CAT 2026 Preparation Tips: Check Study Plan, Important Books, High-Weightage Topics
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Content Curator | Updated On - Sep 3, 2026
CAT is considered the toughest among the exams conducted for MBA/PGDM admissions. Students must have a proper strategy and a study plan to crack the examination.
- CAT preparation not only includes covering the syllabus; it also includes understanding exam pattern, solving mock tests and more.
- Students can consider e-books, PDF Notes, YouTube Videos offered by different platforms to prepare for CAT 2026 exam.
- You can consider books like How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT by Arun Sharma for VARC.
- For DILR, you can use books like ow to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT and How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma.
- For CAT QA preparation, How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma book is recommended.
- You must also solve mock tests regularly to understand the question types and know weaknesses in your preparation.
Related Articles:
- CAT 2026 DILR Study Plan to Score 99 Percentile in 4 Months
- CAT 2026 Daily Schedule- Check Plan to Crack the Exam
Key Summary
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CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
Here is the CAT 2026 exam pattern, showing VARC with the most questions, and DILR and QA with equal time and questions.
| Subjects | Questions | Total Marls | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 24 | 72 | 40 min |
| Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation | 22 | 66 | 40 min |
| Quantitative Ability | 22 | 66 | 40 min |
Source - YouTube
CAT VARC Syllabus 2026
The CAT 2026 VARC syllabus includes Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability.
| Category | Topics |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Science and Technology, Environment and Life Science, Social Science and History, Art and Abstract, Economics and Management, Literature, Philosophy, Contemporary, Psychology, Politics |
| Verbal Ability | Para Summary, Para Jumbles, Missing Sent / Para Completion, Odd One Out |
Source: CAT 2026 Syllabus
CAT DILR Syllabus 2026
The CAT 2026 DILR syllabus includes Logical Reasoning (LR) and Data Interpretation (DI).
| Logical Reasoning (LR) | Data Interpretation (DI) |
|---|---|
| Analytical Reasoning | Logic-Based DI |
| Puzzles | Line & Bar Charts |
| Mathematical Reasoning | Data Tabulation |
| Games & Tournaments | Caselets |
| Sitting / Standing Arrangement | Pie Charts |
| Order & Ranking | - |
| Set Theory (LR) | - |
| Group Arrangement | - |
| Binary & Conditional Logic | - |
Source: CAT 2026 Syllabus
CAT QA Syllabus 2026
The CAT 2026 QA syllabus includes Arithmetic, Algebra, Number System, Geometry & Mensuration, and Modern Mathematics.
| Quantitative Aptitude Sub-Topics | Specific Topics |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic | Ratio & Proportion, Average, Time Speed Distance, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Percentage, Simple Interest & Compound Interest, Mixture & Alligation, Pipes & Cisterns / Clocks |
| Algebra | Equations & Polynomials, Progressions & Series, Logarithms & Exponents, Functions & Graphs, Inequalities & Absolute Value |
| Geometry & Mensuration | Lines & Angles, Quadrilaterals, Circles, Coordinate Geometry, Polygons, Mensuration |
| Number Systems | Factors / Factorials, Miscellaneous, Properties & Simplification, Divisibility Rules, Remainders, HCF & LCM, Number System Conversion |
| Modern Mathematics | Miscellaneous (Modern Math), Permutation & Combination & Probability, Set Theory |
Source: CAT 2026 Syllabus
CAT 2026 Preparation Tips- Weekly Study Plan
Here is the daily schedule and weekly plan to crack the CAT 2026 exam.
| Section | Days / Timeframe | Subject / Activity | Details / Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly Schedule | Monday (M) | Quant + DILR | Daily practice plan |
| Tuesday (T) | Quant + DILR | Daily practice plan | |
| Wednesday (W) | Quant + VA | Daily practice plan | |
| Thursday (Th) | Quant + DILR | Daily practice plan | |
| Friday (F) | Quant + VA | Daily practice plan | |
| Weekend Strategy | Saturday (S) | Revision + Mock | Mock test & review |
| Sunday | Mock / Analysis | Mock test analysis | |
| Saturday - Sunday | SNAP + NMAT | Exam-specific preparation | |
| Weekly Plan (120 Days) | Week 1 (W1) | Quant | Arith 1 |
| Week 2 (W2) | Quant | Arith 2 | |
| Week 3 (W3) | Quant | Algebra 1 | |
| Week 4 (W4) | Quant | Algebra 2 | |
| Week 5 (W5) | Quant | Geometry | |
| Week 6 (W6) | Quant | Numbers | |
| Week 7 (W7) | Quant | Special Topics | |
| Week 8 (W8) | Quant / DILR | Modern Math -> Revision (60+60 Days) / DILR Sets |
Source: YouTube
CAT 2026 Preparation Tips- Important Books
Apart from mocks and online classes, books are an important part of CAT 2026 preparation tips.
