CAT 2026 Syllabus; Check Section-wise Syllabus & Topics with Weightage
Common Admission Test 2026 ( CAT )
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CAT exam syllabus 2026 will require detailed study. The topic pool is large with varied types of questions to master. Be it VA, RC, DI, LR or QA, all these require deep understanding and a lot of practice. Check below CAT 2026 syllabus for exam preparation.
CAT syllabus for MBA
CAT 2026 syllabus includes Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. These subjects are included in the CAT syllabus by the IIMs to evaluate MBA aspirant’s communication, reasoning and analytical skills.
Eversince the inception of CAT exam, the syllabus has remained the same. Those planning to appear for CAT 2026 exam must start preparation latest by May, so that they have atleast 3 months to complete the entire CAT syllabus. CAT 2026 will be conducted on November 29, 2026. Read below topics included in CAT syllabus 2026, topic wise weightage and books to refer.
Download: Last 5-Year CAT Question Papers PDFs
- CAT 2026 Syllabus Highlights
- CAT VARC Syllabus 2026
- CAT DILR Syllabus 2026
- CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus 2026
- Best Books to Cover CAT Syllabus 2026
CAT 2026 Syllabus Highlights
CAT is a high difficulty level exam. The syllabus includes a lot of topics. The key to crack it is to know what and how much to study. Check below key highlights of CAT syllabus 2026:
| CAT exam particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| Number of sections |
|
| Questions per section |
VARC - 24 DILR - 22 Quantitative Aptitude -22 |
| Marks per section |
VARC - 72 DILR - 66 Quantitative Aptitude -66 |
| Question type |
MCQ and TITA |
Also Read:
CAT VARC Syllabus 2026
CAT VARC is passage heavy section. There are no direct grammar or spelling questions. Candidates would be required to do a lot of reading and practice for both verbal ability and reading comprehension.
| Section |
Topics |
No. of Questions out of 24 |
Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension |
RC questions are usually of the following types: Inference based Specific details Application/purpose based Logic based |
16 |
67% |
| Parajumbles |
Rearranging a set of sentence to make a meaningful paragraph |
3 |
12.5% |
| Parasummary |
Identifying a sentence indicating the core theme or meaning of a para |
3 |
12.5% |
| Odd Sentence |
Finding the sentence that does not belong to the set |
2 |
8.3% |
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CAT DILR Syllabus 2026
CAT DILR section is equally divided into 11-11 questions. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning both sub sections usually have set based questions in the exam. Check the below table to know important topics of DILR.
| Data Interpretation |
Logical Reasoning |
|---|---|
| Caselets and Data Interpretation based on Percentages and Ratios, Averages and Weighted Averages, Profit and Loss, Growth Rates, Data Comparison, Venn Diagrams, Tables-Based DI, Routes and Networks, Mathematical Puzzles, Graphs |
Seating Arrangements, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Syllogisms, Clocks and Calendars, Coding-Decoding, Number Series, Logical Sequences, Puzzles, Games and Tournaments |
Also Read:
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus 2026
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus is broadly divided into 5 main Maths topics, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Modern Math and Numbers. Check below CAT topics and weightage of Quantitative Aptitude syllabus:
| Section |
Topics |
No. of Questions out of 22 |
Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic |
Ratio and Proportion, Simple and Compound Interest, Averages and Mixtures, Profit, Loss, Discount, Time-Speed-Distance, Time-Work, Percentages, Pipes and Cisterns, Boats and Streams, Partnerships |
8-10 |
40% |
| Algebra |
Functions, Logarithms, Sequences and Series, Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, Progressions (AP, GP, HP), Maxima and Minima, Polynomials |
5-7 |
30% |
| Geometry |
Triangles, Circles, Quadrilaterals, Lines and Angles, Polygons, Mensuration (2D and 3D), Coordinate, Trigonometry |
1-3 |
15% |
| Numbers |
Number System, Natural Numbers, Whole Numbers, Integers, Rational and Irrational Numbers, Real Numbers, Divisibility and Remainders, Factors and Multiples, HCF and LCM, Prime and Composite Numbers, Cyclicity and Factorials, Base System, Surds and Indices |
1-2 |
5%-7% |
| Modern Math |
Probability, Permutations and Combinations, Set Theory, Venn Diagrams, Binomial Theorem, Functions and Graphs |
2-4 |
5%-7% |
Also Read:
Best Books to Cover CAT Syllabus 2026
For syllabus coverage, the basic requirement is recommended CAT books. Listed below are section wise best books for CAT that have proven success rate of over decades.
