CAT Exam Pattern 2026: Sections, Questions, Marks, Duration & Marking Scheme

Understanding the CAT Exam Pattern 2026 is essential before starting serious preparation. CAT is not just a test of concepts; it is also a test of time management, section strategy, question selection and accuracy.

For CAT 2026, the exam continues to follow the familiar three-section format:

• VARC – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
• DILR – Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
• QA – Quantitative Ability

The examination is conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode, with a total duration of 120 minutes. Each section has a separate 40-minute time limit, and candidates cannot move freely between sections.

Based on the current CAT 2026 pattern, candidates should prepare for 68 questions carrying 204 marks across the three sections.

Quick Answer: CAT 2026 has 3 sections, 68 questions, 204 marks and a total duration of 120 minutes. Each section gets 40 minutes.

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CAT 2026 Exam Pattern at a Glance

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CAT 2026 Section-Wise Exam Pattern

The expected/current distribution is:

The 24-22-22 distribution has been used in the recent CAT pattern and is currently being treated as the CAT 2026 structure.

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CAT 2026 Section Order

The sections appear in a fixed sequence:

Section 1

VARC – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

↓

Section 2

DILR – Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

↓

Section 3

QA – Quantitative Ability

You cannot decide to attempt QA first or return to VARC later.

This makes sectional strategy extremely important.

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CAT 2026 Sectional Time Limit

Each section gets:

40 minutes

Once the 40 minutes for a section are over, the test automatically moves to the next section.

Unused time from one section cannot be transferred to another section.

For example:

If you complete VARC in 35 minutes, you do not get 45 minutes for DILR.

The remaining five minutes are effectively lost.

This means candidates should learn how to use the full sectional time efficiently.

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CAT 2026 Total Duration

The total CAT exam duration is:

2 hours or 120 minutes

The breakup is:

VARC – 40 minutes

DILR – 40 minutes

QA – 40 minutes

Total:

120 minutes

This structure makes CAT very different from exams where candidates can freely distribute time across subjects.

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CAT 2026 Question Types

CAT contains two broad question formats.

1. MCQ – Multiple Choice Questions

Candidates select the correct answer from the options provided.

MCQs carry negative marking for incorrect answers.

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2. TITA – Type In The Answer

TITA stands for:

Type In The Answer

No answer options are provided.

You calculate or derive the answer and enter it using the on-screen interface.

The major advantage is:

Wrong TITA answers generally do not attract negative marking.

However, candidates should not randomly enter answers simply because there is no negative marking. Time spent on an unsolvable TITA question can still hurt overall performance.

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CAT 2026 Marking Scheme

The standard marking structure is:

This +3/-1 structure remains a major part of CAT strategy.

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CAT Negative Marking Explained

Negative marking applies primarily to wrong MCQ answers.

Suppose you attempt 10 MCQs:

• 7 correct
• 3 wrong

Your score would be:

7 × 3 = 21

3 × -1 = -3

Final score:

18 marks

This is why CAT rewards accuracy, not blind attempts.

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Does CAT Have Negative Marking for TITA Questions?

No negative mark is generally deducted for an incorrect TITA response.

Example:

You attempt 5 TITA questions:

• 3 correct
• 2 wrong

Score:

3 × 3 = 9

Wrong answers = 0 penalty

Final score:

9 marks

However, TITA questions can still consume valuable time.

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CAT 2026 VARC Exam Pattern

VARC is the first CAT section.

It contains approximately:

24 questions

Maximum marks:

72

Duration:

40 minutes

The section is typically dominated by Reading Comprehension.

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VARC Question Structure

A recent CAT-style VARC distribution generally includes:

Reading Comprehension

Approximately 4 passages, with around 4 questions each.

This may contribute roughly:

16 questions

Verbal Ability

The remaining questions may involve:

• Para Summary
• Para Jumbles
• Odd Sentence Out
• Para Completion or similar verbal-reasoning formats

The precise mix can change.

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VARC Exam Strategy

A candidate should not automatically try to read every passage from beginning to end before making decisions.

Instead:

1. Scan RC topics.
2. Identify passages you understand best.
3. Prioritise manageable passages.
4. Avoid spending too much time on one difficult inference question.
5. Leave close-option questions if confidence is very low.

VARC rewards comprehension and judgement more than raw speed.

