CAT 2026 Complete Preparation Guide — Strategy, Syllabus & Tips

CAT (Common Admission Test) is India's most competitive MBA entrance exam, conducted by the IIMs on a rotational basis. CAT 2026 is expected in November 2026 with results in January 2027.

Key Stats

~3 lakh candidates appear annually
66 questions across 3 sections in 120 minutes
Scaled score out of 198
Top IIMs require 99+ percentile

Exam Pattern

| Section | Questions | Time | Marks | |---|---|---|---| | VARC (Verbal Ability & RC) | 24 | 40 min | 72 | | DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning) | 20 | 40 min | 60 | | Quant (Quantitative Aptitude) | 22 | 40 min | 66 |

Section-wise Strategy

VARC (40 minutes)

RC passages carry the most marks — practice 2–3 passages daily. Para-jumbles and para-summary are scoring and time-efficient. Target 16+ correct answers in 40 minutes. Read quality newspapers and editorials every day to build reading speed and comprehension.

DILR (40 minutes)

The most unpredictable section — pattern changes every year. Practice LR sets daily: blood relations, seating arrangements, games and tournaments. The key is to quickly identify which sets to attempt and which to skip. Target 10–12 correct answers.

Quant (40 minutes)

Arithmetic is the backbone — master percentages, ratios, TSD, and TW first. Algebra and Number System are high-yield topics. Geometry and Mensuration often have 3–4 questions. Target 16+ correct answers.

6-Month Prep Plan

Months 1–2: Concept Building Cover all topics once without rushing. Use standard textbooks. Build a formula sheet for Quant.

Months 3–4: Topic-wise Practice Topic-wise mock tests. Identify weak areas. Revisit concepts. Aim for 80% accuracy before moving to full mocks.

Months 5–6: Full Mock Tests Full-length mocks 2–3 times per week. Analyse every mock thoroughly. Identify time traps and improve selection strategy.

Best Books

Quant: Arun Sharma (Quant for CAT), NCERT 9–10 Maths
VARC: Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay, Norman Lewis (Word Power Made Easy)
DILR: Arun Sharma (Logical Reasoning for CAT)

Important Dates (Expected)

Registration: August 2026
Exam Date: Last Sunday of November 2026
Result: January 2027