the most important topic from Arithmetic. Those candidates who are starting their CAT 2025 preparation now can leave “Coordinate Geometry” from the Geometry chapter. According to Aditya Kumar, only a few or no questions have been asked from the Coordinate Geometry in CAT 2025, which states that you can skip them and pay attention to other topics.
From the Number System, Trailing Zeros and Remainder Theorem (Eulus) are the two main topics for the CAT exam. Lastly, we have Modern Maths from which you will come across only 1-4 questions in the 2025 CAT Quants section. Check out the table below to get a brief understanding of the Quantitative Aptitude syllabus for the Common Admission Test 2025. The table includes a breakdown of sub-topics from the top 5 CAT QA mathematical concepts.
CAT Exam Syllabus 2025: Quantitative Aptitude
| QA Syllabus of the CAT Exam 2025 | Chapters |
| Arithmetic | Percentages – Must DoProfit and Loss – Must DoSimple Interest and Compound Interest Ratio and Proportion – Must DoAverages –Must DoMixture and AlligationTime and WorkPipes and CisternsTime, Speed and DistancesRaces Trains and Boats |
| Algebra | Linear Equations – Highly Essential Quadratic Equations – Highly EssentialPolynomialsIndices and SurdsLogarithmsInequalitiesModulus Sequence Series Functions – Highly EssentialGraphs |
| Geometry | TrianglesQuadrilateralsPolygonsCirclesMensuration – 3DCo-ordinate Geometry |
| Number System | Properties of Integers Divisibility Remainder Theorem Factors LCM & HCFFactorial Trailing Zeroes Last Digits |
| Modern Maths | Set theory Probability PnC |
CAT Quants Topic-wise Weightage Analysis: 2024, 2023 and 2022
Before you dive into CAT Quants preparation for 2025, you must review the CAT PYQs to understand how many questions appear from every chapter. Aditya has performed extensive research to extract the most accurate data from the past CAT question papers. If you go through the table below, you will gain clarity about the total number of questions that come from the sub-topics of every chapter in the CAT Exam. In addition to this, you must also know that Average, Ratio, Mixture and Alligation is a non-negotiable topic in CAT QA. However, note that other topics from the table below are equally important.
You can also prioritise them accordingly depending on the preparation time. For Example: TSD & Geometry are also important CAT Quants topics. Though you can complete TSD in less amount of time in comparison to Geometry. We all know that “Geometry” is a vast topic and comprises a wide array of questions. In case you’re commencing your CAT 2025 preparation now, you can pick TSD instead of Geometry. Why are we saying so when “Geometry” is equally important? Well, the number of questions is similar in the TSD and Geometry. Also, it won’t take much time to brush up your conceptual understanding about Time, Speed and Distance. If you’re starting your CAT 2025 preparation from now onwards, then prefer TSD to obtain a good score. Otherwise, you can cover “Geometry” as well if you can pull it off like a pro.
Logarithm holds the title of the most important topic in Algebra. CAT aspirants have to master only 10-12 fundamental formulas from this sub-topic. Every year, students come across 1-2 questions from Logarithms that are doable. Being a CAT aspirant and a CAT 2024 topper himself, Aditya suggests that you grasp those formulas by heart. As per his experience and past analysis, it’s the easiest topic in Algebra.
CAT QA Sectional Analysis: Past 3 Years
| CAT QA Chapter Name | CAT 2024 | CAT 2023 | CAT 2022 |
| Average, Ratio, Mixture and Alligation | 3-5 Questions | 4-6 Questions | 3-5 Questions |
| Profit and Loss, SI, CI Percentages | 2-3 Questions | 2-3 Questions | 1-3 Questions |
| TSD & Time and Work (Very Very Important Topic) | 2-3 Questions | 2-3 Questions | 3-5 Questions |
| Geometry | 2-3 Questions | 3 Questions | 3 Questions |
| Quadratic, Polynomials, Simple Equations | 1-2 Questions | 3-4 Questions | 1-3 Questions |
| Progression and Series | 1-2 Questions | 2 Questions | 1-3 Questions |
| Inequalities, Modulus and Functions | 1-2 Questions | 1-2 Questions | 3-4 Questions |
| Logarithm, Surds and Indices | 2 Questions | 1-3 Questions | 0-1 Questions |
| Probability, P & C | 0-1 Questions | 1 Question | 1 Question |
| Number System | 2-3 Questions | 1-2 Questions | 1 Question |
CAT QA 12 Most Important Topics For 2025
| CAT Quants Topics | Expected Questions in CAT 2025 |
| Percentages | 2-3 |
| Ratio | 1-2 |
| Profit and Loss | 1-2 |
| Mixture and Alligation | 1-2 |
| Time and Work | 1-2 |
| Time, Speed and Work | 1-2 |
| Linear Equation | 1-2 |
| Quadratic Equation | 2-3 |
| Modulus | 1-2 |
| Logs | 1-2 |
| Arithmetic Progression and Geometric Progression | 1-2 |
| Triangles and Circles | 2-3 |
CAT 2025 Crash Course: Additional Bonus ( September to November)
The clock is ticking every day for the CAT 2025. This calls for increasing your preparation speed and doubling your revision timeline. If you have been a self-learner so far for the CAT 2025 Preparation and are looking forward to a boost session, then iQuanta’s CAT 2025 Crash Course will give you an extra punch of learning and preparation from the beginning of September until the actual CAT Exam,i.e, 30th November 2025. iQuanta experts have created this crash course to elevate your revision graph and make you a top performer.
