The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer-based entrance exam conducted in India for admission to post-graduate management programs in various top management institutes. The exam is conducted annually by one of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis. The CAT exam tests candidates’ abilities in various areas such as Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Verbal Ability (VA), Reading Comprehension (RC), Data Interpretation (DI), and Logical Reasoning (LR). The exam is typically held in November or December, and the results are usually announced in January. The CAT score is accepted by various management institutes in India, including the IIMs and other top B-Schools.
Syllabus For CAT
Here is the syllabus for the CAT exam:
| Section | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | Reading Comprehension passages, Para-jumbles, Sentence completion and correction, Vocabulary-based questions |
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | Tables, graphs, and charts interpretation, Data sufficiency, Logical reasoning, Seating arrangement, Blood relation, Syllogism |
Quantitative Ability (QA) | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Number system, Probability, Permutation and combination. |
Note: The syllabus mentioned above is not exhaustive, and candidates are advised to refer to the official CAT website for the latest updates and changes in the exam pattern and syllabus.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Here is the information about the VARC section in the CAT exam:
Section |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 26 |
| Time Allotted | 60 minutes |
| Question Type | MCQs and non-MCQs |
| Sub-sections | Reading Comprehension (RC) and Verbal Ability (VA) |
| RC Topics | Social issues, history, philosophy, science, literature |
| RC Question Format | Each passage followed by 4-5 questions |
| VA Topics | Para-jumbles, sentence completion and correction, vocabulary-based questions, grammar |
| Preparation Tips | Develop reading speed and comprehension skills, read a variety of texts, practice previous year’s question papers and mock tests, learn and practice grammar rules and sentence correction techniques |
Note: The above-mentioned information is based on the previous year’s exam pattern, and the actual pattern may vary. Candidates are advised to refer to the official CAT website for the latest updates and changes in the exam pattern.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Here is the information about the DILR section in the CAT exam
Section |
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
|---|---|
Number of Questions |
24 |
Time Allotted |
60 minutes |
Question Type |
MCQs and non-MCQs |
Sub-sections |
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning |
DI Topics |
Tables, bar graphs, line charts, pie charts, caselets |
DI Question Format |
Calculation-based questions and reasoning-based questions |
LR Topics |
Seating arrangement, blood relations, directions, puzzles, syllogisms |
LR Question Format |
Reasoning-based questions |
Preparation Tips |
Practice solving various types of data interpretation and logical reasoning problems, develop mental calculations, and analytical skills. |
Note: The above-mentioned information is based on the previous year’s exam pattern, and the actual pattern may vary. Candidates are advised to refer to the official CAT website for the latest updates and changes in the exam pattern.
Quantitative Ability (QA)
Here is the information about the QA section in the CAT exam
Section |
Quantitative Ability (QA) |
|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 26 |
| Time Allotted | 60 minutes |
| Question Type | MCQs and non-MCQs |
| Sub-sections | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Modern Mathematics |
| Topics Covered | Time and Work, Percentages, Profit and Loss, Geometry, Mensuration, Number System, Permutation and Combination, Probability, Logarithms, etc. |
| Question Format | Calculation-based questions and reasoning-based questions |
| Preparation Tips | Practice solving problems from different topics, develop mental calculations, and analytical skills, solve previous year’s question papers and mock tests. |
Note: The above-mentioned information is based on the previous year’s exam pattern, and the actual pattern may vary. Candidates are advised to refer to the official CAT website for the latest updates and changes in the exam pattern.
CAT Important Topics & Weightage
The CAT exam does not have a fixed pattern or weightage for topics, and the difficulty level and number of questions in each section may vary from year to year. However, based on the previous year’s exam analysis, here are some important topics and their weightage in the CAT exam:
Section | Important Topics | Approximate Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | Reading Comprehension, Para-jumbles, Sentence Correction, Vocabulary based questions | 40-45% |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | Tables, graphs and charts interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Data Sufficiency, Venn Diagrams, Blood Relations, Syllogism, Seating Arrangement | 30-35% |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number System, Modern Maths, Data Interpretation | 20-25% |
Note: The above-mentioned weightage is approximate and may vary depending on the difficulty level of the questions in each section. Candidates should aim to prepare thoroughly for all topics and practice solving mock tests and previous year’s question papers to get an idea of the exam pattern and difficulty level.
CAT Exam Pattern
Here is the CAT exam pattern:
Section | Number of Questions | Time Allotted | Question Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 26 | 60 minutes | MCQs and non-MCQs |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 24 | 60 minutes | MCQs and non-MCQs |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 26 | 60 minutes | MCQs and non-MCQs |
Note: The CAT exam pattern mentioned above is based on the previous year’s exam pattern, and the actual pattern may vary. Candidates are advised to refer to the official CAT website for the latest updates and changes in the exam pattern.
