CAT syllabus 2023 comprises 3 sections, namely, data interpretation & logical reasoning (DILR), quantitative aptitude (QA), and verbal ability and reading comprehension (VARC). CAT 2023 exam syllabus is prescribed by the Indian Institute of Management (IIMs).
IIMs do not release the CAT 2023 syllabus on their official website. Under the CAT exam syllabus 2023, there are 24 topics in the QA, 20 topics under DILR, and 12 topics under the VARC section.
The CAT quantitative ability section consists of mathematical topics up to class 10/12 such as arithmetic, numbers, geometry, algebra, and mensuration. On the other hand, the data interpretation and logical reasoning of CAT syllabus has topics like tables, bar graphs, puzzles and reasoning.
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Table of Content
- CAT Syllabus 2023 PDF Download
- CAT Exam Syllabus 2023: Important Topics
- IIM CAT Syllabus 2023
- CAT 2023 Syllabus: Weightage and Number of Questions
- How to Prepare for CAT VARC, DILR and QA?
- CAT Exam Syllabus for MBA: Preparation Plan
- CAT Exam Pattern 2023
CAT Syllabus 2023 PDF Download
CAT syllabus 2023 is not available on the official website. The verbal ability and reading comprehension (VARC), data interpretation and logical reasoning, and quantitative ability (mathematics) portions of the CAT exam syllabus are covered in detail in IIM CAT syllabus pdf (DILR).
Candidates can download the latest CAT syllabus pdf below.
| Download CAT Syllabus 2023 PDF | Download |
Important: Best Time for CAT 2023 Preparation
CAT Exam Syllabus 2023: Important Topics
CAT exam syllabus is incredibly broad and all-encompassing. The most recent CAT syllabus pdfs are available to the students on this page. It's vital to take note of a few crucial facts regarding the exam before moving on to the CAT 2023 syllabus.
| Sections | Topics |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Number System, Geometry, Algebra, Mensuration, Time and Work |
| Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation | Seating Arrangement, Blood Relation, Syllogism, Tables, Graphs, Data Caselets |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | Para-jumbles & para-summary, sentence completion, inferences, RC CAT passages-based questions |
Also Read:
| How to Prepare for CAT without Coaching? | Advantages of CAT Exam |
IIM CAT Syllabus 2023
In the table below, CAT MBA syllabus topics from each chapter are listed, along with a thorough breakdown of the chapter weights for better comprehension. The CAT exam syllabus is not publicly available.
However, it can be inferred from the CAT pattern and questions from past years.
Did You Know?
CAT is not a test that follows a particular syllabus. Since it's an Aptitude Test, it's crucial to concentrate on comprehending the ideas rather than learning information by heart.
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus
The CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus section is tabulated below.
| Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus | Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus |
| Number Systems and Complex Numbers | Logarithm |
| Profit, Loss and Discount | Sequences and Series |
| LCM and HCF | Inequalities |
| Speed, Time and Distance | Probability |
| Percentages | Surds and Indices |
| Time and Work | Set Theory & Function |
| Ratio and Proportion | Permutation and Combination |
| Averages | Mixtures and Alligations |
| Quadratic Equations & Linear Equations | Trigonometry |
| Simple and Compound Interest | Coordinate Geometry, Geometry & Mensuration |
CAT Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation Syllabus
The CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Syllabus section is tabulated below.
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning Syllabus | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning Syllabus |
| Tables | Seating Arrangement |
| Caselets | Binary Logic |
| Bar Graphs | Logical Matching |
| Line Charts | Logical Sequence |
| Column Graphs | Syllogism |
| Venn Diagrams | Logical Connectives |
| Pie Chart | Blood Relations |
| Other Basic Reasoning Questions | Number and Letter Series |
| Calendars | Clocks |
| Venn Diagrams | Cubes |
CAT Verbal Reasoning Syllabus
The CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Syllabus section is tabulated below.
