CAT 2026 Syllabus covers three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). IIM Indore, the conducting body for CAT 2026, does not publish a formal topic-wise syllabus. You should build your preparation around topics that have consistently appeared in past CAT papers. The exam is scheduled for November 29, 2026, in three sessions at iimcat.ac.in.
- CAT 2026 has three sections: VARC (24 questions), DILR (approximately 20 questions), and QA (22 questions) — around 66 questions in 120 minutes.
- No official topic-wise syllabus PDF exists. Topic lists on this page are derived from analysis of CAT 2020–2025 papers.
- Reading Comprehension (RC) dominates VARC — around 16 of 24 VARC questions are RC-based in recent years.
- In QA, Arithmetic and Algebra together account for approximately 65–70% of questions across most recent CAT papers.
- DILR tests you on sets of 4–5 questions built around a single data source or scenario; strong set selection is the key skill here.
- The exam pattern is unchanged from CAT 2025. The official information bulletin is available at iimcat.ac.in.
- CAT 2026 registration closed on September 15, 2026; the admit card is expected on November 4, 2026.
Since IIM does not publish a topic-wise syllabus PDF, download the official CAT 2026 Information Bulletin to understand the section structure and marking scheme.
CAT 2026 Syllabus: Overview and Structure
CAT 2026 is a computer-based test conducted by IIM Indore. Unlike most entrance exams, CAT does not have a prescribed topic-wise syllabus. The IIMs outline three broad sections in the information bulletin. You should prepare using a pattern-based approach, focusing on topics that appear regularly in CAT papers from the past five years.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
| Conducting Body | IIM Indore |
| Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
| Exam Date | November 29, 2026 |
| Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT), three sessions |
| Sections | VARC, DILR, QA |
| Total Questions (Approx.) | 66 (VARC: 24, DILR: ~20, QA: 22) |
| Duration | 120 minutes (40 minutes per section) |
| Marking Scheme | +3 for correct (MCQ); –1 for wrong (MCQ); TITA questions carry no negative marking |
| Official Syllabus PDF | Not released — preparation is pattern-based |
| Registration Fee | ₹2,700 (General / OBC / EWS); ₹1,350 (SC / ST / PwD) |
CAT tests aptitude, not a fixed curriculum. Each year the IIM conducting the exam releases an information bulletin. The bulletin describes the three sections and their time limits. It does not list a topic-by-topic syllabus. Pattern-based preparation using previous CAT papers is the most reliable approach.
CAT 2026 Important Dates
The table below lists key CAT 2026 dates. Upcoming events appear first; past events follow in chronological order.
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Admit Card Release | November 4, 2026 | Upcoming |
| CAT 2026 Exam | November 29, 2026 | Upcoming |
| Answer Key Release | Expected December 2026 | Upcoming |
| CAT 2026 Result | Expected January 2027 | Upcoming |
| Official Notification Release | July 25, 2026 | Over |
| Registration Window Opens | August 3, 2026 | Over |
| Registration Window Closes | September 15, 2026 | Over |
Source: iimcat.ac.in
CAT 2026 Syllabus: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
VARC has 24 questions in 40 minutes. Around 16 of these are Reading Comprehension questions across 3–4 passages. The remaining 8 are Verbal Ability questions — para jumbles, para summary, odd sentence out, and sentence insertion. RC questions are MCQ-type with negative marking; most VA questions are TITA-type with no negative marking.
