CAT 2026 Syllabus: Check VARC, DILR, QA Syllabus, Weightage, Exam Pattern, Books
- Cut Off for IITs
- IIM Kashipur Cut Off
- IIM Amritsar Cut Off
- IIM Nagpur Cut Off
- IIM Indore Cut Off
- IIM Udaipur Cut Off
- IIM Ranchi Cut Off
- IIM Raipur Cut Off
- IIM Jammu Cut Off
- IIM Bodh Gaya Cut Off
- IIM Kozhikode Cut Off
- IIM Sambalpur Cut Off
- IIM Bangalore Cut Off
- IIM Sirmaur Cut Off
- IIM Trichy Cut Off
- IIM Visakhapatnam Cut Off
- IIM Lucknow Cut Off
- IIM Shillong Cut Off
- IIM Calcutta Cut Off
- IIM Ahmedabad Cut Off
- IIM Rohtak Cut Off
Content Curator | Updated On - Aug 29, 2026
CAT syllabus 2026, according to the official website, includes Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. Topics covered in the CAT syllabus are not released by IIM Indore on the official website and can be determined based on previous years’ papers.
- CAT syllabus for Reading Comprehension includes topics like Science & Technology, Environment & Life Science, History, etc.
- Verbal Ability topics included in CAT syllabus 2026 are Para Summary, Para Jumbles, Para Completion, and Odd One Out.
- Frequently asked topics in the last 5 years in CAT DILR include Analytical Reasoning, Puzzles, Logic-Based DI, Line & Bar Charts, etc.
- Chapters included in CAT QA syllabus include Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry & Mensuration, Number Systems, and Modern Mathematics.
Related Articles
- CAT 2026 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
- Top 20 High Weightage Topics in QA for 99 Plus Percentile
- CAT Last 5 Years Analysis
CAT 2026 Previous Years’ Papers
CAT previous years’ papers will help you know the topics asked in the CAT examination. You will also be able to understand the difficulty level and type of questions asked in the examination. You can check the CAT previous years’ papers below.
| CAT Exam Year | CAT Question Papers |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Download PDF Here |
| 2024 | Download PDF Here |
| 2023 | Download PDF Here |
| 2022 | Download PDF Here |
| 2021 | Download PDF Here |
| 2020 | Download PDF Here |
| 2019 | Download PDF Here |
| 2018 | Download PDF Here |
| 2017 | Download PDF Here |
Key Summary
|
|---|
- Sections in CAT 2026 Syllabus
- CAT Syllabus for VARC
2.1 Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Reading Comprehension
2.2 Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Verbal Ability
- CAT Syllabus for DILR
3.1 Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Data Interpretation
3.2 Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Logical Reasoning
- CAT Syllabus for QA
4.1 Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Arithmetic
4.2 Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Algebra
4.3 Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Geometry and Mensuration
4.4 Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Number Systems
4.5 Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Modern Mathematics
4.6 CAT Books for QA
- CAT 2026 Section-Wise Question Papers
- CAT 2026 Mock Tests
- Preparation Strategy to Cover CAT Syllabus in 2 Months
- CAT Syllabus FAQs
Sections in CAT 2026 Syllabus
CAT syllabus 2026 has 3 sections as notified by IIM Indore on the official website. Sections included in CAT syllabus are VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension), DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning), and QA (Quantitative Aptitude).
You can check the weightage of each section in the CAT question paper in the table below.
| CAT Section | Weightage (Number of Questions) |
|---|---|
| VARC | 24 |
| DILR | 22 |
| QA | 22 |
| Total | 68 |
Ques. Is the CAT syllabus the same for freshers and working professionals?
Ans. Yes, the CAT syllabus is the same for all candidates. There is no variation in the syllabus for freshers and working professionals in CAT 2026.
CAT Syllabus for VARC
CAT syllabus for VARC is divided into two subsections, including Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability.
- In the CAT RC section, students will have to read passages and then answer questions based on the passage. Passages in CAT VARC are generally related to Science and Technology, Environment and Life Science, Social Science, Economics, etc.
- Verbal ability will include questions related to topics like Para Summary, Para Jumbles, Para Completion, and Odd One Out. Questions asked in this section will require students to summarize a paragraph, arrange jumbled sentences, complete paragraphs using sentences, and remove sentences that do not relate to paragraphs.
| Subsection | Topics |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension |
|
| Verbal Ability |
|
Source: YouTube
Ques. Does VARC have direct grammar/vocab questions?
Ans. No, in VARC, questions are mostly based on passages and paragraphs. There are no direct grammar and vocabulary questions asked in CAT VARC.
Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Reading Comprehension
| Reading Comprehension Topics | Weightage (Number of Passages) |
|---|---|
| Science and Technology | 0-3 |
| Environment and Life Science | 0-1 |
| Social Science and History | 0-1 |
| Art and Abstract | 0-1 |
| Economics and Management | 0-2 |
| Literature | 0-1 |
| Philosophy | 0-1 |
| Contemporary | 0-1 |
| Psychology | 0-1 |
| Politics | 0-1 |
| Total | 4 |
Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Verbal Ability
| Verbal Ability Topics | Weightage (Number of Questions) |
|---|---|
| Para Summary | 2-3 |
| Para Jumbles | 2-3 |
| Missing Sentence/Para Completion | 2-3 |
| Odd One Out | 2 |
| Total | 8 |
Source: YouTube
Ques. What Verbal Ability topics carry the highest weightage?
Ans. Verbal ability topics that carry the highest weightage include Para Summary, Para Jumbles and Para Completion. Each topic will carry around 2-3 questions in the CAT question paper.
Ques. How many RC passages appear in VARC?
Ans. In VARC, there will be around 3-4 passages in the RC section. Each passage will have 4 questions. In case of 3 passages, the total number of questions in VARC will be 22, and if there are 4 passages, there will be a total of 24 questions in the section.
CAT Books for VARC
| Book Name | Author/Publisher |
|---|---|
| How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT | Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay (McGraw Hill) |
| Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis |
| High School English Grammar and Composition | Wren & Martin |
| 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary | Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis |
| CAT Reading Comprehension | Nishit Sinha (Pearson) |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT | Nishit Sinha (Pearson) |
CAT Syllabus for DILR
CAT syllabus for DILR is also split into two subsections, including Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation. This section carries a total of 22 questions to be answered based on data sets provided.
- Logical Reasoning section of the CAT 2026 syllabus includes topics such as Analytical Reasoning, Puzzles, Mathematical Reasoning, Games and Tournaments, Sitting/Standing Arrangement, Order and Ranking, Set Theory (LR), Group Arrangement, and Binary and Conditional Logic
- Data Interpretation section includes topics such as Logic-Based DI, Line and Bar Chart, Data Tabulation, Caselets, and Pie Charts.
| Subsection | Topics |
|---|---|
| Logical Reasoning |
|
| Data Interpretation |
|
Source: YouTube
Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Data Interpretation
| Data Interpretation Topics | Weightage (Number of Data Sets) |
|---|---|
| Logic-Based DI | 1-2 |
| Line & Bar Charts | 1-2 |
| Data Tabulation | 0-1 |
| Caselets | 0-1 |
| Pie Charts | 0-1 |
| Total | 1-4 |
Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Logical Reasoning
| Logical Reasoning Topics | Weightage (Number of Data Sets) |
|---|---|
| Analytical Reasoning | 1-2 |
| Puzzles | 0-2 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 0-2 |
| Games & Tournaments | 0-1 |
| Sitting/Standing Arrangement | 0-1 |
| Order & Ranking | 0-1 |
| Set Theory (LR) | 0-1 |
| Group Arrangement | 0-1 |
| Binary & Conditional Logic | 0-1 |
| Total | 1-4 |
Source: YouTube
CAT Books for DILR
| Book Name | Author/Publisher |
|---|---|
| How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT | Arun Sharma (McGraw Hill) |
| How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT | Arun Sharma (McGraw Hill) |
| Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency | Ananta Ashisha (Pearson) |
| Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT | Nishit Sinha (Pearson) |
| A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal |
CAT Syllabus for QA
Syllabus for CAT QA is based on topics such as Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Number System, and Modern Mathematics.
- Topics asked in CAT Arithmetic include Ratio and Proportion, Average, Time, Speed, Distance, Profit and Loss, Time and Work, Percentage, Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Mixture and Alligation, Pipes and Cisterns/Clocks
- Algebra in CAT QA includes topics such as Equations and Polynomials, Progression and Series, Logarithms and Exponents, Functions and Graphs, Inequalities and Absolute Value.
- Topics covered in CAT QA for Geometry and Mensuration include Lines and Angles, Quadrilaterals, Circles, Coordinate Geometry, Polygons, and Mensuration.
