The CAT 2026 exam pattern is expected to follow the 68-question, 120-minute structure used in CAT 2025. The exam will have three sections: VARC, DILR and QA; with 40 minutes allotted to each section.
IIM Indore released the CAT 2026 notification on July 26, 2026. It confirms a computer-based test on Sunday, November 29, 2026, in three sessions, with registration open till September 15.
Source: CAT 2026 Notification Official PDF
Based on the CAT 2026 notification and the pattern of the last two years:
- CAT 2026 is expected to have 68 questions carrying 204 marks.
- VARC is expected to have 24 questions, while DILR and QA are expected to have 22 questions each.
- Each section will have a 40-minute sectional time limit, with no switching between sections.
- A correct answer carries 3 marks, while an incorrect MCQ carries a 1-mark deduction.
- TITA questions do not carry negative marking.
- CAT 2026 will be conducted by IIM Indore on November 29, 2026.
Related Links:
- Check CAT 2026 Exam Pattern, Sections, Marking Scheme, TITA & Normalisation
- CAT Question Paper with Answer Key
- CAT Syllabus 2026- Download Syllabus PDF
What is the CAT 2026 Exam Pattern?
The CAT 2026 exam pattern is a computer-based test of 68 questions in 120 minutes. It has three sections, VARC, DILR and QA, each with a 40 minute limit, and the paper carries 204 marks.
- CAT 2026 has 24 questions in VARC and 22 each in DILR and QA.
- A correct answer scores +3, an incorrect MCQ deducts 1, and a wrong TITA answer scores zero.
The CAT 2026 notification of July 26, 2026 confirms the date and the three sessions. The section-wise structure follows with the official mock test, as in 2024 and 2025.
| Particulars | CAT 2026 Details |
|---|---|
| Exam mode | Computer-based test |
| Total duration | 120 minutes |
| Total questions | 68 |
| Total marks | 204 |
| Number of sections | 3 |
| Sectional time | 40 minutes per section |
| Section order | VARC : DILR : QA |
| Question types | MCQ and TITA |
| Exam sessions | 3 |
| Exam date | November 29, 2026 |
Also Read: CAT Topic Wise Weightage for QA, VARC, and DILR, Check Previous Years’ Questions
Ques: Is the CAT 2026 exam pattern officially confirmed?
Ans. The CAT 2026 notification confirms the exam date and three-session format. The 68-question section-wise structure is expected based on the CAT 2024 and 2025 pattern and should be read along with the official CAT 2026 test instructions/mock.
Ques: How many questions are expected in CAT 2026?
Ans. CAT 2026 is expected to have 68 questions, with 24 in VARC and 22 each in DILR and QA.
CAT 2026 Section-Wise Questions and Marks
Based on the current pattern, VARC will have 24 questions, while DILR and QA will each have 22 questions.
Since every question carries 3 marks, VARC accounts for 72 marks and DILR and QA account for 66 marks each.
| Section | Questions | Time | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 minutes | 72 |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 40 minutes | 66 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 40 minutes | 66 |
| Total | 68 | 120 minutes | 204 |
Also Read:
- CAT Total Marks 2026, Total Questions, Negative Marking, and TITA Questions in CAT
- 100 Marks in CAT Percentile
Ques. Which CAT 2026 section has the most questions?
Ans. VARC, with 24 questions for 72 marks. DILR and QA carry 22 questions each for 66 marks.
Ques: How many marks is CAT 2026 worth?
Ans. The expected maximum score is 204 marks, based on 68 questions carrying 3 marks each.
CAT 2026 Marking Scheme
The CAT marking scheme awards 3 marks for every correct answer. An incorrect MCQ attracts a deduction of 1 mark, while TITA questions do not carry negative marking. Unattempted questions also receive zero marks
| Response | Marks |
|---|---|
| Correct MCQ | +3 |
| Correct TITA | +3 |
| Incorrect MCQ | -1 |
| Incorrect TITA | 0 |
| Unattempted | 0 |
Check:
- Check CAT Previous 10 Years Question Papers with Solutions PDF for 99 Percentile
- Is CAT Exam Tough? Check Exam Structure, IIM Cutoffs, Difficulty Comparisons, Reddit Discussions
Ques. How many marks does a skipped question cost in CAT 2026?
