CAT Exam Pattern 2026: Marking Scheme, Duration & Section-Wise Time Limits

Quick Answer: CAT exam 2026 will be held on November 29, 2026, in 3 slots. The exam pattern has 68 questions worth 204 marks across VARC, DILR, and QA, with a total duration of 120 minutes and a fixed 40-minute limit per section. Marking is +3 for a correct MCQ, -1 for a wrong MCQ, and no negative marking for TITA questions.

Key Takeaways

• Exam date: November 29, 2026, in 3 slots (morning, afternoon, and evening)
• Duration: 120 minutes total, with a fixed 40 minutes per section.
• Total marks: 204, across 68 questions.
• Marking scheme: +3 for a correct MCQ, -1 for a wrong MCQ, 0 for TITA and unattempted questions.

CAT 2026 will be conducted by IIM Indore on November 29, 2026, across roughly 170 cities in 3 slots. Before you start preparing, you should know exactly how the exam is structured, its duration, how marks are awarded, and what to expect on exam day. This blog covers the CAT exam pattern 2026, section by section.

CAT Exam 2026: Key Dates and Basic Details

Detail	Information
Conducting body	IIM Indore
Exam date	November 29, 2026 (Sunday)
Exam mode	Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Number of slots	3 (morning, afternoon, evening)
Test cities	Approximately 170
Registration fee	₹2,700 for General, EWS, and NC-OBC; ₹1,350 for SC, ST, and PwD candidates

What Is the CAT Exam Pattern 2026?

The CAT exam pattern has stayed largely the same for the past few years. It consists of 3 sections, 68 questions, and a total of 204 marks.

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
VARC	24	72	40 minutes
DILR	22	66	40 minutes
QA	22	66	40 minutes
Total	68	204	120 minutes

• Questions are a mix of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Type In The Answer (TITA) questions.
• TITA questions require you to type in a numerical or text answer, rather than choosing from options.
• Overall there are roughly 46 MCQs and 22 TITA questions, though the exact number can vary slightly by slot.

What Are the CAT Exam Subjects?

CAT does not have subjects, it has 3 sections that tests the learner’s skill areas:

• VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension): Reading comprehension passages, para jumbles, para summary, and odd sentence out questions.
• DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning): Sets based on tables, charts, puzzles, arrangements, and logic-based problems, usually combining data and reasoning in the same set.
• QA (Quantitative Aptitude): Questions from Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Mensuration, Number System, and Modern Math, largely based on Class 9 and 10 level Mathematics.

CAT Exam Syllabus 2026: Detailed Topic List

The table given below gives a detailed breakdown of the CAT 2026 syllabus, like topics covered under each section, based on past year CAT papers:

Section	Topic	What It Covers
VARC	Reading Comprehension	Passages on business, economy, science, culture, and abstract or philosophical ideas, usually 4 passages with 4 questions each.
VARC	Para Jumbles	Rearranging 4 to 5 jumbled sentences into a logical paragraph.
VARC	Para Summary	Picking the sentence that best summarizes a given paragraph.
VARC	Odd Sentence Out / Para Completion	Identifying the sentence that does not fit, or completing a paragraph logically.
DILR	Puzzles and Arrangements	Linear and circular seating, blood relations, distribution-based puzzles, ranking and ordering.
DILR	Tables and Charts	Tabular data, bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, and caselets combining more than one data format.
DILR	Games and Tournaments	Round robin and knockout formats, reasoning based on points tables.
DILR	Networks and Routes	Route mapping and network-based reasoning, appears occasionally with lower weightage.
QA	Arithmetic	Percentages, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, ratio and proportion, averages, time, speed and distance, time and work, mixtures and alligations.
QA	Algebra	Linear and quadratic equations, inequalities, functions and graphs, logarithms.
QA	Geometry and Mensuration	Triangles, circles, coordinate geometry, area and volume of solids.
QA	Number System	Divisibility rules, LCM and HCF, remainders, factors and multiples, number properties.
QA	Modern Math	Permutations and combinations, probability, sequences and series, set theory.

What Is the CAT Exam Duration?

The total CAT exam duration is 120 minutes, or 2 hours. This time is split equally across the three sections, 40 minutes each.

1. You cannot carry over unused time from one section to the next.
2. Once your 40 minutes for a section ends, the exam moves you to the next section automatically.
3. PwD candidates are given additional time, taking their total exam duration to approximately 160 minutes, with extra time added to each section.

Because the sectional time limit is fixed, you have to plan your exam strategy according to this 40-minute block. Spending extra time on one section is not possible in CAT.

What Are the CAT Exam Timings for 2026?

CAT 2026 will be conducted in three slots on the same day, November 29, 2026. Each slot has a different, independently prepared question paper.

Slot	Session	Reporting Time	Exam Timing
Slot 1	Morning	Around 7:00 AM	8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Slot 2	Afternoon	Around 11:00 AM	12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Slot 3	Evening	Around 3:00 PM	4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

• You do not get to choose your slot. It is allotted by the exam authority and confirmed on your admit card.
• Gates of the test centres typically close about 15 minutes before the exam starts, so try to reach the centre within the reporting window.
• PwD candidates get an extended exam window in their slot, in line with the additional time added to the total duration.

What Is the CAT Exam Total Marks, and How Does the Marking Scheme Work?

CAT 2026 carries a total of 204 marks across 68 questions. How those marks are earned depends on the type of question.

Question Type	Correct Answer	Wrong Answer	Unattempted
MCQ	+3	-1	0
TITA (Type In The Answer)	+3	0	0

• Every correct answer, MCQ or TITA, earns +3 marks.
• A wrong MCQ answer costs you -1 mark. There is no negative marking for a wrong TITA answer.
• Because TITA questions carry no negative marking, you can safely attempt them even when not fully confident.
• Leaving a question unattempted, MCQ or TITA, results in 0 marks.

CAT Exam Syllabus and Exam Pattern: How Are They Connected?

The exam pattern tells you the structure, how many questions, how much time, and how marks are awarded. The syllabus tells you what those questions are actually about. CAT does not have an official syllabus released by the IIMs, but the exam pattern stays consistent enough that the topic list can be predicted with some accuracy from past papers.

• VARC pattern (24 questions, 40 minutes) consists of Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Para Summary, and Odd Sentence Out topics.
• DILR pattern (22 questions, 40 minutes) consists of Puzzles and Arrangements, Tables and Charts, and Games and Tournaments.
• QA pattern (22 questions, 40 minutes) consists of Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Mensuration, Number System, and Modern Math.

Once you understand the pattern, mock tests become far more useful, since you can practise your pace section-wise and revise the topics that you think need more attention.

CAT 2026 Pattern at a Glance

Parameter	Detail
Exam date	November 29, 2026
Total sections	3 (VARC, DILR, QA)
Total questions	68
Total marks	204
Total duration	120 minutes
Sectional time limit	40 minutes per section, fixed
Marking for correct answer	+3
Marking for wrong MCQ	-1
Marking for wrong TITA	0
Number of slots	3 (morning, afternoon, evening)

Conclusion

The CAT exam pattern 2026 has had the same core structure in recent years. 68 questions, 204 marks, 120 minutes, and a fixed 40-minute limit per section. Sections include VARC, DILR, and QA. Once you have this pattern clear, from the marking scheme to the section-wise timings, you can build a plan accordingly and practise with the help of mock tests and topic-wise revision.

If you want help turning this exam pattern into a realistic study plan, talk to a CollegeSathi counsellor for free guidance.