How to Prepare for CAT 2026: Preparation Guides & Free Practice Papers with Solutions
Common Admission Test 2026 ( CAT )
CAT 2026 Registration Window
4 Aug '26 - 15 Sep '26
CAT preparation is all about striking the right balance between theory and practice. CAT is a long journey so you need to start early. If you are planning to appear for CAT 2026, Shiksha brings to you, top study tips by MBA expert. Check out how to prepare for CAT 2026 exam.
CAT 2026 Preparation Tips and Practice Papers
CAT 2026 Preparation: IIM Indore will conduct CAT 2026 exam on November 29. Candidates aspiring for MBA admissions via Common Admission Test (CAT) must have already started their preparation. This article guides the candidates who are yet to make a plan and strategise their CAT preparation. Additionally, candidates who have started preparing for the CAT exam can access free sectional tests below with easy, medium, and tough difficulty standards.
Keep in mind the fact that, whether you start early or late, you need a focused study plan. For that, check out previous years’ CAT question papers to know the most important topics and make a strategy surrounding those. Scroll down for complete information on CAT 2026 preparation, including the resources, such as practice tests with solutions, syllabus PDF, CAT formula sheet, and exam structure.
Join Group ➔
- CAT 2026 Preparation Through Coaching
- CAT 2026 Preparation by Self-Study
- How to Prepare for CAT 2026: VARC
- How to Prepare for CAT 2026: DILR
- How to Prepare for CAT 2026: Quantitative Aptitude
- CAT Preparation 2026: Solving Sample Papers and CAT Mock Tests
- Practice CAT Mock Tests for 99+ Percentile
CAT 2026 Preparation Through Coaching
CAT preparation is a long term plan. One has to start preparing for it at least six to nine months in advance. Coaching institutes start CAT preparation early. They also provide all the study material and CAT mock test series to candidates, while guiding them through tricky topics and questions. Daily 6-8 hours classes ensure preparation is on track for each aspirant.
Also Read:
- CAT Preparation 2026: Coaching vs Self Study
- When is the Best Time to Start CAT Exam Preparation
- How to Prepare for CAT: Tips from Toppers
- CAT Exam Preparation: 10 Popular Myths Busted
🚀 Plan Your Studies with CAT 2026 Preparation Guides
CAT 2026 Preparation by Self-Study
Aspirants can also prepare for CAT 2026 by self-study. There are many CAT toppers, who have studied for the exam by self. Those who opt for self-study, must not worry about how to prepare for CAT 2026. All they need to do is, do the following:
- Start exam preparation by April 2026
- Join online study groups on Facebook, YouTube, Quora, Telegram, etc.
- Download MBA entrance exam preparation apps
- Buy best books for CAT preparation and other CAT preparation material
- Obtain online study material like CAT mock test series by MBA coaching institutes.
- Make a month-wise CAT preparation plan
CAT exam is held in online mode. The difficulty level of the question paper is usually moderate to difficult. The questions may be easy or tough, but what makes the difference is how well and fast you use your mind to solve them with 80-85 per cent accuracy.
Knowing CAT syllabus and pattern thoroughly is the first and foremost requirement. Being able to choose the right question, reading them quickly and accurately and solving them quickly and accurately, are the key areas you need to work upon during your CAT 2026 preparation. Candidates have to take split-second decisions in the exam. To master this skill, you need to practice 40-50 CAT mock tests.
Also Read:
Commonly asked questions
Yes CAT syllabus is difficult to crack if you do not have enough time. There are three subjects in CAT- VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Most of candidates find RC passages tough to crack. In Quants, Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry pose significant challenge during preparation. In DILR, Reasoning questions often turnout to be tricky and confusion.
The best way to prepare for DILR section is through practice. Before starting the preparation, aspirants should check previous years’ question papers. Since there is not much conceptual understanding required in this section, practice is important.
Some of the most popular books on DILR section that you can refer are How to Prepare for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit Sinha, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning for CAT by Pearson, to name a few.
CAT is a speed-based test of analytical aptitude, logical reasoning skills, data interpretation and English comprehension. Now, it may sound tough, but these are the skills which we are taught in school so there is nothing new to learn. What is required is to learn these subjects at advanced level. If you are an average student but have studied Science or Commerce in Class-12 and graduation, you will find a lot of familiar topics in Data Interpretation, Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning. All you will need is brush up the basics and practice the concepts on advanced-level problems.
However, since the competition is so high in CAT and less than 95 percentile can break your dream of joining a top college like IIM, the preparation for CAT requires a lot of focus, dedication, discipline and diligence. If you can do that, despite being an average student, you can crack the CAT exam.
