CAT Syllabus 2025 - The CAT exam date 2025 will be announced on the official website. Students preparing for the Common Admission Test exam must know that there is no defined CAT syllabus for MBA. However, the questions in the CAT exam 2025 are asked from mainly three subjects - Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). As per past trends, a total of 66 questions are asked in the CAT question paper.
The CAT syllabus 2025 comprises various topics and sub-topics from Maths, Reasoning, LRDI, and English. The CAT maths syllabus covers topics like Time and Speed, Time and Distance, Ratio and Proportion, Algebra, Geometry, Profit and Loss, Percentages, and more. The difficulty level of CAT Maths questions is uncertain and depends totally on the institute which is conducting the examination. Similarly, CAT LRDI questions include topics like Premise, Assumptions, Conclusion, Linear and Matrix Argument, Data Tables and Charts, Stacked and Composite Bar Charts, and more.
To cover the CAT English syllabus, it is important to read the newspaper daily to improve grammar, synonyms and antonyms, sentence correction, and reading comprehension. For more practice, aspirants must solve multiple CAT mock tests series available online (both free and paid). This will allow them to get an idea of the types of questions asked in the CAT exam.
CAT Syllabus 2025 (Download PDF)
In preparation for the CAT 2025 exam, the conducting IIM, will provide CAT mock test papers about 10-15 days prior to the exam date. These mock tests are invaluable resources for candidates as they provide insights into potential question distribution, thereby aiding in more effective preparation.
Also Read: CAT Exam Pattern 2025
The difficulty level of the CAT exam is usually moderate to high. Depending upon the preparation of the candidate, they may find any section to be difficult. Some aspirants find the CAT English section difficult, while some find Reasoning and Quant highly difficult. CAT English syllabus comprises Grammar, Reading Comprehension, Para jumbles, and more. The weightage for reading comprehension is high, hence students must practise it more often to score maximum marks.
CAT Syllabus 2025
CAT syllabus is divided into three subjects: VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension), LRDI (Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation), and Quant (Quantitative Aptitude). While there isn't an officially prescribed syllabus for the CAT 2025 exam, candidates should anticipate questions from various sub-topics within these subjects. The following table provides a breakdown of sub-topics for each subject:
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Section
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Important Topics
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Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
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Jumbled Paragraphs, Essence of Short Para, Picking out the out of context sentence, 4-5 RC Passages
|
|
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
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Charts, Tables, Graphs, Seating Arrangements, Family
Tree, Direction sense
|
|
Quantitative Ability (QA)
|
Arithmetic, Geometry, Mensuration, Algebra, Trigonometry |
CAT Syllabus PDF Download
Candidates can also access the CAT syllabus 2025 PDF free download for each section from the links given below:
CAT Syllabus for MBA: Subject/Topics Wise
The CAT exam doesn't have a set format; it covers a broad range of topics like reading comprehension, logical reasoning, data interpretation, and quantitative aptitude. Therefore, it's important for candidates to have a good understanding of key subjects in order to do well in the exam.
In the table below, aspirants can get a subject-wise subtopics for all the sections covered in the CAT examination:
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Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
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Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning Syllabus
|
Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus
|
|
English Usage or Grammar
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Tables
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Number Systems
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|
Vocabulary-Based (Synonyms/ Antonyms)
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Caselets
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Profit, Loss and Discount
|
|
Fill in the blanks
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Bar Graphs
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LCM and HCF
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|
Sentence Correction
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Line Charts
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Speed, Time and Distance
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|
Cloze Passage
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Column Graphs
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Percentages
|
|
Jumbled Paragraph
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Venn Diagrams
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Time and Work
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|
Meaning-Usage Match
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Pie Chart
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Ratio and Proportion
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|
Analogies or Reverse Analogies
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Other Basic Reasoning Questions
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Averages
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|
Summary Questions
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Calendars
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Quadratic Equations & Linear Equations
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|
Verbal Reasoning
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Number and Letter Series
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Complex Numbers
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|
Facts-Inferences-Judgments
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Clocks
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Simple and Compound Interest
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|
Reading Comprehension
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Venn Diagrams
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Logarithm
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| |
Cubes
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Sequences and Series
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| |
Seating Arrangement
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Inequalities
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| |
Binary Logic
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Probability
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| |
Logical Matching
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Surds and Indices
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| |
Logical Sequence
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Set Theory & Function
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| |
Syllogism
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Permutation and Combination
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| |
Logical Connectives
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Mixtures and Alligations
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| |
Blood Relations
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Trigonometry
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| |
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Coordinate Geometry
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| |
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Geometry
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| |
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Mensuration
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Ques) Has CAT Syllabus 2025 been released officially?
