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 has 68 questions across three sections for a total of 204 marks. Each correct answer earns +3 marks, and each wrong MCQ answer deducts 1 mark; TITA (Type In The Answer) questions carry no negative marking.

• CAT 2026 is a 120-minute computer-based test with 68 questions for 204 marks.
• The exam has three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
• Each section gets a strict 40-minute time limit; you cannot carry time over to the next section.
• Correct answers earn +3 marks; wrong MCQ answers lose 1 mark; TITA questions have no negative marking.
• VARC carries the highest question count with 24 questions for 72 marks.
• Both DILR and QA have 22 questions each for 66 marks apiece.
• IIM Indore conducts CAT 2026 — the conducting IIM rotates every year across the six old IIMs.

CAT Exam Pattern 2026: Overview

CAT 2026 follows a computer-based format with three timed sections and a mix of MCQ and TITA question types. IIM Indore has not announced any structural changes to the exam pattern for 2026. The table below summarises all key parameters at a glance.

CAT 2026 is a 120-minute computer-based test with 68 questions for 204 marks.

CAT Exam Pattern 2026: Important Dates

CAT 2026 is scheduled for November 29, 2026 (Sunday). Registration closed in September 2026. The admit card release and result declaration are still upcoming as of today. Events are listed below — upcoming dates appear first, followed by events already past.

Note: Admit card and result dates are based on official communications and past CAT cycles. Verify all current dates at iimcat.ac.in.

CAT 2026: Detailed Exam Pattern

CAT 2026 has three sections — VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Ability — each with a fixed 40-minute window. VARC carries the most questions at 24, while DILR and QA have 22 questions each. Every question — whether MCQ or TITA — carries 3 marks for a correct response.

Note: Each section has both MCQ and TITA questions. The exact MCQ-TITA split can vary across slots on exam day. Approximate breakdowns based on CAT 2025 patterns are shown in the Subject-Wise section below.

MCQ vs TITA Question Distribution (Approximate)

CAT mixes MCQ and TITA questions in every section. TITA questions require you to type a numerical or short answer — no options appear on screen, and no negative marking applies. The split below reflects CAT 2025 and is expected to be similar for CAT 2026.

Note: DILR’s MCQ-TITA split varies by exam slot. IIM Indore publishes the exact breakdown in the official information bulletin at iimcat.ac.in.

CAT Marking Scheme 2026

CAT 2026 uses a +3 / -1 marking scheme for MCQ questions. TITA questions earn +3 for a correct response but carry no negative marking. Unattempted questions score zero in both types. Always attempt TITA questions — the risk-free upside makes them a strategic priority in every section.

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

There is no negative marking for TITA (Type In The Answer) questions.

Score Normalisation in CAT 2026

CAT 2026 runs in multiple slots on exam day. IIM Indore applies a statistical normalisation process to account for difficulty variation across slots. The normalised scaled score — not the raw score — is used for IIM shortlisting. The exact normalisation formula is published post-exam in the official CAT score report.

CAT Subject-Wise Exam Pattern 2026

Each of the three sections in CAT 2026 has a distinct topic structure and question mix. The breakdowns below are based on CAT 2025 paper analysis and the official information bulletin, and are expected to hold for CAT 2026.

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

VARC has 24 questions for 72 marks. Reading Comprehension passages form the bulk of this section, with the remaining questions testing Verbal Ability through para-jumbles, para-summary, and odd-sentence-out exercises.

Note: RC passages are typically 400–500 words each and cover topics like economics, philosophy, science, and social issues. Para Jumbles shifted to TITA format in recent CAT cycles, removing the ability to guess from options.

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

DILR has 22 questions for 66 marks. Questions appear in sets of 4–6, each built around a common data set or reasoning puzzle. The MCQ–TITA split within DILR varies the most across exam slots — from roughly equal halves to a 15–7 MCQ–TITA split.

Note: DILR sets in CAT are typically integrated — a single set may blend DI and LR elements. CAT 2025 had 11 TITA questions in one slot and as few as 7 TITA in another across DILR.

