CAT Syllabus 2025 is based on key topics covered in last 10 years CAT Papers. CAT Verbal Ability Syllabus includes Para Jumbles, Para Summary, and Odd One Out. CAT Reading Comprehension Syllabus includes passages from literature, business, science, philosophy, and social sciences areas. CAT Data Interpretation syllabus includes questions on Charts and Graphs. CAT Logical Reasoning syllabus include questions on arrangements, puzzles, blood relations, syllogisms, and Venn diagrams. CAT Quantitative Aptitude syllabus topics from arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number systems, and modern mathematics. Check complete details about CAT Syllabus 2025, and CAT Syllabus PDF Download link in the article below.
CAT Exam pattern is divided in three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. Each section can be further divided into sub-sections. Since CAT exam is held in three slots, there are minor changes in the exam pattern for each slot. Also, from year to year, there are minor changes in CAT exam pattern, but the overall structure has remained the same.
CAT 2025 Exam pattern (expected) is given below.
In the CAT exam, each correct answer earns 3 marks, while incorrect answers for MCQs result in a 1-mark penalty; however, unanswered questions and non-MCQs (TITA) do not have negative marking.
Read more about CAT Exam Pattern 2025.
| Section No. | Section Name | Duration | MCQs | TITA | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 40 min | 20 | 4 | 24 |
| II | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 40 min | 12 | 10 | 22 |
| III | Quantitative Ability | 40 min | 14 | 8 | 22 |
| Total | - | 120 min | 46 | 22 | 68 |
There is no fixed CAT Syllabus 2025. It is based on key topics covered in last 10 years CAT Papers. CAT exam syllabus overview is below.
Chapters in Arun Sharma CAT Preparation Books is also a good way to understand CAT Exam Syllabus. Check complete details about CAT Section Wise Syllabus 2025 below.
Before we discuss exam syllabus, it will be helpful to know the Exam Pattern and Type of questions that have appeared in this section in CAT 2024.
CAT 2024 VARC section saw four RC passages, Paragraph Completion, Summary, and Odd Sentence type of questions. Check slot wise details below.
CAT 2024 Slot 1 Exam Pattern for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
CAT 2024 Slot 2 Exam Pattern for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
CAT 2024 Slot 3 Exam Pattern for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
| Area | Topic | No. of Questions | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Digital rights of content (Streaming and DVD/Blu-ray) | 4 | MCQ |
| Reading Comprehension | Craftsmanship and Creativity | 4 | MCQ |
| Reading Comprehension | Revival of bandicoots in Australia | 4 | MCQ |
| Reading Comprehension | Critique of behavioral economics | 4 | MCQ |
| Verbal Ability | Paragraph Completion | 3 | MCQ |
| Verbal Ability | Summary | 3 | MCQ |
| Verbal Ability | Odd Sentence Questions | 2 | TITA |
| Total | RC & VA | 24 | MCQ & TITA |
| Area | Questions | No of Qs. | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | RC-1: Spice Trade | 4 | MCQ |
| Reading Comprehension | RC-2: Unintended Consequences of Technology | 4 | MCQ |
| Reading Comprehension | RC-3: Peer Review of Research | 4 | MCQ |
| Reading Comprehension | RC-4: Carnivore-Human Conflict | 4 | MCQ |
| Verbal Ability | Paragraph completion | 3 | MCQ |
| Verbal Ability | Summary | 3 | MCQ |
| Verbal Ability | Odd Sentence Questions | 2 | TITA |
| Area | Questions | No of Qs. | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | RC-1: Success of Chinese liquor brand Moutai | 4 | MCQ |
| Reading Comprehension | RC-2: Contamination of space | 4 | MCQ |
| Reading Comprehension | RC-3: Languages have become endangered | 4 | MCQ |
| Reading Comprehension | RC-4: The need to regulate AI | 4 | MCQ |
| Verbal Ability | Paragraph completion | 3 | MCQ |
| Verbal Ability | Summary | 3 | MCQ |
| Verbal Ability | Odd Sentence Questions | 2 | TITA |
Verbal Ability (VA) is a key part of the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section in the CAT exam. VA tests a candidate’s command over the English language, logical reasoning in language-based questions, and ability to analyze written information.
