The CAT Syllabus 2026 is the blueprint for your MBA entrance journey. The exam is on 29 November 2026, so about seven weeks remain, and every hour should go to topics that actually appear in the paper. This guide covers the complete CAT syllabus for VARC, DILR and Quant, plus the verified exam pattern, marking scheme, topic priorities and a 7-week plan.
Quick answer: the IIMs publish no topic-wise list, so the CAT Syllabus 2026 is built from past papers. The structure has been stable since 2024: 68 questions, 204 marks and 120 minutes.
CAT 2026 Overview: Why the Syllabus and Pattern Matter
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam | Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
| Conducting institute | IIM Indore |
| Exam date | Sunday, 29 November 2026 |
| Mode | Computer-based test (CBT), three sessions |
| Sections | VARC, DILR, QA |
| Total questions | 68 (expected) |
| Total marks | 204 |
| Duration | 120 minutes (40 minutes per section) |
| Official website | iimcat.ac.in |
Knowing the CAT Syllabus 2026 helps in three ways:
- Prioritising: you can put your time into high-weightage areas such as Reading Comprehension, Arithmetic and DILR sets.
- Avoiding surprises: you will not meet an unfamiliar topic type on exam day.
- Planning time: with 40 minutes per section, you can practise sectional mocks under real conditions.
Is There an Official CAT Syllabus 2026?
The IIMs do not release an official syllabus document; the topic list is derived from past papers and the post-2020 pattern. So the CAT Syllabus 2026 is not a formal notification. It is a well-established topic list built from years of question papers.
The official bulletin confirms only the exam pattern, dates and rules. For that reason, any “CAT syllabus PDF” you find online is a compilation by a coaching institute or education portal.
CAT 2026 Dates and Latest Updates
CAT 2026 is a computer-based test on 29 November 2026, held in three sessions across approximately 170 test cities. IIM Indore is the conducting institute for CAT 2026, and the admit card is available from 4 November until exam day.
Registration was extended by IIM Indore to 22 September, 5 pm. Candidates who registered by then could pay the fee until 24 September. Registration is now closed, so your focus should be the CAT Syllabus 2026 and mock tests.
Results are expected in the first week of January 2027, and the score remains valid up to 31 December 2027.
Also Read: CAT 2026 exam dates and schedule
CAT Syllabus 2026: Section-Wise Topics
The CAT Syllabus 2026 has three sections: VARC, DILR and QA. Here is the complete CAT syllabus at a glance.
| Section | Core topics to cover |
|---|---|
| VARC | Reading comprehension, para jumbles, para summary, odd sentence out |
| DILR | Tables, bar and line graphs, caselets, arrangements, puzzles, games and tournaments, Venn diagrams, binary logic |
| QA | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry and mensuration, number system, modern maths |
If you are short on time, prioritise Reading Comprehension in VARC, and Arithmetic and Algebra in QA.
CAT VARC Syllabus 2026
VARC tests comprehension, inference and sentence-level judgement. It is the first section of the paper and carries the most marks.
| Topic | What it involves | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Passages on economics, sociology, philosophy, science, history, arts and technology. Questions test main idea, inference, tone and application. | Very high |
| Para jumbles (TITA) | Rearranging 4–5 sentences into a coherent paragraph, with no options | High |
| Para summary | Choosing the option that best captures a short paragraph | Medium–High |
| Odd sentence out | Identifying the sentence that does not fit | Medium |
| Grammar and sentence correction | Rare in recent papers; useful mainly for sentence-level accuracy | Low |
In recent papers, Reading Comprehension makes up roughly two-thirds of VARC (about 16 of 24 questions across four passages), and the rest is verbal ability. Counts vary by slot. Skills tested: comprehension, inference, vocabulary in context and logical flow.
CAT DILR Syllabus 2026
DILR is built around sets, each with 4–6 questions. In CAT 2025, DILR had 11 TITA questions out of 22 in all three slots, so accuracy matters more than guessing.
| Topic | What it involves | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Tables and caselets | Percentages, averages and trends from raw data | High |
| Bar, column and line graphs | Growth, comparisons and ratios | High |
| Pie charts and multi-graphs | Combining data from two or three charts | High |
| Arrangements (linear, circular, grid) | People or items placed under constraints | High |
| Games and tournaments | Win-loss, ranking and scoring puzzles | High |
| Binary logic and conditions | True/false statements and conditional logic | Medium–High |
| Set theory, Venn diagrams and networks | Overlaps, routes and connections | Medium |
| Scheduling and selection | Allocation under conditions | Medium |
Skills tested: data analysis, pattern spotting, logical consistency and smart set selection.
