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    CAT Exam Topic-wise Weightage Analysis: Arithmetic, RC and LR Dominated All 3 Slots

    CAT Exam Topic-wise Weightage Analysis: Arithmetic, RC and LR Dominated All 3 Slots

    Hitesh SahuUpdated on 24 Jul 2026, 12:28 PM IST

    The CAT 2025 paper wasn’t only about tough questions; it was more like figuring out where the weightage actually lay. Even though Arithmetic, Reading Comprehension, and Logical Reasoning stole the scene in the exam, some lower-weightage topics still quietly mattered a lot. This CAT 2025 topic-wise weightage analysis maps out every section, so you can spot the chapters that showed up the most, plus the less obvious patterns that may help shape your CAT 2026 preparation.

    This Story also Contains

    1. CAT 2025 Section-wise Question Distribution
    2. Quantitative Aptitude Weightage
    3. DILR Weightage
    4. VARC Weightage
    5. The Hidden Pattern Behind CAT 2025
    CAT Exam Topic-wise Weightage Analysis: Arithmetic, RC and LR Dominated All 3 Slots
    CAT Exam Topic-wise Weightage Analysis: Arithmetic, RC and LR Dominated All 3 Slots; Complete Section-wise Breakdown

    CAT 2025 Section-wise Question Distribution

    CAT 2025 followed the revised exam pattern, with 68 questions across three sections.

    Section

    Questions

    Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

    24

    Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

    22

    Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

    22

    Total

    68

    The overall pattern stayed identical across all three slots, but the CAT 2025 paper analysis shows clear differences in how much weight each topic gets inside every section.

    Quantitative Aptitude Weightage

    In the Quant part, Arithmetic kept on dominating, and then Algebra came next. Together, these two areas made up nearly 72% of all QA questions across the three slots.

    CAT 2025 QA Section-wise Weightage Comparison (All Slots)

    Topic

    Slot 1

    Slot 2

    Slot 3

    Arithmetic

    10

    8

    9

    Algebra

    7

    7

    6

    Geometry & Mensuration

    3

    3

    4

    Number System

    1

    2

    2

    Modern Mathematics

    1

    2

    1

    Total Questions

    22

    22

    22

    CAT 2025 QA Topic-wise Comparison (Number of Questions)

    Subtopic

    Slot 1

    Slot 2

    Slot 3

    Ratio and Proportion

    1

    2

    1

    Percentage

    1

    1

    1

    Profit, Loss & Discount

    1

    1

    1

    Simple Interest & Compound Interest

    1

    0

    1

    Time and Work

    1

    0

    1

    Time, Speed, Distance / Boats & Streams

    1

    1

    1

    Mixture and Alligation

    1

    1

    1

    Average

    0

    1

    1

    Partnership / Investment

    1

    1

    1

    Arithmetic Progression / Series

    1

    0

    0

    Logarithms

    1

    0

    1

    Linear Equations

    1

    1

    1

    Quadratic Equations

    1

    1

    1

    Quadratic Functions / Optimization

    1

    1

    0

    Linear Inequalities

    1

    1

    1

    Functions / Greatest Integer Function

    1

    1

    1

    Exponents / Powers

    1

    1

    0

    Algebraic Expressions

    0

    1

    0

    Integer Equations

    0

    1

    0

    Circles

    1

    0

    1

    Triangles

    0

    1

    1

    Coordinate Geometry

    1

    1

    1

    Regular Polygons / Hexagon

    0

    1

    0

    Rhombus / Quadrilaterals

    1

    0

    0

    Mensuration

    0

    0

    1

    Divisibility Rules / Factors

    1

    1

    1

    Unit Digit / Number Properties

    0

    1

    1

    Permutation & Combination

    1

    1

    1

    Useful ebooks to master each section of CAT Quantitative Aptitude:

    The CAT Arithmetic Hackbook PDF: Zero Math Background? No Problem- Concepts, Questions
    CAT Algebra Handbook 2026: Everything You Need to Master Algebra: Concepts, Practice Questions
    CAT 2026 Number System PDF Handbook: Complete Concepts, Practice Questions & Solutions
    CAT 2026 Geometry & Mensuration PDF: Important Concepts, Shortcuts & Practice Questions
    CAT 2026 Modern Maths PDF Handbook: Key Concepts, Tricks & PYQ-Based Practice

    Key Insights

    Arithmetic stayed the top-weighted Quant theme in each slot; overall, it didn’t move much. Algebra kept landing as the second-highest weightage, pretty reliably. Geometry had this steady, almost the same presence, while Number System and Modern Math seemed to bring in fewer questions in comparison. So, candidates who were solid in Arithmetic and Algebra fundamentals had a clear advantage; you know, they could sail through a lot faster.

    DILR Weightage

    In every slot, the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning portion had five sets. And surprisingly, Logical Reasoning ended up contributing more questions than pure Data Interpretation, even though one might expect the reverse.

