CAT 2026: Syllabus and Exam Pattern

IIMs do not publish a detailed, topic-wise syllabus for CAT. The topics listed in this guide are based on previous CAT papers and represent the concepts and question types that are commonly tested.

Please note that CAT does not follow rigid topic boundaries. Questions can combine concepts from different areas, and the exam can introduce unfamiliar applications of familiar concepts. Understanding the underlying concepts is therefore more important than preparing for a fixed list of topics.

CAT Exam Pattern

Section	Questions	Time	Marks
VARC	24	40 min	72
DILR	22	40 min	66
QA	22	40 min	66
Total	68	120 min	204

Points to Note:

Due to sectional time limits, the students cannot switch between sections
The order of the sections in the CAT exam is fixed: VARC -> DILR -> Quant
Once the sectional timer ends, you are moved to next section automatically
The number of MCQs and TITA (Type in the answer) type is not fixed and tends to very every year
In the last few years, almost 25-33% of the questions have been non-MCQ (TITA) type
+3 / -1 marking for MCQs and no negative marking for TITA
Exam is conducted in 3 slots: 8:30 – 10:30 AM (morning), 12:30 – 2:30 PM (afternoon), 4:30 – 6:30 PM (evening)

Quant Syllabus

Topics	Sub-Topics	Number of Questions
Arithmetic	Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Averages, Profit & Loss, SI & CI, Time-Speed-Distance, Time & Work, Mixtures & Alligation, Ages	7-9
Number System	Divisibility, HCF & LCM, Remainders, Factors, Factorials, Number Properties	2-4
Algebra	Equations, Inequalities, Functions, Logarithms, Progressions, Surds & Indices, Modulus, Maxima & Minima	5-6
Geometry	Triangles, Circles, Quadrilaterals, Polygons, Coordinate Geometry, Mensuration	3-4
Modern Math	Permutation & Combination, Probability, Set Theory	1-2

DILR Syllabus

Boundaries between data interpretation and logical reasoning have been dissoved by CAT years back. Every question in the CAT these days is a mixed concept across various topics from DI and LR.

Topics	Number of Questions
Data Interpretation – Charts, Caselet, Tables	3 – 8
Distribution Allocation	0 – 4
Grouping & Selection	0 – 4
Arrangements	0 – 4
Matching Puzzles (Logic Grid)	0 – 4
Order and Ranking	0 – 4
Route & network	0 – 4
Scheduling	0 – 4

VARC Syllabus

Topics	Number of Questions
Reading Comprehension	16
Para-Jumbles	1 – 3
Paragraph Summary	1 – 3
Odd Sentence	1- 3
Missing Sentence	1 – 3
Critical Reasoning	0 – 1

Normalization Process

Since CAT is conducted in multiple sessions, the difficulty level of the question paper may vary slightly across sessions. To account for these differences, the IIMs use a normalization process to adjust candidates’ raw scores across different sessions before calculating their scaled scores and percentiles.

Raw Score: The raw score is calculated for each section based on the number of questions one answered correctly, incorrectly, or left attempted. Candidates are given +3 points for each correct answer and -1 point for each incorrect answer ,no negative marking for TITA ( Type in the Answer) questions . No points are given for questions that are not answered.

Question Type	Mark Allotted
Correctly Attempted Question (MCQs & TITA)	3 Marks
Incorrectly Attempted MCQs	-1 Marks
Incorrectly Attempted TITAs	0 Marks
Unattempted Question (MCQs & TITA)	0 Marks

Scaled Score: Once raw scores are calculated , they are adjusted through a process called equating. Equated raw scores are then placed on a common scale or metric to ensure appropriate interpretation of the scores. This process is called scaling.

Normalization ensures that candidates are evaluated fairly even when they have taken different versions of the CAT question paper. The exact normalization methodology and parameters are determined by the IIM conducting CAT for that year.

The stated scores of CAT are a result of scaling and normalization based on the performance of candidates appearing in multiple sessions. Most of the institutes set their cut-offs based on CAT percentiles.