What does the CAT 2025 Crash Course Include for the QA section?
iQuanta QA 250 Series: A set of 250 exclusive CAT QA questions that has been prepared by Indrajeet Sir. Students from past year crash course batches state that a minimum of 2-3 questions relevant to this series appear in the CAT exam. If you solve these questions, we can guarantee that you will come across a few similar questions. Time is limited now. So, Hurry Up and grab this course at a discounted price today. There’s a lot more waiting for you in this crash course, which includes 24*7 doubt solving, iCAT mocks, live lectures, etc. So make the best use of this wonderful opportunity and avail this offer now.
Final Words
Reportedly, more than 3.5 lakh+ students have registered online for the CAT 2025. The number of appearing candidates can vary, but still, a solid preparation is required for the CAT QA, VARC and DILR sections. If you have a set aim and prepare with sheer determination and hard work in these 60 days, then you can also achieve a good sectional cut-off and a CAT percentile above 99%+ in the exam. Start your preparation with the high-yielding topics from the CAT Quants section. Apply the same strategy to study the easy and high-scoring topics from the VARC and DILR sections.
Lastly, practice PYQs from the past 5-10 years to know the type of common questions and which topics have been repeatedly appearing in the CAT exam. This will be your primary responsibility after completing the CAT exam syllabus. Don’t forget, the more you practice, the higher your chances of success. Also, you can join iQuanta student community groups on WhatsApp, Telegram, where many other aspirants just like you are sharing their knowledge and participating in doubt-solving sessions for the MBA entrance exams, which will take place at a national level on November 30th 2025. Join the community and study along with intellectual minds for the CAT exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the QA Syllabus of the CAT 2025?
Main topics from the Quants section are Arithmetic, Algebra, Number System, Geometry and Modern Maths. If you combine only the two most high-weightage topics,i.e, Algebra and Arithmetic, there will be 14-15 questions from these mathematical concepts. Complete the basics first and then proceed towards vigorous practice.
What will be the marking scheme for the QA section in CAT 2025?
To evaluate the total number of appearing candidates, IIM Kozhikode will follow a simple marking pattern. It will reward +3 marks for every correct answer and -1 for each incorrect attempt. You will receive 0 marks for unattempted questions. For wrong TITA questions, there will be no deductions in the CAT QA, VARC and DILR sections.
What type of questions will appear in the CAT 2025 QA section?
The QA section will consist of a mix of multiple-choice questions and Type-in-the-Answer questions. There will be 14 questions in the MCQ section and 8 questions in the TITA section. For MCQs, there will be a -1 negative marking in the CAT 2025. No marks will be deducted for the wrong attempts in the TITA section.
How much time will I get to solve the QA questions in the CAT 2025?
The total exam duration of the CAT 2025 exam will be 120 minutes. It will be an online entrance exam with 68 questions. Candidates will get 40 minutes each to attempt questions from every section. The first section will be Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, followed by the DILR. Quants will be the last section in CAT 2025.
Can I skip Coordinate Geometry in CAT 2025?
It depends on how much syllabus you have covered so far from the CAT Quants. If you have covered the maximum number of topics, then you can leave Geometry. Students preparing at the last-minute can study TSD instead of Geometry. The number of questions will remain almost the same. The only advantage is that Time, Speed and Distance can be completed in a short span of time
