Last updated: 3 August 2026
Preparing for CAT does not mean giving the same amount of time to every topic. Some areas appear more consistently in previous papers, while others offer a higher scoring return once the fundamentals are clear.
| CAT Section | Highest-Priority Areas | Other Important Areas |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | Reading Comprehension, para summary | Para completion, odd sentence out, para jumbles, vocabulary in context |
| DILR | Arrangements, distribution, games and tournaments, tables and charts | Scheduling, routes and networks, rankings, selection, caselets |
| Quantitative Ability | Arithmetic and Algebra | Geometry, Number System, Mensuration, Modern Mathematics |
CAT 2026 is scheduled for 29 November 2026. Candidates should use the official CAT website and Information Bulletin as the final authority for examination dates, instructions and test-related updates.
The topics below have been classified using three factors:
Previous-year trends should guide the order of preparation, but they should not be treated as a prediction of the exact CAT 2026 paper.
For context, IMS reported that CAT 2025 Slot 1 had 24 VARC questions, 22 DILR questions and 22 Quantitative Ability questions. Reading Comprehension accounted for 16 VARC questions, DILR was organised into five sets, and Arithmetic formed the largest QA topic group in that slot.
VARC tests comprehension, interpretation and verbal reasoning rather than isolated grammar rules. Reading Comprehension should receive the largest share of preparation time, but Verbal Ability cannot be ignored.
Important RC skills include:
CAT RC passages may be drawn from areas such as economics, philosophy, social sciences, history, technology, culture and natural sciences. Candidates do not need specialist knowledge of these subjects. The answer should follow from the passage and the logic of the question.
Para-summary questions test whether you can identify the central message of a short passage without being distracted by examples or secondary details.
Focus on:
These questions require you to identify the sentence that logically completes a paragraph.
Practise recognising:
Identify the sentence that does not fit the logical sequence formed by the remaining sentences.
Do not select a sentence merely because it discusses a different noun. Check whether it breaks the central idea, chronology, pronoun reference or argument flow.
Focus on:
A practical VARC allocation is:
This is a preparation allocation, not predicted examination weightage. Adjust it according to mock-test performance.
DILR does not have a conventional chapter-based syllabus. It is more useful to prepare by set family, representation method and selection strategy.
Practise:
The first step should be to identify fixed positions, direct relationships and restrictions before creating multiple cases.
Common formats include:
Tables and grids are usually more reliable than keeping conditions mentally.
Practise:
Build familiarity with the underlying scoring system before attempting calculations.
Important formats include:
Candidates should be comfortable with ratios, percentages, averages and approximations because these concepts frequently support DI calculations.
Practise:
Draw the simplest possible representation before solving individual questions.
These may involve:
Topic preparation alone is not enough. A candidate must also learn to decide which set deserves time.
Use the first few minutes of the section to check:
A familiar-looking set is not always the easiest. Select it only after checking the data and conditions.
Arithmetic and Algebra deserve the highest preparation priority because they have formed major parts of recent CAT QA papers. Nevertheless, Geometry, Number System and Modern Mathematics can provide valuable scoring opportunities and should not be abandoned.
Important Arithmetic topics include:
Arithmetic topics are interconnected. For example, percentages support profit and loss, interest, mixtures and data interpretation.
Recommended order:
Important Algebra topics include:
Algebra questions often test manipulation and interpretation rather than direct substitution into a formula. Practise translating verbal conditions into equations before focusing on speed.
Important topics include:
Create a concise theorem and formula sheet, but combine revision with diagram-based problem solving.
Important topics include:
Number System questions can vary sharply in difficulty. Build conceptual familiarity rather than memorising isolated tricks.
Important areas include:
These topics may contribute fewer questions than Arithmetic and Algebra in some papers, but a well-prepared candidate can still gain marks from a straightforward question.
A sensible preparation order is:
Do not wait to complete every chapter before attempting mixed QA tests. Start short timed sets once the fundamental topics are stable.
