CAT Syllabus 2025: Topic-Wise Weightage, PDF Download, Exam Pattern Explained
The CAT 2025 exam includes three main sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). IIM Kozhikode will set the paper, covering all topics from the CAT syllabus. CAT is known for its tough and concept-based questions, making it more challenging than other MBA entrance exams in India. To prepare well, students should first understand the full syllabus and key topics, including the section-wise weightage and difficulty level of CAT 2025.
This Story also Contains
- CAT Syllabus 2025 PDF Download
- CAT 2025 Exam Pattern: Overview
- What is the CAT Exam Syllabus?
- Detailed CAT Exam Syllabus 2025
- CAT Quant Syllabus (Previous Year)
- Topic Wise Weightage for CAT Syllabus 2025
- Latest Changes in CAT Syllabus for MBA
- Preparation Tips for CAT 2025
- Most Recommended Books For CAT Preparation 2025
CAT Syllabus 2025 PDF Download
Though the IIM is yet to provide a detailed CAT syllabus 2025 PDF, they mention the main subjects in the CAT exam. Candidates often refer to previous years' CAT question papers to know the topics covered in the CAT 2025.
Year-wise CAT Exam Syllabus PDF Link
| CAT Exam Year | CAT Syllabus PDF Download Link |
|---|---|
| CAT 2025 | To be Available |
| CAT 2024 | CAT 2024 Syllabus PDF |
| CAT 2023 | CAT 2023 Syllabus PDF |
For a detailed overview and explanation of CAT syllabus 2025 topics and sub-topics, candidates are advised to read this article. Careers360 provides CAT previous year question papers. Also provides CAT syllabus topics in PDF format and helps candidates to check their covered and non-covered topics.
CAT 2025 Exam Pattern: Overview
Candidates must be familiar with the CAT 2025 exam pattern to understand the CAT syllabus topics well. There are different questions in each section of the CAT exam. However, candidates will get 40 minutes to complete each section. The marking scheme of the CAT exam allows +3 marks for each correct answer and -1 marks for each wrong answer of MCQs. There is no negative marking for TITA questions.
The table below provides the category-wise distribution of CAT questions:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| DILR | 22 |
| VARC | 24 |
| QA | 22 |
| Total Number of Questions | 68 |
| CAT Total Marks 2025 | 204 |
| CAT 2025 Time Duration | 120 minutes (40 minutes for each section), for PwD candidates: 53 minutes, 20 seconds |
| CAT 2025 Marking Scheme |
|
Let us look at the following CAT exam pattern, which one can expect from the upcoming CAT 2025 question paper.
CAT 2025 Syllabus | Questions | Time |
Quantitative Ability | 22 | 40 |
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 24 | 40 |
Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation | 22 | 40 |
Total | 68 | 120 |
NOTE: IIM Calcutta revised the CAT question paper last year. According to last year's CAT paper, it has 68 questions with a total of 204 marks. It has 22 questions instead of 20 in DILR.
What is the CAT Exam Syllabus?
The CAT syllabus 2025 sets a framework for MBAs to effectively structure their preparation journey. Understanding the CAT syllabus is very important to secure placements in top business schools across India. The CAT exam syllabus is divided into three sections:
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
Download CAT 2025 Syllabus PDF
Detailed CAT Exam Syllabus 2025
Knowing the section-wise CAT syllabus 2025 is essential for making a strategic preparation plan. Additionally, it helps candidates identify their strong and weak areas to facilitate efficient CAT 2025 preparation. Here, we have provided a section-wise detailed CAT syllabus 2025.
CAT 2025 Syllabus Topics for DILR
The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) section of the CAT exam consists of 22 questions. Last year, 2 questions were added from this section. Earlier, the DILR section had 20 questions. This section is divided into two parts: data interpretation (DI) and logical reasoning (LR), each comprising 10 questions. Generally, the questions are grouped into 3-4 sets, with only a few stand-alone questions based on LR topics.
