The CAT test will be held in November 2025 and will be held online in 170 cities. CAT registration will take place in August 2025 and will remain open until September 2025. Since it is one of the toughest exams globally, students must start their CAT preparation as early as possible. However, it is important that you shouldn't start your CAT preparation without analyzing the CAT syllabus, comprehending the CAT exam pattern, and analyzing the CAT 2024 examination.
Common Admission Test, or CAT, is an entrance test that is held every year by one of the IIMs in India in a computer-based format. The CAT is designed to test student’s verbal ability, quantitative ability, logical reasoning, and data interpretation skills.
The IIM Kozhikode is responsible for conducting the CAT 2025 exam. Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) introduced the CAT as a means of selecting candidates for their business administration courses. The CAT 2025 Syllabus and exam pattern describe the category of questions and sections that would be covered in the exam.
CAT Syllabus 2025 | Section Wise Highlights
- VARC: The VARC part of the CAT examination syllabus relevant to MBA research includes a number of topics related to Verbal Reasoning and Reading Comprehension. However, to properly tackle Reading Comprehension and Parajumbles, test-takers need to focus on their knowledge of English grammar and vocabulary as well. The section has 24 questions, around 12 to 14 of which are related to Reading Comprehension. Even though the CAT does not have direct grammar questions, the whole preparation process should be aimed at improving reading comprehension skills.
- Quantitative Aptitude: Quantitative Aptitude in CAT course contains all the topics of Class 9 and 10 Mathematics, such as Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra, Trigonometry, and Mensuration. However, these are not at elementary level. The candidates must make sure that they study all of Arithmetic since most of the questions are based on this subject only. Algebra and Geometry cannot be avoided as they have high weightage assigned to them.
- DILR: The CAT exam DILR syllabus contains topics that involve analytical reasoning to understand data presented in the form of Puzzles, Pie Charts, Tables, Bar Graphs, Coding-Decoding, Series, Family Trees, Blood Relations, Syllogism, etc. As the questions are provided in sets, practicing all kinds of DILR topics is important.
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CAT 2025 Syllabus: VARC
Check out the CAT syllabus 2025 for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) available in the table below.
CAT 2025 Syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude
Check out the CAT syllabus 2025 for Quantitative Aptitude provided in the table below.
CAT 2025 Syllabus: DILR
Check out the CAT syllabus 2025 for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) given in the table below.
CAT 2025 HIghest Weightage Topics
Students can check out the highest weightage topics in the CAT exam by going through the table available below.
CAT 2025 Exam Pattern 2025
Along with the syllabus of CAT 2025, candidates are advised to go through the exam pattern of CAT and analyze the same carefully to turn their preparation strategies into a right direction. Candidates can refer to the following table to check out the complete examination pattern along with the marking scheme.
CAT 2025 Preparation Strategies
- Check what you can already do and what you know in each of the three areas. Consider what you are good at and what you need to work on. This check will help you organize your study plan.
- For engineering students, the QA section might not be tough. Start with practicing fundamental concepts of mathematics of 10th grade, i.e., arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and number systems.
- Practice consistently to master math. Practice different types of problems on a regular basis to improve your speed and accuracy.
- Practice tests on a regular basis to see how you're doing and become familiar with the kinds of questions that arise on the exam.
- VARC is generally an easy section for non-engineering students as they are from various streams of study. Make reading a habit by reading magazines, newspapers, and novels to enhance your vocabulary and knowledge. Attempt to practice reading comprehension passages and verbal ability questions on a regular basis to enhance your speed and accuracy.
- Create a basic and practical study schedule for each section of the CAT exam. Give more time to the sections where you are weak and ensure invest time wisely for each section.
- Mock tests are extremely important for CAT preparation. Mock tests will help you in being aware of the type of exam, time management, and your weak areas as well.
- Joining a study group or a coaching class can provide you with additional zones to ask doubts and study actively. Candidates can also participate in group discussions to know what are some smart approaches to prepare for the CAT 2025.
- Time management is one of the most crucial steps one will take while studying. Students must not divide time unequally for any section and be prepared to solve all the sections.
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Best Books for CAT 2025 Preparation
Candidates should choose the best books to prepare for the CAT 2025. The following table contains some of the best and commonly popular books to cover CAT syllabus 2025.
Note: Applicants must start the preparation for CAT 2025 now as this is the ideal time to start preparing for the exam. Within a duration of 6 months, one can easily prepare with the right preparation strategies and ace the exam.
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