CAT 2023- Detailed & Updated Syllabus

CAT 2023 Syllabus

The CAT (Common Admission Test) is a computer-based test held in India every year by one of the IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) as a prerequisite for admission to various management programs at IIMs and other top B-schools. The CAT 2023 syllabus is very general and vast, and the questions are mostly based on middle school Math and English topics. The CAT exam syllabus is divided into three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). In this article, we will provide you with the latest CAT exam syllabus 2023 PDF with topic-wise weightage, books, and exam pattern.

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Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

This section consists of 26 questions, and candidates have 60 minutes to complete it. The VARC section tests the candidates’ reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and verbal reasoning skills. The VARC section is further divided into two sub-sections: Reading Comprehension (RC) and Verbal Ability (VA). The RC sub-section has 16-18 questions based on four or five passages of varying lengths and difficulty levels. The VA sub-section has 8-10 questions based on para jumbles, para summary, odd one out, para completion, sentence correction, and word usage.

The important topics for the VARC section are:

Reading Comprehension
Para Jumbles
Para Summary
Odd One Out
Para Completion
Sentence Correction
Word Usage

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Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

This section consists of 24 questions, and candidates have 60 minutes to complete it. The DILR section tests the candidates’ data interpretation, data analysis, data sufficiency, and logical reasoning skills. The DILR section is further divided into two sub-sections: Data Interpretation (DI) and Logical Reasoning (LR). The DI sub-section has 12-14 questions based on charts, graphs, tables, caselets, and data sets. The LR sub-section has 10-12 questions based on blood relations, seating arrangement, order & ranking, games & tournament, logical sequence, syllogism, and puzzles.

The important topics for the DILR section are:

Data Interpretation
Charts & Graphs
Tables
Caselets
Data Sets
Logical Reasoning
Blood Relations
Seating Arrangement
Order & Ranking
Games & Tournament
Logical Sequence
Syllogism
Puzzles

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Quantitative Ability (QA)

This section consists of 26 questions, and candidates have 60 minutes to complete it. The QA section tests the candidates’ mathematical concepts, calculations, problem-solving, and data sufficiency skills. The QA section covers topics from arithmetic, algebra, geometry & mensuration, number system, modern math, and higher math.

The important topics for the QA section are:

Arithmetic

Percentage
Profit & Loss
Ratio & Proportion
Average
Time & Work
Time & Distance
Simple & Compound Interest
Mixtures & Alligations

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Algebra

Linear & Quadratic Equations
Functions
Inequalities
Logarithm
Progressions

Geometry & Mensuration

Triangles
Circles
Polygons
Coordinate Geometry
Mensuration

Number System

Divisibility & Remainders
Factors & Multiples
LCM & HCF
Base System

Modern Math

Permutation & Combination
Probability
Set Theory
Binomial Theorem

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Section-wise Tips to crack CAT Exam

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of the most competitive exams in India for admission to prestigious management institutes. It tests the candidates on three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Here are some tips to ace each section and score high in the CAT exam.

VARC

This section assesses your language skills and comprehension ability. You need to read passages of varying lengths and answer questions based on them. You also need to solve questions on grammar, vocabulary, sentence completion, and para jumbles. To prepare for this section, you should:

Read a lot of diverse and quality material, such as newspapers, magazines, novels, etc. This will help you improve your reading speed, vocabulary, and general awareness.
Practice solving different types of questions, such as inference, summary, tone, theme, etc. You should also familiarize yourself with the question patterns and difficulty levels of previous CAT papers.
Develop a strategy to manage your time and attempt the questions. You should decide which passages to attempt first, how much time to spend on each passage, and how to eliminate wrong options. You should also avoid guessing answers and skipping questions.

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DILR

This section tests your ability to interpret data and apply logic to solve problems. You need to analyze data presented in various forms, such as tables, charts, graphs, etc., and answer questions based on them. You also need to solve puzzles and games involving arrangements, sequencing, coding-decoding, etc. To prepare for this section, you should:

Practice solving different types of data sets and puzzles regularly. You should also expose yourself to various sources of data, such as reports, surveys, articles, etc., and try to draw insights from them.
Develop a habit of calculating mentally and using approximations. This will help you save time and avoid errors while solving questions.
Focus on accuracy rather than speed. You should try to solve each question with utmost precision and avoid making silly mistakes. You should also check your answers before moving on to the next question.

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QA

This section measures your numerical and analytical skills. You need to solve questions on various topics of mathematics, such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, etc. To prepare for this section, you should:

Revise the basic concepts and formulas of each topic thoroughly. You should also memorize the important values and identities that can help you simplify calculations.
Practice solving a variety of questions from different sources, such as mock tests, previous papers, books, etc. You should also learn the shortcuts and tricks that can help you solve questions faster.
Identify your strengths and weaknesses in each topic and work on them accordingly. You should also allocate your time wisely and attempt the questions that you are confident about first.