It’s expected that in 2026, the CAT Exam will take place on the 30th November 2026. This notification calls for authentic information regarding the entire syllabus, the CAT Marking Scheme 2026, and preparation tips. IIMs conduct this competitive exam to assess the aptitude, logical reasoning, English grammar, vocabulary and reading comprehension of the students. The total marks for the CAT 2026 will be 204. The first thing to remember is the positive and negative marking scheme. If you provide a correct answer, +3 marks will be awarded to you.
If your response is incorrect, you will get -1 negative marking as per the CAT Marking Scheme 2026. The +3 positive marking scheme is applicable for the MCQ and TITA questions. On the other hand, there will be no negative marking for the TITA ( Type In The Answer ) questions from Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. Start your preparation today if you strive to attain a good score in the CAT 2026 and secure 99%ile+ to get shortlisted for the GD-WAT-PI rounds. Before that, know the in-and-out of the marking pattern for the CAT 2026 exam and customise your preparation to achieve remarkable success.
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What is the CAT Marking Scheme 2026?
The majority of the students who appear for the CAT (Common Admission Test) and other management exams tend to make a common mistake of attempting all the questions. Understand that you do not need to attempt every question in the CAT 2026. From the day you start your preparation, your goal should be to solve mocks with an 85-90% accuracy rate. Later on, you have to follow the same rule on the original exam date. Doing so will help you hit a good score as per the CAT Marking Scheme 2026. IIMs follow a +3 (per correct response) -1 for (per incorrect attempt) to evaluate the candidates. Kindly note that there will be no negative marking for the TITA questions. Also, you will receive 0 marks if you leave any question unanswered in the question paper.
Practising a broad range of mocks will make you capable of becoming a top scorer in the CAT. As a result, you will score 95-99%ile in the CAT with no negative marking and maximum accuracy. IIMs will shortlist you for the next stage. Upon qualifying the GD-WAT-PI round, your name will appear in the final merit list, and you will receive an admission letter from IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, IMT Ghaziabad and other notable B-schools that accept the CAT score.
CAT Marking Scheme 2026: Latest & Accurate Breakdown
| Section | Number of Questions | Time Limit | Every Correct Response | CAT Marking Scheme For Incorrect Response | Unanswered Questions |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 40 Minutes | +3 | -1 | 0 |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 24 | 40 Minutes | +3 | -1 | 0 |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 22 | 40 Minutes | +3 | -1 | 0 |
| Total | 68 | 120 Minutes | – | – | – |
CAT Exam Pattern 2026
| Section | MCQ | TITA | Weightage | Paper Difficulty Level | High-Weightage Topics |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 14 | 8 | 34% | Moderate-Difficult | Arithmetic AlgebraGeometry Number System Modern Math |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 22 | 2 | 36% | Moderate | Para jumblesPara SummaryOdd Sentence OutSentence CompletionRC PassagesAuthor’s ToneCritical Reasoning |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 12 | 10 | 30% | Difficult | Seating Arrangements, PuzzlesVenn DiagramsBinary LogicGames & TournamentsQuant-Based LRTables with Missing ValuesGraphs (bar, line, pie)TablesChartsData Sufficiency |
CAT Exam 2026: Enhanced Overview
| Main Parameters | Details |
| Entrance Exam | CAT |
| Full Form | Common Admission Test |
| Exam Mode | CBT |
| CAT Exam Date 2026 | November 2026 (Tentative) |
| CAT Exam Slots 2026 | Slot-1: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Slot-2: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM Slot-3: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
| CAT Admit Card Download 2026 | November 2026 (Tentative) |
| CAT Result Date | January 2026 (First Week) |
| CAT Syllabus | QA, VARC and DILR |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions and Type in the Answer |
| CAT Marking Scheme 2026 (MCQs) | +3 per correct attempt -1 per wrong attempt 0 for unanswered attempts |
| CAT Marking Pattern (TITA) | +3 positive marking 0 negative marking 0 marking for unattempted questions |
| Number of Choices | 4 |
| Total Questions in CAT 2026 | 68 |
| CAT 2026 Total Marks | 204 |
| CAT Official Website | https://iimcat.ac.in/ |
Is the CAT Marking Scheme 2026 similar for UR/OBC/SC/ST & PwD?
