CAT Exam Syllabus 2025: If you’re targeting the prestigious IIMs and top MBA colleges in India, your journey starts with mastering the CAT Exam Syllabus 2025. The Common Admission Test (CAT) is known for testing your aptitude across three major sections: VARC, DILR, and QA.
In this article, we provide the complete and updated CAT 2025 syllabus, section-wise weightage, difficulty level, and key preparation insights to help you crack the exam on your first attempt.
CAT 2025 Exam Structure at a Glance
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 72 | 40 mins |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 60 | 40 mins |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 66 | 40 mins |
| Total | 66 | 198 | 120 mins |
Each section is time-bound. There’s negative marking of -1 for wrong answers in MCQs.
CAT VARC Syllabus 2025, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
The VARC section evaluates your reading ability, grammar, and logical comprehension.
Key Topics:
- Reading Comprehension (RC) – 4 passages (12–14 Qs)
- Parajumbles (Jumbled Paragraphs)
- Odd Sentence Out
- Summary Writing
- Sentence Completion & Correction
- Fill in the Blanks
- Word Usage & Idioms
- Grammar & Parts of Speech
- Syllogisms & Analogies
Topic-wise Weightage:
| Topic | Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 16 | Moderate–Difficult |
| Parajumbles | 3 | Moderate |
| Odd Sentence | 2 | Easy–Moderate |
| Summary | 3 | Easy–Moderate |
CAT DILR Syllabus 2025 – Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
The DILR section tests your analytical reasoning, data handling, and decision-making.
Key Topics:
Logical Reasoning (LR)
- Blood Relations
- Seating Arrangement
- Direction Sense
- Clocks & Calendars
- Venn Diagrams
- Binary Logic
- Coding-Decoding
- Assumptions & Statements
- Puzzle-Based Reasoning
Data Interpretation (DI)
- Bar Graphs, Line Charts, Pie Charts
- Tables & Caselets
- Data Sufficiency
- Sets & Grouping
- Data Arrangement
Topic-wise Weightage:
| Topic | Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Logical Reasoning (Easy–Moderate) | 6 | Moderate |
| Logical Reasoning (Mod–Difficult) | 6 | Difficult |
| Data Interpretation (Easy) | 4 | Easy |
| Data Interpretation (Moderate) | 4 | Moderate |
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus 2025
The QA section focuses on basic mathematics, typically up to class 10 level but with tricky applications.
Main Topics:
Arithmetic
- Averages, Percentages, Profit & Loss
- Simple & Compound Interest
- Ratio & Proportion, Mixtures & Alligation
- Time, Speed & Distance, Time & Work
Algebra
- Linear & Quadratic Equations
- Logarithms, Surds & Indices
- Functions & Graphs
- Inequalities, Modulus, Maxima & Minima
Number System
- Divisibility Rules, LCM & HCF
- Remainders, Base System
- Cyclicity, Factorials, Unit Digits
Geometry & Mensuration
- Lines, Angles, Triangles, Circles
- Polygons, 2D and 3D Mensuration
- Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry
Modern Maths
- Probability, Permutation & Combination
- Set Theory, Sequence & Series
- Binomial Theorem
Topic-wise Weightage:
| Topic | Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 10 | Moderate |
| Algebra | 5 | Moderate |
| Geometry | 3 | Moderate |
| Modern Maths | 4 | Moderate |
| Total | 22 | Moderate |
CAT Exam Syllabus 2025 PDF
How to Prepare for CAT Exam Syllabus 2025?
Step-by-Step Tips:
- Start early: Ideally, begin 6–8 months before the exam.
- Concept clarity: Master basic concepts before jumping to mocks.
- Daily reading habit: Helps in improving VARC & comprehension speed.
- Mock tests: Take at least 20–25 full-length mocks before the exam.
- Sectional tests: Focus on one section at a time weekly.
- Analyze mistakes: Post-test analysis is the real key to growth.
- Work on weak areas – especially in DILR and Algebra-heavy QA.
- Use quality resources: Like Arun Sharma, Nishit Sinha, IMS, TIME, or online platforms like Unacademy, PW, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What are the 3 sections in CAT exam?
VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Aptitude.
Q2. Is the CAT exam tough?
Yes, but consistent practice and mock analysis make it manageable.
Q3. Is there any official CAT syllabus PDF?
No official syllabus, but this post is based on the actual pattern seen in recent CAT exams.
Q4. How many questions are in CAT 2025?
66 questions in total.
Q5. Can I crack CAT in 3 months?
Yes, with a strong foundation, full dedication, and strategic revision.
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