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.
Section-wise top 3 high weightage topics of CAT syllabus that have come maximum times have been mentioned here:
CAT 2026 Syllabus
| Quantitative Aptitude | Time & Speed Distance Sequence & Series Logarithms |
| Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation | Caselets Reasoning Based DI Quant Based Reasoning |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension – (Most Asked Genres) | Science and Technology Philosophy Business and Economics |
Check the high weightage topics and latest CAT 2026 syllabus PDF here.
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Latest CAT Syllabus
CAT syllabus is not released officially by the authorities however based on the past year paper pattern the topics for practice is decided. The topics for each section remains the same and the weightage differs. Check the detailed CAT syllabus 2026 for all the three section here:
CAT VARC Syllabus
CAT VARC Syllabus is further classified into two major sections – Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension. In Verbal Ability section, major topics are Para Jumbles, Para Summary, Odd Sentence Out, Sentence Completion whereas Reading Comprehension cover passages of different genres, author’s tone and critical reasoning. The brief overview about the CAT 2026 syllabus for VARC is specified below in the table.
| 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 summarizes 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
This refers to the genuine count of important genres in VARC with relevant percentage structure. The data shown here is the proper analysis of RCs termed here. Among all the genres, Science and Technology holds the largest count, followed by Philosophy, Business and Economics etc. To grab more information about subtopics with respective counts are specified in the table below. Now, this representation not only helps you in completing the CAT syllabus effectively, although able to understand the high-weightage genres to cover before sitting in the actual exam.
| 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
Quantitative Aptitude is the third section aligned in the order while giving the CAT examination. This part is further specified into 5 major areas and those are Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number System and Modern Maths. The CAT syllabus for Quant is little covered on the practical side as exhilarating towards solving various problems that we accompanied in the basic fundamental mathematics till class 10th.
Now as per the mathematical computation, different sections in Quant have contributed specific syllabus coverage ,let’s have a look on the percentage distribution.
Arithmetic – 40%, Algebra – 35%, Geometry – 15%, Number System – 5%, Modern Maths – 5%
Following are the important topics across areas is specified below.
| 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
After the careful analysis or consideration, we have encapsulate important topics with their respective weightage that came in the last 8 years. Among all the topics, Time, Speed & Distance have a major contribution in CAT exam followed by Sequence & Series, logarithms, time and work, Quadratic Equations, Functions and more.
| 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
If we are talking about the logic complexity, following section of the CAT exam is widely categorized into logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation. This is one of the important sections in CAT exam which is a game changer and overall increase your chances in the final selection and overall percentile.
| 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% |
In How Many Days Can We Cover CAT Syllabus 2026?
CAT syllabus can be compketely covered in 3-6 months. This depends on the total number of hours we spend on our preparation.
CAT 2026 Syllabus PDF Download Now
Is CAT Syllabus Easy?
Many students wonder whether the syllabus of CAT exam is easy or difficult. Well the answer depends on how serious are you about your preparation and what type of resources are you using for your preparation. CAT 2026 syllabus is easy if you start your preparation from the scratch and be consistent. Every student has their own strengths and weaknesses; some may not have a math background while some engineers may be extremely weak in VARC. So depending on your strength and weakness you should strategise your preparation. This is the reason why iQuanta has customised modules for CAT preparation. So whether you are weak in Quants, VARC or LRDI it has customised modules comprising of basic and advance module to cover the entire CAT syllabus easily.
How to Cover the Complete CAT Syllabus?
In order to cover the complete CAT 2026 syllabus, you have to first get familiar with the CAT exam. Now the first phase of your syllabus coverage begins where you have to start building your basics and stregthen your fundamentals. Once your basics are clear strat taking mocks to identify your weak areas so that you can pay more attention to them. Then you can move to solving your advance level concepts and questions for CAT exam.
Conclusion: CAT Exam Syllabus
The syllabus distribution in the CAT exam is highly accompanied with VARC, DILR and QA. This should be the first step for candidates to understand syllabus with further moving ahead towards the problem-solving.
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.
