CAT Syllabus 2026: Download PDF, Check Section-wise Syllabus with Weightage

Q: Is the CAT syllabus difficult?

Yes CAT syllabus is difficult to crack if you do not have enough time. There are three subjects in CAT- VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Most of candidates find RC passages tough to crack. In Quants, Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry pose significant challenge during preparation. In DILR, Reasoning questions often turnout to be tricky and confusion.

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Updated on Jan 11, 2026 14:17 IST

By Vipra Shrivastava, Senior Manager - Content

CAT syllabus 2026 will include Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). No change is expected in the exam syllabus as the sections included are considered to be the best tools to evaluate a management aspirant's communication skills, quantitative ability and reasoning skills. Over the years, CAT exam syllabus has remained constant.

The syllabus of CAT exam is vast and requires in-depth study over a period of time. Also the difficulty level of CAT questions poses challenge in scoring high. So, those planning to appear for CAT 2026 must start exploring the syllabus. Read below all the details related to the CAT 2026 syllabus.

Table of contents

CAT Syllabus 2026; Highlights
CAT 2026 Syllabus PDF Download
CAT VARC Syllabus 2026
CAT DILR Syllabus 2026
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus 2026
CAT 2025 Preparation Strategy
FAQs on CAT Exam Syllabus 2026

CAT Syllabus 2026; Highlights

The first thing is to know, "what is CAT Syllabus?" So, here are the key highlights of CAT 2026 syllabus for CAT preparation:

The CAT VARC section has two parts - Verbal Reasoning and Reading Comprehension. All of the 24 questions are divided between the two and there are no direct Grammar or Vocabulary questions. RC passage based questions are 12 to14 and parajumble/para-completion/odd sentence questions are about 8 to 10.
The CAT Quantitative Aptitude syllabus Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra, Trigonometry and Mensuration. These are essentially Math topics that one has studied in class 9 and 10, but of advance level. Maximum questions are based on Arithmetic so focus on it more during preparation. Algebra and Geometry topics make up for 4-5 questions.
The DILR syllabus of CAT exam includes topics like Puzzles, Pie Charts, Tables, Bar Graphs, Coding-Decoding, Series, Family Tree, Blood Relations, Syllogism, etc. The questions appear in sets. But candidates must not try to solve all the questions in the given set. If they get stuck on any, they must move to next question/set.

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Commonly asked questions

Q: Is CAT exam tough for an average student?

CAT is a speed-based test of analytical aptitude, logical reasoning skills, data interpretation and English comprehension. Now, it may sound tough, but these are the skills which we are taught in school so there is nothing new to learn. What is required is to learn these subjects at advanced level. If you are an average student but have studied Science or Commerce in Class-12 and graduation, you will find a lot of familiar topics in Data Interpretation, Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning. All you will need is brush up the basics and practice the concepts on advanced-level problems.

However, since the competition is so high in CAT and less than 95 percentile can break your dream of joining a top college like IIM, the preparation for CAT requires a lot of focus, dedication, discipline and diligence. If you can do that, despite being an average student, you can crack the CAT exam.

Hope it was helpful!!!

Q: How many vocabulary questions are asked in CAT?

There are no straight forward vocabulary questions in CAT. Out of the total of 24 questions in VARC section, 12-14 questions are Reading Comprehension based and rest of them comprise parajumbles, para completion and odd sentence. CAT is the only MBA entrance exam, which does not have direct vocabulary and grammar questions. However, one needs to have strong vocabulary and grammar to be able to solve RC, parajumble, para completion and odd sentence questions.

Q: What are the factors to keep in mind to cover CAT syllabus timely?

CAT syllabus is vast. It has numerous topics from Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation. Covering the CAT syllabus also includes practicing a variety of sample questions on the topics included. Thus, it requires a lot of time. Candidates must given themselves atleast 3-4 months to cover CAT syllabus and keep in mind the following:

· Check the previous years' CAT papers to know topics which carry more weightage so that you can focus on those topics more.

· List down topicsin order of easy, moderate and tough and allot time to them accordingly.

· Make sure to study about 6-8 hours per day to complete the syllabus 2-3 months before the exam.

· After studying every topic, practice sample questions. Balance theory with practical.

CAT 2026 Syllabus PDF Download

This CAT syllabus PDF prepared by Shiksha has CAT quant syllabus, CAT VARC syllabus and CAT DILR syllabus. It has further description of these topics and sub topics in detail and can be very useful for CAT 2026 preparation.