Ans) The CAT syllabus is not released officially by the conducting body. The information bulletin released by IIM Calcutta this year contains the eligibility criteria, registration process, application fees, and other details.
Ques) How CAT syllabus is determined?
As per past years question papers, the CAT exam consists of three sections Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Aptitude
Ques) How to download the CAT syllabus PDF?
Ans) The CAT syllabus PDF can be downloaded from the link given above.
Ques) What is the difficulty level of the CAT exam?
Ans) The difficulty level of the CAT exam is usually moderate to high. It may vary every year depending on several factors.
CAT Syllabus for LRDI
The LRDI section in the CAT exam consists of two parts: Logical Reasoning (LR) and Data Interpretation (DI). Interested candidates can check the CAT LRDI syllabus in the section below:
CAT Syllabus 2025: Logical Reasoning
- Critical Reasoning
- Blood Relations (Family Tree)
- Logical Sequence
- Assumption
- Premise
- Conclusion
- Linear and matrix arrangement
- Team Formation
- Direction sense and Decision Making
- Input-Output
- Clocks
- Calendars
- Binary logic
- Seating Arrangement
- Rows
- Set Theory, Venn Diagrams, Network Diagrams
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Puzzles
- Logical Reasoning based on Rankings
- Series
- Syllogism
- Cubes
CAT Syllabus 2025: Data Interpretation
- Data Tables
- Data charts
- Bar diagrams & Charts including Simple, Stacked, Composite Bar charts
- Pie charts
- Graphs – Line X-Y Graphs
- Data analysis and Data comparison among others
- Caselet based Data
CAT Syllabus for VARC
CAT VARC section consists of two parts, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension. Interested candidates can check the CAT VARC syllabus in the section below:
CAT Syllabus 2025: Verbal Ability
- Summarize the essence of a short paragraph in 2-3 questions.
- Arrange jumbled paragraphs and identify the out-of-context sentence in 2-3 questions.
- Correct errors in verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, and other parts of speech in sentences.
- Arrange sentences in a paragraph correctly, incorporating conditional sentences, time clauses, reported speech, and passive writing where appropriate.
- Determine the correct pair of words in vocabulary usage questions.
- Identify synonyms and antonyms in vocabulary usage questions related to reading comprehension passages.
- Fill in the blanks with appropriate vocabulary words.
- Complete the last sentence of paragraphs.
- Solve analogy questions.
- Analyze and answer questions related to critical reasoning.
- Fill in the blanks in sentence completion exercises.
- Differentiate between facts, inferences, and judgments.
- Identify and eliminate irrelevant statements in a passage.
- Utilize phrasal verbs correctly in sentences.
CAT 2025 Syllabus: Reading Comprehension
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CAT Reading Comprehension section may include passages of government policies like the Clean India Mission, the migration of people between countries, and the growing global intolerance that greatly influence social life, international relations, and government policies.
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Business and economic reading comprehension passages might cover topics such as global economic changes, economic development with potential environmental costs, the impact of demonetization in India, and wasteful government expenditures.
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The reading comprehension section also includes passages from renowned English literature books, articles authored by great philosophers and thinkers, and speeches given by influential personalities such as Charles Dickens, Aristotle, Martin Luther King, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, and Winston Churchill, among others.
