Covering topic-wise weightage of most important topics across VARC, DILR and QA is the initial phase to start CAT preparation. Without understanding the exam pattern and CAT marking scheme, candidate will not able to analyze the Common Admission Test. According to the analysis of recent CAT exam paper, we have seen no changes in the exam pattern when comparing with the previous year. Although, we have seen para jumbles in slot 1 and one question from probability. This blog is a comprehensive guide to understand the CAT topic wise weightage and CAT 2026 marking scheme.
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CAT 2026 Highlights
Common Admission Test is an entrance examination to pursue MBA degree from top Indian Institutes of Management and B-Schools in India. The CAT exam is a computer based test and the language of the question paper is English. The duration covered for the complete CAT exam paper is 120 minutes where 40 minutes are equally divided among VARC, DILR & QA.
The CAT exam timings are further classifies into three different slots – morning, afternoon and evening with the different timings organized according to the sessions. Solving good number of questions in the exam with accuracy affects to an overall scores. The detailed highlights about the CAT 2026 is mentioned in the table specified below.
| Particulars | Highlights |
| Mode of CAT exam | Computer Based Test |
| Language of question paper | English |
| Duration of exam | 120 minutes (40 minutes per section) |
| CAT Exam Slot Timings | CAT Slot 1: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM CAT Slot 2: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM CAT Slot 3: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
| Total Number of questions | 68 |
| CAT total marks | 204 |
| Number of answer choices | 4 |
| Question Type | MCQ and non-MCQ |
CAT Exam Pattern 2026 Details
The CAT exam pattern is an integral part where three major sections involved – VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension), DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning) and QA (Quantitative Ability). These section are aligned in the order where VARC comes first, followed by DILR & QA. All the sections comprehensively covering the CAT 2026 exam pattern are equally divided across 40 minutes of time duration and total 120 minutes.
CAT Exam Duration
| Section | Time |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 40 mins |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI & LR) | 40 mins |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 40 mins |
| Total | 120 Mins |
Total Number of Questions in CAT 2026 for Each Section
Talking about the number of questions will expected to asked in the CAT 2026 covering 24 questions from Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, 22 questions from Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning and 22 questions from the Quantitative Ability. These questions may vary in the next session.
| Section | Total Number of Questions |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 |
| Total Questions in CAT 2026 (expected) | 68 |
CAT 2026 Marking Scheme
- As per the CAT exam pattern +3 marks are awarded for each correct answer.
- -1 is given for an incorrect answer
- There is no negative marking in CAT for questions that are unattempted
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CAT Exam Pattern 2026 – MCQ and Non MCQ Questions
This table is covering the number of MCQ and non MCQ questions in a detailed manner.
| Section | MCQs | Non-MCQs |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 22 | 2 |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI & LR) | 12 | 10 |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 14 | 8 |
| Total | 48 | 20 |
CAT 2026 Important Topics and Weightage
Considering the CAT exam pattern trends here is the CAT section wise important topics and its weightage.
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Section
This section has numerical based mathematics questions and there were a total of 22 QA questions in CAT.
- Around 8 questions are from basic Arithmetic.
- From number system, there were 1-3 questions.
- 5-7 Algebra questions in CAT.
- Geometry and Mensuration has 3 questions.
- 0-3 questions are from modern maths.
Last Year CAT Topic Wise Weightage For Each Slot – Quants Section
The Quantitative Ability section covers the topics such as Number System, Logarithms, Surds and Indices, Inequalities and linear equations, Progressions and Series, PnC and Probability, Quadratic Equations, Averages, Ratio and Proportion, Time, Work and Distance, Geometry, Profit, Loss and Interest, Functions and Graphs. The detailed information about the last year CAT topic wise weightage for the Quants section is specified in the table below.
| Topic Name | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
| Number System | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Logarithms, Surds and Indices | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Inequalities and linear equations | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Progressions and Series | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| PnC and Probability | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Quadratic Equations | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Averages, Ratios and Proportion | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Time, Work and Distance | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Geometry | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Profit, Loss and Interest | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Functions and Graphs | 1 | 1 | 2 |
CAT VARC Question Pattern
This section tests the English language of the candidates along with their ability to comprehend passages.
- Sentence correction & completion
- Para Jumbles
- Summary-based questions
CAT DILR Section
This section assesses logical reasoning and ability to interpret data.
- It has 2 sets of data interpretation and logical reasoning each, or it can have a combination of both.
- Bar graphs, arrangements, missing data, and puzzles (games) are the focus.
Last Year CAT Topic Wise Weightage For Each Slot – DILR Section
| DI & LR Topics | No. of Questions | Approximate Weightage (%) |
| Tables and Charts | 4-6 | 40–50% |
| Games and Tournaments | 4-5 | 10-20% |
| Scheduling and Blood Relations | 3-4 | 5-10% |
| Venn Diagrams & Hybrid Sets | 2-3 | 5-10% |
| Puzzle and Seating Arrangements | 3-4 | 50-60% |
CAT Exam Pattern Trend
This section covers the detailed CAT exam pattern trend analysis covering total questions, CAT exam duration and number of sections.
| CAT Year | Total Questions | CAT Exam Time Duration | CAT Sections |
| 2025 | 68 | 120 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
| 2024 | 68 | 120 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
| 2023 | 66 | 120 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
| 2022 | 66 | 120 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
| 2021 | 66 | 120 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
| 2020 | 76 | 120 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
| 2019 | 100 | 180 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
| 2018 | 100 | 180 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
| 2017 | 100 | 180 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
| 2016 | 100 | 180 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
| 2015 | 100 | 180 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
| 2014 | 100 | 170 minutes | QA & DI, LR & VARC |
| 2013 | 60 | 140 minutes | QA & DI, LR & VARC |
| 2012 | 60 | 140 minutes | QA & DI, LR & VARC |
| 2011 | 60 | 140 minutes | QA & DI, LR & VARC |
| 2010 | 60 | 150 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
CAT Exam Pattern 2026 – FAQs
The expected time duration for CAT 2026 is 120 minutes or 2 hours where 40 minutes are equally divided across sections.
There was slight change in the CAT exam pattern according to the recent update where we have seen probability questions and more.
CAT marking scheme is as follows –
+3 is awarded for each correct answer
1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer
No negative marking for unattempted questions
There is no negative marking for TITA as well.
CAT exam has a total of 3 sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI & LR) and Quantitative Ability (QA). The total time is 120 minutes and for each section in CAT candidates are given 40 minutes.
