CAT 2026: Exam Pattern, Syllabus and Mock Tests
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the entrance exam for the MBA and PGP programmes at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and more than 1,300 other business schools in India. CAT 2026 is on 29 November 2026. This page covers the key dates, the exam pattern, what each section tests, sample questions with full solutions, a 30-day plan for the final month, and how to use mock tests to raise your percentile.
Last updated: October 2026
CAT 2026 at a glance
| Detail | CAT 2026 |
|---|---|
| Conducting institute | IIM Indore |
| Exam date | Sunday, 29 November 2026 |
| Sessions | Three slots on the same day |
| Mode | Computer-based test (CBT) |
| Registration | 3 August to 15 September 2026 (closed) |
| Admit card | Available from 4 November 2026 |
| Result | Expected in the first week of January 2027 |
| Test cities | About 170 |
| Participating institutes | 21 IIMs and 1,300+ other B-schools |
| Official website | iimcat.ac.in |
Always confirm details in the official CAT 2026 information bulletin on iimcat.ac.in.
Eligibility
- •Degree: a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST and PwBD candidates), from a recognised university.
- •Final-year students: can take CAT, provided they complete their degree before joining the programme, as specified by each IIM.
- •Age: there is no upper age limit.
- •Attempts: there is no limit on the number of attempts.
Exam pattern
CAT is a 2-hour computer-based test with three sections. Each section has its own 40-minute time limit.
| Section | What it tests | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | Reading, reasoning with text, language | 24 | 40 min |
| DILR | Analysing data sets and solving puzzles | 22 | 40 min |
| QA | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number systems | 22 | 40 min |
| Total | 68 | 120 min |
Marking scheme
| Question type | Correct | Wrong | Not attempted |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCQ | +3 | −1 | 0 |
| TITA | +3 | 0 | 0 |
- •The maximum score is 204 (68 questions × 3 marks).
- •The sections come in a fixed order: VARC, then DILR, then QA. You can't move to another section until its 40 minutes are over, and you can't go back.
- •A basic on-screen calculator is provided.
- •TITA questions have no options and no negative marking, so always attempt them if you have a reasonable answer.
The number of questions per section can change from year to year. Check the official bulletin for CAT 2026.
How CAT scores become admissions
- 1.CAT score and percentile. Your raw scores are scaled across slots, and you receive an overall and sectional percentile.
- 2.Shortlisting. Each IIM sets its own criteria. These usually combine your CAT percentile (including minimum sectional percentiles), your 10th, 12th and graduation marks, work experience, and academic and gender diversity.
- 3.WAT, GD and PI. Shortlisted candidates go through a Written Ability Test, Group Discussion and/or Personal Interview, depending on the institute.
- 4.Final offer. Each IIM combines your CAT score, academics and interview performance to make the final selection.
Because sectional cut-offs apply, you can't rely on one strong section. You need to clear the minimum in all three.
Syllabus
There is no official CAT syllabus, but the topics are well established from past papers.
VARC: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
- •Reading comprehension: about 4 passages on topics such as economics, philosophy, science, society and culture, with 4 questions each
- •Para-jumbles: arranging sentences into a logical paragraph (usually TITA)
- •Para-summary: choosing the option that best captures a paragraph
- •Odd sentence out: finding the sentence that doesn't belong in a paragraph
DILR: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
- •Data interpretation: tables, bar and line charts, pie charts, caselets
- •Logical reasoning: arrangements, scheduling, games and tournaments, selections and grouping, networks and routes, Venn diagrams, quantitative reasoning puzzles
- •Questions come in sets of 4 to 6 questions built on one set of information
QA: Quantitative Ability
- •Arithmetic: percentages, profit and loss, ratio and proportion, averages, mixtures, simple and compound interest, time and work, time, speed and distance (usually the largest share)
- •Algebra: linear and quadratic equations, inequalities, functions, logarithms, progressions
- •Geometry and mensuration: triangles, circles, polygons, coordinate geometry, area and volume
- •Number system: divisibility, remainders, factors, HCF and LCM
- •Modern maths: permutations and combinations, probability, set theory
The level is roughly up to class 10 maths, but questions test concepts and speed rather than formulas.
Sample questions with solutions
Try each question before reading the solution. These are written in the style of CAT questions.
Quantitative Ability
1. If x + 1/x = 4, what is the value of x² + 1/x²? (MCQ)
(a) 12 (b) 14 (c) 16 (d) 18
2. A shopkeeper marks an item 25% above its cost price and then gives a 10% discount on the marked price. What is his profit percentage? (TITA)
3. Pipe A can fill a tank in 12 hours and pipe B can fill it in 18 hours. If both are opened together, how long will they take to fill the tank? (MCQ)
(a) 6 hours (b) 7.2 hours (c) 7.5 hours (d) 15 hours
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
Set: Five friends, Arun, Bala, Chitra, Divya and Elan, sit in a row of five seats, all facing north. Chitra sits in the middle seat. Divya sits immediately to the right of Chitra. Arun and Elan sit at the two ends. Bala does not sit next to Arun.
