CAT VARC Syllabus 2024: Free PDF Download, Important Topics, How to Cover

Updated By Shivangi Ahirwar on 22 Aug, 2024 16:56

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The CAT syllabus covers topics from three sections- VARC, QA, and DILR. IIMs don't have any fixed syllabus, so the test-takers must prepare for the exam based on the topics asked in past years. The questions covered in the exam test a candidate's mathematical, aptitude, reasoning, and basic English skills.

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CAT VARC Syllabus 2024

The CAT VARC syllabus 2024 is divided into two parts, i.e. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section of the CAT exam can be a tough nut to crack if a candidate does not prepare for the same diligently. The VARC syllabus for CAT aims to assess a candidate’s knowledge and skills in the English language. 

The Verbal Ability part of the VARC CAT syllabus 2024 tests a candidate's ability to form sentences correctly, identify errors in a sentence, identify the odd one out, find a pattern in the jumbled words, write a cohesive summary of the passage, and more. On the other hand, the Reading Comprehension part assesses an individual's ability to read the given passage, identify the main idea, and understand the meaning of the words. Take a look at the important topics and other information related to the CAT 2024 VARC syllabus right here!

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CAT VARC Syllabus PDF Download

The CAT conducting body does not release any official syllabus for the section. However, based on previous years' analyses, given below is the CAT VARC syllabus 2024 pdf download link:

CAT VARC Syllabus PDF Download Link - Click Here

CAT VARC 2024 Important Topics

The VARC syllabus for CAT 2024 can be covered easily if aspirants focus on the important topics for the same during their preparation. Since the CAT VARC syllabus is comparatively large compared to the other sections, aspirants must ideally begin their preparation from this section itself. That being said, take a look at the topic-wise CAT VARC syllabus mentioned below:

Topic

Description

Verbal Ability

  • Sentence Correction: identification and correction of grammatical errors in sentences
  • Para-Jumbles: rearrangement of jumbled sentences to form a coherent paragraph
  • Para-Summary: summarization of a given paragraph or identifying the best summary from the options provided
  • Fill in the Blanks: selection of the most appropriate word or phrase to complete a sentence
  • Word Usage: vocabulary, synonyms, antonyms, and word meanings are the primary topics
  • Other Important Topics: Cloze Passage, Meaning-Usage Match, Analogies or Reverse Analogies, etc.

Summary Questions

  • 80 to 100-word short passage with 4 one/two sentence summaries.
  • The goal is to identify the most appropriate summary for the passage.
  • Candidates are required to identify the answers that do contradict the passage in any way.
  • The correct answer will include all the key points of the passage.

Jumbled Paragraph Questions

  • Often asked in the TITA or Non-MCQ format, so there is no room for negative marking.
  • There are typically 4-5 sentences given out of sequence in these types of questions.
  • Collectively, they make up a short paragraph, and the candidate must choose which sequence works best for the group of sentences. 
  • Identifying the opening and closing sentences of the paragraph is the first step for each candidate in a way that the first sentence introduces the topic and the last sentence renders some sort of judgment or conclusion.
  • The first sentence should then be followed by the second sentence, and so on.

Odd Sentence in Paragraph Jumbles

  • Also typically a TITA/ Non-MCQ type question and similar to questions like jumbled paragraphs.
  • Aspirants must find the sentence that does not match the theme in the other sentences as the primary goal.
  • Depending on how they are presented, these questions could be simple or challenging.
  • In simple questions, the sentence will discuss a subject entirely unrelated to the passage's main theme.
  • In challenging questions, the odd sentence will be related to the same subject as the rest of the passage, but it will be slightly different or contradictory with respect to the viewpoint being conveyed or the theme being established.

Reading Comprehension

  • A long passage is given which aspirants must read thoroughly to understand the topic.
  • Passages on literature, science, history, philosophy, social issues, economics, etc. are the primary topics for RC.
  • Candidates will find questions related to the main idea, inferences, author's tone, purpose, vocabulary, and critical reasoning.
  • A comprehensive understanding of the passage is required to answer questions and make logical inferences.
  • RC questions can be fact-based, inference-based, and vocabulary-based. 
  • Fact-based questions demand answers based on the information given in the passage directly, as the name implies. They are typically the simplest questions.
  • The questions that need inference are a little challenging because the candidate must determine the author's tone and theme prior to providing an answer.

Critical Reasoning

  • Statement-Assumption: Identifying valid and invalid assumptions in the statements provided.
  • Statement-Inference: Drawing logical inferences based on the statements provided.
  • Statement-Conclusion: Identifying conclusions that can be logically drawn from the statements provided.

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CAT VARC Topic-wise Weightage

Check out the expected topic-wise weightage for the CAT VARC section mentioned in the table below:

Name of the Topic

Number of Questions

Reading Comprehension

16-24

Para Jumbles

2-4

Para Summary

2-3

Sentence Elimination

1-2

Fill in the Blanks

1-2

Vocabulary

1-2

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CAT VARC 2024 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

Apart from the important topics from the VARC CAT syllabus, candidates must understand the CAT VARC exam pattern and marking scheme to prepare a definite strategy for this section. Since the CAT exam pattern consists of negative markings, aspirants have to be careful about how to approach the question paper to score the highest marks possible. Take a look at the VARC CAT exam pattern 2024 and marking scheme mentioned below:

CAT VARC Syllabus Particulars 

CAT VARC Syllabus Details

Total Number of Questions

24

Maximum Marks

72

Time Allotted

40 minutes

Type of Questions

  • Multiple choice Questions(MCQs)
  • Type in the Answer (TITA)

Difficulty Level

Moderate to Difficult

Marking scheme

  • +3 for every correct answer
  • -1 for every incorrect answer
  • TITA has no negative marking

How to Prepare for CAT VARC Syllabus 2024?

