CAT Syllabus 2026: PDF Download, Exam Pattern & Section-wise Important Topics

CAT syllabus for the MBA entrance exam is not published as a topic list by the IIMs. The Common Admission Test (CAT) syllabus covers three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR, also called LRDI) and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Those planning to appear for the upcoming session of CAT 2026 must cover the complete syllabus, followed by sectional mocks and full-length mock tests.

This page lists the section-wise CAT exam syllabus with topics, question distribution and difficulty level, based on Shiksha’s analysis of the last 10 years’ CAT exam papers. Download the CAT syllabus PDF below to plan your preparation.

CAT 2026 Syllabus PDF Download

This CAT syllabus PDF prepared by Shiksha covers section-wise important topics and weightage. If you are preparing for the CAT 2026 exam, then you should download this PDF and check topics, sub-topics, weightage, etc., and plan the preparation strategy accordingly.

CAT Syllabus Highlights 2026

CAT exam syllabus is vast and requires strategic planning for time-bound coverage. Those preparing for CAT 2026 exam must first understand the requirements for the exam syllabus and then start the coverage. CAT 2026 syllabus includes a lot of topics and sub-topics. Candidates should aim to cover all the topics included in CAT test syllabus; the main focus should stay on the most important topics. Check the table below for sectional weightage.

CAT Sections	Number of Questions	Marks
VARC	24	72
DILR	22	66
Quantitative Aptitude	22	66
Total	68	204

NOTE: Above weightage based on past trends

CAT Syllabus 2026: Most Important Topics

CAT examination syllabus coverage should be complemented with practice sessions of sample questions related to the topics. While studying the topics, candidates need to first understand the concept, then the theorem and its application. Check the table below for CAT exam syllabus break-up and topic-wise weightage to make a plan according to maximum and minimum weightage.

CAT topics	Number of questions	Share of Section
CAT Verbal Ability	8 questions	~33.34%
CAT Reading Comprehension	16 questions	~66.67%
CAT Data Interpretation	11 questions	~50%
CAT Logical Reasoning	11 questions	~50%
CAT Arithmetic	8-10 questions	~40%
CAT Algebra	5-7 questions	~25%
CAT Number System	1-2 questions	~7%
CAT Geometry	1-3 questions	~12%
CAT Modern Math	2-4 questions	~15%

NOTE: The table above indicates the share of topics within a section based on CAT exam analysis from the past sessions.

CAT VARC Syllabus 2026

VARC section is the first section of the CAT question paper and has 24 questions. The section is divided into two sub-parts, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. There are no vocabulary questions. CAT VARC is usually considered tough due to the presence of 16-RC based questions. But parajumbles can also be confusing. The composition of CAT VARC section is usually the same every year. The table below mentions CAT VARC weightage as per past trends.

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/Para Completion	3	Easy to Moderate
Overall	24	Moderate to Difficult

NOTE: The exact question weightage, difficulty level, and type of questions in VARC section will be updated on the exam date. The table above indicates the weightage as per the previous year. 

CAT Reading Comprehension Passages of Previous Years

CAT Reading Comprehension questions form two-thirds of the 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 for the Reading Comprehension topics of CAT 2025 and 2024.

CAT 2025	RC Topics
Slot 1	Income Inequality Electronic Music Mental Insanity Complex System
Slot 2	Blind Fish Literature Use Of Language In AI Human Being- Ecology
Slot 3	Artificial Intelligence (Ethics) Tribal Artists Dams Forest Officials
CAT 2024	RC Topics
Slot 1	Utility & Human Economics Entertainment/ Netflix Australian Species Craftsmanship
Slot 2	Spice Trade Unintended Consequences of Technology Peer Review of Research Carnivore-Human Conflict
Slot 3	Impact of AI Languages Chinese Moutai Saving outer space and other planets

Also Read: 

• CAT Verbal Ability (VA) questions with answers for practice PDFs
• CAT VARC: Strategy to Improve RC Accuracy
• CAT RC Strategy: How to Read Less and Score More

CAT LRDI 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 questions 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.

