Time allotted 2 hours
Total No. of Questions 66
No. of Questions Section-wise
VARC: 24
DILR: 20
QA: 22
Time allotted per section :40 minutes each
Mode of Examination: Computer-based
Medium of Examination:English
CAT Syllabus 2023: Overview
Given the vastness of the CAT Exam Syllabus, aspirants need to understand how to maximize their scores in each section. The preparation for the exam can be strengthened by understanding the section-wise breakage of CAT along with the weight various sections and topics hold.
Section MCQs Non-MCQs Total Question Details
VARC 19 5 24 4 passages of RC with 4 questions each. 3 Para jumbles,
2 para completions, 3 Para summary
DILR 15 5 20 4 sets of 5 questions each covering topics of bar graphs, missing data and puzzles
QA 14 8 22 Dominated by arithmetic and algebra with 4 questions of geometryTotal481866
CAT VARC Syllabus 2023
The VARC section is the first section of the exam which must be completed in 40 minutes. The Reading Comprehension part of the section dominates with approximately 70% weightage of the total score of this section. Given below are the topics that should be covered in the CAT VARC syllabus 2023:
CAT VARC Syllabus
Jumbled Paragraph
Reading Comprehension
Summary Questions
Para Completion
Odd-sentence-out
CAT DILR Syllabus 2023
The second section of the CAT exam, the DILR section is the most undefined as compared to the other sections in the CAT Exam Syllabus. The two subsections of the DILR section in the CAT syllabus 2023 are:
Data Interpretation: Data will be presented in the form of a graph, chart, or another form of visualization and you will be required to solve the questions given based on the information given.
Logical Reasoning: Here you may be given information in a non-structured manner and you may be required to structure it and derive the outcome to solve the questions given.
Given below is a brief overview of the topics covered for the CAT DILR syllabus-
CAT DILR Syllabus
Tables
Caselets
Logical Sequence
Bar Graphs
Line Charts
Syllogism
Column Graphs
Venn Diagrams
Logical Connectives
Pie Charts
Calendars
Blood Relations
Number and Letter Series
Clocks
Binary Logic
Cubes
Seating Arrangement
Logical Matching
The number of questions in the DI and LR sub-sections are generally equally distributed, which means that the students who are more comfortable in one of the sub-sections can still clear the cut-off if they attempt that part of the CAT 2023 Paper well.
However, the CAT DILR Section has been changing slightly in recent years. The questions are a combination of DI and LR rather than the regimented, separate DI and LR questions that were tested earlier.
CAT Quant Syllabus 2023
The CAT QA Syllabus has the maximum portion since it covers everything related to mathematics that one studies in school. Some of the major topics in the CAT QA Syllabus are:
Arithmetic: This topic covers the maximum number of questions in most of the CAT Exams and is a topic that all students should prepare for.
Algebra: This topic has the second-highest weightage in terms of the questions asked in the CAT Exam.
Numbers: These are topics that are regularly tested in the CAT Exam and every aspirant should be clear about the basics of the topics to not lose out on easy marks.
Geometry: This is another regularly tested topic that consists of Geometry, Coordinate Geometry and Mensuration. Having a basic knowledge of the topic will allow aspirants to attempt at least a few questions from the topic in the CAT 2023 Exam.
Some of the topics covered in the CAT quant syllabus are as follows:
CAT Quant Syllabus
Number Systems
HCF & LCM
Profit, Loss and Discount
Speed, Time & Distance
Percentages
Simple and Compound Interest
Averages
Ratio & Proportion
Time & Work
Linear Equations
Quadratic Equations
Complex Numbers
Logarithm
Sequence and Series
Inequalities
Surds & Indices
Probability
Permutation and Combination
Set Theory & Function
Coordinate Geometry
Geometry
Mixtures and Alligations
Mensuration
Trigonometry
CAT Syllabus 2023: Preparation Tips
Here are a few tips for CAT aspirants to prepare the CAT syllabus 2023-
Understand the CAT Syllabus and Exam Pattern: Before starting your CAT preparations, it is imperative that you familiarise yourself with the syllabus and exam pattern to identify the best strategy to study.
Acquire the Habit of Reading: The reading comprehension section focuses on reading as one of the most essential skills. Candidates can improve their speed, grammar and vocabulary by regularly reading books, newspapers etc.
Familiarize yourself with Equations and Maths Calculations: For the mathematical portion of the exam, aspirants must be quick and accurate at mental calculations. Memorizing formulae and practicing equations will help with speed and accuracy.
Practice Mocks and Previous Year Papers: Aspirants should regularly practice mocks and previous year papers to analyze their performance and familiarise themselves with the CAT paper.
CAT Syllabus 2023: Latest Changes
The CAT syllabus has observed no changes over the past few years. However, the CAT exam pattern has gone through a few changes including a change in the number of questions and the time limit of the exam. So, before you start your CAT journey it is ideal that you are well-versed with the latest exam pattern and syllabus.
Number of Questions Time Allotted
CAT 2021-2022 66 2 hours
CAT 2020 76 2 hours
CAT 2015-2019 100 3 hours
CAT 2014 100 2 hours 50 minutes
CAT 2013 60 2 hours 20 minutes
Conclusion
There is no CAT Syllabus 2023 that is explicitly mentioned on the CAT Official Website due to the fact that CAT does occasionally pull a surprise on the candidates. However, every question in the CAT is solvable since it tests the candidates' knowledge of the basics. Therefore, every candidate should ensure that they are thorough in terms of their preparation for the basics. If the aspirant prepares according to the CAT syllabus, the room for unpleasant surprises is greatly reduced.