CAT Syllabus 2026
CAT Syllabus 2026 remains largely unchanged from previous years, covering three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) do not release an official detailed syllabus PDF. Aspirants should prepare based on consistent past trends, with the expected CAT 2026 exam pattern consisting of 68 questions worth 204 marks to be solved in 120 minutes.
What is CAT Exam 2026? Overview
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is India’s premier national-level entrance exam for admission into MBA and other postgraduate management programmes at the 21 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and over 1000 other top B-schools. Conducted annually as a computer-based test (CBT), CAT 2026 evaluates candidates on quantitative, verbal, and logical skills essential for management education.
No major changes are expected in the syllabus or pattern for 2026. The exam tests speed, accuracy, and conceptual clarity under sectional time limits. Official notification is expected in the last week of July 2026.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) |
| Sections | VARC, DILR, QA |
| Total Questions | 68 (Expected) |
| Total Marks | 204 |
| Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Sectional Time Limit | 40 minutes per section |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
The expected CAT 2026 exam pattern is as follows:
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration | Question Types |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 72 | 40 minutes | MCQ + TITA |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 66 | 40 minutes | MCQ + TITA (Set-based) |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 66 | 40 minutes | MCQ + TITA |
| Total | 68 | 204 | 120 minutes | - |
Marking Scheme:
-
+3 marks for every correct answer
-
-1 mark for incorrect MCQ
-
0 marks for incorrect TITA or unattempted questions
No switching between sections is allowed due to the sectional time limit.
CAT Syllabus 2026 – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
VARC is often considered one of the most scoring yet tricky sections. It focuses on reading speed, comprehension, and English language usage.
Key Topics in CAT VARC Syllabus 2026:
- Reading Comprehension (RC) passages (Inference-based, factual, vocabulary-based)
- Parajumbles (Jumbled paragraphs)
- Odd Sentence Out
- Paragraph Summary / Completion
- Fill in the Blanks
- Sentence Correction / Error Spotting
- Subject-Verb Agreement, Prepositions, Articles
- Idioms and Phrases, One-word Substitution
- Analogies, Antonyms-Synonyms
- Verbal Reasoning (Syllogisms, Critical Reasoning)
CAT Syllabus 2026 – Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
DILR tests your ability to analyze data sets and solve logical puzzles quickly. Questions usually appear in sets of 4–6.
Key Topics in CAT DILR Syllabus 2026:
- Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, Pie Charts, Tables
- Caselets and Data Sets
- Venn Diagrams
- Seating Arrangements (Linear, Circular, Matrix)
- Blood Relations, Family Tree
- Direction Sense, Clocks & Calendars
- Binary Logic, Syllogisms
- Coding-Decoding, Puzzles
- Data Sufficiency
- Series and Propositions
Practice solving 1–2 sets daily to build speed in calculation and pattern recognition.
CAT Syllabus 2026 – Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
QA evaluates mathematical and numerical ability. Arithmetic and Algebra dominate this section.
Key Topics in CAT QA Syllabus 2026:
- Number System (HCF-LCM, Remainders, Surds & Indices)
- Arithmetic (Percentages, Profit & Loss, SI-CI, Ratios, Time-Speed-Distance, Work & Time, Averages, Mixtures)
- Algebra (Quadratic Equations, Linear Equations, Inequalities, Logarithms, Functions)
- Geometry & Mensuration (Triangles, Circles, Polygons, 3D Figures)
- Modern Math (Probability, Permutations & Combinations, Set Theory)
- Trigonometry, Binomial Theorem
Maintain a formula sheet and focus on mental math shortcuts.
How to Prepare for CAT 2026 Syllabus Effectively
- Understand the pattern and syllabus thoroughly.
- Build strong basics in all topics.
- Practice previous year CAT papers and sectional mocks.
- Analyze every mock test to identify weak areas.
- For VARC: Read daily + vocabulary building.
- For DILR: Solve varied sets regularly.
- For QA: Revise concepts and solve timed questions.
- Take full-length mocks in the last 3–4 months and aim for 99+ percentile consistency.
Consistent practice with quality mocks is the key to cracking CAT.
