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CAT 2024 Topic-wise Weightage for Quant, VARC, and DILR

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Waqar Niyazi

Content Curator | Updated On - Jun 28, 2024

CAT 2024 Topic Wise Weightage for Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) is as below:

  • As per last year’s CAT topic-wise weightage for Quant, Arithmetic and Algebra account for about 65% of the section.
  • In CAT VARC section, the weightage of Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability is in the ratio 2:1.
  • CAT DILR section provides an equal weightage for LR and DI- 2 sets each.

CAT is considered one of the toughest entrance exams in India. It is therefore important to devise a preparation strategy as per the topic-wise weightage of CAT syllabus. There are 66 questions (24 in VARC, 22 in Quant, 20 in DILR) to attempt in 2 hours (40 minutes per section).

Must Check: Learn More About CAT Preparation 


Topic Wise Weightage 2024

CAT Topic Wise Weightage 2024

The Quantitative Aptitude section in CAT 2024 assesses candidates' mathematical and analytical abilities. The VARC section in CAT evaluates candidates' language proficiency, reading comprehension skills, and verbal reasoning abilities. The DILR section in CAT evaluates candidates' ability to analyze and interpret data, make logical decisions, and solve complex puzzles. You can check here the expected topic-wise weightage of QA, VARC and DILR in the 2024 exam based on the trends.

Subject/ Section Important topics Weightage in CAT Exam Previous Year Papers
Verbal Ability Para summary, Para jumbles, Inferences and Sentence Completion 10% Check Here
Reading Comprehension Questions based on passages, order of sentences, para meaning. 24%
Data Interpretation Tables, Pie Charts, Graphs, Venn Diagram 16% Check Here
Logical Reasoning Seating Arrangement, Blood Relation, Syllogism And Caselets 16%
Quantitative Aptitude Geometry, Arithmetic, Algebra, Mensuration, Number System 34% Check Here

People Also Ask?

Ques. Which topics in CAT hold more weightage?

Ans. From VARC, reading comprehension holds more weightage. You can expect 16 out of 24 questions from reading comprehension alone. For Quantitative Aptitude, arithmetic topics hold more weightage followed by algebra and geometry. You can expect 8-9 questions from arithmetic alone. Candidates who appeared for CAT previously have reported the arithmetic questions are reported to be tougher than the other topics. So, do not rely on just arithmetic to score well. For DILR, the topics which have high weightage include games & tournament, seating arrangements, and combination graphs.

Ques. Which topic is most difficult in CAT?

Ans. In CAT quant section, the topics which have some of the toughest questions include mixtures & alligation, profit & loss, time speed & distance, number system, inequalities, logarithm, and permutation & combination. In CAT VARC section, reading comprehension passages are not easy to attempt. In DILR, the questions are difficult in terms of intensive calculations and analysis.

Ques. Can I skip geometry for CAT?

Ans. It is not advised to completely skip any topic for CAT preparation. The questions from geometry may be easier than the other topics in CAT 2024 exam. If you have not prepared for geometry, you may end up with a lower percentile. You can expect 3-4 sureshot questions from geometry, so prepare the topics of geometry that you are comfortable with to at least be able to attempt 2 out of the 3-4 questions. The important topics of CAT geometry include triangles, lines & angles, circles, and parallelograms.

Ques. Can I crack CAT without giving mocks?

Ans. Giving mocks before CAT is important to get a high percentile score. CAT mock tests help in developing the much-needed time management aptitude required for the exam day. CAT mock tests acquaint you with the different level and types of questions, methods of solving questions in less time, and the strategy to select questions to attempt.


Topic Wise Weightage 2022

CAT Topic Wise Weightage 2022

You can find CAT Topic Wise Weightage 2022 below to divide your preparation time accordingly.

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

Also Check:


Topic Wise Weightage 2021

CAT Topic Wise Weightage 2021

CAT Topic Wise Weightage 2021 for VARC, Quant, and DILR is provided here for all the slots.

CAT 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

Exam Syllabus and Pattern

CAT Exam Syllabus and Pattern

Over the years, CAT has undergone several changes in its exam pattern and syllabus. Here are the CAT Exam Syllabus and Pattern.