Topic Breakdown for thorough Preparation

Quant

A. Arithmetic

Percentages

Basic percentage calculations
Percentage increase and decrease
Successive percentage changes
Percentage comparison
Population / growth / depreciation
Election and survey problems
Percentage applications

Ratio, Proportion & Variation

Ratios
Proportions
Direct proportion
Inverse proportion
Compound ratios
Ratio-based comparisons
Partnership
Division in a given ratio

Averages

Simple average
Weighted average
Combined average
Average replacement
Average of groups
Applications of averages

Profit, Loss & Discount

Cost price, selling price and marked price
Profit and loss percentage
Successive discounts
Markup and discount
Dishonest dealer problems
Profit/loss based on quantity or weight

Simple & Compound Interest

Simple interest
Compound interest
Difference between SI and CI
Compounding frequency
Growth and depreciation applications

Time, Speed & Distance

Basic speed-distance-time
Relative speed
Meeting and crossing
Trains
Boats and streams
Circular tracks
Races
Average speed

Time & Work

Work and efficiency
Combined work
Individual work rates
Work equivalence
Alternate working
Pipes and tanks
Wages and work

Mixtures & Alligation

Basic mixtures
Weighted mixtures
Alligation
Replacement
Repeated replacement
Concentration problems

Problems on Ages

Present ages
Past and future ages
Ratios of ages
Average age
Age-based equations

B. Algebra

Linear Equations

Linear equations in one variable
Simultaneous linear equations
Equations in two or more variables
Word problems involving linear equations

Quadratic Equations

Roots of quadratic equations
Nature of roots
Relationships between roots and coefficients
Quadratic equations from word problems

Inequalities

Linear inequalities
Quadratic inequalities
Range of values
Multiple inequalities
Absolute-value inequalities

Algebraic Identities & Expressions

Algebraic identities
Factorisation
Expansion
Simplification
Algebraic manipulation

Surds & Indices

Laws of indices
Fractional indices
Surds
Rationalisation
Simplification involving surds

Logarithms

Logarithmic laws
Change of base
Logarithmic equations
Logarithmic inequalities
Applications of logarithms

Functions

Function notation
Domain and range
Composition of functions
Inverse functions
Functional equations
Graphs of functions

Modulus

Modulus equations
Modulus inequalities
Graphical interpretation
Piecewise expressions

Sequences & Series

Sequences
Arithmetic Progressions
Geometric Progressions
Harmonic Progressions
Sum of series
Special series
Recurrence-based problems

Maxima & Minima

Algebraic maxima/minima
Inequality-based optimisation
Function-based optimisation

Graphs

Graph interpretation
Linear graphs
Quadratic graphs
Graph transformations
Intersection of graphs

C. Geometry & Mensuration

Lines & Angles

Lines
Parallel lines
Transversals
Angles
Angle relationships

Triangles

Properties of triangles
Congruence
Similarity
Pythagorean theorem
Special triangles
Area of triangles
Ratio of areas
Medians
Altitudes
Angle bisectors
Centres of triangles

Quadrilaterals

Properties of quadrilaterals
Parallelograms
Rectangles
Squares
Rhombus
Trapezium
Areas

Polygons

Regular polygons
Interior and exterior angles
Diagonals
Polygon areas

Circles

Chords
Tangents
Secants
Angles in circles
Cyclic quadrilaterals
Lengths and areas
Circle intersections

Coordinate Geometry

Coordinate plane
Distance formula
Section formula
Slope
Straight lines
Equations of lines
Coordinate-based geometry

Mensuration

Perimeter and area
2D figures
Cubes and cuboids
Cylinders
Cones
Spheres
Surface area
Volume
Combined figures

D. Number System

Number Properties

Natural, whole and integers
Rational and irrational numbers
Even and odd numbers
Positive and negative numbers
Prime and composite numbers
Factors and multiples