Hope it was helpful!!!
CAT Quantitative Aptitude has the potential of 100 percentile if you prepare well. The Quantitative Aptitude topics of CAT are advance level Mathematic topics from Class 9 and 10. So, for any candidate, the foundation is already there, they only need to work on it further.
The important topics of CAT Quantitative Aptitude include Geometry, Ratios and Proportion, Inequalities, Trigonometry, In-equations, Quadratic and Linear Equations, Work and Time, Algebra, Surds and Indices, Percentages, Mensuration, Time-Speed-Distance, Logarithms, Partnership (Accounts), Number System, Square Root and Cube Root, Profit & Loss, Geometric Progression, Probability, Mean-Mode-Median, Binomial theorem, Simple interest and compound interest.
Maximum questions are asked from Arithmetic and Geometry so keep the main focus on these two topic. Understand and memorise the formulas and theorems well, and practice enough questions to be thorough with their application.
- Section-wise CAT syllabus 2026
- CAT exam pattern and structure
- CAT preparation plan and section-wise strategy
- Download CAT question papers PDFs
How to Prepare for CAT 2026: VARC
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section of CAT exam has two parts – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. You will need to have a separate preparation strategy for both.
Verbal Ability questions of the CAT are mainly parajumbles, odd sentence out and para completion. There are no grammar questions, thus one cannot rely on word power or English Grammar rules to help you sail through this section. Parajumbles are equally tricky as CAT RC passages, so the only way to crack CAT VARC is practice and more practice.
Reading Comprehension can be tackled by cultivating the habit of reading over time. Start fiction novel, newspapers and blogs. Target nothing less than a reading speed of about 300 words per minute depending on the level of the text. And read a lot. Choose topics that are out of your comfort zone.
| CAT VARC Syllabus Topics |
CAT VARC Syllabus Topics |
|---|---|
CAT VARC Practice Tests with Solutions
Practice CAT VARC sectional tests under timed conditions to analyse preparation level:
Also Read:
- CAT VARC strategy to score 30+ marks to get 95+ percentile
-
CAT Preparation: Your Love For Reading Can Get You Desired Result
- CAT preparation: Common Pitfalls to Avoid in RC Questions
- Types of Reading Comprehension questions in CAT
How to Prepare for CAT 2026: DILR
The weightage of Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) in a CAT exam almost the same as the other two sections of the paper. This section is moderately tough and time consuming.
The tricky part about CAT DILR is that it is not Mathematics and there is no formula. It is logic based and requires some amount of calculation and counting. Meaning, Reasoning is a skill to be acquired and not formulae to be memorised.
To prepare for CAT DILR, Mental calculation is the keY. To strengthen your hold on DILR, don’t use the calculator, rely on your brain. Master Tables from 1 to 20, knowledge of Fractions from 1/1, 1/2, 1/3 to 1/20, basic calculation, etc.
DILR section of CAT can be mastered with practice, the more you practice, the higher accuracy you will develop.
| CAT DILR Syllabus Topics |
CAT DILR Syllabus Topics |
|---|---|
CAT DILR Practice Tests with Solutions
Practice CAT DILR sectional tests under timed conditions to analyse preparation level:
Also Read:
Explore colleges based on CAT
Want better recommendations?
There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
- Chat with our counselor
- Get your personalised list of colleges & exams matching your preferences
How to Prepare for CAT 2026: Quantitative Aptitude
The CAT Quantitative Aptitude section includes Arithmetic, Algebra, Advance Mathematics and Geometry; and makes up for the 1/3rd of the CAT question paper. The questions are moderately tough but calculation intensive so the key is question selection.
No matter whether you are from Technical background or non-Technical background you will have to study all the Quants topics from scratch. Don’t get into Quant preparation with the notion of – ‘I have studied this’. Study all the topics all over again in detail. Memorise fundamentals and theories. Develop mental calculation. Practice Vedic Math. Check the below table for key Quants topics.
| CAT Quant Syllabus Topics |
CAT Quant Syllabus Topics |
|---|---|
CAT Quant Practice Test with Solutions
Practice CAT Quant sectional tests under timed conditions to analyse preparation level:
Also Read:
- CAT 2026 Quant Strategy to Score 25 Marks and 95+ Percentile
- CAT Preparation Plan For QA
- How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT Exam
- Master the Secret of Acing QA in CAT Exam
- How to Approach Quant Section of CAT Exam
- Six Strategies of Quant Preparation for CAT
CAT Preparation 2026: Solving Sample Papers and CAT Mock Tests
A key aspect of CAT exam preparation is solving sample questions and online mock tests. Candidates must make sure that they practice about 40-50 CAT mock tests during their preparation time. While the ideal time to start full-fledged CAT mocks is October, experts recommend that candidates solve topic-wise sample questions while studying them for better clarity of concepts. Listed below are some key points related to CAT mock test, read on.
