Table of Contents
CAT 2023 Highlights
The CAT 2023 Exam will be a Computer Based Test (CBT). The exam pattern for CAT has changed in the previous years owing to the pandemic. So, here is a breakup of the syllabus according to the previous exam pattern-
|
Key Components |
Details |
|
Time allotted |
2 hours |
|
Total No. of Questions |
66 |
|
No. of Questions Section-wise |
VARC: 24 DILR: 20 QA: 22 |
|
Time allotted per section |
40 minutes each |
|
Mode of Examination |
Computer-based |
|
Medium of Examination |
English |
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CAT Exam Syllabus and Pattern
Given the vastness of the CAT Exam Syllabus, aspirants need to understand how to maximize their scores in each section. The preparation for the exam can be strengthened by understanding the section-wise breakage of CAT along with the weight various sections and topics hold.
The section-wise breakup of CAT will define the number of MCQ and non-MCQ questions expected along with the topics with the most number of questions based on past patterns.
|
Section |
MCQs |
Non-MCQs |
Total Question |
Details |
|
VARC |
19 |
5 |
24 |
4 passages of RC with 4 questions each. 3 parajumbles, 2 para completions, 3 parasummary |
|
DILR |
15 |
5 |
20 |
4 sets of 5 questions each covering topics of bar graphs, missing data and puzzles |
|
QA |
14 |
8 |
22 |
Dominated by arithmetic and algebra with 4 questions of geometry |
|
Total |
48 |
18 |
66 |
CAT Syllabus 2023: Section-wise Analysis
Going through each topic that is likely to be included in the CAT 2023 Syllabus will help each aspirant devise their own list of strengths and weaknesses and accordingly prepare a study plan for CAT 2023. Picking up the right questions and ensuring that the attempt accuracy is high will ensure that the candidate scores well in the CAT Exam. Here is a list of the topics a candidate should cover in each section of the exam.
|
CAT Exam Syllabus |
Topics |
Weightage for 2022 |
|
Verbal Ability |
Para jumbles, Para summary, and Inferences |
10% |
|
Reading Comprehension |
RC passages |
24% |
|
Logical Reasoning |
Blood Relations, Syllogism, Directions, Clocks & Calendars, Logical Connectives and Sequences |
16% |
|
Data Interpretation |
Tables, Graphs, Charts and other forms of visualization |
16% |
|
Quantitative Aptitude |
Geometry, Trigonometry, Averages, Percentages, Number Systems, Arithmetic, Mensuration |
34% |
CAT VARC Syllabus 2023: Key Topics, Weightage & Analysis
The VARC section is the first section of the exam which must be completed in 40 minutes. The Reading Comprehension part of the section dominates with approximately 70% weightage of the total score of this section.
CAT VARC Syllabus: Key Topics
Given below are the topics that should be covered in the CAT VARC syllabus 2023:
|
CAT VARC Syllabus |
|
|
Jumbled Paragraph |
Reading Comprehension |
|
Summary Questions |
Para Completion |
|
Odd-sentence-out |
|
CAT VARC Syllabus: Weightage
In CAT 2022, odd-sentence-out questions were replaced by para-competition questions. Here is a breakup of the number of questions covered in each topic in the CAT 2022 VARC section:
|
CAT 2022 Topic |
Slot 1 |
Slot 2 |
Slot 3 |
|
Reading Comprehension |
16 |
16 |
16 |
|
Para Jumbles |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Para Summary |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Para Completion |
2 |
2 |
2 |
CAT VARC Syllabus: Analysis
For the past few years, the section has focused on majorly 5 types of questions:
- Summary Questions
In these types of questions, the key is usually to find the options that do not contradict the passage in any manner or go beyond the scope of the discussion. Once you are able to eliminate the other options, the right answer will emerge. - Para Jumbles
These are usually TITA, which means that there is no margin for error. In these types of questions, there are 4-5 sentences given out of order. Together they form a paragraph, and the aspirant has to find the order which best suits the group of sentences. - Odd Sentence
Like jumbled paragraph questions, it has also been a TITA question for the past 3-4 years. The objective is to identify the sentence that does not match the theme established in the rest of the paragraph. - Para Completion
Para-completion requires you to add a missing line to a paragraph. Determine the topic of the paragraph and attempt to summarize the action in the paragraph in your own words. Identify the point in the author's argument that we are left with in the paragraph. - Reading Comprehension
The Reading Comprehension section consists of questions based on passages provided. The questions are generally a mix of fact-based and inferential questions. For the past few years, CAT has focused on asking questions that are more inference-based. These questions demand a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the information given. The fact-based questions, as the name suggests, demand answers on the basis of facts mentioned in the passage.
