What Do You Need for CAT?
CAT at a Glance
The Common Admission Test is the entrance exam for MBA and PGP programmes at the IIMs and many other business schools in India.
Based on recent CAT papers. The IIMs can change the question count each year — always confirm on iimcat.ac.in.
Who Can Take CAT?
The main conditions, which are simple compared with most exams.
1. Bachelor’s degree
A bachelor’s degree of at least three years, or an equivalent qualification, from a recognised university.
2. Minimum marks
At least 50% in graduation, or 45% for SC, ST and PwD candidates.
3. Final-year students
Students in the final year of graduation can apply, if they complete the degree as required.
4. No other limits
No age limit, no attempt limit and no work experience needed to appear.
Summary only. Exact rules are in the CAT notification on iimcat.ac.in.
CAT Pattern and Marking
Three sections in a fixed order, each with its own 40-minute timer. You cannot switch sections.
| Section | Qs | Time | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 40 min | 72 |
| DILR | 22 | 40 min | 66 |
| QA | 22 | 40 min | 66 |
| Total | 68 | 120 min | 204 |
Multiple-choice questions
+3 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong answer, 0 if unanswered.
TITA questions
Type-in-the-answer questions: +3 for correct, no negative marking.
Example score
32 MCQs right, 8 wrong, 7 TITA right:32 × 3 − 8 × 1 + 7 × 3 = 109 marks.
Question counts per section are from recent papers and may change. A basic on-screen calculator is provided.
CAT Syllabus, Section by Section
The IIMs do not publish an official syllabus; these are the areas recent papers have covered. Tap a section to see them.
VARCVerbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
- Reading comprehension passages (the largest part of the section)
- Para-jumbles (sentence ordering)
- Para-summary
- Odd sentence out
- Vocabulary and grammar through reading
DILRData Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
- Tables, bar charts, line graphs and pie charts
- Caselets and mixed data sets
- Arrangements — linear, circular, matrix
- Games, tournaments and scheduling
- Venn diagrams, routes and networks
- Selection and distribution puzzles
QAQuantitative Ability
- Arithmetic — percentages, profit and loss, ratios, averages, mixtures, time-speed-distance, time and work, interest
- Algebra — equations, inequalities, functions, logarithms, progressions
- Geometry and mensuration
- Number system
- Modern maths — permutations, combinations, probability, sets
Free CAT Study Material
Concepts first, then CAT-level practice for every section.
These resources are being added topic by topic. Pages marked “Coming soon” are not published yet.
Quantitative Aptitude Course
Arithmetic, algebra and speed techniques (course outline).
Explore →Logical Reasoning Course
Puzzles, arrangements and reasoning (course outline).
Explore →RC Practice Passages
Passages from economics, philosophy, science and more.
Coming soon →DILR Set Bank
Sets sorted by type and difficulty.
Coming soon →QA Formula Sheets
Quick revision of formulas and shortcuts.
Coming soon →CAT Mock Tests
Full mocks and sectional tests with the real 40-minute section timers.
Test engine under development. The tests below are planned and will open here when ready.
Full CAT Mock
VARC Sectional
DILR Sectional
QA Sectional
CAT Previous-Year Papers
Slot-wise papers with answer keys and solutions, arranged by year.
Coming soon. The conducting IIM releases official answer keys after each CAT on iimcat.ac.in.
After CAT: The Admission Process
A good percentile is the first step. Each institute runs its own selection process.
Result and percentile
Your scaled score is converted to an overall and sectional percentile.
Shortlisting
Each IIM shortlists using its own cut-offs and weights for CAT, academics, work experience and diversity.
WAT, GD and PI
Shortlisted candidates take a written ability test, group discussion and/or personal interview.
Final selection
Institutes combine all scores to make offers. Waitlists move as seats are accepted.
How to Prepare for CAT
CAT tests reasoning under time pressure. Accuracy and selection matter more than attempting everything.
Build the basics
Revise school maths and read daily — editorials and long-form articles.
Learn each section’s types
Know the RC, DILR set and QA question types and the methods for each.
Practise selection
In DILR and QA, learn to spot doable questions quickly and skip the rest.
Take full mocks
From a few months before CAT, take a full mock every week, then more often.
Analyse every mock
Spend more time analysing than taking the mock: note wrong answers and missed easy questions.
Use TITA wisely
TITA has no negative marking — attempt those you can solve, even if unsure.
CAT 2026 Exam Date
CAT 2026 is scheduled for 29 November 2026. Admit cards, answer keys and results are announced on iimcat.ac.in — always check there. We will post verified updates here.
CAT FAQs
Who conducts CAT?
One of the IIMs conducts CAT each year by rotation. Registration, admit cards, answer keys and results are published on iimcat.ac.in.
Is there negative marking?
Yes, for multiple-choice questions: +3 for a correct answer and −1 for a wrong one. Type-in-the-answer (TITA) questions have no negative marking.
Can I move between sections?
No. Each section has 40 minutes and must be attempted in the set order. You cannot go back to a section once its time is over.
Is a calculator allowed?
A basic on-screen calculator is provided during the test. Physical calculators are not allowed.
Is there an age limit or attempt limit?
No. There is no age limit and no limit on the number of attempts. Work experience is not required to appear.
What is the CAT percentile?
Raw scores are scaled across shifts (normalisation) and converted to percentiles. Institutes use your percentile, often with sectional cut-offs, for shortlisting.
Which institutes accept CAT scores?
All IIMs and many other management institutes in India. IIMs then shortlist candidates for writing tests and interviews, using their own weights for CAT, academics, work experience and other factors.
How long is a CAT score valid?
A CAT score is used for admissions in the following academic year only.