Download CAT syllabus PDF 2026 by Shiksha, link for which is given here:

CAT Syllabus PDF Download

CAT 2026: Topic Wise Weightage and Marking Scheme

Before you move further to understand the CAT syllabus in detail, have a look at the latest CAT exam pattern.

CAT Sections	CAT Pattern Details
Number of Sections	1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) 2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) 3. Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
Section wise weightage	VARC – 24 questions DILR – 22 questions QA- 22 questions
Format of questions	MCQ and non-MCQ
Marks per section	VARC – 72 DILR – 66 QA- 66
Marking Scheme	+3 for correct attempt -1 for incorrect attempt 0 for unanswered questions 0 for incorrect MCQs 0 for incorrect TITA questions
Total time	120 minutes
Sectional time limit	40 minutes per section

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Commonly asked questions

Q: What are the important topics of CAT syllabus from which maximum questions are asked?

CAT lays a lot of emphasis on analytical skills so the questions are asked mostly from those topics which require deep learning and practice. The three sections of CAT question paper are designed in such a way that candidates have to use their ability of minute observation and fast calculation. Shared below are the section wise main topics from which questions are asked in CAT. Verbal Ability: Parajumbles, Parasummary, Sentence Completion and Inferences

Reading Comprehension: Questions based on passages, Para meaning, Order of sentences
Data Interpretation: Tables, Graphs, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, Data Sufficiency
Logical Reasoning: Blood Relation, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Sets and Caselets, Family Tree, Assumptions
Quantitative Aptitude: Geometry, Algebra Number System Modern Math, Arithmetic, Mensuration

The difficulty level of CAT questions is usually moderate to high. Only a few questions are easy and quick to solve. To crack the CAT exam, one needs to pay attention to the abovementioned topics.

Q: From where can I download CAT question papers?

CAT question papers are released within a week of the exam in the form of a PDF as a response sheet and answer key. Candidates who have appeared for the test are able to access the CAT question paper and answer key. The question paper of every slot is released on the same day along with candidate response sheet and official answer to all question. If any candidate needs previous year CAT question papers for preparation purpose, then they can download them from Shiksha website. We have hosted last five years' CAT question papers for aspirants to download and practice. These official CAT question papers are available for download free. You can download the CAT question paper PDFs at this link: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/cat-exam-question-papers Candidates must check and practice the latest CAT question paper to know the latest exam pattern and difficulty level.

View Syllabus

CAT VARC Syllabus 2026

VARC section is the first section of the CAT question paper and has 24 questions. In CAT 2026, the section will b divided into two sub-parts, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. There will be no vocabulary questions. CAT VARC is usually considered tough due to presence of 12-14 RC based questions. But parajumbles can also be confusing. Take a look at important VARC topics for CAT exam syllabus.

CAT VARC Topics 2026
Fill in the blanks	Para completion and inference	Verbal logic
Verbal reasoning	Subject-verb agreement	Parajumbles
Sentence completion	Foreign language words used in English	Different usage of same word
Grammar	Reading comprehension	Idioms
Syllogisms	Analogies	Antonyms
Jumbled paragraphs	Sentence correction	One word substitution
Parts of speech	Preposition	Types of clauses
Phrases modifiers	Errors in tenses	Articles usage

CAT Syllabus 2026: VARC Topics & Weightage

CAT VARC section as mentioned earlier, includes four major sub-topics – Reading Comprehension, Parajumbles, Verbal Ability and Odd Sentence. There are no grammar based questions in CAT. Composition of CAT VARC section is usually the same every year. So, can expect the same in CAT 2026. Given below is the weightage and difficulty level of VARC as per CAT 2025 question paper.

