The CAT syllabus is very generalized and vast. The IIMs does not have a fixed syllabus for CAT but the questions are mostly based on middle school Math and English topics. In this article, CAT students are provided with the latest CAT 2023 syllabus and PDF. It should be noted that the syllabus given here is generalized. Please refer BYJU’S CAT College Predictor tool to predict interview/admission calls from all Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top MBA colleges based on students’ CAT score.
In CAT, questions from Reasoning, English and Math are asked. Candidates should have basic conceptual clarity on these topics. The questions asked are tricky and made to confuse the candidates. CAT is one of the most popular aptitude tests and it judges students’ capabilities in terms of time management, analytical skills and decision making skills.
Before going through the CAT syllabus 2023, it is important to note some important details about the CAT exam. The CAT (Common Admission Test) is a computer based test held in India every year by one of the IIM’s based on a policy of rotation. This test scores a person on the basis of Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. This test was started by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) to select students for their various business administration programs. Before checking the detailed syllabus for CAT 2023, it is important to get an overview of the important topics from each section. Below is a table highlighting the important topics from the syllabus which are extremely crucial. The detailed weightage of the CAT syllabus topics are given in detail below.
CAT Syllabus 2023: Overview
|
Section |
Important Topics |
|
Quantitative Ability |
Arithmetic, Algebra, Modern Maths, Number System, Geometry & Mensuration |
|
Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation |
Seating Arrangement, Blood Relation, Syllogism, Tables, Graphs, Data Caselets, etc |
|
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension |
Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Para Summary, Odd One Out, Para Completion |
The detailed syllabus topics from each chapter is given in the table below and comprehensive analysis about the weightage of each chapter is also given for better understanding. It should be noted that CAT is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management as a prerequisite for admission to various management programs at IIMs, Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and other top B-Schools. CAT exam is considered as the most crucial part in their preparation processAlthough, IIMs – who conduct the CAT exam do not release the syllabus for the CAT exam, it is deduced based on previous year’s CAT exam analysis. Our panel of experts have predefined the syllabus and structure according to the latest exam pattern and have provided a general idea about the question paper.
CAT Quantitative Ability Syllabus
1. Number System
|
1. LCM and HCF |
|
2. Divisibility Rules |
|
3. Base Change |
|
4. Finding Units place and tens place of a number |
|
5. Cyclicity |
|
6. Remainders |
|
7. Prime Factorisation |
|
8. Factorials |
|
9. Indices and Surds |
2. Arithmetic
|
1. Time, Distance and Speed |
|
2. Time and Work, Pipes and Cisterns |
|
3. Simple Interest and Compound Interest |
|
4. Ratios, Proportions and Variations |
|
5. Percentages and Averages |
|
6. Profit and Loss, Discount |
|
7. Mixtures and Alligations |
3. Geometry and Mensuration
|
1. Circles |
|
2. Triangles |
|
3. Polygons |
|
4. Coordinate geometry |
|
5. Lines and Angles |
|
6. Trigonometry |
|
7. Cone |
|
8. Cylinder |
|
9. Sphere |
|
10. Cube/Cuboid |
|
11. Prism Pyramid |
4. Algebra
|
1. Inequalities and Modulus |
|
2. Functions and Groups |
|
3. Linear and Quadratic Equations |
|
4. Polynomials |
|
5. Logarithms |
|
6. Algebraic Identities |
|
7. Maxima and Minima |
5. Modern Mathematics
|
1. Permutations and Combinations |
|
2. Probability |
|
3. Set Theory & Venn Diagram |
|
4. Binomial Theorem |
|
5. Arithmetic progression, Geometric progression, Harmonic progression |
CAT DATA Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Syllabus 2023
Data Interpretation
|
1. Tables |
|
2. Data Caselets – Reasoning-Based DI |
|
3. Column Graphs |
|
4. Bar Graphs |
|
5. Venn Diagrams |
|
6. Line Charts |
|
7. Pie Charts |
|
8. Scatter Plot |
|
9. Radar Chart |
|
10. Routes and Network |
|
11. Bubble Chart |
Logical Reasoning
|
1. Binary Logic |
|
2. Games and Tournaments |
|
3. Arrangements |
|
4. Team Formations |
|
5. Order and Ranking |
CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Syllabus 2023
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
|
1. Para Jumbles (with and without options) |
|
2. Para Summary |
|
3. Odd One Out |
|
4. Reading Comprehension |
|
5. Para Completion |
CAT Quantitative Ability Syllabus Weightage
In the Quantitative section, there are a few topics which are extremely crucial and repeated every year in the CAT exam. In this section, 22 questions are asked of which 7 questions are Non-MCQ questions.
