CAT 2025 Topic-wise Weightage and Marking Scheme: Section-wise Breakdown of QA, VARC, and DILR

CAT 2025 Exam Pattern Overview

One of the preliminary steps for the candidates before setting their CAT preparation strategy is to have a very good understanding of the CAT 2025 exam pattern. The CAT exam pattern is dynamic, and the candidates may expect a few possible changes on the CAT exam day. As per the CAT 2024 exam, the official CAT exam pattern is provided below for the reference of the candidates. This year, IIM Kozhikode will be conducting the CAT exam.

CAT 2025 Marking Scheme

The CAT marking scheme remained the same for the CAT 2024 examination. There has not been any official updates about any changes in the CAT exam pattern yet. This means that the candidates can expect the CAT 2025 marking scheme to be the same as that of the previous years. The official CAT 2025 marking scheme is provided below for the reference of the candidates.

• There are two types of questions asked in the CAT exam: CAT multiple choice questions (MCQs) and CAT Type in the Answer (TITA) questions.

• There exists a sectional time limit in the CAT examination. The candidates will only be given 40 minutes to answer all the questions in a section. This makes CAT time management essential.

• There is no negative marking for the TITA questions, while the candidates will lose a mark for the wrong responses given for the MCQs.

• There is no mark deducted for unanswered questions.

CAT 2025 Important Topics with High Accuracy Potential

Aspirants aiming for a high score in CAT 2025 must prioritise topics that consistently deliver high accuracy for well-prepared candidates. These areas follow predictable question patterns, allowing quick and confident attempts. Mastering them across VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Aptitude boosts your overall score and maximises efficiency during the exam. Below are section-wise high-accuracy topics for CAT 2025 preparation.

VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)

• Reading Comprehension passages with factual or narrative tone

• Para Jumbles without options (TITA)

• Odd One Out (Sentence Elimination)

• Summary-based questions with clear main ideas

DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning)

• Table-based DI with direct calculations

• Bar Graph and Pie Chart combination sets

• Arrangement and Scheduling puzzles with fixed variables

• Caselets involving simple percentages and ratios

Quantitative Aptitude

• Arithmetic: Percentages, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion

• Algebra: Linear Equations and Simple Quadratic Equations

• Geometry: Triangles and Circles (direct property-based)

• Number Systems: Divisibility and Remainders

How to Revise High-Weightage Topics Before CAT 2025 Exam Day

Effective revision of CAT 2025 high-weightage topics is crucial for maximising your score. By focusing on frequently tested areas in Quantitative Aptitude, VARC, and DILR, you can strengthen accuracy and speed in the final stretch. A smart revision plan helps reduce last-minute stress, reinforces key concepts, and ensures you perform confidently on exam day. Here are 5 detailed tips for revising CAT high-weightage topics effectively.

1. Make a Section-Wise Priority Chart – Rank the most important topics for QA, VARC, and DILR using past year CAT papers, such as Arithmetic in QA, Reading Comprehension in VARC, and Data Interpretation sets in DILR.

2. Revise Through Topic-Wise Practice Tests – Attempt small, focused tests for each high-weightage topic to strengthen problem-solving ability and time management.

3. Revisit Shortcuts and Formulas – For QA, go over key formulas, theorems, and calculation tricks to answer questions faster with better accuracy.

4. Review and Correct Past Errors – Revisit mistakes made in previous mock tests for high-weightage topics and solve them again to avoid repeating them.

5. Practice in Timed Conditions – Solve high-weightage questions with a set time limit to improve speed, accuracy, and decision-making under pressure.

Most Frequently Asked Questions in CAT Quant, VARC, and DILR

Understanding the most frequently asked question types in CAT helps aspirants focus their preparation on high-yield areas. In Quantitative Aptitude, topics like Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry often dominate. VARC consistently features Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, and Odd Sentence Out. DILR regularly tests candidates on Data Interpretation sets, Logical Puzzles, and Games & Tournaments. Mastering these ensures better accuracy and higher scores in CAT 2025.

1. Quantitative Aptitude (Quant)

• Arithmetic (Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time-Speed-Distance, Time & Work)

• Algebra (Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, Progressions)

• Geometry & Mensuration (Triangles, Circles, Coordinate Geometry)

• Number System (Divisibility, LCM & HCF, Base System)

• Modern Math (Probability, Permutation & Combination, Set Theory)

2. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

• Reading Comprehension (Inference-based, Main Idea, Author’s Tone)

• Para Jumbles (Sentence Rearrangement without Options – TITA)

• Para Summary (Identifying Core Message)

• Odd One Out (Sentence Exclusion based on theme)

• Critical Reasoning (Assumptions, Strengthen/Weaken Arguments)

3. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

• Data Interpretation (Tables, Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, Pie Charts)

• Logical Puzzles (Arrangements, Scheduling, Seating Plans)

• Games and Tournaments (Ranking, Points Table Analysis)

• Caselets (Word-based DI without charts)

• Venn Diagrams and Set Theory-based DI

CAT 2025 Topic-Wise Weightage of QA, VARC and DILR

A comprehensive analysis of the CAT previous year question papers is necessary for the candidates to understand the section-wise CAT topic-wise weightage for the 2025 examination. The candidates are also advised to solve the various CAT previous year questions, CAT sample papers and other important CAT resources to find the most important CAT topics from which the candidates can expect questions in the CAT examination. Careers360 has conducted an extensive CAT past paper analysis to find out the section-wise analysis. The candidates are provided with the topic-wise CAT weightage in the tables given below. The candidates are also advised to note that the number of questions is predicted based on the past trends in the CAT exam and may vary in the actual CAT 2025 question paper.