- While studying a particular topic, solve its practice questions at least thrice. In the first attempt, you will understand the question and its logic, in the second attempt, you will be able to solve it accurately and in the third attempt, you’ll be able to solve in with accuracy in lesser time.
- Start solving online CAT mock tests after you’ve completed the syllabus so that you don’t get stuck on a particular topic.
- Your aim behind practicing CAT mock tests must be to increase speed and accuracy for solving a 2-hour long question paper. Also, increase your stamina for a 2-hour test without getting exhausted.
- After solving each CAT mock test or sample paper, analyse your performance and assess the area of improvement. Do not solve more than one sample paper in a day. Your mind needs rest after a grueling session.
- Do not feel demoralized if the result is not encouraging initially, continue to assess gaps and work on them. The only way you can win on CAT or any other MBA entrance exam is by winning on mock tests.
- Since, CAT exam has sectional time-limit, it is essential to practice sectional mock tests as well, to learn and manage time efficiently.
Practice CAT Mock Tests for 99+ Percentile
Candidates must practise as many mock tests as possible to secure a 99 percentile in CAT exam. Find two full-length CAT practice papers with solutions below. These CAT sample papers are curated in line with the difficulty standards of the actual exam
Commonly asked questions
To prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, stick to the traditional path of concepts first and practice later. Study English grammar and Verbal Ability first to understand the concept. Then practice a number of sample questions of different kinds to gain confidence, speed and accuracy. For RC passages, develop the habit of reading from early stages. Read books from all walks of life.
Practicing sample Reading Comprehension passages and questions in a crucial part of VARC preparation. This will help you understand the types of questions and RC passages asked in various entrance exams.
As an aspirant, you will be appearing for more than one entrance exam, thus you need to have the practice of different types of RC passages.
While candidates belonging to Science and Engineering background do have an edge over Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), it is not impossible for students from non-Science background to crack this section of an MBA entrance exam. They do need to prepare harder which includes going back to study fundamentals of Mathematics such as Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Mensuration.
With regular practice and understanding of the question types and topics, candidates, irrespective of the educational background, can crack this section. Aspirants must note that it is important to identify the weak areas and improve on them to get a stronghold on this section. For Logical Reasoning, a good amount of practice of sample questions will be enough.
Yes, it is possible to prepare for DILR with self study. To score well in this section is to follow a strategy. First step is to go through previous years question papers and know various topics. Refer top books for DILR preparation. Practice adequate number of DILR questions with the help of mock tests, sample papers and previous years' papers.
CAT syllabus is vast. It has numerous topics from Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation. Covering the CAT syllabus also includes practicing a variety of sample questions on the topics included. Thus, it requires a lot of time. Candidates must given themselves atleast 3-4 months to cover CAT syllabus and keep in mind the following:
· Check the previous years' CAT papers to know topics which carry more weightage so that you can focus on those topics more.
· List down topicsin order of easy, moderate and tough and allot time to them accordingly.
· Make sure to study about 6-8 hours per day to complete the syllabus 2-3 months before the exam.
· After studying every topic, practice sample questions. Balance theory with practical.
| CAT Sample Question Papers | CAT Sample Paper Solutions |
|---|---|
| CAT Mock Test 1 | CAT Mock Test 1 Solutions |
| CAT Mock Test 2 | CAT Mock Test 2 Solutions |
CAT Preparation: Solve Previous Year CAT Question Papers
Along with sample papers and mock tests, candidates must also solve previous year CAT question papers of at least last five years. This will give them an idea of question paper pattern, difficulty level of questions, types of questions, topic-wise break-up of questions and marking scheme of the CAT. Candidates can download free PDFs of CAT question papers of previous years below.
Benchmark Prep Against the Real CAT Exam
Over 3 Lakh candidates compete annually. The most direct way to pinpoint your performance gaps and prevent surprise pattern shifts is by practising real slot-wise papers.
⬇️ Download CAT Exam Previous Year PapersCommonly asked questions
In the last month of CAT preparation, focus on revision with sample papers, previous years' question papers and practice sessions.
Maximum marks in CAT is 204. There are 68 questions each carrying 3 marks. VARC is of 72 marks and DILR and Quants are of 66 marks each.
