CAT Exam Syllabus

Whether you search for the CAT exam syllabus, the CAT examination syllabus or the Common Admission Test syllabus, the answer starts the same way: the exam body never releases a fixed chapter list. What aspirants call the CAT syllabus is a topic list built from recent papers. This guide gives you that list, tells you which topics to study first, and explains how CAT differs from other MBA entrance exams. Confirm dates and any pattern change on the official CAT website, and see our CAT 2026 exam page for the full exam overview.

In this article

• CAT Syllabus 2026 at a Glance
• Is There an Official CAT Syllabus? Where to Find It
• CAT VARC Syllabus
• CAT DILR Syllabus
• CAT Quant (QA) Syllabus
• CAT Syllabus Weightage: Topic-wise Priority Table
• CAT Subjects: Sections, Not a Course
• CAT Syllabus in Hindi
• CAT vs CMAT, XAT, MAT, NMAT and GMAT Syllabus
• Topics in Old Syllabus Lists That Matter Less Now
• CAT 2026 Exam Details: Dates, Pattern and Eligibility
• Phase-wise Roadmap to Cover the Syllabus
• Best Books and Study Material
• Conclusion
• FAQs

CAT Syllabus 2026 at a Glance

Pro tip: Tap the link in the last column to jump to the section you are weakest in, then use the phase-wise roadmap to schedule it.

Is There an Official CAT Syllabus? Where to Find It

No. The IIMs do not publish a CAT syllabus, and the conducting IIM changes every year. CAT 2026 is conducted by IIM Indore, and its notice and pattern updates appear on iimcat.ac.in. Any "official CAT syllabus PDF" you find elsewhere is a private compilation based on previous papers, including ours.

• Latest, new or updated syllabus: the topics have stayed largely stable across CAT 2024, CAT 2025 and CAT 2026, so a CAT 2025 or 2024 syllabus list is still a good guide.
• Difficulty level: most concepts come from Class 9 and 10 maths. A few topics, such as permutation and combination, probability, logarithms and progressions, overlap with Class 11 and 12 chapters at a basic level. Calculus and matrices are not needed, so "CAT 12th level syllabus" is not an accurate description.
• Who can take CAT: CAT is for graduates, so there is no CAT syllabus for BBA students right after Class 12. Some IIMs admit school leavers to five-year integrated programmes through other tests such as IPMAT and JIPMAT.

Try this: Solve the previous year CAT question papers and tag every question by topic. Within two weeks you will have your own, more accurate syllabus.

CAT VARC Syllabus

VARC is the first section. About two-thirds of its questions come from Reading Comprehension passages, and the rest are para-based verbal ability questions.

English and grammar in CAT

Many students search for the "CAT English syllabus" or "CAT grammar syllabus". Recent papers rarely test grammar rules as stand-alone questions. Grammar helps indirectly by sharpening your reading and para-based answers, so spend your time on reading volume and practice passages instead.

Quick tip: If long passages slow you down, attempt the para-based questions first. They take less time per question.

CAT DILR Syllabus

DILR is the least predictable section. Questions come in sets of four to six, and each set blends data and logic, so choosing the right sets matters more than knowing every topic.

The ranges overlap because one set often mixes several types, so treat the numbers as a guide to where your practice time should go. You may also see this section written as LRDI or LR DI.

Do this: Time yourself on every practice set. If you cannot see a way in within three minutes, skip it and move on.

CAT Quant (QA) Syllabus

Quantitative Aptitude is the most predictable section. Arithmetic and Algebra together make up more than half of it, and the difficulty comes from how questions are framed and the time limit, not from advanced maths.

Next step: Finish Arithmetic and Algebra first, then move to Geometry. Our CAT preparation page explains how to sequence them.

CAT Syllabus Weightage: Topic-wise Priority Table

If you only remember one table from this guide, make it this one. It converts the approximate question counts into a share of each section, so you can decide what to study first.

These figures are approximate and based on recent papers, so a topic can carry more or fewer questions in your slot. Smart move: build accuracy in the top five rows before you spend time on rare topics.

CAT Subjects: Sections, Not a Course

Searches such as "CAT subjects", "CAT exam subject list" and "CAT course subjects" mix up three different ideas. CAT is an entrance test, so it has sections rather than subjects, and it is not a course you enrol in. The subjects included in the CAT exam are, in practice, its three sections.

CAT Syllabus in Hindi (CAT ka Syllabus)

CAT का कोई आधिकारिक सिलेबस जारी नहीं होता। पिछले वर्षों के पेपर के आधार पर तीन सेक्शन माने जाते हैं। कुल 68 प्रश्न, 204 अंक और 120 मिनट का पेपर होता है, और हर सेक्शन के लिए 40 मिनट मिलते हैं। ध्यान रखें कि CAT का पेपर केवल अंग्रेज़ी में होता है।

CAT vs CMAT, XAT, MAT, NMAT and GMAT Syllabus

Many aspirants write more than one MBA entrance test, so it helps to see how the syllabus overlaps. The table below is a broad comparison; always check each exam's own notification for the current pattern.