Key topics in the DILR syllabus for CAT 2025:
| CAT DILR Topics | |
|---|---|
| Blood Relations | Clocks and Calendars |
| Series | Statements |
| Syllogism | Proposition |
| Venn Diagram | Data Arrangement |
| Direction Sense | Data Structures |
| Tables | Family Tree |
| Binary Logic | Coding-Decoding |
| Assumptions | Pie Charts |
| Data Sufficiency | Puzzles |
| Seating Arrangement | Sets & Caselets |
| Bars & Line Graphs | |
What to Study From CAT Syllabus for DILR?
This section is more of hands on than simply studying. Interpretation of data in various formats is tested, as is the logical reasoning ability of candidates. Topics to focus on from CAT syllabus 2025 for DILR include the following:
- Bar Graphs: Candidates need to draw conclusions based on data presented in bar graphs.
- Line Graphs: Questions involve analyzing trends and patterns depicted in line graphs and giving the answers to the same.
- Pie Charts: Candidates need to interpret proportions and percentages represented in pie charts. Aswers involve making inferences using the given data.
- Tables: The data given in the tables in the questions need to be extracted and used to solve the given problems.
- Caselets: These questions have short paragraphs followed by related data in tables, graphs, or charts. Both the textual information and the given data tthereafter must be analysed to give the answers.
- Logical Reasoning Puzzles: Problems based on topics like seating arrangement, blood relations, arrangements are generally asked.
- Binary Logic: Questions may involve analyzing statements and determining their logical validity based on given conditions.
- Logical Deductions: Candidates may be required to make logical deductions based on given premises and draw valid conclusions.
- Venn Diagrams: Questions may involve interpreting relationships between different sets of data using Venn diagrams and answering related questions.
- Data Sufficiency: Candidates may need to determine whether the given data is sufficient to answer a particular question or solve a problem.
- Quantitative Comparison: Questions generally include comparing two quantities and determining their relationship using the given data.
- Cubes and Dice: Manipulation of cubes or dice and identifying patterns as well as solving related problems.
- Logical Connectives: Analysis of statement connected by logical operators like "and," "or," and "not" and drawing conclusions as required.
- Number Series: Identification of patterns in numerical sequences and predicting the next number in the series.
For DILR, practice and more practice with the above topics from CAT syllabus 2025 will work at scoring well. Candidates need to home their solving speed, analytical and deduction capabilities for good scores. Hence CAT syllabus 2025 for DILR must be practised well.
CAT 2025 Syllabus Topics for VARC
The VARC section of the CAT exam has 24 questions. This section is divided into two main areas: verbal ability and reading comprehension. Generally, reading comprehension (RC) constitutes a significant portion of this section, comprising around 12–14 questions, while the remaining 10–12 questions come from verbal ability (VA) topics.
Here are the important topics in CAT VARC Syllabus 2025:
| CAT VARC Topics | |
|---|---|
| Fill in the Blanks | Reading Comprehension |
| Subject-Verb Agreement | Verbal Logic |
| Sentence Completion | Paracompletion and Inference |
| Verbal Reasoning | Article Usage |
| Different Usages of the Same Word | Grammar |
| Idioms | Analogies |
| Errors in Tenses | Antonyms |
| Foreign Language Words Used in English | Syllogisms |
| Sentence Correction | One Word Substitution |
| Prepositions | Types of Clauses |
| Parts of Speech | Phrase Modifiers |
NOTE: Last year, Para-Jumble topics were completely removed from the CAT 2023 question paper. Hence, the CAT 2025 conducting body is expected to follow the same this year as well. Anyway, candidates are advised to study and practice Para-Jumble topics as well.
Also Read: Best Books for CAT VARC
CAT Syllabus: Download VARC Study Material
- Download CAT VARC: 3000+ Most Important English Words
- Download 300+ Phrasal Verbs List for CAT Exam, Types With Examples & Practice Questions. Download Pdf
- Download 500+ Idioms And Phrases List With Meanings & Examples For MBA Entrance Exams
What to Study from the CAT Reasoning Syllabus?
