CAT Syllabus 2024: The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of India’s most competitive and sought-after exams for entry into prestigious business schools, including the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). The CAT 2024 exam will take place on 24th November 2024, with registrations commencing on 1st August 2024 and ending on 20th September 2024. Conducted annually by one of the IIMs, the CAT evaluates candidates on three core sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
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In 2024, aspirants will face 66 questions to be answered in 120 minutes, and the exam will follow a fixed order for attempting sections. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of the CAT syllabus, offering you insights to prepare effectively and excel in each section.
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CAT Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
The CAT exam consists of two types of questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Type In Answer (TITA) questions. For MCQs, incorrect answers result in a negative marking of -1, while TITA questions have no negative marking. The marking scheme assigns +3 marks for each correct answer. Below is the detailed exam pattern:
| Section | Number of Questions | Type of Questions | Time (minutes) |
| VARC | 24 | MCQs & TITA | 40 |
| DILR | 20 | MCQs & TITA | 40 |
| QA | 22 | MCQs & TITA | 40 |
| Total | 66 | Both MCQs & TITA | 120 |
The total exam duration is 120 minutes with 40 minutes per section. PwD candidates receive extra time for each section.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
The VARC section holds significant weightage in the CAT syllabus. This section tests a candidate’s ability to comprehend passages and solve problems related to sentence structure, vocabulary, and reasoning. For CAT 2024, the VARC section includes 24 questions, of which 16 will likely be from Reading Comprehension (RC) and the remaining from Verbal Ability (VA).
Important Topics for VARC
- Reading Comprehension: Comprises passage-based questions that test comprehension skills.
- Para Jumbles: Arranging sentences to form a coherent paragraph.
- Para Summary: Summarizing passages.
- Odd Sentence Out: Identifying the sentence that doesn’t belong in a paragraph.
Topic-Wise Weightage and Difficulty Level
| Topic | Weightage | Type | Difficulty Level (LOD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 16 | MCQs | Easy to Medium |
| Para Jumbles | 2 | TITA | Easy to Medium |
| Para Summary | 2 | MCQs | Easy |
| Odd Sentence Out | 2 | TITA | Easy to Medium |
Pro Tip: Focus on practising reading comprehension as it carries the highest weightage.
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Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
The DILR section requires speed and accuracy to solve questions related to interpreting data and reasoning logically. The 20 questions in this section are evenly split between Logical Reasoning (LR) and Data Interpretation (DI). The CAT syllabus for DILR includes topics that challenge students to interpret graphs, solve puzzles, and visualise arrangements.
Important Topics for DILR
Logical Reasoning (LR)
- Arrangements: Circular, linear, and grid-based arrangements.
- Puzzles: Word puzzles, grid-based puzzles, etc.
- Scheduling: Time-based and event-based scheduling problems.
Data Interpretation (DI)
- Tables and Charts: Bar graphs, pie charts, line graphs, and scatter plots.
- Venn Diagrams: Interpretation of data using Venn diagrams.
- Caselets: Word-based data interpretation sets.
Topic-Wise Weightage and Difficulty Level
| Topic | Weightage | Type | Difficulty Level (LOD) |
| Logical Reasoning (Arrangements) | 5 | MCQs | Medium to Difficult |
| Data Interpretation (Graphs) | 5 | MCQs | Medium |
| Logical Reasoning (Puzzles) | 5 | TITA | Difficult |
| Data Interpretation (Caselets) | 5 | TITA | Medium |
Pro Tip: Practice sets of four to five questions to improve your ability to tackle interconnected problems within a limited time.
Quantitative Ability (QA)
The Quantitative Ability (QA) section is often considered the most challenging part of the CAT syllabus, especially for non-math backgrounds. This section focuses on a variety of mathematical concepts with an emphasis on algebra and arithmetic.
Important Topics for QA
- Arithmetic: Covers averages, percentages, ratios, and more. 40% of the questions come from this section.
- Algebra: Focuses on equations, inequalities, and functions. 25% of the questions are from algebra.
- Geometry: Includes both 2D and 3D geometry, with 20% weightage.
- Number Theory: Questions on divisibility, remainders, and more.
- Modern Math: Topics like probability, permutations, and set theory make up 10% of this section.
Topic-Wise Weightage and Difficulty Level
| Topic | Weightage | Type | Difficulty Level (LOD) |
| Arithmetic | 40% | MCQs | Medium |
| Algebra | 25% | TITA | Medium to Difficult |
| Geometry | 20% | MCQs | Medium |
| Number Theory | 10% | MCQs | Easy |
| Modern Math | 5% | MCQs | Medium |
Pro Tip: Master the basics of arithmetic and algebra as they contribute the most to your overall score.
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Conclusion
The CAT 2024 syllabus is comprehensive and demands thorough preparation across all three sections. The key to acing the exam is time management, conceptual clarity, and regular practice. Focus on high-weightage topics such as reading comprehension, data interpretation, and arithmetic. By approaching the CAT syllabus methodically, you can enhance your chances of scoring high and securing admission to your desired business school.