CAT 2026 Syllabus and Section-Wise Exam Pattern: VARC, DILR, QA
CAT 2026 will be conducted by IIM Indore. The exam tests candidates on three skills: reading and language, logic and data interpretation, and maths. There is no official syllabus PDF from the IIMs, so everything below is based on the pattern followed in past CAT papers.
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern Overview (Sections, Marks, Duration)
CAT 2026 has three sections: VARC, DILR, and QA. The exam runs for 120 minutes in total, and you must attempt each section in a fixed time slot — you cannot move between sections. There are 68 questions in total, carrying 204 marks.
CAT 2026 Total Questions and Marking Scheme (+3/-1)
Each correct answer gets you 3 marks. Each wrong answer on an MCQ costs you 1 mark. This is called negative marking. The 68 questions are split roughly as:
Section | Questions |
VARC | 24 |
DILR | 22 |
QA | 22 |
Total | 68 |
These numbers can shift slightly from year to year, so treat them as a close estimate, not a fixed rule.
CAT 2026 Section-Wise Time Limit (40 Minutes Per Section)
Each section gets exactly 40 minutes. You cannot borrow time from one section to use in another. This means if you finish VARC in 30 minutes, you cannot use the extra 10 minutes for DILR. Plan your speed for each section separately.
MCQ vs TITA Questions in CAT 2026 (No Negative Marking on TITA)
CAT questions come in two types:
MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions): You pick one answer from given options. Wrong answers here lose you 1 mark.
TITA (Type In The Answer): You type the answer yourself. There are no options to choose from, and there is no negative marking, even if your answer is wrong.
Since TITA questions carry no penalty for wrong attempts, always attempt them, even if you're not fully sure of the answer.
CAT 2026 VARC Syllabus (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension)
VARC tests how well you read, understand, and use English. It checks reading speed, comprehension, and grammar rather than difficult vocabulary alone. Most of this section is built around reading passages, not standalone grammar rules.
VARC Section Weightage and Number of Questions (24 Qs, ~36%)
VARC carries 24 questions, making up close to 36% of your total CAT score. This is the highest weightage among the three sections, so doing well here has a big effect on your overall percentile.
Reading Comprehension Topics and Question Share in VARC
Reading Comprehension (RC) is the biggest part of VARC. Out of 24 questions, around 16 come from RC passages alone. This means RC decides most of your VARC score, not grammar or vocabulary questions.
CAT RC passages often come from topics like:
Philosophy and ethics
Economics and business
Science and research
Sociology and culture
These passages are usually 400–600 words long, and each passage has 3–4 questions attached to it.
Para Jumbles, Sentence Correction, and Vocabulary-Based Questions
The remaining VARC questions (roughly 8) are non-RC verbal ability questions. These include:
Para jumbles: You get 4–5 sentences in a mixed-up order and must arrange them correctly. Some para jumbles are TITA type, others have options.
Para summary: You pick the sentence that best summarises a short paragraph.
Sentence correction: You find and fix grammar errors in a sentence.
Odd sentence out: You identify the one sentence that doesn't fit with the rest.
How to Prepare for CAT VARC Section (Daily RC Practice)
Since RC decides most of your VARC score, read something every day: newspapers, editorials, or non-fiction articles. Here's a simple plan:
Read one long-form article daily from a serious source (not just news headlines).
Practice summarising each paragraph in one line to build comprehension speed.
Solve 2–3 RC passages daily under a timer (about 8–10 minutes per passage).
Revise basic grammar rules once a week to handle sentence correction questions.
CAT 2026 DILR Syllabus (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning)
DILR checks how well you can read data and solve logic-based puzzles. This section is often called the toughest of the three because it needs both speed and patience. Success here depends heavily on choosing the right sets to attempt.
DILR Section Weightage and Number of Questions (22 Qs, ~32%)
DILR has 22 questions, worth close to 32% of the total CAT score. These questions are usually grouped into sets of 4–6 questions each, based on one table, graph, or puzzle.
Data Interpretation Topics: Tables, Graphs, Caselets
Data Interpretation (DI) questions give you information in a table, chart, or graph and ask you to calculate or compare values. Common formats include:
Bar graphs and line graphs
Pie charts
Tables with multiple rows and columns
Caselets (a short written passage with numbers hidden inside the text)
You often need basic maths like percentages, ratios, and averages to solve DI questions, but the real challenge is reading the data correctly under time pressure.
Logical Reasoning Topics: Puzzles, Arrangements, Games and Tournaments
Logical Reasoning (LR) questions test how you connect clues to reach one clear answer. Common topics include:
Seating arrangements (circular, linear, or square)
Blood relations
Puzzles with conditions (who lives where, who likes what)
Games and tournaments (points tables, match schedules)
Venn diagrams and set theory-based puzzles
Each LR set usually gives you 4–6 clues, and you must fit them together like a jigsaw puzzle before answering any question in that set.
DILR Set-Selection Strategy for CAT 2026
DILR has around 5–6 sets in total, but you should not attempt all of them. Most toppers solve only 3–4 sets well instead of rushing through all of them poorly.
Spend the first 3–4 minutes reading through all the sets before picking any.
Choose sets where you can fully understand the conditions within the first minute.
Skip a set immediately if it feels confusing after 2 minutes — don't get stuck.
Attempt easier, shorter sets first to build confidence and save time for harder ones.
CAT 2026 QA Syllabus (Quantitative Aptitude)
QA tests basic maths skills, mostly from Class 9 and Class 10 level topics. It does not require advanced college-level maths the challenge is solving familiar concepts quickly and accurately.
