The CAT 2026 is one of the toughest entrance tests in the country. Lakhs of candidates appear for this exam to enter IIMs and top B-schools. In CAT 2025, over 2.95 lakhs candidates registered for this test. This makes it one of the most competitive MBA entrance exams in India. CAT is conducted by one of the IIMs every year. It usually tests a candidate’s aptitude, speed, and decision-making. Based on the last year CAT exam analysis, the exam level is usually moderately difficult. And DILR and QA are the major challenges. You must check the CAT previous year exam analysis to recognise trends, expected question types, and difficulty level. If you are aiming for CAT 2026, analysing last year’s CAT exam trend can be a game-changer. It helps you plan your strategy better and maximise your chances of scoring in the 99+ percentile. Read on to know all details about the last year CAT exam analysis and what can you expect in CAT 2026.
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CAT Exam Analysis Overview
You must first understand the pattern before checking the last year CAT exam analysis.
1. The CAT exam has three sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
2. Total Questions: 68
3. Exam Duration: 120 minutes
4. 40 minutes per section.
The CAT exam pattern has evolved in recent years. It followed the same format in 2024 and 2025. This pattern is likely to remain the same in CAT 2026.
Last Year CAT Exam Analysis
Understanding the last year CAT Exam Analysis has many benefits. It can simplify your overall preparation. It provides insights into the difficulty level, weightage, and question type. This gives you a rough idea of what you can expect in CAT 2026. This helps you set realistic targets and plan your preparation better. Based on the feedback of the candidates, it was found that CAT 2025 was moderately difficult. We have discussed below the slot-wise CAT exam analysis 2025 in terms of difficulty level:
| Sections | Total Questions | Difficulty Level (Slot 1) | Difficulty Level (Slot 2) | Difficulty Level (Slot 3) |
| VARC | 24 | Moderate to Difficult | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate |
| DILR | 22 | Difficult | Difficult | Moderate to Difficult |
| QA | 22 | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate to Difficult |
| Total | 68 | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate to Difficult |
Key Takeaways from Last Year CAT Exam Analysis
Here are the key takeaways from the last year CAT exam analysis shared below for reference purposes:
- DILR is the Biggest Game Changer: Many CAT aspirants find this section challenging. Even toppers find the DILR section difficult. So, you must practice mixed-level DILR sets to excel.
- QA Difficulty Increasing: QA now checks your conceptual knowledge, speed, and decision-making. Build a strong foundation. Learn the selection strategy to pick the right questions.
- VARC Remains Scoring: VARC is one of the most scoring sections in CAT. Read, practice, and revise to excel.
- CAT is Testing Thinking Ability: CAT rewards accuracy and logical thinking. It is not about rote memorisation.
What Can You Expect in CAT 2026?
Here is the prediction for CAT 2026 based on the last year CAT exam analysis:
Expected Pattern CAT 2026
The CAT 2026 exam pattern is expected to remain the same. The CAT exam covers VARC, DILR, and QA. A total of 68 questions is expected to be asked. The exam duration will be 120 minutes (40 minutes per section).
Expected Difficulty CAT 2026
It is anticipated that CAT 2026 will also be moderately difficult. VARC will be moderately easy. While DILR and QA are expected to be moderately difficult.
CAT 2026 Expected Topics
The CAT VARC section will have two sections: Verbal Ability (Para jumbles, Para Summary, Odd Sentence Out and Sentence Completion) and Reading Comprehension (RC Passages, Critical Reasoning). The CAT DILR section focuses on Seating Arrangements, Puzzles, Venn Diagrams, Games & Tournaments, Graphs, Tables, Charts, etc. The CAT QA section focuses on Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number System, and Modern Math.
CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy Based on Last Year CAT Exam Analysis
The CAT 2026 preparation requires consistency and smart planning. We have discussed below the CAT exam strategy based on last year exam analysis for reference purposes:
Focus on Concepts
You should focus on learning fundamentals first. CAT rewards conceptual clarity. Many students wonder where and how to start CAT exam preparation. This is where the iQuanta CAT 2026 course helps them. It offers interactive CAT Live and application classes to guide beginners to success. You first grasp concepts and then apply them to solve mixed-level questions.
Practice Mock Tests
Mock tests are a crucial part of the CAT 2026 preparation strategy. It can improve your speed and accuracy. It will also build confidence and time management skills. iQuanta CAT 2026 course offers mocks that mimic actual exam standards. It is available in both sectional and full-length formats. This helps you get used to the exam format. It comes with detailed analysis and video solutions. This helps you identify your strengths and challenges.
Focus on Every Section
Candidates should give equal importance to all the sections. They must learn fundamentals and practice unlimited questions. iQuanta CAT 2026 course provide section-wise basic and advanced modules. It helps you build concepts from scratch. It offers CAT-level questions and video explanations. It also offers proven strategies and shortcut methods. This allows you achieve mastery in every section.
Improve Reading Skills
Reading is essential in CAT exam preparation. It can improve your comprehension, speed, and accuracy skills. Read newspapers, articles, and books daily to excel in VARC.
Final CAT 2026 Prediction Based on Last Year CAT Exam Analysis
We have shared below the final CAT 2026 predictions based on last year CAT exam analysis. The CAT 2026 exam is expected to be:
- Moderately Difficult
- Similar to CAT 2025
- Unpredictable DILR
- Tough QA
- Manageable VARC
The CAT exam is unpredictable. But the last year CAT exam analysis provides you rough idea about the difficulty and competition level. You must prepare strategically to increase the chances of scoring 99 percentile. Focus on learning, practice, and revision. You can join the iQuanta CAT 2026 course to access interactive classes, sectional modules, mock tests, 24X7 doubt support, etc. Enrol in this course today and solidify your CAT 2026 preparation.
