The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 is expected to be conducted by IIM Indore on November 29, 2026.
- The CAT 2026 exam pattern consists of a total of 68 questions, which need to be completed within 120 minutes.
- According to the CAT marking scheme, each correct answer fetches +3 marks, and an incorrect answer deducts 1 mark for MCQ and no negative marking for TITA questions.
- The CAT 2026 exam pattern has three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).
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- Check Topic Wise Marks Distribution in CAT 2026
Key Summary
- The CAT 2026 registration process will be available in the first week of August 2026 on the official portal.
- After the CAT registration closes around September, you can download the CAT 2026 admit card around the second week of November, based on previous years' trends.
- Based on past years' trends, Arithmetic and Algebra have contributed to 45–50% of Quantitative Aptitude questions, while Reading Comprehension forms about 70% of the VARC section.
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern: Check Section-Wise Pattern
To know the topic-wise marks distribution, you need to understand the CAT 2026 exam pattern as tabulated below:
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 72 | 40 minutes |
| DILR | 22 | 66 | 40 minutes |
| QA | 22 | 66 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 68 | 204 | 120 minutes |
Source: The above table has been prepared from a YouTube video by “CAT- Preparation iQuanta”. Check out the video for details on CAT 2026.
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- CAT Study Material 2026: Download Free CAT Study Material PDF for VARC, DILR, and Quant
Ques. Is there negative marking in CAT 2026?
Ans. Yes, but only for wrong MCQ answers, where 1 mark is deducted. TITA questions and unattempted questions carry no penalty.
Ques. What is the syllabus for CAT exam 2026?
Ans. The CAT 2026 syllabus consists of three sections, which include Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). It is a 3-hour CBT mode paper that comprises a total of 68 questions.
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern Marking Scheme
The CAT 2026 exam pattern marking scheme for MCQ and TITA is slightly different.
- Each correct answer will give +3 marks in the CAT 2026.
- An incorrect answer in an MCQ will deduct 1 mark.
- In case of TITA in CAT 2026, there will be no negative marks for an incorrect answer.
| CAT 2026 Marking Scheme | MCQ | TITA |
|---|---|---|
| Every Correct Answer Marks | +3 | +3 |
| Every Incorrect Answer Marks | -1 | No negative marking |
| Unattempted question | No negative marking | No negative marking |
Source: The above table has been prepared from a YouTube video by “CAT- Preparation iQuanta”. Check out the video for details on CAT 2026.
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Ques. What is the total marks in CAT 2026?
Ans. The total marks in CAT 2026 is 204. As per the CAT 2026 exam pattern, +3 marks will be awarded for correct answers, and -1 mark for incorrect answers in MCQ and no negative marks will be deducted from TITA for wrong answers.
Ques. What is the most important section in CAT?
Ans. All the sections are important in CAT 2026, so candidates should focus on the three VARC, DILR and QA. Scoring a high mark alone in one section will not help you achieve a good percentile in your overall CAT 2026 exam.
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern: How Normalisation Works
The CAT 2026 exam is held on a single day but in three different slots. To ensure fairness among candidates’ scores, IIM uses a normalisation process. The scaled score calculation is done with the help of the mean and standard deviation for candidates appearing in three different slots.
Check out the CAT 2025 scaled score calculation and percentile score calculation by clicking on the link below:
You can watch the YouTube video by Cracku- MBA CAT Preparation to understand how CAT 2026 Normalization works to calculate your score and percentile.
Related Article: CAT Mock Test 2026: Free Mock Test Series, Topic, Sectional, Full CAT Mock Tests
Ques. How to score 99% in CAT 2026?
Ans. You can score 99% in CAT 2026 by following a smart preparation strategy as listed below:
- Focus on covering the high-weightage topics in CAT from Quant, VARC and DILR
- Practice as many mock tests as you can in the last three months
- Analysing the mistakes made in the mock test helps you know the corrections or revisions required for CAT 2026.
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern: Reddit Discussion
According to a Reddit post, a user wanted to know who the CAT 2026 exam setter is this year. In the discussion, it was said that IIM Indore will conduct the CAT 2026 exam.
In the discussion, it was also mentioned that the CAT 2026 exam pattern does not get affected by who the test setter is, as all major IIMs are almost equally involved in setting the paper each year. IIM Indore will just look out for matters such as ensuring exam centres are in check, information is on time, releasing the results, etc.
Source: Reddit
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- CAT Preparation 2026: Strategy, Self-Preparation, Books, Mock Tests & Online Coachings
- Check CAT Question Paper (Available): Download CAT Previous Year Question Paper with Solutions PDF (2025-1988)
Ques. Which books are good for CAT 2026?
Ans. For Quant, you can follow NCERT and RS Aggarwal, focus on reading and solving passages for VARC books like Word Power Made Easy, but RC practice is more important and for DILR practice, mix sets of questions to score well in CAT 2026. In short, RS Agarwal and NCERT books are good for CAT 2026.
Ques. What is the expected date for CAT 2026?
Ans. The CAT 2026 exam is likely to be held on the last Sunday of November 2026, that is on November 29, 2026. The registration process will commence on August 1, 2026. You are advised to check the official CAT IIM website for more information.
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