The CAT exam pattern 2026 will be published by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) soon, by the end of July 2026. CAT exam 2026 will consist of 68 multiple-choice questions that need to be answered in 120 minutes as per the last year CAT 2026 question paper format.
The CAT exam total marks 2026 will be 204 as per last year’s pattern. The CAT 2026 question paper will have three sections: VARC, QA, and DILR. VARC section will contain 24 questions, while DILR and QA will contain 22 questions each.
The CAT exam negative marking will cost 1 mark for every wrong answer, while each correct answer will receive 3 marks.
Each section will last 40 minutes. The CAT exam pattern 2026 is likely to remain the same compared to the CAT exam pattern from the previous year. The CAT exam pattern PDF helps applicants understand the format and marking system of the CAT 2026 question paper.
CAT exam 2026 is likely to be administered online by IIM Indore on November 29, 2026. The CAT exam 2026 registration date is expected to begin on August 1, 2026. IIM will release the direct link for the CAT exam pattern 2026 PDF download soon in July 2026.
Keep reading the article to learn everything there is to know about the CAT exam pattern 2026, including the CAT syllabus 2026, CAT exam total marks 2026, CAT exam total marks and cut-off, sectional time limit, etc.
CAT Exam Pattern 2026: Key Points
CAT exam pattern 2026 PDF format can be downloaded from the CAT official website. This will better equip students for CAT exam preparation and allow them to divide their CAT syllabus 2026 in an appropriate manner. Applicants should be aware of the CAT exam pattern 2026 before taking the MBA entrance exam.
The CAT exam pattern will be released along with the CAT notification in July 2026. Candidates who intend to take the CAT exam 2026 must be updated about the CAT Exam pattern and syllabus.
The computer-based test (CBT) and the exam will take place on the same day in three different time windows, according to the CAT 2026 question paper format.
CAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus
|
Particulars
|
Details
|
|
CAT exam time
|
2 Hours (120 Minutes)
|
|
Section-Title
|
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
|
|
CAT exam time by Sections
|
40 Minutes Allotted for Each Section
53 Minutes 20 Seconds Allotted for PwD students.
|
|
CAT exam timings
|
Morning Session 1: 8:30 am - 10:30 am
Afternoon Session 2: 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Evening Session 3: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
|
|
How many questions in CAT exam
|
68 Questions
|
|
Total Marks of CAT exam 2026
|
204 marks
|
|
Mode of exam
|
Computer-Based Mode (CBT)
|
|
CAT Exam Negative Marking
|
Every correct response will earn you a +3 mark.
MCQs have a -1 deduction for each incorrect answer.
No deductions for answering non-MCQs
|
CAT Exam Important Dates 2026 Syllabus
|
Event
|
Dates
|
|
CAT 2026 Notification Release
|
July 26, 2026
|
|
CAT 2026 Registration Start Date
|
August 03, 2026
|
|
CAT 2026 Registration Last Date
|
September 15, 2026
|
|
Application Form Correction Window
|
4th Week of September 2026
|
|
CAT 2026 Admit Card Release Date
|
November 04, 2026
|
|
CAT 2026 Exam Date
|
November 29, 2026 (Sunday)
|
|
CAT 2026 Answer Key Release
|
1st Week of December 2026
|
|
CAT 2026 Result Date
|
4th Week of December 2026 (tentative)
|
CAT Exam Pattern 2026 - Important points
-
Candidates are allowed to use the on-screen calculator for computation during the exam.
-
Candidates can check the time they have to complete the exam by using the on-screen clock.
-
They will also receive rough worksheets, which they must turn in after the CAT exam 2026.
-
Candidates will not be permitted to move to other sections while answering the questions in one section.
-
The CAT exam pattern 2026 PDF is available on the CAT website.
