The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer-based test held in India that has a moderately fixed pattern and CAT syllabus. The syllabus consists of topics varying from Quantitative Ability (QA), Verbal Ability (VA) Reading Comprehension (RC), Data Interpretation (DI) and Logical Reasoning (LR). The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) conducts this exam and use the test for selecting students for their business administration programs. The exam is conducted every year by one of the IIMs based on a policy of rotation.
Therefore, it becomes crucial for you to thoroughly understand the CAT syllabus, for which we have provided details below.
| Particulars | CAT Exam Details |
|---|---|
| CAT Conducting Body | IIM (Indian Institute of Management) |
| CAT Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
| CAT Exam Mode | Online CBT (Computer Based Test) |
| Sections in CAT | 3 Sections – Quantitative Ability (QA) – Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) – Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI) |
| CAT Exam Duration | 2 Hours (40 mins. for each section) |
| Question Types | MCQ & TITA |
| CAT Exam Total Questions | 66 – QA : 22 – VARC : 24 – LRDI : 20 |
| Total Marks | 198 |
| Marking Scheme | +3 for correct answer -1 for incorrect answer |
CAT Syllabus and Exam Eligibility Criteria
To appear for the CAT exam, a candidate should have at least 50% marks or an equivalent GPA in graduation. SC/ST/PWD candidates should have at least 45% marks.
- You can also apply if you have completed a professional degree (CA / CS / ICWA) with 50% marks or equivalent.
- Final year students are also eligible to apply for CAT Exam.
- If you are preparing for the CAT exam, then you need to check the following CAT eligibility criteria:
CAT Exam Reservation
15% of the seats are reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) and 7.5% for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates. 27% of seats are reserved for OBC candidates belonging to Non-Creamy Layer (NC – OBC).
Non Creamy layer OBC Classification
As per the official classification, the sons and daughters of a person (belonging to an OBC) with a gross annual income of 8 Lakh INR or above for three consecutive years fall into the creamy layer who are not eligible to avail of the benefits of reservation entitled to other OBC categories. They are treated as general category candidates.
CAT 2024 Important Dates
The important dates for CAT 2024 exam should be taken care of so that you do not miss the deadlines.
| Events | CAT Important Dates 2024 |
|---|---|
| CAT 2024 notification release | 30th July 2024 |
| CAT 2024 registration starts | 2nd August 2024 |
| CAT 2024 Registration ends | 13th September 2024 |
| CAT 2024 admit card | 25th October 2024 |
| CAT 2024 exam date | 26th November 2024 |
| Release of CAT 2024 Response Sheet & Question Paper | 2nd week of December 2024 |
| Last day to challenge answer key | Second week of December 2024 |
| CAT 2024 Result | Second week of January 2025 |
CAT Exam Pattern
Complete CAT Syllabus for CAT Exam. While it is a popular notion amongst students that CAT is unpredictable, the syllabus for CAT has in fact been somewhat unpredictable, especially in the DILR section. CAT exam underwent some changes in the year 2020, wherein the duration of the test was reduced to 2 hours from 3 hours duration. The number of questions in each of the sections was reduced too. The exam is usually held in 3 slots; morning, afternoon & evening.
The CAT Exam is divided into 3 sections, spanning 40 minutes long each, making it a 2-hour exam
| Details | CAT 2022 Pattern |
|---|---|
| Test duration | 2 hours |
| Test slots | 3 |
| Total number of questions in CAT | 66 (varies) |
| Total marks | 198 |
| No. of questions in VARC section of CAT | 24 (varies) |
| No. of questions in CAT DILR section | 20 (varies) |
| No. of questions in CAT QA section | 22 (varies) |
As per previous years, the sections and question split are
- Section 1: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension – 24 Questions (19 non-MCQs)
- Section 2: Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation – 22 Questions (6-8 non-MCQs)
- Section 3: Quantitative Aptitude – 20 Questions (14 non-MCQs)
The tricky part of the above pattern is that CAT does not allow you to toggle between sections, i.e. you have to complete the section within 40 minutes to move on to the next one as per the above order.
Now, let’s discuss the syllabus for each of these sections in detail.
Section-Wise CAT Syllabus for MBA
1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
A. Verbal Ability (VA)
- Total Questions: 7-11
- Sectional Weightage: 30%
Topics:
- Gist of Short Para’s: based on 3-4 sentences
- Para jumbles: 3-4 questions on jumbled sentences to be arranged logically/sequentially
- Sentence Exclusion: pick the out-of-context sentence between 1-2 sentences
- Others (Sentence Completion or Correction, Fill in the blanks, Vocabulary Based, etc.): 0-1 questions
These questions are generally NON-MCQ with no penalty for the wrong answer
B. Reading Comprehension (RC)
- Total Questions: 16
- Sectional Weightage: 70%
Format:
- 5 RCs – 3 Long, 2 Short
- Long Para[800-900 words]: 6 Questions in each
- Short Para [500 words]: 3 Questions in each
- RC Areas – Business, Social Sciences, Economics, Humanities, Science, Current Affairs, Literature, History, Abstract
[These are not exhaustive, and only indicative]
Type of Questions – True/False statements, phrase/word explanation, author’s view, the main idea of RC, the purpose of the passage, inference-based questions, data-driven questions, vocabulary based
2. Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI)
22-24 questions, with 6-8 non-MCQs (TITA-based)
A. Data Interpretation
- Total Questions: varies (12 questions in CAT 2018 & 19; 16 questions in CAT 2020)
- Sectional Weightage: varies
Topics:
- Data Tables
- Data charts
- Bar diagrams
- Pie charts
- Graphs
- Data analysis
- comparison
Format:
The questions utilize – text, tables, graphs (line, area), charts (column, bar, pie), and Venn diagrams, are asked. Data could be given in form of tables, charts or graphs.
