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Common Admission Test Syllabus

Amrita Das's profile picture

Updated on Feb 18, 2025

Amrita Das

CAT 2025 Syllabus: The conducting authority of CAT 2025 has not published an official syllabus for the exam. The students can still refer to the Class X syllabus for English as well as Mathematics. However, taking into account the patterns developed in the previous years' CAT exams, a tentative list of topics that might appear in the CAT 2025 syllabus is provided below. The candidate must pay more attention to these topics and make necessary adjustments in their preparation strategy.

The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) conducts the Common Admission Test (CAT). Admission to postgraduate business administration programs is determined by a nationwide admission test. Students can gain admission to the nation's best management colleges by passing this exam. Here, we have the most recent version of the CAT Syllabus 2025 information.

CAT 2025 Exam Overview 

The Common Admission Test, or CAT, is a national-level entrance exam for admission to MBA and PGDM programs at top business schools in India, including IIMs. The exam is conducted once a year and tests candidates on Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). CAT 2025 will be a computer-based test (CBT) with a total duration of 120 minutes. The exam consists of both MCQs and non-MCQs. Given below is the detailed overview of CAT 2025.

Feature Details
Exam Name Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025
Conducting Body Indian Institute of Management (IIM)
Exam Level National
Exam Mode Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Frequency Once a year
Sections VARC, DILR, QA
Total Questions 66
Total Marks 204
Exam Duration 120 minutes (160 minutes for PwD candidates)
Sectional Time Limit 40 minutes per section
Marking Scheme +3 for correct answer, -1 for incorrect MCQ, No negative marking for non-MCQ
Official Website [To be announced]

CAT 2025 VARC Syllabus

VARC is the first section of the CAT question paper and comprises 24 questions. The section can be split into two sub-parts, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. Questions are usually of moderate to tough difficulty level because of the presence of 12-14 RC based questions. Have a look at important VARC topics for the CAT exam syllabus 2025.

CAT VARC Syllabus 2024
Fill in the blanks Para completion and inference Verbal logic
Verbal reasoning Subject-verb agreement Parajumbles
Sentence completion Foreign language words used in English Different usage of same word
Grammar Reading comprehension Idioms
Syllogisms Analogies Antonyms
Jumbled paragraphs Sentence correction One word substitution
Parts of speech Preposition Types of clauses
Phrases modifiers Errors in tenses Articles usage

CAT 2025 DILR Syllabus

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) constitutes the second section of the CAT question paper wherein 20 questions are to be solved in a duration of 40 minutes. There are two sub sections - Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. Both of these have 10 questions each. Most of the questions are asked in sets of 3-4, Only a few questions in LR are standalone ones. Take a quick look at important Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation topics included in CAT syllabus 2025.

CAT syllabus DILR
Blood Relations Clocks and Calendars Syllogism
Series Statements Venn Diagram
Proposition Data Arrangement Data Structures
Direction Sense Family Tree Tables
Coding-Decoding Binary Logic Pie Charts
Assumptions Seating Arrangement Data Sufficiency
Puzzles Sets & Caselets Bars & Line Graphs

CAT 2025 Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

The final section of the CAT question paper is Quantitative Aptitude. Usually, these questions are very challenging. A student needs to master the concepts of Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Mensuration. It's a calculation intensive section and one would require extensive practice to ace this section. See below some key points related to the syllabus of CAT Quantitative Aptitude and key points:

CAT Quantitative Aptitude syllabus
Geometry Ratios and Proportion Inequalities
Trigonometry In-equations Quadratic and linear equations Work and Time
Algebra Surds and Indices Percentages
Mensuration Time-Speed-Distance Logarithms
Partnership (Accounts) Number System Square Root and Cube Root
Profit & Loss Geometric Progression Probability
Mean, mode, median Binomial theorem Simple interest and compound interest

CAT 2025 VARC Syllabus Topic-Wise Weightage

CAT 2025 VARC section, as mentioned earlier, includes four major subtopics – Reading Comprehension, Parajumbles, Verbal Ability and Sentences. In CAT, no grammar-based question is asked. The composition of the CAT VARC section is usually the same every year. Below is weightage and difficulty level of VARC as per last year CAT paper:

VARC Topics for CAT No. of Questions in CAT Exam Level of Difficulty
Reading Comprehension 16 Moderate to Difficult
VA-Parajumbles 3 Moderate to Difficult
VA-Odd Sentence 2 Easy to Moderate
VA-Summary 3 Easy to Moderate
Overall 24 Moderate to Difficult

CAT 2025 DILR Syllabus Topic-Wise Weightage 

The Data Interpretation questions are usually based on tables and graphs. Logical Reasoning questions, on the other hand, can be based on any subject matter, such as verbal, non-verbal, and abstract reasoning. Here is the basic structure of the DILR section of the CAT, along with the difficulty levels based on previous CAT examination papers.

