CAT 2025 Syllabus & Exam Pattern
Exam Pattern Overview
| Section | Number of Questions | Time Allotted (minutes) | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 40 | 72 |
| DILR | 22 | 40 | 66 |
| QA | 22 | 40 | 66 |
| Total | 68 | 120 | 204 |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Section Distribution
Reading Comprehension4 sets × 4 ques. = 16
Verbal Ability8
RC Passage Types over past few years
Science & Technology22%
AI, Space Tech, Innovations
Philosophy & Psychology18%
Ethics, Behavioral Science
Economics & Business20%
Market trends, Finance
History & Culture15%
Literature, Historical Events
Sociology & Politics15%
Governance, Social Structures
Miscellaneous10%
Abstract, Environment, Random Topics
Other VARC Components
Verbal Ability section consists of the following question types:
- Para Jumbles – 2 questions (TITA)
- Para Summary – 2 questions (MCQ)
- Odd One Out – 2 questions (TITA)
- Sentence Placement – 2 questions (MCQ/TITA)
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Set Distribution
Main Sets4 sets × 5 ques = 20
Additional Set1 set × 2 ques = 2
Question Distribution
| Type | Examples | Approximate % |
|---|---|---|
| Data Interpretation (DI) | Tables, Line & Bar Graphs, Pie Charts, Caselets | 40% |
| Logical Reasoning (LR) | Seating Arrangements, Puzzles, Games & Tournaments | 60% |
Common Question Formats
Caselet-based DI
6-7 questions
Graphs & Charts DI
5-6 questions
Set-based LR
7-8 questions
Quantitative Ability (QA)
Topic Distribution
| Topic | Approx. % in CAT | Questions (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 50-55% | 10-12 |
| Algebra | 25-30% | 6-8 |
| Geometry | 10-12% | 3-4 |
| Modern Math | 8-10% | 2-3 |
Topic Breakdown
Arithmetic
- • Profit & Loss, Percentages
- • Averages & Ratios
- • Mixture & Allegations
- • Simple Interest & Compound Interest
- • TSD & Time and Work
Algebra
- • Linear & Quadratic Equations
- • Inequalities
- • Series and Progression
- • Surds, Indices and Logarithms
- • Functions and Graphs
Geometry
- • Triangles
- • Quadrilateral
- • Circles
- • Mensuration
- • Coordinate Geometry
Number System & Modern Math
- • Properties of Numbers, Factorials
- • Divisibility & Remainders
- • HCF & LCM
- • Permutations & Combinations
- • Probability & Statistics