CAT Exam Pattern 2026: Section-wise Syllabus, Total Marks & Duration

Introduction to CAT 2026 Exam Pattern

The CAT Exam Pattern 2026 is designed to assess candidates across three core sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). With a total of approximately 68 questions to be answered in 120 minutes (40 minutes per section), the exam is a computer-based test (CBT) conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). Understanding the CAT syllabus 2026 and exam pattern is crucial for effective preparation.

Organization Overview

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the premier entrance exam for admission into MBA programs at IIMs and other top business schools in India. It is administered annually by the IIMs on a rotational basis.

CAT Exam Pattern 2026 Overview Table

Section-wise CAT Exam Pattern 2026

Section-wise CAT Syllabus 2026

VARC Syllabus for CAT Exam (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension)

• Reading Comprehension passages
• Parajumbles and Jumbled Paragraphs
• Odd Sentence Out
• Summary Writing / Para Summary
• Fill in the Blanks
• Sentence Completion
• One-word Substitution
• Sentence Correction
• Subject-Verb Agreement
• Prepositions and Articles
• Usage of Idioms and Phrases
• Different Meanings of the Same Word
• Foreign Language Words Used in English
• Verbal Reasoning and Verbal Logic
• Analogies and Antonyms
• Syllogisms
• Types of Clauses and Modifiers

DILR Syllabus for CAT Exam (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning)

• Bar Graphs and Line Graphs
• Tables and Pie Charts
• Caselets and Data Sets
• Binary Logic
• Syllogisms
• Blood Relations
• Seating Arrangements
• Venn Diagrams
• Direction Sense
• Puzzles
• Data Sufficiency
• Coding-Decoding
• Clocks and Calendars
• Statements and Assumptions
• Series and Propositions
• Family Tree
• Data Structures
• Data Arrangement

QA Syllabus for CAT Exam (Quantitative Aptitude)

• Geometry
• Ratios and Proportion
• Inequalities
• Trigonometry
• Quadratic and Linear Equations
• Work and Time
• Algebra
• Surds and Indices
• Percentages
• Mensuration
• Time, Speed, and Distance
• Logarithms
• Partnership (Accounts)
• Number System
• Square Root and Cube Root
• Profit and Loss
• Geometric Progression
• Probability
• Mean, Mode, Median
• Binomial Theorem
• Simple Interest and Compound Interest

Selection Process

The CAT score is used by IIMs and other B-schools for shortlisting candidates for further rounds such as Group Discussion (GD), Written Ability Test (WAT), and Personal Interview (PI). The selection process varies by institute, but the CAT exam is the first and most critical step.

Preparation Tips for CAT 2026

• Start early and focus on building concepts along with speed.
• Practice previous year papers and mock tests regularly.
• Identify weak areas through sectional tests and work on them.
• Improve reading speed for VARC and calculation speed for QA.
• Analyze every mock thoroughly to understand mistakes.