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Science and culture-related passages explore the journey to the modern world and the consequences of advancing technology on traditional cultures.
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Abstract topics and fiction are also included in the reading comprehension syllabus for CAT. These passages challenge candidates to think critically and empathize with the author's perspective before answering the opinion-based questions.
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Historical events leading to social changes, like the French Revolution, War of Roses, and pivotal social changes in Indian history, along with insights shared by activists, remain relevant and are part of the reading comprehension material.
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Furthermore, the CAT exam may include reading comprehension passages from mythology. These passages aim to establish connections between mythological events and the current social structure, and candidates are expected to infer answers based on the given content.
CAT Syllabus for Mathematics
The CAT Quant Section includes questions from topics like number systems, trigonometry, algebra, probability, and others. Interested candidates can check the CAT Maths syllabus in the section below:
- LCM and HCF
- Percentages
- Profit and Loss
- Simple & Compound Interest
- Speed, Time and Distance; Time and Work; Averages; Ratio and Proportion and others
- Complex Numbers
- Logarithm; Progressions
- Number System
- Algebra
- Geometry/Mensuration
- Pure Math
- Venn diagrams-based questions
- Linear Equations; Quadratic Equations
- Mixtures and Alligations
- Co-ordinate Geometry
- Trigonometry
- Binomial Theorem
- Surds and Indices
- Inequalities
- Permutation & Combination
- Probability Functions
- Set Theory
CAT Topic Wise Weightage for Quant, VARC, and DILR
Understanding CAT section-wise weightage is one of the most important factors to plan the preparation for the CAT Entrance exam.
In the table below, we have performed a data interpretation to analyse the subject Wise weightage using the previous year's CAT question papers
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Subject
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Section-wise Question 2021
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Section-wise Question 2022
|
|
VARC
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26
|
24
|
|
LRDI
|
24
|
20
|
|
QA
|
26
|
22
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CAT Quant Topic Wise Weightage 2025
The quantitative ability section is curated to test the mathematical ability of the candidates. Although there is no set CAT QA syllabus, candidates must focus primarily on Arithmetic & Algebra, and Geometry and Number system.
In the table below, the candidate can find the topic wise expected number of questions in the quant section of the CAT exam:
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Topic Name
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Expected No. of Questions
|
|
Arithmetic
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8-9
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|
Algebra
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6-7
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|
Number System
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1-2
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|
Geometry & Mensuration
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4-5
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|
Modern Maths
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1-2
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CAT VARC Topic Wise Weightage
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) is designed to test English language skills through reading acumen. Candidates aspiring to appear for the CAT 2024 must focus their efforts on strengthening reading comprehension, verbal reasoning, grammar and vocabulary.
Based on the previous year's VARC question paper, the expected number of questions from each subtopic in CAT 2024 is provided in the table below:
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Topic Name
|
Expected No. of Questions
|
|
Reading Comprehension Passage-Based Questions
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16
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|
Para-Jumbles
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3-4
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|
Para-Summary
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3-4
|
|
Odd Sentences
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1-2
|
|
Others(Sentence Completion or Correction, Fill in the blanks, Vocabulary Based, etc.)
|
0-1
|
CAT LRDI Topic Wise Weightage
The LRDI section aims to test the reasoning skill of the candidates. This section is considered the toughest section in the overall admission test. Through the LRDI the Logical reasoning and Calculation skills of the candidates are analysed.
In the table below, candidates can find the DLIR topic-wise expected number of questions.
