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:
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Questions: 24
- Focus: 4 RC passages (16 questions) and 8 Verbal Ability questions (Para-jumbles, Summary, Odd-sentence out).
- 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.
- 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.