The GMAT and CAT syllabus are not the same, although both test quant, verbal and data skills. If you are choosing between exams, read CAT vs CMAT vs MAT and CAT vs XAT.

Topics in Old Syllabus Lists That Matter Less Now

Several older lists still show syllogisms, analogies, antonyms, phrasal verbs, one-word substitution, clocks and calendars, and blood relations. Recent CAT papers have featured these far less, because VARC now centres on RC and para-based questions, and DILR on large sets.

You do not have to ignore them completely. Treat them as optional, and cover them only after the high-priority topics above are strong.

CAT 2026 Exam Details: Dates, Pattern and Eligibility

CAT 2024 and CAT 2025 had 68 questions, and CAT 2026 is expected to follow the same split. For sections, marking and time in detail, see our CAT 2026 exam pattern guide and the CAT exam dates page.

Phase-wise Roadmap to Cover the Syllabus

Whether you have two months or six, the order of work stays the same. Split your available time into these four phases, using the suggested share of time as a starting point.

Do this: Keep one notebook of mistakes and revise it every weekend. If you have less than two months left, shorten phases 1 and 2 and protect your mock time. For fuller schedules, read our 60-day strategy for 99+ percentile or the CAT preparation guide for beginners.

Best Books and Study Material

For free study material, start with the previous year question papers, the CAT question paper page and the CAT syllabus PDF. Books teach the topics, but papers teach the exam, so pair them with a regular mock schedule.

Conclusion

The CAT syllabus 2026 is not a fixed list, but it is far more predictable than it looks. Reading Comprehension, Arithmetic, Algebra and DILR sets carry most of the marks, so build those first. Then verify the pattern and dates on the official CAT website, download the checklist and start your mocks early.

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FAQs for CAT Syllabus 2026

Q1. What is the CAT syllabus for 2026?

CAT has three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). IIM Indore has not published a topic list, so the syllabus is based on topics repeated in past papers.

Q2. Is there an official CAT syllabus PDF?

No. The IIMs do not release a syllabus PDF for CAT. Any PDF you find online is a private compilation based on previous papers.

Q3. Where can I download the CAT syllabus 2026 PDF?

You can download our free CAT syllabus 2026 PDF, which lists every topic with approximate weightage and a tick-off checklist. For official dates and notices, use iimcat.ac.in.

Q4. Is the CAT 2026 syllabus the same as CAT 2025?

The topics have stayed largely the same, and recent papers have followed a similar pattern. Because there is no official syllabus, check iimcat.ac.in for any change in pattern before the exam.

Q5. What are the subjects in the CAT exam for MBA?

CAT has no separate subjects. It has three sections: VARC, DILR and QA. They test reading skills, logical reasoning with data, and school-level quantitative aptitude.

Q6. How many questions are there in CAT 2026?

CAT 2024 and CAT 2025 had 68 questions: 24 in VARC, 22 in DILR and 22 in QA, for 204 marks. CAT 2026 is expected to follow the same split.

Q7. Which CAT section is the toughest?

Most aspirants find DILR the hardest because the sets are unpredictable and long. Quant is the most predictable, and VARC depends heavily on reading speed and practice.

Q8. Is CAT maths at the 12th level?

Most concepts are from Class 9 and 10 maths. A few topics, such as probability and permutation and combination, overlap with higher classes at a basic level, and the difficulty comes from the question framing and time limit.

Q9. Which topics are the most important for CAT?

Reading Comprehension, Arithmetic, Algebra, and DILR arrangement and data sets carry the most questions. Start with these before moving to lower-weight topics.

Q10. Is there general knowledge in the CAT syllabus?

No. CAT does not have a general knowledge section. It tests verbal ability, data interpretation, logical reasoning and quantitative aptitude.

Q11. Are the GMAT and CAT syllabus the same?

No. CAT has VARC, DILR and QA, while GMAT has quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning and data insights. The skills overlap, but the formats and question types differ.

Q12. Is there a CAT syllabus for BBA students or after Class 12?

No. CAT is taken after graduation for MBA admission. Some IIMs offer five-year integrated programmes after Class 12 through other tests, such as IPMAT and JIPMAT.

Q13. Is the CAT syllabus available in Hindi?

You can read the syllabus in Hindi in the Hindi section above, but the CAT paper itself is in English only. Building English reading habits early is part of your preparation.

Q14. How long does it take to finish the CAT syllabus?

Serious aspirants usually start six to nine months ahead, but a focused plan can cover the core topics in around two months if your basics are reasonable. Spend the last three weeks mainly on full mocks.