CMAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension Syllabus
Common Management Admission Test (NTA)
- 14
- Topics
- 134
- Sub-topics
- 34
- Questions
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension is one of 3 sections in the CMAT syllabus. It has 14 topics and 134 sub-topics, tested in CMAT Section 1 / VARC, with about 34 questions (30 marks). English, Grammar, Comprehension, Per CMAT Official Notification.
Practise this section freeCMAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension: topic-wise syllabus
- 1
Reading Comprehension
~1 marksPassages, Inference, Per CMAT Official Notification
- Reading Comprehension — Factual, Inferential, Critical, Editorial, Business
- Passage-based Questions — Main Idea, Tone, Inference, Vocabulary in Context
- Business Reading — Business News, Annual Reports, Business Strategies
- Literary Reading — Fiction, Non-Fiction, Essays, Critical Analysis
- Speed Reading, Skimming, Scanning, Active Reading
- Logical Reading — Argument Analysis, Flaw Identification, Strengthen/Weaken
- Comparative Reading — Comparing Two Passages, Synthesis
- 2
Verbal Ability
~1 marksGrammar, Vocabulary, Para Jumbles, Per CMAT Official Notification
- Grammar — Tenses, Voice, Narration, Subject-Verb Agreement, Articles, Prepositions
- Vocabulary — Synonyms, Antonyms, One-Word Substitutes, Idioms, Phrasal Verbs
- Sentence Correction, Error Spotting, Sentence Improvement
- Para Jumbles, Sentence Rearrangement, Paragraph Completion
- Cloze Test, Fill in the Blanks, Summary Writing, Précis
- Word Usage, Foreign Words, Root Words, Etymology
- Essay Writing, Letter Writing, Report Writing (if Descriptive)
- 3
English Grammar
~2 marksTenses, Voice, Narration, Articles, Modals
- Tenses — Present, Past, Future (12 Tenses Total)
- Active Voice and Passive Voice (Transformation Rules)
- Direct Speech and Indirect Speech (Narration Rules)
- Articles (A, An, The) — Rules, Omission, Insertion
- Modals (Can, Could, May, Might, Must, Should, Would, May Have, Must Have)
- Subject-Verb Agreement (Number, Person, Tense)
- Common Errors in English (Spotting, Correction)
- Sentence Improvement, Sentence Rearrangement
- Conditional Sentences (Type 0, 1, 2, 3)
- Infinitive, Gerund, Participle, Modal Auxiliaries
- 4
English Grammar
~2 marksPrepositions, Conjunctions, Tenses, Voice
- Prepositions (Time, Place, Direction, Manner, Reason)
- Conjunctions (Coordinating, Subordinating, Correlative)
- Tenses — Mixed Tenses, Sequence of Tenses
- Voice Change (Active-Passive for All Tenses)
- Narration Change (Direct-Indirect for All Tenses)
- Question Tags, Short Answers
- Transformation of Sentences (Simple, Compound, Complex)
- Degrees of Comparison (Positive, Comparative, Superlative)
- Common Errors in English Grammar
- Sentence Improvement with Multiple Corrections
- 5
Reading Comprehension
~2 marksFactual, Inferential, Literary
- Factual Reading Comprehension (Direct Information)
- Inferential Reading Comprehension (Logic, Reasoning)
- Literary Reading Comprehension (Poetry, Fiction)
- Editorial and Opinion-Based Passages
- Scientific and Technical Passages
- Business and Economic Passages (Banking, Economy)
- Social and Cultural Passages
- Passage-based Vocabulary Questions
- Passage-based Tone, Mood, Inference
- Passage-based Main Idea, Title, Theme
- 6
English Vocabulary
~2 marksSynonyms, Antonyms, One-Word, Idioms
- Synonyms (Words with Similar Meanings)
- Antonyms (Words with Opposite Meanings)
- One-Word Substitutions (Compact Word for Phrase)
- Idioms and Phrases (Common English Idioms)
- Phrasal Verbs (Verb + Preposition Combinations)
