Every year, the CAT exam syllabus is not clearly defined by the IIMs, so it is generalized based on the previous year’s pattern. For CAT 2023, the syllabus is expected to be divided into three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).
The CAT syllabus mainly focuses on mathematical and English concepts taught in school. Although there is no official syllabus, common topics and questions can be identified by analyzing previous exam papers.
The VARC section tests English skills such as grammar, reading comprehension, inferences, and verbal reasoning. DILR requires candidates to interpret data from graphs, charts, and arrangements. The QA section covers middle school math topics like algebra, arithmetic, geometry, and modern math.
It’s important to note that the CAT 2022 exam pattern was a two-hour computer-based test. Each section had 40 minutes allotted, and candidates had to answer within the given time frame.
CAT Exam 2023 Highlights
The CAT 2023 Exam will be conducted through a Computer Based Test (CBT). In the past, the exam pattern for CAT has been modified due to the pandemic. As a result, here is a breakdown of the syllabus based on the previous exam pattern.
| Key Components | Details |
| Time allotted | 2 hours |
| Total No. of Questions | 66 |
| No. of Questions Section-wise | VARC: 24, DILR: 20, QA: 22 |
| Time allotted per section | 40 minutes each |
| Mode of Examination | Computer-based |
| Medium of Examination | English |
CAT Exam Syllabus 2023: Overview
The CAT Exam Syllabus is very extensive, so students need to know how to get the best scores in each section. To prepare well for the exam, it’s important to know the different sections of the exam, the weightage of each section and topic, and how to approach each section. This knowledge will help aspirants to perform well in the exam.
| Section | Important Topics |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | Para-Jumbles & Para-Summary, Sentence Completion, Inferences, RC Passages Based Questions. |
| Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation | Seating Arrangement, Blood Relation, Syllogism, Tables, Graphs, Data Caselets |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Number System, Geometry, Algebra, Mensuration, Time and Work |
| Section | MCQs | Non-MCQs | Total Question | Details |
| VARC | 19 | 5 | 24 | 4 passages of RC with 4 questions each. 3 parajumbles, 2 para completions, 3 parasummary |
| DILR | 15 | 5 | 20 | 4 sets of 5 questions each covering topics of bar graphs, missing data and puzzles |
| QA | 14 | 8 | 22 | Dominated by arithmetic and algebra with 4 questions of geometry |
| Total | 48 | 18 | 66 |
Below is a table with detailed syllabus topics for each chapter and a comprehensive analysis of their weightage to help aspirants prepare better for the CAT exam. It’s important to note that the Indian Institutes of Management conduct the CAT exam as a requirement for admission to various management programs in IIMs, IITs, NITs, FMS, IISc, and other institutions. Preparing well for the CAT exam is crucial for those aspiring to join IIMs.
CAT Exam Syllabus 2023
| Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning Syllabus | Verbal Reasoning Syllabus |
| Number Systems | Tables | English Usage or Grammar |
| Profit, Loss and Discount | Caselets | Vocabulary based (Synonyms/ Antonyms) |
| LCM and HCF | Bar Graphs | Fill in the blanks |
| Speed, Time and Distance | Line Charts | Sentence Correction |
| Percentages | Column Graphs | Cloze Passage |
| Time and Work | Venn Diagrams | Jumbled Paragraph |
| Ratio and Proportion | Pie Chart | Meaning-Usage Match |
| Averages | Other Basic Reasoning Questions | Analogies or Reverse Analogies |
| Quadratic Equations & Linear Equations | Calendars | Summary Questions |
| Complex Numbers | Number and Letter Series | Verbal Reasoning |
| Simple and Compound Interest | Clocks | Facts-Inferences-Judgments |
| Logarithm | Venn Diagrams | Reading Comprehension |
| Sequences and Series | Cubes | |
| Inequalities | Seating Arrangement | |
| Probability | Binary Logic | |
| Surds and Indices | Logical Matching | |
| Set Theory & Function | Logical Sequence | |
| Permutation and Combination | Syllogism | |
| Mixtures and Alligations | Logical Connectives | |
| Trigonometry | Blood Relations | |
| Coordinate Geometry | ||
| Geometry | ||
| Mensuration |
CAT Exam Syllabus 2023: Section-wise Analysis
Understanding the CAT 2022 exam pattern can help us prepare for the CAT 2023 exam. It’s important to go through each topic that is likely to be included in the CAT 2023 Syllabus, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and create a study plan accordingly. To score well in the CAT exam, it’s important to select the right questions and ensure high accuracy in attempting them. Below is a list of topics that candidates should cover in each section of the exam.
| CAT Syllabus Sections | Topics | Weightage for 2022 |
| Verbal Ability | Para jumbles, Para summary, and Inferences | 10% |
| Reading Comprehension | RC passages | 24% |
| Logical Reasoning | Blood Relations, Syllogism, Directions, Clocks & Calendars, Logical Connectives and Sequences | 16% |
| Data Interpretation | Tables, Graphs, Charts and other forms of visualization | 16% |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Geometry, Trigonometry, Averages, Percentages, Number Systems, Arithmetic, Mensuration | 34% |
CAT Exam VARC Syllabus 2023
The VARC section is the first part of the CAT exam and has a time limit of 40 minutes. The Reading Comprehension section holds the most weightage, with about 70% of the total score in this section. Below are the topics that candidates should study for the CAT VARC syllabus 2023:
| CAT VARC Syllabus | |
| Jumbled Paragraph | Reading Comprehension |
| Summary Questions | Para Completion |
| Odd-sentence-out |
| Topic Name | Expected No. of Questions |
| ReadingComprehension Passage-Based Questions | 16 |
| Para-Jumbles | 3-4 |
| Para-Summary | 3-4 |
| OddSentences | 1-2 |
| Others(Sentence Completion or Correction, Fill in the blanks, Vocabulary based, etc.) | 0-1 |
CAT Exam DILR Syllabus 2023
The second part of the CAT exam is the DILR section, which is not clearly defined compared to the other sections of the CAT Exam Syllabus. The DILR section in the CAT syllabus 2023 consists of two subsections:
- Data Interpretation: Data will be presented in the form of graphs, charts, or other visualizations, and candidates will need to answer the questions based on the information provided.