CAT Topicwise Weightage: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

The CAT VARC section is one of the highest-scoring sections of the CAT examination. But this section particularly poses a challenge for the candidates with low language skills. In the CAT examination, the candidates are asked 24 questions, and this section has the highest weightage in terms of the number of questions asked in the CAT examination. The candidates are strongly advised to enhance their CAT VARC preparation in the remaining CAT preparation days to ensure that they secure a good score in the CAT VARC section. The expected CAT topic-wise weightage for 2025, following the previous year's trends, is listed below.

CAT Topicwise Weightage: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning topic of the CAT exam is observed to have a steady increase as far as the difficulty levels of the examination are concerned. The candidates have reported that the CAT DILR questions have become increasingly confusing and lengthy in recent times. Hence, going through the complete CAT DILR syllabus as well as the CAT DILR important topics will help the candidates to enhance their CAT DILR 2025 preparation. In the CAT question paper, the candidates can expect 22 questions to be asked from this section alone. This included 2 sets of 5 questions and 3 sets of 4 questions. The expected CAT DILR topic-wise weightage for 2025 is given below after going through the CAT DILR sections of the previous year's question papers. Going by the previous year trends, the data interpretation questions might have a greater weightage than the logical reasoning questions.

CAT Topicwise Weightage: Quantitative Aptitude

Regarded as one of the most difficult sections of the CAT examination, a dedicated CAT quantitative aptitude practice is essential for candidates who wish to secure a good CAT percentile under the CAT quantitative aptitude section. The only way to score well is by practising as many CAT Quantitative Aptitude questions as possible. The marks scored by the candidates in the CAT quantitative aptitude section are often considered decisive for the admission of the candidates. By performing the CAT previous year analysis of the quantitative aptitude section, the CAT topic-wise weightage of the quantitative aptitude section is noted down and presented below for the reference of the candidates.

CAT Quantitative Aptitude: Important Topic to Focus On

Since the CAT quantitative aptitude syllabus is very vast and noting the important CAT quant topics becomes difficult, Careers360 has designed a set of topics from the CAT syllabus for the quantitative aptitude section that the candidates should focus on to bring the most out of their CAT quantitative aptitude preparation.

CAT Topic-wise Weightage: Key Insights from Previous Years

Now that the candidates have gone through the CAT topic-wise weightage from the previous year's question papers, it is also important that they are aware of the most important insights from the previous year's question papers. It is advisable that the candidates are already aware of these key insights because this will help them to have a good understanding of what they can expect from the actual CAT 2025 examination.

• The greatest weightage in the CAT examination is given for the Reading Comprehension topic of the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section. The candidates are asked 16 questions from this section alone, which constitutes almost 24% of the total CAT questions. Hence, CAT RC preparation is essential for the candidates.

• The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section is getting increasingly difficult each year due to the presence of higher-order thinking DILR questions. Due to this, the candidates may face challenges solving the CAT DILR section due to the presence of complicated questions. The candidates are expected to solve mixed-type DILR questions, which include questions designed by combining two topics of DILR to score better in the examination.

• As far as the CAT quantitative aptitude section is concerned, the candidates can expect more questions from the algebra and arithmetic sections, with the arithmetic section given a slightly higher edge. Both these sections, when combined together contribute more than half of the total number of questions asked under the CAT arithmetic section alone.

How to Use Topic-wise Weightage for CAT 2025?

Now that the candidates are aware of the various CAT topic-wise weightages and the key insights of the CAT examination, it is also necessary for the candidates to focus on the CAT preparation tips that will guide them on how to make the most out of the CAT topic-wise weightage. A few of the tips and tricks are provided below for the reference of the candidates.

Focus More On High-Weightage and Moderate-Difficulty Topics

The candidates should list the high-weight moderate difficulty topics after going through the CAT topic-wise weightage and then prioritise them to make effective use of the time left. Covering these topics will be slightly easier and can help the candidates complete more topics within the given time. The candidates are also encouraged to design a CAT preparation timetable which they must follow to accomplish their targets.

Allocate Preparation Time Based On Topic Importance

The candidates should also prioritise learning the topics that have the highest weight once they are done with the high-weight moderate difficulty topics, and they are done with the moderate difficulty topics. This should be done irrespective of the difficulty levels. If a candidate finds it difficult to solve a particular topic, they should start from the basics and slowly build the conceptual understanding. The candidates should never neglect a highly probable CAT topic.

Practice TITA and MCQ Formats Separately

The candidates are strongly advised to solve the CAT TITA questions and the multiple choice questions separately because TITA (Type In The Answer) questions do not carry negative marking, so candidates can attempt them without the fear of getting penalised for their responses. This will help the candidates to take educated guesses while answering the CAT TITA questions. On the other hand, multiple choice questions involve elimination techniques and smart guessing, but they carry a negative mark for wrong answers. So more care must be taken while answering such questions.

Use Mock Test Analysis To Improve Accuracy In Top-Weighted Areas.

Mock tests play an important role in helping candidates improve their weak areas in the CAT examination. The candidates are very much encouraged to attempt a lot of CAT mock tests to understand their current learning level. Based on the CAT mock test analysis, the candidates should restructure their CAT preparation plan.

Candidates looking for a complete mock test practice can refer to the CAT mock test designed by Careers360. This mock test provides advanced CAT mock test analytics, such as the time taken for answering the questions, best best-performing sections of the candidates, the accuracy level of the candidates, expert-written answers to all the questions and much more. The link for attending the CAT mock test designed by Careers360 is provided below.

CAT 2025 Preparation Resources by Careers360

Careers360 equips CAT 2025 aspirants with comprehensive preparation resources. They provide mock tests, previous year question papers, topic-wise practice exercises, and expert strategies. Students can use these tools to sharpen their quantitative, verbal, and logical reasoning skills, track their progress, and approach the exam with confidence and clarity.