A brief overview of the CAT exam syllabus by PIERS EDUCATION

One of the most competitive exams in India is the Common Admission Test (CAT), which is mostly used to get admission to the esteemed Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other elite business schools. With thousands of applicants fighting for a fixed number of seats, CAT is a test of time management and strategy in addition to knowledge. This blog serves as your comprehensive study guide and test preparation for the CAT exam, making sure you’re ready to take on this challenge.

UNDERSTANDING THE FORMAT OF THE CAT EXAM 

There Are Three Main Sections In The CAT Exam: 

1)  Verbal Ability and Reading comprehension (VARC):

Language proficiency, understanding, and reasoning skills are assessed.

2)  Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI&LR):

emphasizes on logical problem-solving, data interpretation, and analytical skills. 

3) Quantitative Aptitude (QA):

This section assesses numerical problem-solving skills and mathematical aptitude.

DURATION AND MARKING SCHEME 

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer-based exam that lasts for 120 minutes in total, with 40 minutes allotted for each section. Every right response receives +3 points under the marking method, whereas every wrong response receives -1 points (only for attempting MCQs). Both multiple-choice (MCQ) and TITA-type questions are possible, while there is no negative marking for TITA questions.

CAT Eligibility Criteria For 2025

Candidates may apply for CAT 2025 if they meet the prerequisites.

These Are The Requirements For The 2025 CAT Qualifying Standards, Based On Past Trends:

A bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum score of 50% is required for the General and NC-OBC categories. A minimum score of 45% is required for candidates who are SC, ST, or PWD. Candidates who are in their last year of obtaining a bachelor’s degree may also take the exam. However, candidates need to graduate with the required percentage. Failure to meet the conditions will result in the cancellation of admission. Candidates with a professional degree, such as a CA, CS, ICWA, or FIAI, are eligible to give the CAT exam and there is no higher age limit.

CAT 2025 Relevant Information

The last week of November 2025 is the estimated date for the CAT 2025 exam. The registration procedure is anticipated to begin in the third week of August 2025, with the application deadline falling during the first week of October 2025.

CAT 2025’s exam pattern is probably going to stay the same as that of the past year.

The Syllabus For CAT Exam In 2025

MBA entrance exams in India provides the framework for prospective MBA students to efficiently organize their study process. Candidates must comprehend the syllabus in order to be admitted to prestigious business college in India.

Three Sections Make Up The Syllabus For The CAT Exam:

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

• Understanding passages from a variety of disciplines that include comprehension
• Verbal Reasoning
• Sentence Completion
• Syllogisms
• Jumbled Paragraphs
• Parts of Speech
• Phrases Modifiers
• Para Completion and Inference
• Subject-Verb Agreement
• Foreign language words used in English
• Sentence Correction
• Verbal Logic
• Preposition
• Errors in Tenses
• Para jumbles
• Idioms
• Antonyms
• One word substitution
• Types of Clauses
• Articles Usage

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI&LR)

• Blood Relations
• Series
• Direction Sense
• Coding-Decoding
• Assumptions
• Proposition
• Puzzles
• Clocks and Calendars
• Data Arrangements
• Statements
• Family Tree
• Binary Logic
• Seating Arrangement
• Sets and Case lets
• Bars and Line Graphs
• Data Structures
• Tables
• Pie Charts
• Data Sufficiency
• Syllogism
• Venn Diagram

Quantitative Ability (QA)

• Geometry
• Trigonometry
• Algebra
• Mensuration
• Partnership (accounts)
• Profit and Loss
• Mean, Median and Mode
• Ratios and Proportion
• In-equations Quadratic and linear equations
• Surds and Indices
• Time, Speed, Distance
• Number System
• Geometric Progression
• Binomial Theorem
• Inequalities
• Work and Time
• Percentages
• Logarithms
• Square root and Cube root
• Probability
• Simple Interest and Compound Interest

How To Prepare For The CAT 2025: Strategies By PIERS EDUCATION

Start early: Start your preparations well in advance of the application dates, usually six to twelve months in advance.

Boost your CAT mock score:

Set aside enough time and energy to get ready for the standardized tests. Take sample exams, use study guides, and think about enrolling a test preparation course.

Construct a Strong Professional Network:

Speak with current students, alumni, and business leaders to learn more about the MBA program and MBA entrance exam in India.

Develop Relevant Skills:

Make a concerted effort to improve your leadership, problem-solving, and business acumen.

Create an Engaging Personal Narrative:

To create a cohesive and captivating narrative for your application materials, consider your distinct experiences, achievements, and professional aspirations.

Practice for Interviews:

Get ready for possible interview questions and rehearse your answers to show that you are a good fit for the program and to present yourself confidently.

Stay Organized and Effective Time Management:

Create a schedule and plan to make sure you meet all application requirements and deadlines.

Seek Feedback and Revise:

Get input from instructors, mentors, or professional services to improve your application materials.

