CAT Syllabus 2025 PDF, VARC, DILR & QA Important Topics

CAT exam is a management aptitude test conducted by IIMs to evaluate and shortlist candidates for MBA programs. This article presents a section-wise strategy to cover the CAT Syllabus 2025. Aspiring candidates must stay updated on the topics and patterns in the CAT exam Syllabus. Find the latest CAT syllabus for 2025 below with a section-wise breakdown and effective preparation strategies.

CAT Syllabus 2025: Overview

CAT syllabus consists of three section namely, VARC section, LRDI section and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section. A candidate is thoroughly judged on the basis of his/her logical skills, English proficiency and quantitative skills. Lets' deep dive in the syllabus section of this exam.

CAT Syllabus 2025 Download PDF

The CAT 2025 syllabus PDF is available on the Cracku website. Students can download it directly by clicking on the button given below. Students can download the CAT syllabus PDF to prepare for the examination. IIM Kozhikode shall release the exam dates and CAT exam pattern through an official notification on its website by the last week of July 2025 (tentative).

CAT 2025 Exam Pattern

Also Check, CAT Exam Analysis, Last 5 Year Section-wise Paper Analysis

CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Syllabus 2025

The CAT VARC Syllabus will have a dominant Reading Comprehension section with 4 Comprehensions to read. This section consists of 24 questions in the exam. In the meantime, candidates preparing for CAT 2025 can check the CAT VARC Syllabus for CAT 2025 below.

CAT Reading Comprehension Syllabus

Reading comprehensions consists of 16 question with 4 questions each from 4 RCs in the exam. Generally there is no fixed syllabus for RC in CAT. But according to previous year CAT exam analysis and past year CAT exam syllabus we can extract information based on topics which appear often in reading comprehensions. Some of the topics are given in the table below.

Also read, CAT Past year RC Sources

CAT Verbal Ability Syllabus

The CAT Verbal Ability syllabus is a important part of the CAT exam syllabus, It consists of 8 questions with 2 questions each of Para Summary, Para Jumbles, Para Completion, Out of the Context. Best thing about this part of VARC section is it take less time to attempt. People generally make this mistake of not practicing enough for VA, do not do this it is a very scoring section.

How to Prepare for CAT VARC?

• Read Consistently: Develop your comprehension skills and vocabulary by reading regularly. You can read 1 Article daily from CAT Daily Articles.
• Practice RC Passages: Frequently practice reading comprehension from cracku CAT study material to sharpen your interpretation and understanding.
• Strengthen Grammar and Vocabulary: Review grammar rules and work on expanding your vocabulary to master in sentence correction and para-summary questions in VARC.
• Review Past Papers: Study CAT previous papers to become familiar with the types of questions in the VARC section.
• Attempt Mock Tests: Regularly take mock tests to enhance both speed and accuracy, initially you can start by taking sectionals.

Also Read,  CAT Score Calculator 2024, Predict Your CAT Percentile

CAT Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation Syllabus 2025

This section consists of 20 questions in the exam. The CAT DILR syllabus is given in the below tables separately. This section is the second section in the CAT exam after VARC section. It is notoriously famous for its difficulty level. Go through each topic mention in the CAT 2025 syllabus to ace this section.

CAT Logical Reasoning Syllabus

Logical Reasoning is one of thee most important part of this section. Out of the 4 sets that come in the exam, there comes at least 2-3 sets based on logical reasoning part. So, take this part seriously otherwise avoiding this part will prove to be a blunder in the exam. Let's deep dive in the detailed CAT 2025 syllabus of this section.

CAT Data Interpretation Syllabus

Data Interpretation is a very important component of the CAT syllabus 2025, It focuses on the ability to analyze and interpret data presented in various formats such as tables, charts, and graphs. Typically, candidates can expect around 1-2 sets of data interpretation questions in each slot of the exam. Mastering this section is essential, as it tests not only numerical skills but also analytical reasoning and decision-making abilities.

How to Prepare for CAT DILR?