| Sub-Section | Topic / Format | Question Type |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | RC Passage Themes and Question Types – Click Here Passage themes: Humanities and Literature, Social Sciences, Science and Technology, Business and Economics, Philosophy, History, and Abstract or Conceptual topics. Question types test: Main Idea of the passage, Central Theme, Inference from context, Author’s Tone and Attitude, Vocabulary in Context, Purpose of a Specific Paragraph, Critical Reasoning, and Application of an idea mentioned in the passage. | MCQ (–1 negative marking) |
| Para Jumbles | Arrange 4–5 sentences in the correct logical or chronological order | TITA (no negative marking) |
| Para Summary | Choose the best one-line summary of a given paragraph from four options | MCQ (–1 negative marking) |
| Odd Sentence Out | Identify the sentence that does not fit the theme of the given paragraph | TITA (no negative marking) |
| Sentence Insertion | Find the correct position to insert a given sentence within a paragraph | TITA (no negative marking) |
CAT 2026 VARC Topic-Wise Trend Analysis (Based on CAT 2020–2025)
These figures come from analysis of six previous CAT papers, not from an official IIM release. Use them to prioritise preparation, not as a guarantee of exact question counts.
| Topic | Approximate Questions (Per Paper) | Share of VARC |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 16 | ~67% |
| Para Jumbles | 2–3 | ~10–12% |
| Para Summary | 2 | ~8% |
| Odd Sentence Out | 2 | ~8% |
| Sentence Insertion | 1–2 | ~5–8% |
CAT 2026 Syllabus: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
DILR has approximately 20 questions in 40 minutes. Questions come in sets of 4–5, each built around a single data source or scenario. The section mixes DI and LR within each set — purely DI or purely LR sets are rare in recent papers. Strong set selection is the most important DILR skill. Spend 1–2 minutes scanning all sets before committing to one.
| Sub-Section | Set Types | Typical Questions per Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Data Interpretation | DI Set Types – Click Here Bar Graphs (simple, stacked, grouped), Line Graphs, Pie Charts, Tables and Matrices, Caselets (word-based data sets), Combination Charts (bar and line together), Network Diagrams, Venn Diagrams with quantitative data, Data Arrangement based on given clues. | 8–12 (~2–3 sets) |
| Logical Reasoning | LR Set Types – Click Here Seating Arrangements (linear, circular, multi-row), Scheduling and Timetabling, Binary Logic (True/False statement chains), Games and Tournaments (round-robin, knockout), Routes and Networks, Clue-based Puzzles (who lives where, who does what), Constraint-based Assignment (people to slots/jobs), Grid and Matrix Puzzles. | 8–12 (~2–3 sets) |
CAT 2026 DILR Topic-Wise Trend Analysis (Based on CAT 2020–2025)
DILR set types change significantly year to year. IIMs deliberately vary formats to test adaptability. Use the frequency data below as a preparation checklist, not a forecast.
| Set Type | Frequency in Past 5 Papers | Typical Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Seating Arrangements | Very High | Moderate to High |
| Games and Tournaments | High | High |
| Caselets (Word-Based DI) | High | Moderate to High |
| Tables and Matrices | High | Moderate |
| Bar Graphs and Line Graphs | Moderate | Low to Moderate |
| Binary Logic | Moderate | High |
| Routes and Networks | Moderate | High |
| Pie Charts | Low to Moderate | Low |
CAT 2026 Syllabus: Quantitative Ability (QA)
QA has 22 questions in 40 minutes. The section tests mathematics at the Class 10–12 level. Around 6–8 QA questions are TITA-type with no negative marking. Arithmetic and Algebra dominate, but Geometry and Number System each contribute 2–4 questions per paper. Do not ignore them — one difficult question in these areas can shift your percentile meaningfully.
