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    CAT 2026 English Syllabus: VARC Topics, Weightage, Preparation Tips, Previous Year Trends & Best Books

    CAT 2026 English Syllabus: VARC Topics, Weightage, Preparation Tips, Previous Year Trends & Best Books

    Team Careers360Updated on 23 Jul 2026, 10:07 AM IST

    Many CAT aspirants assume that boosting English is just about reading more, but VARC really asks for more than mere vocabulary or grammar. Like ok you need to know words, sure, but also you have to grok the syllabus, watch the question trends, and understand topic-wise weightage, that is what makes a real difference. Since CAT 2026 exam expected to be conducted in November 2026, now is the right time to see what the VARC section actually checks. In this article, you’ll see the full CAT English syllabus, the key areas to focus on, the expected weightage, and the question patterns too, so you can prep with more clarity and not just guess.

    This Story also Contains

    1. English Weightage in CAT 2026
    2. CAT English Syllabus Important Topics
    3. Weightage of Different Areas of English Syllabus
    4. Common Mistakes to Avoid While Preparing for CAT VARC
    5. CAT VARC Preparation Tips to Score 99+ Percentile
    6. Previous Year CAT VARC Topic-wise Weightage (2023–2025)
    7. Best Books for CAT 2026 VARC Preparation
    CAT 2026 English Syllabus: VARC Topics, Weightage, Preparation Tips, Previous Year Trends & Best Books
    CAT English Syllabus for MBA with Weightage, Important Topics

    English Weightage in CAT 2026

    The VARC section of the CAT exam contains the most questions and therefore holds the largest weightage among the three sections. The VARC sections are also considered to be the highest-scoring ones because of the reading passages. The total number of questions in the VARC section is 24. The detailed weightage and marks for the VARC section in the CAT exam are given below.

    ParticularsDetails

    CAT Exam Section

    Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

    Total VARC Questions

    24

    Total Marks

    72

    Marking Scheme

    • 3 marks for every correct answer.
    • -1 mark for every incorrect answer.

    Time

    40 minutes

    CAT English Syllabus Important Topics

    Completing the English CAT syllabus can often seem like too much to study. Therefore, candidates need to get the important topics to study for the VARC section of the CAT exam. These important topics are the ones from which most of the questions are formulated in the VARC section. The list of the important topics from the CAT English syllabus for the VARC section of the CAT exam is provided in the table below.

    CAT Exam Section

    CAT English Syllabus Important Topics

    Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

    • Reading Comprehension
    • Synonyms and Antonyms
    • Word Usage and Contextual Meaning
    • Analogies
    • Idioms and Phrases
    • Grammar-based Questions (Parts of Speech, Tenses, Subject-Verb Agreement, etc.)
    • Para jumbles
    • Strengthening and Weakening Arguments
    • Assumptions, Inferences, and Conclusions
    • Logical Deductions
    • Cause and Effect Reasoning
    • Paragraph Completion
    • Summary
    • Reading and Comprehending Different Text Forms
    • Contextual Understanding

    Weightage of Different Areas of English Syllabus

    The entire CAT English syllabus can be divided into the following four parts:

    1. Reading Comprehension
    2. VA- Para Jumbles
    3. VA- Odd Sentence
    4. VA- Summary
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    The weightage of each of these areas of the CAT English syllabus in the CAT exam is given in the table below.

    Areas of CAT English Syllabus

    Weightage

    Reading Comprehension

    66.7%

    VA- Para Jumbles

    12.5%

    VA- Odd Sentence

    8.3%

    VA- Summary

    12.5%

    Also See:

    Past 10 years CAT Question Papers with Solutions
    Ace CAT with confidence! Download the Past 10 Years' CAT Question Papers with detailed answers to understand exam trends, improve accuracy, and maximize your percentile.
    Download Ebook

    Common Mistakes to Avoid While Preparing for CAT VARC

    Avoiding common mistakes during your preparation can significantly improve your performance in the CAT VARC section. Many aspirants focus only on solving questions without analysing their approach, which often leads to repeated errors. Here are some mistakes you should avoid while preparing for CAT 2026 VARC.

    Reading Without Understanding

    One of the biggest mistakes candidates make is reading passages quickly without understanding the author's main idea. Focus on comprehension rather than speed. Pay attention to the tone, central argument, and supporting details while reading.

