CAT 2026 might happen in the last week of November. From this month, you have exactly 1 year and 2 months for CAT 2026 Preparation. It will be a computer-based test with 68 questions in total. The first section will be Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension with 24 questions. Secondly, you will have to answer questions from the DILR section. There will be 22 questions in the LRDI and QA section each. Quantitative Aptitude will be the last section in the CAT exam 2026. The marking scheme will be simple for this top-level management exam. You will be rewarded +3 marks for every correct MCQ and TITA question.
In case of deductions, -1 mark will be deducted for every wrong MCQ. You will not get any negative marks for providing wrong answers to the TITA questions. Similarly, 0 marks are allocated for unattempted questions. If we talk about the CAT difficulty level, then it varies every year for every section. This indicates that candidates appearing for the CAT exam in 2026 must start early preparation to ensure that they match the difficulty level of the actual exam and obtain a high overcall CAT percentile,i.e, 99%ile to get admission into the 2-year full-time postgraduate management programme at a Tier 1/Tier 2/Tier 3 MBA colleges in India.
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How is Early CAT 2026 Preparation Advantageous for Aspirants?
Understand that early CAT 2026 preparation will benefit you in multiple ways. Firstly, you will get a profound knowledge of the syllabus from every section. A better understanding of the syllabus will help you to allocate equivalent time for every topic from the Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. This slow pace will allow you to progress at a steady pace while attaining in-depth conceptual understanding and practising a huge variety of questions from the basic, intermediate, to advanced levels. Below are the key reasons that clearly indicate that commencing your preparation for CAT 2026 from now onwards can give you access to a significant advantage.
- Advanced knowledge of the foundational concepts from scratch will help you in the higher stages of preparation.
- During the preparation timeline of 1 year 2 months, students will get enough time for practice, consistent revision and improving weak areas.
- Preparing for more than a year will build an optimistic mindset. Due to this, you will stay calm throughout the preparation.
- You will be able to manage your study hours and cover all the topics without compromising on any subject.
- Extra time for CAT 2026 preparation also means that you will get extensive time to attempt mocks, analyse your performance and build temperament.
- One of the key advantages of early CAT 2026 preparation is developing a strong command of accuracy and time-management skills.
- You will have complete freedom to switch your CAT preparation strategies for 2026, refer to endless resources and solve numerous questions from every section.
How Should I Start My CAT 2026 Preparation?
Your CAT 2026 preparation is dependent on your calibre. Some students crack it within a month, and some take 3-6 months to crack it. However, if you start your preparation from now, you will get significant leverage in preparation, revision and mocks. Additionally, early CAT 2026 preparation will also help you allocate additional time for weak concepts that require huge attention. Here are some specific preparation tips to deliver an excellent performance in the CAT 2026. It’s a personalised plan for CAT aspirants. You can make modifications to this study plan, which aligns with your study goals and requirements.
CAT 2026 Preparation Schedule: Month-Wise Study Time Table
| Duration | To-Dos For Early CAT 2026 Preparation |
| 6 Months (October-March) | Clear your concepts. Reinforce key QA concepts by referring to the NCERT books from the 10th grade. Polish your reading skills, vocabulary and comprehension abilities by reading regularly from different sources. Dive deep into the DILR syllabus to interpret the basic concepts from ratios, squares, percentages, etc. |
| 4 Months (April-July) | Go beyond the foundational topics. Create a customised daily schedule for preparation and revision. |
| 3 Months (August-October) | Apply the Concepts, Applications, and Formulas rule to revise important topics from every section. Take topic-wise sectional tests to comprehend your theoretical knowledge, speed and accuracy skills. |
| November 2026 | Appear for more full-length mock tests. Increase the number of sectional tests. Solve CAT PYQs from the last 10 years. Eliminate mistakes from every section. Be selective with the revision. Strengthen your mental health. |
Early CAT 2026 Preparation: Section-Wise Complete Breakdown
Mainly, the CAT exam is a test of aptitude, logical reasoning and English language. Every section in the CAT 2026 holds a substantial weightage. It’s mandatory to achieve the sectional cut-off along with the overall percentile to ace this exam and succeed in the management industry. Implement these section-wise preparation tips, which are straight from the topper’s desk and crack the QA, VARC and DILR sections of the CAT 2026.
CAT Preparation Strategy 2026: DILR
- Review all the DILR sets and divide them according to the complexity level. Don’t take more than 6-7 minutes.
- Opt to attempt the sets as per the difficulty level. Select the easiest ones first and then move to intermediate and tough ones.
- Don’t pressurise yourself to attempt every question in the DILR section. Remember that the CAT exam is a game of speed and accuracy.
- For the DILR section also, you will have to appear for one sectional test every week while striking a balance between speed and accuracy.
- Know when to move forward. DILR is a versatile section. Even the easiest section can consist of tough questions. So, ensure to utilise your time.
- Regularly, analyse your mock test performance and review your strengths and weaknesses for better improvement.
CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy For Quantitative Aptitude
- Start your preparation with the most recent study resources to increase your proficiency and practice in the QA topics.
