What is CAT Exam?
CAT (Common Admission Test) is a national-level entrance examination conducted for admission to postgraduate management programmes at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other participating institutions.
Conducting Body: The exam is held every year by one of the IIMs on a rotational basis.
Exam Structure: The exam has 68 questions worth 3 marks each, to be attempted in 120 minutes, covering three sections Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
Eligibility: Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates). Final-year students awaiting results are also eligible to apply. There is no age limit.
Reach: A good CAT score doesn't just open doors to the IIMs but is also accepted by over 1,000 top B-schools across India, including FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, and many others.
Mode: The exam is conducted in computer-based (CBT) mode, across multiple cities and sessions in November each year.
CAT Syllabus 2026
CAT syllabus 2026 is primarily divided into 3 sections: VARC, DILR and QA.
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Section
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Topics Included
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VARC
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Reading Comprehension, Para-Jumbles, Para Summary, Odd-One-Out, Verbal Reasoning
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DILR
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Data Interpretation (Graphs, Tables, Caselets), Logical Puzzles, Venn Diagrams, Games & Tournaments, Arrangements
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QA
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Arithmetic (Percentages, Ratios, Time-Speed-Distance), Algebra (Equations, Polynomials, Functions), Geometry, Number Systems, Modern Math (P&C, Probability, Progressions)
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Check out the full CAT 2026 syllabus
CAT Exam Pattern 2026 (Expected)
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Section
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Approx. No. of Questions
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Time Limit
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Question Types
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VARC
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24
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40 minutes
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MCQs + TITA
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DILR
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22
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40 minutes
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MCQs + TITA
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QA
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22
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40 minutes
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MCQs + TITA
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TOTAL
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68 questions
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120 minutes
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Sectional time-bound
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*(The CAT exam pattern mentioned above is based on the CAT 2025 paper. The structure and numbers are subject to change.)
Check out the full CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
CAT Marking Scheme 2026
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Question Type
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Correct Answer
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Incorrect Answer
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Unattempted
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MCQ
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+3
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–1
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0
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TITA (Non-MCQ)
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+3
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0
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0
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Check out the full CAT 2026 Marking Scheme
Is 3 Months Enough to Crack CAT?
Yes, 3 months can be enough to crack CAT 2026, but it depends on your starting point, and it demands consistency and focused practice, not casual prep.
- Best suited for: repeaters, working professionals with a strong aptitude base, or college students already comfortable with Class 10-12 level Quant and English. Absolute beginners typically need longer.
- Structured 4-month split: 5-6 weeks for concept-building across QA, VARC, and DILR, followed by 10–11 weeks of sectional practice, full-length mocks, and revision.
- Mock frequency matters more than duration: aim for 2-3 mocks a week in the final 6–8 weeks, this is what actually drives percentile gains, not just total prep time.
- Reduces burnout if paced correctly, since a tight 4-month runway forces prioritisation instead of trying to cover everything.
- Reality check: many toppers do prepare over 6–10 months, but usually because they're balancing prep with college/work, not because CAT itself requires that long. With focused, full-time-equivalent effort, 3 Months of quality practice can outperform 8 months of inconsistent prep.
Check out the full CAT preparation tips 2026
CAT Score Vs Percentile
The CAT marks vs percentile relationship helps you target the right score for your B-school goals. This table lists the estimated overall CAT score required to reach each percentile in each slot.
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CAT Percentile
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Slot 1
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Slot 2
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Slot 3
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|
99
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81
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82-83
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83-84
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95
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65
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66
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67
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90
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52
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53
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53
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85
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45
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45
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45
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80
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40
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40
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40
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Check out the detailed CAT Score Vs Percentile
