The 80/20 of CAT: which 20% topics give 80% of your score?

I’ve often found myself overwhelmed by the vast CAT exam syllabus. But what if you could focus on just the most impactful 20% of topics that consistently give you 80% of your score? This is the essence of the Pareto principle, or the 80/20 rule — and it works surprisingly well for CAT preparation too.

Let’s break down how you can apply this concept across the three sections of the CAT exam: VARC, DILR, and QA. Understanding the CAT exam pattern and prioritizing the most frequent question types can significantly improve your preparation strategy.

Before diving in, ensure you're updated with the official CAT application form dates and download your CAT admit card once it's available. Being organized with your CAT preparation timeline is as crucial as what you study.

Verbal ability and reading comprehension (VARC)

Focus area: reading comprehension (RC)

Reading comprehension typically makes up about 70% of the VARC section. In most slots, there are four RC passages accounting for 16 out of the 24 questions. If you become adept at solving RCs with accuracy, you're already ahead.

Why it matters:

• RCs are predictable in structure.
  
  

• With consistent practice, accuracy improves significantly.
  
  

• Speed and comprehension can be trained over time.
  
  

High-yield subtopics:

• Inference-based questions
  
  

• Author’s tone and intent
  
  

• Main idea and summary
  
  

By mastering just RC and its common question types, you can consistently attempt 14–16 questions in VARC with confidence.

Data interpretation & logical reasoning (DILR)

Focus area: familiar set types

You don’t need to solve all four sets to secure a high percentile. Often, solving just two good-quality sets correctly can put you in the 85–95 percentile range.

High-yield set types:

• Games and tournaments
  
  

• Matrix-based puzzles
  
  

• Arrangement and grouping sets
  
  

• Venn diagrams
  
  

Focus on mastering 3–4 commonly repeated set types. Practice these intensely and develop the ability to spot familiar logic patterns quickly.

Why it works:

• Most students struggle with unfamiliar set types.
  
  

• Familiarity drastically improves speed and confidence.

Quantitative aptitude (QA)

Focus area: arithmetic and algebra

Together, arithmetic and algebra account for more than 60% of QA questions in most CAT papers.

High-yield topics in arithmetic:

• Percentages and profit-loss
  
  

• Time, speed, and distance
  
  

• Time and work
  
  

• Averages, mixtures, and ratios
  
  

High-yield topics in algebra:

• Linear and quadratic equations
  
  

• Inequalities
  
  

• Functions and graphs
  
  

By mastering arithmetic and algebra, you're covering a majority of the QA section. Geometry and modern math can then be treated as optional additions.

Why this matters:

• These questions are usually simpler to compute.
  
  

• They appear consistently across CAT papers.
  
  

Final thoughts: work smart, not just hard

The CAT exam pattern rewards depth over breadth. Instead of trying to cover every obscure topic, smart aspirants focus on the topics that matter most.

Your 80/20 CAT strategy:

• Master reading comprehension in VARC.
  
  

• Practice 3–4 familiar DILR set types until they become second nature.
  
  

• Focus deeply on arithmetic and algebra in QA.
  
  

Make sure your CAT exam preparation is aligned with the official CAT exam syllabus so you don’t waste time on irrelevant topics.

By applying the 80/20 rule, you’ll not only improve your accuracy and speed but also reduce stress and revision overload. Consistency with these high-yield areas can make the difference between a good and a great percentile.

Stay focused and work smart!