The topic-wise weightage for CAT 2023 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.
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.
The topic-wise weightage for Quant, VARC, and DILR for CAT 2023 is as follows:
Quantitative Aptitude (QA): 35%
- Number Systems: 25%
- Algebra: 25%
- Geometry and Mensuration: 25%
- Probability and Statistics: 25%
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): 35%
- Reading Comprehension: 50%
- Verbal Ability: 50%
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): 20%
- Data Interpretation: 60%
- Logical Reasoning: 40%
CAT Topic Wise Weightage 2023
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 2022
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
Diagram-basedCAT 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 VARC
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 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 | 20 | 40 min | 53 minutes and 20 seconds | 60 | -1 |
Quantitative Ability | 22 | 40 min | 53 minutes and 20 seconds | 66 | -1 |
Total | 66 | 120 min | 160 minutes | 198 | - |
CAT Syllabus 2023
There have been some substantial changes in CAT Syllabus during the past 5 years. Below are some of the major changes introduced in CAT Exam 2023 Syllabus:
- 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