CAT 2026 Last 45 Days Study Plan: Section-Wise Daily Schedule

With CAT 2026 expected on November 29, 2026, you have 45 focused days to convert preparation into a 99-percentile performance — and the right daily schedule makes all the difference.

CAT 2026 tests you across three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Each section runs for exactly 40 minutes and is timed independently. The last 45 days — from October 14 to November 27 — are your phase to consolidate concepts, ramp up mock tests, and build the exam-day stamina that separates top scorers. This section-wise daily schedule gives you a clear roadmap for every phase.

• CAT 2026 expected date: November 29, 2026 — 45 days from October 14, 2026.
• Three sections: VARC (24 questions), DILR (20 questions), QA (22 questions); 40 minutes each.
• Total marks: 198 — 3 marks per correct answer; -1 for wrong MCQ answers; no negative marking on TITA questions.
• Recommended mock frequency: 2 full mocks per week in Phase 1, rising to 5-6 per week in Phase 3.
• Daily study target: 4-5 focused hours, including sectional practice, mock analysis, and formula revision.

---

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern Overview

Before building your 45-day plan, know exactly what you are preparing for. CAT 2026 follows the same pattern as recent years, with sections timed independently so you cannot carry over time from one to another:

TITA questions have no negative marking — always attempt every TITA question in the exam. MCQs carry -1 for wrong answers. Sections are locked once the timer ends; section order follows VARC, DILR, then QA.

---

Phase-Wise 45-Day Study Plan

Break the 45 days into three phases so your preparation builds progressively toward exam-day performance:

Stop learning new topics from Phase 2 onward. Phase 1 is your last window to fill knowledge gaps. Once Phase 2 begins, every hour shifts to application and mock performance.

---

Section-Wise Daily Preparation Strategy

VARC — Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

VARC is the most reading-intensive section. Spend 25 minutes daily on RC passages and 15 minutes on VA question types — Para-jumbles, Para-summaries, and Odd Sentence Out.

• RC passages: Read 2 full passages daily from quality editorial sources. Focus on inference and author-tone questions, not just factual recall.
• VA questions: Practice 10 Para-jumble and 5 Para-summary questions each day. These are consistent, high-accuracy questions that reward daily drilling.
• Phase 1 target: Build reading speed to 250+ words per minute with 80% comprehension.
• Phase 2 target: Attempt 4 RC sets in timed 40-minute conditions at least 4 days per week.
• VARC contributes 36% of total CAT marks (72 of 198) — never treat it as a secondary section.

DILR — Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

DILR is the section that most separates 90-percentile from 99-percentile scores. The skill is not speed — it is set-selection under pressure. Train this daily.

• Attempt 2 DI sets and 2 LR sets daily from Phase 1. Time each set at 8-10 minutes maximum.
• Cover DI formats: Tables, Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, Caselets, Venn Diagrams.
• Cover LR formats: Seating Arrangements, Blood Relations, Scheduling, Games and Tournaments.
• Practice set-skipping: spend 90 seconds scanning any set before committing to attempt it. Dropping a hard set early saves 8 minutes for an easier one.
• In the exam, aim to attempt 4-5 sets with 80%+ accuracy rather than touching all sets with low accuracy.

QA — Quantitative Ability

QA rewards concept clarity and formula recall. No new topics from Phase 2 — only revise and apply.

• High-weight topics: Arithmetic (35-40%), Algebra (20-25%), Geometry (15-20%), Number Systems (10%).
• Phase 1: Finish any pending topics in Arithmetic and Algebra. Revise formulae for 15 minutes each morning.
• Phase 2 onwards: Solve 20 QA questions daily — 12 medium difficulty and 8 high difficulty.
• All TITA questions in QA carry no negative marking — always attempt every TITA question first before moving to MCQs.
• Target accuracy: attempt 14-16 questions in 40 minutes with 80%+ correctness.

---

Mock Test Schedule for Last 45 Days

Mocks are non-negotiable from Day 1. Schedule every mock at the same time slot as your actual CAT 2026 exam — this builds a body-clock rhythm that improves exam-day alertness.

Mock analysis is as valuable as the mock itself. After every mock, log: which questions you got wrong and why, which correct answers took more than 3 minutes, and which DILR sets were a poor bet to attempt. Revisit this error log every Sunday throughout the 45 days.

---

Sample Daily Study Timetable

Below is a sample weekday schedule for Phase 2. Adjust the time slots to your college or work hours — the durations matter more than the clock times:

On mock days, replace all sectional practice with the mock and its analysis. Mock analysis IS the study session on those days — attempting additional practice sets on top of a mock leads to fatigue and diminishing returns.

---

Last 7 Days Before CAT 2026

The final week is about consolidation and mental readiness. Do not begin any new topic or practice type after November 20, 2026.

• Nov 20–22 (Days 38–40): One full mock per day. Focus on decision-making and accuracy rather than speed. Review only your error log — no new mock series.
• Nov 23 (Day 41): Revise all QA formulae and VARC strategy notes. One light DILR warm-up set only — no full timed practice.
• Nov 24 (Day 42): Take one final benchmark mock. Do not adjust your strategy based on this score — your preparation is complete.
• Nov 25 (Day 43): Read personal notes and shortcut sheets only. No question practice of any kind.
• Nov 26–27 (Days 44–45): Rest fully. Confirm exam slot, download and print admit card, and prepare your document checklist. Sleep at least 8 hours the night before exam day.

Avoid peer comparisons and last-minute tip videos in the final 3 days. Your preparation window has closed — execution on exam day is all that remains.