CAT Exam Pattern 2026: Marking Scheme, Sectional Timing & Paper Pattern
Understanding the CAT exam pattern is the first and most critical step in preparing for the Common Admission Test. CAT 2026 is expected to be conducted by IIM Indore on November 29, 2026, in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format across 170+ cities in India. The exam will be held in three slots on the same day. Knowing the exact structure, marking scheme, and sectional constraints helps candidates devise the most effective preparation and exam-day strategy.
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern Highlights
|
Feature |
Details |
|
Exam Name |
Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
|
Conducting Body |
IIM Indore (expected) |
|
Exam Mode |
Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
|
Exam Duration |
120 minutes (2 hours) |
|
Number of Sections |
3 |
|
Total Questions |
68 (expected) |
|
Total Marks |
204 (expected) |
|
Marking Scheme |
+3 for correct, –1 for incorrect MCQs |
|
TITA Questions |
No negative marking |
|
Sectional Time Limit |
40 minutes per section |
|
Switching Between Sections |
Not allowed |
|
Language |
English |
|
Number of Slots |
3 (Morning, Afternoon, Evening) |
CAT 2026 Section-wise Question Distribution
|
Section |
No. of Questions |
MCQ |
TITA (Non-MCQ) |
Marks |
|
VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension) |
24 |
18–20 |
4–6 |
72 |
|
DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning) |
22 |
14–16 |
6–8 |
66 |
|
QA (Quantitative Aptitude) |
22 |
14–16 |
6–8 |
66 |
|
Total |
68 |
~50 |
~18 |
204 |
Note: Minor variations may occur across slots. The distribution above is based on CAT 2025 trends.
CAT 2026 Marking Scheme
|
Scenario |
Marks |
|
Correct answer (MCQ) |
+3 |
|
Incorrect answer (MCQ) |
–1 |
|
Unattempted (MCQ) |
0 |
|
Correct answer (TITA) |
+3 |
|
Incorrect answer (TITA) |
0 (No negative marking) |
|
Unattempted (TITA) |
0 |
Key Insight: TITA questions are your safety net — attempt them without hesitation since there is no penalty for wrong answers. Protect accuracy on MCQs as negative marking can significantly hurt your score.
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CAT 2026 Sectional Timing
|
Section |
Duration |
Can You Go Back? |
|
VARC |
40 minutes |
Within the section only |
|
DILR |
40 minutes |
Within the section only |
|
QA |
40 minutes |
Within the section only |
-
Once a section's timer ends, candidates are automatically moved to the next section.
-
Candidates cannot revisit a previous section under any circumstance.
-
Time management within each section is crucial.
CAT 2026 Section-wise Pattern in Detail
Section 1: VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)
|
Component |
Expected Questions |
|
Reading Comprehension (RC) |
16–18 |
|
Para Jumbles |
2–3 |
|
Para Summary |
2 |
|
Odd Sentence Out |
2 |
|
Total |
24 |
Section 2: DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning)
|
Component |
Expected Questions |
|
Data Interpretation Sets (Tables, Graphs, Charts) |
10–12 |
|
Logical Reasoning Sets (Arrangements, Games, Puzzles) |
10–12 |
|
Total |
22 |
Section 3: QA (Quantitative Aptitude)
|
Component |
Expected Questions |
|
Arithmetic |
8–10 |
|
Algebra |
5–6 |
|
Geometry & Mensuration |
4–5 |
|
Number System |
3–4 |
|
Modern Maths |
2–3 |
|
Total |
22 |
CAT Exam Pattern: Year-wise Comparison
|
Year |
Total Questions |
VARC |
DILR |
QA |
Total Marks |
Duration |
|
CAT 2025 |
68 |
24 |
22 |
22 |
204 |
120 min |
|
CAT 2024 |
68 |
24 |
22 |
22 |
204 |
120 min |
|
CAT 2023 |
66 |
24 |
20 |
22 |
198 |
120 min |
|
CAT 2022 |
66 |
24 |
20 |
22 |
198 |
120 min |
|
CAT 2021 |
76 |
26 |
24 |
26 |
228 |
120 min |
CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy
1. Understand the Pattern Before Studying
Familiarise yourself with the number of questions, section order, and timing constraints before you begin topic-wise preparation.
2. Practice Sectional Tests First
Before taking full-length mocks, practise sectional tests under timed conditions (40 minutes each) to build stamina and accuracy.
3. Mock Test Schedule
|
Phase |
Frequency |
|
Month 1–3 (Foundation) |
1 diagnostic mock per month |
|
Month 4–6 (Practice) |
1 mock per week |
|
Month 7–9 (Intensive) |
2–3 mocks per week |
4. Analyse Mocks Thoroughly
Spend as much time analysing mocks as taking them. Identify which question types drain the most time and work on those specifically.
5. Accuracy Over Attempts
CAT rewards accuracy. Attempting 50 questions with 90% accuracy will outperform attempting 65 questions with 70% accuracy.
CAT Mock Test Papers
Candidates can access official CAT previous year papers and mock tests from:
-
Official website: iimcat.ac.in
-
Shiksha: Free previous year CAT question papers (last 5 years)
-
IMS, TIME, Career Launcher: Paid mock test series
Frequently Asked Questions
CAT 2026 is expected to have 68 questions across 3 sections, based on CAT 2025 trends.
Yes. Each section is allocated exactly 40 minutes and candidates cannot switch between sections.
The total duration is 120 minutes (2 hours).
Yes. MCQs carry –1 for wrong answers. TITA (non-MCQ) questions have no negative marking.
CAT 2026 will be conducted in three slots on the same day across all exam centres.
