The CAT 2024 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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Going through each topic that is likely to be included in the CAT 2024 Syllabus will help each aspirant devise their own list of strengths and weaknesses and accordingly prepare a study plan for CAT 2024. 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 Syllabus |
Topics |
Weightage |
|
Verbal Ability |
Para jumbles, Para summary, Odd sentence out, and Inferences |
10% |
|
Reading Comprehension |
RC passages |
24% |
|
Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation |
Blood Relations, Syllogism, Directions, Clocks and calendars, Tables, Graphs, Charts, and other forms of visualization |
30% |
|
Quantitative Aptitude |
Geometry, Trigonometry, Averages, Percentages, Number Systems, Arithmetic, Mensuration |
34% |
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 67% weightage of the total score of this section.
|
VARC Topics |
||
|
Reading Comprehension |
Grammar (tenses, prepositions, etc.) |
Para jumbles |
|
Synonyms & Antonyms |
Homonyms & Homophones |
Para-completion |
|
Inferences |
Odd one out |
One-word substitution |
|
Syllogism and Analogies |
Verbal logic |
|
In CAT 2023, odd-sentence-out questions and para-competition questions were both included in the VARC section. Here is a breakup of the number of questions covered in each topic in the CAT 2023 VARC section:
|
CAT 2023 Topic |
Slot 1 |
Slot 2 |
Slot 3 |
|
Reading Comprehension |
16 |
16 |
16 |
|
Para Jumbles |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Para Summary |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Odd Sentence |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Para Completion |
2 |
2 |
2 |
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 syllabus 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.
|
DILR Topics |
||
|
Bar Graphs & Column Graphs |
Binary Logic |
Blood Relations |
|
Calendars, Cubes & Clocks |
Caselets & Tables |
Coding-Decoding |
|
Connectives |
Line Charts & Pie Chart |
Logical Sequence |
|
Matching/ Puzzles |
Number and Letter Series |
Seating Arrangement |
|
Venn Diagrams |
Combination of two or more types linked to each other |
|
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 2024 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.
In the CAT 2023 DILR section, the number of questions covered in each topic is as follows:
|
CAT 2023 Sets |
Slot 1 |
Slot 2 |
Slot 3 |
Total Questions |
|
Set 1 |
College Elections |
Arrangement → Scores → two days average |
Girls / Boys (Caselet) Tests |
5 |
|
Set 2 |
Visa Applications (Time & Sequence set) |
Missing Values Based Table→ Company Starting/ Closing Years |
Caselet→ Window/ Split AC |
5 |
|
Set 3 |
12 Houses Rectangular diagram (3*2) |
Rides & Timings |
Route Based Diagram |
5 |
|
Set 4 |
Restaurant→ Rating (Mean, Median, Mode) |
Grid Based→two 3*3 tables (Mean, Median, Mode) |
Online Sites (Mean, Median, Mode, Max/Min) |
5 |
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 |
||
|
Averages |
Profits and Loss |
Simple & Compound Interest |
|
Mixtures & Alligations |
Percentages |
Speed, Time & Distance |
|
Pipers and Cisterns |
Ratio & Proportion |
Simplification |
|
Algebra |
||
|
Graphs |
Linear Equations |
Quadratic Equations |
|
Higher Order Equation |
Logarithms |
Modulus |
|
Inequalities |
Maxima and Minima |
Sequence and Series |
|
Number System |
||
|
Base System |
Divisibility |
LCM & HCF |
|
Complex Numbers |
Factors |
Remainders |
|
Digits |
Higher Powers |
Surds and Indices |
|
Geometry |
||
|
Circles |
Polygons |
Trigonometry |
|
Coordinate Geometry |
Quadrilaterals |
Angles |
|
Mensuration |
Triangles |
Parallel Lines |
|
Modern Maths |
||
|
Permutations & Combinations |
Geometric Arrangements |
Sequences & Series |
|
Probability |
Progressions |
Roots |
The following table shows the number of questions covered in each topic in CAT 2023 for QA:
|
CAT 2023 Topics |
Slot 1 |
Slot 2 |
Slot 3 |
|
Number System |
1 |
3 |
4 |
|
Algebra |
8 |
7 |
7 |
|
Arithmetic |
9 |
9 |
8 |
|
Modern Maths |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Geometry & Mensuration |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Given the vastness of the CAT 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 |
20 |
4 |
24 |
4 passages of RC with 4 questions each. 8 parajumbles, para completions, parasummary, and odd sentence out |
|
DILR |
14 |
6 |
20 |
4 sets of 5 questions each covering topics of bar graphs, missing data and puzzles |
|
QA |
15 |
7 |
22 |
Dominated by arithmetic and algebra with 4 questions of geometry |
|
Total |
49 |
17 |
66 |
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
|
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) |
Here are a few tips for CAT aspirants to prepare the CAT syllabus 2024-
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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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 2021-2023 |
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 |
As per expectations, CAT 2023 followed the exam pattern of CAT 2021 & 2022 with 66 questions to be answered in 120 minutes. The distribution of questions across the sections also remained the same with VARC having 24 questions, DILR having 20 questions and QA having 22 questions.
Overall, CAT 2023 had a higher level of difficulty as compared to CAT 2022. In addition, there was only a marginal difference in the level of difficulty among the three slots. Each section had to be attempted in 40 minutes. The overall level of difficulty of CAT 2023 was moderate-difficult and based on CAT-taker responses, a score of 70-72 will allow aspirants to aim for 99 %ile.
Get an understanding of the CAT cut-off
There is no CAT Syllabus 2024 that is explicitly mentioned on the CAT Official Website due to the fact that CAT does occasionally pull a surprise on the candidates. However, every question in the CAT is solvable since it tests the candidates' knowledge of the basics. Therefore, every candidate should ensure that they are thorough in terms of their preparation for the basics. If the aspirant prepares according to the past trends of the syllabus, the room for unpleasant surprises is greatly reduced.
CAT preparation should begin with a comprehensive understanding of the CAT exam syllabus and exam pattern. Aspirants should focus on their weaknesses and identify their strengths. Practicing mocks will also allow aspirants to
No, the syllabus has stayed more or less the same for the past few years. This is a deduction based on an analysis of the previous papers as the convening IIMs do not issue any defined syllabus.
The marking scheme of CAT 2023 will remain the same as in previous years. Every correct answer will be awarded 3 marks and 1 mark will be deducted for an incorrect answer. TITA questions will not have any negative markings.
No subject is difficult to learn once you dedicate your time, and have the right course material and guidance. Based on previous years' CAT exams, the difficulty level of the DILR section is rated moderate to difficult, so you might need to focus on the DILR syllabus more.
To crack CAT 2024 in the first attempt, you need to start your preparation now. Starting early is going to help you cover the syllabus on time so that you can dedicate your time to revising all the topics.