CAT 2025 Syllabus: Latest Topics, Pattern & Weightage

Understanding the CAT 2025 syllabus deeply plays a significant role for aspirants who dream of cracking an MBA. The examination consists of three major sections: Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR).

The probable question distribution is 22 questions each in the QA and DILR sections and 24 in VARC. To perform well in CAT 2025, candidates must emphasize all the topics that are part of the CAT 2025 syllabus and follow a systematic preparation strategy for each of the sections.

Get the first AiExpertEdge CAT Online Course with 20% Discount

This blog will give you an exhaustive idea of the CAT 2025 syllabus what to look out for in that section and how one can prepare effectively for it and will also give you a comprehensive understanding of the CAT 2025 syllabus . Keep reading for a complete guide on what to expect and how to prepare effectively!

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Overview

There has been no significant alteration in the CAT exam pattern 2025 as compared with last year. Yet, a few minor changes have followed to enhance the testing process.

Here is a general overview of the CAT exam pattern 2025:

The duration of the CAT exam is 2 hours long, that is 120 minutes, and the exam is bifurcated into three parts. Each segment has been allocated 40 minutes. Thus, candidates cannot shift to the other segment after the time duration of that particular segment has elapsed.

Marking Scheme

• Correct Answer: +3 marks
• Wrong Answer (MCQ): -1 mark
• Wrong Answer (Non-MCQ): No negative marking
• Unanswered Question: No negative marking

Type-In-The-Answer questions or Non-MCQs questions carry no negative marking allowing candidates some relief from potential penalties.

Why should you know about the CAT 2025 Syllabus?

There are quite a few reasons why having proper knowledge of the CAT 2025 syllabus would be very essential for any student who is willing to crack the CAT exam:

• Better Planning: A thorough understanding of the CAT 2025 syllabus helps you prepare systematically and methodically and allows you to study in a way so that nothing is left behind.
• Time Management: Apart from that, with such awareness about the syllabus, you can allocate your time effectively to different sections, ensuring balanced preparation.
• Focused Preparation: Knowing the syllabus thoroughly keeps the distractions at bay and allows you to focus on what matters most.
• Improves Performance: Once you know the entire CAT 2025 syllabus, you will surely get an idea of the areas in which you are weak and you will thus give sufficient time to work on those areas where improvement is needed.

Sectional Analysis of CAT Exam Pattern 2025

Since there are mainly three sections in the CAT exam pattern 2025, so we have described each section in detail for your understanding:

1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension VARC

The section checks whether the student can understand and interpret the comprehension of the text. It has been categorised into two types of questions:

Reading Comprehension (RC):

• This section has around 16-18 questions.
• The passages vary from economics, and literature, to technology, and even sociology etc.

Verbal Ability (VA)

• Usually 6-8 questions.
• The sort of questions include para jumbles, sentence correction, summary questions, and odd sentence out.

Here’s a breakdown of the types of questions you can expect in the CAT VARC syllabus 2025 section:

Key Topics

Reading Comprehension (RC)

• Types of passages that appear in the section: Business, Economics, Sociology, History, Science and Literature
• Types of Questions: Main Idea, Inference, Tone, Summary, and Fact vs. Opinion

Verbal Ability

• Sentence Correction
• Para jumbles (ordering paragraphs logically)
• Para summary (choosing the best summary for a paragraph)
• Fill in the blanks
• Odd sentence out from a jumbled set

Preparation Tips for VARC

• Start VARC preparation early with a main emphasis on RC.
• Learn the CAT 2025 syllabus in depth and remember the essential grammar rules and definitions.
• Get vocabulary books and an English dictionary to increase the knowledge bank about new words and phrases.
• Since RC holds more than 50% weightage in VARC, do speed reading practice through books, novels, magazines, or data-heavy reports.
• Read as many genres as possible to extend your knowledge.
• Keep practising passages from CAT mock tests to improve knowledge or comprehension and speed of selecting the right answers.
• Solve hundreds of practice questions on Verbal Ability questions that have appeared in the topics of the CAT 2025 syllabus.
• Go through the past 10 years of CAT question papers so you know what kind of RC and para jumble questions are commonly asked.
• Follow this with improving your knowledge of English grammar, word usage, and idioms and phrases to score better in RC and para jumbles.

2. DILR: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

This section tests your ability as a candidate for being able to interpret data from more than one source and then use that logic to tackle problems. This is one of the most challenging sections of the test, as it demands both speed and accuracy.
Most of the sets have 4 to 6 questions. DI is based on interpretation by numbers, tables, graphs, and charts, whereas LR would be solved through puzzles, sequencing, etc using logical problems.