- Foreign Words and Phrases (Latin, French Origin)
- Root Words, Prefixes, Suffixes (Etymology)
- Confusables (Homophones, Homonyms, Homographs)
- Spelling Correction, Commonly Misspelled Words
- Word Usage, Word Meaning in Context, Idiomatic Usage
- 7
English Comprehension Skills
~2 marksCloze Test, Para Jumbles, Fill Blanks
- Cloze Test (Fill in the Blanks — Multiple Choice)
- Para Jumbles (Sentence Rearrangement — 5-6 Sentences)
- Sentence Rearrangement (4-5 Sentence Jumble)
- Paragraph Completion (Last Sentence of Paragraph)
- Fill in the Blanks (Single Blank, Double Blank, Triple Blank)
- Sentence Completion (Beginning/End of Sentence)
- Word-Substitution in Passages
- Reading Comprehension — Factual Questions
- Reading Comprehension — Inferential Questions
- Reading Comprehension — Vocabulary in Context
- 8
Arithmetic
~3 marksNumber System, Percentages, Profit-Loss, SI-CI
- Number System, HCF-LCM, Indices, Surds, Simplification, Approximation
- Percentages, Profit-Loss, Discount, SI-CI, Growth Rate, Population Growth
- Ratio, Proportion, Mixture-Alligation, Partnership, Ages
- Time-Work, Work-Wages, Pipes & Cisterns, Efficiency
- Time-Speed-Distance, Trains, Boats, Races, Clocks, Calendar
- Averages, Mixture Problems, Alligation, Allegation Method
- Mensuration, Geometry, Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry
- Data Interpretation — Tables, Bar, Pie, Line, Caselet, Data Sufficiency
- Modern Math — Permutation, Combination, Probability, Sets, Functions
- Commercial Math — Stocks, Shares, Dividends, Brokerage, GST, True Discount
- 9
Algebra
~3 marksEquations, Functions, P&C, Probability
- Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations, Polynomials, Identities
- Functions, Graphs, Inequalities, Logarithms, Modulus, Domain, Range
- Sequences and Series, AP, GP, HP, Sum of n terms, Special Series
- Permutation, Combination, Binomial Theorem, Probability
- Matrices, Determinants, Linear Programming, System of Equations
- Set Theory, Relations, Functions, Venn Diagrams, Cardinality
- Trigonometry — Ratios, Identities, Heights and Distances, Equations
- Coordinate Geometry — Lines, Circles, Conics, Distance, Slope
- Calculus — Limits, Derivatives, Integrals, Maxima, Minima, Applications
- Statistics — Mean, Median, Mode, Variance, Skewness, Correlation, Regression
- 10
Data Interpretation
~3 marksCharts, Tables, Caselets, Data Sufficiency
- Table DI — Direct, Calculation-Based, Multi-Step
- Bar Graph DI — Single, Double, Stacked, Comparison
- Pie Chart DI — Sector Angle, Percentage, Comparison, Multiple Pie
- Line Graph DI — Trend, Multiple Lines, Comparison, Growth Rate
- Caselet DI — Story-Based, Multi-Step, Verbal Reasoning with Data
- Data Sufficiency — Two-Statement, Three-Statement, Multi-Condition
- Comparison DI — Ratio, Percentage, Difference, Growth Rate
- Missing Data DI — Find the Missing Value, Estimate, Calculate
- Quant-Based DI — Averages, Ratios in Data, Business Scenarios, HR Data
- Radar, Web, Mixed Chart DI, Business Scenarios — Revenue, Cost, Profit, Market Share
- 11
Verbal Ability
~3 marksGrammar, Vocabulary, Reading, Writing
- Reading Comprehension — Factual, Inferential, Critical, Editorial, Business
- Cloze Test, Fill in the Blanks, Sentence Completion
- Spotting Errors, Sentence Correction, Sentence Improvement
- Para Jumbles, Sentence Rearrangement, Paragraph Completion
- Vocabulary — Synonyms, Antonyms, One-Word Substitutes, Idioms, Phrasal Verbs
- Grammar — Tenses, Voice, Narration, Prepositions, Articles, Modals
- Word Usage, Foreign Words, Root Words, Etymology, Confusables
- Essay Writing, Letter Writing, Email Writing, Report, Précis