CAT DILR Syllabus 2023: Key Topics, Weightage & Analysis
The second section of the CAT exam, the DILR section is the most undefined as compared to the other sections in the CAT Exam Syllabus. The two subsections of the DILR section in the CAT exam syllabus 2023 are:
Data Interpretation: Data will be presented in the form of a graph, chart, or another form of visualization and you will be required to solve the questions given 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.
CAT DILR Syllabus: Key Topics
Given below is a brief overview of the topics covered for the CAT DILR syllabus-
|
CAT DILR Syllabus |
||
|
Tables |
Caselets |
Logical Sequence |
|
Bar Graphs |
Line Charts |
Syllogism |
|
Column Graphs |
Venn Diagrams |
Logical Connectives |
|
Pie Charts |
Calendars |
Blood Relations |
|
Number and Letter Series |
Clocks |
Binary Logic |
|
Cubes |
Seating Arrangement |
Logical Matching |
The number of questions in the DI and LR sub-sections are generally equally distributed, which means that the students who are more comfortable in one of the sub-sections can still clear the cut-off if they attempt that part of the CAT 2023 Paper well.
However, the CAT DILR Section has been changing slightly in recent years. The questions are a combination of DI and LR rather than the regimented, separate DI and LR questions that were tested earlier.
CAT DILR Syllabus: Weightage
In the CAT 2022 DILR section, the number of questions covered in each topic is as follows:
|
CAT 2022 Sets |
Slot 1 |
Slot 2 |
Slot 3 |
Total Questions |
|
Set 1 |
Token |
Revenue/cost |
Covid cases |
5 |
|
Set 2 |
University Team |
Cosmetic item sales |
Computer Science-ratios |
5 |
|
Set 3 |
15 girls get together |
Diagram- 4 destination |
Blue & pink- male female-graph |
5 |
|
Set 4 |
Metrolines |
Salesman & four colonies |
Games (4 people) |
5 |
CAT DILR Syllabus: Analysis
Generally, the DI, LR, and AR subsections have a ratio of 1: 2: 1, which means that those students who excel at one of these sub-sections can still make the cutoff if they attempt that part well. However, the CAT DILR section has been changing slightly in recent years. The questions are a combination of DI and LR rather than the separate DI and LR questions that were tested earlier.
The CAT syllabus 2023 for the DILR section is:
- Data Interpretation (DI)
The DI section of the CAT Syllabus consists of Caselets and Tables. These caselets have data in the form of Bar graphs, Pie charts, Lines graphs, Combination graphs, and other different diagrams. In this section of the CAT Exam Syllabus, the aspirants will be asked to solve questions that are posed based on the data given in the above formats. In order to solve these questions, the data has to be structured in the most intuitive manner so that the questions can be solved. In certain questions, there will be variables that have to be left untouched since they may be provided in the questions. The only way to prepare for this section in the CAT exam is to solve as many problems as possible and go through the previous years’ CAT Exam Papers. - Logical Reasoning (LR)
The topics for Logical Reasoning in the CAT syllabus over the years consist of Numbers and Sequences, Set Theory, Games and Tournaments, Grid/Matrix, Cubes/Cuboids, Letter/Number Coding, Binary Logic, Different diagrams number & logic-based, Route based and Time Table of Trains & Flights. The questions are usually arranged with a combination of the other topics. There are quite a few topics for Logical Reasoning and the combination can be quite tricky. This can be one of the reasons that CAT 2015 and CAT 2016 were considered to have difficult DILR sections. The reasoning topics can lead to very complicated sets when combined with each other. The major concern with solving LR questions is not to solve them, but to solve them as expeditiously as possible. - Arrangement (AR)
The topics for Analytical Reasoning in the CAT syllabus across the years consist of Matrix Arrangement, Linear Arrangement, Family Tree, Logical Sequence, Selection, Grouping, Teams, and Committees. In this section of the CAT syllabus, candidates will be asked to organize the given information and answer the given questions.
CAT QA Syllabus 2023: Key Topics, Weightage & Analysis
The CAT QA Syllabus has the maximum portion since it covers everything related to mathematics that one studies in school. Some of the major topics in the CAT QA Syllabus are:
- Arithmetic: This topic covers the maximum number of questions in most of the CAT Exams and is a topic that all students should prepare for.
- Algebra: This topic has the second-highest weightage in terms of the questions asked in the CAT Exam.
- Numbers: These are topics that are regularly tested in the CAT Exam and every aspirant should be clear about the basics of the topics to not lose out on easy marks.
- Geometry: This is another regularly tested topic that consists of Geometry, Coordinate Geometry and Mensuration. Having a basic knowledge of the topic will allow aspirants to attempt at least a few questions from the topic in the CAT 2023 Exam.
