CAT 2026 Paper Prediction: Check Expected Pattern, Difficulty Level, Cutoff
- Cut Off for IITs
- IIM Kashipur Cut Off
- IIM Amritsar Cut Off
- IIM Nagpur Cut Off
- IIM Indore Cut Off
- IIM Udaipur Cut Off
- IIM Ranchi Cut Off
- IIM Raipur Cut Off
- IIM Jammu Cut Off
- IIM Bodh Gaya Cut Off
- IIM Kozhikode Cut Off
- IIM Sambalpur Cut Off
- IIM Bangalore Cut Off
- IIM Sirmaur Cut Off
- IIM Trichy Cut Off
- IIM Visakhapatnam Cut Off
- IIM Lucknow Cut Off
- IIM Shillong Cut Off
- IIM Calcutta Cut Off
- IIM Ahmedabad Cut Off
- IIM Rohtak Cut Off
| Updated On - Dec 2, 2025
The test will likely have 68 questions in 120 minutes. The DILR section is expected to remain difficult as in CAT 2025, and the cutoffs may change slightly based on the difficulty of each test slot.
- CAT 2026 is likely to retain its three sections: VARC (24 questions), DILR (22 questions), and QA (22 questions), with 40 minutes allocated to each section, totalling 204 marks.
- For the top IIMs, expect overall cutoffs to be in the 98-99.5 percentile bracket. Section-wise, VARC is predicted to be of medium difficulty, QA will be medium to hard, and DILR will be hard.
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CAT 2026 Expected Exam Pattern (VARC, DILR, QA)
CAT 2026 will likely have 68 questions split into three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Each section have the same time limit and marking system.
| Section | Number of Questions | Section Time Limit | Question Types | Marking Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension) | 24 | 40 minutes | MCQ + Non-MCQ (TITA) | +3 / -1 (MCQ); +3 / 0 (TITA) |
| DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning) | 22 | 40 minutes | MCQ + TITA | +3 / -1 (MCQ); +3 / 0 (TITA) |
| QA (Quantitative Ability) | 22 | 40 minutes | MCQ + TITA | +3 / -1 (MCQ); +3 / 0 (TITA) |
CAT 2026 Difficulty Level Prediction: VARC, DILR, and Quant
From looking at past year trends, DILR is the toughest one to crack for students. Below is detailed information-
| Section | Expected Difficulty Level (2026) | Key Observations / Risks |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | Easy to Moderate | Expected to remain largely manageable; comprehension-based RCs likely, with fewer heavy-logic VA questions. |
| DILR | Moderate to Tough | Widely predicted as the toughest section, tricky sets, logic + reasoning heavy; many experts expect tougher sets than recent years. |
| QA | Moderate (with some difficult questions) | Mix of straightforward arithmetic/algebra and a few complex or time-pressure problems; speed + accuracy will matter. |
| Overall Exam | Moderate to Slightly Difficult ( 10-15% tougher than last year) | Based on a predicted rise in overall difficulty and tougher DILR sets compared to the previous edition. |
Reddit Users –
Source: @Reddit.com
Check Also-
Expected Toughest Section in CAT 2026
For about 70-80% of the past decade's CAT exams, DILR has been the toughest part. The 2023 and 2024 CATs confirm that DILR is still the trickiest and hardest to predict, even more so than VARC or Quant.
Because this section relies a lot on reasoning, data interpretation, puzzles, and logic, and the questions change so much each year, it's still the most surprising and puts the most stress on students.
| Challenge | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Unpredictable question types & formats | Unlike Quant or VARC, which follow academic math or reading patterns, DILR questions may involve puzzles, graphs, case-lets, and multiple reasoning styles, making them less predictable. |
| High time-pressure & set-selection risk | With limited time and group-based sets, picking a tough set early can cost many marks; wrong selection often results in low yield. |
| Requires both speed + analytical depth | Success in DILR demands quick comprehension of data + accurate, logical deduction under time constraints, a hard combination. |
Reddit Users-
Reddit users discussed what to expect from the 2026 CAT exam. They think registrations could go over 350,000, and about 90% of those people will actually take the test, which would be a record.
People are saying the test might be about as hard as the 2024 one. Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VARC) will probably be somewhat hard, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) could be harder than last year, and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) might be a bit tricky.
Some users are guessing that scores will be higher in general, with a 95th percentile score around 72 marks, a 98th percentile score around 87 marks, and a 99.5th percentile close to 112 marks.
Source: @Reddit.com
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Predicted CAT 2026 Overall and Sectional Cutoff
For CAT 2026, expect the top IIMs to have cutoffs around the 98-100 percentile. Newer and mid-tier IIMs will probably shortlist candidates scoring in the 90–95 percentile range. Sectional cutoffs across VARC, DILR, and QA are still key.
Reserved categories might see even lower overall targets because of relaxed percentile requirements.
| Target Institute Category | Expected Overall CAT 2026 Percentile | Expected Sectional Percentile (VARC / DILR / QA) |
| Top IIMs | 98 - 100 percentile | 70 - 85 percentile |
| New & Baby IIMs | 90 - 95 percentile | 65 - 75 percentile |
| Tier-1 Non-IIMs (FMS, MDI, SPJIMR – Profile Based) | 95 - 98 percentile | 70 - 80 percentile |
| Tier-2 Colleges (IMT, TAPMI, GIM, KJ Somaiya) | 85 - 90 percentile | 55 - 65 percentile |
| Reserved Categories (IIMs – OBC/EWS/SC/ST/PwD) | 70 - 85 percentile | 45 - 65 percentile |
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.