| Topic Area | Key Sub-Topics | Approx. Questions (Per Paper) |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | Arithmetic Sub-Topics – Click Here Percentages, Profit and Loss, Discount, Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Ratio and Proportion, Mixture and Alligation, Time Speed and Distance (TSD), Relative Speed, Boats and Streams, Time and Work, Pipes and Cisterns, Average, Weighted Average, Age-related problems. | 8–10 (~40–45%) |
| Algebra | Algebra Sub-Topics – Click Here Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations, Polynomial Expressions, Functions and Graphs, Logarithms, Surds and Indices, Inequalities, Modulus, Sequences and Series (AP, GP, HP), Maximum and Minimum value problems. | 4–5 (~20–22%) |
| Geometry and Mensuration | Geometry Sub-Topics – Click Here Lines and Angles, Triangles (similarity, congruence, Pythagoras theorem), Circles (chords, tangents, arcs, sectors), Quadrilaterals and Polygons, Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry (basic ratios and applications), Mensuration: area and perimeter of 2D figures, volume and surface area of 3D solids (cube, cuboid, cylinder, cone, sphere). | 3–4 (~15–18%) |
| Number System | Number System Sub-Topics – Click Here Divisibility Rules, HCF and LCM, Prime Numbers and Factorization, Remainders, Cyclicity of Units Digit, Factorials and Trailing Zeros, Number of Factors, Digital Roots, Base Conversion (binary, octal). | 2–3 (~10–12%) |
| Modern Mathematics | Modern Math Sub-Topics – Click Here Permutation and Combination, Probability (basic and conditional), Set Theory (union, intersection, three-set Venn diagrams), Trigonometry (basic — limited application), Coordinate Geometry (distance formula, section formula, slopes). | 1–3 (~5–12%) |
CAT 2026 QA Topic-Wise Trend Analysis (Based on CAT 2020–2025)
| Topic | Approx. Questions per Paper | Share of QA | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 8–10 | 40–45% | Very High |
| Algebra | 4–5 | 20–22% | High |
| Geometry and Mensuration | 3–4 | 15–18% | High |
| Number System | 2–3 | 10–12% | Moderate |
| Modern Mathematics | 1–3 | 5–12% | Moderate |
CAT 2026 Section-Wise Weightage Summary (Pattern-Based)
The table below summarises each section’s share of the total paper. All figures come from five-year CAT paper analysis. IIM has not officially released topic-level weightage data.
| Section | Questions (Approx.) | Time (Minutes) | Key Focus Area | Primary Question Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 40 | Reading Comprehension (~67%) | MCQ + TITA (VA questions) |
| DILR | ~20 | 40 | Set-based reasoning and data analysis | MCQ + TITA (mixed per set) |
| QA | 22 | 40 | Arithmetic and Algebra (~65–70%) | MCQ + TITA (~6–8 questions) |
You should attempt all TITA questions across sections — no negative marking means a correct TITA answer is risk-free. Be selective on MCQ questions and skip if you are not confident.
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
CAT 2026 follows the same pattern as CAT 2025. Each section is separately timed. You cannot navigate between sections once a section’s 40 minutes end. There is no option to revisit a section after its window closes. Plan your time within each section independently.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Number of Sessions | 3 (Morning, Afternoon, Evening on November 29, 2026) |
| Total Duration | 120 minutes (40 minutes per section) |
| Total Sections | 3 |
| Total Questions (Approx.) | ~66 |
| Question Types | MCQ (Multiple Choice) and TITA (Type In The Answer) |
| Marks per Correct Answer (MCQ) | +3 |
| Negative Marking (MCQ) | –1 per wrong answer |
| TITA Negative Marking | None |
| Cross-Section Navigation | Not allowed after section time ends |
| Medium of Exam | English only |
Best Books for CAT 2026 Preparation
These books are consistently recommended for CAT preparation by coaching institutes and toppers. Start with one book per section rather than multiple titles — depth beats breadth for CAT.
| Section | Book Name | Author / Publisher | Why This Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| QA | How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Arun Sharma / McGraw Hill | Level-wise problems from beginner to advanced; covers all QA topics with CAT-style questions |
| QA | Quantum CAT | Sarvesh Kumar Verma / Arihant | Over 4,000 practice problems; especially strong on Number System and Algebra fundamentals |
| QA | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | R.S. Aggarwal / S. Chand | Broad Arithmetic coverage; useful for building speed on Percentages, TSD, and Time-Work |
| VARC | How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT | Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay / McGraw Hill | The most CAT-specific VARC book; covers all RC passage types and VA question strategies in detail |
| VARC | Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis / Goyal Publishers | Systematic vocabulary building; improves RC comprehension and academic reading fluency |
| VARC | The Hindu (Daily Newspaper) | Editorial Team | Reading 2–3 editorials daily builds RC speed and academic vocabulary without separate study time |
| DILR | Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT | Nishit K. Sinha / Pearson | Detailed set-solving strategy; covers all major DILR set types with approach walkthroughs |
| DILR | How to Prepare for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning for CAT | Arun Sharma / McGraw Hill | Set-based practice with difficulty levels; strong on tournament sets and constraint puzzles |
How to Access CAT 2026 Official Syllabus Resources
CAT does not have a dedicated syllabus PDF. Follow these steps to access the official information bulletin, which describes the exam structure, section details, and marking scheme.
