CAT: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility and Preparation

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CAT, the Common Admission Test, is the national computer-based exam used for admission to MBA and postgraduate management programs at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and many other business schools. It is conducted every year by one of the IIMs on a rotating basis. IIM Indore is the convening institute for CAT 2026.

The CAT exam lasts two hours and has three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. Each section has its own 40-minute time limit. Your CAT percentile is the first filter for shortlists, after which each institute runs its own interviews and assessments.

CAT at a glance

Full name	Common Admission Test
Conducted by	The IIMs, with one IIM convening each year (IIM Indore for 2026)
Exam level	National
Held	Once a year, usually on a Sunday in late November
Mode	Computer-based test at test centers, in three slots
Duration	120 minutes (40 minutes per section)
Subjects	VARC, DILR, Quantitative Aptitude
Total marks	204 (68 questions)
Negative marking	Minus 1 for wrong MCQs; none for TITA questions
Languages	English
Leads to	MBA and PGP admissions at IIMs and many other B-schools
Official website	iimcat.ac.in

CAT important dates

These dates update automatically from Kosuki’s exam calendar. “Announced” dates come from the official notice; “Expected” months are based on past years.

!Dates can change. Always confirm on the official website. Report a wrong date · How we check dates

What is the CAT exam?

CAT is an aptitude test, not a subject test. It checks reading, reasoning and numerical skills under strict time pressure. The IIMs use it as the common entry point for their flagship MBA or PGP programs, and many other institutes, including FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR and the management schools of several IITs, also accept CAT scores.

The exam is held once a year across many cities in India, in three slots on the same day. Scores from different slots are normalized, and results are reported as scaled scores and percentiles. A CAT score is used only for the admission cycle that follows it.

CAT eligibility

CAT eligibility is kept broad. There is no age limit and no limit on the number of attempts.

• A bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST and PwD candidates) from a recognized university.
• Final-year bachelor’s students and those awaiting results can apply, subject to completing the degree with the required marks.
• Candidates with professional qualifications such as CA, CS or CMA are also eligible.
• Individual IIMs and other institutes set their own shortlisting criteria, which may weigh Class 10, Class 12, graduation marks and work experience.

CAT exam pattern

The CAT exam pattern has stayed stable since 2024: 68 questions in 120 minutes. The section order is fixed, and you cannot return to a section once its 40 minutes are over. Some questions are multiple choice, and some are TITA (type in the answer), where you enter a number instead of choosing an option. The exact split of MCQ and TITA questions varies slightly between slots.

Section	Questions	Time	Marks
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	24	40 minutes	72
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)	22	40 minutes	66
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	22	40 minutes	66
Total	68	120 minutes	204

CAT marking scheme

The CAT marking scheme rewards accuracy. Negative marking applies only to multiple-choice questions, which changes how you should treat guesses.

• Correct answer: plus 3 marks, for both MCQ and TITA questions.
• Wrong MCQ answer: minus 1 mark.
• Wrong TITA answer: no deduction.
• Unattempted question: 0 marks.
• An on-screen basic calculator is available during the test.

CAT syllabus

There is no official detailed CAT syllabus, but the question types are well established from past papers.

• VARC: reading comprehension passages (most of the section), para-jumbles, para-summary and odd sentence out.
• DILR: sets built on tables, charts, arrangements, games and tournaments, scheduling, networks and puzzles. Usually four or five questions per set.
• Quantitative Aptitude: arithmetic (percentages, ratios, time and work, time-speed-distance, profit and loss), algebra, geometry and mensuration, number systems, and modern math such as permutations and probability. Arithmetic and algebra usually carry the largest share.

CAT result, percentile and admissions

The CAT result is usually declared in late December or early January. The scorecard shows your scaled score and percentile for each section and overall. A provisional answer key and your response sheet are released a few days after the exam, with a short window for objections.

Each IIM publishes its own admission policy with its own cut-offs and weights. Shortlisted candidates are called for a written ability test, group discussion or personal interview, depending on the institute. The Common Admission Process (CAP) is used by several newer IIMs. Colleges accepting the CAT score outside the IIMs run their own processes, so check each institute’s policy early.

How to prepare for CAT

CAT preparation is as much about choosing questions as solving them. In a 40-minute section you will not attempt everything. Good scores come from picking the right sets and keeping accuracy high on MCQs.

• VARC: read long-form articles daily on economics, philosophy, science and society. Practice at least two or three RC passages a day and review why each wrong option is wrong.
• DILR: in the first few minutes, scan all sets and pick the two or three you understand fastest. Solving two sets fully usually beats half-solving four.
• Quant: build strong basics in arithmetic and algebra first. Keep a list of formulas and shortcuts, and revise it weekly.
• Use TITA questions well. Since wrong TITA answers carry no penalty, attempt them whenever you have a reasonable approach.
• Be careful with MCQ guesses. One wrong answer cancels a third of a correct one, so skip MCQs you cannot narrow down.
• Solve the official previous years’ papers, then move to full-length mocks from about three months before the exam. Analyze each mock for longer than it took to write.
• Track sectional mock scores over time, for example in Kosuki, so you can see which section needs more work.

How to apply for CAT

1. Register on iimcat.ac.in when registration opens, usually in early August.
2. Log in and fill personal details, academic records and work experience.
3. Select the IIM programs you want to be considered for and choose preferred test cities.
4. Upload your photograph, signature and category or PwD certificates where needed.
5. Pay the fee online and submit. Keep a copy of the confirmation page.
6. Download the admit card from the same website a few weeks before the exam.

CAT FAQs

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Sources

• iimcat.ac.in
• www.mbauniverse.com/cat
• www.shiksha.com/mba/cat-exam-notification

Last reviewed September 2026 against the official IIM Indore notice and information brochure. Exam rules can change from year to year, so always confirm details on the official website before you apply. Kosuki is independent and is not connected with any exam body. Spotted something out of date? Write to contact@kosuki.com.