Here’ the DILR Questions Breakdown:

Candidates should aim to solve sets in this section carefully, as accuracy is critical.

Important Topics

Data Interpretation (DI)

• Tables, Pie Charts, Bar Graphs, Line Charts
• Caselets
• Venn Diagrams
• Data Sufficiency

Logical Reasoning (LR)

• Seating Arrangements, Linear and Circular
• Blood Relations
• Syllogisms
• Clocks and Calendars
• Puzzles
• Series and Sequences

Preparation tips for DILR

• Table, graph, chart and series are dealt with in the DILR section of CAT.
  It will need high calculation ability along with attention to minute details
• Both DI and LR are divided into equal quantities of 20, so both have to be a priority
  To study the CAT 2025 syllabus for DILR, memorise tables up to 20, squares, square roots, cubes, cube roots, and other mathematical values to count quickly.
• Data Interpretation depends more on your mathematical skills hence be good with calculation.
• Maximise attempts on sample questions and sectional CAT mock tests when it comes to
• Logical Reasoning as there are no such fixed formulae or concepts that can be applied while solving puzzles and patterns.
• The more you practise interpreting charts and tables quickly the better your chances of getting a good score in the DILR section.

3. Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

In the QA section, the mathematical acumen of a candidate is tested. While the questions are mostly high school maths, much problem-solving skill is needed to arrive at the answer in the time that is given to answer that question.

Here is a breakdown of topics that can be anticipated from the QA Section:

The Quantitative Aptitude is designed to test your mathematical ability. Skill development in the realm of problem-solving is kept under the spotlight. This section consists of problems related to a wide variety of mathematical domains.

Important Topics

• Number System: Divisibility rules, HCF and LCM, Prime numbers
• Arithmetic: Percentages, Profit and Loss, Time and Work, Time-Speed-Distance, Ratio and Proportion, Simple and Compound Interest
• Algebra: Linear and Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, Logarithms
• Geometry and Mensuration: Circles, Triangles, Polygons, Coordinate Geometry
• Modern Mathematics: Probability, Permutations, Combinations, Set Theory, Functions

Preparation tips for QA

• Quantitative Aptitude of CAT is entirely about clarity and practice.
• Be thorough with formulas and theorem of Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry, and Trigonometry
• Work on each topic one after the other of your CAT exam syllabus, making sure that you have a good understanding of every topic. Then attempt a few questions for each topic to test your understanding of how to apply every topic.
• Full-length and sectional CAT mock tests only after you have completed the syllabus.
• Divide your practice sessions into easy, moderate, and difficult levels. Start with easy questions, then go gradually to moderate and then to difficult ones.
• Time yourself for every question you attempt; ensure you solve every question three times: the first time you are solving to understand, the second time with 100% accuracy, and the third time with accuracy and speed.
• Mental arithmetic calculation is to be practised right up to CAT exam day.

Also, learn – Prepare for CAT 2025 in 14 Months

Section-Wise Preparation Tips

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension: To do well in this section make sure you read and improve your comprehension ability by practising enough. Make sure to analyse the tone of the author and logically draw inferences from the passages.
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning: This section demands a logical and structured approach to solve the question. It’s important to practise various types of questions to deal with complicated data suitably.
3. Quantitative Aptitude: If you want to do well in this section you have to focus on improving the speed in calculation and should have a strong hold on the mathematical concepts. Expectedly, time again plays a vital role here.

Changes in the CAT 2025 Syllabus

The overall structure of the CAT 2025 syllabus has not changed; the paper pattern may see slight changes. It is advisable to keep an eye on any official notification regarding the changes in the exam pattern or syllabus. However, the CAT has maintained a consistent format but these small changes may make a dent in your preparation strategy.
Points to Remember:
Stay updated on official notifications regarding any changes in the CAT Syllabus.
Be adaptable in your preparation to accommodate last-minute changes in the exam format.

Conclusion

Since the CAT exam syllabus is very vast, the students need to be very focused and organised in their preparation. The detailed breakup of the CAT 2025 syllabus will help you to track your preparation. Understanding the detailed breakup of the VARC, DILR, and QA sections will help you plan the right preparation strategy, balancing all aspects of the exam.
REMEMBER that with day-to-day practice, proper time management, and a good understanding of the CAT 2025 syllabus success is all yours.
Stay motivated and prepared to take up the CAT exam.