CAT Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Syllabus 2026
QA is school-level maths, mostly up to class 10, with a few class 11–12 basics such as logarithms and permutation and combination. Calculus and advanced higher mathematics are not part of it.
| Area | Topics | Indicative questions per paper |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | Percentages, profit and loss, ratio and proportion, averages, mixtures, time-speed-distance, time and work, simple and compound interest | 7–9 |
| Algebra | Linear and quadratic equations, inequalities, functions, logarithms, surds and indices, progressions, polynomials | 5–7 |
| Geometry and mensuration | Lines, triangles, circles, polygons, coordinate geometry, areas, volumes, basic trigonometry | 3–5 |
| Number system | Divisibility, HCF and LCM, remainders, base systems, factorials, unit digits | 3–4 |
| Modern maths | Permutation and combination, probability, set theory, sequences and series | 2–3 |
The ranges above are indicative and vary by slot. Arithmetic and Algebra together make up more than half of QA, so they should come first.
Topic Priority Snapshot
| Section | High priority | Medium priority | Lower priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | Reading Comprehension, para jumbles | Para summary, odd sentence out | Grammar-only questions |
| DILR | Tables, graphs, arrangements, games | Venn diagrams, networks, binary logic | Rare set types |
| QA | Arithmetic, Algebra | Geometry, number system | Trigonometry, modern maths |
CAT Exam Pattern 2026: Section-Wise Breakdown
The pattern shapes how you use the CAT Syllabus 2026, because each section has its own time limit. The pattern is expected to stay at 24 questions in VARC, 22 in DILR and 22 in QA.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 72 | 40 minutes |
| DILR | 22 | 66 | 40 minutes |
| QA | 22 | 66 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 68 | 204 | 120 minutes |
Key rules
- Fixed order: VARC, then DILR, then QA.
- No switching: you cannot move between sections or return to a finished one.
- Question types: MCQs with four options, and TITA (Type In The Answer) questions with no options.
- TITA split: it varies by slot. Recent papers had very few in VARC, about 11 in DILR (CAT 2025) and 5–8 in QA.
- Extra time: candidates with benchmark disabilities have received additional time in earlier years. Check the bulletin for the 2026 allowance.
CAT Marking Scheme 2026
The marking scheme matters as much as the CAT Syllabus 2026 itself, because it decides when to attempt and when to skip.
| Response | MCQ | TITA |
|---|---|---|
| Correct | +3 | +3 |
| Wrong | −1 | 0 (no negative marking) |
| Unattempted | 0 | 0 |
Worked example: a candidate gets 10 MCQs right, 3 MCQs wrong and 2 TITAs right. The score is (10 × 3) − (3 × 1) + (2 × 3) = 33 marks.
VARC carries 72 marks, while DILR and QA carry 66 each. Scores are scaled across slots and converted to percentiles. Most IIMs also apply sectional cut-offs, so a very weak section can cost you a call even with a high overall percentile.
Strategy by question type
- MCQs: guess only after eliminating at least two options, because each wrong answer costs a mark.
- TITAs: attempt every one you can, since a wrong answer costs nothing.
- VARC: start with the easier RC passages.
- DILR: pick 2–3 sets you can finish completely, and skip the rest.
- QA: secure Arithmetic and Algebra before attempting harder questions.
Has the CAT Syllabus 2026 Changed From 2025?
No change in topics or structure has been announced. The pattern in 2024 and 2025 was the same, with 68 questions, three sections and 40 minutes each. The only recent shift was that DILR rose from 20 to 22 questions in 2024.
So the CAT Syllabus 2026 is effectively the same list of topics. Difficulty and the mix of sets change every year: DILR is often the toughest section, while the overall level has ranged from moderate to hard. Confirm everything against the official bulletin before the exam.
