Quick answer: CAT 2026 will be held on 29 November 2026 by IIM Indore as a 120-minute computer-based test with 68 questions (VARC 24, DILR 22, QA 22) worth 204 marks. Each section is timed at 40 minutes. A correct answer earns +3, a wrong MCQ loses 1 mark, and TITA questions have no negative marking.
The CAT 2026 exam pattern follows the CAT 2025 paper. IIMs usually confirm the pattern in the official notification and information brochure on the official CAT website, so check there for any late change. Registration opened on 3 August 2026 and, after an extension from 15 September, closed on 22 September 2026.
In this article
Quick Overview
|
Thing |
Why it matters |
|
Questions |
68 in total (VARC 24, DILR 22, QA 22) |
|
Marks |
204 in total; +3 for each correct answer |
|
Negative marking |
-1 for a wrong MCQ; none for TITA |
|
Time |
120 minutes, strictly 40 minutes per section |
|
Section switching |
Not allowed; you cannot go back once time ends |
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern at a Glance
|
Particular |
Details |
|
Conducting body |
IIM Indore |
|
Exam date |
Sunday, 29 November 2026 |
|
Mode |
Computer-based test (CBT), three sessions in one day |
|
Session timings |
Morning: 8:30 am to 10:30 am
Afternoon: 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Evening: 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
(your slot is printed on the admit card) |
|
Duration |
120 minutes (160 minutes for PwD candidates) |
|
Sections |
VARC, DILR, QA |
|
Time per section |
40 minutes (53 minutes 20 seconds for PwD candidates) |
|
Total questions |
68 (MCQ and TITA) |
|
Total marks |
204 |
|
Marking |
+3 correct; -1 wrong MCQ; no negative marking for TITA |
CAT 2026 Section-wise Questions, Time and Marks
|
Section |
Questions |
Max marks |
Time |
Time for PwD |
|
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
24 |
72 |
40 min |
53 min 20 sec |
|
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
22 |
66 |
40 min |
53 min 20 sec |
|
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) |
22 |
66 |
40 min |
53 min 20 sec |
|
Total |
68 |
204 |
120 min |
160 min |
The number of TITA questions in each section changes from year to year. Prepare for both question types in every section.
CAT 2026 Marking Scheme and Negative Marking
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.
|
Question type |
Correct |
Wrong |
Unattempted |
|
MCQ |
+3 |
-1 |
0 |
|
TITA (non-MCQ) |
+3 |
0 |
0 |
Action point: Wrong TITA answers cost nothing, so attempt every TITA you can reason towards. For MCQs, guess only when you can eliminate at least one option.
VARC Section Breakdown
VARC has 24 questions, and Reading Comprehension makes up about two-thirds of them. The rest are verbal ability questions. The counts below follow recent papers and can shift by a question or two.
|
Topic |
Typical questions |
Difficulty |
|
Reading Comprehension (4 passages) |
About 16 |
Moderate to difficult |
|
Para jumbles |
About 3 |
Moderate to difficult |
|
Odd sentence out |
About 2 |
Easy to moderate |
|
Para summary |
About 3 |
Easy to moderate |
DILR Section Breakdown
DILR has 22 questions arranged in sets of about 4 to 6 questions each, so choosing the right sets matters more than answering in order. The paper mixes data interpretation (tables, graphs, caselets) with logical reasoning (arrangements, selections, games and schedules). There is no fixed split between the two.
|
Topic |
Typical questions |
Difficulty |
|
Data Interpretation |
About 11 |
Easy to Moderate |
|
Logical Reasoning |
About 11 |
Moderate to difficult |
|
Total |
22 |
Moderate |
Action point: Spend the first 3 to 4 minutes scanning all sets and start with the one you find easiest.
QA Section Breakdown
The last subject of the CAT 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 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:
|
Topic |
Typical questions |
|
Arithmetic |
8 to 10 |
|
Algebra |
5 to 7 |
|
Geometry and mensuration |
1 to 3 |
|
Modern maths (permutation, probability, sets) |
2 to 4 |
These ranges are estimates from past papers, not an official distribution.
