CAT 2020 EXAM SYLLABUS

CAT Syllabus PDF

CAT Syllabus PDF changes with each CAT exam. After downloading the CAT Syllabus, scan the CAT syllabus now
and check the topics which are not duly prepared. The overview of section wise CAT syllabus is as below:

CAT Syllabus PDF Sections Important Topics Weightage in CAT Syllabus

VARC – Part 1: Verbal Ability Jumbled Paragraphs, Essence of Short Sectional -30% Overall -10%
Para, Picking out the out of context
sentence. Total – 10 Questions
VARC – Part 2: Reading 5 RC Passages- 3 Long & 2 Short. Sectional-70% Overall-24%
Comprehension Total24 Questions
DILR- Part 1: Data Interpretation Charts, Tables, Graphs. Total-16 Sectional-50% Overall-16%
Questions
DILR-Part 2: Logical Reasoning Seating Arrangements, Family Tree, Sectional-50% Overall-16%
Direction Sense. Total-16 Questions
QA - Quantitative Ability Arithmetic, Geometry, Mensuration, Sectional-100% Overall-34%
Algebra, Trigonometry

Detailed CAT Syllabus

CAT Syllabus is divided in three major sections. These sections are further divided in sub sections. You should go
through the CAT syllabus topics in detail as below:

Sectional Sub-division of CAT 2020 Syllabus

CAT syllabus pdf 2020 is further subdivided. This sectional sub-division in CAT syllabus makes CAT 2020 as an
exam with 5 effective sections as VARC is divided into topics on Verbal Ability and Reading
Comprehension; DILR syllabus is also divided into equal number of questions based on Data Interpretation and
Logical Reasoning. CAT 2020 exam syllabus PDF is thus based on the past paper patterns which contain
questions from all these sections.

Section-1: CAT 2020 Syllabus on VARC

Section Highlights: Common Admission Test (CAT) exam Syllabus for VARC section in CAT 2020 is divided into 2
parts. The 1st part of CAT 2020 syllabus covers questions based on Reading Comprehension passages and the
2nd part of CAT 2020 exam syllabus on VARC is based on questions on different topics on Verbal
Ability.

Number of Questions: 34 with 24 MCQs and 10 Non-MCQs Sectional

Weightage in CAT Syllabus: 34%

Major topics covered in CAT 2020 syllabus for VARC are:

Part-1: Reading Comprehension (RC)

 Share of Reading Comprehension in VARC section of CAT exam: 70%
 Total RC passages: 5

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 Topics on which RC passages are based: Current affairs; Social and Economic issues; Literature; Science &
Culture; Abstract topics; history & fiction.
 The topics are only indicative and not exhaustive. There is no clear cut definition of RC topics in CAT exam
syllabus. RC passage on any topic under the Sun can be placed in CAT 2020 exam.
 Total questions based on RC passages: 24
 Type of RC passages: 3 Long and 2 shorter
 Division of questions: 6 questions based on each long passage and 3 questions based on each shorter
passage
 Type of Questions: All of MCQ type with penalty of 1/3rd negative marking
 Format of questions: Questions based on information in RC passage; explanation of the words & phrases as
used in the passage; In context of the passage –True/false statements; Author’s view on various issues raised
in the RC passage; Inference from the passage; main idea of RC passage; Purpose of the RC passage
 Length of RC passages: CAT exam has 3 longer RC passages of around 900 words; shorter passages are of
around 600 words in CAT exam syllabus as reflected in last 3 years.
 Past trends of topics: Status of Languages in 2115; Education System; Sustainable Economic Development;
Anthropology /Excruciating Rituals & Reasons; Govt. Definition of Poverty and treatment of Household work

Part-2: Verbal Ability

 Share of Verbal Ability (VA) questions in VARC section of CAT exam: 30%
 Total VA based questions: 10
Topics on which Verbal Ability questions are based:
 Essence of short paragraph/Para summary - (3-4 questions);
 Jumbled Paragraphs (3-4 questions)
 Jumbled paragraphs with out of context sentence (2-3)
 The topics are only indicative and not exhaustive.
 Type of Questions: All of Non-MCQ type with No penalty for wrong answer
 Format of questions: Essence of paragraph questions are based on around 5-6 sentences; questions on
Jumbled paragraphs and out of context jumbled paragraphs have 4 -5 jumbled sentences which are to be
placed in a coherent manner. The out of context sentence has to be picked out.
Other questions on VARC in CAT 2020
Till three years ago, following type of questions also formed the part of CAT exam syllabus since these topics are
still the part of syllabus for CAT exam, it is possible you may see these questions again in CAT 2020:
 English Usage & Sentence Correction;
 Fill in the blanks;
 Vocabulary-Usage in context

Section-2: CAT Syllabus 2020 on DILR

Section Highlights: CAT Syllabus 2020 for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) has been revamped.
As a separate section in CAT exam, DILR was re-originated after keeping the section in abeyance for 4 years.
During this period the DILR questions were clubbed to Quant and Verbal Ability sections respectively.

