SRM Common Admission Test Exam Pattern 2026
SRM Common Admission Test Exam Pattern
SRMHCAT 2026 Exam Pattern: Overview
SRMHCAT 2026 (SRM University Haryana Common Aptitude Test) is a computer-based test conducted by SRM University, Sonepat, Haryana. The exam is used for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
The test is 90 minutes long and has 100 multiple-choice questions for a total of 300 marks. The questions are spread equally across 5 sections.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Exam Name | SRM University Haryana Common Aptitude Test (SRMHCAT) |
| Conducting Body | SRM University, Sonepat, Haryana |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Medium | English |
| Total Duration | 90 minutes |
| Total Questions | 100 MCQs |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Number of Sections | 5 |
| Questions per Section | 20 |
| Marks per Section | 60 |
| Correct Answer | +3 marks |
| Wrong Answer | −1 mark |
| Unattempted Question | 0 marks |
SRMHCAT 2026 Important Dates
The SRMHCAT 2026 exam is scheduled for June 7, 2026. Candidates must carry the admit card and a valid photo ID to the exam centre.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Exam Date 2026 | June 7, 2026 |
SRMHCAT 2026 Detailed Exam Pattern
The exam has 5 equal sections: English & Verbal Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, Logical & Abstract Reasoning, Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge & Current Affairs. Each section carries 20 questions worth 60 marks.
- All sections carry equal weightage.
- There is no sectional time limit — the full 90 minutes can be managed across sections in any order.
- The exam duration has been reduced from 150 minutes in 2025 to 90 minutes in 2026.
SRMHCAT Marking Scheme 2026
A correct answer earns +3 marks. A wrong answer deducts 1 mark.
- Correct answer: +3 marks
- Wrong answer: −1 mark
- Unattempted question: 0 marks
SRMHCAT Subject-Wise Exam Pattern 2026
Each of the 5 sections has 20 questions. Every section is worth 60 marks.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English & Verbal Ability | 20 | 60 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 60 |
| Logical & Abstract Reasoning | 20 | 60 |
| Data Interpretation | 20 | 60 |
| General Knowledge & Current Affairs | 20 | 60 |
SRMHCAT Question Types 2026
All questions in SRMHCAT 2026 are multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The exam is conducted in English medium.
SRMHCAT Exam Pattern: Changes in 2026 vs Previous Year
The SRMHCAT 2026 duration has been reduced from 150 minutes in 2025 to 90 minutes. Practice sessions must now use the shorter window.
How to Prepare Based on SRMHCAT Exam Pattern
General Knowledge & Current Affairs and English sections reward consistent daily reading. These sections offer the most predictable marks.
SRMHCAT Exam Pattern FAQs
The official admissions portal for SRMHCAT 2026 is admissions.srmuniversity.ac.in.
SRMHCAT 2026 Important Dates
SRMHCAT 2026 was conducted on June 7, 2026. The admit card was released in the 1st week of June 2026, and the last date to apply for the final round was June 5, 2026.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| SRMHCAT 2026 Exam | June 7, 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | 1st week of June 2026 (Over) |
| Last Date to Apply (Final Round) | June 5, 2026 (Over) |
| Result Declaration | To be announced |
| Counselling / Admission Process | To be announced |
Source: SRM University Official Admissions Portal.
SRMHCAT 2026 Exam Pattern
SRMHCAT 2026 has 5 sections with 20 questions each, and all questions carry equal marks. There is no sectional time limit, and candidates can attempt sections in any order within the combined 90-minute window.
| Section | Subject / Area | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section 1 | English & Verbal Ability | 20 | 3 | 60 | — |
| Section 2 | Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 3 | 60 | — |
| Section 3 | Logical & Abstract Reasoning | 20 | 3 | 60 | — |
| Section 4 | Data Interpretation | 20 | 3 | 60 | — |
| Section 5 | General Knowledge & Current Affairs | 20 | 3 | 60 | — |
| Total | — | 100 | — | 300 marks | 90 minutes |
All five sections carry equal marks — 20 questions for 60 marks each. Candidates have roughly 18 minutes per section if they plan to attempt all 100 questions within the 90-minute window.
SRMHCAT Marking Scheme 2026
SRMHCAT 2026 follows a +3/−1 marking scheme applied uniformly across all five sections. Each correct answer earns 3 marks, each wrong answer costs 1 mark, and unattempted questions carry zero marks.
| Question Type | Marks for Correct Answer | Marks for Wrong Answer | Marks for Unattempted |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCQ (Single Correct) — All Sections | +3 | −1 | 0 |
Negative marking of 1 mark applies to every wrong MCQ answer. Avoid random guessing, especially in Data Interpretation and GK where an incorrect attempt quickly negates three correct ones.
With a +3/−1 scheme over 100 questions, the maximum score is 300 marks. If a candidate attempts 80 questions, answers 60 correctly and 20 incorrectly, the score is 160 marks (60 × 3 − 20 × 1). This shows why selective attempts outperform blind guessing under negative marking.
SRMHCAT Subject-Wise Exam Pattern 2026
Each of the five SRMHCAT sections tests a distinct skill area. The topic distribution within each section is indicative based on previous years; the exact split may vary by paper.
Section 1: English & Verbal Ability
| Topic / Unit | Indicative Questions | Indicative Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Grammar & Sentence Correction | 4–5 | 12–15 |
| Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms) | 4–5 | 12–15 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4–5 | 12–15 |
| Para-jumbles & Sentence Completion | 5–7 | 15–21 |
| Section Total | 20 | 60 |
Section 2: Quantitative Aptitude
| Topic / Unit | Indicative Questions | Indicative Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Algebra & Arithmetic | 5–6 | 15–18 |
| Ratio, Proportion & Percentage | 4–5 | 12–15 |
| Time & Work, Speed & Distance | 4–5 | 12–15 |
| Mensuration & Probability | 4–5 | 12–15 |
| Section Total | 20 | 60 |
Section 3: Logical & Abstract Reasoning
| Topic / Unit | Indicative Questions | Indicative Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Seating Arrangement (Linear & Circular) | 4–5 | 12–15 |
| Series Completion & Coding-Decoding | 4–5 | 12–15 |
| Blood Relations & Syllogisms | 4–5 | 12–15 |
| Venn Diagrams & Symbol-based Problems | 5–6 | 15–18 |
| Section Total | 20 | 60 |
Section 4: Data Interpretation
The source does not provide a topic-wise breakdown for Section 4. The section contains 20 questions for 60 marks, consistent with the overall exam pattern.
SRMHCAT 2026 Data Interpretation and General Knowledge Sections
Section 4: Data Interpretation
The Data Interpretation section has 20 questions worth 60 marks. Questions are drawn from charts, graphs, and tables.
| Topic / Unit | Indicative Questions | Indicative Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Bar Graphs & Line Charts | 5–7 | 15–21 |
| Pie Charts & Tabular Data | 5–7 | 15–21 |
| Caselet DI & Mixed Charts | 6–10 | 18–30 |
| Section Total | 20 | 60 |
Section 5: General Knowledge & Current Affairs
The General Knowledge section also has 20 questions worth 60 marks. It covers current affairs, static GK, and business-related topics.
| Topic / Unit | Indicative Questions | Indicative Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Current Affairs (National & International) | 8–10 | 24–30 |
| Static GK (History, Geography, Science) | 6–8 | 18–24 |
| Business, Economy & Awards | 4–6 | 12–18 |
| Section Total | 20 | 60 |
SRMHCAT Question Types 2026
SRMHCAT 2026 consists entirely of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). Each question has four options and exactly one correct answer.
No multi-select or numerical/integer-type questions appear in the exam.
| Question Type | Description | Sections It Appears In |
|---|---|---|
| MCQ — Single Correct | Four options; one correct answer per question | All 5 sections |
| Passage-Based MCQ | Short passage followed by 3–5 questions based on it | English & Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation |
| Statement-Based MCQ | Two or three statements given; identify the correct one(s) | GK & Current Affairs, Logical Reasoning |
A virtual calculator is not needed for this exam. All Quantitative Aptitude questions use standard arithmetic that can be solved by approximation and mental calculation.
SRMHCAT Exam Pattern: Changes in 2026 vs Previous Year
The exam duration has been reduced from 150 minutes to 90 minutes in 2026. The core structure of 100 questions and 300 marks remains the same as 2025.
Candidates now get roughly 54 seconds per question instead of the earlier 90 seconds. Any mock test practised at the earlier duration will underestimate the real exam pressure.
| Parameter | SRMHCAT 2025 | SRMHCAT 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Duration | 150 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Effective Time per Question | 1.5 minutes (90 seconds) | 0.9 minutes (54 seconds) |
| Exam Mode | Online CBT only | CBT (pen-and-paper option available) |
| Total Questions | 100 | 100 |
| Total Marks | 300 | 300 |
| Sections | 5 | 5 |
| Questions per Section | 20 | 20 |
| Marking Scheme | +3 / −1 | +3 / −1 |
| Sectional Time Limit | No | No |
How to Prepare Based on SRMHCAT Exam Pattern
Preparation must account for the 90-minute time constraint, the +3/−1 marking scheme, and the equal 20-question weightage across all five sections. These seven tips are directly derived from the SRMHCAT 2026 pattern.
SRMHCAT 2026 Exam Pattern
SRMHCAT 2026 is a 90-minute Computer-Based Test (CBT) with 100 multiple-choice questions. The total marks for the exam is 300.
Each correct answer earns +3 marks and each wrong answer deducts 1 mark. Unattempted questions carry zero marks.
Exam Structure
SRMHCAT 2026 has 5 sections. Each section has 20 questions for 60 marks.
- English & Verbal Ability
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Logical & Abstract Reasoning
- Data Interpretation
- General Knowledge & Current Affairs
All 100 questions are MCQs with four options and one correct answer each. The test is conducted in English only.
