With 68 questions split across three sections: VARC, DILR, and QA, the strategic allocation of prep time can make a decisive difference.
The recent trends in the CAT 2025 syllabus show that certain section-wise topics repeatedly appear in the paper, carrying more than 70% of the total scoring potential.
- In the Quantitative Ability (QA) section, Arithmetic (Time-Speed-Distance, Percentages, Ratio, Mixtures) accounts for 38-41% of questions, while Algebra (Equations, Inequalities, Functions) covers 27-36%. This makes these two areas worth nearly three-fourths of QA under the expected CAT 2025 pattern.
- VARC continues to be Reading Comprehension-heavy, with RC-based questions forming 16 out of 24 total questions (~67%). Followed by Para Summary and Odd-One-Out questions, contributing another 20-25%, making reading and interpretation-based prep absolutely critical for the CAT 2025 section-wise topics.
- In DILR, sets based on DI Tables, Routes & Networks, Games and Tournaments, and Arrangements dominate the section, collectively forming more than 70% of the total DILR weightage. These topics appear consistently across all three slots year after year.
How High-Weightage Topics Impact Performance In CAT Exam 2025
| Section | Approx. Questions from High-Weightage Topics | % of Section Weight | Examples |
| VARC | 16-18 out of 24 | ~70% | RC, Para Summary |
| DILR | 12-14 out of 20 | ~65-70% | DI Sets, Logic Games |
| QA | 15-18 out of 22 | ~70-80% | Arithmetic, Algebra |
Focusing on the right CAT 2025 section-wise topics can help aspirants get good results. It can also avoid burnout from less important topics and prepare in line with the actual exam pattern.
Key Benefits Of Prioritising High-Weightage Topics In CAT 2025
- While the CAT 2025 syllabus is extensive, past trends show that around 70% of the questions come from just 40-50% of the topics. By practising these, candidates can significantly improve their percentile even if they leave out a few low-weightage areas.
- Topic trends of CAT 2022, 2023, and 2024 reveal that topics like Reading Comprehension, Arithmetic, and DILR hybrid sets consistently carry the most weight. This pattern is expected to be the same for CAT 2025 as well.
- With only 40 minutes allotted per section, it is better to know where you need to focus.
Topic Frequency Trend In CAT (2020-2024)
| Topic | Average # of Questions | Section | Consistency in CAT |
| Reading Comprehension (RC) | 16 | VARC | Every Year |
| Arithmetic | 9-10 | QA | Every Year |
| Bar/Line/Caselet DI Sets | 10-12 | DILR | Every Year |
| Algebra | 6-7 | QA | Every Year |
| Para Summary | 2-3 | VARC | Almost Every Year |
| Logical Puzzles (Seating/Grouping) | 8-10 | DILR | Every Year |
What This Signify For Candidates For CAT 2025?
The CAT 2025 format consists of 40 minutes for each section and 66–70 total questions, which has not changed from previous years. The high-weight topics in CAT 2025 must be mastered in order to succeed.
This aids in:
- Reaching cut-offs for sections
- Achieving 95+ or 99+ percentiles
- Reducing preparation overload from low-yield topics; increasing attempts while preserving accuracy
Overview Of The CAT 2025 Exam Pattern: Sectional Distribution And Timing
The CAT exam format 2025 is expected to be the same as that of the 2020-2024 CAT exams.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA) are the three primary sections in which candidates are assessed in this computer-based exam.
CAT 2025 Pattern: Key Details
| Parameter | Details |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Total Sections | 3 (VARC, DILR, QA) |
| Time per Section | 40 minutes (strictly timed) |
| Total Questions (Expected) | 66 |
| Type of Questions | MCQs & TITA (Type In The Answer) |
| Medium of Exam | English |
| Negative Marking | -1 for wrong MCQ; no negative for TITA |
CAT 2025 Section-Wise Pattern & Distribution
| Section | Expected No. of Questions | Time Allotted | Key Focus Areas (High-Weightage) |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 minutes | Reading Comprehension, Para Summary, Odd One Out |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 40 minutes | DI Sets, Logical Games, Hybrid Sets |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | 40 minutes | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry |
Sectional Timing: Strategic Implications For CAT 2025
In CAT 2025, each section comes with a strict 40-minute time limit and no option to switch between sections.
This makes smart time management essential, especially when dealing with high-weightage areas such as lengthy Reading Comprehension passages or complex, multi-layered DI-LR sets.
