COMPLETE GUIDE TO CAT SYLLABUS 2024 – VARC, DILR, QUANTS
For any aspirant who wants to crack CAT 2024, understanding the CAT 2024 Syllabus is important for success in the exam. Whether you’re focusing on Quantitative Aptitude (QUANT), Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), or Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), this blog will provide you with all the essential information you need.
CAT 2024 SYLLABUS OVERVIEW
The CAT 2024 exam is structured into three main sections, each designed to test different skill sets. Let us first understand the types of questions asked under each section before we proceed to the detailed CAT 2024 Syllabus.
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC):
- Topics Covered: Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Verbal Reasoning, Sentence Correction, Para Jumbles, and more.
- Question Types: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Non-MCQs.
- Weightage: Approximately 24 questions, with a sectional time limit of 40 minutes.
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR):
- Topics Covered: Data Interpretation (Tables, Graphs, Charts), Logical Reasoning (Puzzles, Seating Arrangements, Syllogisms).
- Question Types: MCQs and Non-MCQs.
- Weightage: Around 20 questions, with a sectional time limit of 40 minutes.
- Quantitative Ability (QA):
- Topics Covered: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number System, Modern Math.
- Question Types: MCQs and Non-MCQs.
- Weightage: Approximately 22 questions, with a sectional time limit of 40 minutes
VARC CAT 2024 SYLLABUS
The VARC CAT 2024 Syllabus is a crucial part of your CAT preparation. This section, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), tests your proficiency in English language skills. Questions related to reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and verbal reasoning are part of the VARC section.
| CAT Section | Description |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | This section comprises of 4 RC passages which are usually 600-700 words long |
| Paragraph Jumbles (Para Jumbles) | Paragraphs are given in jumbled order to identify a logically coherent sequence |
| Summary | A summary for the given paragraph is to be selected from multiple options |
| Sentence Elimination (Odd One Out) | Sentences are given in jumbled order to identify an odd sentence out for a given paragraph |
| Others | • Paragraph Completion • Sentence Correction • Critical Reasoning • Fact Inference Judgement |
TOPIC-WISE NO. OF QUESTIONS: VARC CAT SYLLABUS 2024
Understanding the VARC CAT 2024 section will help you focus on the key areas and improve your performance. We have curated a list of important topics based on PYQs to help you excel in the VARC section of the CAT 2024 exam.
| CAT Section | Question Types | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4 MCQs based on each passage | 16 |
| Paragraph Jumbles (Para Jumbles) | 3-4 questions, usually TITA, involving rearrangement of sentences in the right order | 8 |
| Summary | 2-3 questions, MCQs, involving identification of the best summary for a given paragraph | |
| Sentence Elimination (Odd One Out) | 2-3 questions, involving identification of the odd sentence in a given set of sentences | |
| Others | • Paragraph Completion • Sentence Correction • Critical Reasoning • Fact Inference Judgement |
CAT 2024 VARC SYLLABUS – WEIGHTAGE AS PER PYQs
Examining past year trends in the VARC section of the CAT 2024 syllabus is crucial for effective preparation. By analysing the types of questions that have appeared in previous years, candidates can identify patterns and focus on the most frequently tested areas. This insight helps in understanding the examiners’ preferences and the level of difficulty to expect.
| Year | Reading Comprehension | Para Summary | Para Jumble | Odd One Out | Sentence Placement | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-2019 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 34 |
| 2020 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 26 |
| 2021 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 24 |
| 2022 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 24 |
| 2023 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 24 |
VARC CAT 2024 SYLLABUS – IMPORTANT TOPICS
After evaluating the PYQs, we have identified the key areas in VARC that frequently repeat in the papers. Below are the essential topics for VARC that you must cover for your CAT 2024 Preparation.
DILR CAT 2024 SYLLABUS
For anyone preparing for CAT 2024, getting a good grip on the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) syllabus is important. The DILR section can be tricky and unpredictable, often making a big difference in your overall score.
By understanding the syllabus, you can figure out which topics and question types come up frequently in the CAT Exam. This helps you focus your study time on the most important areas, making your preparation more efficient.
| Data Interpretation | Logical Reasoning |
|---|---|
| Bar graph | Direction- based puzzles |
| combination of graphs | Seating Arrangement |
| word problems | Grid Puzzles |
| Venn diagrams | Calendar |
| Tables | Sequencing |
| Pie charts | Games and Tournaments |
| Line graphs | Math Puzzles |
| Puzzles based on Visualization |
CAT 2024 DILR SYLLABUS – WEIGHTAGE AS PER PYQs
Given the vast nature of the topics the DILR Syllabus of CAT 2024, it is essential that we narrow down the syllabus to certain key topics by analyzing the PYQs.
