cat exam syllabus?

Sectional Sub-division of CAT 2018 Syllabus
CAT syllabus 2018 is further subdivided. This sectional sub-division in CAT syllabus makes CAT 2018 as an exam with 5 effective sections as VARC is divided  into topics on Verbal Ability  and Reading Comprehension; DILR syllabus is also divided into equal number of questions based on Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. CAT 2018 exam syllabus is thus based on the past paper patterns which contain questions from all these sections.
 
Section-1: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) 
Section Highlights: Common Admission Test (CAT) exam Syllabus for VARC section in CAT 2018 is divided into 2 parts. The 1st part of CAT 2018 syllabus covers questions based on Reading Comprehension passages and the 2nd part of CAT 2018 exam syllabus on VARC is based on questions on different topics on Verbal Ability.
 
Number of Questions: 34 with 24 MCQs and 10 Non-MCQs
 
Sectional Weightage in CAT Syllabus: 34%
 
Major topics covered in CAT 2018 syllabus for VARC are:
Part-1: Reading Comprehension (RC)
Share of Reading Comprehension in VARC section of CAT exam: 70%
Total RC passages:  5
Topics on which RC passages are based: Current affairs; Social and Economic issues; Literature; Science & Culture; Abstract topics; history & fiction.
The topics are only indicative and not exhaustive. There is no clear cut definition of RC topics in CAT exam syllabus. RC passage on any topic under the Sun can be placed in CAT 2017 exam.  
Total questions based on RC passages: 24
Type of RC passages: 3 Long and 2 shorter
Division of questions: 6 questions based on each long passage and 3 questions based on each shorter passage
Type of Questions: All of MCQ type with penalty of 1/3rd negative marking
Format of questions: Questions based on information in RC passage; explanation of the words & phrases as used in the passage; In context of the passage –True/false statements; Author’s view on various issues raised in the RC passage; Inference from the passage; main idea of RC passage; Purpose of the RC passage
Length of RC passages: CAT exam has 3 longer RC passages of around 900 words; shorter passages are of around 600 words in CAT exam syllabus as reflected in last 3 years.
Past trends of topics: Status of Languages in 2115; Education System; Sustainable Economic Development; Anthropology /Excruciating Rituals & Reasons; Govt. Definition of Poverty and treatment of Household work 

Part-2: Verbal Ability
Share of Verbal Ability (VA)  questions in  VARC section of CAT exam: 30%
Total VA based questions: 10
Topics on which Verbal Ability questions are based:
Essence of short paragraph/Para summary - (3-4 questions);
Jumbled Paragraphs (3-4 questions)
Jumbled paragraphs with out of context sentence (2-3)
The topics are only indicative and not exhaustive.
Type of Questions: All of Non-MCQ type with No penalty for wrong answer
Format of questions: Essence of paragraph questions are based on around 5-6 sentences; questions on Jumbled paragraphs and out of context jumbled paragraphs have 4 -5 jumbled sentences which are to be placed in a coherent manner. The out of context sentence has to be picked out.
Other expected type of questions in Verbal Ability
Till three years ago, following type of questions also formed the part of CAT exam syllabus. Since these topics are still the part of syllabus for CAT exam, it is possible you may see these questions again in CAT 2018:
English Usage & Sentence Correction;
 Fill in the blanks;
Vocabulary-Usage in context
Section-2: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Section Highlights: CAT Syllabus 2018 for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) has been revamped. As a separate section in CAT exam, DILR was re-originated after keeping the section in abeyance for 4 years. During this period the DILR questions were clubbed to Quant and Verbal Ability sections respectively.
 
CAT exam Syllabus for DILR section in CAT 2018 is divided in 2 parts – Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. The 1st part of CAT 2018 syllabus covers questions based on Data Interpretation (DI) and the 2nd part of CAT 2018 exam syllabus on DILR is based on questions on different topics on Logical Reasoning.
 
Number of Questions: 32 divided into 24 MCQs and 8 Non- MCQs
 
Sectional weightage in CAT Syllabus: 32%
 
Major topics covered in CAT 2018 syllabus are: 
Part-1: Syllabus for Data Interpretation (DI)
Share of DI questions in DILR section of CAT exam: 50%
Total DI questions: 16
Number of MCQs: 12
Number of Non MCQs: 4
Topics on which DI questions are based: Data Tables, Data charts, Bar diagrams, Pie charts, Graphs, Data analysis and comparison among others
Questions are in the set of 4 questions. Questions on interpretation and analysis of data based on text, tables, graphs (line, area), charts (column, bar, pie), venn diagram, are asked. Data could be given in form of tables, charts or graphs. In this section it is tested that how candidates can interpret the given data and answer questions based on it.
Past trend of topics: Table (Student Pass percentages over 5 years; Comprehension – Marks in Two sections of papers; Films, Launch, Completion, Release and Profits; Table on Consumption of Veg and Non-Veg Protein; Happiness Index: 4 questions based on Table; Kids Learning in Rural Areas: Data table based 4 questions; Flight operation
The topics are only indicative and not exhaustive.
Part-2: CAT exam Syllabus for Logical Reasoning (LR)
Share of LR questions in DILR section of CAT exam: 50%
Total LR questions in CAT syllabus for 2018 exam: 16
Number of MCQs: 12
Number of Non MCQs: 4 
Topics covered in CAT test syllabus 2018 on which LR questions are based: Clocks, Calendars, binary logic, seating arrangement, blood relations, logical sequence, Assumption, premise, conclusion, linear and matrix arrangement
CAT entrance exam syllabus defines that questions in LR section can be individual or can be in the set of 4 questions.
Past trend of topics in CAT IIM Syllabus: Distribution/Arrangement; Venn Diagrams;  Arrangement of files in folders; Students using various Trains and the fares for the same; Seating Arrangement; Direction sense for Cars; Ordering items; Burgers/Fries/ Ice Cream
The topics in CAT syllabus 2017 are only indicative and not exhaustive.