- Visit the official website at iimcat.ac.in.
- Look for the Information Bulletin or Notification 2026 link on the homepage.
- Click the link — the bulletin PDF will open in a new browser tab.
- Press Ctrl + S (Windows) or Cmd + S (Mac) to save the PDF to your device.
- Navigate to the exam pattern section of the bulletin for the full section structure and question-type breakdown.
Note: The bulletin outlines the three sections and their time limits. It does not list specific topics. Use this page’s pattern-based topic lists alongside the bulletin to build your study plan.
CAT 2026 Preparation Tips: Section-Wise Strategy
CAT 2026 is 37 days away as of October 23, 2026. A focused, section-wise plan is essential at this stage. Prioritise accuracy over speed — a 99th percentile scorer typically answers 45–50 of 66 questions correctly, not all 66 rapidly.
VARC Preparation Tips
- Read 2–3 high-quality editorials daily from The Hindu or The Economist. Focus on argument structure, not just information.
- RC is 67% of VARC — prioritise it above all verbal topics. Aim to read each passage in 3–4 minutes and answer its questions in 6–8 minutes.
- For para jumbles, look for logical connectors, pronoun references, and theme continuity between sentences.
- Do not guess on MCQ-type VA questions with negative marking. All TITA-type VA questions carry no penalty — attempt them all.
- Practice with CAT 2020–2025 VARC sections to get comfortable with passage length and academic vocabulary level.
DILR Preparation Tips
- Master set selection. In DILR, spending 1–2 minutes scanning all sets before attempting any is a proven high-scorer strategy.
- Practice solving 4–5 question sets end-to-end without leaving any set half-done. Partially solved sets earn zero marks.
- Cover all major set types: seating arrangements, tournament/games sets, scheduling puzzles, and caselets appear most frequently.
- Build calculation speed for DI sets — practice reading data directly from bar and line graphs without a calculator.
- Attempt 4–5 DILR sets from past CAT papers daily. Prioritise CAT 2019–2025 sets for the most format-relevant practice.
QA Preparation Tips
- Arithmetic covers 40–45% of QA — clear your fundamentals here before moving to Algebra or Geometry.
- Focus on high-return Arithmetic topics: Percentages, Profit and Loss, TSD, Time-Work, and Ratio appear in almost every paper.
- For Algebra, master quadratic equations, functions, and inequalities — these appear in nearly every CAT paper.
- Geometry questions can be time-consuming. Solve them if you are comfortable; otherwise skip and return after TITA questions.
- Attempt 6–8 QA questions from a previous CAT paper daily under timed conditions. Build the habit of moving on from stuck problems quickly.
General Strategy for CAT 2026
- Take at least 2 full-length mock tests per week. Analyse your mistakes immediately after each mock — not the next day.
- Track your accuracy section-wise in a log. Identify weak topics and revise them specifically, not generally.
- In the final two weeks, prioritise revision and mock analysis over starting new topics. Do not introduce new material after November 15.
- Attempt every TITA question in every section — no negative marking means each correct TITA answer adds free marks to your score.
CAT Syllabus 2026 FAQs
Ques. Is there an official CAT 2026 syllabus PDF released by IIM?
Ans. No. IIM does not release a topic-wise syllabus PDF for CAT. The official information bulletin at iimcat.ac.in describes only the three sections — VARC, DILR, and QA — and their time allocation. Topic lists you find on preparation pages are derived from analysis of past CAT papers (2020–2025), not from an official document.
