Learn the basics of all three sections, practise in timed sets, then test with mocks and review each one. Do not start with mocks and do not ignore your weak section. This guide gives the structure. The next chapters go section by section.
How CAT is built
| Section | What it tests | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | Reading comprehension and verbal ability | About 24 |
| DILR | Data interpretation and logical reasoning sets | About 22 |
| QA | Quantitative aptitude | About 22 |
Each section gets 40 minutes, with no moving between sections. Marking is +3 for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong MCQ. Typed-in answers carry no negative marking. Figures are as reported by third-party portals. Confirm on iimcat.ac.in.
The three phases
- Learn. Cover the syllabus and build the basics. Short daily reading for VARC. Concept chapters for QA. Learn set types for DILR.
- Practise. Timed sets by section, topic by topic. Keep an error log.
- Test. Full mocks, reviewed with the four-cause method. Adjust the plan from the log.
How long each phase takes depends on you. We do not publish a standard split because we have not measured one.
Three early mistakes
- Practising only what you like. Easy marks in your strong section feel good and move your total less than fixing the weakest one.
- Starting mocks too early. They test what you have not learned.
- Not reviewing. A mock without review is mostly a score.
Where this doesn’t apply
This is our suggested structure, not a proven formula. If you have already prepared for months, use the last-minute guide instead. And if your goal is only Maharashtra colleges, MAH-CET needs a different emphasis. See the MAH-CET pattern guide.
Pattern and marking as reported by Careers360’s CAT 2026 pages. The three-phase structure is our own method and is not drawn from a third-party study. No score improvement figure is claimed.