CAT Syllabus
Breakdown.
The complete, data-driven CAT syllabus breakdown. Exact topic divisions, historical weightage, and structural analysis for VARC, DILR, and QA.
[ Key Takeaways ]
- › Structure: 66 questions across 3 sections in 120 minutes (40 mins per section).
- › Sections: VARC (24 Qs), DILR (22 Qs), QA (22 Qs).
- › Marking: +3 for correct answers, −1 for wrong MCQs, 0 penalty for TITA questions.
- › Syllabus Source: No official IIM syllabus exists; topics are rigorously inferred from past year papers.
VARC — Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension
Dense passages from Philosophy, Sociology, History, Science, Economics, and Modern Technology. Question types: Central Idea, Inference, Tone, Author's Purpose, Fact vs Judgment.
Para Jumbles
Rearranging 4-5 sentences into a logically coherent paragraph. Primarily TITA format. Requires identification of transitional words, connectors, and logical flow.
Para Summary
Selecting the most accurate summary of a given paragraph from closely worded, deceptive distractor options. Tests comprehension and precision.
Odd Sentence Out
Identifying the contextually irrelevant sentence from a cluster of 5 sentences. Tests structural coherence and theme identification.
Para Completion
Selecting the sentence that logically completes a given paragraph. Tests inference, logical closure, and contextual continuity.
DILR — Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
Data Interpretation
Bar Graphs, Line Charts, Pie Charts, Tables, Caselets, Combination Graphs, Scatter Plots, Tables with Missing Values. Data-driven decision-making under time pressure.
Logical Reasoning
Linear & Circular Seating Arrangements, Constraint-based Puzzles, Binary Logic, Scheduling, Matrix Arrangements, Blood Relations, Truth & Lie, Selection with Conditions, Quant-based LR.
Games & Tournaments
Knockout Tournaments, Round Robin formats, Seeding logic, League-based scoring, and Logic-driven games.
Venn Diagrams & Sets
2-Set, 3-Set, 4-Set Venn diagrams, Maxima-Minima intersecting logic in sets.
QA — Quantitative Aptitude
Arithmetic
Percentages, Successive Changes, Profit & Loss, Discounts, Simple & Compound Interest, Installments, Ratio & Proportion, Time Speed & Distance (Relative Speed, Trains, Boats & Streams), Time & Work (Work Efficiency, Pipes & Cisterns), Averages, Weighted Average, Mixtures & Alligations.
Algebra
Linear & Quadratic Equations (Roots, Nature of Roots), Polynomials (Remainder & Factor Theorem), Inequalities (Linear, Quadratic & Modulus), Logarithms, Functions (Domain, Range, Composition, Inverse, Graphs), Sequences & Series, Maxima & Minima.
Geometry & Mensuration
Lines & Angles, Triangles (Similarity, Congruence, Pythagoras), Quadrilaterals (Parallelogram, Trapezium, Rhombus), Circles (Tangents, Chords, Arcs), Polygons, Coordinate Geometry (Distance, Section Formula, Locus), 2D/3D Mensuration.
Number System
LCM/HCF, Divisibility Rules, Remainders (Euler's, Fermat's, Chinese Remainder Theorem), Factorials, Base Systems, Last Digits, Units Digit.
Modern Math
Progressions (AP, GP, HP, AGP), Permutations & Combinations, Probability (Bayes' Theorem, Conditional Probability), Set Theory.
CAT Syllabus FAQs
Common questions about the CAT exam pattern, marking scheme, and topic structure.