CAT Exam Pattern 2026: 68 Questions, 204 Marks, Marking Scheme and Section Wise Duration

CAT 2026 is a 120-minute computer-based test conducted by IIM Indore on November 29, 2026. The exam spans three sections — VARC, DILR, and QA — with 68 questions for a total of 204 marks. IIM Indore released the official CAT 2026 Information Brochure on July 25, 2026 at iimcat.ac.in.

• CAT 2026 is a 120-minute computer-based test with 68 questions for 204 marks.
• The exam has 3 sections: VARC (24 questions), DILR (22 questions), and QA (22 questions).
• Correct MCQ answers earn +3 marks; each wrong MCQ answer deducts 1 mark.
• TITA questions carry no negative marking — a wrong or unattempted answer scores 0 marks.
• Each section has an individual 40-minute timer; you cannot switch sections once one begins.
• VARC carries the highest question count with 24 questions for 72 marks.
• CAT 2026 has 45 MCQs and 23 TITA questions across all three sections.

CAT Exam Pattern 2026: Overview

CAT 2026 follows a sectional testing format — each section has its own 40-minute timer and runs in a locked sequence. You begin with VARC, move to DILR, and finish with QA. No time transfers between sections, and backtracking to a completed section is not allowed.

CAT 2026 has an individually timed structure — once a section’s 40-minute window closes, you cannot attempt or revise questions from that section.

Source: CAT 2026 Information Brochure, IIM Indore (iimcat.ac.in)

CAT Exam Pattern 2026: Important Dates

The CAT 2026 registration window has closed. The admit card releases on November 4, 2026, ahead of the exam on November 29, 2026. Results are expected in the first week of January 2027.

CAT 2026: Detailed Exam Pattern

CAT 2026 has three sections: VARC, DILR, and QA. Each section is timed individually at 40 minutes. Students attempt sections in a locked sequence — once a section ends, they cannot go back.

VARC has the highest number of questions (24) among the three sections, carrying 72 of CAT 2026’s 204 total marks.

Within each section, questions are a mix of MCQ and TITA. The per-section split is shown below — DILR has the highest TITA concentration at 50%.

Note: TITA questions require you to type the answer directly — there are no options. Wrong TITA answers score 0, not −1.

CAT Marking Scheme 2026

CAT 2026 uses a +3/−1 scheme for MCQs and a +3/0 scheme for TITA questions. Negative marking applies only to MCQ questions. Unattempted questions of either type score 0.

Negative marking of 1 mark applies to all MCQs in CAT 2026 — avoid random guessing in VARC, DILR, and QA.

There is no negative marking for TITA questions — always attempt them even when you are unsure of the exact answer.

IIMs normalise raw scores across the three exam slots before computing percentiles. A 99 percentile in CAT typically requires a scaled score of approximately 100–110 out of 204, depending on slot difficulty — the +3/−1 MCQ scheme makes accuracy more valuable than volume of attempts.

CAT Subject-Wise Exam Pattern 2026

CAT 2026 tests students on three subjects. Each subject has its own 40-minute section with a dedicated question set. The breakdown below shows the topic distribution and MCQ/TITA split for each section.

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

VARC tests reading comprehension, inference, and verbal reasoning. It has the highest question count (24) in CAT 2026. The section opens with RC passages, followed by standalone Verbal Ability questions.

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

DILR tests analytical reasoning and data handling through set-based questions. Each set has 4–6 questions linked to one data scenario. DILR has the highest TITA proportion — 11 of its 22 questions are TITA — making it the section where attempting all questions regardless of certainty pays off most.

Quantitative Ability (QA)

QA tests mathematical problem-solving across arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and modern mathematics. The section has 14 MCQ and 8 TITA questions. Arithmetic and Algebra together account for roughly 45–55% of all QA questions, making them the highest-priority areas for preparation.

CAT Question Types 2026

CAT 2026 uses two question formats: MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) and TITA (Type In The Answer). Only MCQ questions carry negative marking. Your attempt strategy for each section should account for which format dominates it.

MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)

MCQ questions offer four answer options — one correct. They carry +3 marks for correct and −1 mark for wrong answers. CAT 2026 has 45 MCQ questions across all three sections.

• Each MCQ displays four labelled options: (A), (B), (C), (D).
• You select your answer by clicking the radio button on-screen.
• You can mark MCQ questions for review and revisit them within the same 40-minute section window.
• A wrong MCQ costs a net 4 marks — you lose the +3 you could have earned, plus 1 deducted.

TITA (Type In The Answer)

TITA questions display a blank text box with no answer options. You type the exact numerical answer. They carry +3 marks for correct and 0 marks for wrong or unattempted answers. CAT 2026 has 23 TITA questions in total.

• TITA questions accept integer and decimal answers, depending on the question.
• No negative marking applies — a wrong answer does not reduce your score.
• DILR has the most TITA questions: 11 of its 22 questions are TITA — always attempt all of them.
• An estimated or partially reasoned answer to a TITA is always better than leaving it blank.

CAT Exam Pattern: Changes in 2026 vs Previous Year

The CAT 2026 exam pattern is unchanged from CAT 2025. The structure, question count, marking scheme, and section-wise distribution remain identical. The primary change is the conducting IIM — IIM Indore replaces IIM Kozhikode, and the application fee has increased slightly.

The CAT 2026 exam pattern remains the same as 2025 — 68 questions, 204 marks, 120 minutes, 3 sections, +3/−1 MCQ marking.

The IIM consortium rotates the convener role annually. IIM Indore last conducted CAT in 2022 before being assigned again for 2026. The exam pattern is decided collectively by all IIMs — the conducting body does not unilaterally change the structure.

How to Prepare Based on CAT Exam Pattern

The CAT 2026 pattern is stable — three individually timed sections, 68 questions, 204 marks. Your preparation strategy should directly address these structural constraints. Use the pattern to allocate your time and effort efficiently.

1. Practice within hard 40-minute section timers from the start. No time carries over between sections. Simulate the actual 40-minute constraint from your first mock — the real exam will not allow any flexibility you build habits around in unconstrained practice.
2. Always attempt every TITA question. DILR has 11 TITA questions — the most in any section. Since wrong TITA answers score 0, not −1, even a reasoned estimate is better than leaving the field blank. Make this a non-negotiable habit across all mocks.
3. Guard your MCQ accuracy above all else. A wrong MCQ costs a net 4 marks. In QA, attempting 14 MCQs at 75% accuracy outperforms attempting all 22 at 50%. Prioritise precision over volume for MCQ questions throughout the test.
4. Prioritise Reading Comprehension in VARC. RC contributes approximately 16 of VARC’s 24 questions — all MCQ. Strong RC performance is the single largest lever in the section. Read one editorial or analytical passage each morning in the 8 weeks before November 29, 2026.
5. Anchor QA preparation in Arithmetic and Algebra. These two areas make up 45–55% of QA questions. Mastering both gives you a reliable floor of 10–12 correct answers before you touch Geometry or Number System.
6. Develop a set-selection strategy for DILR. Each DILR set has 4–6 linked questions. Drop a set within 90 seconds if you cannot decode its core logic — choosing 4–5 fully cracked sets outperforms partially attempting all 5–6.
7. Give at least 10 full-length mocks before the exam date. Analyse every wrong MCQ to identify whether you guessed, misread, or had a conceptual gap. Mock analysis over time reveals your most frequent error pattern — the most actionable insight the exam format can give you.