| Topics | CAT 2021 | CAT 2022 | CAT 2023 | Total | ||||||
| Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | Slot 1 | Slot2 | Slot 3 | ||
| Routes and Networks | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | ||||||
| Tables | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 21 | |||||
| Scheduling, Optimization and Allocation | 4 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 24 | |||||
| Bar Graphs | 4 | 4 | 5 | 13 | ||||||
| Grids | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 26 | ||||
| Arrangements | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 23 | |||||
| Word Puzzle | 4 | 6 | 10 | |||||||
| Games and Tournaments | 0 | |||||||||
| Math Puzzles | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 24 | ||||
| Venn Diagrams | 5 | 5 | 10 | |||||||
| Pie Charts/Doughnut Charts | 0 | |||||||||
| Scatter Plot | 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| Coding/Decoding | 0 | |||||||||
| Radar Chart | 0 | |||||||||
| Gnatt Chart | 4 | 5 | 9 | |||||||
DILR CAT 2024 SYLLABUS – IMPORTANT TOPICS
Based on the repeated topics in PYQs and the weightage in CAT Exams, the important topics for the CAT 2024 Exam can be easily ascertained. The following are the DILR topics that you must study for CAT 2024 preparation.
QUANTS CAT 2024 SYLLABUS
The Quants CAT 2024 Syllabus includes topics like arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data interpretation. Let’s dive into the detailed syllabus and important topics to help you excel in the Quants section of the CAT 2024 exam.
| QA Topic | Key Concepts |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic | Mixtures, Averages, Ratios and Proportion, Simple Interest Compound Interest |
| Percentages, Time Speed Distance, Pipe Cisterns, Work Time, Profit and Loss | |
| Geometry | Triangles, Circles, Quadrilaterals, Mensuration, Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry |
| Algebra | Linear and Quadratic Equations, Functions, Polynomials, Inequalities, Arithmetic, and Geometric Progressions |
| Number Theory and Modern Math | HCF LCM, Factors and, Multiples Factorials, Remainders, Set |
| Theory Permutation Combination | |
| Probability | |
| Logarithms |
CAT 2024 QUANTS SYLLABUS – WEIGHTAGE AS PER PYQs
Analysing past Quants question will help you spot common question types, understand their difficulty, and focus on key topics. This strategy boosts your practice and confidence in your preparation for CAT 2024 Exam. Let’s explore the weightage of topics of CAT 2024 Quants Syllabus in the PYQs.
| Segment | Topic | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |||||||||
| Slot 1 | Slot2 | Slot 3 | Total | Slot 1 | Slot2 | Slot3 | Total | Slot 1 | Slot2 | Slot 3 | Total | ||
| Arithmetic | Ratios, Mixtures, Averages | 5 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| Percents, Profits, SICI | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | |
| Algebra | Speed, Time, Distance, Races | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Pipes, Cisterns, Work, Time | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| Linear and Quadratic | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | |
| Progressions | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| Polynomials | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | |
| Geometry | Inequalities | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Functions | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Logarithms and Exponents | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
| Geometry | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |
| Co-Geo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| Number Theory and Modern Math | Mensuration | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Trigonometry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Combinatorics | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Digits | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Factorials | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Factors | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
| Remainders | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Set Theory | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
QUANTS CAT 2024 SYLLABUS – IMPORTANT TOPICS
By analyzing the PYQs, we have made a list of essential topics and their probable weightage in the CAT 2024 Exam to help you prepare for your Quants CAT 2024 preparation.
| QA Topic | Approx. NO. Of Questions |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 10-11 |
| Geometry | 5-6 |
| Algebra | 6-8 |
| Number Theory and Modern Math | 2-3 |
CAT 2024 EXAM OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY
| Section | Duration | No of MCQs | No of TITA (Non MCQs) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 40 minutes | 20 | 4 | 24 |
| DILR | 40 minutes | 12 | 8 | 20 |
| QA | 40 minutes | 14 | 8 | 22 |
| Total | 120 minutes | 46 | 20 | 66 |
- Duration: Traditionally, the CAT Exam was a 3-hour (180 minutes), computer-based test, and it was never conducted offline. Since 2020, the exam duration has been reduced to 2 hours, a format expected to continue for CAT 2024.
- Paper Pattern: The exam comprises three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI/LR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). In recent years, the sections have been presented in the order of VARC first, followed by DILR, and then QA. Candidates cannot switch between sections, and there are no breaks in between.
- Question Types: The total number of questions is 66. Most of these are Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with four answer options, one of which is correct. About one-third of the questions are Type-In-The-Answer (TITA) questions, which are non-MCQs.
- Scoring: MCQs are awarded 3 marks for a correct answer and incur a penalty of 1 mark for an incorrect answer, while TITA questions do not have negative marking. For the QA and DI/LR sections, there is an on-screen calculator available.
