CAT Exam Pattern And Syllabus
Gaining admission to India’s top B-schools through the CAT exam in 2023 necessitates a thorough comprehension of the exam’s syllabus and format. Three main areas comprise the CAT syllabus: Quantitative Ability (QA), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC).
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): This section assesses your comprehension and linguistic abilities. It covers sentence correction, critical thinking, antonyms, synonyms, verbal reasoning, and reading comprehension passages.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): This portion evaluates your ability to deduce logical conclusions from data analysis. Tables, graphs, charts, and logical reasoning problems incorporating puzzles, sequencing, and data organization are all used to analyze data.
Quantitative Ability (QA): Your analytical and mathematical abilities are tested in this section. It includes subjects like geometry, algebra, number systems, arithmetic, and modern mathematics.
There are 66 questions on the CAT exam, broken down into three portions. With 40 minutes allocated for each section, the exam will take you two hours total to finish. Both multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and non-MCQs, in which you must type in your answers, are used in this exam.
CAT Exam Pattern 2023
One of the most sought-after entrance tests for Indian MBA candidates is the CAT (Common Admission Test). It is well known for its thorough evaluation of applicants’ aptitude and logical thinking skills. For candidates hoping to do well on the test, it is essential to comprehend the format of the CAT exam. Let’s examine the main features of the 2023 CAT exam format.
Sections and Weightage:
The CAT exam comprises three sections, each designed to evaluate specific skill sets:
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC):
Number of Questions: 24
Weightage: 72 marks
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR):
Number of Questions: 20
Weightage: 60 marks
Quantitative Aptitude (QA):
Number of Questions: 22
Weightage: 66 marks
Marking Scheme:
Comprehending the CAT scoring system is essential for formulating an effective exam plan and optimizing your result. The exam marking scheme has a significant impact on how you approach answering questions and how well you manage your time.
| CAT Sections | Number of Questions | Marks Per Question | CAT Negative Marking (Only MCQ) |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 3 | -1 |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 3 | -1 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 3 | -1 |
| CAT Exam Total Marks | 66 | 198 | – |
Syllabus for CAT Exam
A highly competitive MBA entrance exam, the Common Admission Test (CAT) evaluates a candidate’s aptitude and skills across a number of domains. The three primary areas of the 2023 CAT exam syllabus are Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC). Let’s examine the syllabus, key points, and relative importance of each section.
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
This component assesses the language and comprehension proficiency of a candidate. The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension sections of the VARC exam each have 24 questions that must be answered in 40 minutes.
Key Topics:
Fill in the blanks
Para completion and inference
Verbal logic
Reading comprehension
Sentence completion
Grammar and syntax
Analogies and antonyms
Composition and Weightage:
| Topic | No. of Questions | Level of Difficulty |
| Reading Comprehension | 16 | Moderate to Difficult |
| VA-Para jumbles | 3 | Moderate to Difficult |
| VA-Odd Sentence | 2 | Easy to Moderate |
| VA-Summary | 3 | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | 24 | Moderate to Difficult |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
DILR evaluates a candidate’s capacity for logical and analytical thought. There are two sections in this section: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. There are twenty questions in total.
Key Topics:
Blood Relations
Clocks and Calendars
Series and Statements
Direction Sense
Data Arrangement
Coding-Decoding
Puzzles and Seating Arrangement
Composition and Weightage:
| Topic | No. of Questions | Level of Difficulty |
| Data Interpretation | 4 | Easy to Moderate |
| Logical Reasoning | 6 | Easy to Moderate |
| Data Interpretation | 4 | Moderate |
| Logical Reasoning | 6 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Overall | 20 | Moderate to Difficult |
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
This component assesses a candidate’s aptitude in mathematics. There are a total of 22 questions in the QA, covering a wide range of subjects like math, algebra, geometry, and more.
Key Topics:
Geometry
Ratios and Proportion
Trigonometry
Algebra
Percentages
Number System
Probability
Composition and Weightage:
| Topic | No. of Questions | Level of Difficulty |
| Arithmetic | 10 | Moderate |
| Algebra | 5 | Moderate |
| Geometry | 3 | Moderate |
| Modern Maths | 4 | Moderate |
| Overall | 22 | Moderate |
Section-wise preparation tips for CAT exam 2023
Those who want to do well on the CAT should concentrate on studying thoroughly for each of the three components. To evaluate your progress, use practice questions and mock exams. Always keep in mind that passing the CAT exam and getting into one of the most prestigious MBA programs requires both regular practice and efficient time management.
The following section-by-section preparation advice will help you conquer the 2023 CAT exam:
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC):
Reading Practice: To enhance comprehension abilities, read books, articles, and newspapers on a regular basis.
Enhancement of Vocabulary: To improve memory, learn new words every day and utilize them in sentences.
Mock Tests: To increase your reading and response speed and accuracy, take practice exams on a regular basis.
Time management: Set aside a set amount of time and adhere to it for each reading comprehension passage.
Grammatical and Language: Review sentence construction, grammatical principles, and paraphrasing.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI-LR):
Practice Data Interpretation Sets: To hone your analytical and computation skills, work through a range of DI exercises.
Diagrammatic Representation: To comprehend complex data sets, develop your ability to draw crude or mental diagrams.
Logical Puzzle Solving: To improve your critical thinking and logical reasoning skills, solve puzzles on a regular basis.
Time Management: Throughout the test, divide your attention between the DI and LR sets.
Create techniques: Create techniques to prioritize answering the simpler questions first and putting the more difficult ones off till later.
Quantitative Ability (QA):
Concept Clarity: Review and comprehend high school algebraic fundamentals.
Practice Frequently: To increase problem-solving speed, work through a variety of quantitative problems.
Shortcut Methods: Acquire and hone shortcut methods for computation and issue resolution.
Topic Prioritization: Pay attention to your strong points while progressively strengthening your weakest ones.
Mock Tests: To enhance time management and replicate the actual exam setting, take comprehensive mock tests.
General Tips:
Time management: Give each area the amount of time it deserves based on your advantages and disadvantages.
Consistency: Stay away from cramming right before the exam by keeping a regular study routine.
Mock Tests and Analysis: To find areas for improvement, take a lot of mock tests and evaluate your results.
Revision: Allocate time for the revision of key ideas and equations.
be Current: To answer questions in every area, be up to date on current events and general knowledge.
Remain Calm: Remain composed, have a positive outlook, and use relaxation methods to reduce stress.
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