The CAT 2023 syllabus encompasses a broad range of topics and subtopics across three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). It’s important to note that the CAT syllabus 2023 is not explicitly defined, meaning questions could be drawn from an array of topics and subtopics. Typically, each section of the CAT question paper includes approximately 22 questions.
This year, the CAT exam 2023 is being organized by IIM Lucknow and is slated for November 26, 2023. In preparation for the exam, IIM Lucknow 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 2023
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.
CAT 2023 Syllabus
CAT syllabus 2023 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 2023 exam, candidates should anticipate questions from various sub-topics within these subjects. The following table provides a breakdown of sub-topics for each subject:
|
Section
|
Important Topics
|
|
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
|
Jumbled Paragraphs, Essence of Short Para, Picking out the out of context sentence, 4-5 RC Passages
|
|
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
|
Charts, Tables, Graphs, Seating Arrangements, Family
Tree, Direction sense
|
|
Quantitative Ability (QA)
|
Arithmetic, Geometry, Mensuration, Algebra, Trigonometry |
CAT 2023 Syllabus PDF
Candidates can also download the CAT syllabus PDF for each section from the links given below:
CAT 2023 Syllabus: Subject-wise Topics
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:
|
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
|
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning Syllabus
|
Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus
|
|
English Usage or Grammar
|
Tables
|
Number Systems
|
|
Vocabulary-Based (Synonyms/ Antonyms)
|
Caselets
|
Profit, Loss and Discount
|
|
Fill in the blanks
|
Bar Graphs
|
LCM and HCF
|
|
Sentence Correction
|
Line Charts
|
Speed, Time and Distance
|
|
Cloze Passage
|
Column Graphs
|
Percentages
|
|
Jumbled Paragraph
|
Venn Diagrams
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Time and Work
|
|
Meaning-Usage Match
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Pie Chart
|
Ratio and Proportion
|
|
Analogies or Reverse Analogies
|
Other Basic Reasoning Questions
|
Averages
|
|
Summary Questions
|
Calendars
|
Quadratic Equations & Linear Equations
|
|
Verbal Reasoning
|
Number and Letter Series
|
Complex Numbers
|
|
Facts-Inferences-Judgments
|
Clocks
|
Simple and Compound Interest
|
|
Reading Comprehension
|
Venn Diagrams
|
Logarithm
|
| |
Cubes
|
Sequences and Series
|
| |
Seating Arrangement
|
Inequalities
|
| |
Binary Logic
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Probability
|
| |
Logical Matching
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Surds and Indices
|
| |
Logical Sequence
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Set Theory & Function
|
| |
Syllogism
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Permutation and Combination
|
| |
Logical Connectives
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Mixtures and Alligations
|
| |
Blood Relations
|
Trigonometry
|
| |
|
Coordinate Geometry
|
| |
|
Geometry
|
| |
|
Mensuration
|
CAT 2023 Syllabus for LRDI
The CAT LRDI section consists of two parts: Logical Reasoning (LR) and Data Interpretation (DI). Interested candidates can check the CAT LRDI syllabus in the section below:
CAT 2023 Syllabus: 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 2023 Syllabus: 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 2023 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 2023 Syllabus: 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 2023 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 2023 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 2023 Syllabus: Subject-Wise Weightage
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
|
Subject
|
Section-wise Question 2021
|
Section-wise Question 2022
|
|
VARC
|
26
|
24
|
|
LRDI
|
24
|
20
|
|
QA
|
26
|
22
|
CAT Topic Wise Weightage: Quantitative Ability (QA)
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 CAT Quantitative section:
|
Topic Name
|
Expected No. of Questions
|
|
Arithmetic
|
8-9
|
|
Algebra
|
6-7
|
|
Number System
|
1-2
|
|
Geometry & Mensuration
|
4-5
|
|
Modern Maths
|
1-2
|
CAT Topic Wise Weightage: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) is designed to test English language skills through reading acumen. Candidates aspiring to appear for the CAT 2023 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 2023 is provided in the table below:
|
Topic Name
|
Expected No. of Questions
|
|
Reading Comprehension Passage-Based Questions
|
16
|
|
Para-Jumbles
|
3-4
|
|
Para-Summary
|
3-4
|
|
Odd Sentences
|
1-2
|
|
Others(Sentence Completion or Correction, Fill in the blanks, Vocabulary Based, etc.)
|
0-1
|
CAT Topic Wise Weightage: Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI)
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.
|
Topic
|
Expected Question
|
|
Seating Arrangement
|
10-15
|
|
Blood Relation
|
4-8
|
|
Syllogism
|
5-7
|
|
Tables
|
3-5
|
|
Graphs
|
2-3
|
|
Data Case & Others
|
6-8
|
