About CAT 2026 Syllabus and Pattern
CAT 2026 remains largely unchanged from previous years, with three sections: VARC, DILR, and QA. The exam is conducted as a computer-based test (CBT). The expected pattern comprises 68 questions worth 204 marks to be solved in 120 minutes, with a 40-minute time limit per section. No official detailed syllabus PDF is released by IIMs; aspirants should rely on consistent past trends and practice accordingly.
CAT Syllabus 2026 - Section-wise Topics
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Reading Comprehension passages (inference-based, factual, vocabulary-based)
- Parajumbles (jumbled paragraphs)
- Odd Sentence Out
- Paragraph Summary / Completion
- Fill in the blanks
- Sentence Correction / Error Spotting
- Subject-Verb Agreement, Prepositions, Articles
- Idioms and Phrases, One-word Substitution
- Analogies, Antonyms-Synonyms
- Verbal Reasoning (Syllogisms, Critical Reasoning)
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, Pie Charts, Tables
- Caselets and Data Sets
- Venn Diagrams
- Seating Arrangements (Linear, Circular, Matrix)
- Blood Relations, Family Tree
- Direction Sense, Clocks & Calendars
- Binary Logic, Syllogisms
- Coding-Decoding, Puzzles
- Data Sufficiency
- Series and Propositions
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
- Number System (HCF-LCM, Remainders, Surds & Indices)
- Arithmetic (Percentages, Profit & Loss, SI-CI, Ratios, Time-Speed-Distance, Work & Time, Averages, Mixtures)
- Algebra (Quadratic Equations, Linear Equations, Inequalities, Logarithms, Functions)
- Geometry & Mensuration (Triangles, Circles, Polygons, 3D Figures)
- Modern Math (Probability, Permutations & Combinations, Set Theory)
- Trigonometry, Binomial Theorem
Preparation Tips
- Understand the pattern and syllabus thoroughly.
- Build strong basics in all topics.
- Practice previous year CAT papers and sectional mocks.
- Analyze every mock test to identify weak areas.
- For VARC: Read daily and build vocabulary.
- For DILR: Solve varied sets regularly.
- For QA: Revise concepts and solve timed questions.
- Take full-length mocks in the last 3-4 months to target 99+ percentile consistency.
FAQ
- Q1. What are the high-weightage topics in CAT VARC 2026?
- Q2. What is the marking scheme for CAT 2026? +3 for correct answer, -1 for incorrect MCQ, and 0 for wrong TITA or unattempted questions.
- Q3. Which section is usually the toughest in CAT? DILR is often the most time-consuming, while QA can be calculation-heavy. VARC difficulty depends on passage complexity.
- Q4. How to download the latest CAT 2026 syllabus? There is no official PDF; refer to trusted coaching sites or this guide which compiles topics based on recent CAT papers.
- Q5. What is the sectional time limit in CAT 2026? Each section has a strict 40-minute limit. No switching between sections or carrying forward time.