CAT Syllabus 2024: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Preparation Tips, and Best Books
CAT or the Common Admission Test is an annual MBA entrance exam to get admission to 21 IIMs and other top management institutions of India like FMA, MDI, SPJMIR, etc. CAT is conducted once a year on the last Sunday of November in a computer-based mode. For 2024, the CAT exam will be conducted on 24th November 2024 by IIM-Calcutta. The article highlights the CAT syllabus 2024 along with preparation tips and books to follow.
To view complete details regarding CAT 2024 official notification and registrations read here.
CAT Syllabus 2024
The CAT exam syllabus has remained similar in recent years. It has three sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
Each section is timed separately at 40 minutes per section making it a 2-hour test. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and type-in-the-answer (TITA) questions, testing a candidate's aptitude across various domains.
CAT Syllabus For Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- The CAT Syllabus 2024 for VARC focuses on reading comprehension, critical analysis, and verbal reasoning. Tests proficiency in the English language and ability to understand and analyze written material.
- Number of Questions: 24
| Topic | Description | Weightage |
| Reading Comprehension (RC) | Passages followed by questions. Topics include economics, psychology, science, and literature. | 16 questions: 4 Reading Comprehension- 4 MCQ questions in each |
| Para Summary | Summarizing a given paragraph accurately. |
8 Verbal Ability Questions-
|
| Para Jumbles | Rearranging jumbled sentences to form a coherent paragraph. | |
| Sentence Completion | Fill in the blanks within a sentence with appropriate words or phrases. | |
| Odd one Out | Identifying the sentence that does not fit in a given paragraph. |
CAT Syllabus For Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Assesses the ability to interpret data and solve logical puzzles. Requires analytical thinking, pattern recognition, and decision-making skills.
- Number of Questions: 20
| Topic | Description |
| Tables And Charts | Interpreting data from tables, bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, etc. |
| Arrangement, Matrix, and Distribution | Circular arrangement, Linear arrangement, matrix puzzles, Time based puzzles |
| Caselets | Solving problem presented in the form of a case study |
| Logical and Miscellaneous Puzzles | Games and Tournaments, rankings, team formation, cubes, and dice |
| Routes and Network Diagram | Analyzing and interpreting network-based problems. |
| Venn Diagram | Using Venn diagrams to solve problems involving sets and groups. |
CAT Syllabus For Quantitative Ability (QA)
- CAT Syllabus 2024 for QA covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and number systems. Evaluate mathematical aptitude and problem-solving skills.
- Number of Questions: 22
| Topic | Description | Weightage |
| Arithmetic | Percentages, Profit and Loss, Ratio and Proportion, Averages, Mixture and Allegations, etc. | 8-10 Questions |
| Algebra | Equations, Inequalities, Functions, and progressions (AP & GP), logs, Trigonometry, Modulus, Maxima, Minima, Graphs, etc. | 6-8 Questions |
| Geometry | Properties of shapes, Volume, Area, and Perimeter (Mensuration, Geometric Concepts And Co-ordinate Geometry) | 3-4 Questions |
| Number System | Topics include divisibility, remainders, factors, and multiples, Eulers Number, HCF, and LCM. |
2-3 Questions |
| Modern Maths | Permutation and combination, probability, and set theory. |
1-2 Questions |
CAT 2024 Exam Pattern
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer-based test consisting of three sections. Below is the detailed exam pattern:
Total Duration
- 120 minutes (2 hours)
- Each section is timed separately with a duration of 40 minutes per section.
| Section | Number of Questions | Time Allotted (In Minutes) |
Marks |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 |
3 for every correct answer and -1 for every incorrect answer
|
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 40 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 40 |
Recent Changes in CAT Exam Pattern
The CAT Exam pattern was last changed during COVID-19. The paper was reduced to a two-hour test.
| ExamPattern | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| No. of Questions | 66 | 66 | 66 | 76 | 100 |
| Total Score | 198 | 198 | 198 | 228 | 300 |
| Exam Duration | 120 Min | 120 Min | 120 Min | 120 Min | 180 Min |
| 99%ile Score | 79 | 84 | 98 | 101 | 156 |
| Number of Questions in VARC | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 34 |
| Number of Questions in DILR | 20 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 32 |
| Number of Questions in QA | 22 | 22 | 22 | 26 | 34 |
Preparation Tips for CAT 2024
Each section has its preparation strategy. To start with:
- For VARC: Try to get a habit of reading diverse texts of science, philosophy, history, arts, genetics, etc. Use the “Skimming Technique” to read faster. Comprehension of the main idea of the text and the tone of the author is important. The past 7 years' resources for Reading Comprehension Passages are compiled here.
- For Quants: Algebra and Arithmetic comprise more than half of the paper. Your first target should be to get well-versed in these topics and attempt their topic tests. For the previous year's topic analysis and weightage, read here.
- For DILR: DILR has no set pattern and the type of questions have varied in recent years indicating an increase in the Level of Difficulty. Practice from diverse topics and sources setting a target of 3-4 sets per day. The last 7 year's questions and topics are briefed in this article.
Best Books For CAT 2024 Exam
To start with, you can refer to a few among these 15 must-read books for CAT.
- Quants- Arun Sharma, Nishant Sinha, or Sarvesh Kumar
- DILR- Arun Sharma R.S. Agarwal, Nishant Sinha
- VARC- Arun Sharma or Nishant Sinha and Word Power Made Easy
You should also check out our YouTube channel Test Prep by InsideIIM which hosts a wide variety of content relating to preparation strategies, previous year paper solutions, videos by Top CAT Mentors, and CAT Topper interviews.
Frequently asked questions
1. How many marks to target for getting 99 Percentile in CAT 2024?
According to the 2023 Score vs Percentile, one should target to get marks around 77-80 to get the 99th percentile. However, Score Vs. Percentile Differs according to the difficulty level of the paper.
2. What is the cut-off for top IIMs?
The cut-off for top IIMs ranges from 97-100 percentile for general candidates. For reservation category students it gets a little lower to the 94-96 percentile. However, getting a call from the top IIMs also depends on the student's academic performance and work experience.
3. Does CAT have a negative marking?
Yes, CAT has a negative marking of 1 for every incorrect answer. There is no (zero) marking for unattempted questions.
4. Are calculators allowed in CAT?
Yes, an onscreen calculator is provided.
5. Can an average student crack the CAT exam?
An average student can crack the exam with the right strategies. Try to maximize your percentile for getting a call at the top IIMs. CAT is a tough exam and requires a good amount of practice and understanding of topics.
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