CAT Exam Syllabus 2025: Download PDF with Section-wise Weightage (VARC, DILR, QA)

CAT 2025 preparation should speed up now as you don't have much time left. Get hold of the syllabus and sort out familiar and unfamiliar topics. Here are the highlights of CAT 2025 syllabus for CAT preparation:

• The VARC section of CAT exam syllabus for MBA covers various topics of Verbal Reasoning and Reading Comprehension. However, candidates need to study English grammar and vocabulary too in order to crack Reading Comprehension and Parajumbles. There are 24 questions, out of which 12-14 are RC based. There are no direct grammar questions in CAT, so the entire preparation should be focussed on reading comprehension. Also Read: Strategy to improve RC accuracy
• The Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT syllabus includes all the topics of Mathematics from Class 9 to 10 such as Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra, Trigonometry and Mensuration. They are however, of advance level. Candidates must cover all the topics of Arithmetic as most of the questions are asked from it. Algebra and Geometry topics should not be ignored as they have considerable weightage. 
• The DILR syllabus of CAT exam includes topics that require analytical interpretation of data presented in the form of Puzzles, Pie Charts, Tables, Bar Graphs, Coding-Decoding, Series, Family Tree, Blood Relations, Syllogism, etc. The questions appear in sets, so it is very important to cover all types of DILR topics. Candidates must keep in mind to not get stuck on one question of the set, If you can't solve all the questions of the given set, don't waste time, move to next set. You can go back to the previous set for a review.

Download CAT syllabus 2025 PDF here to make a prep plan for covering the topics extensively. 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 2025 preparation. 

CAT 2025 Topic Wise Weightage and Marking Scheme 

Before you move further to understand the CAT syllabus in detail, have a look at the CAT exam pattern. This will give you an idea of what the CAT 2025 exam will be like:

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. The questions are usually moderate to tough in terms of difficulty level due to presence of 12-14 RC based questions. Take a look at  important VARC topics for CAT exam syllabus.

CAT Syllabus 2025: 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 the CAT VARC section is usually the same every year. Given below is the weightage and difficulty level of VARC as per last year CAT paper:

CAT Reading Comprehension Passages of Previous Years

CAT Reading Comprehension questions form the two-third of the first section of CAT question paper. 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 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018:

Check Out:

• CAT Verbal Ability (VA) questions with answers for practice PDFs
• CAT VARC: Strategy to Improve RC Accuracy

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) is the second section of the CAT question paper having 20 questions to be solved in 40 minutes. In CAT 2024, there were 22 questions in this section. One can expect it to have 22 questions in CAT 2025 as well. There are two sub sections - Data Interpretation and  Logical Reasoning. Both have 10 questions each. 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 2025 Syllabus:-Weightage for CAT DILR

The Data Interpretation questions usually pertain to 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:

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

Quantitative Aptitude is the last section of CAT question paper. It is usually the toughest questions. To master this section, candidates need to be thorough with the fundamentals of Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Mensuration. It is a calculation heavy section and thus one need a lot of practice to crack it. Take a look at the important topics of CAT Quantitative Aptitude syllabus and some key points:

CAT Quant syllabus 2025: 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 Quant Syllabus 2025: Important Topics

Given below is the table indicating chapter wise important topics that are a part of CAT Quantitative Aptitude syllabus. Candidates must plan their Quantitative Aptitude preparation on the basis of the following topics.

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

CAT preparation must be based on CAT syllabus and CAT books. Aspirants must make a preparation plan based on their knowledge of the topics included in the CAT syllabus 2025. The 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 preparation is to check the syllabus and make the list of topics in terms of familiarity – familiar, somewhat familiar and not familiar at all. There will be some topics which will require revision and some which will need to be addressed afresh.

Start with unfamiliar topics from 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 will not be able enough to crack CAT 2025, so practice as much as you can. Take a look at some section-wise tips for CAT 2025 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 2025, 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.
• CAT 2024 did not have parajumbles, but don't assume CAT 2025 will also not have it. Practice parajumbles well. 
• Focus on English grammar, usage of words, foreign language words, and idioms. These will help in both RC and parajumbles.

Also Read:

• CAT Preparation Plan For VARC
• Make These 7 Guys Your Companion For VARC
• CAT Preparation 2025: Your Love For Reading Can Get You Desired Result
• Types of Reading Comprehension Questions in CAT

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 Plan for DILR
• How to Crack Logical Reasoning for CAT
• Time Management in CAT QA and DI
• Challenges of CAT Data Interpretation

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. 

Also Read:

• CAT Preparation Plan For Quantitative Aptitude
• How To Prepare For Quantitative Aptitude For CAT Exam 
• Master The Secret of Acing QA In CAT Exam
• How To Approach Quant Section of CAT Exam
• Six Strategies of CAT Quantitative Aptitude Preparation

CAT Preparation: Expert Tips on How to cover CAT syllabus 2025

Go through the articles listed below for expert tips and topper interviews for CAT 2025 preparation:

Check here Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) about CAT syllabus