CAT English Syllabus and Questions 2026 PDF Download Here [Section-Wise]

Overview: The CAT English syllabus 2026 majorly focuses on reading comprehension, verbal ability, grammar and vocabulary. Read on to learn the in-depth topics to be covered in the CAT VARC syllabus.

The Common Aptitude Test 2026 will be conducted on 29th November 2026 by IIM Kozhikode in three shifts. 

If you are a beginner or even a repeater, then it is very important to know the right CAT English syllabus. The section includes reading, grammar, and verbal reasoning skills essential for cracking the exam.

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Continue reading to know the major topics that need to be covered in the CAT exam English syllabus 2026 with us!

CAT English Syllabus 2026 Overview

The CAT English section is divided into three parts, and each section has its advantages and disadvantages.

These three sections include:

• Reading Comprehension (RC)
• Verbal Ability (VA)
• Grammar & Vocabulary

These topics assess your reading speed, understanding, and logical reasoning abilities. Let’s explore them in detail.

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VARC Study Plans for CAT + OMETs 

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VARC Important Questions for CAT + OMETs

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VARC Past Year RC Sources 

Previous Year Reading Comprehension Sources

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CAT English Syllabus PDF 2026 Important Topics

Here is the list of topics that are covered in the CAT Exam English syllabus 2026:

CAT 2026 English Syllabus
Fill in the blanks	Foreign language words used in English	Verbal logic
Syllogisms	Reading comprehension	Different usage of the same word
Grammar	Para completion and inference	Antonyms
Sentence completion	Analogies	Idioms
Parts of speech	Para completion and inference	One word substitution
Jumbled paragraphs	Sentence correction	Different usage of the same word
Phrases modifiers	Preposition	Articles usage
Verbal reasoning	Errors in tenses	Types of clauses

Read more | CAT Exam Subjects 2026

 

CAT 2025 English Syllabus: Reading Comprehension (RC)

One of the most scoring and lengthy parts of the CAT English syllabus PDF is Reading Comprehension, which consists of reading the passages and answering questions based on them.

There are generally 5-6 passages asked in the CAT exam pattern, consisting of 24-28 questions. The passages are drawn from diverse topics like economy, science, philosophy, and history.

Moreover, there are some of the questions which are based on interference, tone, central idea and factual details.

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How to Prepare for CAT 2026 English Syllabus RC Section?

Understanding the Reading Section of the CAT English syllabus is very important, as this can be a good scoring section for your overall CAT percentile. To improve this, here are some key points that can improve the RC section:

• Read newspapers, editorials, and novels daily
• Practice solving at least 2-3 RCs every day
• Work on speed-reading techniques

Read More: How to Improve VARC for CAT 

Download Detailed CAT Exam Syllabus PDF for VARC

CAT Reading Comprehension Passages of Previous Years

Here are the previous year's RC Topics that were asked in the CAT exam. You can get an idea about the type of topics asked in the CAT Exam Syllabus, including English grammar for the CAT exam, from this

RC Topics Asked in CAT Exam 2024

• Utility & Human Economics 
• Entertainment/Netflix
• Australian Spices
• Craftsmanship
• Spice Trade
• Unintended Consequences of Technology
• Peer Review of Research
• Carnivore-Human Conflict
• Impact of AI
• Languages
• Chinese Moutai
• Saving outer space and other planets

Read in Detail about CAT Syllabus 2025

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RC Topics Asked in CAT Exam 2023

• Wolf → Environmentalists vs Farmers 
• Philosophy → Change in Work Culture 
• Indian Ocean-based Geographical Literature
• Human Behavior
• Garments, Fashion Industry & Pollution
• Netflix Dubbing of titles for Europe:→ Good or Bad for Europe?
• Liberalism is Dying
• Facts & Interpretation in History
• Romantic Aesthetics/ Philosophy
• Cultural Property Law → Exploration of Sites 
• Nutmeg Curse→ Environment Degradation
• Rational Thinking 

Explore: How to prepare for Logical Reasoning in CAT

RC Topics Asked in CAT Exam 2022

• Ghosts & their mysteries, how we can’t find their history
• Chinese Copy of articles 
• Two levels of emotional thinking
• STOICS
• Music
• Engineering technology
• Octopus
• Philosophy
• Social reorganisation is increasing the crime rate
• Software is easier humans are not capable of getting solutions.
• Indian history
• American migration/urbanisation is increasing

Find Here: Last year's CAT previous papers

CAT English Syllabus 2026: Verbal Ability (VA)

The next section of the English for CAT exam syllabus is Verbal Ability (VA), which tests your ability to understand sentence structures, rearrange sentences, and identify logical errors. It covers some important topics like 

• Para Jumbles (PJ) – Arrange jumbled sentences to form a meaningful paragraph
• Para Summary (PS) – Summarise a given paragraph in the most accurate way
• Odd-One-Out (OOO) – Identify the sentence that doesn’t fit in a given set

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To improve your scores in this section, you need expert tips like:

• Try to practice daily with mock tests and sample questions
• Learn to identify the central idea of a paragraph quickly
• Understand transitions and logical connectors between sentences

Also Read | CAT Exam Preparation Books 2026

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CAT English Syllabus 2026: Grammar & Vocabulary

The third and the most tricky section of the CAT English syllabus is grammar and vocabulary. The exam asks direct questions from these sections, including word usage, sentence correction, synonyms & antonyms and more.

Some of the key areas to focus on are:

• Sentence Correction – Fix grammatical errors in sentences
• Word Usage – Understand different meanings of words in different contexts
• Synonyms & Antonyms – Build a strong vocabulary

Practice: Para Jumbles for CAT 2026

This section of the English syllabus for the CAT exam demands precision and accuracy. To increase your marks and improve your performance in this section, here are some tips:

• Read books and editorials to learn new words
• Use apps like Merriam-Webster and Word Power Made Easy
• Solve sentence correction exercises regularly

Learn more | How to Improve Vocabulary for CAT Exam 2026?  

Best English Books for CAT Exam 2026

To excel in the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section of the CAT exam, the following CAT English books are highly recommended:

CAT English Books Name	Author	Key Features
Word Power Made Easy	Norman Lewis	Best for vocabulary building, covers word roots, meanings, and usage.
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT	Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay	Comprehensive coverage of VARC topics with CAT-level practice questions.
The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning for CAT	Nishit K. Sinha	Covers RC, Verbal Ability, and Logical Reasoning with detailed practice sets.
High School English Grammar & Composition	Wren & Martin	Best for English grammar, helps with sentence correction and error spotting.
A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning	R.S. Aggarwal	Ideal for verbal ability and logical reasoning practice, includes various question types.

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Expert Tips to Get Perfect with the CAT English Syllabus 2026

All you need is the right guidance and expert tips to grasp the CAT 2026 English syllabus. Here are some good-to-go tips that are easy to follow and will help you improve your VARC section of the CAT exam, including English for CAT exam preparation.

Have a look at them:

• Read something every day to get better at understanding what you read.
• Look at old CAT test questions to learn what to expect.
• Take practice tests to find out what you're not good at and improve those areas.
• Learn to use your time well when you're taking the test.

Conclusion

The CAT English syllabus 2026 for CAT exam might seem challenging, but with consistent practice and smart strategies, you can master it. Start early, stay consistent, and ace the CAT!

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