Verbal Ability section includes topics such as Para Jumbles, Para Summary, and Odd One Out, which test a candidate's ability to structure information logically. CAT Verbal Ability section also has non-MCQ or TITA questions – read details below. CAT Verbal Ability questions constitute about 30-35% share in Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) Section in the CAT exam.
Base on previous year’s papers, CAT Verbal Ability Syllabus and type of questions is given below.
Read more about CAT Verbal Ability pattern, syllabus and preparation.
| Topic Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Description | Candidates are given four to five jumbled sentences that must be arranged in the correct logical order to form a coherent paragraph. These questions test logical flow, coherence, and an understanding of transition words. |
| Para Summary | A **short paragraph** is provided, and candidates must choose the most accurate summary from the given options. This tests comprehension, the ability to differentiate between main ideas and supporting details, and logical reasoning. |
| Odd One Out | A set of **four to five sentences** is given, and candidates must identify the one that does not fit into the sequence. This assesses the ability to identify logical continuity and coherence in writing. |
| Sentence Completion (Fill in the Blanks) | Though rare in recent CAT exams, this question type involves filling in the blanks with the most appropriate word or phrase based on context and grammar. |
| Critical Reasoning (Inference-Based Questions) | Candidates are given **short arguments or statements** and must identify conclusions, assumptions, or inferences. These questions test logical reasoning and comprehension. |
| Grammar-Based Questions | While direct grammar questions are uncommon in CAT, **error detection, sentence correction, and phrase substitution** sometimes appear in mock exams or other MBA entrance tests like XAT or NMAT. |
Reading Comprehension (RC) is a very important part of the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section in the CAT exam. RC section involves reading passages from different subject areas such as literature, business, science, philosophy, and social sciences, and answering a set of questions that test candidate’s understanding. These passages test a candidate’s ability to understand complex information, identify key ideas, draw inferences, and evaluate arguments.
Based on CAT previous year’s papers, Question Types asked in Reading Comprehension section are as below.
While there is no fixed syllabus for RC in CAT, according to previous year CAT exam analysis, we can understand topics which often appear in RC section. Some of the topics are given in the table below.
CAT Reading Comprehension Syllabus 2025
Read more about CAT Reading Comprehension pattern, syllabus and preparation.
| Topic Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Philosophy | These passages are based on books/articles on philosophy that describe thoughts of Aristotle, Kant, Plato. |
| Psychology | These passages often explore topics such as cognitive processes, human behavior, decision-making, emotions, memory, perception, and psychological theories proposed by thinkers like Freud, Piaget, or Kahneman. They cover experiments in psychology, biases in thinking, mental health issues, and topics like consciousness and intelligence. |
| History | These passages are often based on Indian, British and American historical events. |
| Arts and Museum | Passages on Art and Paintings are often found in CAT RC section. |
| Society | These passages are on societal issues like gender diversity and social evils. |
| Culture | These passages are based on articles on different culture, people, languages etc. |
CAT 2024 Slot 3 Exam Pattern for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Section
Before we discuss CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning syllabus, it will be helpful to know the Exam Pattern and Type of questions that have appeared in this section in CAT 2024.
Data Interpretation for CAT section tests a candidate’s ability to analyze, interpret, and draw conclusions from a given numerical data. The questions in CAT Data Interpretation section are typically based on tables, bar graphs, line charts, pie charts, caselets, and mixed data sets.
Logical Reasoning for CAT section evaluates a candidate’s ability to analyze patterns, identify relationships, and solve complex problems using logical reasoning. Common Logical Reasoning questions in CAT exam include arrangements, puzzles, blood relations, syllogisms, Venn diagrams, and logical sequences.
