CAT Exam Pattern 2026, Types of Questions, Sectional Timing and Marks Distributions

If candidates are planning to appear in the CAT 2026 exam, they have to understand the exam pattern and start preparations accordingly. CAT Exam Pattern is designed to test the candidate’s ability to solve mathematical and reasoning problems accurately in the least amount of time.

CAT Exam Pattern 2026

CAT exam is designed to test a management aspirant’s communication, quantitative, and logical skills. To complete the test with maximum accuracy and efficiency, candidates must understand the exam pattern. As per the CAT Exam Pattern, the exam has three sections, namely VARC, DILR, and Quant. Each of these three sections has MCQs as well as TITA-type questions.

CAT Exam Pattern and Structure 2026

In this article, we have discussed the exam pattern with a detailed marking scheme, topics to be asked in the exam, and other important points. Candidates who clear the CAT Exam 2026 will be eligible for admission to over 1200 MBA colleges in India, apart from the IIMs.

The CAT 2026 exam will be held on 29th November 2026 in computer-based mode. The exam consists of 66 questions for a total of 198 marks. The questions will be based on MCQs and non-MCQs. The time duration for the CAT exam is 120 minutes, which is divided into 40 minutes for each section.

There will be three sections in the CAT Exam:

Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI)
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

Sections	No. of Questions	Marks	Time Duration
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	22	66	40 minutes
LRDI	20	60	40 minutes
VARC	24	72	40 minutes
Total	66	198	120 minutes

Types of Questions in the CAT Exam

The CAT Exam will consist of 3 sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability. Two types of questions will be asked in all 3 sections: MCQs and Non-MCQs (TITA). The section-wise question distributions in the CAT exam and related marks are discussed below.

CAT Section	Questions	Maximum Marks
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)	22	66
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)	20	60
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	24	72
Total	66	198

CAT Exam 2026 Marking Scheme

In the CAT Exam 2026, a total of 76 multiple-choice questions will be asked. For each correct answer, 03 marks will be provided. There is negative marking; 01 mark will be deducted for the wrong answer.

VARC	24	03	-1
DILR	20	03	-1
QA	22	03	-1

CAT Exam Pattern 2026- FAQs

Q1. What are Non-MCQs in CAT exam?

Non-MCQ or TITA questions were introduced in the CAT exam by IIM Ahmedabad in 2015 and since then, they've been a regular feature in all CAT exams. There are 22 Non-MCQs question will be asked in CAT exam.