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CAT (Common Admission Test) Syllabus
MBA entrance test for admission to the IIMs and other top B-schools in India.. The complete CAT (Common Admission Test) outline — 7 subjects, 30 chapters and 97 topics — laid out so you can see exactly what has to be covered and tick each item off as you go.
CAT (Common Admission Test) subjects
Each subject below has its own page with the full chapter → topic → sub-topic tree and a set of real exam-style flashcards.
5 chapters · 19 topics · 41 sub-topics
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) - Algebra5 chapters · 15 topics · 34 sub-topics
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) - Geometry and Modern Math6 chapters · 19 topics · 41 sub-topics
Verbal Ability (VARC) - Reading Comprehension3 chapters · 10 topics · 21 sub-topics
Verbal Ability (VARC) - Verbal Reasoning and Usage4 chapters · 12 topics · 21 sub-topics
Data Interpretation (DILR)3 chapters · 9 topics · 15 sub-topics
Logical Reasoning (DILR)4 chapters · 13 topics · 20 sub-topics
CAT (Common Admission Test) flashcard decks
350 question-and-answer cards across 7 decks, written against this syllabus. Preview any deck free.
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA) - Arithmetic — 50 cards
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA) - Algebra — 50 cards
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA) - Geometry and Modern Math — 50 cards
- Verbal Ability (VARC) - Reading Comprehension — 50 cards
- Verbal Ability (VARC) - Verbal Reasoning and Usage — 50 cards
- Data Interpretation (DILR) — 50 cards
- Logical Reasoning (DILR) — 50 cards
How to work through the CAT (Common Admission Test) syllabus
The outline on this page is arranged the way the syllabus itself is: subject, then chapter, then topic, then sub-topic. That last level is what most study plans skip, and it is where coverage actually goes wrong — a chapter marked "done" often has three sub-topics inside it that were never touched.
Weight your plan accordingly: Quantitative Aptitude (QA) - Arithmetic carries 19 topics while Data Interpretation (DILR) carries 9. Giving both the same number of weeks is the most common planning mistake for CAT (Common Admission Test).
The ~110 hour estimate above is a first pass only: roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic. Revision cycles, past papers and mocks sit on top of that number.
CAT (Common Admission Test) syllabus FAQ
What subjects are in the CAT (Common Admission Test) syllabus?
CAT (Common Admission Test) covers 7 subjects: Quantitative Aptitude (QA) - Arithmetic, Quantitative Aptitude (QA) - Algebra, Quantitative Aptitude (QA) - Geometry and Modern Math, Verbal Ability (VARC) - Reading Comprehension, Verbal Ability (VARC) - Verbal Reasoning and Usage, Data Interpretation (DILR) and Logical Reasoning (DILR). Together they contain 30 chapters and 97 named topics.
How much do you have to study for CAT (Common Admission Test)?
The full CAT (Common Admission Test) outline breaks down into 30 chapters, 97 topics and 193 sub-topics. Quantitative Aptitude (QA) - Arithmetic is the largest single subject with 19 topics across 5 chapters.
How long does it take to cover the whole CAT (Common Admission Test) syllabus?
Roughly 110 hours for one full pass. That estimate allows about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, so it is first-pass coverage — revision, past papers and mock tests sit on top of it. At 3 hours a day that is about 5 weeks.
Are there CAT (Common Admission Test) flashcards?
Yes — 350 question-and-answer flashcards across 7 decks, one per subject, written against this syllabus. A sample of every deck is readable on this site for free, and the complete decks are in the Examius app.
Is this CAT (Common Admission Test) syllabus free to use?
Yes. Every page here is free to read, and importing the CAT (Common Admission Test) syllabus into the Examius app to tick off topics as you finish them is free too, in India and everywhere else. No account is needed to start.
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