CAT 2026 Question Paper: Previous Year PDFs & Topic-Wise Weightage

The CAT 2026 question paper isn’t out yet. CAT 2026 is expected on November 29, 2026, and access to the questions opens only after the exam. What you can act on today is exactly how the paper has evolved since 2018, what weightage each topic is likely to carry, and real past papers to practice with. 

Is the CAT 2026 Question Paper Available Yet?

No. As of now, CAT 2026 hasn’t been conducted, so there’s no CAT 2026 question paper to download. This page will be updated with the direct download flow as soon as the CAT 2026 exam has been conducted on November 29th 2026

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern (Expected)

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CAT 2025 Question Paper PDF Download

Download the CAT 2025 slot-wise question papers with answer keys below to review questions, check solutions, and improve your preparation.

CAT 2024 Question Paper PDF Download

Download the CAT 2024 slot-wise question papers with answer keys and detailed solutions by our CAT experts. 

CAT 2023 Question Paper PDF Download

Download the CAT 2023 slot-wise question papers with answer keys below to review questions, check solutions, and improve your CAT preparation.

CAT 2022 Question Paper PDF Download

Download the CAT 2022 slot-wise question papers with answer keys and detailed solutions by our CAT experts. 

Check Out CAT Previous Year Papers (2025-2017) 

How the CAT Question Paper Has Changed (2018-2025)

The paper has shifted meaningfully over the last few cycles, and CAT 2026 is most likely to extend the recent trend rather than revert to an older format. Let’s see the past year trends. 

Key shift: DILR grew from 20 to 22 questions starting CAT 2024, pushing the total from 66 to 68, the first structural change since the 2020 reduction from 76 questions. If CAT 2026 follows the CAT 2024-25 pattern, expect the 68-question, 24-22-22 format to hold.

Attempt a Free CAT Mock Test and benchmark your performance against serious CAT aspirants. 

How to Download the CAT 2026 Question Paper (Once Released)

1. Visit iimcat.ac.in
2. Click Candidate Login
3. Enter your CAT registration ID and password
4. Go to the Response Sheet / Answer Key section
5. View your slot’s questions with your marked responses and correct answers
6. Download and save the PDF

This becomes active only after the exam, bookmark this page and check back in December 2026.

How to Use Previous Papers to Prepare for CAT 2026

Don’t just read past papers, simulate them. Attempt each year’s paper under strict 40-minute-per-section, no-switching conditions to replicate the time pressure you’ll face on exam day. After each attempt, review not just what you got wrong, but which questions you skipped and whether that was the right call, set selection in DILR and passage selection in VARC often matter more than raw solving speed. Track your section-wise accuracy across 3–4 years of papers before moving to full-length mocks.

How Test Series Can Help You Score High in CAT

Previous year papers show you the pattern, but CAT test series build the skill that actually moves your score: performing under a live timer against fresh, unseen questions. Regular mocks train time and section allocation – CAT’s biggest scoring lever, while All India Rank and percentile benchmarking show where you truly stand. The real edge, though, is post-test analytics: seeing exactly which sections and question types are costing you marks turns every mock into a fix-it list for the next one.

Conclusion

The CAT 2026 question paper won’t be accessible until after the exam on November 29, 2026, but the pattern, topic weightage, and past papers you need to prepare are already available. Use the data on this page to prioritise your prep, then put it into practice with real, timed papers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many questions will be in the CAT 2026 question paper?

A: Based on the CAT 2024–2025 pattern, CAT 2026 is expected to have 68 questions, 24 from VARC, 22 from DILR, and 22 from QA, though the official count will only be confirmed in the July 2026 notification.

Q: Where can I download the CAT 2026 question paper once it’s released?

A: It will be accessible by logging into iimcat.ac.in with your CAT registration ID and password, under the Response Sheet / Answer Key section. You can also visit this blog to get CAT 2026 question paper PDF. 

Q: Which topics carry the highest weightage in the CAT question paper?

A: In VARC, Reading Comprehension accounts for roughly two-thirds of the section. In QA, Arithmetic and Algebra together form the majority of questions. In DILR, Arrangements, Puzzles, and data-heavy sets recur most often, though this section varies the most year to year.

Q: Are CAT previous year question papers enough to prepare for CAT 2026?

A: They’re the single most reliable prep resource since there’s no official CAT syllabus, but they work best combined with timed full-length mocks that replicate exam-day pressure and normalisation-based scoring.