- Logical Reasoning: Candidates may be given information in a disorganized manner, and they will need to structure it and derive the outcome to answer the questions given.
Below is a brief overview of the topics covered in the CAT DILR syllabus.
| CAT Exam DILR Syllabus | ||
| Tables | Caselets | Logical Sequence |
| Bar Graphs | Line Charts | Syllogism |
| Column Graphs | Venn Diagrams | Logical Connectives |
| Pie Charts | Calendars | Blood Relations |
| Number and Letter Series | Clocks | Binary Logic |
| Cubes | Seating Arrangement | Logical Matching |
CAT Exam Quant Syllabus 2023
The CAT QA Syllabus has a lot of topics related to math that are taught in school. Some of the main topics are:
- Arithmetic: This is a very important topic and has the most number of questions in the CAT exam.
- Algebra: This topic also has a lot of questions in the CAT exam.
- Numbers: These topics are regularly tested in the CAT exam, so it’s important to understand them well.
- Geometry: This topic includes Geometry, Coordinate Geometry and Mensuration. It’s regularly tested in the CAT exam, so it’s important to have a basic understanding of it. Here are some of the topics covered in the CAT quant syllabus:
| CAT exam Quant Syllabus | ||
| Number Systems | HCF & LCM | Profit, Loss and Discount |
| Averages | Percentages | Simple and Compound Interest |
| Speed, Time & Distance | Ratio & Proportion | Time & Work |
| Linear Equations | Quadratic Equations | Complex Numbers |
| Logarithm | Probability | Inequalities |
| Surds & Indices | Sequence and Series | Permutation and Combination |
| Set Theory & Function | Coordinate Geometry | Geometry |
| Mixtures and Alligations | Mensuration | Trigonometry |
| 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 Syllabus 2023: CAT Preparation with book
There are many books available to help with CAT exam preparation, but it’s important to first understand the CAT syllabus and exam pattern in order to create a study strategy. The study materials should include a detailed understanding of the CAT syllabus and exam pattern, as well as practice questions and examples. Here are some recommended books for CAT preparation:
For overall CAT preparation:
- Past Years’ CAT Questions (G.K. Publications)
- Word Power Made Easy (Norman Lewis)
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (Gautam Puri)
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (Gautam Puri)
- How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT (Arun Sharma)
- A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning (R.S. Aggarwal)
- NCERT Mathematics Books (Class 6-10)
- CAT Quantitative Aptitude (Gautam Puri)
- Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examinations (RS Aggarwal)
CAT Syllabus 2023: Preparation Tricks
Here are some tips to help CAT aspirants prepare for the CAT syllabus 2023:
- Understand the CAT Syllabus and Exam Pattern: Before starting your CAT preparations, it’s important to become familiar with the syllabus and exam pattern so that you can create the best study strategy.
- Develop a Reading Habit: The reading comprehension section is crucial and requires strong reading skills. You can improve your reading speed, grammar, and vocabulary by regularly reading books, newspapers, and other materials.
- Get Familiar with Equations and Math Calculations: For the math portion of the exam, it’s important to be quick and accurate at mental calculations. Memorizing formulas and practicing equations will help you increase your speed and accuracy.
- Practice Mocks and Previous Year Papers: Practicing mock tests and previous year papers is an effective way to analyze your performance and become familiar with the CAT exam format.
FAQs
Q. What is the CAT exam?
CAT, or the Common Admission Test, is a national-level management entrance exam conducted annually by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to postgraduate management programs in India.
Q. What is the syllabus for CAT 2023?
The CAT 2023 syllabus consists of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Each section covers various topics, which can be found in the official CAT 2023 syllabus.
Q. What is the exam pattern for CAT 2023?
The CAT 2023 exam will consist of three sections, each with a time limit of 40 minutes. The VARC section will be first, followed by DILR and then QA. The total duration of the exam is three hours.
Q. How do I prepare for CAT 2023?
To prepare for CAT 2023, it is important to understand the syllabus and exam pattern first. Then, acquire the habit of reading, familiarize yourself with equations and math calculations, and practice mocks and previous year papers. You can also refer to various books and study resources for CAT preparation.
Q. Can I get admission to an IIM with a low CAT score?
Admission to IIMs is based on a candidate’s overall profile, which includes their CAT score, academic record, work experience, and other factors. While a good CAT score is important, a low score does not necessarily disqualify a candidate from admission. It is advisable to check the specific admission criteria of each IIM.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the CAT Syllabus 2023 covers three major sections: VARC, DILR, and QA. Each section requires a different set of skills and preparation strategies. It is essential for CAT aspirants to familiarize themselves with the syllabus and exam pattern, acquire the habit of reading, and practice regularly with mock tests and previous year papers. Additionally, choosing the right study materials and resources can be helpful in preparing for the exam. By following these guidelines and staying focused, CAT aspirants can increase their chances of scoring well and getting admission into their desired management programs.