| CAT Books for VARC |
CAT Books for DILR |
CAT Books for Quantitative Aptitude |
|---|---|---|
| How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay |
A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by RS Agarwal How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma |
NCERT Mathematics books (Class 9-10)
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha
Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Nishit Sinha |
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CAT lays a lot of emphasis on analytical skills so the questions are asked mostly from those topics which require deep learning and practice. The three sections of CAT question paper are designed in such a way that candidates have to use their ability of minute observation and fast calculation. Shared below are the section wise main topics from which questions are asked in CAT. Verbal Ability: Parajumbles, Parasummary, Sentence Completion and Inferences
- Reading Comprehension: Questions based on passages, Para meaning, Order of sentences
- Data Interpretation: Tables, Graphs, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, Data Sufficiency
- Logical Reasoning: Blood Relation, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Sets and Caselets, Family Tree, Assumptions
- Quantitative Aptitude: Geometry, Algebra Number System Modern Math, Arithmetic, Mensuration
The difficulty level of CAT questions is usually moderate to high. Only a few questions are easy and quick to solve. To crack the CAT exam, one needs to pay attention to the abovementioned topics.
CAT syllabus includes all the important topics of subjects that are relevant for business aptitude. For CAT exam, candidates have to study, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension VARC Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Given below are the key topics included in the CAT syllabus.
- VARC topics: Parajumbles, Paracompletion, Parasummary, Verbal Reasoning and Reading Comprehension.
- Quantitative Aptitude topics: Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra Trigonometry Modern Math, Number System and Mensuration.
- DILR topics: Puzzles, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, Tables and Bar Graphs, etc.
Vipra Shrivastava is MA in English Literature from Delhi University with extensive experience in content writing of over 14 years. She has been handling content for Management, Accounting and Commerce streams for 8
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 10 hours ago
NMIMS does not accept scores of the CAT exam for admission in its MBA courses. Even if you have a good percentile in CAT, you have to qualify the eligibility criteria for NMIMS MBA as well as take the NMAT exam. NMAT exam is a national level exam conducted by GMAC as an entrance exam for admission i
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Contributor-Level 9
Answered 10 hours ago
PIBM Pune provides opportunities to students to enrol to MBA and PGDM programs even with low CAT scores based on the profile and interview performance of the student. We conduct our internal assessment test called PMAT, in which students are required to score a minimum of 50% to qualify for the GD a
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Beginner-Level 4
Answered 16 hours ago
CAT and ATMA are both MBA entrance exams. But, historically, the difficulty level of CAT exam is higher as compared to that of ATMA exam.
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Contributor-Level 6
Answered Yesterday
IIM Calcutta offers a large diversity of courses to students in Management field. IIM Calcutta admissions are held on the basis of entrance tests. Students seeking course admissions must clear their previous qualifying examination and appear for any of the prescribed entrance exams such as CAT, amon
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Contributor-Level 10
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CAT DILR preparation is completely based on practice papers and mock tests. You should obtain recommended CAT DILR sample papers and mock test series. Make sure to cover all types of question. Also practice DILR questions of past year with the help of CAT question papers.
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Contributor-Level 6
Answered Yesterday
Yes, you can crack CAT through self study but it will require a lot of discipline and consistency on daily basis. You will need the most recommended books, best mock test series and online practice sessions. Join YouTube channels for online tutorial. Give yourself 9 months and study for 8 hours dail
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
While it is advised to dedicate at least 9 months to CAT preparation, six months of dedicated study can also help you crack the exam. You will need daily, weekly and monthly plan for syllabus coverage. Practice a good number of mock tests and study for about 8 hours daily.
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Contributor-Level 6
Answered Yesterday
Overall difficulty level of CAT exam has always been moderate to high. CAT is of higher difficulty level than all other MBA entrance exams in India.
P
Contributor-Level 6
Answered Yesterday
As per the latest CAT exam pattern, there will be 68 questions. The format will be MCQ and non-MCQ. VARC will have 24 questions, DILR will have 22 questions and QA will have 22 questions. Each question will carry 3 marks and there will be negative marking of -1 for incorrect answer. Sectional time l
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While it is not mandatory to attempt all sections in CAT, the IIMs and all top B School consider sectional percentiles too for selecting candidates for admission. Thus, you cannot afford to skip a CAT section all together. You can skip some questions though.
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Contributor-Level 6
CAT has three sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. XAT has four sections – Verbal and Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, Decision Making and General Knowledge. While CAT is Quant heavy, XAT is more tilted towards Reasoning.