CAT Exam 2026: Dates, Syllabus, Pattern & Preparation

Every year, lakhs of students who wish to secure a seat in elite and prestigious MBA colleges prepare for the Common Admission Test (CAT), as CAT is the only way to get admission to IIMs. This year also a massive number of students are rigorously preparing for the CAT 2026 Examination. However, many applicants are also seen confused about the exam pattern, marking scheme and syllabus of the CAT 2026 Exam. 

This guide will help all the CAT aspirants to get accurate details of CAT 2026 Dates, Syllabus, Exam Pattern and Preparation Strategy. 

CAT Exam 2026 Full Overview

Go through a crisp program overview of CAT 2026 to understand the basics. 

Basis	Details
Exam	Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026
Exam Mode	Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Exam Duration	2 hours (120 minutes)
Time Per Section	40 minutes
Sections	3 Sections: Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
Conducting Body	IIM Indore
Language Medium	English
Question Types	MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) + TITA (Type-In-The-Answer)

CAT 2026 Important Dates

As per the latest notification, the registration timeline for the CAT 2026 Examination has been increased till  September 22, 2026. The admit card of the successfully registered students is set to be released a few weeks prior to the CAT 2026 Exam, on November 4, 2026.

However, as of now, the CAT 2026 Exam is scheduled to be conducted on November 29, 2026.

Important dates for the CAT 2026 Exam:

Event	Tentative Dates
CAT 2026 Notification Release	Last week of July 2026
CAT 2026 Registration Starts	August 3, 2026
CAT 2026 Registration Ends	September 22, 2026
Admit Card Download Begins	November 4, 2026
CAT 2026 Exam	November 29, 2026
Result Declaration	December 2026 – January 2027

CAT 2026 Syllabus

CAT 2026 Exam has three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. 

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Syllabus

The first section of CAT tests a student’s ability to understand, interpret, and analyse written content, along with their command over grammar and vocabulary.

This section has two parts:

• Verbal Ability (VA)
• Reading Comprehension (RC)

Here are the topics:

• Para Jumbles
• Para Summary
• Para Completion
• Odd Sentence Out
• Sentence Correction
• Vocabulary
• Grammar
• Syllogisms
• Sentence Completion

For Reading Comprehension (RC), passages come from these sectors:

• Science & Technology
• Social Issues & Philosophy
• Economics & Business
• History & Politics
• Arts, Literature & Culture

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Syllabus

The second section of CAT assesses students’ problem-solving and logical reasoning skills. 

The section has two parts:

• Data Interpretation (DI) 
• Logical Reasoning (LR) 

Here are the topics:

Section	Topics
Data Interpretation (DI)	Caselets, Bar Graphs, Tables, Pie Charts, Line Graphs, and Combined Charts.
Logical Reasoning (LR)	Blood Relations, Seating Arrangements, Syllogisms, Venn Diagrams, Games & Tournaments, and Binary Logic.

Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

The third section of CAT examines students based on their arithmetic abilities, quantitative literacy, and mathematical competence. Here are the topics:

Section	Topics
Algebra	Linear/Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, Logarithms, Functions, Sequences, and Series.
Arthimetic	Averages, Profit and Loss, , Ratio and Proportion, Percentages, Simple and Compound Interest, Mixtures and Allegations, Simplification, Speed, Time and Distance, Percentages, Pipes and Cisterns
Number System	Base system, Divisibility, LCM and HCF, Complex numbers, factors, remainders, digits, higher powers, surds and indices.
Modern Math	Permutations & combinations, geometric arrangements, sequences and series, probability, progressions, roots, binomial theorem, set theory
Geometry & Menstruation	Triangles, Circles, Polygons, Coordinate Geometry, and 3D Mensuration.

Important Topics for CAT 2026 Exam

Topics	Important Areas
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension	Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Grammar, Sentence Completion, Verbal Logic, Syllogisms
Quantitative Ability	Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number System, Modern Maths, Mensuration
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning	Data Interpretation, Tables, Logical Reasoning, Graphs, Caselets

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern

Common Admission Test (CAT) generally consists of three sections: VARC, QA and DILR. Each section assesses students based on their vocabulary, grammar, critical thinking ability and logical reasoning. The preparation of the CAT examination sharpens the brain of the students. 

Particulars	Details
VARC Questions	24 Questions
DILR Questions	22 Questions
QA Questions	22 Questions
Total Questions	68 Questions
Question Type	MCQs + TITA (Type-In-The-Answer)
MCQ Marking Scheme	+3 for correct answers and -1 for incorrect answers
Marking Scheme Non-FAQs	+3 for correct answers and no negative marking
Time Per Section	40 minutes
Total Exam Duration	120 minutes
Order of Exam	First Section: VARCSecond Section: DILRThird Section: QA

How to Prepare for CAT 2026 Examination

Preparation for CAT requires consistency, dedication and a lot of endeavour. Instead of studying randomly without a proper schedule or plan, CAT aspirants should follow a structured preparation plan.

Here are some tips for strong preparation:

Work On The Basics: Begin by identifying your weak points in all three sections. Put all your efforts into building a strong fundamental base before moving to solve complex questions. A good command of the basics can help you solve the questions faster and reduce silly mistakes.

Create a Study Schedule: Divide your time equally among Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. Set weekly and monthly study targets, give mock tests and allot time for revision. A well-crafted study schedule, if followed properly, can do wonders.

Solve Previous Year Papers: Solving the previous CAT papers can help aspirants understand the complexity of questions, the style of questions and changing trends. This approach of attempting previous years’ question papers can build exam-day confidence.

Read Daily for VARC: Reading regularly plays an important part in improving your grammar, reading comprehension and verbal ability. Try to read editorials, opinion articles, business news, lifestyle articles, books and various content available on renowned websites and newspapers.

Attempt Mock Tests: Giving mock tests can help you track your progress, identify your weak areas and learn time management. You can also attempt a sectional mock test to check your performance in a particular subject. 

Practice DILR Sets: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning requires a lot of practice sessions, as this subject is tricky and students need to get familiar with its style and patterns to save time in understanding the nature of questions in the CAT 2026 Exam.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the CAT 2026 Exam date?

The examination is scheduled to be held on November 29, 2026. The exam will be conducted in computer-based mode across designated examination centres. 

Is there any negative marking for CAT 2026? 

For every wrong MCQ answer, -1 will be deducted, but for Non-MCQ answer there is no negative marking. 

How many questions will be there in the examination?

There will be a total of 68 questions across three sections in the examinations. 

Can I use a calculator in CAT Examinations? 

You cannot bring your own calculator in the exam. However, students are generally provided with an on-screen calculator. 

How many sections will be there in the CAT 2026 Exam? 

As always, there will be three sections to attempt in the CAT examination: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Quantitative Ability (QA) and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR). 

What type of questions are asked in CAT?

There is a mix of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) and Type-In-The-Answer (TITA) type of questions in the Common Admission Test.

What is the eligibility criteria for the CAT 2026 Exam?

To attempt the CAT 2026 Exam, students need to have a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university in India.

Is work experience required for the CAT 2026 Exam?

No. Generally, there is no work experience required to appear for the CAT Examination.