The official CAT exam pattern 2026 PDF download link will be made available on the CAT website, iimcat.ac.in. It will give you a proper view of the section-wise CAT exam pattern 2026. CAT exam 2026 will take place in three sessions:
-
Morning session (8:30 am - 10:30 pm)
-
Afternoon Session (12:30 - 2:30 pm)
-
Evening session (4:30 to 6:30 p.m.)
How many Questions in CAT Exam? Section-Wise Marks Distribution
|
Section as per IIM CAT Exam Paper 2023
|
Total Questions
|
Allotted Time
|
Allotted Time for PwD Students
|
|
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
|
24
|
40 Minutes
|
53 minutes and 20 seconds
|
|
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
|
22
|
40 Minutes
|
53 minutes and 20 seconds
|
|
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
|
22
|
40 Minutes
|
53 minutes and 20 seconds
|
|
Total
|
68
|
120 Minutes
|
160 minutes
|
CAT Exam Pattern 2026: VARC Weightage
The first subject of the CAT exam syllabus is called VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension). It consists of 24 questions that are separated into two sections: Verbal Ability (VA) and Reading Comprehension (RC). This segment is rather lengthy and moderate to challenging in terms of difficulty because the majority of the questions are from RC.
|
CAT VARC Topics with Question Weightage
|
|
VARC Topics
|
No. of Questions
|
Weightage
|
Difficulty Level
|
|
Reading Comprehension
|
16
|
65%
|
Moderate to Difficult
|
|
Parajumbles (VA)
|
3
|
15%
|
Moderate to Difficult
|
|
Odd Sentence (VA)
|
2
|
10%
|
Easy to Moderate
|
|
Summary Writing (VA)
|
3
|
10%
|
Easy to Moderate
|
|
Total
|
24
|
100%
|
Moderate to Difficult
|
CAT Exam Pattern 2026: DILR Weightage
The second subject of the CAT exam course is called Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, or DILR. It assesses candidates' comprehension of information and ability to solve logical puzzles. This block typically consists of 22 questions, 11 from Data Interpretation (DI) and 11 from Logical Reasoning (LR), according to the most recent CAT curriculum for 2026. This portion has forty minutes allotted.
|
CAT DILR Topics with Question Weightage
|
|
DILR Topics
|
No. of Questions
|
Weightage
|
Difficulty Level
|
|
Data Interpretation
|
11
|
50%
|
Easy to Moderate
|
|
Logical Reasoning
|
11
|
50%
|
Moderate to Difficult
|
|
Total
|
22
|
100%
|
Moderate
|
CAT Exam Pattern 2026: QA Weightage
The last subject of the CAT test syllabus is called Quantitative Aptitude (QA). One of the most difficult parts of the CAT paper, this component often requires the greatest computation. It assesses candidates' comprehension of fundamental arithmetic ideas and their speed in solving numerical problems.
The majority of the problems in this part originate from Algebra, Geometry, Modern Math, and Arithmetic, according to the MBA CAT test syllabus. Learn the formulae, practice frequently, and sharpen your mental math abilities if you want to do well on the QA exam. Here are the key subjects included in the CAT test syllabus for quantitative aptitude:
|
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Topic-wise Weightage
|
|
Quant Topics
|
No. of Questions
|
Weightage
|
Difficulty Level
|
|
Arithmetic
|
8–10
|
45%
|
Moderate to High
|
|
Algebra
|
5–7
|
25%
|
Moderate to High
|
|
Geometry
|
1–3
|
20%
|
Moderate to High
|
|
Modern Math
|
2–4
|
10%
|
Moderate to High
|
|
Total
|
22
|
100%
|
Moderate to High
|
CAT 2026 Marking Scheme
The CAT marking scheme informs applicants of the total number of marks granted for each correct answer on the exam, as well as the CAT exam negative marking that will be subtracted for a wrong answer.
-
3 marks for each right response.
-
CAT Exam Negative Marking: One mark will be subtracted for each incorrect response.
-
No deduction of marks when questions left unattended. Additionally, no marks will be lost for non-MCQs.
