CAT VARC Syllabus 2025 PDF: Important Topics, Weightage & Preparation

CAT VARC Syllabus 2025: For many aspirants, the CAT VARC section (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension) is the most scoring part of the exam if taken care of with a proper approach. Unlike QA or DILR, there’s no fixed formula or set of rules here, making preparation slightly tricky but very much doable with the right approach.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through the CAT VARC syllabus 2025, its key topics, question types, exam pattern, and tips to crack CAT 2025 confidently.

What is CAT 2025 VARC Syllabus?

The section is divided into two parts:

1. Reading Comprehension (RC)
2. Verbal Ability (VA)

CAT Syllabus for VARC

The VARC section is the first section of the CAT exam. It tests your ability to:

• Comprehend written passages
• Grasp ideas and arguments
• Analyze paragraph structures
• Reconstruct or rearrange text logically

Check out: Detailed CAT Syllabus

CAT VARC Exam Pattern 2025 (Expected)

Also Check: CAT 2025 Exam Pattern

CAT VARC Syllabus 2025: Question Distribution

Related Article – CAT Notification 2025

CAT 2025 VARC Syllabus: Topic-Wise Breakdown

The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension is known to be the most confusing section of all. Acing this section requires consistency, planning, and knowledge about the basic fundamentals of English grammar.

CAT Reading Comprehension Syllabus

Reading Comprehension is the most weight-heavy component of VARC. Around 16 out of 24 questions in this section come from 4 RC passages.

Topics Covered in RC Passages

There is no fixed syllabus, but RCs are usually sourced from:

• Current affairs and global issues
• Philosophy and psychology
• Business and economics
• History and culture
• Technology and science
• Sociology and politics
• Abstract or literary texts

Common RC Question Types

• Main idea or central theme
• Inference-based questions
• Author’s tone and attitude
• Strengthen/weaken arguments
• Title selection
• Logical structure and flow

Related Article – How to Fill CAT Application Form 2026

CAT 2025 Verbal Ability Syllabus

Verbal Ability makes up 8 questions in the section. These are mostly non-MCQs (TITA)—meaning no negative marking.

Topics Covered Under Verbal Ability

While grammar-based or vocabulary-based direct questions are rare in CAT, having strong fundamentals helps you eliminate wrong options more effectively.

Skills Required to Crack CAT 2025 VARC Section

To excel in VARC, you must build:

• Reading Speed & Comprehension
• Logical Analysis of Arguments
• Familiarity with Diverse Topics
• Vocabulary in Context
• Pattern Recognition in Paragraphs

How To Prepare For CAT 2025 VARC?

• Build a Reading Habit: Start reading newspapers, journals, and editorials daily. Focus on comprehension, tone, and structure.
• Practice RCs Regularly: Aim to solve at least 4-5 RCs a week from different genres. Time yourself and do a post-reading analysis.
• Sharpen Verbal Ability: Practice parajumbles, summaries, and odd-one-out questions. Focus on logic and coherence, not just grammar.
• Take Sectional Tests & Mocks: Simulate real exam conditions with sectional and full-length CAT VARC mock tests. Use them wisely to identify your weak areas, improve time management, and analyze your error patterns.
• Revise and Reflect: Track your progress weekly. Revisit difficult RCs and learn from solved examples.

Related Articles –

CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

CAT DILR Syllabus

CAT VARC Syllabus – Preparation Resources

• The Hindu & Indian Express (Editorials)
• The Economist, Aeon, Harvard Business Review
• Books on psychology, history, and politics
• Solve CAT previous year papers for VARC

CAT VARC Preparation Tips 2025

• Don’t over-attempt: Focus on accuracy rather than the number of attempts.
• Avoid reading passively: Always question the author’s intent and structure.
• Keep an error log: Note down mistakes and revisit weekly.
• Attempt TITA questions wisely: Since there’s no negative marking, make educated guesses.
• Read before answering: Don’t rush into options—always go back to the passage.

Also Read: CAT VARC Preparation Strategy 

CAT VARC Syllabus Weightage Over the Years

Here’s a glimpse of question distribution from recent CAT papers:

This consistency helps in structuring your preparation around RCs and core VA topics.

Conclusion

Cracking CAT VARC doesn’t require a literature background—it requires consistent practice, analytical reading, and smart strategy.

By understanding the CAT VARC syllabus 2025 and preparing in a structured way, you can turn this section into a stronghold, even if it’s not your natural strength.

Prepare for CAT 2025 with Career Launcher’s CAT programs. Check Out  – CAT Crash Course  | CAT Test Series

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is grammar part of CAT VARC?

A: Not directly. CAT doesn’t test grammar rules, but understanding sentence structure and logical flow helps.

Q: How important is vocabulary?

A: Very important for understanding RCs. Direct vocab questions are rare, but contextual vocabulary questions are common.

Q: Are VA questions MCQ or TITA?

A: Most VA questions are TITA (Type in the Answer), with no negative marking.

Q: How can engineers improve in VARC?

A: By building a reading habit, focusing on analysis over grammar, and practicing RCs from unfamiliar topics like philosophy or literature.