Your starting order should depend on your present ability rather than a universal timetable.
Begin with:
The objective is to create enough foundation to begin sectional practice.
Prioritise:
Focus on:
| Day | Primary Work | Secondary Work |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Arithmetic concepts and practice | Two RC passages |
| Tuesday | Algebra | One arrangement or distribution set |
| Wednesday | Geometry or Number System | RC and Verbal Ability |
| Thursday | Two DILR sets | Mixed QA practice |
| Friday | VARC sectional test | Error review |
| Saturday | Full-length mock or two sectional tests | Initial analysis |
| Sunday | Detailed mock analysis | Revision and question reattempts |
The schedule should be adjusted according to weaknesses. A student struggling with DILR may need one set every day, while a student with low VARC accuracy may need more review time rather than simply increasing passage volume.
A mock test is valuable only when its analysis changes subsequent preparation.
For every incorrect, skipped or time-consuming question, record:
| Field | What to Record |
|---|---|
| Section | VARC, DILR or QA |
| Topic or set type | Arithmetic, RC inference, arrangement, etc. |
| Result | Correct, incorrect, skipped or unattempted |
| Time taken | Approximate time spent |
| Error type | Concept, calculation, interpretation, selection or time management |
| Correct approach | Short description of the better method |
| Revision action | Topic revision, reattempt or additional practice |
| Reattempt date | When the question will be solved again |
Do not stop after reading the solution. Reattempt the question without looking at the answer and record whether the improved method works under time pressure.
A topic that appeared frequently in one year may receive fewer questions in another. Use trends to allocate practice time, not to predict the paper.
Track set types. A candidate who solves 50 sets without recording whether they were arrangements, distributions, games or charts may fail to identify persistent weaknesses.
More mocks do not automatically produce improvement. Analysis should identify which concepts, decisions and habits are costing marks.
Formula revision is useful, but CAT questions often require modelling, interpretation and question selection.
Track accuracy, time per question, abandoned-question time and set-selection quality. A higher attempt count with weak accuracy may reduce the final score.
Reading Comprehension is the highest-priority VARC area. Arrangements, distributions, games, tables and chart-based sets are important for DILR. Arithmetic and Algebra should receive the highest initial priority in QA.
The IIMs do not publish a fixed topic-by-topic syllabus or guaranteed weightage chart. Preparation lists are created from recurring concepts and previous-year papers.
Arithmetic has frequently formed one of the largest QA groups in recent CAT papers, with Algebra also contributing substantially. Exact counts can change across slots and years. In IMS's CAT 2025 Slot 1 analysis, Arithmetic was the largest QA topic group.
Yes. RC generally accounts for the largest portion of VARC and tests central idea, inference, tone, purpose, detail and argument structure. Verbal Ability topics should still be practised because their mix can change.
Start with basic tables, linear arrangements, distribution sets and simple games. These formats help develop representation, condition-mapping and deduction skills.
Skipping an entire area is risky. Complete Arithmetic and Algebra first if they are weak, but build at least a functional level of preparation in Geometry, Number System and Modern Mathematics.
Use them to understand difficulty, wording, recurring formats and question selection. Solve papers section-wise, classify each question by topic and revisit errors after studying the relevant concept. A section-wise collection of CAT papers from 2017 to 2025 is available through 2IIM's previous-paper database.
CAT 2026 preparation should combine broad syllabus coverage with intelligent prioritisation. Begin with Reading Comprehension, foundational DILR set families, Arithmetic and Algebra. Then strengthen Geometry, Number System, Modern Mathematics and less predictable verbal question types.
Most importantly, do not treat "important topics" as a shortened syllabus. Use them to decide what to master first, continue covering the remaining areas and allow mock-test evidence to reshape your plan.
The topic priorities in this guide are based on recurring previous-year question formats and independent CAT 2025 paper analysis. Official dates and instructions should always be verified through the CAT 2026 website and Information Bulletin. No topic distribution in this article should be interpreted as guaranteed CAT 2026 weightage.