Data Interpretation
No. of Questions	11
Difficulty	Easy to Moderate
Syllabus	- Tables - Charts - Bar Graphs - Data Sufficiency
Logical Reasoning
No. of Questions	11
Difficulty	Moderate to Difficult
Syllabus	- Blood Relations - Clocks and Calendars - Syllogism - Statements - Direction - Coding-Decoding - Seating Arrangement - Sets & Caselets - Family Tree - Data Arrangement - Binary Logic - Puzzles - Assumptions
Overall Summary	22 Questions, Moderate Difficulty

Check Out:

• Logical Reasoning topics for CAT
• CAT Data Interpretation (DI) solved questions for practice PDFs
• CAT Logical Reasoning (LR) solved questions for practice PDFs 

CAT Maths Syllabus 2026

Quantitative Aptitude is the last section of the 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:

Topics as per CAT Exam Syllabus	Sub Topics
CAT Arithmetic Topics	Averages, Mean Median Mode, Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Simple and Compound Interest, Profit and Loss, Mixtures and Alligations, Time and Work, Time Speed and Distance
CAT Algebra Topics	Basic 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
CAT Number System Topics	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
CAT Geometry Topics	Lines and Angles, Triangles - Basic Concepts, Area, Angles, Similar Triangles, Polygons, Circles, Solids / Mensuration - 3D Geometry, Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry
CAT Modern Maths Topics	Sequence and Series, Binomial Theorem, Set Theory, Permutation and Combination, Probability

CAT Quant Syllabus 2026: Topic Wise Weightage

In CAT Quantitative Aptitude, maximum questions are asked from Arithmetic, followed by Algebra. Check the below table for topic wise weightage and difficulty level.

Topic	Range of Questions	Difficulty
Arithmetic	8-9	Moderate
Algebra	6-7	Moderate to High
Geometry & Mensuration	3-4	Moderate
Number System	1-2	Low to Moderate
Modern Mathematics	1-2	Moderate to High

Check Out: 

• CAT Quantitative Aptitude (QA) solved questions for practice PDFs
• CAT 2026 Quant Preparation Strategy

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

CAT is a speed-based exam and thus there are no subjective type questions. Candidates have to choose the correct answer from the given options only. Check the below table for the latest CAT exam pattern. 

CAT Sections	CAT Pattern Details
Format of questions	MCQ and non-MCQ
Number of answer options	4
Marking Scheme	+3 for correct attempt -1 for incorrect MCQs 0 for unanswered questions 0 for incorrect TITA questions
Marks per section	VARC - 72  DILR - 66  QA - 66
Total time	120 minutes
Sectional time limit	40 minutes per section

How to Cover the CAT 2026 Syllabus?

For CAT 2026 preparation, make a plan that includes syllabus coverage, mock test practice and revision. The first stage of preparation is coverage of CAT syllabus in a limited time period. For Reading Comprehension, you will need to start early preparation as developing speed reading skill will take time. Read books and novels extensively.

After covering the CAT exam syllabus, dedicate about 2-3 months to mock test practice and sample papers. Mere theoretical knowledge is not enough to crack the CAT exam, so practice as much as you can.

CAT Preparation Tips for VARC

• The first and foremost thing to do to crack CAT VARC is develop the habit of reading books of diverse genres.
• A lot of times CAT RCs are based on philosophy, scientific research, economics or sociological studies.
• While reading, focus on narrator’s tone, intention, and structure of the main argument.
• English grammar or vocabulary are not directly a part of the CAT syllabus, but you need to study them since having strong control over language will help in cracking the passages faster and more accurately.
• Practice parajumbles, para summary and odd sentence questions regularly during CAT 2026 preparation. Analyse both your correct and incorrect answers.
• In the exam, focus on tone, main idea and inference to get to the right answer. Use the process of elimination.