CAT DILR Syllabus No. of Questions Level of Difficulty
Data Interpretation 4 Easy
Data Interpretation 4 Moderate
Logical Reasoning 6 Moderate to Difficult
Logical Reasoning 6 Easy to Moderate
Overall 20 Moderate to Difficult

CAT 2025 Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus Topic-Wise Weightage

The questions in CAT Quantitative Aptitude are always tough and mostly calculation-based. In a paper like CAT that is strictly timed, the expertise in mental maths helps one get through the questions of Quant easily. Hence, it is only logical that during CAT preparation time, the students must also hone their mental mathematics skills to tackle the questions on the paper with ease. Quantitative Aptitude section:

CAT Quantitative Aptitude Topics No. of Questions Level of Difficulty
Arithmetic 8-10 Moderate to High
Algebra 5-7 Moderate to High
Geometry 1-3 Moderate to High
Modern Maths 2-4 Moderate to High
Overall 22 Moderate to High

CAT 2025 Best Books 

CAT books are a significant tool in fully understanding the topics covered in the CAT syllabus for 2025, including conceptual, theoretical, and practical aspects. The resources give in-depth discussions, explanations, and practice questions arranged chapter-wise for all relevant topics from which CAT questions are derived. A good selection of the best CAT 2025 books would include books by Arun Sharma, Nishit Sinha, and RS Aggarwal.

Best Books for CAT 2025 Preparation

Section Book Name & Author
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) NCERT Mathematics Books (Class 9-10)
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT – Arun Sharma
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations – Abhijit Guha
Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT – Sarvesh Verma
Quantitative Aptitude for CAT – Nishit Sinha
Quantitative Aptitude – RS Aggarwal
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning – RS Aggarwal
How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT – Arun Sharma
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT – Arun Sharma
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT – Nishit Sinha
Data Interpretation – Nishit Sinha
CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning – Gautam Puri
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT – Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT – Nishit Sinha
Word Power Made Easy – Norman Lewis
High School Grammar and Composition – Wren and Martin
30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary – Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis

CAT 2025 Section-Wise Preparation Strategy

A well-planned preparation strategy is the key to cracking CAT 2025. The exam is divided into three sections: VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension), DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning), and QA (Quantitative Aptitude). Each section requires a different approach to score maximum marks. Candidates should concentrate on regular practice, time management, and accuracy to enhance performance. Below is a section-wise preparation strategy for CAT 2025.

Section Preparation Strategy
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Read newspapers, articles, and novels daily to improve reading speed and comprehension. Practice para jumbles, summaries, and sentence correction regularly. Solve RC passages from past years to develop accuracy.
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) Practice different types of DI sets, including tables, charts, and graphs. Work on logical reasoning puzzles, arrangements, and Venn diagrams. Improve calculation speed to save time. Attempt mock tests and analyze performance.
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Revise basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. Learn shortcuts and tricks for faster calculations. Solve topic-wise practice questions and full-length tests. Focus on weak areas and improve accuracy.

CAT 2025 Syllabus FAQs

What are the main sections covered in the CAT 2025 syllabus?

CAT 2025 syllabus has three divisions: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).

Is there any fixed syllabus for CAT 2025?

No, There is no specific syllabus but the pattern adopted by the test includes English, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, and Mathematics.

Which are the vital topics that are important for the Quantitative Aptitude section in CAT 2025?

Important topics for QA in CAT 2025 include Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number System, and Modern Mathematics.

Which are the hot topics in the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning section in CAT 2025?

Tables, Bar Graphs, Pie Charts, Seating Arrangements, Blood Relations, and Venn Diagrams.

How can one prepare the VARC section of CAT 2025?

Read newspapers, articles, increase reading speed Practice Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles and Sentence Correction

Is there a section of General Knowledge in CAT 2025?

No, as there is no General Knowledge Section in CAT 2025 it tests candidates solely on VARC, DILR, QA.

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