CAT 2026 Pattern: 68 Questions, 204 Marks, 120 Minutes
A fast-reference factual guide to the CAT 2026 question paper pattern: 68 questions across VARC (24), DILR (22), QA (22), totalling 204 marks in 120 minutes with 40-minute section timers. Covers the +3/-1 marking scheme, MCQ versus TITA distribution, the break-even hit rate math for MCQ attempts, and the pattern stability across CAT 2024, 2025, and 2026.
CAT 2026 Pattern: 68 Questions, 204 Marks, 120 Minutes
CAT 2026 has 68 questions, 204 marks, and 120 minutes. The CAT question paper pattern 2026 is structurally identical to CAT 2024 and CAT 2025. This guide is the fast-reference factual answer for aspirants who want the exact numbers, the section-by-section breakdown, and the marking scheme without strategic commentary. Everything you need is in tables and section cards below; the full strategic guide on how to attempt the pattern lives in the CAT 2026 attempt strategy guide.
If you arrived here looking for the strategic forecast (paper difficulty trends, conducting IIM influence, preparation checklists), the comprehensive CAT exam pattern analysis covers that depth. This blog covers the structural numbers cleanly so you can bookmark, screenshot, or reference them in 30 seconds. Numbers are confirmed for CAT 2026, conducted by IIM Indore.
CAT 2026 = 68 questions, 204 marks, 120 minutes. Sections: VARC 24 questions (40 min), DILR 22 questions (40 min), QA 22 questions (40 min). Fixed section order (VARC then DILR then QA). Marking: +3 correct, -1 wrong MCQ, 0 unanswered or wrong TITA. PwD candidates get 53.33 minutes per section (160 min total).
CAT 2026 Question Paper Pattern: Section-by-Section Breakdown
VARC — Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
Section 1Typically 4 RC passages with 4 questions each (16 questions) plus 8 Verbal Ability questions split across para summary, sentence exclusion, and para jumbles. TITA questions are usually in the Verbal Ability sub-section. The 40-minute time pressure means approximately 1.7 minutes per question on average.
DILR — Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
Section 2Typically 4 to 5 sets of 4 to 6 questions each. Set types include seating arrangements, games and tournaments, caselets, data interpretation, Venn diagrams, networks, and decision trees. TITA distribution is roughly 1 to 2 per set. The 40-minute window means approximately 1.8 minutes per question, but solving time is set-dominated, not question-dominated.
QA — Quantitative Aptitude
Section 3Mix of arithmetic (typically 8 to 10 questions), algebra (5 to 7), geometry (3 to 5), and modern math (2 to 3). TITA distribution is highest in QA at approximately 8 questions. The 40-minute window allows approximately 1.8 minutes per question, but mental math speed (see the CAT quant without calculator guide) is what enables the attempt count needed for 99 percentile.
Marking Scheme (MCQ and TITA)
| Question type | Correct | Wrong | Unanswered | Break-even hit rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCQ (4-option) | +3 | -1 | 0 | 33 percent |
| TITA (type in answer) | +3 | 0 | 0 | 0 percent (always attempt) |
The MCQ break-even hit rate of 33 percent matters. If you guess randomly on a 4-option MCQ, your hit rate is 25 percent (1 in 4), which produces a negative expected value. To improve random guessing to break-even, you need to eliminate at least one option (improving hit rate to 33 percent). To make an attempt actually accretive, you need to eliminate at least 2 options (50 percent hit rate). TITA has no negative marking, so attempting every TITA even with low confidence is mathematically correct.
The MCQ break-even math drives section attempt strategy. In VARC, your hit rate on questions you read carefully should be 60 to 75 percent, well above break-even. In DILR, partial attempts inside a set you started but did not finish often drop below 33 percent hit rate and should be left blank. In QA, calculation-driven questions you attempted but did not complete are usually around 40 to 50 percent hit rate, so they are accretive on average; concept-driven questions you guessed on without elimination usually below 33 and should be skipped.
Section Order and Timing Rules
The CAT 2026 section order is fixed: VARC first, then DILR, then QA. You cannot choose your own order. Each section has its own 40-minute timer that runs independently. Once a section's 40 minutes elapses, the system automatically switches to the next section and you cannot return to the previous section. There is no overall pool of time you can reallocate; unused time in one section is lost.
This has two strategic implications. First, you must finish your VARC time strategy before the section starts because you cannot mid-correct. Second, the order favours candidates whose strongest section is QA (because the freshest cognitive state goes to VARC, with QA at the end when mental fatigue is highest). Browse the how to attempt CAT 2026 guide for the section-order strategy that handles this fatigue pattern.
TITA Distribution by Section
| Section | Total questions | MCQ questions | TITA questions | TITA percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 19 | 5 | 21 percent |
| DILR | 22 | 16 | 6 | 27 percent |
| QA | 22 | 14 | 8 | 36 percent |
| Total | 68 | 49 | 19 | 28 percent |
QA has the highest TITA proportion at 36 percent, which means QA carries the lowest negative-marking risk per section. This is one reason QA tends to produce more variation in raw scores: aspirants who attempt aggressively on the TITA-heavy QA section can score above their mock average, while aspirants who skip TITAs out of caution leave easy marks on the table. The TITA-attempt rule is simple: every TITA gets an answer, even with low confidence.