Insights:
- VARC speed + comprehension must be balanced to solve 4-5 RC passages within 40 minutes.
- DILR selection becomes key, solve 2 right sets well, skip time-traps.
- QA strategy must balance between high-weightage Arithmetic and trickier Algebra/Geometry questions.
CAT Exam Pattern Evolution (2020-2024 Trend)
| Year | Total Questions | VARC | DILR | QA | Duration |
| 2020 | 76 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 120 min |
| 2021 | 66 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 120 min |
| 2022 | 66 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 120 min |
| 2023 | 66 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 120 min |
| 2024 | 68 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 120 min |
| 2025 | Expected Same | 24 | 20 | 22 | 120 min |
What Makes This Crucial For CAT 2025 Preparation?
- If candidates have a thorough understanding of the CAT 2025 exam pattern, they can attempt section-specific mocks that replicate actual test conditions. This helps them get used to the 40-minute sectional time limits.
- You can better plan your revision, question selection, and attempt strategy if you are aware of the CAT 2025 section-by-section topics and how they relate to these time windows.
- Most importantly, a candidate’s chances of making the most attempts and minimising reliance on guesswork are greatly increased by practicing the high-weightage topics within this structure.
Section-Wise High Weightage Topics In CAT 2025
Understanding the CAT 2025 section-wise topics is essential for prioritizing effort, maximizing score potential and aligning your preparation with the actual CAT 2025 syllabus.
Each section of the CAT exam 2025 is dominated by certain high-weightage topics that appear consistently across years. These topics not only carry more marks but also offer higher ROI when mastered.
High-Weightage Topics Across CAT 2025 Sections
| Section | High-Weightage Topics in CAT 2025 | Expected Share of Questions | Difficulty Trend |
| VARC | Reading Comprehension (RC), Para Summary, Odd Sentence Out, Para Jumbles | ~70% from RC | Moderate to High |
| DILR | DI Tables/Graphs/Caselets, Logic Puzzles, Combination Sets (DI+LR) | ~65-70% of DILR | High & Unpredictable |
| QA | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry & Mensuration, Number Systems | ~70% from Arithmetic & Algebra | Medium to High |
VARC – Verbal Ability And Reading Comprehension
The VARC section in the CAT exam 2025 is expected to consist of 24 questions, of which 16-18 are from Reading Comprehension (RC) alone, making it the single most important topic.
CAT 2025 High-Weightage Topics In VARC:
| Topic | Expected No. of Questions | Importance Level | Notes |
| Reading Comprehension (RC) | 16-18 | Very High | Based on diverse topics – philosophy, science, economics |
| Para Summary | 2-3 | High | MCQ-based; often tricky with close options |
| Odd Sentence Out | 2 | Medium | TITA format; logic and context identification |
| Para Jumbles | 2-3 | Medium | Always TITA, no negative marking |
DILR – Data Interpretation And Logical Reasoning
DILR remains the most unpredictable section of the CAT exam 2025, with 20 questions typically divided into 4 sets of 5 questions each. However, there’s a clear weightage pattern that can help in identifying scoring opportunities.
CAT 2025 High-Weightage Topics In DILR:
| Topic | Expected Sets | Weightage | Common Set Types |
| Data Interpretation (Tables, Graphs, Charts) | 2 sets (10 Qs) | Very High | Bar, Line, Pie, Caselet |
| Logical Reasoning (Puzzles, Games, Seating) | 1-2 sets (5-10 Qs) | High | Grouping, Networks |
| DI-LR Hybrid Sets | 1-2 sets | Medium to High | Trend-based reasoning using data |
CAT 2025: QA – Quantitative Ability
Quantitative Ability in CAT 2025 syllabus consists of 22 questions, with nearly 70% weight carried by just two topics—Arithmetic and Algebra. This is a section where topic mastery can directly translate to high accuracy and percentiles.
CAT 2025 High-Weightage Topics In QA:
| Topic | Expected No. of Questions | Weightage | Subtopics |
| Arithmetic | 9-10 | Very High | Percentages, Ratios, TSD, Time & Work |
| Algebra | 6-7 | High | Quadratics, Inequalities, Modulus, Functions |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 3-4 | Moderate | Triangles, Circles, Coordinate Geometry |
| Number Systems | 2-3 | Low to Moderate | Divisibility, Remainders, Factors |
CAT Preparation Strategy: How To Prioritise High-Weightage Topics In CAT 2025
With less than 4 months to go for the CAT exam 2025, aspirants must shift from a syllabus-completion mindset to a percentile-maximisation strategy.
