CAT Exam Notes 2026
CAT Notes 2026: Section-wise Preparation Notes, Study Material & PDFs
Preparing for CAT 2026 requires not just hard work but also smart study material. Good CAT preparation notes help candidates revise concepts quickly, retain formulas, and reinforce understanding. While the IIMs do not release any official study material, a well-structured set of notes — covering all three sections (VARC, DILR, and QA) — can make a significant difference in your final percentile. This page provides a comprehensive guide to CAT notes, recommended study material, and how to build your own effective preparation resources.
Why CAT Notes Are Important
|
Benefit |
Explanation |
|
Quick Revision |
Notes allow rapid review of key formulas and concepts before the exam |
|
Concept Clarity |
Summarised notes reinforce learning from textbooks |
|
Error Log |
Maintaining a personal notebook of mistakes prevents repetition |
|
Time Saving |
Avoids re-reading entire chapters during the revision phase |
|
Personalised Prep |
Notes tailored to your weak areas are more effective than generic material |
CAT Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Notes
Key Arithmetic Formulas to Note
|
Topic |
Key Concepts |
|
Percentages |
x% of y = (x/100) × y; % change = (change/original) × 100 |
|
Ratio & Proportion |
a:b = c:d → ad = bc; Componendo-Dividendo |
|
Profit & Loss |
Profit% = (Profit/CP) × 100; SP = CP × (1 + P%/100) |
|
Simple Interest |
SI = (P × R × T) / 100 |
|
Compound Interest |
CI = P(1 + R/100)^n – P |
|
Time, Speed, Distance |
D = S × T; Average Speed = 2S1S2/(S1+S2) |
|
Time & Work |
If A does work in x days, rate = 1/x per day |
|
Averages |
Average = Sum / Number of terms |
Algebra Notes
|
Topic |
Key Points |
|
Quadratic Equations |
ax² + bx + c = 0; roots = (–b ± √(b²–4ac)) / 2a |
|
Logarithms |
log(ab) = log a + log b; log(a/b) = log a – log b |
|
Inequalities |
Flip inequality sign when multiplying/dividing by a negative |
|
Progressions |
AP: nth term = a + (n–1)d; GP: nth term = ar^(n–1) |
Geometry & Number System
|
Topic |
Key Points |
|
Triangles |
Area = ½ × base × height; Pythagoras: a² + b² = c² |
|
Circles |
Area = πr²; Circumference = 2πr |
|
HCF & LCM |
HCF × LCM = Product of two numbers |
|
Remainders |
Fermat's Theorem, Cyclicity of last digits |
CAT VARC Notes
Reading Comprehension Strategy
|
Step |
Action |
|
1 |
Skim the passage in 2–3 minutes to get the main idea |
|
2 |
Read questions before re-reading key paragraphs |
|
3 |
Eliminate answer choices that are too extreme or out of scope |
|
4 |
Look for the author's tone — positive, negative, neutral |
|
5 |
Never bring external knowledge into RC answers |
Verbal Ability Tips
|
Topic |
Strategy |
|
Para Jumbles |
Identify the opening and closing sentences first; look for linking words |
|
Para Summary |
Pick the option that captures the central idea without extremes |
|
Odd Sentence Out |
Find the sentence that breaks the logical flow |
|
Critical Reasoning |
Identify the premise and conclusion clearly before answering |
Word List for VARC Preparation
Build a daily vocabulary habit. Focus on:
-
High-frequency GRE/GMAT words
-
Contextual vocabulary from The Hindu and The Economist
-
Antonyms and synonyms of commonly used words
CAT DILR Notes
Data Interpretation Key Techniques
|
Type |
Key Approach |
|
Tables |
Identify row/column patterns; calculate percentages carefully |
|
Pie Charts |
Convert degrees to percentages: (degree/360) × 100 |
|
Bar Graphs |
Compare heights; calculate differences and ratios |
|
Line Graphs |
Identify slope direction — increasing, decreasing, constant |
|
Caselets |
Reframe text into a table before solving |
Logical Reasoning Techniques
|
Type |
Strategy |
|
Linear Arrangements |
Use a table/grid; fill in definite clues first |
|
Circular Arrangements |
Fix one element; build around it |
|
Blood Relations |
Draw a family tree |
|
Games & Tournaments |
Calculate total matches: n(n–1)/2 for round-robin |
|
Set Theory |
Use Venn diagrams; apply inclusion-exclusion formula |
Recommended CAT Study Material (Books)
|
Section |
Book Title |
Author |
|
QA |
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT |
Arun Sharma |
|
QA |
Quantitative Aptitude for CAT |
Nishit K. Sinha |
|
VARC |
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension |
Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay |
|
VARC |
Word Power Made Easy |
Norman Lewis |
|
DILR |
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT |
Arun Sharma |
|
DILR |
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT |
Nishit K. Sinha |
|
All Sections |
CAT Previous Year Solved Papers |
Arihant Experts |
|
All Sections |
The Complete CAT Digest |
IMS Learning |
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Other Recommended Books | Study Materials
How to Make Effective CAT Notes
1. Concept Notes
Write a short summary (3–5 lines) of every new concept you learn. Include the definition, formula, and an example.
2. Formula Sheets
Maintain a dedicated formula sheet for QA — review it every morning for 10 minutes.
3. Error Logbook
Every time you get a question wrong in a mock test, note down the question, your approach, and the correct approach in a separate notebook.
4. RC Summary Notes
After reading every RC passage during practice, write a 3–4 line summary. This trains your ability to identify the main idea quickly.
5. Weekly Revision Cycle
|
Day |
Activity |
|
Monday–Friday |
New topic study + practice questions |
|
Saturday |
Sectional test + error log review |
|
Sunday |
Full-length mock test + analysis |
CAT Notes PDFs – Free Resources
Many reputed coaching institutes offer free CAT notes PDFs:
-
IMS Learning: Free VARC and QA concept sheets
-
Career Launcher: Free PDF downloads on specific topics
-
TIME Institute: Practice worksheets available on their website
-
Cracku & MBAUniverse: Free digital study material with practice questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Handwritten notes improve retention for many learners. However, combining both — printed formula sheets and handwritten concept summaries — works best.
IMS, TIME, Career Launcher, and Cracku offer free PDF downloads. Previous year CAT papers are also available at iimcat.ac.in.
Maintain separate notebooks for QA formulas, VARC vocabulary, and DILR strategies. Also maintain a common error log for all sections.
On average, 6–8 months of preparation with 3–4 hours daily is recommended for a 99 percentile target.
