It is critical to be familiar with and aware of the exam syllabus you plan to prepare for. Knowing the syllabus shapes your preparation journey optimally and helps you understand the expectations of the exam. In this article, we will discuss the CAT syllabus for 2024 to ensure that you have an efficient preparation.
Let us first discuss the question pattern so that you can assess the syllabus to understand the depth of the exam and the preparation needed to ace it.
CAT Exam Pattern: An Overview
Before we begin, please remember that CAT has announced the 2024 exam notification on 30th July 2024 and the registrations will begin from 1st August 2024.
Now let us quickly see what the CAT 2024 question paper might look like.
- CAT is held in three slots namely morning, afternoon, and evening.
- The predicted full mark for the 2024 exam is 198.
- A candidate will have to tackle 66 questions in 120 minutes.
- There is a sectional time limit and a candidate is required to finish a section in 40 minutes.
- 3 marks are allocated for a correct answer, and 1 mark is deducted for a negative one.
- The question paper is divided into MCQs and TITA (Type in the Answer) where a candidate is supposed to fill in the answer than choose it from the four options. The TITA section has no negative markings.
The question pattern is expected to look like this for this year.
| CAT Exam Sections | Number of Questions | Weightage |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 72 |
| Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI) | 20 | 60 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 66 |
CAT Syllabus 2024: VARC
CAT begins with the VARC or the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section, which aims to judge you based on your English knowledge. The allotted time for this section is 40 minutes to solve 24 questions, including both MCQs and TITA.
Verbal Ability: The VA part of the exam tries to assess your analytical skills in the English language and how you use it for communication, and focuses on the below points. The major weightage of this section is usually dedicated to Para Jumbles and Para summaries.
- Grammar
- Synonyms, Antonyms
- Para Jumbles (Rearranging sentences to form a paragraph)
- Para Summary ( Summarising a paragraph)
- One word Substitution
- Sentence Correction
- Odd Sentence Out
- Parts of speech
- Preposition
- Idioms
- Articles usage
Reading Comprehension: The reading comprehension part of the VARC section as the name suggests tests your concept of vocabulary, interpretation, identification of details understanding of the author’s idea, etc.
- For this section, you will have to answer questions after reading a passage. This can be a highly fruitful section, and the answers lie in your question paper itself. In 2023, there were 16 marks assigned to this section.
You can expect your VARC 2024 question paper to look something like this, below.
| Question Type | Expected Number of Questions |
| Reading Comprehension | 16 |
| Verbal Ability | 8 |
CAT Syllabus 2024: LRDI
The Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation part of the exam might need to be clarified for a few students, but it is interesting. It can be easily tackled with the right amount of practice. This section also has a time limit of 40 minutes and consists of both MCQ and TITA questions. The Data Interpretation part of this section involves charts, graphs, and tables, while the Logical Reasoning part includes puzzles.
Logical Reasoning: The logical reasoning section of the CAT exam aims to test your analyzing and problem-solving skills using reasoning skills and consists of the following.
- Seating Arrangement
- Venn Diagrams
- Syllogism
- Blood Relations
- Order & Ranking
- Dices
- Clocks
- Data Sufficiency
- Directions and others
- Logical Sequence
- Coding and Decoding
- Calendars, Cubes, and Clocks
Data Interpretation: As the name suggests, the DI section of the CAT paper will test you on your ability to interpret and analyze data presented in various ways and will cover the below topics.
- Tables
- Bar Graphs
- Charts
- Caselets
- Line Graphs
- Pie Charts
The CAT The Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation 2024 question paper is expected to look like this, having the below weightage.
| Question Type | Expected Number of Questions |
| Logical Reasoning | 15 |
| Data Interpretation | 5 |
CAT Syllabus 2024: Quantitative Aptitude
The CAT exam’s Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section focuses on fundamental mathematics concepts taught in schools. It covers a wide range of topics including algebra, arithmetic, geometry, and modern mathematics.
The quantitative section also has a mixture of MCQ and TITA questions which you need to solve in fourty minutes. There is a provision of an online screen calculator for this exam.
Below is a breakdown of the topics included in the QA section:
| Topic | Subtopics |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic | Percentages, Profit and Loss, Simple and Compound Interest, Ratio and Proportion, Time and Work, Time-Speed-Distance, Partnership, Trigonometry, Cube Root, Square root, Probability, |
| Algebra | Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, Functions, Logarithms, Arithmetic Progression, Binomial Theorem, |
| Geometry | Lines and Angles, Triangles, Circles, Polygons, Coordinate Geometry, Mensuration (2D and 3D). |
| Number Systems | Divisibility Rules, Factors and Multiples, Prime Numbers, Remainders, HCF and LCM, Base System, Digits |
| Mathematics | Permutations and Combinations, Probability, Set Theory, Sequences and Series, Complex Numbers, Matrices and Determinants, Mean, mode, median |
The expected weightage of the exam for this year looks the following.
| Question Type | Expected Number of Questions |
| Arithmetic | 8-9 |
| Algebra | 6-7 |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 4-5 |
| Number Systems | 1-2 |
| Modern Mathematics | 1-2 |
Best DILR Books for CAT
Zeroing in on a book is of utmost importance if you wish to practice your lessons for the exam judicially. Even though there are multiple books in the market, let us take a glance at some popular books for Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation preparations for CAT, 2024.
| Books for DILR | Author Name/Publisher |
| CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | Arun Sharma |
| Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT | Nishit K. Sinha |
| Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency | Disha |
| How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT | Arun Sharma |
Best VARC Books for CAT
As we discussed earlier, this section is the most approachable section for you in the entire exam. The weightage of the question that can be answered from the passage directly and acts as the push that you need to ace the exam.
Let’s explore some books that are loved by students across the country for improving their English grammar and practicing English comprehension.
| Books For VARC | Author |
| How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT | Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay |
| Mastering the Verbal Ability for CAT | Ajay Singh |
| Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT | Nishit Sinha |
| High School English Grammar and Composition | Wren and Martin |
How to prepare for CAT 2024?
Here are a few CAT preparation tips that can help one score better in the upcoming test:
- Make a proper timetable for preparation.
- Review your syllabus.
- Try to discover your weak point and tackle them in the best way possible.
- Try solving more and more problems every day by increasing your speed.
- Try to select Best Books for CAT Examination preparation.
- Solve a lot of previous year question papers to get the hang of the question paper difficulty and pattern
- Attempt mock tests.
- Manage your timing.
- Don’t take the stress and rest properly.
Conclusion
Cracking an exam like the CAT can feel overwhelming if you think about it without any planning. Like any other exam, if you are well aware of the syllabus and are through with your topics, there is nothing that can stop you.
Always remember, understanding your syllabus thoroughly and formulating a plan to cover it, coupled with an undying dedication, is the key to successfully navigate this exam.
All the best for your exam!
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