Yes, the CAT Marking Scheme 2026 is the same for candidates from all the reservation categories. The difference comes into the role during the application fees, seat reservation and a few more categories. In simple terms, the expected seat reservation criteria for the CAT 2026 are below. If you’re from a reserved category, then you must submit a valid caste certificate during online application and final admission to avail the applicable benefits.
CAT Reservation Criteria 2026
| Category | Reservation (%) |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| OBC-NCL | 27% |
| EWS | 10% |
| PwD | 5% |
How is the CAT Marking Scheme Relatable to Speed & Accuracy?
As milk is to cup, so speed is to accuracy for the CAT and other top MBA entrance exams. You clearly know that there’s a sectional time limit in the CAT exam. You will only get 40 minutes to answer a maximum of questions from the QA, VARC and DILR. Once the time limit is over, the window will automatically be directed to the next section. Hereby, you have to set a target of solving questions within or before the time limit. You can develop this habit by appearing for endless mocks and sections within a specific deadline.
Those candidates who know how to strike a balance between speed and accuracy won’t face any complexities while attempting questions. This approach will help them ensure that the maximum questions are right and will save them from penalties. Eventually, every correct answer will yield you +3 marks in accordance with the CAT Marking Scheme 2026. A wrong choice in MCQs can lower your score by -1 mark. So, commence your preparation accordingly and always consider diving deep into the basics along with regular practice. Never underestimate the power of daily assignments and mock practice because that’s the ladder to success.
15 Fabulous Tips To Score 99%ile+ in the CAT 2026
If you choose to appear for the CAT 2026, you must demonstrate a hardworking spirit throughout the preparation. Your consistent effort and dedication will reflect in the actual exam. If you prepare for the CAT with the same determination, then no one can stop you from achieving 99%ile+ in this highly competitive exam. As you know, there are three major sections in the CAT,i.e., Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. Each section has a set of topics that you must study in-depth to hit the sectional cut-off, attain a good score and overall percentile. Keep these useful pointers in mind before you start your preparation journey for the CAT 2026.
- Tip 1: Extract the root of the CAT syllabus 2026 from the QA, VARC and DILR.
- Tip 2: Distribute the high-scoring and less-significant topics from every section.
- Tip 3: Analyse the CAT Marking Scheme 2026 for all three sections and prepare accordingly.
- Tip 4: Create a timetable to start your CAT 2026 preparation with proper guidance.
- Tip 5: Enrol for a top CAT coaching institute like iQuanta to receive 100% support.
- Tip 6: Allocate equal time for self-study apart from the online classroom sessions.
- Tip 7: Study for at least 3 hours daily to build your conceptual knowledge deeply.
- Tip 8: Focus on speed, accuracy and revision after enhancing your fundamentals.
- Tip 9: Practice 1 sectional test every 3 days under a set time limit to review your progress.
- Tip 10: Move to full-length mocks. Track your common errors and work on improvement.
- Tip 11: Revise important formulas, tips and concepts from every section.
- Tip 12: Set a goal to increase the mock frequency in the last few months of the CAT exam.
- Tip 13: Summarise quick tips for every section in a notebook for last-minute revision.
- Tip 15: Avoid overloading yourself with additional content during the final stage.
How iQuanta Can Help You With the CAT Marking Scheme 2026?
iQuanta can make your CAT preparation journey easy and convenient. Our personalised curriculum for the engineering and non-engineering students is the ultimate proof that we prioritise every student. Our experts just don’t share the theoretical knowledge; they hand-hold the enrolled students about speed and accuracy, too. You will receive solid guidance on the following aspects, apart from the CAT Marking Scheme, about which we have mentioned below.
