CAT Exam Pattern Section wise Marking Scheme and Duration details

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the sole entrance test to the premier B-schools of India like the IIMs, and each year lakhs of MBA aspirants are competing for a limited number of seats. The first and best thing to do before cracking open any paper of mock tests or preparation books is to know the CAT examination pattern inside out. When you know the number of questions, how time will be allocated and how marks will be allocated, you have a strategy and not only guess your way through the exam hall.

The official notification of CAT 2026 has not yet been published by the conducting institute, IIM but there is a striking similarity in the pattern since 2024. Here's everything you need to know.
 

CAT Exam Pattern 2026: Quick Overview
 

CAT is a computer-based test (CBT) that is taken at specified centres nationwide (not from home). The test consists of three parts and candidates are required to do them in order without changing from one part to another at their own discretion.

Read Also: CAT Mock Test 2026

The Three Sections of CAT
 

CAT assesses the candidates in three specific skill areas and each skill is limited to a specific 40 minute window.

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

This section evaluates reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and para-based reasoning skills. It generally includes a set of 24 questions, including the Reading Comprehension passages which are given a lot of weightage and then Verbal Ability questions such as para-summary, para-jumbles and odd-sentence-out.

2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

One of the more challenging types for many candidates, DILR typically consists of around 22 questions, which are divided into 2 parts: Data Interpretation (understanding tables, graphs and charts) and Logical Reasoning (puzzles, arrangements and logical deductions). Sets are frequently linked together, and if you can crack the correct set to attempt, it is half the struggle.

3. Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

This section evaluates the mathematical and problem-solving skills for arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number systems, and contemporary mathematics. It typically contains approximately 22 questions and is recognized for its ability to assess the understanding of concepts and speed of computation.

Read Also: CAT Exam Date 2026

Question Types: MCQ vs TITA
 

CAT questions are divided into two types:

• Multiple choice questions: Candidates will select one correct answer from four choices. You will receive a negative mark on the wrong answers here.

• Type In The Answer (TITA): Candidates type the numerical or text answer directly, rather than choosing from options. Unlike other TITA's, there is no negative marking for the incorrect responses and so they are slightly less risky to attempt, even if you are not entirely sure.

The split is approximately 45 MCQs and 23 TITA questions throughout the paper, and may be slightly different from slot to slot.

CAT Marking Scheme Explained
 

Knowing the marking scheme is vital to determine which questions to take and which to avoid:

• +3 marks for every correct answer

• −1 mark for each wrong answer in MCQs

• 0 marks (no penalty) for an incorrect TITA response, and no marks for unattempted questions
There are 68 questions, each worth 3 marks, for a total of 204 marks. What this scoring system means is that accuracy is more important than number of questions attempted; it is possible to earn a higher percentile by taking fewer questions correctly than by taking many incorrectly.

Read Also: Top Colleges Accepting CAT Score

Sectional Time Limit: Why It Matters
 

The CAT doesn't let you roam freely around the paper, but instead it keeps you in each section for a set period of 40 minutes. At the end of a time limit for a section, the screen will automatically progress to the next section and you will not be able to go back, read or change answers to previous sections. You can retake any question in a section, however, as many times as you want within a section before time expires.

This is because time management in each 40-minute block is as crucial as your knowledge of the subject. If a candidate is superb in Quant but finishes early in DILR, he/she does not get any additional benefit from that superior performance in Quant at the percentile.
 

How CAT's Pattern Has Evolved
 

The CAT exam pattern has not always been as it is now. This will help to contextualise the current format in terms of its development:

1. Until 2019: CAT had 100 questions for 180 minutes, with 60 minutes per section — longer, more endurance-tester format.

2. 2020–2023: The pandemic pushed IIMs to shorten the exam to 120 minutes. For 2020, Question count declined to 76 and since 2021, the focus has been on speed and accuracy with 66 questions.

3. From 2024 onwards: The format was fixed at 68 questions in 120 minutes for IIM, while CAT 2025 had the same format as before — which means that CAT 2026, too, is likely to be the same.
 

CAT 2026 Exam Day Logistics
 

Due to a huge number of applicants (typically 2.5 to 3 lakh) CAT is conducted in three sessions on the same day. Here's what to expect:

• Each session lasts 120 minutes and is the same length of time and format.

• Candidates are randomly allotted a session; you cannot choose your slot.

• Question papers vary in each session but are constructed to be equally difficult, with scores being normalised between sessions to be fair.

• Additional time is provided for PwD (Persons with Disability) candidates in accordance with the official guidelines.

Tips to Prepare Using the Exam Pattern
 

After understanding the CAT exam pattern, design your preparation plan accordingly:

1. Practice under sectional time pressure. As time cannot be borrowed from one section to the other, practice the time restrictions of each mock test.

2. Focus on getting the answer right rather than getting it right by trying, particularly where MCQs are used with a negative marking system.

3. Attempt TITA questions confidently when you have a reasonable idea of the answer, since there's no downside for an incorrect response.

4. Develop strategies for each section — reading for VARC, set-selection skills for DILR, calculation speed for QA.
Sit full-length mocks regularly to work up the stamina to sit 3 consecutive full-length sectional tests without losing focus.

Final Thoughts
 

The CAT exam pattern is not only focused on what candidates know, but also how they manage time, prioritise questions and stay accurate under the pressure. The official notification for CAT 2026 might specify the exact number of questions, but the pattern of 68 questions, three sections, 120 minutes, and a +3/−1 marking system has remained consistent since 2024 and should be the best guide to prepare for CAT 2026. Practice your mock test starting from here and you will enter the exam hall with a clear plan and not any surprises at the last moment.

Published: 04 Aug, 2026 | Updated: 04 Aug, 2026

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