The CAT Exam Pattern 2026 is to be released after the registration begins around August 1, 2026, managed by this year's convening authority, IIM Indore. Ahead of the registration launch, the official exam pattern will be released on iimcat.ac.in.
This comprehensive pattern document will detail the exact sectional time limits, question distribution, and marking scheme for the actual computer-based test scheduled for November 29, 2026.
This blueprint is highly anticipated by over two lakh management aspirants as it sets the baseline strategy for the country’s most competitive computer-based MBA entrance exam, scheduled for November 29, 2026.
- It is a 2-hour online test with 68 questions worth 3 marks each.
- Students get exactly 40 minutes per section, and you cannot skip ahead or go back to an old section.
- The exam has three parts: VARC (24 questions), DILR (22 questions), and Math/Quant (22 questions).
- You will get standard options to click MCQs and blank boxes where you have to type in your final answer, aka TITA.
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CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
It is expected to remain largely similar to recent years (CAT 2025/2024). CAT is a computer-based test (CBT) known for its rigorous evaluation of candidates' quantitative, verbal, and logical abilities.
No major structural changes are expected unless mentioned in the official notification.
CAT 2026 Expected Exam Pattern Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Total Duration | 120 Minutes (2 Hours) |
| Number of Sections | 3 Sections |
| Sectional Time Limit | 40 Minutes per section ( no switching allowed) |
| Total Number of Questions | 68 Questions |
| Total Marks | 204 Marks |
| Question Formats | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) & Type In The Answer (TITA / Non-MCQs) |
| Exam Slots | 3 Slots on a single day (Morning, Afternoon, Evening) |
Also Read: CAT Topic Wise Weightage for QA, VARC, and DILR, Check Previous Years’ Questions
CAT 2026 Marking Scheme
The CAT 2026 total score is 204 marks. Negative marking scheme is used to discourage random guessing under time constraints.
- Incorrect MCQs deduct 1 mark. A balanced approach to selecting solvable problems is essential.
- No marks are deducted for wrong TTITA questions. They generally account for roughly 25% to 34% of the entire paper.
| Feature Details | Scoring Evaluation Impact |
|---|---|
| Correct Response | +3 Marks ( For both MCQs and TITA questions) |
| Incorrect MCQ Selection | -1 Mark (One mark is deducted for every wrong choice) |
| Incorrect TITA Input | 0 Marks (No negative marking or fractional deductions applied) |
| Unattempted Question | 0 Marks (Skipping a question carries no penalty) |
Ques. Are marks deducted for unattempted or skipped questions under the current format?
Ans. No, there is no penalty for skipping a question. If you choose to leave an MCQ or a TITA question unattempted, you receive zero marks for that item. Your overall score profile is not penalized for blank responses.
Ques. How does a candidate's final raw score translate into a percentile?
Ans. Your raw score is calculated using the standard (+3 / -1) scoring rules across your specific slot. Because difficulty levels vary across the morning, afternoon, and evening slots, a normalization process is applied. This process balances out variations in paper difficulty, turning your raw score into a normalized rank that determines your final percentile.
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CAT 2026 Exam Pattern Changes and Last 10 Years Question Paper Trends
The CAT 2026 exam will consist of 68 questions in total, which is consistent with the pattern established in 2024 and 2025. No major changes are expected this year.
Sections: The exam will be divided into three sections:
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC): 24 questions
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR): 22 questions
- Quantitative Ability (QA): 22 questions
The exam will include both Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Type In The Answer (TITA) questions. The marking scheme awards +3 marks for each correct answer, -1 mark for incorrect MCQs, and no negative marking for TITA questions.
Key Changes in Pattern Across the Last 10 Years
| Period | Major Trend |
|---|---|
| 2015–2019 | Stable pattern with 100 questions, 180 minutes, and three sections. Difficulty mainly fluctuated due to QA and DILR. |
| 2020 | Biggest structural overhaul: 2-hour exam, 76 questions, 3 slots because of the pandemic. |
| 2021–2023 | Exam stabilized at 66 questions. Speed and question selection became more important than endurance. |
| 2024 | Minor revision to 68 questions, with QA becoming relatively more approachable while maintaining similar section timings. |
CAT Question Paper Trends for Last 10 Years
Most students preparing for CAT focus heavily on solving more questions, but fewer students actually stop to analyze section-wise behavior properly. As per the last 10 years trends, we can see that:
- Arithmetic consistently carries the highest weightage inside Quant across recent CAT papers.