QA Section Weightage and Number of Questions (22 Qs, ~32%)
QA carries 22 questions, worth close to 32% of the total CAT score. Like VARC and DILR, this section also has a mix of MCQ and TITA questions.
Arithmetic and Algebra Topics (70% of QA Weightage)
Arithmetic and Algebra together make up about 70% of the QA section, so they deserve your first attention while preparing. Key topics include:
Arithmetic:
Percentages
Profit and loss
Time, speed, and distance
Time and work
Ratio and proportion
Averages and mixtures
Simple and compound interest
Algebra:
Linear and quadratic equations
Functions and graphs
Inequalities
Logarithms
Geometry, Mensuration, and Number System Topics
These topics carry less weight than Arithmetic and Algebra but still appear regularly in every CAT paper. Key areas include:
Geometry: Triangles, circles, lines and angles, coordinate geometry
Mensuration: Area and volume of shapes like cubes, cylinders, and cones
Number System: Divisibility rules, LCM and HCF, remainders, factors
Modern Math Topics in CAT Quant Syllabus
Modern Math has fewer questions but is still worth revising, especially permutations and combinations. Topics include:
Permutation and combination
Probability
Sequences and series
Set theory
CAT 2026 Topic-Wise Weightage (2021–2025 Trend Analysis)
There's no fixed weightage for any topic in CAT — the number of questions from a topic can change every year and even between different exam slots. But looking at the last five years of papers gives a useful pattern to guide your priorities.
Section-Wise Weightage Table (VARC vs DILR vs QA)
Section | Questions | Approx. Weightage | Time Limit |
VARC | 24 | ~36% | 40 minutes |
DILR | 22 | ~32% | 40 minutes |
QA | 22 | ~32% | 40 minutes |
All three sections carry nearly equal importance, so avoid ignoring any one section while preparing.
High-Frequency Topics Based on Past Year Papers
Based on past CAT papers, these topics have shown up most consistently:
Reading Comprehension (VARC): Appears in every single slot, every year
Arithmetic (QA): Single largest topic group in QA
Seating arrangement and puzzles (DILR): A regular feature across years
Data Interpretation caselets (DILR): Common in recent years
Algebra (QA): Steady presence across past papers
Use this list to prioritise your revision, but don't skip any topic completely, since CAT can still ask questions from less common areas.
CAT 2026 Syllabus PDF Download
Since IIMs do not release an official syllabus document, there is no single confirmed CAT 2026 syllabus PDF from the exam conducting body. Several coaching platforms publish their own PDF versions based on past paper analysis; these are useful as a reference but should not be treated as official. The safest approach is to build your own topic checklist using this article and cross-check it against 2–3 recent CAT mock tests.
CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy by Section
A good strategy balances all three sections instead of over-focusing on your strongest one. Since each section has a separate time limit, weakness in even one section can pull down your overall percentile.
3-Month CAT 2026 Study Plan for VARC, DILR, QA
Month 1: Build the basics
Cover all topics in QA and DILR from the ground up
Start daily reading habit for VARC
Take one full mock test at the end of the month to check your starting level
Month 2: Practice and speed
Solve topic-wise questions daily across all three sections
Take 2 mock tests per week
Review every mock test carefully and note your weak topics
Month 3: Revision and accuracy
Revise formulas and shortcuts in short daily sessions
Finalise your DILR set-selection approach and stick with it
Take mocks 3 times a week for the first 2 weeks, then slow down
In the last 3-4 days, avoid new topics; focus only on light revision
Best Books for CAT 2026 Syllabus Preparation
These books are widely used by CAT aspirants for concept-building:
QA: "How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT" by Arun Sharma
VARC: "How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT" by Arun Sharma
DILR: "How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT" by Arun Sharma; "A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning" by R.S. Aggarwal
Books help build concepts, but CAT scores mostly improve through mock test practice, not book reading alone.
Mock Test Strategy for Each Section
Take one full-length mock test every week during early preparation, increasing to 2-3 per week closer to the exam.
After each mock, spend at least as much time reviewing it as you spent taking it.
Track your accuracy and attempt rate separately for VARC, DILR, and QA to spot section-wise weaknesses.
Simulate real exam conditions; same timing, same break pattern, no phone nearby.
FAQs on CAT 2026 Syllabus and Exam Pattern
Is there an official CAT 2026 syllabus PDF from IIMs?
No. IIMs have never released a fixed, topic-wise syllabus for CAT. All syllabus lists, including this one, are based on analysis of past CAT papers.
How many questions are asked in each CAT 2026 section?
VARC has 24 questions, DILR has 22 questions, and QA has 22 questions, making a total of 68 questions.
What is the CAT 2026 negative marking scheme?
Correct answers get +3 marks. Wrong MCQ answers lose 1 mark. TITA questions have no negative marking, even if the answer is wrong.
Which topics have the highest weightage in CAT QA 2026?
Arithmetic and Algebra together make up close to 70% of the QA section, making them the most important topics to prepare first.
Conclusion
CAT 2026 tests three separate skills; reading, logical thinking, and maths through VARC, DILR, and QA. Each section has its own 40-minute limit, so strong performance in one section cannot make up for weakness in another. Since there is no official syllabus from the IIMs, the best approach is to prepare using topics from past papers, practice with regular mock tests, and review your mistakes closely. Consistent daily practice across all three sections, rather than last-minute cramming, gives you the best chance of a strong CAT 2026 score.
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