CAT 2025 Topic-wise Weightage for VARC, DILR, and QA

Common Admission Test (CAT)

Last Date to Apply
20th September, 2025

Ridhima Jindal
Ridhima Jindal

Table of Content

CAT Topic-Wise Weightage: The CAT Topic wise weightage refers to the weightage or importance that each topic carries. The topic-wise weightage for CAT 2025 may vary slightly from year to year, but this is a general overview of what a candidate can expect. It is important to note that the difficulty level of the questions in each section will also vary, so it is important to be prepared for a range of question types. This analysis can help the candidates assess the topics that require more attention than others.

Also See: CAT Exam Centres

CAT Weightage

If the candidates are aiming for a high percentile in CAT, it is important to focus on all three sections. However, you may want to focus more on the sections that you are weaker in. For example, if you are struggling with Quant, you may want to focus more on that section. It is also important to practice answering questions under timed conditions. The CAT is a 3-hour exam, so it is important to be able to manage your time effectively. You can practice answering questions under timed conditions by taking practice tests or by using online CAT preparation tools.

Are you confused whether to take the CAT exam or not? Get your answers on this link.

CAT Topic Wise Weightage 2025 - At A Glance

Subject/ Section

Important topics

Weightage in CAT Exam

Verbal Ability

Para summary, Para jumbles, Inferences and Sentence Completion

10%

Reading Comprehension

Questions based on passages, order of sentences, para meaning.

24%

Data Interpretation

Tables, Pie Charts, Graphs, Venn Diagram

16%

Logical Reasoning

Seating Arrangement, Blood Relation, Syllogism And Caselets

16%

Quantitative Aptitude

Geometry, Arithmetic, Algebra, Mensuration, Number System

34%

CAT Topic-Wise Weightage

The topic-wise weightage for each of the three sections is explained in brief below. The section aims to help the candidates understand and assess which topics carry the most weightage and what kind of attention they require.

Quantitative Aptitude (QA): 35%

  • Number Systems: 25%
  • Algebra: 25%
  • Geometry and Mensuration: 25%
  • Probability and Statistics: 25%

CAT Quant Preparation Tips - Read Here

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): 35%

  • Reading Comprehension: 50%
  • Verbal Ability: 50%

CAT Verbal Ability Preparation - Read Here

CAT RC Preparation - Read Here

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): 20%

  • Data Interpretation: 60%
  • Logical Reasoning: 40%

CAT Data Interpretation Preparation - Read Here

CAT Logical Reasoning Preparation - Read Here

CAT Topics Weightage - Past Year Analysis

The past year analysis of the CAT topics and their weightage will not only help the candidates analyse what topics need to be studied rigorously and what topics can be studied less rigorously. Check the CAT topic-wise weightage for the previous years below.

CAT 2023 Weightage - Quant

The below table presents the data for 2023 CAT Quantitative Aptitude section which is helpful in analysing the topics one should cover.

Topic Name

Slot 1

Slot 2

Slot 3

Arithmetic
Time, Speed, Distance, Time and Work, Ratio, Simple Interest & Compound Interest, PLD, Mixture, Clock

9

9

8

Algebra Log/Equations, Surds/Sequence/Series

8

7

7

Geometry and Mensuration

3

3

3

Number System

1

3

4

Modern Maths

1

NA

NA

CAT Topic Wise Weightage 2022

Check the CAT 2022 topic-wise weightage for each of the three sections detailed below for easy reference and understanding.

CAT 2022 Topic Wise Weightage for Quant

Slots

Topics

Number of Questions

Weightage (%)

Slot 1

Arithmetic

8

36

Geometry and Mensuration

3

14

Algebra

8

36

Modern Math

2

9

Number Systems

1

5

Slot 2 & 3

Arithmetic

9

41

Geometry and Mensuration

4

18

Algebra

7

32

Modern Math

1

5

Number Systems

1

5

CAT 2022 Topic Wise Weightage for VARC

Slots

Topic

No. of Questions

Weightage (%)