Quantitative Ability (QA)

QA has 22 questions for 66 marks. Questions test core mathematics at Class 10–12 level. Arithmetic forms the largest chunk, and approximately 8 questions are TITA (no negative marking), making selective answering a tactical advantage.

CAT Question Types 2026

CAT 2026 uses two question formats: MCQ and TITA. Understanding the difference shapes your exam strategy — particularly around which questions to attempt under time pressure and how aggressively to guess.

Reading Comprehension (RC) Format

RC passages in CAT 2026 are typically 400–500 words long. Each passage carries 3–4 questions, all in MCQ format. VARC has approximately 4–5 RC passages per slot. Topics span economics, science, philosophy, history, and contemporary affairs — abstract and analytical writing is common.

DILR Set Format

DILR questions appear in sets of 4–6 questions per set. Each set shares a common data table, chart, or logical puzzle. You must read the entire set before answering. Sets can combine DI and LR elements within a single problem, which makes set selection a key skill.

CAT Question Interface Features

• A virtual onscreen calculator is available during QA and DILR sections.
• Questions have a Mark for Review option — flag and revisit within the 40-minute window.
• You cannot switch to another section once the current section’s time expires.
• TITA questions display a text entry box — no answer options appear.
• The question palette on screen shows: green (answered), red/orange (marked for review), grey (not yet visited).

CAT Exam Pattern: Changes in 2026 vs Previous Year

IIM Indore has not announced any structural changes to the CAT exam pattern for 2026. The overall format — 68 questions, 204 marks, three sections, 40 minutes per section — mirrors CAT 2025 conducted by IIM Kozhikode. The only confirmed change for 2026 is the conducting IIM.

The CAT 2026 pattern remains stable — students who prepared for CAT 2025 need no structural adjustment to their study plan.

Historical Trend: CAT Pattern Over the Years

How to Prepare Based on CAT Exam Pattern

The CAT 2026 exam pattern gives you clear signals about where to invest preparation time. Each section has a fixed 40-minute limit — time management is as important as subject knowledge. These tips are derived directly from the pattern structure.

1. Always attempt all TITA questions first within each section. TITA questions carry no negative marking. You gain +3 for a correct answer and lose nothing for a wrong one. In QA and DILR, tackle TITA questions before MCQs if you have any reasonable approach — uncertainty costs you nothing on TITA.
2. In VARC, RC dominates with roughly 16 of the 24 questions. Build RC speed and comprehension depth first. You need to read four to five 400–500-word passages in 40 minutes while answering accurately. Practise timed RC passages daily to settle into a pace of 8–9 minutes per passage including questions.
3. Simulate 40-minute mock sessions per section from early in your preparation. Each section is a standalone 40-minute exam. Full mock tests reveal which section drains more time. Adjust your question-attempt order within each section based on what your mocks tell you about your own speed and accuracy.
4. In DILR, abandon an unfamiliar set immediately and move to the next. Each set has 4–6 linked questions. Spending 12 minutes on an unsolvable set leaves too little time for sets you can crack. Scan the first question of each set, then commit to the clearest data structure you find.
5. For QA, focus on Arithmetic first — it contributes 7–8 questions per exam. Master Percentages, Profit and Loss, Time-Speed-Distance, and Ratio-Proportion before Algebra or Geometry. These arithmetic themes also reappear inside CAT DILR data sets, giving you a double return on the same revision effort.
6. Track MCQ accuracy by topic — negative marking penalises low-confidence guessing sharply. If your success rate on a topic is below 60% in mocks, skip and move on rather than guessing. A wrong MCQ costs you 1 mark plus the 3 marks you did not earn — a net 4-mark swing compared to a correct answer.
7. Use the virtual calculator for verification only, not for primary calculations. The onscreen calculator is slow for multi-step operations under exam pressure. Train mental approximation for quick estimates during QA and DILR, and reserve the calculator to confirm your final answer.