CAT 2026 Syllabus — Complete Topic-wise Breakdown

CAT 2026 is expected on 29 November 2026. IIM Indore is conducting it. The exam has 68 questions across three sections, 120 minutes total, and 40 minutes per section. The syllabus has not changed materially from CAT 2025.

Exam pattern at a glance

Marking scheme is +3 for correct MCQ answers and -1 for wrong MCQ answers. TITA questions get +3 for correct and no penalty for wrong answers. Maximum marks are 198.

VARC — Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

VARC has 24 questions. Roughly 16 questions come from Reading Comprehension across 4 passages of 4 questions each. The remaining 8 questions come from Verbal Ability.

Reading Comprehension passages in recent CATs have been drawn from philosophy, economics, science, psychology, history, literature and cultural studies. Passages range from 550 to 700 words. Question types include main idea, inference, author's tone, title selection, para-completion, and strengthening or weakening arguments.

Verbal Ability topics in CAT 2026 include para-jumbles (arranging 4 to 6 sentences in logical order), para-summary (identifying the best summary of a paragraph), and odd sentence identification (identifying the sentence that does not belong in a sequence). Most VA questions are TITA format with no negative marking.

DILR — Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

DILR has 22 questions across 5 to 6 sets. Each set typically has 4 questions. The section tests your ability to read complex data and draw logical conclusions under time pressure.

Data Interpretation set types include tables, bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, caselets (text-based data), and network diagrams. The data is always internally consistent but often complex in structure.

Logical Reasoning set types include arrangements (linear, circular, floor-based), scheduling problems, binary logic (true/false teller puzzles), team selection, and constraint-based puzzles. Recent CATs have also included game-based sets where the logic is embedded in a game format.

DILR has seen increasing TITA questions in recent years. Roughly 4 to 6 questions per section are expected to be TITA in CAT 2026.

QA — Quantitative Aptitude

QA has 22 questions covering the following topic areas.

Arithmetic and Algebra together account for roughly 60% of the QA section. Geometry is consistently present. Number System and Modern Maths are high difficulty but lower weightage.

What changed in CAT 2025 and what to expect in 2026

CAT 2025 saw a slight increase in DILR section difficulty compared to 2024. The VARC section had longer, denser passages. QA maintained its traditional distribution with slightly more geometry questions than the previous year.

For CAT 2026, no structural changes are expected. The 68-question format with three sections and 40 minutes per section has been stable for several years. IIM Indore, which is conducting CAT 2026, has historically set papers of moderate to high difficulty.

Preparation priorities by section

For VARC, daily reading of long-form essays is the most important habit. RC accounts for two-thirds of the section and cannot be improved through question practice alone.

For DILR, set selection and setup skills matter more than raw reasoning speed. Practice building complete constraint tables before attempting questions.

For QA, Arithmetic and Algebra first. These two topics alone account for 60% of the section and have the best return on preparation time. Geometry second. Number System and Modern Maths can be studied selectively based on your existing comfort.