For final-year undergraduates, the transition from college to the professional world often leads to a crossroads: securing a campus placement or pursuing an MBA at a premier B-school. To bridge the gap to India’s elite Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), students must conquer the Common Admission Test (CAT)—a high-stakes exam where a 99+ percentile is typically the golden ticket for institutions like IIM Ahmedabad and Bangalore.
If you are starting from zero for CAT 2026, this guide breaks down the essential roadmap, syllabus, and strategy needed to transform from a beginner to a top-percentile contender.
What is CAT 2026?
The Common Admission Test is a national-level computer-based entrance exam. It is the primary gateway for admission into the MBA and PGP programs of the IIMs and other top-tier management institutes. Admissions are granted based on a “Composite Score,” where your CAT performance carries significant weight.
CAT Exam Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
| Full Form | Common Admission Test |
| Conducting Body | IIMs (on a rotational basis) |
| Total Duration | 120 Minutes (2 Hours) |
| Exam Structure | 3 Sections: VARC, DILR, and QA |
| Marking Scheme | +3 for Correct; -1 for Incorrect; 0 for Unattempted |
| Question Count | VARC (24), DILR (22), QA (22) — Total: 68 |
The 5 Pillars of a 99+ Percentile Strategy
To navigate a 46-week preparation journey effectively, focus on these five core areas:
- Deep-dive into all three sections. You cannot afford to ignore one area, as sectional cut-offs are vital for IIM calls.
- Solve previous years’ questions to decode the “DNA” of the exam and understand the evolving difficulty levels.
- Aim for at least 20–25 full-length mocks. This builds the mental stamina required for the actual two-hour pressure cooker environment.
- CAT has strict sectional time limits. You must learn to maximize your score within the allotted 40 minutes per section.
- A high percentile isn’t just about how much you know, but how fast and accurately you can apply it.
Section-Wise Syllabus & Weightage
1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
This section tests your English proficiency and critical thinking. Reading Comprehension (RC) remains the dominant force here.
| Topic | Focus Areas | Weightage (%) |
| Reading Comprehension | Science, Economy, Philosophy, Culture | 55–60% |
| Para Jumbles | Logical sentence sequencing | 15–20% |
| Para Summary | Distilling the essence of a passage | 10–15% |
| Odd One Out/Vocab | Identifying logical inconsistencies | 10–15% |
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
DILR is often considered the “make or break” section. It requires intense practice in pattern recognition and data synthesis.
| Topic | Focus Areas | Weightage (%) |
| Puzzles & Seating | Linear, Circular, and Grid Arrangements | 50–60% |
| Tables & Charts | Bar, Line, Pie, and Mixed data sets | 40–50% |
| Games & Tournaments | Knockouts, Round-robin formats | 10–20% |
| Venn Diagrams | Set theory and logical deductions | 5–10% |
3. Quantitative Ability (QA)
QA tests fundamental mathematical concepts. Arithmetic and Algebra are the two biggest pillars of this section.
| Topic | Key Focus | Weightage (%) |
| Arithmetic | Percentages, Profit/Loss, TSD, Averages | 35–50% |
| Algebra | Equations, Inequalities, Logs, Functions | 25–35% |
| Geometry | Mensuration, Circles, Triangles | 10–15% |
| Number System | Properties, HCF/LCM, Remainders | 5–10% |
| Modern Maths | Permutations, Probability, Sequences | 5–10% |
