CAT Syllabus 2025 PDF - Section-wise Topics Weightage and Exam Pattern

CAT Syllabus 2025 - Overview

Each section of the CAT 2025 Syllabus assesses specific skills, such as grammar, reading comprehension, data analysis, puzzles, arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. Understanding and analysing the CAT syllabus is the first step towards cracking it.

These topics cover the three main sections of CAT 2025, as follows:

Above all, this exam is designed to evaluate a candidate's ability to handle pressure under given circumstances, while also assessing their time management skills. Each candidate is given only 40 minutes to solve a particular section, with a timer constantly ticking above their head throughout.

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CAT Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2025

Get comprehensive details on the CAT exam syllabus and the CAT Exam pattern 2025. Below is a list of the topics a candidate should cover in each exam section, along with the CAT paper pattern & their weightage.

• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) - The VARC section of CAT consists of 72 and 20 questions, where you will get 40 minutes to complete it. This section is included to evaluate the reading and comprehension skills of an MBA aspirant.
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) - The DILR section of CAT consists of 66 marks and 22 questions to be completed in 40 minutes. The importance of this section is to evaluate the reasoning and data interpretation skills of an MBA aspirant.
• Quantitative Aptitude (QA) - The QA section consists of 66 marks and 22 questions, and you will be given 40 minutes to complete it. This section is included to evaluate the familiarity of numbers and usage in different forms of an MBA aspirant.

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CAT Exam 2025 Syllabus PDF Download

We have curated a CAT syllabus PDF based on the past year's trends of the CAT exam that provides a detailed description of these topics, along with their subtopics.

This CAT syllabus PDF consists of the CAT quant syllabus, CAT VARC syllabus, and CAT DILR syllabus, as well as further topics covered under these sections. It can be very useful for your CAT 2025 preparation. Download the CAT syllabus PDF below for fast-paced preparation, as it is the first step toward acing any entrance exam.

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CAT Exam Syllabus 2025: Complete Section-Wise Syllabus & Latest Exam Pattern

For CAT 2025 aspirants, understanding the CAT exam syllabus thoroughly should be the first step towards effective CAT 2025 preparation. This approach will definitely lead to better preparation, and candidates will be more familiar with the subjects and topics essential for the exam.

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CAT Syllabus 2025: Section-Wise Important Topics & Weightage

Aspirants must deeply analyse the CAT 2025 syllabus to increase the chances of cracking the CAT exam. For this purpose, we have provided the section-wise analysis and covered CAT topics in detail.

We have compiled a list of topics covering each section based on the previous year's papers and past analysis. Here is the section-wise breakup of the CAT syllabus 2025 for your reference:

CAT VARC Syllabus 2025 - Important Topics & Weightage

The first section of the exam is the VARC section of the CAT syllabus. The time duration for the exam is 40 minutes. The reading comprehension part of the section dominates with approximately 67% weightage of the total score of this section, while the other 33% is reserved for verbal ability. The following topics fall under the VARC section of the CAT exam:

CAT Reading Comprehension Topics in Past Years

In recent CAT exams, Reading Comprehension (RC) passages have covered a broad spectrum of topics to assess both analytical and interpretative skills. There are mainly three types of Reading Comprehension passages in CAT exam —Analytical, Descriptive & Data Driven. Over the past years, passages have frequently drawn from the following areas:

• Science & Technology
• Social Issues & Philosophy
• Economics & Business
• History & Politics
• Arts, Literature & Culture

Passages are typically sourced from articles, essays, and academic journals, ensuring a good mix of factual, analytical, and opinion-based content. This diversity helps test-takers demonstrate versatility in handling varied vocabulary, tones, and complexity levels—essential for mastering the CAT RC section.

• Argumentative / Opinion-Based: Author presents an argument, conclusion, or opinion; you may need to infer assumptions or reasoning.
• Descriptive / Informative: Explains a concept, process, or phenomenon; questions focus on understanding and summarizing.
• Contrasting / Comparative: Compares two ideas, theories, or perspectives; questions often ask about differences or inferences.
• Narrative / Anecdotal: Uses a story or example to illustrate a broader concept; usually shorter and more contextual.

CAT Verbal Ability Syllabus 2025 - Topics-wise Weightage

After the analysis, it was found that no questions came from para jumbles in the CAT 2024 VARC section. Otherwise, in CAT 2024, the Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension section has remained relatively consistent in difficulty across CAT, with the nature of passages differing in each.

Here is a breakdown of the number of questions covered in each topic in the CAT 2024 VARC section:

Types Of Questions Asked In the CAT Verbal Ability Section

Check out the questions that are asked in the verbal ability section of the CAT and plan your preparation accordingly.

CAT DILR Syllabus 2025 - Important Topics & Weightage

The DILR syllabus of CAT is divided into two parts: Data Interpretation (DI) and Logical Reasoning (LR), with 10 questions each. Most questions appear in sets of 3-4, while only a handful in LR are standalone.

Since this section demands speed, accuracy, and smart selection, consistent practice is crucial. Solving a wide variety of questions across all topics will help you build the required edge. Here are the key topics you should focus on for CAT Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation.

• Data Interpretation: Data will be presented in the form of a graph, chart, or another form of visualization, and you will be required to answer the questions based on the information given.
• Logical Reasoning: Here, you may be given information in a non-structured manner, and you may be required to structure it and derive the outcome to solve the questions given.

In recent years, the CAT DILR Section has changed, with questions combining elements of both DI and LR rather than the previous format of distinct DI and LR questions. The DI and LR sections usually have an equal distribution of questions, with 2 sets of DI questions and 2 sets of LR questions. This setup allows students who are more proficient in solving a particular sub-section to meet the cut-off by excelling in their preferred area of expertise.