Devising a preparation plan and strategizing every part of CAT VARC preparation is an ideal way to approach this section. With that being said, here are some important CAT 2024 preparation tips to improve your Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension preparation for the CAT exam.

  • Develop a Reading Habit: Reading regularly can help you become more knowledgeable about English literature and language. Reading newspapers, magazines, blogs, journals, etc. frequently will help you improve both your reading speed and comprehension.
  • Enhance Your Vocabulary and Grammar: Engage in daily practice sessions to increase your vocabulary. Your ability to comprehend, read, and react rapidly to questions based on vocabulary is tested in the VARC section.
  • Devise an Effective Exam Strategy: Aspirants must develop a strategy on how to approach each and every question type from the VARC CAT syllabus. This will help them tackle the section swiftly without wasting too much time on a single question.
  • Include Mock Tests & Sample Papers: CAT mock tests, sample papers, and previous year question papers are ideal resources for CAT VARC preparation. These mock tests will aid in your effective preparation for the VARC syllabus for CAT.
  • Improve Time Management Skills: The CAT VARC section is often considered to be the most time-consuming. To avoid spending too much time on this section candidates must shape their reading and comprehension skills for the RC portion and also make sure not to get stuck on a particular section, both these skills can be achieved by regular practice of CAT VARC syllabus-specific mocks and sample questions.

Best Books to Cover CAT 2024 VARC Syllabus

The right study materials can make a significant difference in the quality of preparation for CAT VARC and other sections of the CAT exam. Candidates must make sure that the learning resources they use are up to date and follow the latest CAT standards and guidelines. Take a look at the best books for CAT 2024 VARC syllabus mentioned below:

CAT VARC Best Books

PSC for VA for CAT by Nishit Sinha

How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Nishit Sinha

30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary by Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis/ Simon & Schuster

High School Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin

The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability for the CAT and Other MBA Entrance Examinations by Sujit Kumar

Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis

The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha

CAT 2024 Syllabus for Other Sections

Candidates preparing for CAT 2024 must also check out the syllabus for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability provided below.

CAT DILR Syllabus 2024

CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus 2024

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FAQs about CAT Syllabus

How much time is required to prepare for the VARC syllabus for CAT 2024?

The amount of time required to prepare for the VARC syllabus for CAT 2024 will be different for different students. Some candidates have a very good foundation in the English language and thus require less time to prepare for this section whereas others utilize most of their CAT preparation time for the VARC syllabus itself. However, it is ideal to begin your preparation with the CAT VARC syllabus first.

What are the important topics for CAT 2024 Verbal Reasoning?

The important topics for CAT 2024 Verbal Reasoning include questions on Facts-Inferences-Judgements, Summary Questions, Analogies, Cloze Passage, Grammar, Sentence Correction, Fill in the blanks, Synonyms and Antonyms, Verbal Reasoning, and Jumbled Paragraphs among others. Candidates must practice these topics thoroughly before the exam.

What are the best books for CAT VARC syllabus 2024?

The best books for CAT VARC syllabus 2024 include Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT by Nishit Sinha, High School Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin, How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay, Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis, and much more. Candidates can find more books and resources for preparation online.

How do I answer the summary questions in the CAT VARC syllabus 2024?

To answer the summary questions in CAT VARC syllabus 2024, candidates must first understand that the goal of the question is to identify the most appropriate summary for the given passage. After reading the 80-100 word passage, candidates must select the answer that is the least contradictory to the given passage. Sometimes finding the right keywords and matching them to the summary sentence is a good strategy to find the correct summary.

What is the best way to prepare for the CAT VARC syllabus 2024?

The best way to prepare for the CAT VARC syllabus 2024 is to begin with the Verbal Ability portion. Since grammar is something that aspirants may need to brush up on during preparation, it is important to complete this portion at the beginning of VARC CAT syllabus preparation. Subsequently, candidates should practice mock tests and sample papers regularly to sharpen their time management and reading skills.

How do I attempt the reading comprehension section of the CAT VARC syllabus?

To attempt the reading comprehension section of the CAT VARC syllabus, candidates must devise a proper examination strategy. Reading Comprehension can become the most scoring or the most difficult part of the exam depending on a candidate’s approach. Aspirants must make sure to read the passage carefully to avoid missing important information. It is advisable to skip passages that seem too difficult to understand.

What important topics come under CAT reading comprehension?

The important topics that come under CAT reading comprehension include a vast range of subjects. Some of the popular topics that come under the reading comprehension section of the CAT VARC syllabus 2024 include topics such as Current Affairs impacting social life, international affairs, global economic changes, Indian Government Policies and Schemes, and other real-life business and socio-economic changes and policies that affect the day-to-day operations of the world.

How do you score well in CAT VARC?

To score well in CAT 2024 VARC aspirants must focus on refining their preparation for this section. Rigorous preparation and practice are the key to achieving a high score in this section as candidates will have to enhance their time management, reading, and grammar skills for this part of the exam. 

Why is CAT VARC syllabus 2024 considered difficult?

The CAT VARC syllabus 2024 is considered difficult because of several reasons. The primary reasons some students may find it difficult is due to the length of the VARC section and the time constraints of the CAT exam. Moreover, the answers to some questions may seem obvious but turn out to be challenging, causing much confusion among students, and subsequently costing them valuable exam time.

How many RC questions does the CAT VARC section have?

The CAT VARC section has around 14-16 RC questions out of the total 24 questions in the entire section. The CAT VARC section is dominated by RC questions and it is often considered that the Reading Comprehension portion is the most time consuming part of the CAT exam. However, candidates can optimize their performance by omitting questions on the RC passage they find most difficult, as it is not compulsory to answer every question in CAT.

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