CAT 2026 Important Dates
|
Event |
Date |
|
Notification released |
26 July 2026 |
|
Registration opened |
3 August 2026 |
|
Registration last date |
15 September 2026 |
|
Registration last date (extended) |
22 September 2026 |
|
Admit card release |
4 November 2026 |
|
Exam date |
29 November 2026 |
|
Answer key |
Expected first week of December 2026 |
|
Result |
Expected December 2026 to January 2027; IIM Indore will announce the date |
Check our pages on CAT exam dates, CAT admit card and CAT result for updates.
CAT 2026 Exam-day Interface and Rules
How You Answer Questions
-
MCQs: Select one of four options with the mouse.
-
TITA: Type the answer using the on-screen keypad. The physical keyboard is not used.
-
Buttons: Save & Next, Clear Response, and Mark for Review & Next.
Question Palette Colours
|
Colour |
What it means |
|
Grey |
Not visited |
|
Red |
Visited but not answered |
|
Green |
Answered |
|
Violet |
Marked for review, not answered |
|
Violet with green tick |
Answered and marked for review |
Rules to Remember for CAT Exam 2026 Process
-
An on-screen calculator and clock are provided.
-
Rough sheets are provided and must be returned before you leave.
-
You cannot move between sections. When 40 minutes end, the next section opens and you cannot go back.
-
Finishing a section early does not give you extra time elsewhere. Use spare minutes to review marked questions in the same section.
-
Log in only after the invigilator announces the start, and stay at your assigned seat.
-
Practise on the official mock test, which IIM Indore releases on the CAT website before the exam.
CAT Exam Pattern in Previous Years
|
Year |
Questions |
Duration |
Conducted by |
|
2025 |
68 |
2 hours |
IIM Kozhikode |
|
2024 |
66 |
2 hours |
IIM Calcutta |
|
2023 |
66 |
2 hours |
IIM Lucknow |
|
2022 |
66 |
2 hours |
IIM Bangalore |
|
2021 |
66 |
2 hours |
IIM Ahmedabad |
|
2020 |
76 |
2 hours |
IIM Indore |
|
2019 |
100 |
3 hours |
IIM Kozhikode |
CAT moved from 100 questions in 3 hours to a shorter paper with timed sections in 2020. The 68-question format has been used since 2025.
CAT Syllabus 2026
IIMs do not publish an official CAT syllabus. The topics below come from past papers. For a full topic list, read our CAT syllabus guide.
-
VARC: reading comprehension, para jumbles, para summary, odd sentence out, verbal reasoning.
-
DILR: tables, bar and line charts, caselets, arrangements, selections, games and tournaments, schedules, Venn diagrams.
-
QA: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, number system, permutation and combination, probability.
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 will be available on iimcat.ac.in once released 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.
Conclusion
The CAT 2026 pattern is simple to remember: 68 questions, 204 marks, 120 minutes and three sections of 40 minutes each. Negative marking applies only to MCQs, and you cannot switch sections. Before exam day, confirm any change in the official notification and practise on the official mock test.
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FAQs for CAT Exam Pattern 2026
Q1. How many questions are in CAT 2026?
CAT 2026 is expected to have 68 questions: 24 in VARC, 22 in DILR and 22 in QA, with a mix of MCQs and TITA (non-MCQ) questions.
Q2. What is the total marks in CAT 2026?
The total is 204 marks (68 questions at 3 marks each): VARC 72, DILR 66 and QA 66.
Q3. Is there negative marking in CAT 2026?
Yes, for MCQs only. A wrong MCQ answer costs 1 mark. TITA questions have no negative marking, and unattempted questions carry no penalty.
Q4. How long is CAT 2026?
The exam is 120 minutes, with a strict 40 minutes per section. PwD candidates get 160 minutes (53 minutes 20 seconds per section).
Q5. Can I switch between sections in CAT?
No. The screen moves to the next section when 40 minutes end, and you cannot return to a previous section.
Q6. What is a TITA question?
TITA means Type In The Answer. There are no options; you type the numerical answer using the on-screen keypad.
Q7. Is the CAT 2026 pattern different from CAT 2025?
The pattern is expected to stay the same as CAT 2025. Confirm any change in the official notification on the official CAT website.
Q8. Can I use a calculator in CAT?
Yes, an on-screen calculator is available. Rough sheets are provided and must be returned after the exam.
Source: official CAT 2026 notification and CAT 2025 paper format. Always verify details on the official CAT website.