CAT 2026 Topic-wise Weightage for VARC, DILR, and QA
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Content Curator | Updated On - Aug 22, 2026
CAT 2026 topic-wise weightage shows RC dominating the CAT VARC section, Arithmetic dominating the CAT QA section, and LR dominating the CAT DILR section.
- Arithmetic, including percentage, profit & loss, ratio & proportion, will have 25% weightage in CAT QA.
- Weightage for Reading Comprehension in CAT VARC is 66.7%, thus focus the most on this early.
- Tables & Structured/Missing Graphs will have the 30% - 40% topic-wise weightage in CAT DILR.
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Key Summary
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CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
Here is the CAT 2026 exam pattern showing VARC having the maximum questions and DILR and QA having 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 2026 QA Syllabus
You can check the CAT 2026 chapter-wise syllabus for QA in the table below.
| Chapters | Topics |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic |
|
| Algebra |
|
| Geometry |
|
| Number System |
|
| Modern Maths |
|
Source- YouTube
CAT 2026 QA Topic-wise Weightage
In CAT 2926 QA, the topic-wise weightage is as follows-
- Arithmetic will have the highest topic-wise weightage of about 25%, followed by Algebra with 19.1%.
- Number System can help you gain extra marks, with 8.8% weightage, followed by Coordinate Geometry with 1.5% weightage.
| Topic | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | Total Questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 6 | 5 | 6 | 17 |
| Algebra | 4 (2 Linear Equations + 1 Quadratic + 1 Logarithm) | 5 | 4 questions (Logarithm, Inequalities, Functions) | 13 |
| Geometry | 2 | 3 | 2 questions | 7 |
| Number System | 2 | 2 | 2 questions | 6 |
| Modern Mathematics | 4 | 3 questions (GP, P&C) | 3 questions (Progressions) | 10 |
| Mixed Question (Arithmetic + Algebra) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Miscellaneous / Higher-order Mixed Concepts | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Coordinate Geometry | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Quadratic / Functions (counted separately where dominant) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Source- YouTube
CAT 2026 DILR Syllabus
DILR covers topics such as Line & Bar Graphs, Venn Diagrams, Distribution, Linear Arrangements, and more.
| Line & Bar Graphs | Circular Arrangements | Linear Arrangements |
|---|---|---|
| Pie Charts | Venn Diagrams | Binary Logics |
| DI Tables | Distribution | Games & Tournaments |
| Cubes | Selection | Flow Charts |
| QUANT Based DI | QUANT Based LR |
Source- YouTube
CAT 2026 DILR Topic-wise Weightage
In CAT 2026 DILR, the topic-wise weightage is as follows-
- Tables & Structured/Missing Graphs will have the highest topic-wise weightage of 30% - 40%.
- Hybrid Puzzle / Unstructured Sets will have the 20-25% topic-wise weightage.
| DILR Core Domain | Approx. Weightage | Strategic Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Tables & Structured/Missing Graphs | 30% - 40% | Calculation-heavy, highly logical but standard to enter. |
| Arrangements & Scheduling | 20% - 25% | High entry potential; depends entirely on constraint grids. |
| Hybrid Puzzle / Unstructured Sets | 20% - 25% | Unpredictable difficulty; relies heavily on intuition. |
Source: YouTube
CAT 2026 VARC Syllabus
VARC focuses on different topics like Reading Comprehension and Para Completion, Idioms & Analogies, Grammar & Verbal Logic, and more.
| Reading Comprehension | Para Completion | Synonyms & Antonyms (Non-CAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Para Summary | Fill in the Blanks | Sentence Correction (Non-CAT) |
| Para Jumbles | Grammar & Verbal Logic (Non-CAT) | Idioms & Analogies (Non-CAT) |
| Odd One Out | One Word Substitution (Non-CAT) |
Source- YouTube
CAT 2026 VARC Topic-wise Weightage
In CAT 2026 VARC, the topic-wise weightage is as follows-
- Reading Comprehension will have the highest topic-wise weightage of about 66.7%.
- Para Jumbles / Odd One Out makes up to 16.7% of the VARC section in CAT 2026.
| Topic | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 16 | 16 | 16 | 66.7% |
| Para Summary | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8.3% |
| Para Completion | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8.3% |
| Para Jumbles / Odd One Out | 4 (2+2) | 4 (2+2) | 4 (2+2) | 16.7% |
Source: YouTube
CAT 2026 Topic-wise Weightage FAQs
Ques. Can I crack CAT 2026 in 30 days?
Ans. Yes, you can do so. You will need to have a strong foundation before starting to crack CAT 2026 in 30 days. But aiming for 99+ percentile in one go isn't realistic. If you want to crack it in 30 days, you will have to spend 8-9 hours daily, dividing the time across all 3 sections. Choose chapters that are high-weightage and at your comfort level. Start with sectional mocks and then give full mocks and check your accuracy as well.
Ques. How to get 99+ percentile in CAT 2026 in QA?
Ans. A 99+ percentile in QA for CAT 2026 will translate to 28 marks out of 66 marks. Focus on building the basics and foundation of certain chapters and completing the syllabus. Minimizing negative marking, error analysis, and avoiding silly mistakes with good accuracy is key. You should focus on solving past-year questions, mental preparation, and stress reduction.
Ques. What are the important topics in CAT 2026 VARC, DILR, and QA?
Ans. The CAT 2026 topic-wise weightage for Geometry is 10%, yet you will see it being repeated regularly in the QA section. For VARC, para Summary and para Completion will be 8.3%. Reading Comprehension in VARC is 66.7%, thus focus the most on this early. Arrangements, Puzzles, and Games are very common topics in DILR, and this needs attention.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.