CAT 2025 Syllabus for DILR Topic-wise Weightage

The Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning section was surprisingly easier than last year and was much more doable this time. Major changes have been observed in the CAT 2024 DILR section, with 2 additional questions. There were 5 sets instead of 4 in the CAT 2024 paper.

Here is a breakdown of the number of questions covered in each topic in the CAT 2024 DILR section:

Types Of Questions Asked in the Data Interpretation Section of The CAT

Check out the questions that are typically asked in the Data Interpretation section of the DILR in CAT and enhance your CAT prep!

Types Of Questions Asked in the Logical Reasoning Section Of The CAT

Here are the questions that are asked in the DILR logical reasoning section of the CAT, and practice accordingly.

CAT Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Syllabus 2025 - Important Topics & Weightage

The QA section of CAT 2025 syllabus carries the maximum weightage as it includes all mathematical concepts studied in school. This section is the most predictable one and requires consistent practice, as consistency and dedication in quant are the only ways to ace this section.

Given below is the table indicating chapter-wise important topics that are a part of CAT Quantitative Aptitude syllabus. Candidates must plan their Quantitative Aptitude preparation on the basis of the following topics.

CAT QA Syllabus 2025 Topic-wise Weightage

CAT QA syllabus questions are generally considered to be challenging as they require calculations and the memorisation of complex formulas. In a fast-paced test like CAT, which evaluates a candidate's aptitude and time management skills, being good at mental math can help in quickly solving QA questions.

Get a gist of the division of the CAT QA syllabus along with its difficulty level and the number of questions asked for your reference, and make your preparation strategy accordingly.

Question Samples Types Asked in QA Section of The CAT 2025

Check out the question samples for the Topic-wise QA CAT 2025 syllabus and prepare for the CAT exam 2025 accordingly.

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Best Books for CAT 2025 Preparation: Comprehensive Guide to the CAT Syllabus 2025

So, here are the best books for CAT that you can refer to to begin your CAT 2025 preparation and brush up on your basics, as follows:

Feel like it’s too much on your plate? —Look no further! Get CL's CAT study material, which is updated every year based on the changes in the actual examination and covers all the relevant questions. It also offers solution videos as part of the premium package to help analyze weaker areas and develop an efficient exam strategy.

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CAT 2025 Preparation Tips & Section-Wise Strategies

Learning should be divided into phases, starting with essential knowledge and moving on to advanced tricks. It's essential to adopt distinct approaches for each section for CAT exam preparation, considering their respective weightage. CAT preparation tips for VARC, DILR and QA will help you get ahead of your competitors. Below are some of the CAT preparation strategies for your reference:

Know the CAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus Thoroughly

Familiarise yourself with the CAT exam pattern and syllabus to understand weightage across VARC, DILR, and QA. This would help you in making a plan and allocating time properly.

Create a Realistic Study Plan

• Dedicate 2–3 hours daily to focused preparation.
• Distribute time between CAT VARC syllabus, DILR syllabus for CAT, and the Quant.
• Try to keep your weekends reserved for the CAT full-length mock tests.

Practice from Quality Resources

Choose the best CAT preparation books and trusted online resources and stick to them! Do not juggle with multiple resources at the end moment.

Master Time Management

CAT is not just about solving questions; it’s about solving them quickly. Practice sectional tests under time pressure to master speed and accuracy.

Take Regular Mock Tests

Mocks mirror the actual exam. Analysing the tests and knowing your strengths and weaknesses is the core benefit of the mocks, so attempt them regularly and consistently.

Focus on LRDI Sets

Since most DILR questions come in sets, practice solving the complete LRDI syllabus for CAT caselets to develop logical stamina.

Strengthen VARC with Reading Habits

Read newspapers, journals, and online articles regularly. This improves comprehension speed and accuracy, essential for the CAT VARC syllabus.

Revise Regularly

Keep a short revision notebook for formulas, shortcuts, and reasoning patterns. Revise every week to retain key concepts from the CAT exam syllabus.

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CAT 2025 Syllabus: Latest Changes

While there have been no observed changes in the CAT Exam syllabus, the CAT exam pattern, however, has gone through some changes over time. This includes the number of questions and time allotted. So, before you start your CAT journey, it is ideal that you are well-versed in the latest CAT exam syllabus and pattern.

• Total Questions: Increased to 68 questions from 66
• DILR Section: Now contains 22 questions structured as 3 sets of 4 + 2 sets of 5, replacing the former 4 sets of 5
• Section-wise distribution will be expected to continue in 2025 with 24 questions in VARC, 22 questions in DILR and 22 questions in QA.
• Trend Comparison: CAT 2024’s difficulty mirrored CAT 2021
• 2025 Outlook: No major structural changes expected. Pattern from 2024 (68 Qs, sectional breakdown, question mix) likely continues

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CAT Previous Year Question Papers

Now that you have gone through the CAT 2025 syllabus for MBA, it is important to understand what goes into the actual examination.

Download the CAT previous year question papers to understand the question patterns and make a practice schedule for yourself. Thus, it is imperative that students check out the CAT Previous Year Question Papers to map the important subjects and check what kind of questions come from those important topics.

Attempt CAT Previous Year Papers

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CAT Free Mock Test Series

Prepare smarter for the CAT exam with our CAT 2025 syllabus-aligned free mock test series. Each mock test is expertly designed to practice for VARC, DILR, and QA-mirroring the actual CAT 2025 syllabus pattern and question style.

Boost your performance and confidence with real exam simulation, detailed analysis, and insights that ensure your preparation is perfectly mapped to the latest CAT 2025 syllabus and exam trends.

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