CAT Syllabus 2026- Check VARC, DILR & QA Syllabus Here

CAT Syllabus 2026: Candidates preparing for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 must be familiar with the official CAT syllabus 2026. Understanding the CAT syllabus is crucial for a strategic study plan to achieve high scores. The CAT 2026 syllabus covers important topics from three core sections Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI & LR) and Quantitative Ability (QA).

To perform well in the exam, candidates must prepare thoroughly across all sections of the CAT exam syllabus. While no official CAT 2026 syllabus PDF has been released yet, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) will publish the official CAT syllabus PDF along with the CAT 2026 notification on iimcat.ac.in. CAT 2026 Exam is scheduled to be held in November 2026.

The syllabus provided below is based on the previous year’s exam patterns and topic analysis, as no official syllabus has been disclosed yet. Stay updated for the official announcement to fine-tune your preparation.

CAT Syllabus 2026 for VARC

The VARC (Verbal & Reading Comprehension) sections consists 02 parts i.e. Reading Section and Verbal Ability. The question paper will have a total of 34 questions divided comprising 24 MCQs and 10 Non-MCQs.

CAT Syllabus 2026 for Reading Comprehension (RC)

• The Reading Comprehension shares 70% of VARC section. There will be total 05 Reading passages including 3 Long and 2 short passages.
• The passages will be based on Current affairs; Literature; Social and Economic issues; Science & Culture; history & fiction, Abstract topics; and more.
• There will be negative marking of 1/ 3^rd marks.
• Format of questions: Questions based on information in RC passage; explanation of the words & phrases as used in the passage; In context of the passage –True/false statements; Author’s view on various issues raised in the RC passage; Inference from the passage; main idea of RC passage; Purpose of the RC passage
• According to Past trends, a few important topics are Education System; Status of Languages in 2115; Anthropology /Excruciating Rituals & Reasons; Sustainable Economic Development; Govt. Definition of Poverty and treatment of Household work

Common Admission Test Verbal Ability Syllabus 2026

• The Verbal Ability (VA) shares 30% of the VARC section. The section will include 10 questions.
• According to previous year’s question papers, the important topics consists of Fill in the blanks, Grammar, Fact Inference, Para Completion, Judgment, Para Jumble, Verbal Reasoning, Analogies and Reverse Analogies, Sentence Correction, Synonyms Antonyms (Vocabulary Based), etc.

CAT Syllabus 2026 for DILR

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) is an important section of CAT exam which is further divided into 2 parts – Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

The past 2 years trend in CAT syllabus for DILR shows that there are 24 MCQs and 8 Non- MCQs in DILR section of CAT exam. Major topics covered in CAT 2026 syllabus for DILR and Key features of CAT syllabus for DILR are as under-

Common Admission Test Data Interpretation (DI) Syllabus 2026

• The Data Interpretation (DI) shares 50% portion of DILR section. There will be 16 questions including 12 MCQs and 04 Non-MCQs
• The important topics for this section are Data Tables, Bar diagrams, Data charts, Pie charts, Data analysis, Graphs and comparison among others.
• Questions are in the set of 4 questions. Questions on interpretation and analysis of data based on text, tables, graphs (line, area), charts (column, bar, pie), venn diagram, are asked. Data could be given in form of tables, charts or graphs. In this section it is tested that how candidates can interpret the given data and answer questions based on it.
• Past trend of topics: Table (Student Pass percentages over 5 years; Comprehension – Marks in Two sections of papers; Films, Launch, Completion, Release and Profits; Table on Consumption of Veg and Non-Veg Protein; Happiness Index: 4 questions based on Table; Kids Learning in Rural Areas: Data table based 4 questions; Flight operation

Common Admission Test Logical Reasoning (LR) Syllabus 2026

• The other remaining part of DILR section will be based on Logical Reasoning (LR). This section also includes 16 questions further divided into 12 MCQs and 04 Non-MCQs
• The important topics for this section are Calendars, Clocks, binary logic, seating arrangement, logical sequence, blood relations, Assumption, conclusion, premise, linear and matrix arrangement
• Past trend of topics in CAT IIM Syllabus: Distribution/Arrangement; Venn Diagrams;  Arrangement of files in folders; Students using various Trains and the fares for the same; Seating Arrangement; Direction sense for Cars; Ordering items; Burgers/Fries/ Ice Cream

CAT Syllabus 2026 for Quantitative Aptitude

• The Quantitative Aptitude is a vast section that covers almost every topic of class 10^th and 11^th Mathematics. CAT 2026 syllabus of QA is based on questions on different topics on Arithmetic, Modern Math, Algebra, Mensuration, Geometry, Trignometry and more.
• According to past CAT paper analysis, the section consists of 24 to 27 MCQs and 7 to 10 Non-MCQs.
• CAT Syllabus & Number of questions in Arithmetic: 10 to 12; more emphasis on Arithmetic to promote academic diversity. The main topics are Percentages; LCM and HCF; Interest (Simple and Compound); Profit and Loss; Speed, Time and Distance; Averages; Time and Work; Ratio and Proportion and more.
• The important topics of this section consists of Quadratic Equations; Linear Equations; Complex Numbers; Progressions; Logarithm; Binomial Theorem; Inequalities; Permutation and Combination; Surds and Indices; Probability Functions; Mixtures and Alligations; Geometry; Set Theory; Co-ordinate Geometry; Mensuration, Trigonometry and more

CAT Exam Pattern

Based on previous year’s details, below is the CAT exam pattern.

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