CAT Exam Syllabus

CAT syllabus is set by IIMCAT and is mostly the same every year apart from minor changes in the number of questions from each topic within the sections. CAT syllabus cover several topics from the following three subjects:

• Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
• Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
• Quantitative Ability (QA)

It is crucial to have a complete understanding of the CAT syllabus and exam pattern to be successful in the CAT exam. Take a closer look at the CAT 2020 syllabus and the best books for CAT preparation below. 

Also Check CAT 2020 Examination Pattern

Overview of CAT syllabus 2020

There are several important topics from each of the three sections – QA, DILR and VARC, that the candidates need to prepare for. These topics are highlighted in the tables below.

Topics under Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

VARC section is the first section of the CAT question paper and the time limit allotted is 60 minutes. This section has to be attempted first and is divided into two sub-parts, VA and RC. Here are the important topics and some key points of this section:

Why High CAT 2018 Scores Alone Are Not Enough To Gain IIM Admission

Also Check CAT 2020 Question Papers

Verbal Ability (VA): Key Points

• Number of questions range from 7 to 11
• Sectional weightage of this section is 7 to 11 percent
• The questions are of non-MCQs type, which means the candidates have to type in the answer (TITA)
• For non-MCQ type, there is no negative marking
• Types of questions range from para-jumbles, out of context sentences in a para, error correction in a para, vocabulary usage, sentence completion to analogies and critical reasoning

Reading Comprehension (RC): Key Points

• Number of questions asked ranges from 24 to 28
• Sectional weightage of this section is 24 to 28 percent
• Questions are all MCQs type, hence there is a negative marking of -1
• CAT has a mix of RC passages –on an average 4-3 long passages and 2-3 short passages
• As per the trend of the last three years, long passages are of 900 words and short passages are of 600 words
• RC topics range from science, history, politics, environment, society to literature, mythology and abstract topics

Topics Under Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation

LRDI is the second section after VARC section of CAT question paper. This section has two sub-sections – LR and DI and the allotted time is 60 minutes. Take a look at the main topics and key points of this section:

Also Check CAT Preparation Plan for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

Logical Reasoning (LR): Key Points

• Number of questions asked – 16
• Sectional weightage of this section – 16 percent
• LR contains both MCQ and Non-MCQ type questions
• Number of MCQs and non-MCQs may differ
• There is negative marking for MCQs
• There is no negative marking for non-MCQs

Data Interpretation (DI): Key Points

• Number of questions asked – 16
• Sectional weightage of this section – 16 percent
• DI contains both MCQ and Non-MCQ type questions
• Number of MCQs and non-MCQs may differ
• There is negative marking for MCQs
• There is no negative marking for non-MCQs

Topics under Quantitative Ability

QA is the last section of the CAT question paper and is to be completed in the last hour of the exam. Take a look at the main topics and some key points of this section:

Quantitative Aptitude (QA): Key Points

• Number of questions asked – 34
• Sectional weightage of this section – 34 percent
• LR contains both MCQ and Non-MCQ type questions
• The number of MCQs and non-MCQs differ each year. Based on earlier trends, the number of MCQs in QA section ranges from 24 to 27 and non-MCQs range from 7 to 10
• There is negative marking for MCQs
• There is no negative marking for non-MCQs

Best Books for CAT 2020

There are so many books available for CAT preparation however it is essential to choose the right one. The books chosen should be updated with the latest exam pattern and syllabus. We have made a list of the best books available after considering all the options in the market and consulting our CAT experts.

Books for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

Books for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

Books for Quantitative Ability (QA)

Overview of CAT 2020 Exam Pattern

Besides having an understanding of the CAT 2020 syllabus, a good awareness of the exam pattern is also mandatory. Some of the important things to keep in mind are that  

• CAT exam mode is online
• Each section will be allotted 60 minutes
• 100 questions of 3 marks each

The section-wise distribution of questions and marks in CAT question paper is tabulated below:

Also read:

• CAT Admit Card
• CAT Registration
• CAT Result
• CAT Exam Preparation
• CAT Exam Pattern
• CAT Cut-Offs
• CAT Eligibility
• CAT Exam Answer Key
• CAT Exam Analysis
• CAT Question Paper
• CAT Exam Dates
• CAT Mock Test
• CAT  Score Vs CAT Percentile

CAT syllabus FAQs