VARC Topics for CAT	No. of Questions in CAT Exam	Level of Difficulty
Reading Comprehension	16	Moderate to Difficult
VA-Parajumbles	3	Moderate to Difficult
VA-Odd Sentence	2	Easy to Moderate
VA-Summary	3	Easy to Moderate
Overall	24	Moderate to Difficult

CAT Reading Comprehension Passages of Previous Years

CAT Reading Comprehension questions form the two-third of VARC section. There are about four to five RC passages with 12-14 questions. These passages can be asked from any field and are often long and dense. Check below, the Reading Comprehension topics of CAT 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018:

CAT RC Passages	Slot 1	Slot 2	Slot 3
CAT 2025	Income Inequality Electronic Music Mental Insanity Complex System	Blind Fish Literature Use Of Language In AI Human being- Ecology	Artificial Intelligence (Ethics) Tribal Artists Dams Forest Officials
CAT 2024	Utility & Human Economics Entertainment/ Netflix Australian Species Craftsmanship	Spice Trade Unintended Consequences of Technology Peer Review of Research Carnivore-Human Conflict	Impact of AI Languages Chinese Moutai Saving outer space and other planets
CAT 2023	Wolf → Environmentalists vs Farmer Philosophy → Change in Work Culture Indian Ocean-based Geographical Literature Human Behavior	Garments, Fashion Industry & Pollution Netflix Dubbing of titles for Europe→ Good or Bad for Europe? Liberalism is Dying Facts & Interpretation in History	Romantic Aesthetics/ Philosophy Cultural Property Law → Exploration of Sites Nutmeg Curse→ Environment Degradation Rational Thinking
CAT 2022	Ghosts & their mysteries how we can’t find their history Chinese Copy of articles Two levels of emotional thinking STOICS	Music Engineering technology Octopus Philosophy	Social reorganization increasing crime rate Software if more easy humans are not capable to get solutions) Indian history American migration / urbanization increasing
CAT 2021	Mayan Civilization Utopia and Dystopia Marshmallow Experiment Evolution of Tea as a Drink	Language/ Indigenous People Why Fiction Trumps Truth Colonialism/Nationalism Knowledge and Problems of Knowledge is a Scandal to Philosophy	Nanotechnology Language Instinct Time Accuracy Entropy Unconscious and Psychoanalysis
CAT 2020	Anarchism Migration of Northern Seals Currency of Tang Dynasty Grammar/Vocabulary	Investing in Renewable Energy Technologies Piracy in International Trade Freudian Models of Aggression A Study of Visualisation	Travel Writing and Feminism During Colonial Times The Need for Economic Literacy in the General Population Screen Time and Undercurrents of Social Class An Analysis of Human Nature
CAT 2019	British Folk Music Topophilia Emperor Penguins Internet Shopping and Choice Anxiety Origin of Story of Alladin	Dense Cities Google and Archaeology Distributing Bureaucracy Language & Culture British Colonial Policy	No exam
CAT 2018	Genetics India’s View on its Legacy of Second World War Plastic Pollution Elephant Society Consumer Behaviour Studies	Grover Snails Meritocracy and Diversified Teams Use of Technology in Essential Services Rings of Saturn and Their Age Human Resource and Learning	No exam

Check Out:

CAT DILR Syllabus 2026

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) is the second section of the CAT question paper having 22 questions to be solved in 40 minutes. There are two sub sections - Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. CAT 2026 question paper is expected to have 11 question each from both sub sections. Most of the questions are asked in sets of 3-4, Only a few questions in LR are standalone ones. This section requires a lot of practice and one should solve a good number of practice questions from all topics. Take a look at important CAT Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation topics.

CAT syllabus DILR
Blood Relations	Clocks and Calendars	Syllogism
Series	Statements	Venn Diagram
Proposition	Data Arrangement	Data Structures
Direction Sense	Family Tree	Tables
Coding-Decoding	Binary Logic	Pie Charts
Assumptions	Seating Arrangement	Data Sufficiency
Puzzles	Sets & Caselets	Bars & Line Graphs

CAT 2026 Syllabus:-Weightage for CAT DILR

The Data Interpretation questions are usually based on tables and graphs. However, Logical Reasoning questions can be from varied topics including verbal, non-verbal and abstract reasoning. Given below is the basic structure of the DILR section of CAT and level of difficulty as per previous year CAT question paper:

CAT DILR Syllabus	No. of Questions	Level of Difficulty
Data Interpretation	11	Easy to Moderate
Logical Reasoning	11	Moderate to Difficult
Overall	22	Moderate

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CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus 2026

Quantitative Aptitude is the last section of CAT question paper. It is usually the toughest section. To master CAT QA, candidates need to be thorough with the fundamentals of Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Mensuration. Memorising theorems and formulae is the key. Take a look at the important topics of CAT Quantitative Aptitude syllabus and some key points:

CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus
Geometry	Ratios and Proportion	Inequalities
Trigonometry	In-equations Quadratic and linear equations	Work and Time
Algebra	Surds and Indices	Percentages
Mensuration	Time-Speed-Distance	Logarithms
Partnership (Accounts)	Number System	Square Root and Cube Root
Profit & Loss	Geometric Progression	Probability
Mean, mode, median	Binomial theorem	Simple interest and compound interest

CAT Quant syllabus 2026: Topic wise weightage

The CAT Quant questions are usually tough and calculation based. In a speed based test like CAT, mental maths is very useful in solving Quants questions quickly. So candidates must practice mental maths along with CAT preparation for better performance. Given below is the composition of the Quantitative Aptitude section:

CAT Quantitative Aptitude Topics	No. of Questions	Level of Difficulty
Arithmetic	8-10	Moderate to High
Algebra	5-7	Moderate to High
Geometry	1-3	Moderate to High
Modern Maths	2-4	Moderate to High
Overall	22	Moderate to High

CAT Quant Syllabus 2026: Important Topics

Given below is the table indicating chapter wise important topics that are a part of CAT Quantitative Aptitude syllabus. For scoring well in CAT 2026, aspirants will have to prepare each of these topics thoroughly as the exam often throws in surprise questions.

CAT Syllabus: Important Topics for Quantitative Aptitude
Arithmetic Topics for CAT	Averages, Mean Median Mode, Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Simple and Compound Interest, Profit and Loss Mixtures and Allegations, Time and Work, Time Speed and Distance
Algebra Topics for CAT	Basics Algebraic Formulae, Linear Equations, Problems on ages, Number of integer solutions, Quadratic Equations, Finding out roots, Maxima and Minima, Higher Degree Equations, Descartes Rule of Signs, Inequalities, Logarithm, Functions, Modifications of Graphs, The Smallest Value in a Maximum Function
Number System Topics for CAT	Basics of Numbers, Properties of Numbers, Divisibility Rules, Divisibility and Factors, Highest Common Factor and Lowest Common Multiple, Finding Out the Last Digit, Finding Out Last Two Digits, Number of Trailing Zeroes, Finding out Remainders based on, Basic Divisibility Rules, Binomial Theorem, Simplifying the Dividend (Single and/or Multiple Divisors), Fermat’s Theorem, Euler’s Theorem, Pattern Recognition and Cyclicity of Remainders, Wilson’s Theorem, Base Systems, Conversion of Bases, Addition / Subtraction / Multiplication in different bases
Geometry Topics for CAT	Lines and Angles, Triangles – Basic Concepts, Area, Angles, Similar Triangles, Polygons, Circles, Solids / Mensuration – 3D Geometry, Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry
Modern Maths Topics for CAT	Sequence and Series, Binomial Theorem, Set Theory, Permutation and Combination, Probability

Check Out: CAT Quantitative Aptitude (QA) solved questions for practice PDFs

Commonly asked questions

Q: What to keep in mind for CAT Quantitative Aptitude preparation?

CAT Quantitative Aptitude has the potential of 100 percentile if you prepare well. The Quantitative Aptitude topics of CAT are advance level Mathematic topics from Class 9 and 10. So, for any candidate, the foundation is already there, they only need to work on it further.

The important topics of CAT Quantitative Aptitude include Geometry, Ratios and Proportion, Inequalities, Trigonometry, In-equations, Quadratic and Linear Equations, Work and Time, Algebra, Surds and Indices, Percentages, Mensuration, Time-Speed-Distance, Logarithms, Partnership (Accounts), Number System, Square Root and Cube Root, Profit & Loss, Geometric Progression, Probability, Mean-Mode-Median, Binomial theorem, Simple interest and compound interest.

Maximum questions are asked from Arithmetic and Geometry so keep the main focus on these two topic. Understand and memorise the formulas and theorems well, and practice enough questions to be thorough with their application.

Q: Which CAT slot has the toughest question paper?

There is no pattern to which CAT question paper can be the toughest. The CAT question paper of every slot has unique questions. The examination body strives to maintain the same difficulty level of the paper across all slots but it may happen that a question can be more difficult from another. It is seen that, to keep the uniqueness of the question paper intact, the examination authority also changes the topic wise weightage a little bit across the exam slots. In most of the previous years, it is seen that the morning slot of the CAT exam is tougher than the rest two. However, candidates must not worry about the difficulty level of the slots as, the scores of all the candidates are normalised on a common scale to root out the possibility of advantage or disadvantage to any student due to difference in difficulty level. To know how the CAT scores are normalised, read this article: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/understanding-cat-normalization-process-blogId-9386.

