The comprehensive and vast nature of the CAT syllabus adds another dimension to one of the prominent as well as demanding MBA competitive exams in India. It requires applicants to possess not only theoretically clear concepts but they should be able to think and read between the lines, understand the true objective of questions, and find possible easy solutions to tough ones along with remarkable general intelligence and reasoning capacities. With three sections namely Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, the questions can range from a breath of fresh air to haunting ones. Take a look at what the CAT Syllabus comprises and specific topics you need to focus on.
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Important Dates: CAT 2020
At this point, the official date sheet of the 2020 CAT exams has not been released. However, since the dates hover around the same periods of the year, the Important dates of the year 2019 CAT exams have been tabulated below:
Opening of Registration | 7th August 2019 [10 AM] |
Closing of Registration | 18th September 2019 [5.00 PM] |
Download of Admit Card Begins | 23rd October-24th November 2019 |
Exam Date | 24th November 2019 |
Tentative Declaration of Results | 2nd Week of January 2019 |
Read about the CAT Scoring and Equating Process here
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Exam Structure
Before delving into a discussion on the CAT syllabus and the topics asked, it is important to lay out the structure of the CAT exam. Majorly, the CAT Exam Pattern follows the below-mentioned criteria:
Section | Questions | Duration [Minutes] |
Quantitative Ability | 34 | 60 |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 32 | 60 |
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 34 | 60 |
Total | 100 | 180 |
Also Read: Maths for Competitive Exams
CAT Syllabus
[optin-monster-shortcode id=”xf2mlnjiouddzrshykdb”]Topics covered under the CAT syllabus are broadly similar to that followed by other MBA entrance exams such as MAT Exam Pattern and XAT Exam Pattern along with popular competitive exams after the 12th. While the official CAT website just lists down the above heads of sections, the following table depicts the CAT syllabus in a comprehensive way as per the relevant section:
Quantitative Aptitude | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | Verbal Reasoning |
Graphs [Lines, Bars, Columns, Charts Pie Charts, etc.], Venn Diagrams, Blood Relations Questions, Rankings and order, Seating Arrangement Questions, Network Problems, Tables, Syllogism Questions, Calendar and Dates, Clocks, Logic and sequences, Matching, Caselets, Problems on Cube, Other Topics | Graphs [Lines, Bars, Columns, Charts Pie Charts, etc.], Venn Diagrams, Blood Relations Questions, Rankings and order, Seating Arrangement Questions, Network Problems, Tables, Syllogism Questions, Calendar and Dates, Clocks, Logic and sequences, Matching, Caselets, Problems on Cube, Other Topics | Fill in the Blanks, Jumbled Sentences, Analogies/Reverse Analogies, Suitable Words & Meanings, Grammar Usage, Sentence Correction, Inferences/Conclusions, Cloze Test, Reading Comprehension. |
Note: The above list is not exhaustive and is only intended for indicative purposes.
CAT Syllabus: An Important Suggestion
From reasoning questions to comprehension, practice tests and continuous revision is the key towards cracking any exam including the CAT. To cover the CAT syllabus from beginning to end is a monumental task in itself, let alone, getting oneself to apply learned concepts effectively on the day of the exam. Here, practice tests act as a crucial way of getting to know where you stand and whether you can complete the portions of the exam in the stipulated amount of time. Further, continuous revision keeps you engaged with previous learning and ensures that you remain in touch. To boost your exam preparation, you can go through some of the best books for CAT.
Also Read: English for Competitive Exams
There are four subjects in the CAT exam i.e. Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning.
The first step in the preparation of the CAT exam is knowing the syllabus. It is very important to know the syllabus and the exam pattern.
According to the reports, CAT is relatively tough because of its vast and tricky syllabus. Many students often report it to be one of the toughest entrance exams in India.