CAT Exam Pattern 2026: Check Section-wise Syllabus, Total Marks & Duration
- Organization
- Unlisted employer
Details
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
| 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.
CAT Exam Pattern 2026 - FAQ's
Q1. What is the CAT Exam Pattern 2026?
CAT 2026 will have 3 sections (VARC, DILR, QA) with 68 questions to be solved in 120 minutes. Each section gets exactly 40 minutes. It includes both MCQs and TITA questions.
Q2. How many questions are there in CAT 2026?
Approximately 68 questions (24 in VARC, 22 in DILR, and 22 in QA).
Q3. What is the marking scheme in CAT Exam?
+3 marks for every correct answer. -1 mark for every wrong MCQ. No negative marking for TITA questions.
Q4. Is there negative marking in CAT 2026?
Yes, only for Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). TITA questions have no negative marking.
Q5. What is the duration of CAT 2026 exam?
The total duration is 120 minutes (2 hours), with 40 minutes allotted to each section.
Last updated: 06 May 2026
For official confirmation, visit the recruiting body’s official website.