• Practice Different DI Sets: Work on tables, graphs, charts, and caselets to build your data interpretation skills. You can practice them from study material provided by Cracku.
• Solve Logical Puzzles: Engage in puzzles like seating arrangements and Sudoku to sharpen logical reasoning.
• Focus on Accuracy: Prioritize solving questions accurately, even if it takes more time. Initially you can comfortably take 20 minutes per set.
• Time Management: Practice managing time efficiently, especially for complex DILR problems. If you feel that this set is taking more time then it should, immediately leave the set and move to the next.
• Regular Mock Tests: Consistently take mock tests to evaluate your preparation and pinpoint areas for improvement.
• Cover Concepts: Go through the each topic of CAT exam syllabus to have a better understanding of this section.

Also Read, CAT Answer Key 2024, Check Download Link, Release Date

CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus 2025

This section consists of 22 questions in the exam. The CAT quant syllabus covers fundamental mathematical concepts to test the ability to apply these concepts in various scenarios. The questions emphasize speed, accuracy, and conceptual clarity, making strong quantitative skills essential to do well in this section. It mainly covers Arithmetics, Geometry, Algebra and Modern Maths. It  is essential to cover all the topics mentioned in the CAT syllabus  2025 of this section to ace this section. 

Topic wise Quantitative Aptitude syllabus is mentioned in the tables below:

CAT Arithmetic Syllabus

The CAT Arithmetic syllabus covers essential mathematical concepts frequently tested in the Quantitative Ability (QA) section. It includes topics like percentages, profit & loss, ratio & proportion, averages, time & work, and time, speed & distance. Mastering arithmetic is very important as it forms a significant portion of the QA section, generally students can expect 8-9 questions from this topic.

CAT Algebra Syllabus

The CAT Algebra syllabus tests a candidate's ability to solve equations, analyze functions, and work with algebraic expressions. Algebra forms a significant portion of the CAT Quant section, Students can comfortably expect 4-5 Questions from this topic in the CAT paper. It is recommended to cover each part of Algebra topic of CAT exam syllabus for better understanding.

CAT Geometry Syllabus

The CAT Geometry syllabus covers important geometric concepts like properties of lines, angles, triangles, circles, and polygons. It also includes mensuration and coordinate geometry. Students can expect around 4-5 questions from Geometry in the CAT paper, making it an important part of the Quant section. It is considered on little higher difficulty level. But, with practice one can easily excel it.

CAT Number System Syllabus

The CAT Number System syllabus focuses on the properties of numbers, including divisibility, factors, HCF, LCM, and remainders. Candidates can expect around 2-3 questions from this topic in the CAT exam. Questions from this section becomes easier if one is good with the concepts. Number system is one of the most important part of the CAT exam syllabus.

CAT Modern Maths Syllabus

The CAT Modern Maths syllabus includes advanced mathematical concepts such as permutations & combinations, probability, set theory, and sequences & series. Typically, around 2-3 questions from Modern Maths appear in the CAT exam, making it an important but relatively less frequent section compared to arithmetic or algebra.

CAT Miscellaneous Syllabus

The CAT Miscellaneous Syllabus includes topics such as trigonometry, clocks and calendars, and data sufficiency. These topics, though not as frequently tested as arithmetic or algebra, still appear in the exam sometimes. Trigonometry covers basic functions and identities, clocks and calendars focus on problem-solving related to time and dates, while data sufficiency questions test the ability to determine whether provided data is sufficient to solve a problem.

How to Prepare for CAT Quants?

• Master the Fundamentals: Build a strong foundation in arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. Conceptual clarity is must.
• Practice Daily: Set aside time each day to work on a variety of quantitative problems. CAT Daily Targets is the best tool to keep you consistent in daily practice.
• Learn Efficient Techniques: Get familiar with mathematical shortcuts to solve problems faster such as percentages to fractions, squares, cubes etc.
• Address Weak Areas: Identify your weaker topics and concentrate on improving them with the help of CAT Mock Tests.
• Take Topic-Specific Tests: After studying each topic, take a quiz or test to improve your understanding. Don't underestimate the power of sectional tests, they are very important.