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CAT 2026 DILR Exam Pattern

DILR is the second section.

Expected questions:

22

Maximum marks:

66

Duration:

40 minutes

DILR is usually set-based.

A group of questions may depend on one common data set or logical scenario.

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Types of DILR Sets

You may encounter:

• tables;
• charts;
• arrangements;
• scheduling;
• games and tournaments;
• distribution;
• networks;
• rankings;
• caselets;
• mixed data and logic sets.

The exact format can vary significantly.

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Why DILR Set Selection Matters

Suppose CAT gives you five DILR sets.

You do not need to solve them in order.

A better approach:

First 3–5 Minutes

Scan all sets.

Then

Classify them:

• Easy
• Moderate
• Difficult

Attempt

The easiest and most manageable sets first.

This strategy is often more valuable than solving every type of DILR question during preparation.

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CAT 2026 QA Exam Pattern

QA is the third and final section.

Expected questions:

22

Maximum marks:

66

Duration:

40 minutes

The section includes a mix of MCQ and TITA questions.

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Major QA Areas

QA questions generally come from:

• Arithmetic
• Algebra
• Geometry
• Number System
• Modern Mathematics

Arithmetic and Algebra usually deserve high preparation priority, although CAT does not guarantee a fixed topic distribution.

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CAT 2026 Total Marks

If the current 68-question structure is retained:

68 questions × 3 marks

=

204 maximum marks

Section-wise:

VARC: 24 × 3 = 72

DILR: 22 × 3 = 66

QA: 22 × 3 = 66

Total:

204 marks

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CAT 2026 MCQ vs TITA Questions

The CAT paper contains both question types.

Recent patterns indicate approximately:

• 45 MCQs
• 23 TITA questions

across the full paper, though the exact distribution can vary.

For preparation, do not assume that the exact MCQ/TITA split will remain identical in every slot.

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CAT 2026 Pattern by Section

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Is CAT Conducted Online?

CAT is commonly described as an online examination, but technically it is better described as a:

Computer-Based Test at designated examination centres.

You do not take CAT from home.

Candidates must report to the allotted test centre mentioned on the admit card.

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CAT 2026 Exam Slots

CAT is scheduled to be conducted in three sessions on the exam day.

Typical slot structure is:

• Morning session
• Afternoon session
• Evening session

Candidates are allotted a slot.

You generally cannot select or change your final CAT exam slot after allotment.

Your exact:

• slot;
• reporting time;
• test centre

will appear on the admit card.

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Is CAT Difficulty the Same Across Slots?

Not necessarily.

Since CAT is held in multiple sessions, question difficulty can vary slightly.

To ensure fairness, CAT uses a normalisation/scaling process while calculating scores.

Therefore:

A raw score should not be compared blindly across slots.

The final percentile depends on scaled performance.

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CAT Raw Score vs Scaled Score

Your raw score is calculated from:

Correct Answers × 3

minus

Incorrect MCQs × 1

Example:

Correct answers = 30

Wrong MCQs = 8

Raw score:

30 × 3 = 90

8 × 1 = 8

Raw Score:

82

This raw score may then undergo the CAT normalisation process before percentile calculation.

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CAT Score vs Percentile

CAT admissions are primarily percentile-oriented.

You may hear statements such as:

“95 percentile requires X marks.”

But score-percentile relationships change every year because they depend on:

• paper difficulty;
• candidate performance;
• slot normalisation;
• number of candidates.

Therefore, never treat one score as a permanent percentile benchmark.

Visit:

CAT Score vs Percentile → Click Here

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Why Sectional Cutoffs Matter

CAT candidates often focus only on the overall percentile.

That can be a mistake.

Many IIMs and other leading MBA colleges use:

• overall percentile cutoff;
• VARC sectional cutoff;
• DILR sectional cutoff;
• QA sectional cutoff.

Consider:

The overall percentile may be strong, but a low QA percentile could create problems at institutes with higher sectional requirements.

Therefore, CAT preparation should remain balanced.

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CAT Exam Pattern and Question Selection

One of the biggest misconceptions is:

“A 99-percentiler attempts almost everything.”

Not necessarily.

Strong CAT candidates often leave difficult questions.

Their advantage comes from:

• identifying solvable questions;
• maintaining accuracy;
• avoiding time traps;
• controlling negative marks.