Arithmetic and Algebra dominate the CAT question paper every year.
Some of the most important syllabus topics for CAT 2023 with their weightages are given below.
|
Topics |
CAT 2022 |
CAT 2021 |
CAT 2020 |
CAT 2019 |
|
Arithmetic |
8-9 |
7-10 |
10 |
14 |
|
Algebra |
4-9 |
6-8 |
6-8 |
11-13 |
|
Geometry & Mensuration |
3-4 |
3-5 |
5-6 |
4-6 |
|
Number System |
1-3 |
1-2 |
2-3 |
2-3 |
|
Modern Math |
0-3 |
1 |
0-2 |
0-1 |
|
Overall |
22 |
22 |
26 |
34 |
CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension Syllabus Weightage
In the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section, 24 questions are included among which 5 questions are Non-MCQ questions.
66% of the total VARC questions are Reading comprehension questions. The rest are Verbal Ability questions consisting of Parasummary, Parajumbles & odd-sentence out.
In Reading Comprehension, a paragraph is given on the basis of which the candidates have to answer 4-5 questions asked. Majority of CAT RC questions are MCQ questions. In Verbal Ability, questions test the command of candidates over English Language. It comprises of grammar and english language usage questions –
Some of the important syllabus topics for CAT VARC section are given below:
|
Topics |
CAT 2022 |
CAT 2021 |
CAT 2020 |
CAT 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Reading Comprehension |
16 |
16 |
18 |
24 |
|
Para Jumbles |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
|
Para Summary |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Odd One Out/Para Completion |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
CAT Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation Syllabus Weightage
In the CAT Logical Reasoning and Data iInterpretation section, 20 questions are included with 6 TITA based questions. Till CAT 2017 the section was equally divided into 2 parts with 16 questions each in DI & LR. However, in CAT 2018 & CAT 2019, Logical Reasoning had 20 questions and Data Interpretation had 12 questions. In CAT 2020, the section surprised students with 16 questions from Data Interpretation & 8 questions from Logical Reasoning.
In CAT 2021, 20 questions were asked in the DILR section out of which 5 questions were Non-MCQ. In the DI section, questions come in 3-4 sets and candidates should understand the data sets properly to be able to attempt the complete set accurately. Check the topic-wise distribution of the DILR section over the years:
|
Topic |
Number of Sets in PYQP 2017-22 |
|
Reasoning Based DI |
10 |
|
Matrix and Grid |
7 |
|
Matrix Arrangement |
7 |
|
Venn Diagram |
7 |
|
Scheduling and Matrix |
6 |
|
Unconventional and Hybrid Games and Tournament |
6 |
|
Mathematical AR |
4 |
|
Order and ranking |
3 |
|
Missing Data |
3 |
|
Arithmetic Caselet |
3 |
|
Logic Based Table |
3 |
|
Routes and Networks |
3 |
|
Gantt Chart |
2 |
|
Maxima-Minima Concept |
2 |
|
Algebra Caselet |
2 |
|
Arithmetic Based DI |
2 |
|
Misc |
11 |
CAT syllabus does not predefine any specific topic or chapter on which the questions will be asked. One has to have a good fundamental knowledge of all the broad topics given above to be able to swiftly and accurately work out the problems related to respective section topics.
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CAT is an exam where success comes from solving a maximum number of questions in the minimum possible time. The program covers the entire CAT syllabus in an extensive yet comprehensive manner. Therefore, our CAT preparation program is created in such a way that it ensures you to give your best shot. CAT 2023 will be conducted on November 26, 2023. Prepare with BYJU’S and claim your spot at the IIMs with our CAT preparation tips and tricks.
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Quantitative Aptitude |
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension |
Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation |
Catch Gautam Bawa (IIM Calcutta Alumnus) & Srinivas Akkapeddi (IIM Indore Alumnus) as they decode CAT 2023 for you in this interactive video. Get answers to questions:
What should be your CAT 2023 Strategy?
What topics should you focus on section-wise?
Insights that can help you from past year CAT papers
Solving CAT 2016 (year when IIM Bangalore conducted CAT) Questions
And much more …
Frequently Asked Questions on CAT Syllabus
Is CAT Syllabus tough?
Yes, when compared to other MBA tests, the CAT Syllabus has a high level of difficulty. But to perform well on the CAT, fundamental comprehension is necessary.
What is CAT Syllabus 2023?
There are three sections in CAT Syllabus 2023: VARC, DILR and QA. You can expect the same syllabus for the upcoming exam as there are no official updates for the changes.
Which section of CAT Syllabus is the toughest?
The VARC section in CAT syllabus is the toughest, as this part contains the tough RC passages.
