Which Section has Highest Weightage in Common Admission Test? Exam on Nov 29
For CAT 2026 aspirants, understanding the section-wise weightage of the exam is essential for building an effective preparation strategy. Among the three sections, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) carries the highest weightage in terms of the total number of questions.
CAT 2026: Which Section has Highest Weightage in Common Admission Test?
The Common Admission Test consists of three main sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). The exam features a total of 68 questions divided across these sections based on the standard pattern. Although minor changes can be expected in CAT 2026 exam on the test day, IIM Indore has not announced any major change in the CAT 2026 exam structure.
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern and Section-Wise Breakdown
The section-wise question distribution for CAT 2026 is as follows:
- VARC: 24 questions
- DILR: 22 questions
- QA: 22 questions
With 24 questions, VARC clearly has the highest weightage by question count. Meanwhile, DILR and QA contain an equal number of questions, with 22 assigned to each section. While VARC has more questions, candidates must remember that a higher question count does not automatically mean a section contributes more to the overall CAT percentile. Scoring depends heavily on accuracy, scaling, and normalisation across all sections.
Additionally, participating b-schools may have sectional cutoff to shortlist candidates for admission rounds. Scoring well in one section will not make them eligible for admission.
Real prep plan shared by CAT toppers who scored 99+ to 100 percentile:
- 2025 CAT Topper Anmol Gupta (99.96%): Solved 5 DILR sets in under 35 mins.
- 2024 CAT Topper Vagish Nangia (100%): Mastered VARC using a 7-8 min RC drill and prioritised sectional mocks.
- 2025 CAT Topper Pranshav Shah (99.80%): Followed daily timed routine of 4 RCs, 4 DILR sets, 30-40 Quant questions.
Why Section-Wise Preparation Matters for CAT 2026?
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.
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.
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 daily.
Candidates should plan their preparation section-wise to cover the syllabus systematically. Understanding the specific question types in each section helps aspirants manage their time efficiently during the 120-minute exam. Regular practice allows students to identify their personal strengths and weak areas across all three domains.
Balancing preparation across VARC, DILR, and QA is critical for success. Aspirants should avoid neglecting any single section, as IIMs often enforce sectional cut-offs during the shortlisting process.
Read More: MBA Admissions via CAT 2026: Top Non IIMs with Last Date to Apply, Direct Link
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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
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