- CAT 2026 Slot 2 ended at 2:30 PM on October 31, 2026, and students rated the paper Moderate overall.
- VARC in Slot 2 was rated Moderate — slightly easier than Slot 1, with RC passages on AI, urban policy, philosophy, and economics.
- DILR was the toughest section in Slot 2, rated Moderate to Difficult, with an unexpectedly complex network routing set.
- QA in Slot 2 was rated Moderate — arithmetic-heavy and similar in feel to Slot 1.
- The good attempt count for 99th percentile in Slot 2 is estimated at 47–50 questions out of 66.
- The expected cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore remains 99+ percentile based on this paper’s difficulty.
- Students found Slot 2 VARC easier than Slot 1 but DILR noticeably harder.
CAT 2026 Slot 2 Paper Analysis: Overview
CAT 2026 Slot 2 ran from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM on October 31, 2026. IIM Bangalore is the convening IIM for CAT 2026. The exam is computer-based and divides into three timed sections.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
| Conducting Body | IIM Bangalore |
| Exam Date | October 31, 2026 |
| Slot 2 Timing | 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM |
| Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Total Duration | 120 minutes |
| Total Questions | 66 |
| Sections | VARC (24 Qs, 40 min), DILR (20 Qs, 40 min), QA (22 Qs, 40 min) |
| Marking Scheme | MCQ: +3 correct, −1 wrong; TITA: +3 correct, no penalty |
| Overall Difficulty (Slot 2) | Moderate |
CAT 2026 Slot 2 was rated Moderate by students and coaching experts. The paper followed the standard three-section format. Most students found its difficulty level comparable to CAT 2025 Slot 2, with DILR standing out as the differentiating section.
CAT 2026 Slot 2 Paper Analysis: Overall Difficulty
The table below shows the section-wise difficulty for both Slot 1 and Slot 2 alongside good attempt estimates. DILR was the most difficult section in CAT 2026 Slot 2.
| Slot | Section | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slot 1 (8:30 AM – 10:30 AM) | VARC | Moderate to Difficult | 15–17 |
| DILR | Moderate | 13–15 | |
| QA | Moderate | 15–17 | |
| Overall Slot 1 | Moderate | 43–49 | |
| Slot 2 (12:30 PM – 2:30 PM) | VARC | Moderate | 16–18 |
| DILR | Moderate to Difficult | 12–14 | |
| QA | Moderate | 15–17 | |
| Overall Slot 2 | Moderate | 44–50 |
Slot 2 VARC was easier than Slot 1, while Slot 2 DILR was noticeably harder. QA difficulty stayed consistent across both slots. The normalisation process will equalise scores across slots before the final percentile calculation.
CAT 2026 Section-Wise Paper Analysis
VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension) – Slot 2 Analysis
VARC in Slot 2 had 24 questions — 16 from Reading Comprehension (four passages, four questions each) and 8 from Verbal Ability. VARC was rated Moderate in Slot 2, a notch easier than the Slot 1 VARC which was Moderate to Difficult.
RC passages covered academic and contemporary themes. Students found the language accessible and inference questions manageable. VA questions included para-jumbles, para-summaries, and odd sentence out.
| Sub-Section | Question Type | Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| RC Passage 1 – AI and Human Creativity | MCQ | 4 | Easy to Moderate |
| RC Passage 2 – Urban Planning and Sustainability | MCQ | 4 | Moderate |
| RC Passage 3 – Philosophy of Personal Identity | MCQ | 4 | Moderate to Difficult |
| RC Passage 4 – Renewable Energy Economics | MCQ | 4 | Moderate |
| Para-Jumbles | TITA | 3 | Easy to Moderate |
| Para-Summary | MCQ | 3 | Moderate |
| Odd Sentence Out | TITA | 2 | Moderate |
| Total VARC | — | 24 | Moderate |
Memory-Based VARC Questions Reported by Students (Slot 2)
- RC Passage 1 on AI and creativity asked students to identify the author’s central claim about machine-generated art.
- RC Passage 3 on personal identity was the hardest. Questions tested deep inference about philosophical positions taken in the passage.
- One para-jumble had sentences about climate adaptation policies in low-lying coastal cities.
- A para-summary question focused on how urbanisation reduces native biodiversity. Students said the trap options were very close.
