The Common Admission Test (CAT) is conducted annually by IIMs on a rotational basis. If you are an MBA aspirant planning to appear for the CAT exam in 2026, you should first understand the CAT syllabus 2026, which will be your first step towards effective preparation. Though IIMs do not release any official syllabus, the CAT exam evaluates aspirants’s proficiency in three main areas—Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). With changes introduced in the exam format post-2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CAT has evolved to not only test the academic but also time management, speed, problem-solving, and logical reasoning skills. In this blog, we will provide you with a complete breakdown of the CAT 2026 syllabus, topic-wise preparation strategies, and tips to crack each section effectively.
Join this free whatsapp group to get the latest information about CAT exam along with the strategies by CAT experts
CAT Exam Syllabus 2026: Overview
Before diving into the section-wise CAT syllabus, let’s take a look at what the exam format may look like in 2026:
| Features | Details |
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Duration | 02 Hours |
| Sectional Time Limit | 40 Minutes/Section |
| Number of Sections | 3 |
| Total Number of Sections | 68 |
| Total Marks | 204 |
| CAT Exam Section | VARC – 24 QuestionsLRDI – 22 QuestionsQA – 22 Questions |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)Type In The Answer (TITA) |
| CAT Marking Scheme | For every correct answer: +3For every incorrect answer: -1No Negative Marking for TITA |
| Exam Slots | 3 Slots (Morning, Afternoon, Evening) |
CAT 2026 Syllabus: Section-Wise Breakdown
The CAT syllabus 2026 revolves around three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Each section examines a different skill set and requires a unique strategy. The below-mentioned section-wise breakdown will help aspirants to organize their preparation strategies effectively.
CAT VARC Syllabus 2026
The CAT VARC section evaluates your language skills, comprehension abilities, and verbal logic.
Key Topics in CAT 2026 VARC
| CAT VARC Syllabus 2026 | ||
| Category | Topics | Weightage |
| Verbal Ability | Parajumbles, Para Summary, Odd Sentence Out, Sentence Completion | 12% |
| Reading Comprehension | RC Passages, Author’s Tone, Critical Reasoning | 24% |
Preparation Strategy for CAT VARC 2026
- Daily read newspapers, magazines, and books to improve reading habits and to increase knowledge.
- Practice RCs on diverse subjects like history, science, philosophy, economics, and technology.
- While preparing for para-jumbles and odd sentence out, practice with no options and understand the transition words or connectors.
- To improve comprehensive and analytical thinking, make a journal and note down summaries for each article you come across.
CAT LRDI Syllabus 2026
The Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation (LRDI) section of the CAT exam evaluates your ability to understand structured and unstructured data. This section is very much unpredictable and counts as the difficult section of the CAT 2026 exam.
Key Topics in CAT 2026 LRDI
| CAT LRDI Syllabus 2026 | ||
| Category | Topics | Weightage |
| Logical Reasoning | Seating Arrangements, Puzzles, Venn Diagrams, Binary Logic, Games & Tournaments, Quant-Based LR, Tables with Missing Values | 15% |
| Data Interpretation | Graphs (bar, line, pie), Tables, Charts, Data Sufficiency | 15% |
Preparation Strategy for CAT LRDI 2026
- Aspirants must practice and complete LRDI sets in a set timeframe to improve the speed and accuracy. This also simulates a real-exam environment.
- Instead of formulas, put your main focus on understanding logic patterns and data constraints.
- Rotate your topic for practice across puzzles, arrangements, and DI regularly.
- Keep track of your time spent on one set. Know your weaker sections and work on them.
CAT QA Syllabus 2026
The Quantitative Ability section of the CAT syllabus 2026 carries the maximum weightage. Quant focuses on mathematical aptitude but not advanced math.
Key Topics in CAT 2026 QA
| CAT QA Syllabus 2026 | |
| Topics | Subtopics |
| Arithmetic | Time-Speed Distance, Time & Work, Profit & Loss, Averages, Ratios, Percentages, Mixtures |
| Algebra | Linear & Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, Functions, Logarithms, Sequences & Series, Graphs, Higher Order Equation |
| Geometry | Triangles, Circles, Mensuration (2D & 3D), Co-ordinate Geometry, Polygons, Parallel Lines, Trigonometry |
| Number System | Divisibility, Factors, Remainders, Base Systems, LCM & HCF, Complex Numbers, Surds & Indices |
| Modern Math | Set Theory, Logarithms, Permutation & Combinations, Probability, Roots |
Preparation Strategies for CAT QA 2026
- Arithmetic is the most heavily weighted topic for nearly 40% of QA in recent CATs. Hence, aspirants must start with classes 6th-10th NCERT for concept clarity.
- Maintain a formula sheet and revise it regularly.
- Practice mocks and simulate real-time performance.
- Build 100% command over arithmetic before moving to algebra or geometry.
CAT 2026 Syllabus Summary Table
Let’s go through a summary of the CAT 2026 syllabus:
| Section | Topics Covered | No. of Questions | Sectional Time Limit |
| VARC | RCs, Parajumbles, Summaries | 24 | 40 minutes |
| LRDI | Graphs, Puzzles, Arrangements | 22 | 40 minutes |
| QA | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry | 22 | 40 minutes |
How Will CAT 2026 Be Different?
While the main CAT exam topics will remain the same, here are some changes we can expect in the CAT 2026.
- Rise in the number of Type In The Answer (TITA) questions. These require subjective logic with no negative marking.
- A major change can be seen in the VARC section with shifting the RC topics from ancient philosophy to modern economics. The VARC section of the CAT exam is evolving fast.
- The LRDI section can also go through some changes with unconventional topics like data games, sports tournaments, and logic-driven puzzles.
Keep on adapting your strategies as and when new CAT sample questions and official notifications get released.
CAT Exam Changes Over The Years
While the CAT syllabus 2026 remains consistent in terms of topics, the exam pattern has undergone significant changes over the years. Let’s learn more about these changes:
| Year | Duration | No. of Sections | Total Questions | Key Changes |
| 2009 | 2.5 Hours | 3 | 100 | First Computer-Based CAT |
| 2011-2014 | 2 Hours 20 minutes | 2 (QA & DI, VA & LR) | 100 | Sectional combinations introduced |
| 2015 | 3 Hours | 3 | 100 | Return to 3 sections (VARC, LRDI, & QA) |
| 2020 | 2 Hours (Post-Covid) | 3 | 76 | Due to pandemic time reductions and changes in pattern |
| 2021 | 2 Hours | 3 | 66 | Adjusted number of questions |
| 2022-2023 | 2 Hours | 3 | 66 | Continued with 66 questions and 40 minutes per sections |
| 2024-Expected 2026 | 2 Hours | 3 | 68 | Increased number of questions in 2024. |
Preparing for the CAT 2026 is a long-term game for which you will definitely require consistency, adaptability, and smart preparation techniques. The CAT syllabus 2026 demands that you not only master all the topics but also learn how to apply them under the pressure of time. Every aspirant must understand the why and how behind every question of the CAT exam.
iQuanta CAT Course 2026
CAT 2026 Syllabus: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, IIMs never release any official syllabus for the CAT exam. The CAT 2026 syllabus listed above is on the basis of past year trends.
While you prepare for your CAT, start with your strongest area to gain confidence, and then move on to the weaker sections.
If you are an early starter, this is the right time, as you will get ample time to brush up on your basics and then work on moderate- to high-level topics.