Divisibility

Divisibility rules
Factorisation
Number properties

HCF & LCM

HCF
LCM
Relationship between HCF and LCM
Applications

Remainders

Basic remainder concepts
Modular arithmetic
Remainder of powers
Cyclicity
Remainder-based equations

Factors & Factorials

Number of factors
Sum of factors
Prime factorisation
Factorials
Highest power of a prime
Trailing zeroes

Units / Digits

Unit digit
Last two/three digits
Digit-based problems
Digit sums

Bases

Number representation
Base conversion
Operations in different bases

E. Modern Mathematics

Permutation & Combination

Fundamental counting principle
Arrangements
Selections
Circular arrangements
Repetition
Restrictions
Distribution

Probability

Basic probability
Conditional probability
Independent events
Complementary probability
Counting-based probability

Set Theory

Sets
Union and intersection
Venn diagrams
Inclusion-exclusion
Complement of sets
Set-based counting

Miscellaneous

Mathematical reasoning
Clocks
Calendars
Basic statistics
Quantitative puzzles

LRDI

A. Data Interpretation

Tables

Simple tables
Comparative tables
Multi-variable tables
Missing data
Data sufficiency within tables

Charts

Bar graphs
Line graphs
Pie charts
Combination graphs
Stacked charts
Radar / spider charts

Caselets

Paragraph-based data
Numerical caselets
Conditional caselets
Multi-variable caselets

Quantitative DI

Percentages
Ratios
Averages
Growth rates
Profit/loss
Time-based data
Approximation and calculation

Data-Based Reasoning

Data comparison
Ranking
Maximum/minimum
Conditional data
Missing information
Data consistency

B. Logical Reasoning

Arrangements

Linear arrangements
Circular arrangements
Matrix arrangements
Floor-based arrangements
Grouping arrangements

Distribution

Distribution of people/items
Allocation
Selection
Group formation
Multiple conditions

Scheduling

Days
Months
Time slots
Events
Multiple constraints

Games & Tournaments

Matches
Points tables
Rankings
Wins/losses/draws
Tournament constraints

Routes & Networks

Routes
Networks
Connections
Shortest paths
Movement

Ranking & Ordering

Relative ranking
Ordering
Comparisons
Position-based problems

Venn Diagrams & Set-based Reasoning

Two-set problems
Three-set problems
Overlapping groups
Inclusion-exclusion

Selection & Conditional Logic

Selection problems
Binary conditions
Yes/no constraints
Either/or conditions
Dependencies

Puzzles

Multi-condition puzzles
Grid puzzles
Matching problems
Constraint-based puzzles

VARC

A. Reading Comprehension

Passage Types

Philosophy
Psychology
Sociology
Economics
Business
History
Science
Technology
Environment
Politics / society
Art and culture
Literature
Abstract / interdisciplinary topics

RC Question Types

Main idea
Central argument
Author’s purpose
Inference
Explicit information
Implication
Tone
Attitude
Application
Strengthen / weaken
Statement-based questions
“Which of the following…” reasoning
Passage structure
Role of a paragraph / sentence
Meaning in context

RC Skills

Identifying the central argument
Distinguishing main ideas from supporting details
Making valid inferences
Understanding author’s viewpoint
Tracking arguments
Eliminating incorrect options
Reading for structure

B. Verbal Ability

Para Summary

Identifying the central idea
Eliminating extreme options
Identifying irrelevant information
Distinguishing examples from arguments

Para Jumbles

Sentence sequencing
Mandatory pairs
Opening and closing sentences
Pronoun/reference links
Logical connectors
Chronological relationships
Cause-effect relationships

Odd Sentence Out

Identifying the common theme
Sentence grouping
Logical continuity
Identifying the unrelated sentence

Sentence Placement

Identifying contextual links
Pronoun/reference clues
Transitional words
Logical flow

Vocabulary & Usage

Vocabulary in context
Word usage
Meaning of words
Idiomatic usage

Grammar

Sentence structure
Subject-verb agreement
Pronouns
Modifiers
Parallelism
Tenses
Prepositions
Articles
Conjunctions