| Verbal Reasoning Syllabus | Verbal Reasoning Syllabus |
| English Usage or Grammar | Analogies or Reverse Analogies |
| Vocabulary Based (Synonyms/ Antonyms) | Summary Questions |
| Fill in the blanks | Verbal Reasoning |
| Sentence Correction | Facts-Inferences-Judgments |
| Cloze Passage | Reading Comprehension |
| Jumbled Paragraph | Meaning-Usage Match |
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CAT 2023 Syllabus: Weightage and Number of Questions
There are 3 components total in CAT IIM syllabus, and each one has a different weight on the test. Although the CAT syllabus 2023 is organized into 3 sections, there are 5 sections because the VARC and DILR portions have 2 additional subsections.
Read the section-wise weightage of the CAT syllabus below.
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Weightage
MBA CAT Quant syllabus for the written exam is difficult. The number of topics under the QA section under MBA IIM CAT syllabus is large, and the variation in each chapter is extensive. There are 22 questions in this section, 14 of which are not multiple-choice questions.
Some of the essential topics from the previous years of the exam are listed in the form of CAT quant syllabus below.
| Topic Name | Expected No. of Questions |
| Arithmetic | 8-9 |
| Algebra | 6-7 |
| Number System | 1-2 |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 4-5 |
| Modern Maths | 1-2 |
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Number of Questions
There are a few topics in CAT quantitative aptitude syllabus of the exam that are extremely important and are covered year after year. There are 22 questions in this section, 14 of which are not multiple-choice questions. The most significant CAT 2023 syllabus subjects and their weights are listed here.
The diagrammatic representation of the section-wise weightage of the quant CAT syllabus 2023 is provided below.
CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning Weightage
CAT logical reasoning syllabus is equally important to emphasize for any aspirant. There will be 22-24 questions from the CAT syllabus of DILR. Among those 24 questions, 6–8 are TITA-based. The CAT syllabus for DILR is tabulated below.
| CAT Exam Slots | DILR Topics | Number of Questions |
| 1 | Arranging People into Countries & Categories | 6 |
| Bar Graph on Percentages | 4 | |
| Tabular DI- Smoothies | 6 | |
| Table – Relation (Acquaintance,Friend & Stranger) | 4 | |
| 2 | Games & Tournament | 4 |
| Rating | 6 | |
| Bar Graph | 4 | |
| LR Set (Number Based Reasoning) | 6 | |
| 3 | Javelin Tournament | 6 |
| Mixtures | 4 | |
| Review of Academic Questions | 6 | |
| Gantt Chart | 4 |
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CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning Syllabus
- The segment had 16 questions in each CAT DI and LR category, evenly divided across two sections until the CAT syllabus 2017.
- However, there were 20 questions on logical reasoning and 12 on data interpretation in the CAT 2018 and CAT 2019 exams.
- Students were astonished by the portion in the CAT 2020, which contained 16 questions on data interpretation and 8 questions on logical reasoning.
- In the DILR portion of the CAT 2021, there were 20 questions total, including 15 non-MCQ questions.
CAT Verbal Reasoning Weightage
There are 24 questions in the CAT verbal ability syllabus and reading comprehension part, 19 of which are non-MCQ questions. The majority of the questions are from the CAT reading comprehension syllabus. The list below includes some of the key sections under the VARC CAT syllabus.
| Topics | Expected No. of Questions |
| ReadingComprehension Passage-Based Questions | 16 |
| Para-Jumbles | 3-4 |
| Para-Summary | 3-4 |
| Odd Sentences | 1-2 |
| Odd Sentences | 1-2 |
CAT Reading Comprehension Passages In Previous Years
The year-wise CAT reading comprehension passages for previous years are provided below for the candidates.