Slots 1, 2 and 3

Reading: Comprehension Passages

16

68

Para Summary

3

12

Para Jumbles

3

12

Para Completion or Odd Sentences Out

2

4

CAT Topic Wise Weightage 2022 for DILR

Slots

Topics

Number of Questions

Slot 1

University Teams

5

Token Value

5

DI- Metro Lines

5

LR Set- 15 girls get together

5

Slot 2

DI- Company Revenue and Cost

5

LR- Salesmen + 4 Companies

5

DI- Cosmetic Sales

5

Diagram based LR Set- Widget Supplies

5

Slot 3

DI Based on Graph- Gender + Colour

5

LR- Games and Tournament- 4 People

5

DI- Ratio based

5

LR- COVID Cases

5

CAT Topic Wise Weightage 2021

Check the CAT 2021 topic-wise weightage for each of the three sections detailed below for easy reference and understanding.

CAT 2021 Topic Wise Weightage for Quantitative Aptitude

Slots

Topics

Number of Questions

Weightage (%)

Slot 1 and 2

Arithmetic

11

50

Geometry and Mensuration

3

13.6

Algebra

5

22.8

Modern Mathematics

1

4.5

Number Systems

2

9.1

Slot 3

Arithmetic

11

50

Geometry and Mensuration

4

18.2

Algebra

6

27.3

Modern Mathematics

1

4.5

Number Systems

-

-

CAT 2021 Topic Wise Weightage for VARC

Topics

Number of Questions

Weightage (in percentage)

Reading: Comprehension Based Questions

16

68

Odd Sentences Out

2

8

Para-Summary

3

12

Para-Jumbles

3

12

CAT 2021 Topic Wise Weightage for DILR

Slots

Topics

Number of Questions

Slot 1

LR- Arranging People into Countries & Categories

6

Bar Graph – Percentages

4

Table – Girls making a smoothie

6

LR Table- Relationships

4

Slot 2

DI- Rating

6

LR- Games and Tournaments

4

Bar Graph – Stacked Horizontal

4

LR- Number Based Reasoning

6

Slot 3

LR- Games and Tournaments (Javelin)

6

Mixtures

4

DI- Gantt Chart

4

Content Creation

6

CAT Exam Pattern

There were no such changes introduced in CAT Examination Pattern since 2015 until the last year. Though the format has remained the same but there are some changes such as the type of questions, CAT entrance exam duration, CAT exam format, etc. Below mentioned are the important details of CAT exam along with the marking scheme.

Sections

Questions

Time

Time Limit for PwD Students

Marks

CAT Negative Marking

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

24

40 min

53 minutes and 20 seconds

72

-1

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

22

40 min

53 minutes and 20 seconds

66

-1

Quantitative Ability

22

40 min

53 minutes and 20 seconds

66

-1

Total

68

120 min

160 minutes

204

-

CAT Syllabus 2025

There have been some substantial changes in CAT Syllabus during the past 5 years. Below are some of the major changes that were introduced in CAT Exam 2023 Syllabus, and are followed till date.

  • CAT Exam contains different types of questions now.
  • No negative marking for 25% to 30% of the questions (Non MCQs).
  • Changes are primarily introduced in Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section.
  • Some of the changes are introduced in Quantitative Ability section of the paper. The focus is on Arithmetic Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the weightage of topics in VARC?

In the VARC section each of the sections that is Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension carry equal weightage of 50%.

What is the weightage of topics in DILR?

In DILR section - Data Interpretation carries 60% weightage while the Logical Reasoning section carries 40% of the weightage.

What is the weightage of topics in Quant?

In the CAT quant section - Number Systems has 25%, Algebra has 25%, Geometry and Mensuration has 25%, Probability and Statistics has 25% weightage.

What is the topic-wise weightage in CAT exam?

In the CAT exam Quantitative Aptitude (QA) carries 35% weightage, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section also carries 35% weightage, and the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) carries 20% weightage.

What is meant by the CAT topic-wise weightage?

CAT topic wise weightage refer to the weightage and the importance that each topic in the exam syllabus carries. This analysis helps the candidates understand the topics, questions, and sections that carry the most weightage, and those that carry less wei

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