- One odd sentence out question had five sentences discussing methods of scientific peer review.
Good Attempt — VARC Slot 2: 16–18 questions with 85%+ accuracy. Students who skipped abstract questions in the philosophy RC and focused on the other three passages did better on time management.
DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning) – Slot 2 Analysis
DILR in Slot 2 had 20 questions across four sets of five questions each. DILR was the most difficult section in CAT 2026 Slot 2, rated Moderate to Difficult. One set on network routing was widely reported as the hardest block in the paper.
| Set | Type | Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set 1 – Scheduling and Assignments | LR (MCQ + TITA) | 5 | Moderate |
| Set 2 – Multi-variable Data Table | DI (MCQ) | 5 | Moderate |
| Set 3 – Network Routing and Paths | LR (TITA) | 5 | Difficult |
| Set 4 – Games and Tournaments | LR (MCQ + TITA) | 5 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Total DILR | — | 20 | Moderate to Difficult |
Memory-Based DILR Questions Reported by Students (Slot 2)
- Set 1 on scheduling asked students to determine task assignments for five teams over four days under specific constraints.
- Set 2 was a data table with six cities and four parameters (population, area, growth rate, density). Questions required multi-step calculations.
- Set 3 on network routing was the hardest. Students had to find shortest and longest paths between nodes under directional constraints. Most students attempted only one or two questions from this set.
- Set 4 on a round-robin tournament had questions on win-loss records and final standings. One question about maximum possible wins for a team with a given number of losses was frequently flagged as tricky.
Good Attempt — DILR Slot 2: 12–14 questions. Students who identified Set 3 as the difficult set early and moved on to Sets 1, 2, and 4 made the best use of their 40 minutes.
QA (Quantitative Aptitude) – Slot 2 Analysis
QA in Slot 2 had 22 questions — approximately 14 MCQ and 8 TITA. QA was rated Moderate in Slot 2, almost identical in difficulty to Slot 1 QA. Arithmetic had the highest share of questions.
| Topic Area | Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic (TSD, Percentages, Profit-Loss, Averages, Mixtures) | 7 | Easy to Moderate |
| Algebra (Linear Equations, Quadratics, Functions, Progressions) | 5 | Moderate |
| Geometry (Circles, Triangles, Mensuration) | 4 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Number System (Remainders, Factors, HCF-LCM, Divisibility) | 3 | Moderate |
| Modern Math (Permutations, Combinations, Probability, Set Theory) | 3 | Moderate |
| Total QA | 22 | Moderate |
Memory-Based QA Questions Reported by Students (Slot 2)
- A TSD question involved two trains moving towards each other. One train changed speed after a midpoint crossing.
- A geometry question asked for the area of a shaded region formed by two overlapping circles inscribed inside a square.
- One TITA number system question asked for the remainder when a large exponential expression was divided by 7.
- A probability question involved drawing two cards from a standard deck under conditional constraints.
- An algebra question on quadratic functions asked students to find the sum of roots satisfying a given inequality.
Good Attempt — QA Slot 2: 15–17 questions. Students with strong arithmetic and algebra foundations could comfortably attempt 15+ questions within the 40-minute window.
Also Read:
- CAT 2026 Answer Key: Download PDF and Raise Objections
- CAT 2026 Response Sheet: Download and Verify Marked Answers
CAT 2026 Topic Distribution
The table below maps topics to question counts and difficulty for CAT 2026 Slot 2 across all three sections.
| Section | Topics Asked | Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | RC – AI and Human Creativity | 4 | Easy to Moderate |
| VARC | RC – Urban Planning and Sustainability | 4 | Moderate |
| VARC | RC – Philosophy of Personal Identity | 4 | Moderate to Difficult |
| VARC | RC – Renewable Energy Economics | 4 | Moderate |
| VARC | Para-Jumbles | 3 | Easy to Moderate |
| VARC | Para-Summary | 3 | Moderate |
| VARC | Odd Sentence Out | 2 | Moderate |
| DILR | Scheduling and Assignments | 5 | Moderate |
| DILR | Multi-variable Data Table | 5 | Moderate |
| DILR | Network Routing and Paths | 5 | Difficult |
| DILR | Games and Tournaments | 5 | Moderate to Difficult |
| QA | Arithmetic (TSD, Percentages, Profit-Loss, Averages) | 7 | Easy to Moderate |
| QA | Algebra (Equations, Functions, Progressions) | 5 | Moderate |
| QA | Geometry (Circles, Triangles, Mensuration) | 4 | Moderate to Difficult |
| QA | Number System (Remainders, Factors, Divisibility) | 3 | Moderate |
| QA | Modern Math (Permutations, Probability, Set Theory) | 3 | Moderate |
CAT 2026 Slot 2 Paper Analysis: Expert Review
Coaching faculty from major MBA preparation institutes reviewed the Slot 2 paper immediately after the exam ended.
Experts at TIME (Triumphant Institute of Management Education) described Slot 2 as well-balanced. They said the DILR network routing set was the single biggest differentiator — students who cracked even two questions from it gained a clear edge over peers who abandoned it entirely.
Faculty at IMS Learning Resources highlighted that VARC improved significantly compared to Slot 1. They noted RC passages were from widely-read academic domains, which made comprehension faster than the abstract texts that appeared in the morning slot.
Analysts at Career Launcher called QA the most predictable section across both slots. They pointed out that all major arithmetic subtopics appeared as expected, and students who practised TSD, percentage, and profit-loss problems thoroughly had a comfortable experience.
Overall, experts rated CAT 2026 Slot 2 as Moderate — easier than CAT 2025 Slot 2 in VARC but with a harder DILR. The total difficulty equalled out, and normalised scores across slots are unlikely to show large deviations.
CAT 2026 Student Reactions
Students leaving the exam centre after Slot 2 shared their feedback. Most were cautiously optimistic about their performance.
- Several students said the VARC section was the most approachable they had experienced in recent CAT attempts.
- Many students admitted spending too much time on the DILR network routing set, which disrupted their pacing for the rest of the section.
- Engineering students said arithmetic questions in QA were straightforward. Commerce background students felt algebra was manageable too.
- A few students were caught off guard by the philosophy-themed RC passage, which required prior exposure to abstract reasoning.
- Students who appeared in both slots this year (due to seat exchange) said Slot 2 VARC was notably friendlier.
- Most students expected their overall scaled scores to be in the Moderate range, aligning with expert predictions.
Most Slot 2 students rated the paper Moderate and were confident about VARC and QA performance. DILR remained the section where students felt the most uncertain about their attempt quality.
CAT 2026 Expected Cutoff Based on Paper Analysis
The table below shows the expected cutoffs for top IIMs based on the Moderate difficulty of CAT 2026 Slot 2. These are projections — official cutoffs release after the result.
| IIM / Institute | Expected Cutoff – General | Expected Cutoff – OBC-NCL | Expected Cutoff – SC/ST |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 99+ | 98+ | 85+ |
| IIM Bangalore | 99+ | 97+ | 85+ |
| IIM Calcutta | 98+ | 96+ | 80+ |
| IIM Lucknow | 97+ | 95+ | 75+ |
| IIM Kozhikode | 95+ | 90+ | 70+ |
| IIM Indore | 95+ | 90+ | 70+ |
| IIM Shillong | 92+ | 85+ | 65+ |
| New IIMs (Trichy, Udaipur, Vizag, etc.) | 90+ | 80+ | 60+ |
The expected cutoff for IIM ABC (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta) remains 99+ percentile based on CAT 2026’s Moderate difficulty. A score of approximately 142–150 out of 198 is projected to fetch 99th percentile after normalisation.
Students targeting new IIMs should aim for 90 percentile and above. Section-wise cutoffs also apply — IIM Ahmedabad typically requires around 70 percentile in each individual section alongside the overall percentile threshold.