CAT VARC Syllabus Passages 2022
| Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
|
Ghosts & their mysteries how we can’t find their history Chinese Copy of articles Two levels of emotional thinking |
Music Engineering technology Octopus Philosophy |
Social reorganization increasing crime rate Software if more easy humans are not capable of getting solutions Indian History American Migration/Urbanization Increasing |
CAT VARC Syllabus Passages 2021
| Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
|
Mayan Civilization Utopia and Dystopia Marshmallow Experiment Evolution of Tea as a Drink |
Language/ Indigenous People Why Fiction Trumps Truth Colonialism/Nationalism Knowledge and Problems of Knowledge is a Scandal to Philosophy |
NanotechnologyLanguage Instinct Time Accuracy Entropy Unconscious and Psychoanalysis |
CAT VARC Syllabus Passages 2020
|
Slot 1 |
Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
|
Anarchism Migration of Northern Seals Currency of Tang Dynasty Grammar/Vocabulary |
Investing in Renewable Energy Technologies Piracy in International Trade Freudian Models of Aggression A Study of Visualisation |
Travel Writing and Feminism During Colonial Times The Need for Economic Literacy in the General Population Screen Time and Undercurrents of Social Class An Analysis of Human Nature |
CAT VARC Syllabus Passages 2019
| Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
|
British Folk Music Topophilia Emperor PenguinsInternet Shopping and Choice Anxiety Origin of Story of Alladin |
Dense Cities Google and Archaeology Distributing Bureaucracy Language & Culture British Colonial Policy |
No exam |
CAT VARC Syllabus Passages 2018
| Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
|
Genetics India’s View on its Legacy of Second World War Plastic Pollution Elephant Society Consumer Behaviour Studies |
Grover Snails Meritocracy and Diversified Teams Use of Technology in Essential Services Rings of Saturn and Their AgeHuman Resource and Learning |
No exam |
CAT Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation Syllabus: Number of Questions
The third component of the CAT data interpretation & logical reasoning (DILR) syllabus, must be completed following the VARC test. data interpretation and logical reasoning are the two subsections that make up this part.
Look at some crucial subjects for the CAT syllabus 2023, as well as some crucial logical thinking and data interpretation issues.
| Topics | Expected No. of Questions |
| Data Interpretation | 4 |
| Data Interpretation | 4 |
| Logical Reasoning | 6 |
| Logical Reasoning | 6 |
Latest Changes in CAT Syllabus
The CAT syllabus hasn't changed in over a decade, as it was already established. The only modification in the CAT exam 2023 syllabus that can be regarded as such is the decrease in the number of questions over the past two years, from 100 to 66.
| CAT Syllabus & Pattern | Changes in CAT 2019 to 2020 | Changes in CAT 2020 to 2021 |
| Total Questions | Reduced from 100 to 76 | Reduced from 76 to 66 |
| Total score | Reduced from 300 to 228 | Reduced from 228 to 198 |
| Total questions in the VARC section | Reduced from 34 to 26 | Reduced from 26 to 24 |
| Total Questions in DILR section | Reduced from 32 to 24 | Reduced from 24 to 20 |
| Total Questions in QA section | Reduced from 34 to 26 | Reduced from 26 to 22 |
How to Prepare for CAT VARC, DILR and QA?
CAT preparation for CARC, DILR, and QA is the only method to do well and to prepare with the official syllabus. Candidates who are interested in taking the exam must develop a CAT syllabus preparation strategy based on their familiarity with the included topics.
Check out some of the section-by-section CAT preparation advice that is provided below:
- Reading CAT comprehension practice should be the first step in VARC preparation throughout the early stages of CAT preparation.
- The VARC part is dominated by RC. Reading books, novels, journals, and reports with lots of facts can help you develop this.
- Tables, graphs, charts, and series are the focus of the CAT's DILR part.
- This section's 24 questions will be split evenly between DI and LR. so, you must focus on both.
- Pick up each subject on CAT syllabus and improve your conceptual understanding.
- Start with answering simple questions, then work your way up to moderately difficult questions, and finally, difficult questions.
CAT Preparation: Expert Tips
Check out the following articles for CAT preparation advice from experts and topper interviews:
- Coaching to prepare for the CAT 2023.
