The CAT total marks 2026 are 204, based on 68 questions carrying 3 marks each. CAT 2026 will have three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Each section will have a separate 40-minute time limit, making the total CAT exam duration 120 minutes.
The total marks in CAT are distributed across 24 VARC questions, 22 DILR questions and 22 QA questions.
- VARC carries 72 marks, while DILR and QA carry 66 marks each.
- Candidates get +3 marks for every correct answer, while an incorrect MCQ carries a -1 mark penalty.
- TITA questions do not have negative marking.
- According to the CAT marking scheme, each correct answer fetches +3 marks, and an incorrect answer deducts 1 mark for MCQs, with no negative marking for TITA questions.
CAT 2026 is scheduled for November 29, 2026, and candidates can use the CAT total marks and marking scheme to plan their attempts, calculate raw scores and understand how many questions they need to answer accurately.
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- CAT Previous Year Question Paper(Available): Download PDF with Solutions (2025-1988)
Key Summary
- CAT 2026 will have 68 questions carrying a maximum of 204 marks, with 24 questions in VARC and 22 questions each in DILR and QA.
- Each section will have a 40-minute time limit, making the total CAT 2026 exam duration 120 minutes.
- Candidates will receive +3 marks for every correct answer and -1 mark for an incorrect MCQ, while TITA questions will have no negative marking.
- VARC carries 72 marks, while DILR and QA carry 66 marks each, making VARC the highest-marked section.
- CAT 2026 is scheduled for November 29, 2026, and candidates should use the latest exam pattern, previous year papers and mock-test analysis for preparation.
CAT 2026 Total Marks: Key Highlights
The table below summarizes the important details for CAT 2026:
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| CAT Total Marks 2026 | 204 marks |
| Total Questions | 68 |
| Number of Sections | 3 |
| VARC Questions | 24 |
| DILR Questions | 22 |
| QA Questions | 22 |
| VARC Total Marks | 72 |
| DILR Total Marks | 66 |
| QA Total Marks | 66 |
| Total Exam Duration | 120 minutes |
| Sectional Time Limit | 40 minutes per section |
| Marks for Correct Answer | +3 |
| Negative Marking | -1 for incorrect MCQs |
| TITA Negative Marking | No negative marking |
Check out Collegedunia’s CAT Mock Test Papers:
- Best CAT Mock Test Series 2026: Free PDF Download, Solutions and Performance Analysis
- CAT QA Mock Test: Free Mock Test Series, Topic, Sectional, Full CAT Mock Tests
- CAT VARC Mock Test: Free Mock Test Series, Topic, Sectional, Full CAT Mock Tests
- CAT DILR Mock Test: Free Mock Test Series, Topic, Sectional, Full CAT Mock Tests
Ques. What are the CAT total marks 2026?
Ans. The CAT total marks 2026 is 204, which comprises 68 questions that need to be answered in 120 minutes. The sectional time limit is 40 minutes per section.
What is the Total Marks in CAT 2026?
The total marks in CAT 2026 are 204. The exam has 68 questions, and each correct answer carries 3 marks.
The section-wise distribution is:
- VARC: 24 questions carrying 72 marks.
- DILR: 22 questions carrying 66 marks.
- QA: 22 questions carrying 66 marks.
- Total: 68 questions carrying 204 marks.
Candidates should remember that 204 is the maximum raw score, not the score required for a particular percentile. CAT percentile depends on candidates' performance and the normalisation process across slots.
CAT Total Marks 2026 and Sectional Time Limit
VARC carries the highest number of questions and marks, with 24 questions worth 72 marks. DILR and QA have 22 questions each and carry 66 marks each.