Ans. None. An unattempted question scores zero in both formats, while an incorrect MCQ deducts one mark.
CAT 2026 TITA Questions: No Negative Marking
CAT includes both Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Type In The Answer (TITA) questions. Candidates have to select an option for MCQs, while TITA questions require them to enter the answer.
The exact MCQ and TITA distribution for CAT 2026 should not be treated as confirmed until IIM Indore provides the detailed test instructions or official mock. The CAT 2025 paper had both formats across all three sections.
| Question Type | Correct Answer | Incorrect Answer |
|---|---|---|
| MCQ | +3 | -1 |
| TITA | +3 | 0 |
Check: Official CAT Previous Year Papers IIM Website Download
Ques. How many TITA questions were there in CAT 2025?
Ans. Eighteen of 68: two in VARC, eight in DILR and eight in QA. IIM Indore does not fix the split for CAT 2026.
CAT 2026 Sectional Time Limit: 40 Minutes per Section
Candidates will get 40 minutes for each CAT section, making the total test duration 120 minutes. Once the time for a section ends, candidates cannot return to that section or use its remaining time elsewhere.
| Section | Time Limit |
|---|---|
| VARC | 40 minutes |
| DILR | 40 minutes |
| QA | 40 minutes |
| Total | 120 minutes |
This means candidates cannot compensate for spending extra time on one section by using time saved from another section.
Also Read:
Ques. Can candidates switch between sections in CAT 2026?
Ans. No. Each section has a fixed 40-minute time limit, and candidates cannot move between sections during that period.
Ques. Can unused time from VARC be used in DILR?
Ans. No. Any unused time at the end of a section cannot be carried forward to the next section.
CAT Exam Pattern Changes Since 2015
The CAT pattern has changed four times in eleven years. The last change was in 2024, and no change has been announced for CAT 2026.
The 2021 revision cut the paper from 76 to 66 questions. DILR gained two questions in 2024 to reach the current 22.
- The CAT question count has fallen from 100 in 2019 to 68 in 2026.
- The CAT duration has been 120 minutes every year since 2020.
- The three-slot format introduced in 2020 has continued every year.
- The section order of VARC, DILR and QA has not changed.
- The marking scheme of +3 and 1 deducted has stayed the same throughout.
| Period | CAT Pattern Change |
|---|---|
| 2015 to 2019 | Stable at 100 questions and 180 minutes across three sections |
| 2020 | Duration cut to 120 minutes, questions cut to 76, three slots introduced |
| 2021 to 2023 | 66 questions, split into 24 VARC, 20 DILR and 22 QA |
| 2024 | 68 questions, split into 24 VARC, 22 DILR and 22 QA |
| 2025 and 2026 | No change announced |
Also Read:
- Best Books for CAT 2026: Section-Wise Recommendations & Mock Plan
- CAT Mock Test Strategy for 99+ Percentile
- How to Analyze CAT 2026 Mock Test Performance
Ques: When was the last major CAT exam pattern change?
Ans. The last major change in the recent pattern came in 2024, when the paper increased from 66 to 68 questions.
Ques: Has CAT remained a 120-minute exam since 2020?
Ans. Yes. The CAT exam duration was reduced to 120 minutes in 2020 and has remained at that duration in subsequent years.
CAT Exam Day and Sectional Timing: What Candidates Are Reporting on Reddit
On November 29, 2025, the eve of CAT 2025, an IIM Kozhikode graduate posted a full exam-day plan on r/CATpreparation. It covered what to eat, how to handle panic in DILR and how to use the rough sheet. The post drew 322 votes and 66 comments.