- How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma is an important book for building a solid foundation in QA.
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension for CAT and Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT will be helpful for CAT 2026 preparation tips.
| Section | Book Title | Author(s) | Publisher / Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude | How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Arun Sharma | McGraw Hill Education (8th Edition) |
| Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Nishit K. Sinha | Pearson (5th Edition) | |
| Quantum CAT: Quantitative Aptitude | Sarvesh K. Verma | Arihant | |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT | Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay | McGraw Hill Education (8th Edition) |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension for CAT | Ajay Singh | Arihant | |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT | Arun Sharma | McGraw Hill Education (6th Edition) |
| Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT | Nishit K. Sinha | Pearson (7th Edition) |
Source: YouTube
CAT 2026 Preparation Tips- High Weightage Topics
Focusing on all the chapters for all 3 sections is not a good decision. The basis of CAT 2026 preparation should be focusing on high-weightage topics.
- Percentages, Profit & Loss, Mixtures, Time, Speed & Distance are the most important topics in QA.
- Charts, Graphs & Tables, Cubes in DILR, and Para Jumbles, RC in VARC are high-weightage topics.
| Section | Module | Topics Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude | Arithmetic |
|
| Algebra |
| |
| Modern Maths | Permutation and Combination & Probability | |
| DILR | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning |
|
| Verbal Section | VARC |
|
Source: YouTube
CAT 2026 Preparation Tips FAQs
Ques. What are some of the important books in CAT 2026?
Ans. For QA- Quantitative Aptitude for CAT, How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT will help you grow the base. For VARC- How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension for CAT will help you with RC. For DILR- Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT, How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT will help you with puzzles and arrangements.
Ques. What are some important topics in QA, VARC, and DILR?
Ans. For QA: Arithmetic like Percentages, Profit & Loss, Mixtures, Time, Speed & Distance, and Algebra like quadratic and linear equations, Series and sequences. For VARC: Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Para Summary, Sentence Completion, Odd One Out. For DILR: Charts, Graphs & Tables, Binary Logics, Cubes, Games & Tournaments, Reasoning & Puzzles, Set Theory, and Rankings.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
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Answered Questions
Hey Khushi! You can practise NTA JEE main mock tests at your home as well as you can attempt them at the nearest test practise centre. The choice is entirely yours. You simply have to login with your credentials and make your choice.
Candidates can apply for the PDUSU admission online through the official website. Click on the 'Admission' link, and check for eligibility. Post checking the eligibility, click on the 'Apply Online' link, fill in the required details, and submit the y application after paying the specified fees. Applicants must also upload their recent photograph, signature, scanned copies of 10th, 12th, and degree certificates, fee payment challan, and Government ID proof.
Hello Abhishek! If you have successfully registered at the official NTA website to avail the facility of the Test Practice Centre then you can visit the Centre. Your parents may drop you at the test centre but they will not be allowed to enter the test centre during the exam or practise mock tests.
The selection process for admission to LNMU varies depending on the course:
- BTech - Candidates must have a valid JEE Main scorecard and register for counselling and seat allotment.
- MTech - Candidates must have a GATE scorecard and a relevant BTech/BE degree.
- MBA - Final selection is based on performance in entrance exams, group discussions, and personal interviews.
- UG - The merit list is based on intermediate marks, reservation, and your choice of college. After admissions are complete, spot admissions are based on the third merit list
- Other entrance exams accepted for admission to LNMU include MAT and CMAT.
For Undergraduate courses, applicants must have a completed 12th grade with 45% aggregate marks, 40% aggregate for restricted categories.
For Postgraduate courses, applicants must complete their graduation with at least 50% of their degree in their respective stream from an accredited university. 45% aggregate marks for SC/ST students.
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