MASTER CAT 2026

Syllabus CAT (Common Admission Test) is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis for admission to MBA and PGDM programmes at IIMs and over 1,200 other management institutions across India. The exam consists of 66 questions carrying 198 marks in total, with a +3/-1 marking scheme for MCQs and no negative marking for TITA (Type In The Answer) questions, and must be completed within 120 minutes. The syllabus is divided into three sections — Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension — each allocated 40 minutes of sectional time. QA - Quantitative Aptitude DILR - Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning VARC - Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension QA The Quantitative Aptitude section covers mathematics up to Class 10 and 12 level with a higher degree of difficulty compared to other management entrance exams. It includes arithmetic topics such as percentages, profit and loss, time and work, and time-speed-distance, along with number systems, algebra, geometry and mensuration, modern mathematics covering permutation and combination, probability, set theory, and functions. DILR The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section tests the ability to analyse complex data sets presented in tables, bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, and caselets, often combining two data sources in a single set. The logical reasoning component covers puzzles, seating arrangements, scheduling, games and tournaments, binary logic, and network diagrams. Questions in this section are entirely set-based, requiring careful reading and structured thinking. VARC The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section is dominated by reading comprehension, which forms the majority of the questions. RC passages are longer and more complex, drawn from topics such as social sciences, literature, philosophy, economics, and science. The verbal ability component includes para jumbles, para summary, sentence exclusion, and odd sentence identification. Unlike JIPMAT, there are no direct grammar or vocabulary questions in CAT VARC.