CAT 2025 Preparation Strategy

To crack CAT 2026 with high percentile, make a preparation plan based on your knowledge of the topics included in the syllabus. Quantitative Aptitude topics are advanced level Maths taught in school and so is the case with English Grammar. So, the first thing to do for CAT 2026 preparation is to make the list of topics in terms of familiarity – familiar, somewhat familiar and not familiar at all. There will be some CAT topics which will require revision and some which will need to be addressed afresh.

Start with unfamiliar topics of the CAT syllabus and then move to somewhat familiar and finally to familiar topics. This order is suggested because one will need more time for preparing unfamiliar topics. Solve a lot of practice questions alongside to learn application of the concepts. Mere theoretical knowledge is not enough to crack CAT exam, so practice as much as you can. Take a look at some section-wise tips for CAT 2026 preparation below:

CAT Preparation Tips for VARC

VARC preparation should start at the early stage, specifically Reading Comprehension practice
Check the CAT exam syllabus and revise all the Grammar rules and definitions
Get hold of an English dictionary and word meaning books to learn new words and phrases
RC dominates VARC section with more than 50 per cent weightage so it is important have the practice of speed-reading. This can be developed by reading books, novels, magazines and data heavy reports.
Read books of various genres. Your collection should have books from science and tech to history to philosophy.
However, to understand passages swiftly and choose answers quickly, candidates must practice RC passages based CAT mocks.
The best method to crack VARC CAT questions is practice. Solve a large number and a wide range of CAT Verbal Ability questions from the topics listed in the syllabus to master this section.
Refer to past 10 years' CAT question papers to understand the types of reading comprehension and parajumble questions that are asked. In CAT 2026, the passage types will be similar.
CAT parajumble questions can be equally challenging as RC questions. You must solve various types of CAT parajumble questions for practice.
Focus on English grammar, usage of words, foreign language words, and idioms. These will help in both RC and parajumbles.

Also Read:

CAT Preparation Tips for DILR

DILR section of the CAT is all about Tables, Graphs, Charts and Series
This section requires, good calculation skill as well as eye for detail
There are 20 questions of this section equally divided into DI and LR thus, you need to work on both
To cover CAT syllabus for DILR, memorise Tables up to 20, Square, Square Roots, Cube, Cube Roots and other such mathematical values for fast calculation
Data Interpretation is largely depended on your Mathematical ability. You should be strong in mathematical calculation
Logical Reasoning questions for CAT are mostly observation based, so you need to practice all varieties of reasoning questions.
Logical Reasoning topics for CAT includes, blood relation, family tree, caselets, coding-decoding, arrangements, etc.
Practice as many sample questions and sectional CAT mock tests for LR because, there is no formula or concepts that you can apply in puzzles and patterns
More the experience you have in reading charts and tables quickly better the chances of scoring high in DILR section of CAT

Also Read:

CAT Preparation Tips for Quantitative Aptitude

Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT is all about conceptual clarity and practice
Be thorough with the formulae and theorems of Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry and Trigonometry
Pick up the topics of CAT exam syllabus one by one and gain conceptual clarity. Solve a few questions to assess whether you’ve understood the application correctly or not.
Start practicing full length and sectional CAT mock tests only after completing the syllabus
Divide practice sessions into – easy, moderate and high. Start solving easy CAT questions first, then move to moderately high questions and then to tough questions.
Time yourself while solving questions and solve each of them at least three times. The first attempt is to understand the question, second attempt is to solve it with 100 per cent accuracy and the third attempt is to solve it will 100 per cent accuracy and speed.
Develop the skill of mental calculation to save time during the CAT exam

Practice CAT Mock Tests

Shiksha has created free CAT Mock Tests for aspirants to practice and prepare for the exam. These CAT mock tests are based on actual CAT questions to keep the level of difficulty same.