A better objective is:

Attempt the right questions, not the maximum number of questions.

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How Many Questions Should You Attempt in CAT?

There is no fixed number.

A sensible attempt depends on:

• difficulty;
• accuracy;
• section;
• target percentile;
• candidate strengths.

For example:

Candidate A attempts 45 questions at 60% accuracy.

Candidate B attempts 35 questions at 90% accuracy.

Candidate B can easily outperform Candidate A.

Therefore:

Attempts × Accuracy matters more than attempts alone.

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CAT Exam Pattern Strategy for 99+ Percentile Aspirants

Students targeting the very top percentile range should focus on:

• very strong accuracy;
• selecting questions quickly;
• avoiding prolonged dead-end attempts;
• balanced sectional performance;
• mock consistency.

Do not chase a predetermined attempt number.

Use mock analysis to discover your own optimal attempt level.

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CAT Exam Pattern Strategy for 90–95 Percentile Aspirants

The objective should be:

• maximise easy and moderate questions;
• avoid difficult traps;
• maintain sectional balance;
• keep negative marks low.

You do not need to solve the entire CAT paper to achieve a strong percentile.

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CAT Exam Pattern Strategy for Beginners

If you are starting preparation:

Phase 1

Understand the three sections.

Phase 2

Learn concepts.

Phase 3

Attempt topic-wise practice.

Phase 4

Take sectional tests.

Phase 5

Attempt full mocks using the exact 40-40-40 structure.

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Can You Switch Between CAT Sections?

No.

During the VARC time limit, you cannot open DILR or QA.

Once VARC closes, you cannot return to it.

The same applies to DILR.

Therefore, CAT should be practised in the same sequence:

VARC → DILR → QA

Doing mocks in a different order can reduce their usefulness.

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Can You Move Between Questions Within a Section?

Yes.

Within the active section, you can normally:

• navigate between questions;
• answer;
• skip;
• mark for review;
• return to questions

before that section’s timer expires.

Use this facility intelligently.

Do not force yourself to solve questions in numerical order.

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CAT Question Palette

The computer interface typically shows question status through a question palette.

It helps you identify:

• answered questions;
• unanswered questions;
• questions not visited;
• questions marked for review.

Students should become comfortable with the interface through CAT-style mocks before exam day.

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Is an On-Screen Calculator Available in CAT?

CAT provides an on-screen calculator facility in the test interface.

However, students should not rely on it for every calculation.

Using the calculator unnecessarily can slow you down.

Develop comfort with:

• percentages;
• fractions;
• ratios;
• basic multiplication;
• approximation.

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Are Physical Calculators Allowed?

No.

Candidates should not carry physical calculators into the examination hall.

Follow the exact list of permitted and prohibited items mentioned in the CAT admit-card instructions.

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CAT 2026 Pattern for PwD Candidates

Eligible PwD candidates may receive additional time according to the prevailing CAT examination rules.

The current CAT structure allows additional time for eligible candidates, generally proportionate to each section.

Candidates should follow the current CAT 2026 instructions regarding:

• additional time;
• scribe requirements;
• disability documents;
• accessibility arrangements.

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CAT Exam Pattern vs CAT Syllabus

Students often confuse the two.

Exam Pattern Answers:

How is CAT conducted?

It includes:

• sections;
• questions;
• duration;
• marking;
• sectional timing.

Syllabus Answers:

What should I study?

It includes:

• RC;
• DILR set types;
• Arithmetic;
• Algebra;
• Geometry;
• other CAT topics.

Read:

CAT Syllabus → Click Here

CAT Exam Pattern vs Mock Tests

Knowing the pattern is not enough.

You need to experience it.

A CAT mock should ideally replicate:

• 120-minute duration;
• three-section structure;
• 40-minute sectional timers;
• MCQ and TITA questions;
• CAT-level difficulty;
• exam interface.

That is why full-length mocks are essential.

Visit:

CAT Mock Tests → Click Here

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How to Analyse a CAT Mock According to the Exam Pattern

After each mock, create this table:

Then classify mistakes.

Concept Mistake

You did not know the concept.

Selection Mistake

You chose a question/set you should have skipped.

Reading Mistake

You misread the condition.

Calculation Mistake

Concept was correct but calculation failed.

