The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 notification has been released, with the exam scheduled for 29 November 2026. Unlike GATE, the IIMs do not officially prescribe a detailed topic-wise syllabus – the topics below are compiled from analysis of the last 10+ years of CAT question papers, and the pattern is expected to remain consistent with CAT 2025.
Quick Overview Table
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) — rotational basis |
| Exam Date 2026 | 29 November 2026 |
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Total Sections | 3 — VARC, DILR, QA |
| Total Questions | 68 questions |
| Total Marks | 204 marks |
| Total Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Sectional Time Limit | 40 minutes per section — fixed, candidates cannot switch sections |
| Question Types | MCQ and TITA (Type In The Answer) |
| Marking Scheme | +3 for correct answer, −1 for wrong MCQ, no negative marking for TITA |
| Official Syllabus | Not published — based on historical paper trends |
CAT 2026 Section-Wise Structure
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC — Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 24 | 72 | 40 min |
| DILR — Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 22 | 66 | 40 min |
| QA — Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 66 | 40 min |
| Total | 68 | 204 | 120 min |
CAT VARC Syllabus 2026 (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)
VARC consists of Reading Comprehension (RC) and Verbal Ability (VA). RC includes fact-based, inference-based, and critical reasoning questions, making up around 70% of the section.
1. Reading Comprehension
Typically consists of 12–14 questions, drawn from diverse domains such as business, economics, ethics, literature, and science. Passages are commonly sourced from literature, business, science, philosophy, and social sciences, with Science/Technology, Environment/Life Sciences, and History-based passages appearing most frequently.
- Fact-based questions
- Inference-based questions
- Author’s tone and central idea questions
- Critical reasoning within passages
- Vocabulary-in-context questions
2. Verbal Ability
Covers Para Jumbles, Para Summary, Odd Sentence Out, and Sentence Completion, together carrying around 12% weightage.
- Para Jumbles: Rearranging sentences to form a coherent paragraph
- Para Summary: Identifying the best summary of a given paragraph
- Odd One Out / Odd Sentence Out: Identifying the sentence that doesn’t fit the paragraph’s logical flow
- Para Completion: Selecting the sentence that best completes a paragraph
Important note: CAT VARC does not include standalone grammar or vocabulary questions — testing is done through the RC passages and para-jumbles rather than isolated grammar drills.
CAT DILR Syllabus 2026 (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning)
DILR focuses on solving caselet-style sets using logic, data reading, and smart selection — accuracy matters more than attempting everything. Questions typically appear in sets of 4–6.
Data Interpretation (DI)
Tables, bar/line charts, pie charts, mixed graphs, and calculation-based sets.
Logical Reasoning (LR)
Arrangements, grouping & distribution, selections, routes & networks, and puzzles. Also includes blood relations, syllogisms, and Venn diagrams.
Games & Sets
Tournaments, scheduling, ranking, and constraints-based sets.
Most Important DILR Topics (by frequency):
- Seating Arrangements (linear, circular, complex)
- Puzzles (grid-based, condition-based)
- Venn Diagrams
- Data Tables and calculation-heavy caselets
- Logic-based DI sets and Analytical Reasoning
CAT QA Syllabus 2026 (Quantitative Aptitude)
The CAT QA syllabus covers five major areas — Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry & Mensuration, Number System, and Modern Mathematics — and is based on Class 9 and Class 10 Mathematics concepts, applied at a higher level of logical reasoning. Arithmetic and Algebra together make up nearly 60% of the section.
1. Arithmetic (Highest weightage — 7 to 10 questions)
Percentages, Profit & Loss, Ratios, Averages, Mixture/Alligation, Time-Speed-Distance, Time & Work, Simple & Compound Interest, Partnership.
2. Algebra (5–6 questions)
Linear & Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, basic Logarithms, Sequences & Series, Functions, Coordinate Geometry.
3. Geometry & Mensuration
Triangles, Circles, Polygons, 3D Figures, Lines and basic trigonometry, areas and volumes.