- Algebra questions usually appear in application-heavy formats instead of direct formula-based questions.
- Reading comprehension dominates VARC, making RC practice extremely important for CAT 2026 preparation online.
- DILR increasingly rewards smart set selection instead of attempting every set aggressively.
- Vocabulary-based VARC questions have reduced significantly over recent years.
| CAT Year | Overall Difficulty | Key Areas Tested | Major Changes in Pattern / Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Easy–Moderate | VARC: Inference-heavy RCs, Para Summary DILR: Mixed DI + LR sets, moderate calculations QA: Arithmetic & Algebra dominated | Total questions increased from 66 → 68 (24 VARC, 22 DILR, 22 QA). QA was comparatively easier than 2023. |
| 2023 | Difficult | VARC: Dense RCs, Abstract passages DILR: Set selection was crucial QA: Algebra-heavy, Number System | Pattern unchanged (66 questions), but QA and DILR became significantly tougher. Considered one of the hardest CATs in recent years. |
| 2022 | Moderate | VARC: Balanced RCs & VA DILR: One easy and one difficult set per section QA: Arithmetic, Algebra | Pattern remained stable (66 questions). Better balance across all three sections than 2021. |
| 2021 | Moderate–Difficult | VARC: Narrative RCs DILR: Moderate reasoning sets QA: Arithmetic, Algebra | Total questions reduced from 76 → 66. Distribution became 24 VARC, 20 DILR, 22 QA. |
| 2020 | Moderate | VARC: RC-heavy DILR: Balanced DI & LR QA: Arithmetic and Algebra | COVID-year changes: Exam duration reduced from 180 → 120 minutes, questions reduced 100 → 76, exam conducted in 3 slots. |
| 2019 | Moderate–Difficult | VARC: RC dominant DILR: Difficult LR sets QA: Arithmetic, Geometry | Last CAT with 100 questions and 3-hour duration. DILR emerged as the deciding section. |
| 2018 | Moderate–Difficult | VARC: Inference-based RCs DILR: Complex puzzles and DI QA: Algebra, Arithmetic | No structural change. DILR was widely regarded as the toughest section. |
| 2017 | Moderate | VARC: Easier RCs DILR: Standard puzzles QA: Arithmetic and Algebra | Pattern unchanged (100 questions). VARC was relatively easier, improving overall attempts. |
| 2016 | Difficult | VARC: RC emphasis DILR: Reasoning-intensive sets QA: Geometry, Algebra, Arithmetic | No structural changes. One of the toughest CAT papers, especially QA and DILR. |
| 2015 | Difficult | VARC: RCs & Verbal Ability DILR: New integrated reasoning sets QA: Arithmetic, Algebra | First full year after introduction of the three-section format (VARC, DILR, QA). Non-MCQs (TITA) became an important feature. |
Check: Is CAT Exam Tough? Check Exam Structure, IIM Cutoffs, Difficulty Comparisons, Reddit Discussions
CAT 2026 Section-wise Pattern
Common Admission Test (CAT) is divided into three different sections, mainly Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).
- Each section has a strict 40-minute electronic countdown.
- Once the timer reaches zero, your answers for that segment are automatically saved.
- Then the section locks permanently, and the system transitions to the next portion of the exam.
In 2011, the exam pattern was changed to just two sections: Section 1: Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation. Section 2: Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern Section-wise Overview
| Section Name | Total Expected Questions | Time Allocated | Max Obtainable Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section I: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 Minutes | 72 Marks |
| Section II: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 40 Minutes | 66 Marks |
| Section III: Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 40 Minutes | 66 Marks |
| Total Specifications | 68 Questions | 120 Minutes | 204 Marks |
CAT VARC Exam Pattern 2026
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension evaluates reading speed, dense contextual processing, and structural paragraph comprehension. It holds 24 questions, for a total of 72 marks.
Based on the analysis of the CAT 2025 question paper
- The VARC has a 35% weightage of the overall test.
- .Reading Comprehension (RC): 16 questions. It has 4 passages containing 4 questions each.
- Verbal Ability (VA): 8 questions. Paragraph Summaries (2 questions), Paragraph Jumbles (3 questions), Odd Sentence Out (1-2 questions), and Paragraph Completion (1-2 questions).
| Component Parameters | Expected 2026 Details & Formats |
|---|---|
| Total Questions | 24 Questions |
| Sectional Marks | 72 Marks |
| MCQ Volume | ~22 Questions |
| TITA Volume | ~2 Questions |
Also Read:
Ques. Are there direct questions testing standalone English Grammar or Vocabulary?
