CAT Exam Subjects 2025: Section-wise Topics, Syllabus & Past Year Trends

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. 

Familiarity with the CAT syllabus 2025 and its subjects is beneficial for planning your preparation smartly. Each section of the CAT tests a different set of skills: verbal reasoning, logical thinking, data interpretation, and mathematical problem-solving. Understanding these patterns helps you focus on high-weightage topics, save precious time, and avoid last-minute guesswork.

In this blog, we go beyond a simple topic list. You’ll find a section-wise breakdown of VARC, DILR, and Quant. Along with this, there is an analysis of past-year trends and actionable insights to help you prioritise your preparation. Whether you’re aiming for a 95+ percentile or want a clear roadmap for your prep, this guide gives you a strategic edge. Let’s dive in and decode the CAT subjects 2025, section by section.

CAT Subjects List 2025 – Overview

There is no official CAT syllabus 2025 since it has not been 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:

• Section 1: VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension): Focuses on reading comprehension and verbal reasoning skills.
• Section 2: DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning): Assesses logical thinking, pattern recognition, and data analysis.
• Section 3: QA (Quantitative Aptitude): Tests mathematical concepts, problem-solving ability, and accuracy.

MBA CAT Syllabus 2025: Section-wise Breakdown

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. 

DILR Syllabus for CAT 2025

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:

• Data Interpretation (DI): Tables, bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, caselets.
• Logical Reasoning (LR): Seating arrangement, puzzles, team formation, blood relations, and logical sequences.

Key Features of the CAT LRDI Syllabus 2025:

• The section usually contains 4 to 6 sets of questions. Each set has 4 to 6 questions.
• Questions are logic-heavy, often requiring careful selection of sets to maximize accuracy.
• DI is no longer about pure calculations; most sets require reasoning-based interpretation.

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.

Topic-Wise General Trend from CAT LRDI Syllabus (Past 5 Years)

Question Trend of CAT 2024 in the LRDI section

VARC Syllabus for CAT 2025

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:

• Reading Comprehension (RC): Around 70% of the VARC section is dominated by RC passages. These tests speed, accuracy, and inference-based understanding.
• Verbal Ability (VA): The remaining questions cover topics like para-jumbles, para-summary, and odd-one-out. These focus on grammar, logical structure, and language usage.

Key Features of CAT VARC Syllabus 2025:

• Reading comprehension passages are generally moderate to lengthy. They have both factual and inference-based questions.
• No direct vocabulary or grammar-based questions are asked, unlike other MBA entrance exams.
• Emphasis is on contextual understanding and reasoning, rather than rote learning.

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.

Topic-Wise General Trend from CAT VARC Syllabus (Past 5 Years)

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.

Quants Syllabus for CAT 2025

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:

• Arithmetic (Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Ratio & Proportion, Averages)
• Algebra (Equations, Functions, Inequalities, Progressions)
• Geometry & Mensuration (Lines, Triangles, Circles, Polygons, Solid Geometry)
• Number System (Divisibility, LCM & HCF, Modular Arithmetic, Base Systems)
• Modern Math (Permutation & Combination, Probability, Set Theory, Logarithms)

Key Features of CAT Quant Syllabus 2025:

• Arithmetic holds the highest weightage in recent years.
• Direct formula-based questions are rare; most problems require conceptual clarity + logical application.
• Candidates often consider QA the most challenging section, especially non-engineering students.

Topic-Wise General Trend from CAT Quant Syllabus (Past 5 Years)

Conclusion

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.