1. Reading Comprehension (RC): Since passages can be drawn from literature, science, social sciences, business, and technology, students should practice the following:
- Understanding the central theme and main idea
- Grasping details, facts, and arguments
- Analyzing the tone, style, and purpose
- Drawing conclusions after inferring implied meanings
- Finally attempting to answer questions based on the content in the given passage
2. Vocabulary: An important aspect of the CAT 2025 exam, candidates are required to be familiar with a wide range of words and their meanings. Vocabulary-related questions may include:
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Word Usage and Contextual Meaning
- Analogies
- Idioms and Phrases
3. Grammar and Usage: To accurately answer the CAT question paper for VARC, candidates require a strong grasp of grammar rules and a command over language usage. Topics to focus from CAT 2025 syllabus for VARC include
- Sentence Correction
- Error Spotting
- Sentence Completion
- Grammar-based Questions (Parts of Speech, Tenses, Subject-Verb Agreement, etc.)
4. Critical Reasoning: This section requires the ability to evaluate arguments and make logical deductions. Topics include:
- Strengthening and Weakening Arguments
- Assumptions, Inferences, and Conclusions
- Logical Deductions
- Cause and Effect Reasoning
5. Paragraph Completion: To answer questions of this type, candidates need to select the most appropriate sentence that will complete a given paragraph both logically and cohesively.
6. Summary: These questions require condensing the main ideas of a passage into a concise summary. Candidates must retain the essential information in the summary.
7. Reading and Comprehending Different Text Forms: Essays, articles, editorials, literary excerpts, etc. may be given. Candidates must be adept at understanding various writing styles and textual structures. This requires much practice from the CAT syllabus 2025.
8. Contextual Understanding: These questions require the ability to understand the usage of certain words, phrases, or sentences within a passage and the context in which they are used.
CAT 2025 Syllabus Topics for QA
The Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section contains the most challenging questions in CAT. To score well in this section, candidates must have a thorough understanding of key mathematical concepts, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and mensuration.
Here are important topics and concepts in the CAT 2025 QA syllabus:
| CAT QA Topics | |
|---|---|
Logarithms | |
Trigonometry | |
Surds and Indices | |
Partnership (Accounts) | |
Binomial theorem | |
Mensuration | Inequalities |
| - | |
CAT Quant Syllabus (Previous Year)
CAT 2024 Slot-wise Quant Breakup | |||
| Area | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
| Arithmetic | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Algebra | 7 | 5 | 7 |
| Geometry | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Modern Math | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Numbers | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 14 MCQs, 8 TITA | |||
Topic Wise Weightage for CAT Syllabus 2025
Understanding the distribution of topics in the CAT exam will help candidates streamline their preparation strategy. Here is the section-wise weightage of the main topics of CAT 2025:
| CAT Sections | CAT Key Topics | CAT Syllabus Weightage (Expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension |
| 24% |
| Verbal Ability |
| 10% |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
| 34% |
| Logical Reasoning |
| 16% |
| Data Interpretation |
| 16% |
Check out how to crack CAT: Strategies from toppers to get deeper insights on tackling the CAT 2025 syllabus, putting theory into
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Latest Changes in CAT Syllabus for MBA
IIM CAT syllabus has seen significant changes over the past few years. Details are below;
| Changes in CAT Exam | CAT 2024 | CAT 2023 | CAT 2020 | CAT 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
VARC questions | 24 questions | 24 questions | Further reduced to 24 | Reduced from 34 to 26 |
DILR questions | Increased from 20 to 22 questions | 20 questions | Cut down further to 20 | Reduced from 32 to 24 |
QA questions | 22 questions | 22 questions | Reduced to 22 | Reduced from 34 to 26 |
Questions in CAT exam | Increased from 66 to 68 | 66 | Further cut to 66 | Cut down from100 to 76 |
CAT exam Score | Increased from 198 to 204 | 198 | Reduced to 198 | Reduced from 300 to 228 |
Why a Good CAT Exam Preparation Strategy is Important?
If one looks at the competition, a record 3.29 lakhs students registered for the CAT 2024 with 2.93 lakhs appearing for it and thus, the need for a good CAT 2025 strategy can be seen. This not only mean an overall preparation strategy but also for individual sections. Candidates can refer to the following section wise strategy for CAT 2025 to kick start their own CAT preparation efforts.