- Business Reading — Business News, Annual Reports, Strategies, Case Studies
- Critical Reading — Argument Analysis, Flaw Identification, Strengthen/Weaken
- 12
Logical Reasoning
~3 marksPuzzles, Arrangements, Logic, Decisions
- Seating Arrangement — Linear, Circular, Square, Rectangular, Hexagonal
- Floor/Ladder Puzzles, Box Puzzles, Scheduling (Day/Month/Year)
- Venn Diagrams, Sets, Family Tree, Blood Relations, Direction
- Number Series, Letter Series, Coding-Decoding, Pattern Recognition
- Syllogisms, Statement-Conclusion, Assumption, Inference, Course of Action
- Critical Reasoning, Paradox, Brainteasers, Logic Games
- Decision Making, Selection, Prioritization, Optimization, Negotiation
- Data Sufficiency, Input-Output, Scheduling, Ranking
- Verbal Reasoning — Analogies, Classification, Odd-Man-Out, Series
- Visual Reasoning, Pattern Completion, Embedded Figures, Mirror, Water
- 13
Reading Comprehension
~3 marksFactual, Inferential, Critical, Business
- Factual Reading Comprehension — Direct Information, Recall
- Inferential Reading Comprehension — Logic, Reasoning, Implications
- Critical Reading Comprehension — Argument Analysis, Tone, Stance
- Literary Reading Comprehension — Fiction, Poetry, Drama
- Business Reading Comprehension — Business News, Annual Reports, Strategies
- Editorial and Opinion-Based Passages, Critical Thinking, Perspective
- Scientific and Technical Passages, Business Jargon, Industry Terminology
- Passage-based Vocabulary, Main Idea, Title, Theme, Inference Questions
- Comparative Reading — Comparing Two Passages, Synthesis, Critical Comparison
- Speed Reading, Skimming, Scanning, Active Reading, Time Management
- 14
Verbal Ability
~3 marksGrammar, Vocabulary, Para Jumbles
- Grammar — Tenses, Voice, Narration, Subject-Verb Agreement
- Vocabulary — Synonyms, Antonyms, One-Word Substitutes, Idioms, Phrasal Verbs
- Sentence Correction, Error Spotting, Sentence Improvement
- Para Jumbles, Sentence Rearrangement, Paragraph Completion
- Cloze Test, Fill in the Blanks, Sentence Completion
- Word Usage, Foreign Words, Root Words, Etymology, Confusables
- Spelling, Punctuation, Capitalization, Common Errors
- Verbal Analogies, Classification, Odd-Man-Out, Verbal Series
- Critical Reasoning, Paradox, Brainteasers, Logic Games
- Business Writing — Memo, Report, Email, Letter, Précis, Summary
Frequently asked questions
What topics are in the CMAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension syllabus?
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension for CMAT has 14 topics: Reading Comprehension, Verbal Ability, English Grammar, English Grammar, Reading Comprehension, English Vocabulary, English Comprehension Skills, Arithmetic, Algebra, Data Interpretation and 4 more, with 134 sub-topics in all.
How many questions come from Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension in CMAT?
About 34 questions (30 marks) in CMAT Section 1 / VARC. Always check the latest notification, as numbers can change.
Which Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension topics matter most for CMAT?
By weightage in the syllabus data: Arithmetic (~3 marks), Algebra (~3 marks), Data Interpretation (~3 marks).
How do I practise CMAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension on Topicly?
Pick a topic above and study it your way — step-by-step chat, a quiz, a formula sheet or a voice call with Sia. Topicly tracks each sub-topic so you know what's left. It's free to start.
Compiled from official notifications for study purposes. Always confirm with the conducting body's latest notification.