    Section-wise Weightage Comparison

    Section

    Slot 1

    Slot 2

    Slot 3

    Total

    Logical Reasoning

    13

    13

    13

    39

    Data Interpretation

    4

    4

    4

    12

    Mixed DI-LR (Caselet)

    5

    5

    5

    15

    Total Questions

    22

    22

    22

    66

    Set-wise Comparison

    Set Type

    Slot 1

    Slot 2

    Slot 3

    Set 1

    Train Occupancy (Caselet)

    Guru Training Timeline (Caselet)

    Employee Ratings & Promotions (LR)

    Set 2

    Employee Ratings & Promotions (LR)

    Pollution Measures (Caselet)

    Visual Puzzle Competition (LR)

    Set 3

    Circular Seating

    Research Papers

    International Trade (Caselet)

    Set 4

    Foot Tapping Logic

    Balls & Hoops

    Passing the Buck

    Set 5

    Trade Data (Radar + Bar DI)

    Company Shareholding / Investment DI

    Restaurant Orders & Billing DI

    Topic-wise Comparison

    Topic

    Slot 1

    Slot 2

    Slot 3

    Total

    Arrangement & Seating

    4

    0

    4

    8

    Ranking / Promotions / Scoring

    5

    0

    5

    10

    Scheduling / Timeline

    0

    5

    0

    5

    Logical Distribution / Assignment

    0

    4

    0

    4

    Puzzle / Sequencing

    0

    0

    4

    4

    Logical Matrix / Deduction

    4

    0

    0

    4

    Comparison / Ordering

    0

    4

    0

    4

    Data Interpretation

    4

    4

    4

    12

    Mixed DI-LR Caselets

    5

    5

    5

    15

    Instead of the usual graph-based DI, CAT 2025 went for practical scenarios touching business, scheduling, rankings, trade, and those analytical reasoning bits. The overall structure was pretty much the same through all three slots, with only the caselet themes swapping around.

    VARC Weightage

    Reading Comprehension once again dominated the VARC part, taking up about two-thirds of the total questions.

    Section-wise Weightage Comparison

    Section

    Slot 1

    Slot 2

    Slot 3

    Total

    Reading Comprehension (RC)

    16

    16

    16

    48

    Verbal Ability (VA)

    8

    8

    8

    24

    Total Questions

    24

    24

    24

    72

    Verbal Ability Comparison

    VA Topic

    Slot 1

    Slot 2

    Slot 3

    Total

    Para Summary

    2

    2

    2

    6

    Para Completion

    2

    2

    2

    6

    Para Jumbles

    2

    2

    2

    6

    Odd One Out

    2

    2

    2

    6

    Total

    8

    8

    8

    24

    Observation: Every slot followed the exact same VA distribution-2 questions each from Para Summary, Para Completion, Para Jumbles, and Odd One Out.

    Reading Comprehension Theme Comparison

    Theme

    Slot 1

    Slot 2

    Slot 3

    RC 1

    Mexican Musical Instrument Craftsmanship

    Mexican Tetra Cavefish & Evolution

    Memory, Belief & Philosophy

    RC 2

    Cultural Inspiration vs Cultural Appropriation

    Scientific Instruments, Astronomy & Biology

    Urban Development, Housing & Cities

    RC 3

    Zombie Cells & Ageing

    Literature, Geography & Sense of Place

    Language, Identity & Latinx

    RC 4

    History of Monopoly

    Artificial Intelligence, Bias & Trust

    Wealth Inequality & Modern Economics

    Reading Comprehension stayed the backbone of VARC, with 16 questions, while the Verbal Ability section followed a pretty balanced distribution, giving two questions each to Para Summary, Para Completion, Para Jumbles and Odd One Out.

    The Hidden Pattern Behind CAT 2025

    The CAT 2025 topic-wise analysis shows a few clear trends that future aspirants should actually keep in mind.

    • In the Quant side, Arithmetic + Algebra together pretty much took the lead.

    • For VARC, Reading Comprehension seems to have contributed something like 67 per cent of the whole thing.

    • Meanwhile, Logical Reasoning beat pure Data Interpretation in every slot, pretty consistently too.

    • Also, each slot had nearly the same structural pattern, but only the situations and themes shifted around.

    • And interestingly, no major Quant topic was left out entirely, which underlines that broad preparation matters, even when it feels unnecessary at first.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: 1- What does the CAT 2025 topic-wise weightage tell you?
    A:

    So the CAT 2025 weightage analysis kinda points out that Arithmetic, Reading Comprehension, and Logical Reasoning got the most attention, while areas such as Geometry, Number System and Modern Math still showed up but with more moderate weightage.

    Q: Which Quant topics showed up the most in CAT 2025?
    A:

    Arithmetic had the biggest share of questions, then Algebra was next. Together, both these parts made up roughly 72% of the Quantitative Aptitude section across all three slots, overall.

    Q: How many Reading Comprehension questions were asked in CAT 2025?
    A:

    Each slot of CAT 2025 carried 16 Reading Comprehension questions that were divided into four passages, so RC became the most significant chunk inside the VARC section.

    Q: What was the DILR setup pattern in CAT 2025?
    A:

    Every DILR section had five sets: three were based on Logical Reasoning, one was a mixed DI-LR set, and the last one was pure Data Interpretation. Also, Logical Reasoning had a heavier overall weightage than the rest.

    Q: How can CAT 2026 aspirants actually benefit from the CAT 2025 weightage study?
    A:

    CAT 2026 candidates can use the latest weightage insight to aim at the most frequent areas like Arithmetic, Algebra, Reading Comprehension and Logical Reasoning, while still ensuring the whole syllabus gets covered properly. This kind of approach should support a more balanced prep strategy, instead of a single track only. In simple terms, it helps you do the right things at the right time, even if your schedule is tight.

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