  • Total Number of Questions: The total number of questions in CAT has been reduced from 100 to 66. Check CAT Total Marks 2024
  • Section-wise Questions: The number of questions in each section has been modified. VARC has 24 questions, DILR has 20 questions, and QA has 22 questions.
  • Sectional Time Limit: Each section now has an individual time limit of 40 minutes, allowing candidates to focus on specific sections efficiently.
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 -

Understanding the topic-wise weightage in the CAT syllabus is essential for candidates to strategize their preparation effectively. Each section demands a different set of skills and approaches. Focusing on strengthening the fundamentals, regular practice, and time management are key to excelling in the CAT exam. By analyzing the past trends, aspirants can identify the areas that require more attention and prioritize their preparation accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques. What is CAT Topic-wise Weightage?

Ans. CAT Topic-wise Weightage refers to the distribution of questions among different topics in the CAT exam. It provides insights into the relative importance of each topic in the three sections: Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR).

Ques. Why is knowing CAT Topic-wise Weightage important for candidates?

Ans. Knowing the CAT Topic-wise Weightage helps candidates prioritize their preparation based on the weightage of each topic. Candidates can focus more on topics with higher weightage to maximize their chances of scoring well in the exam.

Ques. How can candidates use CAT Topic-wise Weightage for preparation?

Ans. Candidates can use CAT Topic-wise Weightage to plan their study schedule. They can allocate more time to topics with higher weightage and focus on improving their proficiency in those areas. It also helps candidates to divide their time efficiently during the actual exam.

Ques. Is there any negative marking in CAT?

Ans. Yes, there is a negative marking scheme in CAT. For each incorrect answer, one mark will be deducted for the MCQ type questions only.

Ques. Can candidates choose the order of sections in CAT?

Ans. No, CAT does not provide the flexibility for candidates to choose the order of sections as per their preference. They have to start with VARC followed by DILR and QA respectively.

Ques. What is the total duration of the CAT exam?

Ans. The total duration of the CAT exam is 120 minutes (2 hours). Each section has an individual time limit of 40 minutes, and candidates cannot switch between sections during the first 40 minutes of each section.

Ques. How can candidates improve their performance in the CAT exam?

Ans. To improve performance in the CAT exam, candidates should focus on regular practice, solve previous years' papers and mock tests, work on time management, and analyze their performance to identify and rectify weaknesses. Additionally, seeking guidance from mentors or joining coaching institutes can be beneficial.


*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.

CAT 2024 : 3 answered questions

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Ques. What is the IIT Madras CAT cutoff for MBA?

● Top Answer By Rishabh on 07 Jun 24

The IIT Madras CAT cutoff for MBA is usually above the  95 percentile . It changes annually and is highly competitive. Here is the previous years IIT Madras CAT cutoff for MBA course: Year CAT Cut-off (Percentile) 2023 95-96+ 2022 96 2021 96 2020 96 2019 96...Read more

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Ques. What is the BITS Pilani CAT cut off 2024 for MBA admission at the institution?

● Top Answer By Manju Sharma on 30 May 24

BITS Pilani is known as a top institution for higher studies in India. It offers top class education in its engineering and MBA programs. The  BITS Pilani cut off 2024 for XAT  is expected to remain  70 to 75 percentile  for the  General category .  On the other hand, the BITS Pilani  CAT cutoff 2024 is  expected to stay between  75-80 percentile (overall)  for the  General category .  Students who want to get admission to an MBA at BITS Pilani through the  GMAT  may have to score  more than 620  in the said exam . General Category Expected Cut off 2024 for MBA admissions at BITS Pilani: Exam Expected Cutoff CAT 75-80 percentile (overall) XAT 70-75 percentile GMAT 620-625 score These are the expected cut offs for MBA 2024 admissions at BITS Pilani....Read more

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Ques. Can I get admission to Lovely Professional University without the LPU NEST?

● Top Answer By Aditi Deo on 06 May 24

LPU NEST is not required for every course. It is compulsory for courses like BTech, Agriculture or MBA. However, if a student has already passed a national proficiency exam recognized by the university and meets the university's eligibility requirements, he does not need LPU NEST scores. LPU NEST is not required for BBA, BCom and BA....Read more

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