CAT 2024 Slot 1 Exam Pattern for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Section
CAT 2024 Slot 2 Exam Pattern for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Section
| Area | Set Description | No. of Questions | Question Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Interpretation | Stock price-based candlestick graph for 7 stocks | 4 | 3 MCQ, 1 TITA |
| Data Interpretation | Bar graph showing 3 people visiting different countries | 4 | 2 MCQ, 2 TITA |
| Logical Reasoning | Tournament of 6 teams split into two groups, teams play within & across groups | 5 | 5 TITA |
| Logical Reasoning | Web surfers assigning thirty stars | 4 | 3 MCQ, 1 TITA |
| Data Interpretation | Election between two candidates, comparatively lengthy set | 5 | 4 MCQ, 1 TITA |
| Area | Set Description | No. of Questions | Question Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logical Reasoning | Rating - 8 Gymnasts | 5 | 2 MCQ 3 TITA |
| Data Interpretation | 6 firms, PAT, Es, PRD - 2 graphs | 4 | 4 MCQ 0 TITA |
| Logical Reasoning | Schematic diagram of walkways - Lake | 4 | 2 MCQ, 2 TITA |
| Logical Reasoning | 1 to 10 numbers to be arranged in 10 slots with conditions | 5 | 2 MCQ, 3 TITA |
| Data Interpretation | Ecommerce rating distribution - cumulative | 4 | 2 MCQ, 2 TITA |
| Area | Set Description | No. of Questions | Question Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Interpretation | Bar graph on App subscription | 4 | 4 MCQ |
| Data Interpretation | Line graph on Temperature of a room with AC in power mode | 5 | 2 MCQ 3 TITA |
| Logical Reasoning | Network of roads and ATMs | 4 | 4 TITA |
| Logical Reasoning | Proteins, Carbohydrates in food items | 5 | 3 MCQ, 2 TITA |
| Data Interpretation | Table on GDP of 10 countries | 4 | 3 MCQ, 1 TITA |
| Total | Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 22 | MCQ and TITA |
CAT Data Interpretation syllabus 2025 includes topics that test a candidate’s ability to understand and interpret data in different forms. While there is no fixed CAT DI LR syllabus, the key topics covered in this section are in table below.
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Data Tables | Numerical data presented in tabular format, requiring calculations like percentages, ratios, and averages. |
| Bar Graphs | Comparative data displayed using vertical or horizontal bars, requiring analysis of trends and patterns. |
| Line Charts | Data trends represented over time, requiring interpretation of growth rates, slopes, and intersections. |
| Pie Charts | Data shown as a percentage of a whole, requiring calculations related to proportions and comparisons. |
| Pie Charts | Overlapping sets requiring calculations related to union, intersection, and complements. |
| Venn Diagrams | Overlapping sets requiring calculations related to union, intersection, and complements. |
| Mixed Graphs | Combination of two or more types of data representations, requiring multi-perspective analysis. |
| Data Sufficiency | Questions that test whether the given data is sufficient to answer a question rather than solving it directly. |
| Logical DI | Complex reasoning-based DI sets that require both mathematical and logical deduction. |
CAT logical reasoning syllabus includes topics that test a candidate’s ability to answer logical questions. While there is no fixed CAT LR syllabus, the key topics covered in this section are in table below.
Read more about CAT Logical Reasoning pattern, syllabus and preparation.
| Question Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Seating Arrangements | Questions based on linear, circular, or rectangular arrangements, requiring logical placement of people or objects based on given conditions. |
| Blood Relations | Tests the ability to analyze family relationships and determine connections between individuals. |
| Syllogisms | Involves logical deductions based on given statements using concepts like "All," "Some," and "None." |
| Coding-Decoding | Questions where words, letters, or numbers follow a pattern or code that must be identified to decode information. |
| Direction Sense | Requires understanding movement-based clues to determine direction and final positions. |
| Puzzles | Logical sets involving constraints and conditions that require systematic analysis to arrive at a solution. |
| Venn Diagrams & Set Theory | Questions involving overlapping sets, intersections, and unions, requiring logical grouping of data. |
| Input-Output | Based on sequences of inputs being processed through a logical pattern, requiring identification of underlying rules. |
| Clocks & Calendars | Questions related to time calculations, angles in clocks, and calendar-based date problems. |
| Logical Sequences | Requires identifying the missing element in a given pattern or sequence based on logical rules. |
| Data Sufficiency (Logical Reasoning) | Tests whether given statements provide enough information to answer a logical reasoning question. |
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) for CAT section assesses a candidate's mathematical skills, problem-solving ability, and numerical aptitude. The questions in Quantitative Aptitude test the conceptual clarity, logical application, and time management skills. CAT Quantitative Aptitude section covers topics from arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number systems, and modern mathematics. Read CAT Quantitative Ability exam pattern. Check Exam Pattern for previous years below.