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Topic
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Expected Question
|
|
Seating Arrangement
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10-15
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|
Blood Relation
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4-8
|
|
Syllogism
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5-7
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|
Tables
|
3-5
|
|
Graphs
|
2-3
|
|
Data Case & Others
|
6-8
|
CAT Syllabus 2025 - Important Questions
Below are the few important questions for CAT exam asked in previous year paper:
| Subject |
Questions |
| CAT Maths Questions |
Let n be the least positive integer such that 168 is a factor of 1134 (n) If m is the least positive integer such that 1134 (n) is a factor of 168 (m), then m+n equals A) 9 B) 15 C) 12 D) 24
A mixture P is formed by removing a certain amount of coffee from a coffee jar and replacing the same amount with cocoa powder. The same amount is again removed from mixture P and replaced with the same amount of cocoa powder to form a new mixture Q. If the ratio of coffee and cocoa in the mixture Q is 16 :9, then the ratio of cocoa in mixture P to that in mixture Q is A) 1 : 3 B) 1 : 2 C) 5 : 9 D) 4 : 9
Gita sells two objects A and B at the same price such that she makes a profit of 20% on object A and a loss of 10% on object B. If she increases the selling price such that objects A and B are still sold at an equal price and a profit of 10% is made on object B, then the profit made on object A will be nearest to A) 42% B) 45% C) 47% D) 49%
|
| CAT VARC Questions |
On the basis of the nature of the relationship between the items in each pair below, choose the odd pair out: A Indian Ocean novels : Outward-looking B Postcolonial novels : Border-crossing C Indian Ocean world : Slavery D Postcolonial novels : Anti-colonial nationalism
All of the following claims contribute to the “remapping” discussed by the passage, EXCEPT: A) Indian Ocean novels have gone beyond the specifics of national concerns to explore rich regional pasts. B) the world of early international trade and commerce was not the sole domain of white Europeans. C) cosmopolitanism originated in the West and travelled to the East through globalisation. D) the global south, as opposed to the global north, was the frst centre of globalisation.
|
| CAT LRDI Questions |
A visa processing office (VPO) accepts visa applications in four categories - US, UK, Schengen, and Others. The applications are scheduled for processing in twenty 15- minute slots starting at 9:00 am and ending at 2:00 pm. Ten applications are scheduled in each slot. There are ten counters in the o ce, four dedicated to US applications, and two each for UK applications, Schengen applications and Others applications. Applicants are called in for processing sequentially on a first come-first-served basis whenever a counter gets freed for their category. The processing time for an application is the same within each category. But it may vary across the categories. Each US and UK application requires 10 minutes of processing time. Depending on the number of applications in a category and time required to process an application for that category, it is possible that an applicant for a slot may be processed later. On a particular day, Ira, Vijay and Nandini were scheduled for Schengen visa processing in that order. They had a 9:15 am slot but entered the VPO at 9:20 am. When they entered the office, exactly six out of the ten counters were either processing applications, or had finished processing one and ready to start processing the next. Mahira and Osman were scheduled in the 9:30 am slot on that day for visa processing in the Others category. The following additional information is known about that day. 1. All slots were full. 2. The number of US applications was the same in all the slots. The same was true for the other three categories. 3. 50% of the applications were US applications. 4. All applicants except Ira, Vijay and Nandini arrived on time. 5. Vijay was called to a counter at 9:25 am. |
How to Prepare for CAT Exam 2025?
The Common Admission Test (CAT) preparation requires two most important things - 1) Understanding of Concepts and 2) Consistent practice. Aspirants who are appearing for the CAT 2024 exam must be well aware of the different concepts of Quantitative Aptitude, LRDI, and Verbal Ability section by now. It is time to practice multiple CAT mock test series, solving question papers as the exam is around the corner and is scheduled for November 24, 2024.
The CAT exam stands apart from other entrance tests, often featuring questions that may be unfamiliar to aspirants. Each year, the exam tends to introduce something unique, making it essential for candidates to have a robust preparation strategy. To succeed, students must train their minds to tackle and understand complex problems presented in the exam.
CAT Books for LRDI, Maths, Reasoning, and English
Students preparing for the exam must know the best CAT books for preparation. They must look for the best CAT books for beginners before starting their preparation. Aspirants can easily cover their basic CAT syllabus for MBA from books like Quantitative Aptitude by Arun Sharma, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation by Nishit Sinha, and others.