- Basic plan to cover the basics from QA, VARC and DILR. You will be taught how to study every topic from scratch.
- iQuanta CAT expert faculty will teach you the art of question classification on the EMT strategy to avoid negative marking.
- We will share the importance of a full-length mock and sectional test for performance comparison and analysis.
- iQuanta experts have been following a dual-pedagogy technique to educate the students about the CAT syllabus.
- You can address your doubts during the live sessions or join the community groups on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Telegram.
- Receive a bunch of study material with 50 questions on every topic for revision and regular practice.
- 250+ videos on live sessions and practical classes from experts to strengthen your fundamentals and accuracy.
- 2 months of an intense crash course where you will dive deep into revision and mock practice to hit the 99%ile+.
- 20 full-length mocks, 15 unproctored mocks and 45 sectionals, along with video solutions for vigorous practice.
- A set of highly relevant CAT QA: 250 questions curated by Indrajeet Sir (Founder- CEO and Quant’s Wizard) in the last 2 months.
- 100+ conceptual videos in which the iQuanta experts have given a proper explanation of every topic.
- AI-powered iCAT mock sessions, which will give you a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses
- 2 separate mocks, each on the non-CAT exams,i.e, NMAT, TISS CUET, XAT, MICAT, CMAT, MHCET
Final Words
Presently, you might think that you have plenty of time to prepare for the CAT 2026. It’s true, but remember that it’s a vast syllabus which requires extensive preparation. Non-engineering students will have to focus more on the QA topics and become smart with mental calculations. CAT aspirants must also develop a habit of reading high-level English books, novels, editorials, magazines, etc. This will help them in the passage interpretation and answering questions from that category with a smart approach. To solve the DILR questions, you must solve a broad range of puzzles and a combination of tables and logical questions.
This overall section-wise strategy will definitely help you hit the 99%ile in the CAT 2026. Lastly, now that you know about the CAT Marking Scheme, it will be easier for you to frame a well-balanced study plan to deliver outstanding performance. Trust us! The more you give time to daily study, revision, and mocks, the more your chances of success are. Overall, your ability to select questions will improve. On the actual exam date, you will answer the maximum questions with accuracy and will tackle complex issues effortlessly.
iQuanta CAT Course 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CAT Marking Scheme 2026?
CAT 2026 will be a paper with 68 questions. Candidates will first have to attempt the VARC section with 24 questions. DILR will be the second section with 22 questions. At the end, you will have to solve the QA section with 22 questions. In every section, there will be +3 marks for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong attempt. You will not receive negative marks if you answer the TITA questions wrong or leave any complex questions unanswered.
Is there any negative marking for the TITA questions in the CAT 2026?
You don’t need to worry if you provide an incorrect response for a TITA question from QA, VARC or DILR. It’s because there will be no negative marking for these questions. However, if your answer is correct, you will get +3 for a correct response. Henceforth, develop a habit of answering questions with accuracy to score more marks.
How can I avoid guesswork in the CAT 2026?
Master the art of skipping questions. Your first objective should be to solve questions from familiar topics. The second stage should revolve around solving questions from the medium level, which are easily manageable. Lastly, if you have time left, then pick questions from those topics that are complex and a bit familiar. Solve them with an optimistic mindset.
What is the accuracy rate to hit 99%ile+ in the CAT?
Your mocks score will decide whether you can score 99%ile+ or not. If you’re consistently achieving 95+ raw scores in the CAT mocks while maintaining the 85-90% accuracy rate, then you’re on the right track. Your ultimate goal should be to attempt questions from those topics in which you demonstrate a strong knowledge and practical understanding.
Why is the CAT Marking Scheme 2026 important?
Just like understanding the syllabus is important to prepare for the CAT exam. Similarly, you must have accurate information about the CAT Marking Scheme 2026 to score well and and achieve a high rank. This information will help you to understand how many questions you must attempt with maximum accuracy in every section of the CAT 2026.
