Thinking of an MBA? Well then, you must be familiar with the CAT exam. The CAT is one of the most sought-after MBA entrance exams in India. It’s conducted by the IIMs for admission to top B-schools. Knowing the latest CAT exam syllabus 2025 and CAT exam subjects is the first step towards effective preparation.
While the IIMs do not release an official syllabus, the pattern remains consistent every year. In this blog, we’ll break down the CAT subjects list 2025, provide a section-wise MBA CAT syllabus, and analyze past year trends. All this, only to help you plan your preparation aptly. So let’s begin!
There is no official CAT syllabus 2025 since it’s not released by IIMs. However, it has remained consistent over the years. The CAT syllabus is broadly divided into three sections. Each section is designed to test different skill sets. Also, CAT sections have a mix of MCQs and non-MCQs with a sectional time limit.
Here’s a section-wise overview of the MBA CAT syllabus 2025:
| CAT Exam Subjects | Sectional Time | MCQs | Non-MCQs | Total Questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 40 mins | 20 | 4 | 24 |
| DILR | 40 mins | 14 | 8 | 22 |
| QA | 40 mins | 14 | 8 | 22 |
| Total | 120 mins (2 hrs) | 48 | 20 | 68 |
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The CAT syllabus consists of three sections as stated above. To cover the subjects effectively, you need to first know the topics. And then, cover those topics according to their weightage. You should also be aware of the fact that the CAT syllabus is vast, but the preparation time you have is limited.
Therefore, having a CAT preparation strategy is of paramount importance. To help you in this regard, we have sorted the MBA CAT syllabus sectionally in this blog. Below are the sections that have detailed descriptions and past year question trends of the CAT subjects.
The CAT exam combines Data Interpretation (DI) and Logical Reasoning (LR) into a single section. This DILR section tests both your analytical and logical thinking skills. Unlike other exams, CAT does not separate these areas but blends them into sets of questions that often require a mix of both skills.
The CAT DILR syllabus 2025 is generally derived from past year papers and includes:
Key Features of the CAT LRDI Syllabus 2025:
The CAT LRDI syllabus is known for its unpredictability. Therefore, making it one of the most challenging sections. Do consistently practice the LRDI question sets to build speed and accuracy.
| CAT LRDI Syllabus Topics | CAT 2020 | CAT 2021 | CAT 2022 | CAT 2023 | CAT 2024 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | |
| Routes and Networks | – | – | – | – | – | – | 5 | 5 | – | – | – | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Tabular DI | – | 10 | – | – | 6 | – | – | – | – | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Scheduling, Optimisation and Allocation | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | – | – | 5 | – | 5 | 10 | – | – | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Graphical DI | – | – | 4 | 4 | – | – | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Grid-Based Questions | 10 | 8 | 6 | 6 | – | – | – | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | – | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Seating Arrangements | – | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Puzzles | – | – | 4 | – | 4 | 6 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Pie Chart DI | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Scatter Plot | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | 2 | 2 | 2 |
The VARC section in CAT 2025 is designed to evaluate a candidate’s command over the English language, comprehension ability, and critical reasoning skills. It is considered one of the most scoring sections if approached with the right reading and practice strategy.
The CAT VARC syllabus 2025 primarily consists of two parts:
Key Features of CAT VARC Syllabus 2025:
A well-structured preparation for the VARC syllabus for CAT not only boosts sectional scores but also strengthens overall performance. This is because reading ability indirectly supports DILR and QA comprehension, too.
The table below shows the topic-wise questions asked in the CAT VARC section. The 70% of this section is dominated by reading comprehension. Therefore, practice it thoroughly during your preparation.
| CAT VARC Syllabus Topics | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RC (Reading Comprehension) | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Para Summary | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Para Jumble | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Odd One Out | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Sentence Completion | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 26 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 |
The Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section in CAT 2025 is designed to test a candidate’s mathematical ability, problem-solving skills, and accuracy under time pressure. It is often considered the lengthiest section, and time management is of utmost importance in this section. The CAT maths syllabus has a variety of mathematical topics and calculation-based questions.
The CAT maths syllabus 2025 broadly includes:
Key Features of CAT Quant Syllabus 2025:
| CAT Quant Syllabus Portion | Topics | 2024 Total | 2023 Total | 2022 Total | 2021 Total | 2020 Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | Ratio & Proportion, Mixtures, Averages | 12 | 9 | 15 | 12 | 9 |
| Percentage, Profit & Loss,
Simple and Compound Interest |
7 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 9 | |
| Speed, Time, Distance, and Races | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 11 | |
| Pipes & Cisterns, Time & Work | 5 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 2 | |
| Algebra | Linear and Quadratic Equations | 7 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| Arithmetic & Geometric Progressions | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | |
| Polynomials | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 | |
| Inequalities | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| Geometry | Geometry | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Coordinate Geometry | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| Mensuration | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
The CAT Exam Subjects 2025 revolve around three core areas. These are VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Aptitude. Each section is designed to assess skills essential for MBA success. The key to grasping CAT subjects is by analysing past year papers. The CAT question papers provide a clear picture of the important topics and weightage trends.
To succeed in CAT 2025, candidates should build a balanced preparation strategy. Focus on Reading Comprehension in VARC, logic-heavy sets in DILR, and arithmetic fundamentals in QA. With consistent practice, innovative time management, and awareness of CAT exam subjects, aspirants can maximize their scores.
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