Key Changes in 2026
The exam duration has been reduced from 150 minutes in 2025 to 90 minutes in 2026. The total questions (100), total marks (300), number of sections (5), and marking scheme (+3/−1) remain unchanged.
Sectional Time Limit
There is no sectional time limit in SRMHCAT 2026. Candidates can manage the full 90 minutes across all five sections in any sequence they choose.
Subjects Tested
SRMHCAT tests five aptitude areas only. No subject-specific knowledge such as Physics, Chemistry, or Biology is tested.
Exam Date
The SRMHCAT 2026 exam is scheduled for June 7, 2026. Candidates must carry their admit card and a valid government-issued photo ID to the exam centre. Arrive at least 30 minutes before the reporting time.
Good Score
A score above 150 out of 300 (50%+) is generally competitive for most programmes at SRM University Sonepat. For merit-based scholarships and high-demand programmes, aiming for 200+ marks strengthens admission prospects.
Programmes Accepted
SRMHCAT 2026 qualifies candidates for admission to the following programmes at SRM University, Sonepat, Haryana:
- B.Tech
- BBA
- BCA
- BA LLB (5-year integrated)
- MBA
- M.Tech
Programme-specific eligibility requirements apply. Check the official admissions portal for full details.
Preparation Strategy
Reset every mock test to 90 minutes immediately. The duration dropped from 150 minutes in 2025. Old mock tests at the longer duration will not replicate real exam pressure — every practice session must use the 90-minute window.
Start with the two strongest sections. There is no sectional time limit, so opening with high-scoring sections banks marks early and reduces pressure on weaker areas.
Apply a soft 18-minute cap per section in mocks. Dividing 90 minutes across 5 sections gives 18 minutes each. Practising with this internal cap trains pacing without a forced timer.
Use a skip-and-return strategy for Data Interpretation and GK. In these sections, unfamiliar or time-heavy questions can trigger incorrect guesses. Mark them, move on, and return only if time allows.
Drill mental calculation shortcuts for Quantitative Aptitude. With 54 seconds per question on average, written long-form working is too slow. Practise approximation, ratio shortcuts, and percentage tricks until they become automatic.
Read current affairs daily up to the exam date. The GK & Current Affairs section (20 questions, 60 marks) tests recent events. A 10-minute daily digest over the final weeks adds guaranteed, guessing-free marks.
Never guess blindly under negative marking. The +3/−1 scheme means three wrong answers cancel nine marks of correct answers. Skip questions that cannot be reasoned through in 90 seconds and revisit only if time remains.
SRMHCAT 2026 Exam Pattern
SRMHCAT 2026 is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) conducted in English. The exam has 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in total.
Each question has four options, with one correct answer. The total duration of the test is 90 minutes.
Key Exam Details
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 300
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Marking Scheme: +3 for correct answer, -1 for wrong answer
Section-wise Breakdown
SRMHCAT 2026 has five sections. Each section contains 20 questions for 60 marks.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English & Verbal Ability | 20 | 60 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 60 |
| Logical & Abstract Reasoning | 20 | 60 |
| Data Interpretation | 20 | 60 |
| General Knowledge & Current Affairs | 20 | 60 |
Marking Scheme
Each correct answer earns +3 marks. Each wrong answer deducts 1 mark.
Unattempted questions carry zero marks. Random guessing is not advised, as three wrong answers cancel the marks of one correct answer.
Exam Duration and Time Management
There is no sectional time limit in SRMHCAT 2026. Candidates can divide the full 90 minutes across the five sections in any order.
This allows flexibility to manage time based on individual comfort and preparation level.
Changes in Exam Pattern for 2026
The most significant change in SRMHCAT 2026 is the reduction in exam duration. The duration has been reduced from 150 minutes in 2025 to 90 minutes in 2026.
The total questions (100), total marks (300), number of sections (5), and marking scheme (+3/-1) remain unchanged.
Subjects Tested
SRMHCAT tests five aptitude areas: English & Verbal Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, Logical & Abstract Reasoning, Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge & Current Affairs.
No subject-specific knowledge such as Physics, Chemistry, or Biology is tested.
Exam Date
The SRMHCAT 2026 exam is scheduled for June 7, 2026.
Candidates must carry their admit card and a valid government-issued photo ID to the exam centre. Arrive at least 30 minutes before the reporting time.
Score and Admission
A score above 150 out of 300 (50%+) is generally competitive for most programmes at SRM University Sonepat.
For merit-based scholarships and high-demand programmes, aiming for 200+ marks strengthens admission prospects.
Programmes Offered
SRMHCAT 2026 qualifies candidates for admission to B.Tech, BBA, BCA, BA LLB (5-year integrated), MBA, and M.Tech programmes at SRM University, Sonepat, Haryana.
Programme-specific eligibility requirements apply. Candidates should check the official admissions portal for full details.