The motive is to candidate’s ability to interpret data and derive insights from it.
B. Logical Reasoning
- Total Questions: varies (20 questions in CAT 2018 & 19; 8 questions in CAT 2020)
- Sectional Weightage: varies
Topics:
- Clocks, Calendars, binary logic, seating arrangement, blood relations, logical sequence, Assumption, premise, conclusion, linear and matrix arrangement
3. Quantitative Aptitude (Quants)
Quant undoubtedly has the widest syllabus when it comes to CAT. But the good part is that, despite being wide, it is well defined thus allowing candidates to take a structured approach
- Total Questions: 22 questions, 14 Non-MCQs
- Overall Weightage: 34%
Quant is divided into 5 major pillars:
– Algebra:
- 6-7 Questions
- Topics: Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, Logarithms, Functions,
– Arithmetic:
- 8-9 Questions
- Topics: HCF & LCM, Percentages, Profit & Loss, Interest (SI & CI), Averages, Ratio & Proportions, Speed Time & Distance, Mixtures & Allegations, Time & Work, Calendars & Clocks
– Modern Math:
- 1-2 Questions
- Topics: Sequence & Series, Binomial Theorem, P&C, Set Theory, Probability, Maxima & Minima
– Number System:
- 1-2 Questions
- Topics: Divisibility Rules, Factors, Remainders, Base Systems, Factorials, Last digits, Last 2 digits, property of numbers
– Geometry:
- 4-5 Questions
- Topics: Triangles, Circles, Mensuration, Co-ordinate Geometry, Trigonometry, Solids, 3D Geometry, Lines & Angles
Detailed CAT Syllabus
1. Quantitative Ability
| Topics | Duration of the Topic | Sub-Topics | Application Sessions | Conceptual Sessions | Total Videos | Total Practice Questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numbers | 3 weeks |
| 6 | 4 | 99 | 290 |
| Arithmetic | 4 weeks |
| 9 | 6 | 176 | 585 |
| Time, Speed & Distance | 2 weeks |
| 5 | 5 | 53 | 215 |
| Modern Maths | 3 weeks |
| 6 | 4 | 102 | 250 |
| Algebra | 4 weeks |
| 8 | 6 | 155 | 365 |
| Progressions & Series | 1 week |
| 2 | 1 | 36 | 80 |
| Geometry | 3 weeks |
| 5 | 5 | 106 | 230 |
| Total | 20 weeks | 40 | 31 | 727 | 2015 |
2. Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation
| Topics | Duration of the Topic | Application Sessions | Live Sessions | Total Videos in Application Sessions | Total Practice Sets With Video Solutions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Data Interpretation
| 4 weeks | 8 | 4 | 40 | 152 |
| Cubes | 1 week | 2 | 1 | 10 | 28 |
| Linear Arrangements | 1 week | 3 | 1 | 15 | 33 |
| Circular Arrangements | 1 week | 2 | 1 | 10 | 28 |
| Venn Diagrams | 2 weeks | 4 | 2 | 20 | 48 |
| Distribution | 1 week | 2 | 1 | 10 | 28 |
| Selection | 1 week | 2 | 1 | 10 | 28 |
| Binary Logics | 1 week | 2 | 1 | 10 | 28 |
| Games & Tournaments | 2 weeks | 4 | 2 | 20 | 48 |
| Network Flow Diagrams | 1 week | 1 | 1 | 5 | 23 |
| Quant Based DI | 1 week | 1 | 2 | 5 | 26 |
| Total | 16 weeks | 29 | 16 | 155 | 470 |
3. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
| Topics | Duration of the Topic | Application Sessions | Live Sessions | Total Videos | Total Practice Questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grammar
| 1.5 week | 3 | 1 | 36 | 116 |
Reading Comprehension
| 10 weeks | 20 | 10 | 90 | 214 |
| Para Summary | 1 week | 2 | 1 | 24 | 81 |
| Para Completion | 0.5 week | 1 | 1 | 12 | 46 |
| Odd One Out | 1 week | 2 | 1 | 24 | 81 |
| Para Jumbles | 1 week | 2 | 1 | 24 | 183 |
| Critical Reasoning & FIJ | 1.5 weeks | 3 | 1 | 36 | 103 |
| Total | 16.5 weeks | 33 | 16 | 246 | 824 |
Important links:
The above topics cover the CAT syllabus for CAT 2024, which should be the starting point for your preparation, and in case you are looking for structured preparation with the fastest doubt solving, you can check iQuanta CAT 2024 Course.