The following table shows the complete distribution of CAT total marks 2026 across the three sections.
| Sections | CAT Sectional Marks | Marks | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 72 | 40 minutes |
| DILR | 22 | 66 | 40 minutes |
| QA | 22 | 66 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 68 | 204 | 120 minutes |
Source: iimcat.ac.in
Also Read:
CAT Total Marks 2026 Marking Scheme for MCQs
According to the CAT marking scheme, there is -1 for an incorrect answer in an MCQ. Check out the marking scheme tabulated below:
| Response | Marks |
|---|---|
| Correct MCQ | +3 |
| Incorrect MCQ | -1 |
| Correct TITA | +3 |
| Incorrect TITA | 0 |
| Unattempted | 0 |
Source:iimcat.ac.in
Related Article: CAT 2026 5 month Preparation Strategy
Ques. What is the expected number of TITA questions in CAT 2026?
Ans. In CAT 2026, you can expect a total of 17 to 20 questions in TITA out of 68 questions. You are advised to answer all the TITA questions as there is no negative marking.
CAT Total Marks 2026: Marking Scheme for TITA Questions
Based on CAT marking scheme 2026, there is no negative marking for an incorrect answer in TITA questions in CAT 2026:
| CAT 2026 Marking Scheme | TITA |
|---|---|
| Every Correct Answer Marks | +3 |
| Every Incorrect Answer Mark | No negative marking |
| Unattempted question | No negative marking |
Source: iimcat.ac.in
What are TITA Questions in CAT 2026?
TITA questions in CAT stand for Type in the Answer and not a MCQ. In these types of questions, you need to solve the problem and write the numerical option or text without choosing it from the options. Unlike MCQs, TITA questions in CAT 2026 do not have negative marking.
Related Article: CAT 2026 Exam Pattern: Sections, Marking Scheme, TITA & Normalisation
CAT Total Marks 2026: MCQ vs TITA Questions
Candidates should not leave any questions unanswered for TITA as it imposes no negative marking:
| CAT 2026 Marking Scheme | MCQ | TITA |
|---|---|---|
| Every Correct Answer Marks | +3 | +3 |
| Every Incorrect Answer Mark | -1 | No negative marking |
| Unattempted question | No negative marking | No negative marking |
Related Article: How to Crack CAT 2026 for FREE: Best Study Material, Mock Test and 99+ Percentile Strategy
Ques. How many questions do I need to answer to score 99 percentile in CAT 2026?
Ans. Based on past years' trends, candidates need to answer around 28 to 30+ questions in CAT to score 99 percentile.
CAT Total Marks Trend: How Has the Exam Pattern Changed?
The year 2020 witnessed a change in CAT exam pattern due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The question count was reduced to 76 and exam duration to 120 minutes.
| CAT Exam Year | Sections | Total Questions in CAT | Exam Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | QA, DILR, VARC | 66 | 120 minutes |
| 2021 | QA, DILR, VARC | 66 | 120 minutes |
| 2020 | QA, DILR, VARC | 76 | 120 minutes |
| 2019 | QA, DILR, VARC | 100 | 180 minutes |
| 2018 | QA, DILR, VARC | 100 | 180 minutes |
| 2017 | QA, DILR, VARC | 100 | 180 minutes |
| 2016 | QA, DILR, VARC | 100 | 180 minutes |
| 2015 | QA, DILR, VARC | 100 | 180 minutes |
| 2014 | QA & DI, LR & VARC | 100 | 170 minutes |
| 2013 | QA & DI, LR & VARC | 60 | 140 minutes |
| 2012 | QA & DI, LR & VARC | 60 | 140 minutes |
| 2011 | QA & DI, LR & VARC | 60 | 140 minutes |
| 2010 | QA, DILR, VARC | 60 | 150 minutes |
Related Articles:
- CAT QA Syllabus 2026: Topic-Wise List, Weightage and Important Chapters
- CAT DILR Syllabus 2026: Topic-Wise List, Set Types and Important Topics
- CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension Syllabus 2026, CAT VARC Syllabus Topic-wise Weightage
Ques. What is CAT marks per question?