The CAT 2026 marking scheme is summed up in the following table:
|
Mode of Questions in CAT 2023 Question Paper
|
Correct Answer
|
Incorrect Answer
|
|
MCQ
|
+3
|
-1
|
|
Non-MCQ
|
+3
|
0
|
CAT Exam Pattern - Previous Years
|
Year
|
Number of Questions
|
Difficulty Level
|
CAT exam time duration
|
Conducting Body
|
|
2025
|
68
|
Moderate
|
2 Hours
|
IIM Kozhikode
|
|
2024
|
66
|
Moderate
|
2 Hours
|
IIM Calcutta
|
|
2023
|
66
|
Moderate to Difficult
|
2 Hours
|
IIM Lucknow
|
|
2022
|
66
|
Moderate
|
2 hours
|
IIM Bangalore
|
|
2021
|
66
|
Moderate to High
|
2 hours
|
IIM Ahmedabad
|
|
2020
|
76
|
Moderate to High
|
2 hours
|
IIM Indore
|
|
2019
|
100
|
Moderate to High
|
3 hours
|
IIM Kozhikode
|
|
2018
|
100
|
Moderate to High
|
3 hours
|
IIM Calcutta
|
|
2017
|
100
|
Moderate
|
3 hours
|
IIM Lucknow
|
|
2016
|
100
|
Moderate to difficult
|
3 hours
|
IIM Bangalore
|
|
2015
|
100
|
Moderate to difficult
|
3 hours
|
IIM Ahmedabad
|
|
2014
|
100
|
Moderate to Easy
|
2.50 hours
|
IIM Indore
|
|
2013
|
60
|
Moderate to Easy
|
2:20 hours
|
IIM Indore
|
|
2012
|
60
|
Moderate to Easy
|
2.20 hours
|
IIM Indore
|
|
2011
|
60
|
Moderate
|
2.20 hours
|
IIM Calcutta
|
CAT Syllabus 2026
The CAT syllabus 2026 will be released by IIM Indore in July 2026. Candidates can review the subjects covered by the questions based on the CAT exam pattern 2026.
Section-Specific CAT Syllabus 2026
|
Section
|
Topics
|
|
Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
|
-
Verbal Ability
-
English Usage or Grammar
-
Close Passage
-
Synonyms Antonyms
-
Facts-inferences-judgments
-
Jumbled Paragraph
-
Reading Comprehension
-
Verbal Reasoning
|
|
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
|
-
Caselets
-
Blood Relations
-
Calendars
-
Bar Graphs
-
Column Graphs
-
Tables
-
Cubes
-
Clocks
-
Binary Logic
-
Line Charts
-
Syllogism
-
Venn Diagrams
-
Pie Chart
-
Number and Letter Series
-
Seating Arrangement
|
|
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
|
-
Algebra
-
Higher Maths
-
Geometry
-
Trigonometry
-
Mensuration
-
Arithmetic
|
CAT Mock Test 2026
The official CAT Mock Test 2026 will be made available for applicants to take in October or November 2026. The CAT mock test 2026 is currently available on iimcat.ac.in by the CAT conducting authority. It will guide you on how to answer the questions in the allotted timeframe and keep your anxiety under control during the exam.
The candidates can obtain a sense of how to navigate between sections by taking the mock test. Students need to review the CAT sample papers and be familiar with the CAT 2026 question paper before taking the CAT mock test 2026.
Things to keep in mind while answering the CAT 2026 question paper
Before taking the CAT exam 2026, students should have a clear idea of how to approach the questions in the CAT exam paper. When answering the questions, candidates should make use of the following options:
-
Save and Next: After choosing an answer, candidates should save it and go on to the next question.
-
Clear Answer: Applicants will be able to remove the answer they provided to the question.
-
Mark for Review and Next: If the candidate is not sure how to respond to a question, they can mark it for review, respond to it, and then go on to the next one.