Ques. Has the CAT 2026 syllabus changed from CAT 2025?
Ans. No major changes have been announced for CAT 2026. The exam pattern and section structure remain the same as CAT 2025 — three sections, 120 minutes total, 40 minutes per section, with MCQ and TITA question types. Since IIM Indore issued the notification on July 25, 2026, no syllabus revision has been reported.
Ques. Which section has the highest weightage in CAT 2026?
Ans. All three sections carry equal time — 40 minutes each. VARC has the most questions (24), so it carries slightly more raw marks. But each section’s percentile contributes independently to your overall CAT score. A weak section pulls down your overall percentile even if you score well in the other two. Balance your preparation across all three sections.
Ques. How many questions are in the DILR section of CAT 2026?
Ans. Based on the CAT 2021–2025 pattern, DILR has approximately 20 questions in 40 minutes. Questions come in sets of 4–5, built around one data source or scenario. The exact count can vary slightly by session — verify in the official iimcat.ac.in information bulletin once it is released.
Ques. What are the most important topics in CAT 2026 QA?
Ans. Based on five-year paper analysis, the highest-priority QA topics are: Arithmetic (~40–45% of QA — Percentages, Profit-Loss, TSD, Time-Work), then Algebra (~20–22% — Linear and Quadratic Equations, Functions, Logarithms), then Geometry (~15–18% — Triangles, Circles, Mensuration). Number System and Modern Math appear less frequently but can include high-difficulty questions.
Ques. Is Reading Comprehension the most important part of VARC?
Ans. Yes. RC accounts for approximately 16 of 24 VARC questions — around 67% of the section in most recent papers. You must build RC speed and accuracy first, before focusing on para jumbles or sentence insertion. Improving RC performance typically produces the largest gain in VARC percentile.
Ques. What is TITA in CAT, and why does it matter for strategy?
Ans. TITA stands for Type In The Answer. These are non-MCQ questions where you type your answer directly. TITA questions carry no negative marking. Most VA questions (para jumbles, odd sentence out, sentence insertion) and around 6–8 QA questions are TITA-type. Always attempt TITA questions — a wrong answer costs nothing, while a correct answer earns +3 marks.
Ques. What books should I follow for DILR in CAT 2026?
Ans. The two most recommended books for DILR are: (1) *Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT* by Nishit K. Sinha (Pearson) — covers all major set types with a strategic solving approach; (2) *How to Prepare for DILR for CAT* by Arun Sharma (McGraw Hill) — includes difficulty-levelled sets and strong practice on tournament and puzzle formats. Supplement these with actual CAT 2019–2025 DILR sections.
Ques. How much time is needed to prepare for CAT 2026?
Ans. For students building fundamentals from scratch, a 4–6 month preparation window is typically recommended. If you have a moderate base in Quant and English, 3–4 focused months usually suffice for a good percentile. With 37 days remaining as of today (October 23, 2026), the focus should be mocks, weak-topic revision, and DILR set practice rather than building new concepts from scratch.
Ques. Where can I find the official CAT 2026 information?
Ans. Visit iimcat.ac.in for the official CAT 2026 notification, information bulletin, admit card, and result. The information bulletin is the closest equivalent to an official syllabus document — it describes the three sections, question types, and marking scheme in detail.
Ques. Does CAT 2026 have sectional cut-offs?
Ans. Yes. Each IIM sets its own sectional and overall CAT percentile cut-offs for shortlisting. Most top IIMs expect a sectional percentile of 85–90+ in each section in addition to a high overall percentile. Weak performance in even one section can result in non-selection regardless of total score. All three sections need equal attention.
Ques. Is the CAT 2026 syllabus the same across all three exam-day sessions?
Ans. Yes. All three sessions on November 29, 2026 test the same three sections — VARC, DILR, and QA — with the same structure and time limits. Question sets differ across sessions. IIMs equate scores across sessions for percentile calculation, so your slot does not disadvantage you.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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