Ans. In CAT exam, each question carries + 3 marks for a correct answer and - 1 for an incorrect answer for MCQs. In TITA, there is no negative marking.
CAT Total Marks 2026: Good Attempt
The following table shows the overall CAT total marks 2026 required to score an outstanding percentile for 2026, based on previous years' analysis:
| CAT Percentile 2026 | Total number of Correct Questions in CAT 2026 |
|---|---|
| 99.9 | 34- 40+ |
| 99.5 | 31- 35 |
| 99 | 28- 30 |
| 97 | 24- 30 |
| 95 | 20- 25 |
| 90 | 15- 19 |
| 85 | 13- 15 |
| 80 | 11- 13 |
Source: YouTube
Related Articles:
- CAT Cutoff 2026: Check Category-wise Cutoff for IIMs and Top MBA Colleges, Marks vs Percentile, Good Score
- CAT Score Vs Percentile: Check Section-Wise, Slot-Wise & Previous-Year Detailed Analysis
Ques. Can I switch between sections during the CAT exam?
Ans. No, CAT follows a fixed order where candidates progress through sections sequentially: VARC, DILR, and QA.
CAT Total Marks 2026 vs Section Wise Good Attempt
The section-wise good attempt for CAT total marks 2026 is tabulated below based on the difficulty level in previous years' trends:
| Percentile Target | QA Correct | VARC Correct | DILR Correct |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 12–13 | 17–18 | 13–15 |
| 99.5 | 10–11 | 15 | 11–14 |
| 99 | 9–10 | 13–14 | 10–13 |
| 97 | 7–8 | 11–12 | 9–10 |
| 95 | 6–7 | 10–11 | 8–9 |
| 90 | 5–6 | 8–9 | 6–8 |
Source: Youtube
CAT Total Marks 2026: How to Calculate Your Score
Candidates can calculate their CAT raw score using the marking scheme.
CAT Raw Score = (Correct MCQs × 3) + (Correct TITA × 3) − (Incorrect MCQs × 1)
For example, if a candidate has:
- 30 correct answers
- 5 incorrect MCQs
- 3 incorrect TITA questions
The raw score would be:
30 × 3 − 5 = 85 marks
The three incorrect TITA questions do not reduce the score because TITA questions have no negative marking.
The raw score is different from the final scaled score, which takes slot-wise difficulty into account through CAT's normalisation process.
Related Articles:
- CAT 2026 Score Calculation, Marking Scheme, Percentile, and Raw vs Scaled Score Explained
- CAT College Predictor 2026: Predict your admission chances at IIMs and Top MBA Colleges
- CAT Percentile Predictor 2026: Check Your CAT Percentile Based on CAT Score, IIM & Non-IIM Call Predictor and Score Calculator
Ques. How can I effectively manage my time during the CAT exam?
Ans. Since each section has a fixed time limit, it's crucial to allocate time wisely. Regular practice and mock tests can help refine time management skills.
CAT Total Marks 2026: Previous Year Question Papers
CAT Total Marks 2026: Reddit Discussion
According to a Reddit post, a user said that scoring 90 percentile in CAT is considered a safe score. Focus on scoring around 25 in each section and 35+ in the section that you think is your strongest section to be safe for CAT 2026.
Another user also suggested that the safe score changes with the difficulty level of the paper every year.
Source: Reddit
Related Article: IIM Admission Process 2026-28: Check Admission Process for IIM, MBA Eligibility Criteria for IIM, CAT Cut off
Ques. What is the significance of CAT percentiles in B-school admissions?
Ans. CAT percentiles reflect a candidate's performance relative to others and play a crucial role in shortlisting candidates for admission to top business schools.
Ques. Do unattempted questions have a penalty in CAT 2026?
Ans. As per the CAT marking scheme, unattempted questions have no negative marking.
Ques. Do TITA questions in CAT have negative marking?
Ans. No, TITA questions in CAT do not carry any negative marking, so you should attempt all.
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