NOTE: Please use the computer mouse to answer the questions. The computer screen will lock if you use the system keyboard.
What does the panel's colour scheme represent?
|
Panel Colour
|
What it Indicates
|
|
Red
|
The question was neither visited for review nor answered.
|
|
Green
|
The question was answered and not reviewed
|
|
Grey
|
The question was neither viewed nor visited.
|
|
Violet
|
The question was marked for review but not answered
|
|
Violet with Green tick
|
The question was answered and marked for review
|
Crucial Details Regarding the CAT Exam 2026 Process
-
During the CAT exam 2026, you will be permitted to use an onscreen calculator for calculations.
-
During the exam, an onscreen clock will assist candidates in staying on schedule.
-
The moment the forty minutes are up, the screen will advance to the next phase. You won't be able to return after the window moves on to the following section.
-
On the test's first page, there will be instructions on how to save your answers and other things. Candidates need to thoroughly study the guidelines.
-
Rough worksheets will be provided; they must be turned in before the exam room is cleared.
-
It will not be permitted for candidates to begin the test early. Only after the announcement from the invigilator will they be permitted to log in.
-
Throughout the exam, candidates must remain seated in their assigned seats. Should they be seen seated somewhere else, they will be eliminated.
-
To return to questions they have saved for study, students should try to finish each part five to ten minutes ahead of schedule.
How Do I Mark Answers on the CAT Exam Pattern 2026?
As the CAT exam 2026 is administered in computer-based test mode, applicants must utilize a computer mouse to input their answers on a computer system. Candidates are limited to using the keyboard for TITA questions alone. There will be four options for each CAT question from which to select the right response. To proceed to the next question, candidates must choose the right response and choose one of the following options:
-
Save and Next
-
Clear Response
-
Mark for Review and Next
In summary
The CAT exam is a demanding assessment of a candidate's verbal, logical, and mathematical aptitude. It calls for a solid background in mathematics, critical thinking, and English language proficiency. Although the precise subjects and degree of difficulty may change a little from year to year, success depends on having a thorough comprehension of the curriculum as mentioned above.
The secret to acing the CAT exam is time management, strategy, and consistent preparation. The main goals for candidates should be to increase their reading comprehension, develop their conceptual clarity, and sharpen their problem-solving techniques.
Consult the resources offered by top coaching organizations and internet resources to obtain comprehensive curricula and practice materials. Exam trends and key themes can also be learned a great deal by studying previous years' question papers.
Key features of CAT:
-
Conducted by one of the IIMs on a rotational basis.
-
Computer-based test.
-
Covers sections like Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability.
Related Search :
FAQs for CAT Exam Pattern 2026
Q1. What will be the CAT exam pattern 2026?
The CAT exam pattern 2026 PDF will be released in July 2026, along with the notification. The CAT 2026 computer-based test (CBT) consists of three sections, DILR, QA, and VARC. Each section will have sixty-eight questions.
Q2. When will the CAT exam 2026 take place?
CAT exam 2026 will take place in three sessions on November 29, 2026 : morning, afternoon, and evening sessions.
Q3. How many sections are there in the CAT exam?
There will be three sections in the CAT exam 2026:
Q4. What is the CAT Exam negative marking?
Yes, each wrong answer will result in a 3 mark deduction. The CAT exam negative marking is unchanged from the previous year and is the same.
Q5. Is the CAT a challenging test?
In India, the CAT is regarded as the toughest MBA entrance exam. It is anticipated that CAT 2026 will be moderately to extremely difficult.
Q6. What are the total marks of CAT exam 2026?
The CAT exam total marks 2026 is 204, as per last year’s CAT exam Pattern.
Q7. How many questions in CAT exam?
The total number of questions in the CAT exam is 68.
Q8. What is the CAT exam pattern for MBA?
The CAT exam pattern for MBA is likely to remain the same as previous years.