The key lies in identifying and drilling down on the CAT 2025 high-weightage topics across all sections: VARC, DILR, and QA based on their frequency, scoring potential, and time-efficiency.
Smart prioritisation helps aspirants manage the vast CAT 2025 syllabus while staying aligned with the actual CAT 2025 pattern.
1. Categorise CAT 2025 Section-Wise Topics By ROI (Return On Input)
Start by splitting topics across each section into three categories:
| Priority Level | Description | Ideal Action |
| High Priority | Frequently asked, high accuracy, easy to moderate difficulty | Master first with practice & revision |
| Medium Priority | Moderate frequency or higher complexity | Selective practice after high-priority mastery |
| Low Priority | Rarely asked or low ROI topics | Defer until strong in High & Medium |
Example – QA Prioritization Strategy
| Topic | Priority | Reason |
| Arithmetic | High | Appears in 40-45% of QA; high accuracy with formulas |
| Algebra | High | 6-7 questions every year; recurring patterns |
| Geometry | Medium | Appears in 3-4 questions; needs strong concept clarity |
| Number Systems | Low | Only 1-2 questions, often complex/time-consuming |
2. Apply The 70-20-10 Time Split Strategy For CAT 2025
Allocate your weekly CAT prep time based on topic priority:
| Focus Area | Time Allocation | Topics |
| 70% | High-weightage topics | RCs, Arithmetic, DI Tables, Logic Puzzles |
| 20% | Medium-weightage topics | Geometry, Para Summary, Hybrid DI-LR |
| 10% | Low-weightage topics or experimentation | Number Systems, Rare LR formats |
3. Use A Topic-Wise Performance Tracker For CAT 2025
Build a Google Sheet or journal to track your weekly performance on the CAT 2025 high-weightage topics.
| Week | Section | Topic | Accuracy (%) | Time Taken per Q | Confidence Level |
| Week 1 | QA | Arithmetic – Ratios | 92% | 1.4 min | High |
| Week 2 | VARC | RC – Philosophy | 68% | 2.5 min | Medium |
| Week 3 | DILR | Logic Puzzle – Grouping | 40% | 4.8 min | Low |
4. Daily Topic Rotation Plan (Aligned With CAT 2025 Pattern)
Stick to a 3-hour daily plan targeting each section’s high-weightage area:
| Day | VARC Focus | DILR Focus | QA Focus |
| Mon | 2 RCs + 2 Para Summary | DI Table + Puzzle Set | Arithmetic: TSD |
| Tue | 2 RCs + Odd One Out | Grouping Puzzle Set | Algebra: Quadratics |
| Wed | 2 RCs + Para Jumble | Hybrid Set Practice | Arithmetic: Time & Work |
| Thu | RC (Science + History) | Logical Puzzle Set | Geometry: Triangles |
| Fri | RC + Summary Practice | DI Graph + Games | Algebra: Inequalities |
5. Avoid These Common Mistakes In CAT 2025 Topic Prioritisation
| Mistake | Impact | Better Approach |
| Giving equal time to all topics | Dilutes effectiveness | Focus on top 60% high-yield topics |
| Ignoring RC practice for VA | RC = 65-70% of VARC | Daily RC practice mandatory |
| Over-attempting DILR sets in mocks | Wastes time, lowers accuracy | Attempt 2 good sets fully instead |
| Starting Geometry before mastering Arithmetic | Slower progress | QA prep should begin with Arithmetic |
Final Preparation Checklist For CAT 2025: High-Weightage Focus
- Master Arithmetic + Algebra for 70% of QA
- Practice 4 RCs per week across varied domains
- Attempt a minimum 3 DILR sets per week from CAT-level mocks
- Maintain a performance log by topic and section
- Revisit only the most CAT 2025 relevant topics during the last 30 days
Cracking CAT 2025 With Topic-Weightage Based Smart Prep
Cracking the CAT exam 2025 is not about completing the entire CAT 2025 syllabus, but about extracting maximum percentile from minimum effort.
With 66 questions spread across three sections, the key differentiator is topic-level smartness. High scorers in CAT 2020-2024 have shown one common pattern: focused mastery over CAT 2025 high-weightage topics, aligned with the real CAT 2025 pattern, not textbook outlines.
