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CAT Syllabus 2026: Section-wise Topics & Weightage

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  • Updated April 17, 2026 03:31 PM
  • by Kowsalya Chinnadurai
  • CAT Syllabus 2026 remains largely unchanged from previous years, covering three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) do not release an official detailed syllabus PDF. Aspirants should prepare based on consistent past trends, with the expected CAT 2026 exam pattern consisting of 68 questions worth 204 marks to be solved in 120 minutes.
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Overview Table

ParticularsDetails
Exam NameCommon Admission Test (CAT) 2026
Conducting BodyIndian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
SectionsVARC, DILR, QA
Total Questions68 (Expected)
Total Marks204
Duration120 minutes (2 hours)
Sectional Time Limit40 minutes per section
Mode of ExamComputer-Based Test (CBT)

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern

SectionNo. of QuestionsMarksDurationQuestion Types
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)247240 minutesMCQ + TITA
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)226640 minutesMCQ + TITA (Set-based)
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)226640 minutesMCQ + TITA
Total68204120 minutes-
  • The expected CAT 2026 exam pattern is as follows:
  • Marking Scheme:
  • +3 marks for every correct answer
  • -1 mark for incorrect MCQ
  • 0 marks for incorrect TITA or unattempted questions
  • No switching between sections is allowed due to the sectional time limit.

CAT Syllabus 2026 – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

  • VARC is often considered one of the most scoring yet tricky sections. It focuses on reading speed, comprehension, and English language usage.
  • Key Topics in CAT VARC Syllabus 2026:
  • Reading Comprehension (RC) 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)

CAT Syllabus 2026 – Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

  • DILR tests your ability to analyze data sets and solve logical puzzles quickly. Questions usually appear in sets of 4–6.
  • Key Topics in CAT DILR Syllabus 2026:
  • 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

CAT Syllabus 2026 – Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

  • QA evaluates mathematical and numerical ability. Arithmetic and Algebra dominate this section.
  • Key Topics in CAT QA Syllabus 2026:
  • 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

Q4. How to download the latest CAT 2026 syllabus?

  • Since there is no official PDF, refer to trusted coaching sites or this guide which compiles topics based on recent CAT papers.
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