- Self-Study for CAT 2023 preparation.
- Solving practice papers and mock exams.
- Solve CAT exam papers from previous years.
| Is CAT Exam Tough? | How to Crack CAT Exam? |
CAT Exam Syllabus for MBA: Preparation Plan
You can stick to the expert-prepared study schedule listed below to prepare for CAT exam syllabus for an MBA in 3 months:
Start with CAT Syllabus Fundamentals
This article includes a list of the key CAT exam syllabus for MBA subjects.
- Start by understanding the fundamental ideas of these areas, then respond to 10 - 20 questions from each topic each day.
- Start your preparation by consulting the Arun Sharma CAT Books.
- Refer to topic-specific YouTube videos from Unacademy, CATKing, and other providers to discover quick formulae and strategies for answering CAT problems quickly.
Solve CAT Complex Problems
- Now choose the subjects that you find challenging to understand.
- Start answering 20 questions each day from these themes that are at a moderately tough level.
- Every week, practice one mock exam and one prior year's paper.
- For practice questions and exam series, consult online coaching institutions.
Practise CAT Mock Test and Question Papers
-
- Download and complete the CAT syllabus questions from the preceding 10 years.
- Once you've finished solving past papers, try solving at least two practise papers each day.
- Additionally, IIM publishes the official CAT mock tests on the website iimcat.ac.in.
- In the final week of CAT preparation, concentrate on reviewing the subjects that are given a lot of weight in the CAT MBA syllabus.
CAT Exam Pattern 2023
Before beginning their preparation for the exam, aspirants must be fully versed in both the CAT syllabus 2023 and the CAT exam pattern 2023.
- CAT 2023 exam will be conducted online.
- Each answer receives 3 marks.
- For incorrect attempts, there is a negative marking with a -1 mark.
According to the most recent CAT 2023 exam pattern, the distribution of questions and marks for each section is listed below:
| Section Name | No. of Questions | Allotted Time |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 24 | 40 minutes |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 40 minutes |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 22 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 66 | 120 minutes |
Also Read: How to Use Calculator in CAT Exam?
FAQs
What is the CAT syllabus 2023 PDF?
CAT syllabus 2023 PDF consists of all the topics that are covered under Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), Quantitative Aptitude (QA), and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC). QA section has topics related to mathematics and covers Arithmetic, Algebra, Number System, Geometry & Mensuration and Modern Maths. The VARC sections includes the reading part and the DILR section deals with garphs and logical reasoning.
Are there any sub-sections in CAT 2023 syllabus?
Yes, CAT 2023 syllabus has 3 major sections - QA, DILR and VARC. In addition, there are sub-sections for each. The QA section has Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry. The CAT DILR section majorly consists of Blood relations, Syllogism, DI-Bar Graphs, Pie Chart and Puzzles. Moreover, VARC has Parajumbles, Reading comprehension and Parasummary.
Is CAT full of maths?
No, the CAT syllabus 2023 is not full of maths. However, candidates will find maths to be a substantial portion in QA and DILR.
Which CAT subjects is the toughest?
As per most of the candidates, the Quantitative Aptitude and DILR sections are the toughest CAT subjects in the CAT exams.
Can you cover the CAT exam syllabus in 3 months?
Yes, with a proper study plan and dedication, candidates can cover the CAT exam syllabus in 3 months. However, it really depends on the individual capacity of the student.
Is there a negative marking in CAT?
Yes, there is a negative marking of 1 per question in the CAT exam.
From which section of CAT exam syllabus for mba maximum questions are asked?
CAT exam places more prominence on analytical skills. Hence, candidates must focus more on solving questions to improve their analytical and logical reasoning sections.
How many subjects in CAT exam 2023?
There are 5 subjects in CAT exam 2023.
What are the subjects in cat exam 2023?
In CAT exam we have subjects such as quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, data interpretation, verbal ability, and reading comprenhsive.