CAT exam Syllabus for DILR section in CAT 2020 is available in 2 parts – Data Interpretation and Logical
Reasoning. The 1st part of CAT 2020 syllabus covers questions based on Data Interpretation (DI) and the
2nd part of CAT 2020 exam syllabus on DILR is based on questions on different topics on Logical Reasoning.

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Number of Questions: 32 divided into 24 MCQs and 8 Non- MCQs
Sectional weightage in CAT Syllabus: 32%

Major topics covered in CAT 2020 syllabus are:

Part-1: CAT Syllabus for Data Interpretation (DI)

 Share of DI questions in DILR section of CAT exam: 50%
 Total DI questions: 16
 Number of MCQs: 12
 Number of Non MCQs: 4
 Topics on which DI questions are based: Data Tables, Data charts, Bar diagrams, Pie charts, Graphs, Data
analysis and comparison among others
 Questions are in the set of 4 questions. Questions on interpretation and analysis of data based on text,
tables, graphs (line, area), charts (column, bar, pie), Venn diagram, are asked. Data could be given in form
of tables, charts or graphs. In this section it is tested that how candidates can interpret the given data
and answer questions based on it.
 Past trend of topics: Table (Student Pass percentages over 5 years; Comprehension – Marks in Two
sections of papers; Films, Launch, Completion, Release and Profits; Table on Consumption of Veg and
Non-Veg Protein; Happiness Index: 4 questions based on Table; Kids Learning in Rural Areas: Data table
based 4 questions; Flight operation
 The topics are only indicative and not exhaustive.

Part-2: CAT exam Syllabus for Logical Reasoning (LR)

 Share of LR questions in DILR section of CAT exam: 50%
 Total LR questions in CAT syllabus for 2020 exam: 16
 Number of MCQs: 12
 Number of Non MCQs: 4
 Topics on which DI questions are based: Data Tables, Data charts, Bar diagrams, Pie charts, Graphs, Data
analysis and comparison among others
 CAT entrance exam syllabus defines that questions in LR section can be individual or can be in the set of
4 questions.
 Past trend of topics in CAT IIM Syllabus: Distribution/Arrangement; Venn Diagrams; Arrangement of files
in folders; Students using various Trains and the fares for the same; Seating Arrangement;
 Direction sense for Cars; Ordering items; Burgers/Fries/ Ice Cream
 The topics in CAT syllabus 2020 are only indicative and not exhaustive.

Section-3: CAT 2020 Syllabus on Quantitative Ability (QA)

Section Highlight: CAT exam syllabus 2020 for Quant section is very wide. Quantitative Ability (Quant) is the
3rd and last section in the revamped CAT exam pattern. It carries 34% weight in CAT exam. CAT syllabus for
Quant is vast and covers everything in Mathematics that you may or may not expect. CAT exam syllabus on
Quant is based on questions on different topics on Arithmetic, Algebra, Modern Math, Geometry, Mensuration,
trigonometry among others.

Number of Questions: 34. The past 2 years trend in CAT exam syllabus for Quant shows that there are 24 to 27
MCQs and 7 to 10 Non-MCQs in Quant section of CAT exam.

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Sectional weightage in CAT Syllabus: 34%

Major topics covered in CAT 2020 syllabus for Quant are:

Total questions: 34
• Number of MCQs: 24 to 27
• Number of Non-MCQs: 7 to 10
• Number of questions in Arithmetic: 10 to 12
• More emphasis on Arithmetic to promote academic diversity, with following major topics:
• LCM and HCF
• Percentages
• Profit and Loss
• Interest (Simple and Compound)
• Speed, Time and Distance; Time and Work; Averages; Ratio and Proportion and others
• Number System (3-4) questions
• Algebra (5-7 questions)
• Geometry/Mensuration (6-8 questions)
• Pure Math (1-2 questions)
• Venn diagrams and other topic based questions are 2-3
• Linear Equations; Quadratic Equations
• Complex Numbers
• Logarithm; Progressions
• Binomial Theorem
• Surds and Indices
• Inequalities
• Permutation and Combination
• Probability Functions
• Set Theory
• Mixtures and Alligations
• Co-ordinate Geometry
• Trigonometry

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