Everything you need to know about the CAT 2020 syllabus and pattern

With CAT 2020 around the corner, are you ready to go the extra mile? It is just a matter of months when your preparation will bear fruits and reflect your sincere efforts. But are you focusing on the right syllabus and pattern of CAT 2020? Do you know the exact pattern of the upcoming CAT exam? Are you preparing for the right difficulty level to vie lakhs of aspirants aiming for a few thousand seats in the best B-Schools?

To help all MBA aspirants mellow down their anxiety and nervousness, we have compiled the latest information on the syllabus and pattern of CAT 2020. Go through our checklist to get cent per cent assurance that you are investing your efforts in the right direction. Do not forget that it’s not just about putting efforts but also about the efforts in the right direction. So, let’s get started to double-check the syllabus and pattern of the world’s one of the toughest and most competitive exams. 

CAT 2020 Pattern 

CAT is a computer-based test and not an internet-based exam, the candidate reads a question on a computer terminal and clicks on the correct answer whereas the timer on the screen tells about the remaining time to complete the current section. After a lot of transformations till 2015, the CAT pattern has now stabilized to a great extent. Therefore, the question paper of CAT 2020 will be on the same lines as the last few years. There is a possibility that this year IIM Indore will conduct CAT in November 2020. Here are the major highlights of the exam:

• Exam timings: Slot I: 9 AM to 12 PM; Slot II: 2 PM to 5 PM

• The performance of the candidates of both the slots will be normalized at the time of result preparation

• Duration of exam: 3 hours

• Number of sections: 3

• Duration of Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC): 60 minutes

• Duration of Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR): 60 minutes

• Duration of Quantitative Aptitude (QA): 60 minutes

• 20 minutes extra is provided in each section for candidates with a disability

• One cannot move to another section during this one hour 

• Total number of questions: 100

• Number of questions in 3 sections: VARC -34; DILR- 32; QA - 34

• Number of answer choices: 4

• Type of questions: MCQs and Non-MCQs

• Total marks: 300

• Marking scheme: 3 marks for each right question; negative marking of 1/3 for each wrong MCQ; no negative marking in non-MCQs/TITA (Type In The Answer)

• Number of MCQ questions: 70-75

• Number of TITA/Non-MCQs: 25-30

• One cannot switch between sections although switching between questions within the section is allowed

CAT 2020 Syllabus 

Just like the CAT pattern, its syllabus has undergone a series of subtle metamorphoses. There is no prescribed syllabus given by the CAT Official website due to which it always possesses an element of surprise on the D-day. As a result, every candidate should have a thorough knowledge of basics to bell the CAT.

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

The section consists of 34 questions with 10 questions belonging to Verbal Ability and 24 questions in Reading Comprehension. The broad topics one should focus on for the preparation of VARC section are:

• Analogies and Reverse Analogies

• Correction in Sentence

• Facts Inferences Judgments

• Fill in the blanks

• Grammar or English Usage

• Jumbled Paragraph and Close Passage

• Meaning/Usage Match

• Synonyms Antonyms (Vocabulary Based)

• Reading Comprehension

• Summary Questions

• Verbal Reasoning

Key Notes:

• There were no TITA/Non-MCQs in the RC in CAT 2019

• The VA section consisted of 7 TITA/Non-MCQs in CAT 2019

• As per the analysis of previous CAT examinations, they have started to test vocabulary by the means of RC

• VA now majorly focuses on Odd sentences in Paragraph Jumbles, Summary Questions, and Jumbled Paragraphs

• The questions for Jumbled Paragraph and Odd sentences usually come under TITA/Non-MCQs

• Summary questions generally consist of 80-100 words with 4 options

• Questions in RC can be Fact-based, Inference-based, or Vocabulary-based, the fact-based questions being the easiest.

Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation 

This is the most surprising and trickiest section for the candidates because of the uncertainty of the selection of sets to be displayed on the D-day. As per the analysis of previous years exam, the highly probable topics for the LRDI section for CAT 2020 are:

• Bar Graphs and Column Graphs

• Binary Logic

• Blood Relations

• Calendars, Cubes, and Clocks

• Caselets and Tables

• Combination of two or more types linked to each other

• Connectives

• Line Charts & Pie Chart

• Logical Sequence

• Matching

• Number and Letter Series

• Seating Arrangement

• Venn Diagrams

Key Notes:

• There will be 16 questions of LR and DI each

• Number of MCQs: 28

• Number of TITA/Non-MCQs: 8

• The reasoning questions will be a combination of other topics, so can be trickier

• The caselet questions have data in the form of bar graphs, column graphs, Venn diagrams, lines, and pie charts.

• Sometimes, there will be variables in the set that has to be left untouched

• Do not tempt to attempt all the questions, focus on solving limited sets with great accuracy instead

Quantitative Ability

Many candidates love maths in all its forms but for many, it is no less than a nightmare. QA consists of a vast majority of topics. If one can get a hold of the basic concepts of QA by practising rigorously one can sail through it successfully. The broad topics to be covered for CAT 2020 are:

• Algebra

• Alligations and Mixtures

• Arithmetic

• Commercial Maths

• Geometry

• Sequences and Series

• Trigonometry

Key Notes:

• Number of MCQs: 23-27

• Number of TITA/Non-MCQs: 7-11

• Arithmetic is likely to hold a dominant share of questions

• Get through all the formulas of Commercial mathematics and Arithmetic

• Generally, Algebra and Trigonometry questions are merged with other topics

• Practice and speed are the keys to unlock a good percentile

After going through the CAT 2020 syllabus and its pattern, now it’s over to you. Compete with yourself. Make the most of this lockdown and start knocking off all the mentioned topics gradually by clearing the concepts. Start where you are. Use what you have. And do what you can!

Good Luck.