CAT 2024 Slot 1 Exam Pattern for Quantitative Ability Section
CAT 2024 Slot 2 Exam Pattern for Quantitative Ability Section
CAT 2024 Slot 3 Exam Pattern for Quantitative Ability Section
| Section and Topics | No. of Questions | Type of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 8 | SICI, Time and Work, Time-Speed-Distance, Ratio Proportion, Mixtures & Alligations, Multiple operations, and Profit & Loss |
| Algebra | 7 | Quadratic equations, Inequality with graph, Functions, and Identity-based questions |
| Geometry | 3 | Quadrilaterals, Sphere with Cuboid |
| Modern Math | 3 | Logarithms, Sequences, Permutations |
| Number System | 1 | Remainders and Numbers |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) Section | 22 | 14 MCQ, 8 TITA |
| Area | No of Questions | Type of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 8 | SICI, Time and Work, Time-Speed-Distance, Ratio Proportion, Mixtures & Alligations, and Profit & Loss. |
| Algebra | 5 | Quadratic equations, Inequality, Modulus, Functions, and Identity-based questions etc. |
| Geometry | 3 | Circles, triangle in trapezium and co-ordinate geometry, etc. |
| Modern Math | 3 | Logarithms, Sequences, Permutations etc. |
| Numbers | 3 | remainders, Indices, Surds. |
| Area | No of Questions | Type of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 8 | SICI, Time and Work, Time-Speed-Distance, Ratio Proportion, Mixtures & Alligations, Multiple operations, and Profit & Loss. |
| Algebra | 7 | Quadratic equations, Inequality with graph, Functions, and Identity-based questions, etc |
| Geometry | 3 | Quadrilaterals, Sphere with cuboid |
| Modern Math | 3 | Logarithms, Sequences, Permutations etc. |
| Numbers | 1 | Remainders and numbers. |
Once you know about the QA question Pattern in CAT exam, your next step for preparation is to scan the CAT Syllabus for Quantitative Ability section. Please note that CAT exam QA syllabus is not pre-defined by IIMs and is based on latest topics that appeared in past CAT exams.
| Topic | Syllabus |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic | Averages; Ratio & Proportion; Speed, Time and Distance; Time and Work; LCM and HCF; Percentages, Profit and Loss; Interest (Simple and Compound); Number System |
| Algebra | Linear & Quadratic Equations; Inequalities; Functions; Progressions; Algebraic Expressions to Polynomials; Complex numbers; Sequences and series; Permutations and combinations |
| Geometry/ Mensuration | Triangles, Lines and Angles (Supplementary, Complementary, Obtuse, Acute, and Right), Quadrilaterals, Circles; Theorems (Pythagoras, Midpoint, Apollonius, Basic Proportionality, Internal and External Angular Bisector), Co-ordinate Geometry, Quadrant System, Areas of Hexagonal Polygon, Triangle, and Rectangle. Square, Rhombus, Trapezoid, Volume, Total Surface Area, and Lateral Surface Area of Different Solids like Cubes, Cuboids, Cylinders, Pyramids, Cones, Spheres, Hemispheres, and Frustum |
| Trigonometry | Trigonometric ratios, identities, and heights and distances, Sine, Cosine |
| Modern Math | Sequence and Series, Binomial Theorem, Set Theory, Probability, Permutation & Combination |
You can download CAT section wise syllabus PDF from the link below. CAT Syllabus Download will cover all the information available on this page. Once downloaded you should save it, and refer to it regularly for your preparation.
In summary, CAT Syllabus 2025 is based on key topics covered in last 10 years CAT Papers. CAT VARC Syllabus includes Para Jumbles, Para Summary, Odd One Out and passages from literature, business, science, philosophy, and social sciences areas. CAT DILR syllabus includes questions on Charts & Graphs, questions on arrangements, puzzles, blood relations, syllogisms etc. CAT QA Syllabus includes arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number systems, and modern mathematics. Check CAT Syllabus PDF Download link below.
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