CAT QA Syllabus: Key Topics
Some of the topics covered in the CAT quant syllabus are as follows:
|
CAT Quant Syllabus |
||
|
Number Systems |
HCF & LCM |
Profit, Loss and Discount |
|
Speed, Time & Distance |
Percentages |
Simple and Compound Interest |
|
Averages |
Ratio & Proportion |
Time & Work |
|
Linear Equations |
Quadratic Equations |
Complex Numbers |
|
Logarithm |
Sequence and Series |
Inequalities |
|
Surds & Indices |
Probability |
Permutation and Combination |
|
Set Theory & Function |
Coordinate Geometry |
Geometry |
|
Mixtures and Alligations |
Mensuration |
Trigonometry |
CAT QA Syllabus: Weightage
The following table shows the number of questions covered in each topic in CAT 2022 for QA:
|
CAT 2022 Topics |
Slot 1 |
Slot 2 |
Slot 3 |
|
Number System |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Algebra |
8 |
7 |
7 |
|
Arithmetic |
8 |
9 |
9 |
|
Modern Maths |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Geometry & Mensuration |
3 |
4 |
4 |
CAT QA Syllabus: Analysis
Here are a few tips for each of the topics
- Arithmetic is also fairly basic and should be easy to prepare for. Most of the topics in Arithmetic are of Class X level and the only trick is to solve them as fast as possible.
- Alignments and mixes are similar to sequences and mixes in the sense that they are occasionally tested in CAT. It is fairly easy to solve problems of this type with the right guidance.
- Algebra may be used in conjunction with other topics or may be tested in CAT 2023.
- Sequence and Series is a topic that is occasionally tested in CAT and regularly in other MBA Entrance Exams. With practice, the questions in this topic can be easily solved.
- Geometry has several rules, and finding the most important geometry rules would allow the aspirant to solve these problems as fast as possible.
- Modern mathematics is reasonably easy to prepare for since the number of questions is limited and the formulae to be learned are fairly straightforward.
CAT Syllabus 2023: Best Books for CAT Preparation
There is a plethora of books to begin CAT preparation and strengthen your performance. However, before you jump into the preparation it is necessary for you to understand the CAT exam syllabus and exam pattern to formulate an exam strategy. The study resources you choose must include a comprehensive understanding of CAT, its syllabus, and exam pattern along with examples and a question bank for practice.
So, here are the best books to begin your CAT preparation
Books for Overall CAT Preparation
|
CAT Sections |
Book |
|
VARC |
Past Years' CAT Questions (G.K. Publications), Word Power Made Easy (Norman Lewis), Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (Gautam Puri) |
|
DILR |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (Gautam Puri), How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT (Arun Sharma), A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning (R.S. Aggarwal) |
|
QA |
NCERT Mathematics Books (Class 6-10), CAT Quantitative Aptitude (Gautam Puri), Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examinations (RS Aggarwal) |
CAT Syllabus 2023: Preparation Tips
Here are a few tips for CAT aspirants to prepare the CAT syllabus 2023-
Understand the CAT Exam Syllabus and Pattern: Before starting your CAT preparations, it is imperative that you familiarise yourself with the syllabus and exam pattern to identify the best strategy to study.
Acquire the Habit of Reading: The reading comprehension section focuses on reading as one of the most essential skills. Candidates can improve their speed, grammar and vocabulary by regularly reading books, newspapers etc.
Familiarize yourself with Equations and Maths Calculations: For the mathematical portion of the exam, aspirants must be quick and accurate at mental calculations. Memorizing formulae and practicing equations will help with speed and accuracy.
Practice Mocks and Previous Year Papers: Aspirants should regularly practice mocks and previous year papers to analyze their performance and familiarise themselves with the CAT paper.
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CAT Syllabus 2023: Latest Changes
The exam syllabus has observed no changes over the past few years. However, the CAT exam pattern has gone through a few changes including a change in the number of questions and the time limit of the exam. So, before you start your CAT journey it is ideal that you are well-versed with the latest CAT exam syllabus and pattern.
|
Number of Questions |
Time Allotted |
|
|
CAT 2021-2022 |
66 |
2 hours |
|
CAT 2020 |
76 |
2 hours |
|
CAT 2015-2019 |
100 |
3 hours |
|
CAT 2014 |
100 |
2 hours 50 minutes |
|
CAT 2013 |
60 |
2 hours 20 minutes |
CAT Exam Syllabus 2023: CAT 2022 Evaluation
Apart from the basic CAT exam syllabus, it might be useful to have a look at CAT 2022 to set a benchmark.
- CAT 2022 followed the same pattern as CAT 2021 with 66 questions to be attempted in 2 hours. There were 40 minutes given to attempt each section with 24 questions in VARC, 20 questions in DILR and 22 questions in QA.
- The level of difficulty of the paper was moderate. The only notable changes were in VARC where odd-sentence-out was replaced by para completion and DILR had 5 questions in each set instead of the past division with 4, 4, 6, and 6 questions.
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