Treating TITA the same as MCQ on attempt-decision logic. TITA has no negative marking; the worst case of attempting is a zero, identical to leaving it blank. Every TITA you can produce a plausible numeric answer for has a positive expected value. Aspirants who carry an MCQ-style "only attempt if confident" rule into TITA leave 4 to 6 marks on the table per section. The mental discipline is to flip the rule for TITA: attempt by default, skip only if completely stuck.
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Get My CAT 2026 Pattern CardWhat Is Stable Across CAT 2024, 2025, 2026
The CAT pattern has been stable across the last 3 cycles. The 68-question / 204-mark / 120-minute structure was retained across CAT 2024 (conducted by IIM Calcutta), CAT 2025 (conducted by IIM Kozhikode), and CAT 2026 (conducted by IIM Indore). The conducting IIM does not change the pattern; it influences paper difficulty and question style but not the structural parameters.
| Parameter | CAT 2024 | CAT 2025 | CAT 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total questions | 66 | 68 | 68 |
| Total marks | 198 | 204 | 204 |
| Total time | 120 min | 120 min | 120 min |
| Section structure | 3 sections, 40 min each | 3 sections, 40 min each | 3 sections, 40 min each |
| Marking | +3 / -1 / 0 | +3 / -1 / 0 | +3 / -1 / 0 |
| Conducting IIM | IIM C | IIM K | IIM I |
PwD Accommodation Timing
Candidates with documented disability under the PwD category receive standard time accommodation of 33 percent extended time. Each section becomes 53.33 minutes (instead of 40 minutes), and total exam time becomes 160 minutes (instead of 120 minutes). The question count, marks, and marking scheme remain identical. Scribe accommodation is available on request with required medical documentation submitted during the application window.
Bookmark this number string for fast recall: 68 / 204 / 120 / 3-40-40-40 / +3 -1 0. That is total questions, total marks, total minutes, section structure, marking scheme. Every CAT 2026 attempt-strategy question can be derived from these 7 numbers plus the TITA distribution (5 / 6 / 8 across VARC / DILR / QA).
For the strategic depth on how to actually attempt this pattern under exam pressure, the how to attempt CAT 2026 guide covers section-order strategy and time discipline; the highest scoring topics guide covers which topics inside each section produce the highest percentile-per-hour return.
- 68 questions across 3 sections in 120 minutes; total 204 marks.
- Section order is fixed: VARC (24 questions, 40 min) then DILR (22, 40 min) then QA (22, 40 min).
- You cannot move between sections; each section's timer is independent.
- Marking: +3 correct, -1 wrong MCQ, 0 unanswered or wrong TITA.
- MCQ break-even hit rate is 33 percent; eliminate at least one option before attempting.
- TITA has no negative marking; attempt every TITA by default, even with low confidence.
- QA has the highest TITA proportion (36 percent), making it the lowest negative-marking risk section.
CAT 2026 = 68 / 204 / 120 / 3-40-40-40. Bookmark the numbers; strategy comes after.
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Build My CAT 2026 Attempt PlanCommon doubts answered
What is the CAT 2026 question paper pattern?
CAT 2026 has 68 questions across 3 sections totalling 204 marks in 120 minutes. Sections are VARC (24 questions, 40 minutes), DILR (22 questions, 40 minutes), and QA (22 questions, 40 minutes). Sections are attempted in a fixed order (VARC, DILR, QA) with no movement between them. Marking is +3 correct, -1 wrong MCQ, 0 unanswered or wrong TITA.
How many questions are there in CAT 2026?
CAT 2026 has 68 questions total: VARC 24, DILR 22, QA 22. This count is identical to CAT 2025. Within each section, approximately 70 percent are MCQ format (4-option with negative marking) and 30 percent are TITA (no negative marking). The total of 68 has been stable since CAT 2021 with only minor year-to-year variation.
How many marks is CAT 2026 out of?
CAT 2026 is out of 204 marks total (68 questions x 3 marks). VARC contributes 72 marks, DILR 66 marks, QA 66 marks. The maximum achievable score is 204, but the highest scaled scores in recent CAT papers have been around 130 to 140, which translates to 100 percentile. Negative marking of -1 per wrong MCQ can significantly reduce raw scores from inaccurate attempts.
What is the duration and section time for CAT 2026?
Total duration is 120 minutes (2 hours) split equally across 3 sections at 40 minutes per section. The section timer is enforced; you cannot reallocate time between sections. Section order is fixed: VARC first, DILR second, QA third. Once a section ends, you cannot return to it. PwD candidates get 53.33 minutes per section (160 minutes total).
What is the marking scheme for CAT 2026?
Marking is +3 for a correct answer, -1 for a wrong MCQ answer, and 0 for unanswered questions or wrong TITA answers. TITA carries no negative marking. The +3/-1 ratio for MCQ means you need above 33 percent hit rate to break even; below that, attempting hurts your score. TITA has no downside, so attempting every TITA even with low confidence is mathematically correct.
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