Time-Management Mistake

You spent too long on one problem.

This makes mock analysis actionable.

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CAT 2026 Exam Pattern: Suggested 40-Minute Section Approach

There is no universal strategy, but you can test frameworks during mocks.

VARC

Possible approach:

• scan passages;
• attempt comfortable RCs first;
• mix VA based on personal strength;
• reserve final minutes for review.

DILR

Possible approach:

• spend first few minutes scanning sets;
• identify easiest;
• solve high-confidence sets first;
• avoid getting trapped in one set.

QA

Possible approach:

• scan quickly;
• solve easy questions first;
• return to moderate questions;
• leave lengthy difficult questions.

The correct strategy is the one that repeatedly works in your mocks.

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CAT Pattern: What Changed in Recent Years?

CAT has evolved over time.

For example:

• older CAT formats had longer duration;
• recent exams use a two-hour structure;
• the question count changed from 66 in CAT 2022–23 to 68 in CAT 2024–25;
• recent papers have used approximately 24 VARC, 22 DILR and 22 QA questions.

The lesson is important:

Do not assume the CAT pattern can never change.

Always check the latest exam instructions before the test.

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CAT 2026 vs Recent CAT Pattern

The current 2026 structure broadly continues the recent pattern.

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Common CAT Exam Pattern Mistakes

Mistake 1: Ignoring sectional timing

CAT does not allow free time allocation.

Mistake 2: Over-attempting MCQs

Negative marking can reduce the score quickly.

Mistake 3: Treating TITA as free guessing

There may be no negative marks, but time still matters.

Mistake 4: Solving in question-number order

Question selection is critical.

Mistake 5: Ignoring one section

Sectional cutoffs may affect admission.

Mistake 6: Taking untimed mocks

CAT is fundamentally a time-bound test.

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CAT Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs

How many questions are there in CAT 2026?

The current CAT 2026 pattern has 68 questions.

What are the three CAT sections?

They are:

• VARC
• DILR
• QA

What is the total CAT 2026 exam duration?

The total duration is 120 minutes.

How much time is given for each CAT section?

Each section gets 40 minutes.

What is the total CAT 2026 score?

With 68 questions carrying three marks each, the maximum score is 204 marks.

What is the marking scheme?

Correct answer:

+3

Wrong MCQ:

-1

Wrong TITA:

0 negative marks

Can I switch between CAT sections?

No. Section switching is not allowed while a sectional timer is active.

Can I move between questions within one CAT section?

Yes, as long as the section remains active.

Does CAT have TITA questions?

Yes.

Does CAT have negative marking for TITA?

Wrong TITA answers generally do not carry negative marks.

Is CAT conducted online from home?

No. CAT is a computer-based examination conducted at designated test centres.

Is there an on-screen calculator?

Yes, an on-screen calculator is available in the CAT interface.

Is CAT conducted in multiple slots?

Yes. CAT is normally held in multiple sessions on the examination day.

Are all CAT slots equally difficult?

Difficulty may vary slightly, which is why a normalisation process is used.

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CAT 2026 Exam Pattern: Student Checklist

Before CAT, make sure you understand:

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What to Do After Understanding CAT Exam Pattern

Once the pattern is clear, move immediately to practice.

A practical CAT preparation path is:

Understand Exam Pattern

↓

Complete Core Syllabus

↓

Practice Topic-Wise Questions

↓

Solve Previous CAT Papers

↓

Take Sectional Tests

↓

Attempt Full-Length Mocks

↓

Analyse Performance

↓

Estimate CAT Percentile

↓

Shortlist Colleges

Final MBA4U Guidance

The CAT Exam Pattern 2026 is simple to understand but difficult to master.

You have:

3 Sections

68 Questions

204 Marks

120 Minutes

40 Minutes per Section

But your CAT result will depend on much more than knowing these numbers.

The real challenge is:

Which questions should you attempt, which should you leave, and how accurately can you make that decision under time pressure?

For VARC, focus on comprehension and option elimination.

For DILR, focus on set selection.

For QA, prioritise easy and moderate questions before difficult ones.

Most importantly, practise the actual 40-40-40 minute CAT structure through full-length mocks.

The exam pattern tells you how CAT works.

Your mock analysis tells you how you should work within that pattern.