    Ignoring Reading Comprehension (RC)

    Reading Comprehension carries the highest weightage in the CAT VARC section. Ignoring RC or practising it occasionally can reduce your overall score. Make RC practice a regular part of your daily preparation.

    Spending Too Much Time on One Passage

    Do not spend excessive time on a difficult passage. If a passage seems confusing, move to the next one and return later if time permits. Effective time management is essential during the exam.

    Not Analysing Mock Tests

    Simply taking mock tests is not enough. Analyse every mock test to identify your mistakes, understand why you selected the wrong answers, and work on improving your weak areas.

    Neglecting TITA Questions

    Type In The Answer (TITA) questions do not have negative marking. Many candidates either skip them or do not practise them enough. Regular practice can help you maximise your score in this question type.

    CAT VARC Preparation Tips to Score 99+ Percentile

    Scoring a 99+ percentile in CAT VARC requires consistent reading habits, regular practice, and thorough mock test analysis. Following a disciplined preparation strategy can improve both your accuracy and speed.

    Read Editorials Daily

    Develop the habit of reading editorials from reputed newspapers and magazines. This improves reading speed, vocabulary, comprehension, and familiarity with diverse topics.

    Practice 2–3 Reading Comprehension Passages Every Day

    Solve at least two to three Reading Comprehension passages daily from different topics such as philosophy, economics, science, history, and sociology to improve adaptability.

    Solve Previous Year CAT Questions

    Previous year CAT questions help you understand the actual exam pattern, difficulty level, and frequently tested concepts. They also familiarise you with the style of CAT VARC questions.

    Analyse Every Mock Test

    After every mock test, review every question carefully. Identify your strengths, understand your mistakes, and modify your strategy accordingly instead of simply checking your score.

    Improve Reading Speed Without Compromising Comprehension

    Increasing reading speed is important, but not at the cost of understanding the passage. Focus on reading efficiently while accurately identifying the author's tone, purpose, and key arguments.

    Previous Year CAT VARC Topic-wise Weightage (2023–2025)

    The CAT VARC section has remained largely consistent over the past few years. Reading Comprehension continues to dominate the section, followed by Verbal Ability questions such as Para Summary, Para Jumbles, and Odd One Out.

    YearReading Comprehension (RC)Para SummaryPara JumblesOdd One Out / TITA
    CAT 202516332
    CAT 202416332
    CAT 202316332
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    Best Books for CAT 2026 VARC Preparation

    A high VARC score comes from improving reading ability, verbal reasoning, and consistent practice. These books are widely recommended by CAT toppers and mentors for mastering the section.

    Book NameAuthor/PublisherWhy You Should Read It
    Word Power Made EasyNorman LewisBuilds vocabulary through simple, structured lessons.
    High School English Grammar & CompositionWren & MartinStrengthens grammar fundamentals and sentence structure.
    Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CATNishit K. SinhaCovers all VARC topics with CAT-level practice questions.
    How to Prepare for VARC for CATArun Sharma & Meenakshi UpadhyayProvides concept-building, strategies, and extensive practice sets.
    30 Days to a More Powerful VocabularyWilfred Funk & Norman LewisHelps improve vocabulary for Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability.
    CAT Previous Year Question PapersIIMs (Compiled by Various Publishers)The best resource for understanding actual CAT VARC question patterns and difficulty level.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: What is the English section of the CAT exam?
    A:

    The English section of the CAT exam is Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC). It consists of 24 questions with a total mark of 72. The VARC section consists of questions across topics like vocabulary, grammatical knowledge, sentence building, and reading ability.

    Q: How many questions are there in the English section of the CAT exam?
    A:

    The total number of questions in the VARC section of the CAT exam is 24. Each question carries 3 marks. The total marks of the VARC section are 72 out of the 198 total marks of the CAT exam.

    Q: Is CAT English difficult?
    A:

    The difficulty level of English in the CAT exam can be considered between moderate to difficult. The difficulty level remains high as it is the topmost management entrance examination in the country. Apart from that it is also a scoring opportunity for the candidates as it contains the most number of questions among all the sections.

    Q: What is the sectional cutoff for English in CAT?
    A:

    The sectional cutoff for English in CAT remains between 70 to 80 for most of the IIMs. It may vary for reserved categories. Clearing the sectional cutoff for English is mandatory for every candidate to be eligible for applying to the IIMs.

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