20 Days to CAT 2026: Last-Minute Preparation Strategy, Mock Tests, Do's and Don'ts

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern: What We Know Already

The CAT 2026 exam pattern is expected to be the same as last year, which means the CAT 2026 exam will include a total of 68 questions divided into three sections: VARC, DILR, and QA, with the same time limit of 120 minutes. Candidates are advised to check the expected CAT 2026 exam pattern in the table below for reference. 

Some Instructions and Advices

The recently released CAT 2026 mock test has also reaffirmed the expected CAT 2026 exam pattern. Candidates can expect the following elements and instructions in the CAT 2026 exam scheduled to be held on November 29, 2026.

• Computer-Based Test: The CAT exam is a computer-based test in which candidates can attempt any question in the concerned section within the specified CAT sectional time limit. Moreover, candidates can move on to another section once the time limit is over, or they can submit the section themselves. 

• Marking Scheme: The CAT marking scheme awards +3 marks for correct answers, while -1 mark will be deducted for incorrect responses. Moreover, there’s no negative marking for unanswered questions and TITA questions. 

• Click Save and Next: Candidates are required to click “Save and Next” or “Save and Review” to submit their answers. Failing to do so will result in no answer submission in the CAT exam, and candidates will get zero for the concerned answer. 

• Online Calculator: Candidates will get an online calculator on their computer screen for calculation purposes; therefore, there is no requirement for a physical calculator at the CAT exam centre. 

In addition to this, we already know the following things about the CAT 2026 exam, which are as follows: 

• CAT is Unpredictable: The CAT exam is known to be unpredictable due to its abrupt pattern, and difficulty changes over the years. Candidates must prepare for such unannounced changes and do not panic in the exam hall instead, change the strategy as per concerned circumstances. 

• Surprising Difficulty Levels: The CAT exam difficulty level has historically varied from easy, very easy, medium, difficult, and very difficult. Candidates may get surprising difficulty levels in the exam. 

• CAT Normalization: The CAT 2026 exam will be held in three slots. Candidates appearing in the CAT exam must not focus on the analysis and pattern of all slots, as there will be a normalization process at the end to eliminate biases across different slots. 

• Don’t Trust Random Predictors: Candidates are advised not to waste time on some random predictor tools before the exam, as their accuracy is really low, and it ends up wasting your time without a meaningful outcome. 

So, we can't control the unpredictable exam pattern and varying difficulty, with a time limit of 40 minutes for each section, and a good score, meaning we don't even know what a good score is for the CAT 2026 exam. However, we can control how we prepare for the exam, which concepts need extra time and revision, and, most importantly, not panicking in high-pressure situations while attempting the exam. 

CAT 2026 Exam Preparation Plan: How to prepare for next 20 days

Candidates who have filled out the CAT 2026 application form must have prepared something for the CAT 2026 exam. In the last 20 days before the CAT 2026 exam, candidates are advised to follow the strategies mentioned below to improve their expected score. 

• Concentrate on Mock Tests: Candidates are now advised to attempt 1 to 2 mock tests per week to revise crucial topics, along with learning new concepts by analysing them. Moreover, they are encouraged to attempt the mock test in the same time slot mentioned on their CAT 2026 admit card. 

• Solve the Mock Test Thrice: Serious candidates must attempt the CAT mock test with a strict time limit of 120 minutes in the first attempt. Then, after 30-40 minutes, solve each section again within the specified time limit. In the third attempt, solve the CAT mock test without any time limit and with answers. 

• Learn Important Concepts: Candidates are advised to note important concepts from the mock test and note them down to revise them later before the CAT 2026 exam. This will help in revising already known concepts while covering important topics without formal preparation effort. Moreover, candidates must write down the mistakes made during the mock test. 

• Learn from Wrong Options: An aspirant attempting the CAT mock test must learn from wrong options too, especially in the VARC section. Wrong options add on to your learnings and also inculcates the skill of eliminating options.

• Explore Alternative Methods: Candidates must explore alternative options to solve a particular problem to save time and effort in the CAT 2026 exam. Alternative methods help you solve the same set of questions while saving plenty of time in the exam. 

• Time Management and Question Selection: In the end, candidates are advised not to get stuck on one question. Sometimes candidates spend too much time on one question, which results in a sea of unanswered questions. CAT is not about solving intelligent questions but solving as many questions as possible correctly. 

At last, candidates must attempt questions with at least 70-80% accuracy, with all the TITA questions attempted, as they carry no negative marking. Candidates can see an improvement of around 10 to 15 percentile in their overall CAT score, while those already placed in the 90 percentile can reach up to 95 to 97 percentile, which is good to get MBA admission 2027 in top B-schools.