CAT 2024 Syllabus

The CAT 2024 exam is scheduled for November 24th and will be conducted online across 170 cities in India. Registration opens on August 1st, 2024, and the deadline has been extended to September 20th, 2024. CAT, or the Common Admission Test, is a computer-based exam administered annually by one of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). It assesses candidates in terms of verbal ability, quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, and data interpretation. Initially launched by the IIMs, CAT serves as a gateway for admission into their business management programs. The syllabus and exam pattern detail the types of questions and sections included in the exam.

The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section of the CAT exam is divided into three key components: Vocabulary, Grammar, and Reading Comprehension.

Vocabulary-based questions include Synonyms,  Antonyms, Analogies, Spelling Corrections, Odd Words, Words Commonly Confused, Sentence Completion, and Cloze Tests. Successfully tackling these questions requires a blend of strong vocabulary, effective reading skills, and critical thinking.

A fundamental aspect of vocabulary mastery is understanding how words are used in various contexts. As you begin to grasp a word’s usage within a sentence, identifying its meaning becomes much easier.

To deepen your vocabulary knowledge, it's helpful to learn the origins of words by studying their roots. For instance, understanding the Latin root “loqui,” meaning "to speak," can help you make sense of words like eloquent, loquacious, soliloquy, ventriloquize, circumlocution, and grandiloquent. Combining root meanings with an understanding of prefixes and suffixes will give you a strong command of vocabulary.

Summary of CAT 2024 Syllabus and Exam Pattern

The CAT exam is structured into three main sections, each carrying a different weight in the overall question paper. While the syllabus is officially divided into three parts, in practice, it is split into five sub-sections. This is because the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) sections are further broken down into specific areas of focus. Below is a detailed explanation of each section.

1. Section 1: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

   • This section includes 24 questions, consisting of both multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and non-MCQs.
   • You are given 40 minutes to complete this section.
   • The scoring pattern includes +3 marks for every correct answer, -1 for incorrect answers in MCQs, and 0 for unanswered questions or non-MCQs.

2. Section 2: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

   • This section comprises 20 questions, split into both MCQs and non-MCQs.
   • Similar to VARC, candidates have 40 minutes to complete this section.
   • The scoring system is the same: +3 for correct answers, -1 for incorrect MCQs, and 0 for non-attempted or non-MCQs.

3. Section 3: Quantitative Ability (QA)

   • This section contains 22 questions, again a mix of MCQs and non-MCQs.
   • The time limit for this section is 40 minutes.
   • As with the other sections, the scoring is +3 for correct answers, -1 for incorrect MCQs, and 0 for unanswered questions or non-MCQs.

In total, the CAT exam comprises 66 questions to be completed in 120 minutes, and the maximum score achievable is 198 points. Negative marking applies only to MCQs, so careful answering is required to avoid losing points.

CAT Syllabus 2024 for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

The Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) section contributes to 36% of the total weight in the CAT exam. Out of 66 total questions, 24 are allocated to this section. The CAT 2024 syllabus for VARC is divided into two key parts: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. The first part focuses on Verbal Ability topics, while the second part includes comprehension passages. Specifically, the VARC section consists of 8 questions related to Verbal Ability and 16 based on Reading Comprehension.

Below is a detailed topic-wise breakdown of the VARC syllabus for CAT 2024, along with the number of questions and examples of recent CAT questions, helping candidates understand the types of questions typically asked in this section.

Major Topics Covered Under CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

Verbal Ability

• Syllabus Topics:
  • Para Summary
  • Jumbled Paragraphs
  • Out-of-Context Sentences
  • Error Correction in Sentences
  • Sequence of Sentences
  • Fill in the Blanks
  • Completion of the Last Sentence of the Paragraph
  • Analogies
  • Critical Reasoning
  • Sentence Completion
• Types of Questions Appeared in CAT 2023:
  • Para Jumbles (2 Questions)
  • Para Summary (2 Questions)
  • Out of Context Sentence from Jumbled Paragraph (2 Questions)
  • Completion of Last Sentence of Paragraph (2 Questions)
• Total Number of Questions: 8

2. Reading Comprehension

• Syllabus Topics:
  • RC Passages covering Literature, Current Affairs, Social, Economic, and Business Issues
• Types of Questions Appeared in CAT 2023:
  • 4 RC Passages followed by questions on:
    • True/False Statements
    • Arguments
    • Inferences
    • Main Idea
    • Interpretation of Phrases as used in the RC
    • Author’s Thought Process
    • Passage Title
• Sample Passages:
  • Second-hand Shopping and Fast Fashion
  • Translated Streaming on Netflix in Europe
  • Why Liberalism Failed (Book Review)
  • What is Historical Fact
• Total Number of Questions: 16

Syllabus for the Quantitative Ability section 

CAT will be administered online, most likely at the end of November. These three things are the main part of QA : numerical ability, mathematical skills, and problem-solving skills. They are intended to be tested in the CAT quantitative ability portion. Most MBA admission exams include a subject on quantitative aptitude or competence. The CAT’s quantitative ability part typically contains questions that have elementary mathematics.

Arithmetic, Algebra, Advanced Mathematics, and Geometry are all included in the CAT’s Quantitative Aptitude component, which accounts for one-third of the test’s questions.

Being thorough with each and every chapter is the only way to earn high marks in this part. Recall the basics and theories. Take on the QA section of the CAT by attempting a range of example questions. Calculations may be necessary for this section. Use your brain to calculate; it will take less time than a calculator.

Major Topics Covered Under CAT Quantitative Ability

Syllabus for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning section 

The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) component of the CAT Exam is regarded as a game-changer and the most unpredictable section. Therefore, even though the majority of candidates for the CAT admit that the DILR portion is the most unpredictable and challenging of the three, it is far simpler to succeed in this section with the correct strategy and frame of mind. So, choosing the proper approach is crucial when working on your CAT DILR preparation.

The second component of the CAT exam, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), must be completed following the VARC test. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning are the two sub-sections that make up this section. Have a look at the following topics which are included in the DILR section:

Major Topics Covered Under CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning