CAT 2026 is expected to have about 68 questions: VARC 24, DILR 22 and QA 22. The answer to how many questions in CAT 2026 comes from CAT 2025, as the notification does not state the count.
IIM Indore will hold the exam on November 29, 2026, in three slots. The actual count will be known only after the exam on November 29.
- The exam is expected to carry 204 marks, with 40 minutes allotted to each section.
- Candidates will lose 1 mark for every incorrect MCQ, while TITA questions will have no negative marking.
- The actual question count and exam pattern will be confirmed on the exam day.
The CAT 2026 admit card is scheduled to be released on November 4, 2026. Check the CAT 2026 Admit card live updates. It will contain details about the candidate's exam slot and allotted test centre.
Related Links:
- CAT Exam Pattern 2026: 68 Questions, 204 Marks, Marking Scheme and Section Wise Duration
- CAT Syllabus 2026: Subject Wise Topics, Chapter Weightage and PDF Download
How Many Questions in CAT 2026: Expected Section-wise Split
- CAT 2024 and CAT 2025 both had 68 questions in the same 24-22-22 split. The pattern held across all three slots.
- IIM Indore has not announced any change to the CAT 2026 exam pattern. So 68 questions remain the working estimate.
- DILR gained two questions in 2024, moving from 20 to 22. VARC and QA did not change.
CAT 2026 Total Questions: Section-wise (Expected, Based on CAT 2025)
| Section | Expected Questions (CAT 2026) | Time (as in CAT 2025) | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 minutes | 72 |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 40 minutes | 66 |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | 40 minutes | 66 |
| Total | 68 (expected) | 120 minutes | 204 |
Check: CAT Preparation 2026: Last 29 Days Strategy, Mock Test Series, PYQs & CAT Online Perparation
Ques. How many questions are there in CAT 2026?
Ans. CAT 2026 is expected to have about 68 questions, as in CAT 2025. The official notification does not state the count.
Ques. Which section has the most questions in CAT?
Ans. VARC has the most questions, with 24. DILR and QA had 22 questions each in CAT 2024 and CAT 2025.
CAT 2026 MCQ vs TITA Questions: How Many of Each?
- CAT uses two question types: MCQs with four options and TITA (Type In The Answer) questions with no options.
- Analyses reported 23 TITA questions in CAT 2025 Slot 1, against 20 in CAT 2024 Slot 1.
- DILR carried the most TITA questions in both years. The mix varies by slot, so treat these figures as indicative.
CAT MCQ vs TITA Split (As Reported, Slot 1)
| Section | CAT 2025 Slot 1 (MCQ / TITA) | CAT 2024 Slot 1 (MCQ / TITA) |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | 20 / 4 | 22 / 2 |
| DILR | 11 / 11 | 12 / 10 |
| QA | 14 / 8 | 14 / 8 |
| Total | 45 / 23 | 48 / 20 |
Check:
- CAT 2026 Preparation Online: Coaching, Free Courses, Study Material, Online YouTube and Reddit
- CAT Topic-Wise Weightage for QA, VARC and DILR, Check Previous Years’ Questions
Ques. How many TITA questions will CAT 2026 have?
Ans. IIM Indore has not announced it. CAT 2025 Slot 1 reportedly had 23 TITA questions, so expect a similar share.
Ques. Is there negative marking for TITA questions in CAT?
Ans. No. TITA questions carry no negative marking. Only wrong MCQ answers cost 1 mark.
CAT Question Count Trend: 2019 to 2025
- CAT cut its paper from 100 questions to 76 in 2020. The duration also fell from 180 to 120 minutes.
- The count dropped again to 66 in 2021 and held for three years. DILR had 20 questions in that period.
- CAT 2024 raised the total to 68 by adding two DILR questions. CAT 2025 kept the same paper size. Solve the CAT question papers to see each format.
CAT Total Questions: Year-wise Trend (2019–2025)
| Year | Total Questions | VARC | DILR | QA | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT 2025 | 68 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 120 minutes |
| CAT 2024 | 68 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 120 minutes |
| CAT 2023 | 66 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 120 minutes |
| CAT 2022 | 66 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 120 minutes |
| CAT 2021 | 66 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 120 minutes |
| CAT 2020 | 76 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 120 minutes |
| CAT 2019 | 100 | 34 | 32 | 34 | 180 minutes |
Check:
Ques. How many questions were there in CAT 2025?
Ans. CAT 2025 had 68 questions: VARC 24, DILR 22 and QA 22. Candidates had 120 minutes, with 40 minutes per section.
Ques. Has the number of CAT questions changed recently?
Ans. Yes. The count fell from 100 (2019) to 66 (2021–2023). It rose to 68 in 2024 and stayed there in 2025.
CAT 2026 Marking Scheme and Maximum Marks
- Each correct answer earns 3 marks. With 68 questions, the paper carries 204 marks.
- A wrong MCQ answer costs 1 mark. Unattempted questions and wrong TITA answers carry no penalty.
- Three wrong MCQs wipe out one correct answer. So random guessing on MCQs hurts the score.
CAT 2026 Marking Scheme (As in CAT 2025)
| Response Type | MCQ | TITA |
|---|---|---|
| Correct answer | +3 | +3 |
| Wrong answer | −1 | 0 |
| Not attempted | 0 | 0 |
CAT 2026 Maximum Marks: Section-wise (Expected)
| Section | Expected Questions | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 72 |
| DILR | 22 | 66 |
| QA | 22 | 66 |
| Total | 68 | 204 |
Ques. What is the total mark for CAT 2026?
Ans. CAT 2026 is expected to carry 204 marks. This assumes 68 questions at 3 marks each, as in CAT 2025.
Ques. Is there negative marking in CAT 2026?
Ans. Yes, for MCQs only. A wrong MCQ answer costs 1 mark, while TITA questions carry no penalty.
CAT 2026 Preparation: Previous Year Questions
Below are the previous year questions PDF with solutions for 2025-2021. The PYQs are for the Slot 1 exam of each section:
| Year | CAT DILR Slot | Question Paper | Solution PDF |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT 2025 | DILR Question Paper | Download Pdf | Click Here |
| VARC Question Paper | Download Pdf | Click Here | |
| Quant Question Paper | Download Pdf | Click Here | |
| CAT 2024 | VARC Question Paper | Download PDF | Click Here |
| DILR Question Paper | Download PDF | Click Here | |
| QA Question Paper | Download PDF | Click Here | |
| CAT 2023 | DILR Question Paper | Download PDF | Click Here |
| VARC Question Paper | Download PDF | Click Here | |
| Quant Question Paper | Download PDF | Click Here | |
| CAT 2022 | DILR Question Paper | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| VARC Question Paper | Download PDF | Check Solutions | |
| Quant Question Paper | Download PDF | Check Solutions | |
| CAT 2021 | DILR Question Paper | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| VARC Question Paper | Download PDF | Check Solutions | |
| Quant Question Paper | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
How Many Questions to Attempt in CAT 2026 for 99 Percentile?
- There is no fixed attempt count for 99 percentile. Paper difficulty and slot normalisation change the target every year.
- Post-exam analyses of recent papers commonly place good attempts at about 40–50 questions, with 85–90% accuracy.
- Accuracy matters more than volume. Practise attempt strategy in full-length CAT mock tests before November 29.
Indicative Attempts for 99 Percentile in CAT (General Estimate)
| Section | Indicative Attempts (Out of) | Target Accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | 16–20 (24) | 85–90% |
| DILR | 10–14 (22) | 85–90% |
| QA | 14–18 (22) | 85–90% |
| Overall | 40–50 (68) | 85–90% |
Ques. How many questions should I attempt for 99 percentile in CAT?
Ans. Analyses suggest about 40-50 attempts with 85-90% accuracy. The exact number depends on the paper's difficulty.
Ques. Is it better to attempt more questions or fewer with accuracy?
Ans. Accuracy usually wins. A wrong MCQ costs 1 mark, so careless attempts can pull down the score.
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