CAT Exam Pattern 2026 consists of three sections -Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) -with a total of approximately 68 questions to be attempted in 120 minutes (40 minutes per section). The exam is conducted as a computer-based test by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
Overview of CAT Exam Pattern 2026
The CAT 2026 (Common Admission Test) is the gateway for admission to prestigious MBA programs at IIMs and other top B-schools in India. It is a computer-based test (CBT) with fixed sectional time limits and no option to switch sections.
CAT Exam Pattern 2026 Overview Table
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| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Number of Sections | 3 (VARC, DILR, QA) |
| Total Questions | 68 |
| Total Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Sectional Time Limit | 40 minutes per section |
| Total Marks | 204 |
| Question Types | MCQs + TITA (Non-MCQs) |
| Marking Scheme | +3 for correct, -1 for wrong MCQ, 0 for TITA/Unattempted |
| Negative Marking | Only for MCQs |
Section-wise CAT Exam Pattern 2026
| Section | No. of Questions | MCQs | TITA | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 22 | 2 | 40 minutes | 72 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 12-15 | 7-10 | 40 minutes | 66 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 14 | 8 | 40 minutes | 66 |
| Total | 68 | 48 | 20 | 120 minutes | 204 |
Section-Wise CAT Exam Syllabus 2026
VARC Syllabus for CAT Exam (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension)
- Reading Comprehension passages
- Parajumbles and Jumbled Paragraphs
- Odd Sentence Out
- Summary Writing / Para Summary
- Fill in the Blanks
- Sentence Completion
- One-word Substitution
- Sentence Correction
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Prepositions and Articles
- Usage of Idioms and Phrases
- Different Meanings of the Same Word
- Foreign Language Words Used in English
- Verbal Reasoning and Verbal Logic
- Analogies and Antonyms
- Syllogisms
- Types of Clauses and Modifiers
DILR Syllabus for CAT Exam (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning)
- Bar Graphs and Line Graphs
- Tables and Pie Charts
- Caselets and Data Sets
- Binary Logic
- Syllogisms
- Blood Relations
- Seating Arrangements
- Venn Diagrams
- Direction Sense
- Puzzles
- Data Sufficiency
- Coding-Decoding
- Clocks and Calendars
- Statements and Assumptions
- Series and Propositions
- Family Tree
- Data Structures
- Data Arrangement
QA Syllabus for CAT Exam (Quantitative Aptitude)
- Geometry
- Ratios and Proportion
- Inequalities
- Trigonometry
- Quadratic and Linear Equations
- Work and Time
- Algebra
- Surds and Indices
- Percentages
- Mensuration
- Time, Speed, and Distance
- Logarithms
- Partnership (Accounts)
- Number System
- Square Root and Cube Root
- Profit and Loss
- Geometric Progression
- Probability
- Mean, Mode, Median
- Binomial Theorem
- Simple Interest and Compound Interest
Note: The CAT syllabus remains largely unchanged every year. The majority of questions in QA come from Arithmetic and Algebra.
Preparation Tips and Strategy for CAT 2026
- Start early and focus on building concepts + speed.
- Practice previous year papers and mocks regularly.
- Strengthen weaknesses through sectional tests.
- Improve reading speed for VARC and calculation speed for QA.
- Analyze every mock thoroughly.
