CAT 2026 Exam Pattern: Check Number of Sections, Total Questions, Duration
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Content Curator | Updated On - Aug 4, 2026
CAT 2026 exam will be held on November 29, 2026, in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode in 3 sessions.
- CAT question paper has 3 sections including VARC, DILR and QA.
- Total number of questions asked in CAT 2026 question paper is 66-68.
- CAT 2026 question paper will include MCQs and TITA questions having different marking scheme for incorrect answers.
- CAT 2026 examination is conducted for a total duration of 120 minutes.
- As per the CAT exam pattern, total marks that students can score is 204.
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Key Summary
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CAT 2026 Exam Pattern Highlights
CAT 2026 exam will be conducted in CBT mode for a duration of 120 minutes. The language of CAT 2026 question paper will be English.
- There will be a total of 3 sections, including VARC, DILR, and QA, with each section allotted 40 minutes.
- Type of questions asked in CAT 2026 are MCQs and TITA questions.
- Each correct answer will get you +3 marks, and each incorrect answer will get you -1 mark.
- Negative marking is applicable for MCQs only.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Duration | 120 Minutes |
| Number of Sections | 3 |
| Medium | English |
| Question Type | MCQs & TITA |
| Marking Scheme | +3 for Correct, -1 for Incorrect MCQ |
| Negative Marking | Applicable only for MCQs |
CAT 2026 Section-wise Number of Questions
The Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension section consists of 24 questions in CAT 2026.
- CAT 2026 includes 22 questions from the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning section.
- The Quantitative Ability section comprises 22 questions in the CAT 2026 exam.
You can check the CAT 2026 Section - wise Exam Pattern in the table below
| Section | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 |
| Total | 68 |
CAT 2026 Section-wise Total Marks
Total marks for CAT 2026 is 204 marks with +3 marks for each question. You can check the section-wise marks in CAT 2026 below.
| Section | Total Marks |
|---|---|
| VARC | 72 |
| DILR | 66 |
| QA | 66 |
| Total | 204 |
CAT 2026 Section-wise Time Duration
For each section in CAT 2026 exam, you will be given 40 minutes to solve the questions. You will not be allowed to switch between the sections while solving CAT question paper 2026.
| Section | Time Allotted |
|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 40 Minutes |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 40 Minutes |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 40 Minutes |
| Total | 120 Minutes |
Important Features of CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
The CAT 2026 exam pattern outlines the structure, duration, question types, and section-wise format of the examination. Candidates should understand these key features to manage time effectively and avoid mistakes during the exam.
- The exam will be conducted in three slots on the same day.
- Candidates cannot switch between sections before the sectional timer ends.
- The paper contains MCQ and TITA questions.
- An on-screen calculator is provided during the examination.
- The question paper is available only in English.
- Candidates must complete each section within the allotted time.
FAQs
Ques. What are the sections of CAT 2026 exam?
Ans. CAT 2026 exam will be divided into 3 areas that are Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Abilities (QA).
- Each section will have different time limits, but only a fixed time of 40 minutes per section. This way, the overall examination time will be 120 minutes.
- VARC is the first section, after which DILR and QA will be.
Ques. How many questions are in CAT 2026?
Ans. It is anticipated that CAT 2026 will have 68 questions covering three sections.
- Verbal Ability& Reading Comprehension has 24 questions, Data Interpretation& Logical Reasoning has 22 questions, and Quantitative Ability has 22 questions.
- The total time limit is still 120 minutes, with 40 minutes per section.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.