If you are planning for CAT 2025, the first step is to know the syllabus and pattern. Many students get confused because there is no official syllabus. But don’t worry. From past exams, we know what type of questions come in CAT.
What is CAT Exam?
CAT (Common Admission Test) is the entrance test for MBA in top colleges like IIMs, FMS, MDI, SP Jain and many others.
- Mode of exam: Online (Computer based)
- Time: 2 hours (120 minutes)
- Total questions: Around 66
- Sections: 3
- VARC – Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
- DILR – Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
- QA – Quantitative Ability (Maths)
- Marks: +3 for right answer, -1 for wrong
- Exam Date: Expected in November 2025
CAT 2025 Exam Pattern
Here is the paper structure:
| Section | Questions | Time |
| VARC | 24 | 40 min |
| DILR | 20 | 40 min |
| QA | 22 | 40 min |
| Total | 66 | 120 min |
You cannot change sections while writing. Each section has 40 minutes fixed time. So manage time carefully.
CAT 2025 Syllabus – Section Wise
Now let’s see what to study for each section.
1. VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)
This section is about English reading and understanding.
Topics:
- Reading Comprehension (RC): You get 4 passages, each with 4 questions.
- Para Jumbles: Sentences are jumbled, arrange them in the right order.
- Odd Sentence Out: One sentence does not fit, find it.
- Para Summary: Choose the correct summary of a paragraph.
Tip: Read newspapers or online articles daily to improve reading speed.
2. DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning)
This section checks your logic and data handling.
Topics:
- Tables & Charts (Bar Graph, Line Graph, Pie Chart)
- Caselets (Data in paragraph form)
- Games & Tournaments
- Venn Diagrams
- Seating Arrangements
- Logical Puzzles
- Network & Routes
Usually, there are 4 sets (each set has 5 questions) = 20 questions.
Tip: Don’t waste time on one set. If it looks tough, move to the next.
3. QA (Quantitative Ability)
This is the Math section. Mostly it is 10th-level math, but practice is needed.
Topics:
- Arithmetic (Most important): Percentages, Profit & Loss, Ratio, Averages, Mixtures, Time-Speed-Distance, Time & Work
- Algebra: Equations, Inequalities
- Geometry: Triangles, Circles, Mensuration
- Number System
- Modern Math: Permutation & Combination, Probability
- Logarithms & Progressions: AP, GP
- Tip: Start with Arithmetic and Algebra as they have more questions.
Difficulty Level
- VARC – Medium
- DILR – Tough for many students
- QA – Medium to tough (depends on practice)
How to Prepare?
- Start early (6–8 months before exam)
- Practice daily (20–30 questions)
- Give mock tests every week
- Check mistakes after every mock
- Read something daily for VARC
Quick Table
| Section | Topics | Questions |
| VARC | RC, Para Jumbles, Odd One | 24 |
| DILR | Charts, Puzzles, Games | 20 |
| QA | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry | 22 |
Final Words
CAT is not about learning big formulas. It is about practice, speed, and accuracy. If you understand the syllabus and work daily, you can crack CAT 2025.