Also Read: CAT 2026 VARC strategy to score 30 marks and get 95+ percentile 

CAT Preparation Tips for DILR

• Go through the most common question types in CAT DILR syllabus, such as arrangements (linear/circular), Venn diagrams, games, tournaments, and truth and lies puzzles, etc.
• Solve 2-3 DI or LR sets daily with complete focus and analyse the answers: how much time did it take, what accuracy did you achieve, and whether there is a faster way to get to the correct answer.
• Practice mental calculation as it will be immensely helpful in Data Interpretation.
• Develop the skill of choosing questions smartly. Skim the questions in 2-3 minutes and see which ones you can answer without spending too much time.
• DILR questions are in sets of 4-5. Aim to get 2-3 questions correct in each set. It will take you above 95 percentile.

Also Read: CAT 2026 DILR strategy to score 26 marks and get 95 + percentile

CAT Preparation Tips for Quantitative Aptitude

• Strengthen the core fundamentals of Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Mensuration.
• While practicing QA questions, work on finding 2-3 different ways of solving the same question. The aim should be to find the shortest method.
• Keep a log of formulae, theorems, short notes, repeated errors, calculation mistakes, etc.
• The CAT QA section is usually calculation-intensive and time-consuming, so work on time management.

Also Read: CAT 2026 Quant strategy to score 25 marks and get 95 + percentile

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 the same.

CAT Mock Test by Shiksha	Direct Link for CAT Mock Test
Mock Test 1	Practice CAT Mock Test
Mock Test 2	Practice CAT Mock Test
Mock Test 3	Practice CAT Mock Test
Mock Test 4	Practice CAT Mock Test
Mock Test 5	Practice CAT Mock Test

CAT Books for Syllabus Coverage

Candidates must refer to CAT books recommended by experts. Some of the most popular books for CAT preparation have been written by RS Aggarwal, Nishit Sinha and Arun Sharma. Here we have listed down some of the most helpful and popular books for CAT syllabus coverage:

• How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma
• Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Nishit Sinha
• Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal
• How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma
• How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma
• CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri
• How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay
• Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
• High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin
• 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary by Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis

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

Frequently Asked Questions on CAT Exam Syllabus

Check some of the frequently asked questions related to CAT test syllabus:

Q: Does IIM release an official CAT syllabus?

A: No. The conducting IIM releases only the broad test pattern, section breakdown, and sample mock tests. There is no official topic-by-topic curriculum; the generally accepted syllabus is derived from patterns and question types appearing across past years' CAT papers.

Q: What are the core sections covered in the CAT syllabus?

A: The CAT syllabus is divided into three sections:

• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): 24 questions (40 minutes)
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): 22 questions (40 minutes)
• Quantitative Aptitude (QA): 22 questions (40 minutes)

Q: Which topics carry the highest weightage in Quantitative Aptitude?

A: Arithmetic and Algebra dominate the QA section, together contributing around 65% to 70% of total QA questions.

• Arithmetic: Percentages, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest, Ratio & Proportion, Averages, Time-Speed-Distance, and Time & Work.
• Algebra: Linear & Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, Functions, Sequences & Series (AP/GP), and Logarithms.
• Secondary topics: Geometry & Mensuration, Number Systems, and Modern Math (Permutations & Combinations, Probability).

Q: What question types are included in the VARC syllabus?

A: VARC typically contains 16 Reading Comprehension (RC) questions and 8 Verbal Ability (VA) questions:

• Reading Comprehension: 4 passages of approximately 450-600 words each, featuring inference, central theme, tone, and logic-based MCQs.
• Verbal Ability: Para Jumbles (often TITA/non-MCQ), Paragraph Summary, Para Completion, and Odd-One-Out questions.

Q: How long does it typically take to cover the complete CAT syllabus?

A: Covering the conceptual syllabus generally takes 3 to 5 months of dedicated study (15-20 hours per week). Because CAT is an application and speed-oriented exam rather than a rote-learning test, most aspirants finish concept-building early to devote the remaining months to sectional tests, past-year papers, and full-length mock analysis.

Q: Is English grammar or vocabulary part of the CAT syllabus?

A: No, there are no vocabulary or grammar questions in CAT exam. However, the VARC section requires candidates to have a good understanding of the topics.