What is CAT?

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026, conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis, is the most prestigious MBA entrance examination in India. CAT scores are accepted by all 20 IIMs and over 1,200 other business schools across India. With approximately 3 lakh applicants vying for roughly 5,000 IIM seats, CAT demands exceptional aptitude in verbal reasoning, data interpretation, and quantitative mathematics.

Eligibility Criteria

Bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PWD). Final year students can also apply conditionally.

Exam Pattern 2026

StageModeQuestionsMarksDuration
VARCCBT (MCQ + TITA)24 Q7240 min
DILRCBT (MCQ + TITA)20 Q6040 min
QACBT (MCQ + TITA)22 Q6640 min
Total66 Q1982h

Syllabus Overview

  • Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC): Reading Comprehension passages (4–5 passages, 5 Q each), Para-Jumbles, Para-Summary, Odd Sentence Out, Vocabulary-based inference.
  • Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR): Tables, Bar Graphs, Line Charts, Pie Charts, Venn Diagrams, Logical Puzzles, Games & Tournaments, Arrangements, Constraints.
  • Quantitative Ability (QA): Number Theory, Algebra, Arithmetic (Ratio, Percentage, TW, TSD), Geometry & Mensuration, Modern Mathematics (P&C, Probability, Set Theory).

Expected Cut-offs 2026

IIM Ahmedabad/Bangalore/Calcutta overall cutoff: 99th percentile. Sectional cutoffs: ~85th percentile per section. New IIMs: 90–95th percentile.

Preparation Tips

  1. Read high-quality articles (The Economist, HBR) daily for VARC improvement.
  2. Solve 4 DILR sets daily — focus on accuracy over speed initially.
  3. For QA, master fundamentals before attempting CAT-level problems.
  4. Attempt at least 20 full CAT mock tests (past papers + simulated tests).
  5. Analyse every mock test: identify weak areas and revise targeted topics.

Important Books & Resources

  • Arun Sharma — How to Prepare for QA for CAT
  • Arun Sharma — How to Prepare for DILR for CAT
  • Meenakshi Upadhyay — How to Prepare for VARC for CAT
  • TIME/IMS — CAT Mock Test Series
  • Past CAT Papers — Official released papers (2018–2025)

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