- Number System in CAT QA syllabus includes topics such as Factors, Factorials, Miscellaneous, Properties and Simplification, Divisibility Rules, Remainders, HCF and LCM, and Number System Conversion
- Modern Mathematics includes topics like Miscellaneous (Modern Maths), Permutation, Combination and Probability, and Set Theory.
| Chapters | Topics |
|---|---|
| Arithemtic |
|
| Algebra |
|
| Geometry and Mensuration |
|
| Number Systems |
|
| Modern Mathematics |
|
Source: YouTube
Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Arithmetic
| Arithmetic Topics | Weightage (Number of Questions) |
|---|---|
| Ratio & Proportion | 1-3 |
| Average | 1-3 |
| Time Speed Distance | 1-3 |
| Profit & Loss | 1-3 |
| Time & Work | 1-3 |
| Percentage | 1-3 |
| Simple Interest, Compound Interest | 0-1 |
| Mixture & Alligation | 0-1 |
| Pipes & Cisterns / Clocks | 0-1 |
| Total | 7-11 |
Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Algebra
| Algebra Topics | Weightage (Number of Questions) |
|---|---|
| Equations & Polynomials | 2-4 |
| Progressions & Series | 2-4 |
| Logarithms & Exponents | 1-2 |
| Functions & Graphs | 1-2 |
| Inequalities & Absolute Value | 1-2 |
| Total | 5-9 |
Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Geometry and Mensuration
| Geometry and Mensuration Topics | Weightage (Number of Questions) |
|---|---|
| Lines & Angles | 1-2 |
| Quadrilaterals | 0-1 |
| Circles | 0-1 |
| Coordinate Geometry | 0-1 |
| Polygons | 0-1 |
| Mensuration | 0-1 |
| Total | 3-4 |
Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Number Systems
| Number Systems Topics | Weightage (Number of Questions) |
|---|---|
| Factors/Factorials | 0-2 |
| Miscellaneous | 0-1 |
| Properties & Simplification | 0-1 |
| Divisibility Rules | 0-1 |
| Remainders | 0-1 |
| HCF & LCM | 0-1 |
| Number System Conversion | 0-1 |
| Total | 1-4 |
Topic-Wise Weightage for CAT Modern Mathematics
| Modern Mathematics Topics | Weightage (Number of Questions) |
|---|---|
| Miscellaneous (Modern Math) | 0-1 |
| Permutation, Combination & Probability | 0-1 |
| Set Theory | 0-1 |
| Total | 1-2 |
Source: YouTube
CAT Books for QA
| Book Name | Author/Publisher |
|---|---|
| How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Arun Sharma (McGraw Hill) |
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | R.S. Aggarwal |
| Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT | Nishit Sinha (Pearson) |
| NCERT Mathematics (Class 6–10) | NCERT |
| Quantum CAT | Sarvesh Kumar Verma (Arihant) |
CAT 2026 Section-Wise Question Papers
| CAT Section | Question Paper |
|---|---|
| VARC | Download PDF |
| DILR | Download PDF |
| QA | Download PDF |
CAT 2026 Mock Tests
IIM Indore will release the CAT 2026 mock tests on the official website before conducting the actual CAT examination. You will be able to understand the exam pattern, types of questions, and know how to manage exam timings while appearing for the examination.
You can check links to the previous years’ CAT mock tests that you can attempt to analyze your preparation for the examination.
CAT 2023 Mock Test Links
| Particulars | CAT 2023 Mock Test |
|---|---|
| CAT 2023 Mock Test | Attempt Here |
| CAT 2023 Mock Test - For Other PwD Candidates | Attempt Here |
| CAT 2023 Mock Test - For PwD Candidates (Blindness and Low Vision) | Attempt Here |
CAT 2022 Mock Test Links
| Particulars | CAT 2022 Official Mock Test |
|---|---|
| CAT 2022 Mock Test | Attempt Here |
| CAT 2022 Mock Test - For PwD Candidates (Blindness and Low Vision) | Attempt Here |
| CAT 2022 Mock Test - For Other PwD Candidates | Attempt Here |
CAT 2021 Mock Test Links
| Particulars | CAT 2021 Official Mock Test |
|---|---|
| CAT 2021 Mock Test | Attempt Here |
| CAT 2021 Mock Test - For PwD Candidates (Blindness and Low Vision) | Attempt Here |
| CAT 2021 Mock Test - For Other PwD Candidates | Attempt Here |
Preparation Strategy to Cover CAT Syllabus in 2 Months
You can follow the strategy mentioned in the table below to cover the CAT syllabus in 2 months.
