CAT Exam Syllabus 2025
CAT is one of the toughest and most competitive exams in the world, with lakhs of aspirants vying for a few thousand seats in the best B-Schools. In order to stay a step ahead of your competition, you need to ensure that you have a solid preparation strategy that you can develop with the help of a detailed analysis of the CAT 2025 Syllabus.
There are more changes in the CAT syllabus for 2025. The CAT 2025 Syllabus. PDF can be divided into three sections: Quantitative Ability (QA); Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR); and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC). Accordingly, the CAT syllabus 2025 will have more changes than anticipated given the reputation of IIM Bangalore. CAT 2025 Syllabus. PDF can be divided into three sections: Quantitative Ability (QA); Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR); and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC). For better understanding and preparation, the CAT MBA Syllabus 2025.pdf for each section can be further divided into subsections.
CAT Exam Pattern 2025
The CAT Exam is a Computer Based Test (CBT) rather than an Online Test. The distinction between the two is that in the CBT, the questions are kept constant and simply presented to the students in an online format rather than an Online Test where the questions are stored in question banks and the computer decides the questions to be asked of the students (E.g. GMAT).
| Test duration | 2 hrs |
| Test sessions | Three |
| Total questions | 66 |
| Total score | 198 |
| Total questions in VARC Section | 24 |
| Total Questions in DILR section | 20 |
| Total Questions in QA section | 22 |
| Type of Questions | MCQs & Non-MCQs |
| Difference between MCQs and Non-MCQs | MCQ: Multiple Choice Question Non-MCQ: Type your Answer on Computer Screen |
| Negative Marking Questions | All MCQs: 70 to 75% of questions are of MCQ type |
| No Penalty Questions (Qs without Negative Marking) | All Non-MCQs: 25-30% are Non-MCQs |
| Scoring Pattern | +3 Marks for each correct answer; -1 mark for each wrong answer (Applicable for MCQs only) |
CAT Exam Syllabus
The CAT 2025 Exam Pattern gives us a good idea about how to go about preparing for CAT 2025. By going through each topic that is likely to be included in the CAT 2025 Syllabus will help each aspirant devise their own list of strengths and weaknesses and accordingly prepare a study plan for CAT 2025.
| CAT Syllabus PDF Sections | Important Topics | Weightage in CAT Syllabus |
| VARC – Part 1: Verbal Ability | Jumbled Paragraphs, Essence of Short Para, Picking out the out-of-context sentence. 6-7 Questions | Sectional: 25-30% Overall: 10% |
| VARC – Part 2: Reading Comprehension | 4-5 RC Passages: Total-18-19 Questions | Sectional-70-75% Overall-24% |
| DILR- Part 1: Data Interpretation | Charts, Tables, Graphs. Total: 10-12 Questions | Sectional-50% Overall-16% |
| DILR-Part 2: Logical Reasoning | Seating Arrangements, Family Tree, Direction sense. Total: 10-12 Questions | Sectional-50% Overall-16% |
| QA – Quantitative Ability | Arithmetic, Geometry, Mensuration, Algebra, Trigonometry | Sectional-100% Overall-34% |
CAT 2025 VARC Syllabus
- Reading Comprehension: This is likely to consist of approximately 70% weightage of the total VARC score. The RCs can be from a wide range of topics from abstract to scientific.
- Para jumbles: There are 2 types of Para jumbles that are generally tested in the CAT Exam and are a part of the CAT 2025 Syllabus. The normal Para jumbles are multiple-choice and the Subjective Para jumbles where the answer needs to be filled in.
- Para summary: While there are other topics that have been tested in the CAT Exam, the Para summary topic is tested practically every year and is, therefore, an immovable part of the CAT 2025 Syllabus.
CAT Syllabus for Verbal Ability
- Essence of short paragraph/Para summary – (2-3 questions);
- Jumbled Paragraphs (2-3 questions)
- Out of Context Sentence in Jumbled paragraphs (2-3 questions)
- Error Correction of Verb, Noun, Pronoun, Adjective, Adverb and other parts of speech in the Sentences.
- Correcting the sequence of sentences in the paragraph for example correct use of conditional sentence, time clauses, reported speech, passive writing
- Vocabulary usage – picking the correct pair of words
- Vocabulary usage in RC passages – finding out the correct synonyms and antonyms
- Fill in the blanks with correct vocabulary words
- Completion of last sentence of Paragraphs
- Analogies
- Critical Reasoning
- Sentence Completion
- Facts, Inference and Judgement
- Irrelevant Statements
- Phrasal Verbs Usage
CAT Syllabus for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Part-1: CAT Syllabus for Data Interpretation (DI)
- Data Tables
- Data charts
- Bar diagrams & Charts including Simple, Stacked, Composite Bar charts
- Pie charts
- Graphs – Line X-Y Graphs
- Data analysis and Data comparison among others
- Caselet based Data
Part-2: CAT exam Syllabus for Logical Reasoning (LR)
- Clocks
- Calendars
- Binary logic
- Seating Arrangement
- Blood Relations (Family Tree)
- Logical Sequence
- Assumption
- Premise
- Conclusion
- Linear and matrix arrangement
- Team Formation
- Direction sense and Decision Making
- Input-Output
- Series
- Syllogism
- Cubes
- Rows
- Set Theory, Venn Diagrams, Network Diagrams
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Puzzles
- Logical Reasoning based on Rankings
- Critical Reasoning
CAT Syllabus for Quantitative Ability (QA)
- LCM and HCF
- Percentages
- Profit and Loss
- Interest (Simple and Compound)
- Speed, Time and Distance; Time and Work; Averages; Ratio and Proportion and others
- Number System (3-4) questions
- Algebra (5-7 questions)
- Geometry/Mensuration (6-8 questions)
- Pure Math (1-2 questions)
- Venn diagrams and other topic based questions are 2-3
- Linear Equations; Quadratic Equations
- Complex Numbers
- Logarithm; Progressions
- Binomial Theorem
- Surds and Indices
- Inequalities
- Permutation and Combination
- Probability Functions
- Set Theory
- Mixtures and Alligations
- Co-ordinate Geometry
- Trigonometry
For more details, download the CAT Exam Syllabus 2025 PDF using the link given below.