The CAT syllabus is extensive and requires ample time and patience to cover thoroughly. While there is no set schedule for the CAT, the test focuses on middle school Math and English courses. Many students suffer anxiety because they are unsure about the curriculum and the topics they must learn before the test.

This article will provide detailed information about the CAT syllabus, which will help the candidates overcome their fear of attempting the CAT exam.

CAT syllabus 2025 - Sectional Division

The CAT exam has three sections, including MCQ and non-MCQ questions. Each section has a different weightage.

Listed below are the CAT 2025 sections:

• Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

• Quantitative Ability (QA)

• Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

CAT Exam Pattern

Before we get into the specifics of the CAT curriculum, aspirants must first understand the test structure in order to determine timelines, marks per section, and other factors.

CAT syllabus 2025: Marking Scheme

The marking scheme for the CAT exam is illustrated in the table below:

CAT syllabus 2025

Keep in mind the following content. Each subject has a varied weightage in the CAT. Candidates should work on their weakest areas while practicing their stronger sections to reinforce the essential principles of all subjects.. Stay updated on the exam topics asked in the CAT exam. Here is a comprehensive overview of the CAT exam syllabus by section. Review these details and plan your preparation accordingly.

VARC Section

VARC is the 1st section to be go through in the exam. It has two subparts: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. Take a look at some key points of this section:

For the past few years, this section has mainly focused on 3 topics:

Reading Comprehension

This section consists of questions based on passages. 

The questions are of three types: Fact-based, Inference-based, and Vocabulary-based. 

The RC part of CAT 2021 has more inferential questions than CAT 2020, making it significantly more challenging. 

The fact-based questions demand answers based on facts mentioned in the passage. They are the easiest questions in this section.

The Inference-based questions are trickier since the aspirant has to deduce the tone and theme of the author before answering these questions.

Jumbled Paragraphs

• There is no margin for error as these are TITA-based questions.

• In these questions, 4-5 phrases are presented in sequence.

• These sentences form a paragraph, and the aspirant must find the order that best suits the group of sentences. 

• The aspirant needs to identify the paragraph's first and last sentence.

• It is pretty simple since the first line presents a subject and the final sentence offers a conclusion or judgment.

• Following this, the first phrase should flow into the second, and so on.

Odd Sentence in Paragraph Jumbles

• In previous years, these questions have also been TITA-based.

• Candidates must identify the sentence that does not fit the topic of the remainder of the text.

• These questions may be easy or difficult.

• It's also conceivable that a new subject is presented but not explored further.

DILR Section

The 2nd section of the this exam is DILR. It is further subdivided into two sections: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning.

Below are some of the important topics of DILR:

Data Interpretation

• This section consists of caselets and tables. The data is presented in the form of bar graphs, column graphs, Venn diagrams, lines, and pie charts. 

• Aspirants are asked to answer questions based on the facts presented in the following forms. Candidates must arrange the material intuitively in order to answer the questions.

• In certain questions, variables will have to be left untouched.

• The candidate must solve as many problems as possible and go through the previous years’ papers.

Logical Reasoning

• This section covers themes such as numbers and sequences, arrangements, syllogisms, logical sequences, blood connections, calendars, cubes, and clocks. 

• The questions are usually a combination of the other topics. 

• The are many topics in the reasoning section, and the combination can lead to very complicated sets.

• The major concern with solving questions in the LR section is to solve them as expeditiously as possible.

QA Section

QA is the last component of the CAT test. This is the biggest of the three portions. The majority of the time is spent preparing for the QA portion, which needs extensive practice. 

Some of the important topics of QA are as follows:

Conclusion

Candidates must prepare a strategical plan, and for that, it is important to know the CAT syllabus. After knowing the syllabus start your practice and solve mock tests and sample papers to get a hold of the exam pattern. Be thorough in terms of their preparation for the basics. If you prepare according to the CAT syllabus, the room for unpleasant surprises is greatly reduced.