The most asked question, with 19 votes, was whether a page may be torn from the rough sheet booklet. The idea was to keep the DILR constraints beside the main table. Others asked whether clothing with zip pockets is allowed at the centre.
In a July 2026 thread, 85 candidates compared mock scores with the actual score. Several who averaged 70 to 100 in mocks scored 71 to 78 on the day. Most blamed QA and DILR.
Collegedunia Tip: Practise with the 40 minute sectional timer and the on-screen calculator only. The rough sheets come from the centre, and a section cannot be reopened once its time ends.
CAT Difficulty Level and Conducting IIM: 2020 to 2025
A different IIM conducts CAT each year, and the difficulty level has changed with it. CAT 2026 is conducted by IIM Indore, which last ran the exam in 2020.
- DILR was the deciding section in CAT 2023 and again in CAT 2025.
- QA was the hardest section in CAT 2023 and the easiest in CAT 2024.
- VARC has been the most consistent of the three sections.
- IIM Indore, which conducts CAT 2026, last conducted the exam in 2020.
| Year | Conducted By | Overall Difficulty | Key Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | IIM Kozhikode | Moderate to difficult | DILR was the toughest section in all three slots. Slot 3 was the hardest |
| 2024 | IIM Calcutta | Easy to moderate | Questions rose from 66 to 68. QA was easier than 2023 |
| 2023 | IIM Lucknow | Difficult | Pattern unchanged, but QA and DILR were much tougher |
| 2022 | IIM Bangalore | Moderate | Better balance across all three sections than 2021 |
| 2021 | IIM Ahmedabad | Moderate to difficult | Questions cut from 76 to 66 |
| 2020 | IIM Indore | Moderate | Duration cut from 180 to 120 minutes, questions cut from 100 to 76 |
Also Check:
- CAT 2025 Exam Analysis: Slot-wise Difficulty and Good Attempts
- CAT Admit Card 2026: Release Date and Download Steps
Free CAT 2026 Practice Material
Preparing for CAT 2026?
Previous year question papers show how the 68 question, 120 minute paper is timed and which question types repeat.
| Year | Question Paper |
|---|---|
| CAT 2025 | Download Question Paper with Solutions |
| CAT 2024 | Download Question Paper with Solutions |
| CAT 2023 | Download Question Paper with Solutions |
| CAT 2022 | Download Question Paper with Solutions |
| CAT 2021 | Download Question Paper with Solutions |
| CAT 2020 | Download Question Paper with Solutions |
Sample papers for each CAT 2026 section and for the full 120 minute paper are available below.
| Section | Sample Paper |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude | Download CAT QA Sample Papers |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | Download CAT DILR Sample Papers |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | Download CAT VARC Sample Papers |
| Full-length paper | Download CAT Full-length Sample Papers |
Tip: Start with the CAT 2025 and CAT 2024 papers for the current 68-question format. Use the section-wise sample papers for the 40-minute sectional timing.
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern FAQs
Ques. How many questions are there in CAT 2026?
Ans. The paper has 68 questions for 204 marks. The split is 24 in VARC and 22 each in DILR and QA.
Ques. Has the CAT 2026 exam pattern changed?
Ans. No change has been announced. The CAT 2026 pattern is expected to stay as in 2025 and 2024. The last change was in 2024, when the question count moved from 66 to 68.
Ques. What is the CAT 2026 marking scheme?
Ans. A correct answer scores +3 in both formats. One mark is deducted for an incorrect MCQ. A wrong TITA answer carries no penalty.
Ques. Is there negative marking for TITA questions in CAT 2026?
Ans. No. TITA answers are typed in, and a wrong entry scores zero.
Ques. Can candidates switch between sections in CAT 2026?
Ans. No. The 40 minute limit closes each section for good, and time saved in one section is lost.
Ques. Which IIM is conducting CAT 2026?
Ans. IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2026. It last conducted the exam in 2020, when the 120 minute format was introduced.
Ques. How many slots will CAT 2026 have?
Ans. The exam will be held in three slots on a single day, November 29, 2026.
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