Ans. No, direct vocabulary or grammar questions have been removed. Lexical skills and grammatical precision are checked instead. Based on context through dense Reading Comprehension inferences and Paragraph Completion sets.
Ques. What is the typical accuracy threshold required to clear the VARC cutoff?
Ans. To achieve a high percentile in VARC, a candidate generally needs to correctly answer 15+ questions.
CAT DILR Section Exam Pattern 2026
The Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning section accounts for 32% of the examination. It comprises 22 questions for a total of 66 marks.
Based on the previous year and the 2025 question paper pattern,
- The section contains complex, multi-layered data arrays and structural reasoning.
- It has 5 problem sets. That includes 3 sets consisting of 4 questions each, and 2 sets consisting of 5 questions each.
| Component Parameters | Expected 2026 Details & Formats |
|---|---|
| Total Questions | 22 Questions |
| Sectional Marks | 66 Marks |
| MCQ Volume | ~14 Questions |
| TITA Volume | ~8 Questions |
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Ques. What is the best strategy for handling the 5-set structure in DILR within the 40-minute limit?
Ans. Set selection is crucial in DILR. Spend the initial few minutes scanning the sets to assess their difficulty. Solvers should focus on fully completing 2 sets with absolute accuracy, then attempt more complex logic-heavy sets.
Ques. Is it better to abandon a DILR set if stuck at it for several minutes?
Ans. Yes, a strict time-out rule is necessary. If you haven't made significant progress or found a clear solution path within 8–10 minutes, you should abandon that set. Spending too much time on a single tough puzzle can be a massive "time sink" and compromise your performance on the remaining sets.
CAT QA Section Exam Pattern 2026
The Quantitative Ability section carries 22 questions worth 66 marks, accounting for 32% of the test.
Arithmetic and Algebra together form the entire quantitative evaluation. This is expected to be maintained for CAT 2026.
- Arithmetic: 8–9 questions covering Percentages, Profit & Loss, Simple/Compound
- Algebra: 5–6 questions covering Quadratic/Linear Equations, Logarithms, Progressions
- Geometry & Mensuration: 2–3 questions covering Triangles, Circles, Polygons,
- Modern Math & Number Systems: 2–3 questions covering Permutations & Combinations, Probability, etc.
| Component Parameters | Expected 2026 Details & Formats |
|---|---|
| Total Questions | 22 Questions |
| Sectional Marks | 66 Marks |
| MCQ Volume | ~16 Questions |
| TITA Volume | ~6 Questions |
Also Read:
Ques. Can non-engineering students clear the QA sectional cutoff without mastering advanced mathematics?
Ans. Yes, the QA section focuses primarily on foundational mathematics from Classes 9 and 10. Non-engineering candidates can confidently clear the sectional cutoffs by building a strong command of Arithmetic and foundational Algebra.
Ques. Is the on-screen digital calculator helpful for complex equations in QA?
Ans. The on-screen calculator only handles basic operations. It is useful for verifying calculations in data-heavy problems but cannot solve algebraic variables or complex functions.
CAT Exam Pattern over the Years
IIM Indore has made some important changes in past years. They have managed the exam during two highly critical periods: 2013-2014 and more recently in 2020.
- In 2014, IIM Indore extended the exam duration to 170 minutes and pushed the total number of questions to 100.
- In 2020 during the pandemic IIM Indore permanently changed the traditional 3-hour exam into a 2-hour format.
- They reduced the sectional timelines from 60 minutes down to 40 minutes and dropped total questions to 76.
- In 2025 number of questions has increased to 68 from 66 in 2024, with 2 additional questions in DILR.
Experts predict that it is unlikely that the pattern for CAT 2026 will change significantly. Students are asked to keep checking the official website of IIM Indore for important updates.
The table below outlines changes over the years to the exam structure:
| Year of Exam | Total Number of Questions | Total Time Provided | Sectional Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 100 | 180 Minutes | 60 Minutes |
| 2020 | 76 | 120 Minutes | 40 Minutes |
| 2021 to 2023 | 66 | 120 Minutes | 40 Minutes |
| 2024 to 2026 | 68 | 120 Minutes | 40 Minutes |
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Ques. Why did the total question count change from 66 to 68 in recent years?