How to Use the CAT Syllabus 2026 for Preparation: A 7-Week Plan
With about 52 days left, here is how to cover the complete CAT syllabus.
| Period | Focus |
|---|---|
| 8–21 Oct | Finish core Arithmetic, Algebra and Number System. Read 2–3 RC passages daily. Learn the main DILR set types. |
| 22 Oct–4 Nov | Cover Geometry and Modern Maths. Solve one timed DILR set daily. Start one full mock per week. |
| 5–18 Nov | Take 2–3 full mocks per week and analyse each. Revise your formula notebook and error log. |
| 19–29 Nov | No new topics. Light mocks, a strict time plan for each section, and an admit card and venue check. |
Subject-Wise Focus Within the CAT Syllabus 2026
| Subject | Main focus | Daily habit |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | Reading Comprehension and TITA para jumbles | 2–3 passages and a few para jumbles |
| DILR | Tables, graphs, arrangements, games | One timed set, with a review of set selection |
| QA | Arithmetic, Algebra, Number System | Topic drills plus mixed practice |
Best Resources for the CAT Syllabus 2026
- Past papers: these show the real difficulty and question style.
- Mock tests: pick a series with detailed analysis.
- Maths basics: NCERT mathematics up to class 10 (ncert.nic.in).
- Reading: editorials and long-form non-fiction for RC speed.
- Official updates: iimcat.ac.in for the bulletin and admit card.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating the CAT Syllabus 2026 as a checklist to finish instead of a list to prioritise.
- Learning new topics in the last week instead of consolidating.
- Leaving DILR for the final month.
- Guessing widely on MCQs, when TITA is the only no-penalty format.
- Skipping mock analysis, which is where most improvement comes from.
Summary
- The IIMs publish no official topic list. The CAT Syllabus 2026 comes from past papers and the stable 2024–2025 pattern.
- CAT 2026 is on 29 November 2026, conducted by IIM Indore, in three sessions.
- The paper has 68 questions, 204 marks and 120 minutes: VARC 24, DILR 22 and QA 22, with a fixed 40 minutes per section.
- Scoring is +3 for correct, −1 for a wrong MCQ, and no penalty on TITA or unattempted questions.
- Reading Comprehension, DILR sets, Arithmetic and Algebra carry the most weight in the complete CAT syllabus.
- With about seven weeks left, prioritise high-weight topics, practise timed sets and analyse every mock.
FAQs on CAT Syllabus 2026
1. What is the syllabus of CAT 2026?
The CAT Syllabus 2026 has three sections. VARC covers reading comprehension, para jumbles, para summary and odd sentence out. DILR covers data interpretation and logical reasoning sets. QA covers Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number System and Modern Math.
2. Has IIM released the official CAT Syllabus 2026 or PDF?
No. The IIMs do not publish a detailed syllabus. The official bulletin only gives the exam pattern, dates and rules, so any PDF is a compilation based on past papers.
3. Is there negative marking in CAT 2026?
Yes, for MCQs only. A correct answer earns 3 marks and a wrong MCQ costs 1 mark. TITA questions carry no negative marking, and unattempted questions score zero.
4. How many questions are there in CAT 2026?
The paper is expected to have 68 questions: 24 in VARC, 22 in DILR and 22 in QA. The total is 204 marks across 120 minutes.
5. Is the CAT Syllabus 2026 the same as 2025?
Effectively, yes. No change in topics or pattern has been announced. The question count and 40-minute sectional limit have stayed constant since 2024.
6. Can I switch between sections in CAT?
No. Each section has a fixed 40-minute limit, and you cannot go back after the time ends or move ahead early.
7. Is class 10 maths enough for CAT quant?
For most questions, yes. A few topics such as logarithms, progressions and permutation and combination need class 11–12 basics. Strong fundamentals in Arithmetic and Algebra matter most.
Conclusion
The CAT Syllabus 2026 is a known quantity even without an official document: three sections, 68 questions, 204 marks and a topic list that has barely moved since 2024. What matters now is how you use the weeks left. Prioritise reading comprehension, DILR set selection, Arithmetic and Algebra, practise TITA accuracy, and analyse every mock. Confirm dates and rules on the official site, then follow the 7-week plan above.
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