4. Number System
Divisibility, Remainders, Factors, LCM/HCF, Primes, Cyclicity, Factorials.
5. Modern Mathematics
Permutations and Combinations, Set Theory, Venn Diagrams, Probability.
6. Miscellaneous
Trigonometry, Inequalities, Mean/Mode/Median, Logarithms, Surds and Indices, Binomial Theorem.
Recommended Study Order: Arithmetic first, then Number System, then Geometry, then Algebra, and Modern Maths last — since later topics often build on earlier fundamentals.
CAT 2026 Weightage Summary
| Section | Highest-Weightage Topics | Approx. Share |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | Reading Comprehension | ~two-thirds of all VARC questions |
| QA | Arithmetic + Algebra | Over 70% of the QA section |
| DILR | Logical Reasoning (slightly higher than DI) | Logical Reasoning has slightly higher weightage than Data Interpretation in recent papers |
Combined, Reading Comprehension (VARC), Arithmetic and Algebra (QA), and Arrangements and Puzzles (DILR) can contribute 60–65% of the total CAT score.
Preparation Strategy Tips
General
- A 6-month preparation window (roughly May to October/November) is the typical timeline followed by successful CAT candidates.
- The first two months should focus exclusively on concept clarity across all three sections — avoid mock tests at this stage.
- Once syllabus coverage is complete, begin full-length and sectional mock tests to evaluate preparation.
VARC
- Read 1–2 RC passages daily from Science, Technology, Environment, History, and Arts topics.
- Read newspapers, magazines, and books daily to build reading habits, and practice diverse-subject RCs (history, science, philosophy, economics, technology).
- While practicing para-jumbles and odd-sentence-out questions, practice without options and focus on understanding transition words/connectors.
DILR
- Practice different DI set types — tables, graphs, charts, and caselets — to build data interpretation skills.
- Prioritize accuracy over attempting every set; comfortably budget around 20 minutes per set initially.
- Solve logical puzzles like seating arrangements and Sudoku-style problems to sharpen logical reasoning.
- If a set is taking noticeably longer than expected, leave it and move to the next one.
QA
- Follow the three-attempt approach: first attempt to understand and solve the question, second attempt to solve with 100% accuracy, third attempt to solve with both speed and accuracy.
- Prioritize Arithmetic and Algebra, since they alone account for over 60% of the QA section.
- Build mental math speed since CAT QA questions are calculation-heavy despite being based on Class 9–10 concepts.
FAQs
Q1: When is the CAT 2026 exam?
29 November 2026, conducted as a Computer Based Test.
Q2: Is there an official CAT syllabus published by IIMs?
No. The IIMs do not publish an official topic-wise syllabus; the topics candidates prepare from are derived by experts analyzing the last 10+ years of CAT papers.
Q3: How many sections and questions does CAT 2026 have?
3 sections — VARC, DILR, QA — with a total of 68 questions across 204 marks in 120 minutes.
Q4: What is the CAT 2026 marking scheme?
+3 for every correct answer, −1 for every incorrect MCQ, and no negative marking for TITA (Type In The Answer) questions.
Q5: Can I switch between sections during the exam?
No — each section has a fixed 40-minute sectional time limit, and candidates must complete one section before moving to the next.
Q6: Which is the highest-weightage topic in QA?
Arithmetic, contributing 7–10 questions, followed by Algebra with 5–6 questions.
Q7: Does CAT VARC test grammar directly?
No — CAT VARC does not include standalone grammar or vocabulary questions; verbal skills are tested indirectly through RC passages and para-jumbles.
Q8: Do I need an engineering or maths background to crack CAT QA?
No — CAT tests conceptual clarity and application speed rather than educational background; non-engineering and non-maths students clear CAT with high percentiles every year by prioritizing high-weightage topics like Arithmetic and Algebra.
Stay tuned to Manabadi.co.in for the latest updates on CAT 2026 admit card, exam pattern changes, mock test links, and result notifications.