In CAT Quantitative Aptitude, Arithmetic has the highest weightage with 7-8 questions in every shift. In VARC, Reading Comprehension has the maximum weightage with about 16 questions. In DILR, the number of questions are equally distributed.
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.
Lastly, we recommend practice, practice and practice more. The more you practice questions from VARC, LRDI and QA the better control you'll have on the CAT 2026 question paper.
Read More:
Explore more MBA exams with upcoming dates
3 Sep '26
26 Sep '26
20 Aug '26 - 10 Oct '26
14 Oct '26 - 17 Oct '26
30 Sep '26 - 20 Nov '26
21 Aug '26 - 25 Nov '26
24 Oct '26 - 28 Nov '26
12 Dec '26
30 Sep '26 - 31 Dec '26
13 Dec '26
- How many questions to attempt in CAT to score 99 percentile
- Last month CAT preparation tips
- How to Approach CAT Questions; Tips from Toppers
- How to Prepare for CAT without quitting your job
- Last Week Preparation Tips for CAT VARC
- Last Week Preparation Tips for CAT DILR
- Last Week Preparation Tips for CAT Quantitative Aptitude
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
15 Jul '26 - 6 Dec '26 | XAT 2027 Registration |
Oct '26 | XAT 2027 Form Correction |
21 Aug '26 - 25 Nov '26 | SNAP 2026 Registration Process |
7 Dec '26 | SNAP 2026 admit card session 1... |
20 Aug '26 - 10 Oct '26 | NMAT 2026 Registration Window |
20 Aug '26 - 22 Oct '26 | NMAT 2026 Scheduling Window |
17 Oct '24 - 5 Dec '24 | IIFT 2025 registration and app... |
22 Jun '26 - 7 Sep '26 | MAT September 2026 Registratio... |
22 Jun '26 - 14 Sep '26 | MAT September 2026 Registratio... |
26 Sep '26 | IBSAT 2026 Mock Test |
24 Oct '26 | IBSAT 2026 Mock Test |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
Yes. Candidates can apply for Executive MBA course at IIM Kashipur Dehradun campus, without CAT or GMAT score, because the institute also accepts candidates score in EMAT exam, which is conducted directly by IIM Kashipur.
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 days ago
T.I.M.E., Career Launcher, Bulls Eye and Kautilya Academy offer weekend coaching in Bilaspur.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
To choose the best CAT Coaching institute in Bilaspur, candidates must consider the following points:
- Final fee structure and refund/installment policy.
- Compare classroom vs. online/hybrid formats
- Ask about batch size, number of full-length mocks, recorded sessions/notes
- Success Rate of the centre
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
The average fee ranges in Bilaspur from ₹50,000 to ₹65,000 for offline classroom courses and ₹18,000 to ₹35,000 for online courses.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Coaching centres in Bareilly, like Career Launcher, BIGS ADDA Education and TF Classes, have not specifically mentioned their weekend classes. Candidates must visit these coaching centres or contact them to know about the classes.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
To choose the best CAT Coaching institute in Bareilly, candidates must consider the following points:
- Success Rate of the centre
- Compare classroom vs. online/hybrid formats
- Ask about batch size, number of full-length mocks, recorded sessions/notes
- Final fee structure and refund/installment policy.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
The average fee ranges in Bareilly from ₹30,000 to ₹75,000 for offline classroom courses and ₹18,000 to ₹35,000 for online courses.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, students can get merit-based scholarships (based on CAT or NBSAT Composite Score). Check below eligibility and scholarship amount offered:
| Composite Score Percentile | Scholarship Value |
|---|---|
| Above 95%ile | INR 4,00,000 waiver |
Above 90%ile | INR 3,00,000 waiver |
Above 80%ile | INR 1,00,000 waiver |
The composite score is calculated using CAT or NBSAT along with admission parameters defined by NBS (subject to ≥80% in Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation).
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
No, CAT is not compulsory for MBA at SOA University. Candidates without CAT scores can appear for SAAT conducted by SOA for admission in MBA. Aspirants can choose any of these of admission pathways.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered a week ago
Yes, candidates can get admission to specific executive or online MBA programs at IIM Mumbai without the CAT by using alternative exams like GMAT or GRE, or by clearing the institute's own entrance test. However, the regular, full-time flagship MBA programme strictly requires a valid CAT score.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Abhishek Dhawan is a content writer and editor with 7+ years of experience in education journalism. He holds a BA degree from the University of Delhi. At Shiksha, Abhishek primarily covers MBA and BBA entrance
Read Full Bio