Ans. The adjustments were introduced to fine-tune the problem distributions within the DILR domain. This update rearranged the section into a mix of 4-question and 5-question logic sets, raising its question count from 20 to 22.
CAT 2026 Section-wise Syllabus & Expected Weightage
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
This section assesses critical reading speed, semantic processing, inference skills, and cohesive text logic. Reading comprehension passages make up nearly 65% to 70% of this section's total marks.
| VARC Core Topics | Average Sub-Questions Allotted | Core Evaluation Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (RC) | 16 Questions (4 passages × 4 questions) | Inference-based analysis, tone matching, central theme identification, and vocabulary contextualization. |
| Paragraph Summary | 2 to 3 Questions | Distilling dense paragraphs into clear, concise core ideas while eliminating flawed logic options. |
| Parajumbles (Ranked Ordering) | 2 to 3 Questions | Rearranging disconnected statements into a logical, structurally coherent paragraph. |
| Odd Sentence Out | 2 Questions | Identifying the single statement that disrupts the narrative flow or core theme of a paragraph. |
Check: CAT Score Vs Percentile
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
The DILR section features comprehensive, multi-layered problem sets. The section typically features 4 distinct sets containing 5 questions each, or a mix of 5-question and 4-question sets.
| DILR | Typical Weightage | Core Conceptual Tools Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Data Interpretation Sets | ~40% - 50% of the section | Mixed data charts, multi-layered tables, scatter plots, pie chart variants, and complex caselets. |
| Logical Reasoning Clusters | ~50% - 60% of the section | Circular/linear seating grids, team selection matrices, games & tournaments brackets, Venn diagrams, and ranking puzzles. |
Also Read: CAT College Predictor 2025
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
This section evaluates math proficiency spanning arithmetic operations up to higher-order equations. It is systematically dominated by two major modules: Arithmetic and Algebra.
| QA Math Modules | Percentage Share | High-Frequency Conceptual Subtopics |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | ~38% - 40% | Ratios, percentages, profit & loss, averages, simple/compound interest, time-speed-distance, and work mixtures. |
| Algebra | ~30% - 34% | Linear & quadratic equations, inequalities, logarithms, functions, graphs, and sequences/series. |
| Geometry & Mensuration | ~15% | Circle chords, tangent geometry, triangle similarities, coordinate lines, surface areas, and solid volumes. |
| Number Systems | ~5% - 8% | Divisibility rules, HCF & LCM steps, remainder theorems, factorials, and base system models. |
| Modern Mathematics | ~5% | Permutations & combinations, basic probability, progressions (AP/GP), and overlapping set theories. |
Also Read: CAT Preparation 2026: Check How to Prepare
CAT 2025 Question Paper Download
CAT 2025 DILR Question Paper PDF
| CAT DILR Slot | Question Paper | Solution PDF |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 2025 DILR Slot 1 Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
| CAT 2025 DILR Slot 2 Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
| CAT 2025 DILR Slot 3 Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
CAT 2025 VARC Question Paper PDF
| CAT VARC Question Paper | Question Paper | Solution PDF |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 2025 VARC Slot 1 Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
| CAT 2025 VARC Slot 2 Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
| CAT 2025 VARC Slot 3 Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
CAT 2025 QA Question Paper PDF
| CAT Quant Question Paper | Question Paper | Solution PDF |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 2025 Quant Slot 1 Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
| CAT 2025 Quant Slot 2 Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
| CAT 2025 Quant Slot 3 Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
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FAQ’s
Ques. A Quora user asks, “What study materials should I study for CAT 2026?”
Ans. To this query, @demon answers - Study CAT previous years' papers to master the DILR section. Take two distinct test series, ideally IMS (renowned for Quantitative Aptitude) and TIME (renowned for VARC). Bodheeprep for the foundational preparation of VARC. Elitesgrid for DILR, learn core concepts of QA thoroughly via Takshzila.
Ques. Will the question count for sections change unexpectedly in CAT 2026?
Ques. Are there separate pass marks required for individual sections within the CAT format?
Ans. IIMs do not have an official "passing mark". Although Top-tier management institutes use sectional percentiles during their shortlisting process. Dropping too low in a single section like DILR can severely impact your chances, even with an excellent overall score.
Ques. Does the CAT syllabus change when a different IIM takes charge of conducting the exam?
Ans. The fundamental structure, sections, and topic distributions remain highly stable. Even though IIM Indore is managing CAT 2026, VARC, DILR, and QA will match the standards of previous years.
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