| Week | Focus | QA | DILR | VARC | Mocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Concept revision, not new learning | Revise Arithmetic, Algebra, Numbers (highest weightage) | Learn 15- 20 core DILR set patterns (seating, Venn, games & tournaments) | 2 RCs/day (untimed, focus on comprehension) + daily vocab | 1 sectional test every 2 days |
| 3–4 | Speed building | Timed topic-wise drills (Geometry, P&C, Modern Math) | Solve sets under time pressure; build 2-minute "attempt or skip" instinct | 3 RCs/day (20 min limit) + start Verbal reasoning (para-jumbles, summary) | 2 full mocks/week + immediate analysis |
| 5–6 | Full-syllabus integration | Mixed practice sets, no topic-wise drilling anymore | Full DILR sections timed, mixing easy/hard sets | 4 RCs/day (10 min limit), all VARC question types together | 3 full mocks/week |
| 7 | Weakness elimination | Redo every wrong mock question by topic | Same — rebuild only your 2-3 weak set types | Push RC accuracy, not new RCs | Full mock every alternate day |
| 8 | Consolidation + exam simulation | Only revise formula sheet & error log | Only revise error log | Light revision, no new material | 1-2 mocks max, rest = light revision + rest |
Also Read
CAT Syllabus FAQs
Ques. Is there an official CAT syllabus released by IIMs?
Ans. No, there is no official CAT syllabus released by IIMs. However, IIM Indore has released the CAT 2026 paper pattern, which states that the CAT question paper will comprise 3 sections: VARC, DILR, and QA.
Ques. How many questions are there in CAT 2026?
Ans. The total number of questions in the CAT 2026 exam is 66-68. VARC carries 22-24 questions, and DILR and QA each carry 22 questions. If the number of questions asked in VARC is 22, the total number of questions in CAT 2026 will be 66, and if 24 questions are asked in the section, the total number of questions in CAT 2026 will be 68.
Ques. What is the CAT 2026 exam duration and sectional time limit?
Ans. According to the CAT Press Release published by IIM Indore on 26 July on the official website, the total duration of the CAT 2026 exam will be 120 minutes. For each section, you will have 40 minutes to solve all questions.
Ques. What is the CAT marking scheme?
Ans. CAT exam will include MCQs and TITA questions, and the marking scheme for incorrect responses is different for each type of question.
- For MCQs, correct answers will be given +3 marks, and -1 mark will be deducted for each incorrect response, and 0 marks for unattempted questions.
- For TITA questions, you will get +3 marks for each correct answer and 0 marks for incorrect or unattempted questions.
Ques. Which topics carry the highest weightage in the CAT QA syllabus?
Ans. In the CAT QA syllabus, topics like Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and Mensuration carry the highest weightage. You can expect 7-11 questions from Arithmetic, 5-9 questions from Algebra, and 3-4 questions from Geometry & Mensuration.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
Ask your question
Answered Questions
Hey Khushi! You can practise NTA JEE main mock tests at your home as well as you can attempt them at the nearest test practise centre. The choice is entirely yours. You simply have to login with your credentials and make your choice.
Candidates can apply for the PDUSU admission online through the official website. Click on the 'Admission' link, and check for eligibility. Post checking the eligibility, click on the 'Apply Online' link, fill in the required details, and submit the y application after paying the specified fees. Applicants must also upload their recent photograph, signature, scanned copies of 10th, 12th, and degree certificates, fee payment challan, and Government ID proof.
Hello Abhishek! If you have successfully registered at the official NTA website to avail the facility of the Test Practice Centre then you can visit the Centre. Your parents may drop you at the test centre but they will not be allowed to enter the test centre during the exam or practise mock tests.
The selection process for admission to LNMU varies depending on the course:
- BTech - Candidates must have a valid JEE Main scorecard and register for counselling and seat allotment.
- MTech - Candidates must have a GATE scorecard and a relevant BTech/BE degree.
- MBA - Final selection is based on performance in entrance exams, group discussions, and personal interviews.
- UG - The merit list is based on intermediate marks, reservation, and your choice of college. After admissions are complete, spot admissions are based on the third merit list
- Other entrance exams accepted for admission to LNMU include MAT and CMAT.
For Undergraduate courses, applicants must have a completed 12th grade with 45% aggregate marks, 40% aggregate for restricted categories.
For Postgraduate courses, applicants must complete their graduation with at least 50% of their degree in their respective stream from an accredited university. 45% aggregate marks for SC/ST students.
Indian Institute of Science - [IISc]
Bangalore, KarnatakaIIT Madras - Indian Institute of Technology - [IITM]
Chennai, Tamil NaduIIM Bangalore - Indian Institute of Management
Bangalore, KarnatakaIndian Institute of Management - [IIMC]
Kolkata, West BengalIIMA - Indian Institute of Management
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