4. Who sits at the extreme left? (MCQ)
(a) Arun (b) Bala (c) Elan (d) Divya
5. How many people sit between Elan and Arun? (TITA)
6. Who sits immediately to the left of Chitra? (MCQ)
(a) Arun (b) Bala (c) Divya (d) Elan
Solution.
Number the seats 1 to 5 from left to right. Chitra is in seat 3 and Divya in seat 4. Arun and Elan take seats 1 and 5, so Bala must take seat 2. Bala can't be next to Arun, so Arun can't be in seat 1. That puts Arun in seat 5 and Elan in seat 1. The order is: Elan, Bala, Chitra, Divya, Arun.
- Answer 4: (c) Elan.
- Answer 5: 3 (Bala, Chitra and Divya).
- Answer 6: (b) Bala.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
7. Which of the following best captures the main idea of the passage? (MCQ)
(a) Cities should abandon planning and grow without rules.
(b) Treating cities purely as efficient machines overlooks the unplanned interactions that drive innovation.
(c) Wider roads are the main cause of declining creativity in cities.
(d) Migrants are the most important source of new businesses in cities.
8. The author would most likely agree with which of the following? (MCQ)
(a) Mixed-use neighbourhoods, where people live, work and meet in the same area, can support innovation.
(b) Faster commutes always make a city more productive.
(c) Planning has no effect on how inventive a city is.
(d) Chance encounters matter less in cities than in villages.
A 30-day plan for the final month
With CAT on 29 November, the last month is about mocks, analysis and revision, not learning everything from scratch.
| Days | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 to 10 | Two full mocks a week. Revise your strongest QA topics (arithmetic, algebra). Practise 2 DILR sets and 2 RC passages daily. |
| 11 to 20 | Three full mocks a week. Fix the weak areas your mocks reveal. Work on set selection in DILR. |
| 21 to 27 | Two or three mocks, taken in your actual slot's time window. Revise formulas, your error log and key concepts. |
| 28 to 29 | Light revision only. Check your admit card, test centre and documents. Rest well. |
Daily routine: one sectional test or full mock, a thorough analysis of it, then targeted practice on the weak topics it shows.
How to use mock tests to raise your percentile
- •Take mocks in exam conditions. Use the full 2 hours in one sitting, with the same sectional timing as CAT.
- •Spend more time analysing than writing. For every question, ask whether you should have attempted it, skipped it or solved it faster.
- •Practise question selection. In DILR especially, the first few minutes spent choosing the right sets often decide your score.
- •Track sectional scores, not only the total. IIMs apply sectional cut-offs, so a weak section can cost you a call.
- •Maintain an error log. Write down every mistake and why you made it, and review it before each mock.
- •Respect negative marking. Attempt an MCQ when you can eliminate at least two options; always attempt TITA questions you've worked out.
Aceora CAT mock tests
Aceora's CAT mock tests are built to simulate the real exam: the same three sections, the same 40-minute sectional timing, the same question types and the same marking scheme, on a computer-based interface like the actual test.
- •Full-length CAT mocks with sectional time limits and a CAT-style interface
- •Detailed solutions for every question
- •Performance analysis showing your sectional scores, accuracy and time spent per question
See the CAT mock test series and packages and prices. Not sure where you stand? Take a free CAT mock.
Frequently asked questions
When is CAT 2026?
CAT 2026 is on Sunday, 29 November 2026, in three slots. It is being conducted by IIM Indore.
What is the CAT exam pattern?
CAT has three sections: VARC, DILR and QA. In CAT 2024 and 2025 there were 68 questions in total (24, 22 and 22), with 40 minutes per section and 120 minutes overall.
What is the marking scheme in CAT?
Each correct answer gets +3 marks. A wrong MCQ answer gets −1. TITA (Type In The Answer) questions have no negative marking.
Can I switch between sections during the exam?
No. Each section has a fixed 40-minute window, in the order VARC, DILR, QA. You can't move ahead early or go back to an earlier section.
Is a calculator allowed in CAT?
A basic on-screen calculator is provided in the exam. You can't bring your own.
What is the eligibility for CAT?
A bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC, ST and PwBD candidates). Final-year students can also apply. There's no age limit.
How many mock tests should I take before CAT?
Most serious candidates take 20 to 30 full-length mocks, with the most in the final two months. Analysing each mock matters more than the number you take.
Is one month enough to improve my CAT score?
Yes. In the final month, regular full-length mocks, careful analysis and focused revision of weak areas can noticeably improve your score, especially through better question selection and fewer negative marks.
Start practising for CAT 2026
Every mock you take and analyse before 29 November makes the real exam more familiar. Enroll Aceora CAT mock test series.