CAT Syllabus 2025: Check Section Wise Syllabus, Download Free PDF

CAT Exam Pattern 2025 is divided in three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. Each section can be further divided into sub-sections. Since CAT exam is held in three slots, there are minor changes in the exam pattern for each slot. Also, from year to year, there are minor changes in CAT exam pattern, but the overall structure has remained the same. 

CAT 2025 Exam pattern (expected) is given below. 

In the CAT exam, each correct answer earns 3 marks, while incorrect answers for MCQs result in a 1-mark penalty; however, unanswered questions and non-MCQs (TITA) do not have negative marking.

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Verbal Ability (VA) is a key part of the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section in the CAT exam. VA tests a candidate’s command over the English language, logical reasoning in language-based questions, and ability to analyze written information. 

Verbal Ability section includes topics such as Para Jumbles, Para Summary, and Odd One Out, which test a candidate's ability to structure information logically. CAT Verbal Ability section also has non-MCQ or TITA questions – read details below.  CAT Verbal Ability questions constitute about 30-35% share in Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) Section in the CAT exam. 

Base on previous year’s papers, CAT Verbal Ability Syllabus and type of questions is given below.

Read more about CAT Verbal Ability pattern, syllabus and preparation. 

Reading Comprehension (RC) is a very important part of the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section in the CAT exam. RC section involves reading passages from different subject areas such as literature, business, science, philosophy, and social sciences, and answering a set of questions that test candidate’s understanding. These passages test a candidate’s ability to understand complex information, identify key ideas, draw inferences, and evaluate arguments. 

• CAT RC passages are sourced from diverse areas, including:
• Social Sciences and Humanities – History, Philosophy, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, etc.
• Science and Technology – AI, Robotics, Space Science, Climate Change, etc.
• Business and Economics – Market Trends, Global Economy, Financial Systems, Corporate Strategies.
• Current Affairs and Politics – International Relations, Governance, Public Policy.
• Literature and Art – Literary Criticism, Classical Literature, Art History.

Based on CAT previous year’s papers, Question Types asked in Reading Comprehension section are as below.

• Main Idea-Based Questions – Identify the primary theme of the passage.
• Fact-Based or Detail-Based Questions – Ask for specific details from the passage.
• Inference-Based Questions – Require deriving conclusions beyond the explicit text.
• Tone and Attitude-Based Questions – Understanding the author's perspective (e.g., optimistic, critical).
• Vocabulary-Based Questions – Word meaning, contextual usage.
• Title-Based Questions – Choosing the most appropriate title for the passage.
• Logical Structure-Based Questions – Understanding the flow and coherence of ideas.

While there is no fixed syllabus for RC in CAT, according to previous year CAT exam analysis, we can understand topics which often appear in RC section. Some of the topics are given in the table below.

CAT Reading Comprehension Syllabus 2025 

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CAT logical reasoning syllabus includes topics that test a candidate’s ability to answer logical questions. While there is no fixed CAT LR syllabus, the key topics covered in this section are in table below.

Read more about CAT Logical Reasoning pattern, syllabus and preparation.