CAT 2025: Why Topic-Weightage Strategy Beats Syllabus Coverage
| Strategy Type | Coverage | Efficiency | Percentile Outcome |
| Full Syllabus Coverage | 100% | Low | 80-85 percentile |
| High-Weightage Focused Prep | 60-70% | High | 95+ percentile |
Data-Driven Focus: What The CAT 2025 Pattern Demands
The CAT 2025 pattern will retain the 3-section format with sectional time limits (40 minutes each). Within this structure, past trends show:
- VARC: 70% weightage to RCs: Core strategy = RC depth, not breadth
- DILR: 2 out of 4 sets = Logical Puzzle formats: Selective accuracy matters more than speed
- QA: 50-60% = Arithmetic & Algebra: Prioritising these fetches maximum ROI
Final 90-Day Smart Prep Blueprint For CAT 2025: Topic-Weightage Based
| Phase | Focus Area | Action Plan |
| Day 1-30 | Build Concept Mastery in High-Weightage Topics | Arithmetic, Algebra, RCs, Basic DI Sets |
| Day 31-60 | Timed Practice + Moderate Mocks | DILR puzzle types, RCs with time tracking |
| Day 61-75 | Full-Length Mocks + Deep Analysis | Attempt 10+ mocks, identify weak high-weightage topics |
| Day 76-90 | Micro Revision of Top-Weightage Topics | Focus only on repeated patterns & high-ROI topics |
Smart Prep Vs. Hard Prep: What Toppers Followed In Past CATs
| Aspect | Hard Prep | Smart Prep (Toppers) |
| QA Preparation | Focus on all chapters equally | Focus on Arithmetic + Algebra |
| DILR Strategy | Random set attempts in mocks | Selective attempts of familiar puzzles |
| VARC Focus | Even attention to VA & RC | 70% time to RC practice & analysis |
| Revision Pattern | Chapter-by-chapter | Topic-weightage-based selective revision |
Smart Prep Checklist For CAT 2025
- Prioritised all high-weightage topics across sections
- Practiced time-bound RC and DILR sets regularly
- Created topic-level error logs and revision notes
- Taken 10+ mocks with sectional and topic-wise analysis
- Followed the CAT 2025 pattern in all mock simulations
Frequently Asked Questions:
These are some of the common questions that people ask while discussing this topic.
1. What Are The Highest Weightage Topics In Cat 2025 Quantitative Ability (Qa)?
Ans. Mastering high-yield topics like Arithmetic and Algebra is essential for excelling in the CAT exam 2025.
Recent trends show that Arithmetic consistently delivers around 36-41% of QA questions, and Algebra follows closely with 27-36%, together accounting for 70-75% of the entire QA section.
Key Sub-Topics & Frequency For CAT 2025:
| Topic | Avg. Questions | Importance |
| Arithmetic (e.g. TSD, Mixtures, Percentages) | 8-9 | Very high ROI |
| Algebra (Equations, Inequalities, Functions) | 6-8 | High consistency |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 2-4 | Moderate frequency |
| Number Systems & Modern Math | 1-3 | Lower but still relevant |
2. Which Varc Topics Carry The Most Weight In Cat 2025?
Ans. In the CAT 2025 section-wise topics, Reading Comprehension (RC) dominates the VARC section, accounting for about 66-70% of the questions. For instance, out of 24 VARC questions, around 16 are typically RC-based.
Other noteworthy topics for CAT 2025:
- Para Summary: ~3 questions
- Odd One Out / Missing Sentence: ~2-3 questions
- Para Jumbles / Sentence Correction: Less frequent but must not be ignored.
3. What Are The Heavy-Hitters In The Cat 2025 Dilr Section?
Ans. For CAT 2025 high-weightage topics in the DILR section, the most recurring formats include:
- Routes & Networks, DI Tables, and Bar / Line Graphs, each covering ~18-20% of DILR
- Games & Tournaments, Linear Arrangements, and Caselets, each accounting for ~11-12%.
4. How Many Total Questions And Timing Structure Should I Expect In CAT 2025 Based On High-Weightage Patterns?
Ans. The CAT exam 2025 pattern is anticipated to closely mirror recent years, with minor updates:
- Total Questions: 68
- Sections & Time: 3 sections (VARC, DILR, QA), each with 40 minutes
- VARC: 24 questions
- DILR: 22 questions
- Quant: 22 questions
Marking Scheme: +3 for correct MCQs, −1 for wrong MCQs, no penalty for TITA questions.
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