Continue to Lead a Balanced Lifestyle:

Throughout the preparation process, put your health first and keep a good work-life balance.

Continue to be Resilient and Persistent:

The MBA admissions process might be challenging, so be ready to grow from any failures and keep refining your application.

Master the PYQs:

Work through last year’s CAT questions to get a feel for the format and level of difficulty of the test.

Magic in Mock tests:

Take CAT mock tests frequently to manage your time management abilities and pinpoint your areas of weakness.

Become an avid reader (bookworm):

To improve your vocabulary and reading comprehension, make it a habit to read newspapers, articles, magazines, and other materials.

Embrace Internet Resources:

Learn time-saving techniques and problem-solving strategies by using online resources such as YouTube tutorials.

The key is the syllabus:

Make sure you fully understand every topic covered in the CAT curriculum.

How To Prepare For The CAT Syllabus 2025:

VARC Preparation Strategy for CAT 2025:

There will be 16 questions on RC, which is 70% of the total VARC questions. This is the component that assesses your comprehension the most, not your grammar or vocabulary.

The following procedures can be used to organize one’s preparation for the CAT’s VARC Section:

Start reading

The majority of CAT applicants frequently find it difficult to understand the RC portions in the VARC section of the test because most aspirants don’t have English as native language. The ideal remedy for any applicant who encounters difficulties in the CAT’s VARC Section would be to read frequently. It aids in expanding one’s vocabulary and knowledge of language, both of which lead to better comprehension skills. Students would get access to 250 genre-specific reading articles in addition to the CAT 2025 Course, which would be an excellent reading resource.

Develop your vocabulary and grammar skills

Although improving one’s vocabulary and grammar can aid in improving comprehension, the CAT Exam does not directly test one’s knowledge of these subjects. As a result, if someone is starting early, they should not neglect to improve their grammar and vocabulary.

CAT Preparation Strategy 2025 for LRDI:

All you need for cracking LRDI is familiarity with the CAT Type LRDI Sets. This means if you have solved 600-1000 CAT Type LRDI sets before your CAT Exam you will be able to solve at least 50% of the sets in the CAT Exam.

From this point, one can plan their preparation strategy in accordance with the following steps:

Start by playing games like Kakuro and Sudoku

One should concentrate on honing fundamental logical skills before jumping right into CAT Level LRDI sets. Logic, problem-solving, and pattern recognition are all part of mind games like Sudoku and Kakuro. Through the development of logical skills, these games teach candidates how to recognize patterns and begin solving any puzzle-based LRDI Set.

Begin to develop fundamental ideas

You can review the CAT LRDI Section’s assumed syllabus during this time. One can compile a list of the subjects covered in the syllabus, attempt to comprehend the fundamental ideas behind each one, and begin working through the topics in simple groupings. It is impossible to anticipate a set that covers a single topic in the actual exam; instead, it will cover a combination of two or more topics. Topic-wise sets should be solved at the initial phase since this will help you develop solid foundational skills.

QA Preparation Strategy for CAT 2025:

Develop foundational concepts

Building your foundational concepts should be your first step in preparing for the CAT’s Quantitative Aptitude. To develop the foundational mathematical principles that will be tested on the CAT Exam, it is advised to attend seminars.

Revision 

Regularly reviewing your basic fundamentals will help you retain all of your knowledge till the test.

Start Taking Sectionals 

You can begin taking sectionals once you’ve had enough practice. You can practice the specific section in a time-based way by taking sectional mocks. The sectional test enables one to concentrate on a single portion at a time, which can help one discover their strengths and shortcomings and enhance their time management abilities.

Observing and evaluating mock

One of the most crucial components of CAT preparation is taking mock tests. The practice of giving mock tests helps one develop a habit of taking exams. Mocks are intended to assist candidates in developing ideas, formulating plans, recognizing their shortcomings, and taking action to overcome them. It is not sufficient to simply take mocks; one must also analyze them in order to assess their degree of preparedness and identify their areas of weakness. It’s crucial to plan future preparation in accordance with the results of mock analysis.

 Throughout, maintain consistency.

It has been noted that although candidates begin their preparation with a lot of zeal, as the months go by, they begin to lose interest in it and become disinterested. Eventually, this leads to inconsistency. Therefore, in order to stay motivated, one may seek help from PIERS Education for better understanding. Participating in the community would allow you to stay in touch with other candidates, which could serve as a continuous source of motivation.

CONCLUSION

VARC, DI&LR and QA are three divisions in MBA entrance exam. Vocabulary, problem-solving skills, and mathematical ideas in language are the subjects of study. You will increase your chances of passing the CAT if you adhere to the syllabus and practice with last year’s papers. A thorough understanding of the CAT syllabus helps the individual to efficiently arrange their study time. PIERS Education is always by your side. In CAT exam nothing complex is being tested only fundamental abilities are. Simply motivate yourself throughout the preparation process with the mantra “If I can’t, then no one can”.