Preparation Tips for CAT 2025
- Download the latest CAT syllabus 2025 PDF format. Know the topics to cover
- Check out the best books for CAT exam and Best CAT study material as well
- Check CAT topic-wise weightage to understand the areas of focus
- Use various CAT sample papers and previous question papers for practice and speed
- Download CAT Mock Test Series and solve as many as CAT mock tests as possible to get hands-on experience
Most Recommended Books For CAT Preparation 2025
The best books for CAT preparation are available online and offline, but choosing the right ones can be a challenge. If you are planning to appear in CAT 2025 then only refer CAT preparation books which have detailed explanation of each topic included in CAT syllabus and sample questions for practice. Read only from CAT books recommended by experts. We have prepared section-wise lists of best CAT books to help candidates choose the best books to prepare for the CAT exam.
| CAT Books | Author/ Publisher Name |
|---|---|
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | Gautam Puri |
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT | Arun Sharma |
PSC for VA for CAT | Nishit Sinha |
30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary Mass Market Paperback | Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis/ Simon & Schuster |
NCERT Mathematics books (Class 9-10) | NCERT |
Quantitative Aptitude | RS Aggarwal |
Quantum CAT | Arihant Publications |
Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
CAT has basic maths based on class 9 to 12 levels. CAT QA syllabus 2024 is more maths based while DILR is more of logical reasoning that requires very basic maths skills. Students who are weak in Maths are advised to check the CAT past year question papers to know the type of questions asked before starting their preparation.
As per previous year trends, CAT DILR section can be the toughest sections among all three sections.
IIMs have not specified the number of attempts allowed to an aspirant. Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria can appear for CAT exam. It is however important to check the IIM MBA eligibility criteria before applying for admissions.
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On Question asked by student community
Hello,
Here you can get study material for CAT :
https://bschool.careers360.com/download/ebooks/cat-quantitative-aptitude-questions-answers-pdf
Hope it helps !
Hello aspirant,
A timetable is essential if you are preparing for the CAT in addition to your college coursework. It will give you an idea of how long it will take you to finish your syllabus and then set aside the appropriate amount of time for revision and mock exams.
Hello Nikita,
To get into any of the top IIMs, such as IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode, or Indore, a good percentile in CAT is required, although academics play a vital role too. Let's break it down below:
CAT Score: 98+ percentile is an excellent score and makes one
Hello!
Prep for CAT 2024: Application Pattern
Syllabus: Focus on those areas that fall under the syllabus; for instance, Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning.
Books: Stick to standard books from renowned authors, say, Arun Sharma for Quant, Norman Lewis in vocabulary, and
I understand your situation, Aishwarya. Preparing for the CAT while balancing your final year of engineering can be challenging, especially without coaching. However, with dedication and the right approach, it's definitely possible to crack the exam.
Here are some tips to help you get started:
1. Assess Your Strengths and
Popular CAT Questions
Directions for question :
M/s Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, one of the top four audit and accounting firms in the world with headquarters at London, UK, and with an operational presence in 153 countries, hires Management Trainees (MT) from all the premier management institutes of India thrice every year, in the months of January, May and September.
Each new group of Management Trainees (MT) have to go through a four month rigorous training schedule, after which they have to pass through a test consisting of a written assessment and a case-analysis. The top hundred ranked Management Trainees (MT) based on the performance in the test are confirmed as Management Executives (ME). The rest are given the opportunity of undergoing the training for four months one more time along with the next batch of Management Trainees (MT) and then passing through the subsequent test consisting of the written assessment and case-analysis. The Management Trainee (MT) who fails to get confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) the second time is fired.
The scatter-graph below depicts the number of Management Trainees (MT) at Deloitte taking the tests from January 2020 till May 2022, and the vis-à-vis hired Management Trainees (MT) at Deloitte who were fired :
It is also known that for the month of September 2019 at Deloitte, 96 hired Management Trainees (MT) failed to be confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) the first time, and that 36 hired Management Trainees (MT) were fired.
Question :
In which test did the minimum number of Management Trainees (MT) get confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) in the second attempt ?
September 2020
May 2021
January 2021
January 2022
Directions for question:
The bar-graph given below shows the foreign exchange reserves of Nepal (in million Rupees) from 2014 to 2021. Answer the following questions based on the graph :
Question:
What was the percentage increase (rounded to the nearest integer, if deemed necessary) in the foreign exchange reserves in 2020 over 2016 ?