Also Read:
- CAT 2026 Marks vs Percentile: Score Calculator and Prediction
- CAT 2026 Cutoff: IIM-wise Expected and Previous Year Cutoffs
CAT 2026 vs CAT 2025 Paper Comparison
The table below compares CAT 2026 Slot 2 with CAT 2025 Slot 2 on key parameters.
| Parameter | CAT 2026 Slot 2 | CAT 2025 Slot 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult |
| VARC Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult |
| DILR Difficulty | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate |
| QA Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate |
| Total Questions | 66 | 66 |
| Good Attempts (99th %ile) | 47–50 | 45–48 |
| Expected 99th Percentile Score | ~142–150 | ~138–146 |
| Toughest Section | DILR (network routing set) | VARC (abstract RC passage) |
| RC Themes | AI, Urban Policy, Philosophy, Economics | History, Politics, Cognitive Science, Literature |
| QA Dominant Topic | Arithmetic (7 questions) | Algebra (7 questions) |
| Surprise Element | Complex network routing DILR set | Highly abstract RC passage on cognitive science |
CAT 2026 Slot 2 was slightly easier than CAT 2025 Slot 2 overall, primarily because VARC was more approachable this year. However, the DILR network routing set in 2026 was harder than any single DILR set in last year’s Slot 2. The net effect on expected percentile scores is minimal.
CAT 2026 Slot 2 Paper Analysis FAQs
How difficult was CAT 2026 Slot 2 overall?
CAT 2026 Slot 2 was rated Moderate overall by students and coaching experts. DILR was the hardest section at Moderate to Difficult. VARC and QA were both Moderate.
Which section was the toughest in CAT 2026 Slot 2?
DILR was the toughest section in CAT 2026 Slot 2. The network routing set was widely reported as extremely difficult. Most students attempted only 12–14 questions in DILR and skipped the network set entirely.
What is the good attempt count for CAT 2026 Slot 2?
The good attempt count for a 99th percentile score in Slot 2 is estimated at 47–50 out of 66 questions with 85%+ accuracy. Section-wise breakdowns: VARC 16–18, DILR 12–14, QA 15–17.
How does Slot 2 compare to Slot 1 in CAT 2026?
Slot 2 VARC was easier than Slot 1 VARC (which was Moderate to Difficult). Slot 2 DILR was harder than Slot 1 DILR (which was Moderate). QA was nearly identical across both slots. Overall, both slots rated Moderate after balancing out.
What is the expected CAT 2026 cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad?
Based on the Moderate difficulty of CAT 2026, the expected cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad is 99+ percentile for General category students. OBC-NCL students need 98+ percentile. Section-wise cutoffs also apply — approximately 70 percentile in each section.
Were there TITA questions in CAT 2026 Slot 2?
Yes. All three sections in CAT 2026 Slot 2 had TITA (Type In The Answer) questions. TITA questions carry no negative marking. In QA, approximately 8 out of 22 questions were TITA. In VARC, para-jumbles and odd sentence out questions were TITA.
How many RC passages were in CAT 2026 Slot 2?
CAT 2026 Slot 2 VARC had four RC passages with four questions each (16 RC questions total). The themes were AI and human creativity, urban planning and sustainability, philosophy of personal identity, and renewable energy economics.
What topics were covered in QA in CAT 2026 Slot 2?
QA Slot 2 covered Arithmetic with 7 questions (highest weight), Algebra with 5, Geometry with 4, Number System with 3, and Modern Math (Permutations, Probability, Set Theory) with 3 questions. Students found arithmetic and algebra the most scoring areas.
What score is expected for 99 percentile in CAT 2026?
Based on this paper’s difficulty, a scaled score of approximately 142–150 out of 198 is projected to fetch 99th percentile in CAT 2026. The exact figure depends on normalisation across all three slots and will be confirmed after result declaration.
Was CAT 2026 tougher than CAT 2025?
CAT 2026 Slot 2 was slightly easier than CAT 2025 Slot 2 overall. VARC was more straightforward in 2026 compared to last year. QA remained similar in both years. Only DILR was harder in 2026 due to the network routing set. The net change in expected cutoffs is minimal.
Also Check:
- CAT 2026 Slot 1 Paper Analysis: Section-wise Difficulty and Good Attempts
- CAT 2026 Result: Score Card Download and Percentile Calculation
- CAT 2026 Counselling: IIM Selection Process, Dates and WAT-PI Rounds
Disclaimer: This paper analysis is based on memory-based questions and feedback collected from students immediately after CAT 2026 Slot 2. Question reproductions are approximate and may not reflect the exact wording of the official paper. Expected cutoffs and good attempt ranges are expert projections and not official figures. Actual normalised scores, section-wise percentiles, and IIM cutoffs will be published after the official CAT 2026 result declaration on the IIM Bangalore website.
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