- Algebra, Arithmetic and Geometry are the non-negotiable topics for the CAT 2026 Quants section. Be adamant to cover them with the right strategic approach.
- Quants is predominantly the game of mathematical equations and formulas. You should focus on memorising them with quick tricks.
- Practice mental and short calculations to save your time. Increase your efficiency to move from one question to another.
- Set a timer before you start appearing for the QA sectional tests. By appearing for the timely sectional test, your time management skills will increase.
- Apply the same strategy for the full-length mocks. Check the number of correct attempts and mistakes. Create an error log to keep track of improvements.
VARC Preparation Strategy For CAT 2026
- Select the right study material, which is a powerful cumulation of the two major components,i.e, Grammar and Vocabulary.
- Choose the informative study resources, which are a solid compilation of questions and detailed explanatory answers on repetitive topics.
- Practice at least 4-5 different RCs every day to enlighten your knowledge and boost your preparation for the CAT 2026.
- Expand your VA and RC skills by reading a huge variety of novels, newspapers, and magazines from different genres.
- Identify the core gist of the passage and briefly read every passage before you choose to attempt it.
- Test your VARC knowledge by appearing for one sectional mock every week and note down the errors for improvement.
CAT 2026 Preparation For Beginners and Working Professionals
Managing time for the CAT 2026 preparation along with a full-time job or pursuing an undergraduate degree will require a lot of commitment, dedication and hardwork. You will have to utilise every single moment for solid preparation, revision and mock tests. Hereby, we’ll now explain to you about some impressive preparation tips from the previous year CAT toppers who have scored a 99.9%ile in this exam by starting their preparation in the final year of their graduation or while working as a full-time employee at a corporate firm.
CAT 2026 Preparation Tips: Beginners vs Working Professionals
| New Aspirants/ Beginners | Full-Time Employees |
| Develop awareness about the CAT 2026 syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. | Start by checking the updated syllabus of the CAT exam 2026. For systematic preparation, you must build the foundational structure of your preparation plan. Divide topics from every section into different groups. |
| Check the weightage for every section and the relevant sectional marks that you need to obtain in the CAT 2026. | Learn the art of managing your time while travelling or during breaks. Consider studying for 10-12 hours with regular breaks on the weekends. |
| Analyse which topics you demonstrate strong conceptual knowledge. Initially, study these topics. | Allocate more time to the topics that lack in-depth knowledge and vigorous practice. Set a target to strengthen your command on those topics for obtaining a high sectional cut-off. |
| Your CAT 2026 Preparation should include 30-50+ full-length mocks. Learn how to differentiate quantity over quality and focus on attempting the maximum right questions within the set time limit. | Opt for an online coaching session, which offers flexibility and adjusts to your daily schedule. Connect with our experts for a one-on-one counselling session to get the latest updates about the midnight classroom sessions for the CAT 2026. |
| It’s crucial to complete the QA, VARC and LRDI topics, which will help you to score maximum marks in every section. | Start prioritising your tasks according to the urgency level. Study important topics at night and on weekends. Pick up simple topics during your breaks or commute hours. |
Final Words
Beginners or full-time working individuals who strive to start their CAT 2026 preparation must review the syllabus, marking scheme and exam pattern. A clear-cut understanding of the entire syllabus will help you to segregate the topics for preparation. Gauge your strong and weak concepts while taking a complete look at the CAT 2026 syllabus. It’s the initial moment where you will have the power to segregate the important topics and create a personalised monthly preparation roadmap.
Hone your skills with iQuanta’s CAT preparation course 2026 and achieve your dream goal to get admission into IIM ABC or other prestigious B-schools, which provide admission based on the CAT score, GD-PI-WAT performance and overall composite score. Join iQuanta to fulfil your goal of becoming a 99.9%iler in the CAT exam taking place next year.
iQuanta CAT Course 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
In India, iQuanta has been leading the graph for providing top-notch preparation courses for CAT and other popular management-level exams. Here, you will get access to personalised modules, 24*7 doubt-solving, live sessions, daily assignments, sectional tests and full-length mocks, practical classes, etc.
It depends on the learning ability and practice skills of the candidates. Most individuals who are well-aware of the basics of the CAT syllabus will take only 6 months for CAT 2026 preparation. Beginners or students with weak conceptual knowledge will require at least 10-12 months for preparation.
CAT 2026 will predominantly focus on the Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Number System. These topics demand extensive practice and rote memorization of important formulas. As Quants is all about mathematical equations and formulas, you must start by developing a strong foundation in them. Learn about the shortcut techniques, time your sectionals & full-length mocks for a detailed performance review.
Continuous revision and mocks will help you to understand the topics from the basic level and what type of questions appear in the actual exam. It will strengthen your theoretical knowledge alongside increasing your practice sessions. As a result, you will master speed and accuracy hassle-free.
The duration of the CAT 2026 exam will be around 120 minutes. Every candidate will get a sectional limit of 40 minutes each for QA, VARC and DILR. There is no additional time limit. Once you attempt the first section, you will be automatically directed to the next section.