CAT_Mock_Test_2	CAT_Mock_Test_1_Solutions
CAT_Mock_Test_2	CAT_Mock_Test_2_Solutions

Also Read:

CAT Preparation: Expert Tips on How to cover CAT syllabus 2026

Go through the articles listed below for expert tips on CAT preparation:

Tips and Tricks for CAT Preparation
1. How to Prepare for CAT in 6 months
2. How to Prepare for CAT in 3 months
3. CAT Exam: Last month preparation tips
4. What is the best time to start CAT preparation?
5. Advantages of giving CAT for final year student
6. CAT Exam: Simple tips to optimize exam preparation
7. CAT Exam: How to prepare without quitting your job
8. How to approach CAT question paper: Tips by toppers

Commonly asked questions

Q: How many CAT mock tests to practice to score 99 percentile?

Experts recommend that aspirants must practice at least 40 CAT mock tests to score above 99 percentile well in the exam. Most of the CAT test takers take up to 50 mock tests of various types and difficulty level. CAT toppers in previous years have practiced even up to 80 mock tests during their preparation. However, candidates must decide the number of CAT mock tests depending on their control and confidence on topics as the exam day comes closer. Mock tests are the best way to judge your performance viz. The important topics of CAT. The more one practices CAT mock tests, the more accurate they get in solving questions from all subjects. It is very important to know which formula to apply to which type question to solve the problem accurately. Mock tests help candidates in this aspect which is why practicing mock tests is most important in CAT preparation.

Q: Is the structure of CAT mock test same as the actual exam?

CAT mock tests are a replica of the actual CAT exam. It is so because the purpose of the mock test is to prepare the candidate for a speed based test which requires quick decision making and quick calculation with 100 per cent accuracy. This can be achieved only if the candidates has been in such an environment multiple times. In the CAT mock test, candidate has to solve equal number of questions as the CAT exam, in the same time limit. This, helps them in mastering the art of solving 66 questions in 120 minutes with much ease and confidence. The CAT mock tests have questions of same or higher difficulty level than the actual exam. In many unofficial mock tests, the questions are of previous CAT exams. Candidates must solve a variety of mock tests so that they are well versed with CAT questions of all types and varieties.

FAQs on CAT Exam Syllabus 2026

Check here Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) about CAT syllabus

Commonly asked questions

Q: What makes CAT tougher than other MBA entrance exams?

CAT exam is a national level MBA entrance exam conducted by the IIM. Every year, over 2.3 lakh candidates apply for it. Since the last two years, the competition has increased further with oveer 3 lakh candidates applying for the exam.

The CAT score is accepted by the Iims and all top MBA colleges in India. To select the best candidates from over 3 lakh test takers there is a need for stringent criteria. That's why, the CAT exam is tougher than other MBA entrance exams. Even though the syllabus of CAT is same as that of other MBA entrance exams, the question paper set by the IIM faculty always has tough questions. Moreover, CAT has sectional time limit for each section which is not there in any other exam except XAT. Having a time limit for each section adds pressure on candidates to complete solving adequate number of questions in a section within the time limit. If a student is weak in a particular subject, they can't use the time as per their need. CAT's Reading Comprehension passages are long and dense unlike other MBA exams. This is one more reason why most candidates feel CAT is tougher than any other MBA entrance exam.

Q: What is the marking scheme of CAT?

CAT has 68 questions. Each question carries three marks. There is negative marking of minus one for incorrect attempts. There is no deduction of marks for unanswered questions. Total marks in 204.

Q: What is the sectional weightage of DILR in CAT?

The total number of questions in the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section of CAT exam is 22 (as per CAT 2024 question paper). Earlier, the number of DILR questions was 20.

There is equal number of question distribution between Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, which means both sections have 11 questions each. The total marks for DILR is 66. The questions on Data Interpretation as based on Tables, Graphs, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, whereas Logical Reasoning questions are based on Blood Relation, Seating Arrangement, Caselets and Syllogism. This section of the CAT is usually moderate in terms of difficulty level and about 12-14 correct attempts are good enough to score high marks. Some of the other important topics include Series, Proposition, Direction Sense, Coding-Decoding, Assumptions, Clocks and Calendars, Statements, Binary Logic, Data Structures, Data Sufficiency and Data Arrangement. To score high in this section, candidates must practice a good number of practice tests and sectional mock tests. The better you learn to interpret given data and apply reasoning to a given situation, the better you get at solving related questions.

Q: Is the CAT syllabus difficult?

Yes CAT syllabus is difficult to crack if you do not have enough time. There are three subjects in CAT- VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Most of candidates find RC passages tough to crack. In Quants, Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry pose significant challenge during preparation. In DILR, Reasoning questions often turnout to be tricky and confusion.