CAT

CAT COMMON ADMISSION TEST

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the primary gateway for admission to the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top-tier business schools like FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, and SPJIMR.

As of May 2026, the exam continues to follow the shorter 2-hour format introduced in 2020. Here is the comprehensive breakdown of the current pattern and essential updates.

## Core Exam Pattern (2026 Update)

The exam is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) conducted in three separate slots (Morning, Afternoon, and Evening) on a single day, typically the last Sunday of November.

Feature Details

Duration 120 Minutes (2 Hours)

Sectional Time 40 Minutes per section (Fixed sequence: VARC → DILR → QA)

Total Questions ~68 Questions (Slight fluctuations possible annually)

Total Marks 204 Marks

Marking Scheme +3 for Correct, -1 for Incorrect MCQ, 0 for TITA errors

Question Types MCQs and TITA (Type In The Answer)

## Sectional Breakdown

The 2026 pattern expects the following distribution of questions:

1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

   • Questions: 24

   • Focus: 4 RC passages (16 questions) and 8 Verbal Ability questions (Para-jumbles, Summary, Odd-sentence out).

2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

   • Questions: 22

   • Focus: This section has moved toward more puzzle-based sets. Expect 4–5 sets containing tables, graphs, arrangements, and games.

3. Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

   • Questions: 22

   • Focus: Heavy emphasis on Arithmetic and Algebra. Other topics include Geometry, Number Systems, and Modern Math.

## Eligibility & Important Dates

• Qualifications: A Bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD). Final-year students are also eligible to apply.

• Notification: Expected in the last week of July 2026.

• Registration: Typically opens in the first week of August and closes in mid-September.

• Exam Date: Tentatively November 29, 2026.

## Key Strategic Insights

• Normalization: Since the exam is held in three slots, scores are "normalized" to ensure fairness across different difficulty levels.

• Calculator: An on-screen basic calculator is provided; however, mental math remains a significant advantage for time management.

• TITA Questions: These "Type In The Answer" questions do not have negative marking, so it is highly recommended to attempt all of them.