CAT Exam | Important Dates | Exam Pattern | Registration Procedure | Eligibility Criteria | Admission Process

CAT Exam 2026: Important Dates, Eligibility, Registration, Exam Pattern & Admission Process

Introduction to CAT Exam

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of India’s most competitive national-level MBA entrance examinations, conducted annually by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). CAT scores are used for admission to postgraduate management programmes at IIMs and are also accepted by several other leading B-schools in India.

CAT 2026 is being conducted by IIM Indore. The examination is scheduled for November 29, 2026 (Sunday) and will be conducted in three sessions. CAT 2026 registration opened on August 3, 2026, and the deadline was subsequently extended to September 22, 2026.

For MBA aspirants planning admission for the 2027–29 academic session, understanding CAT eligibility, registration, exam pattern, syllabus, important dates, and the admission process is essential.

CAT 2026 Important Dates

Candidates should keep track of all CAT 2026 events to avoid missing important deadlines.

The CAT 2026 registration process is now closed. Candidates who successfully registered can download their admit card from the official CAT website once the admit-card window opens.

CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must fulfil the prescribed eligibility requirements before appearing for CAT.

• Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification from a recognized university or institution.

• General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates generally require at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA.

• Candidates belonging to SC, ST and PwD categories require at least 45% marks or equivalent CGPA.

• Candidates appearing in the final year of their bachelor’s degree can also apply, subject to the conditions specified by the IIMs.

• There is no prescribed age limit for appearing in CAT.

• Meeting the minimum eligibility criteria does not guarantee an IIM interview call or admission. Individual IIMs follow their own shortlisting and selection policies.

CAT 2026 Registration Process

CAT registration is completed online through the official CAT website.

Steps to Register for CAT

1. Visit the official CAT website: iimcat.ac.in

2. Click on the New Candidate Registration option.

3. Enter your name, date of birth, email ID and mobile number.

4. Generate your CAT User ID and password.

5. Log in and complete the application form.

6. Enter personal, academic and work-experience details, wherever applicable.

7. Upload the required photograph, signature and applicable category certificates.

8. Select preferred test cities.

9. Pay the applicable registration fee.

10. Review the application carefully and submit it.

11. Save the confirmation page and application details for future reference.
    

CAT 2026 Application Fee

The CAT 2026 fee was ₹2,600 for candidates in the general category and ₹1,300 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern

CAT is conducted as a computer-based test (CBT) with three sections. Each section has a separate 40-minute time limit, and candidates cannot switch between sections during the examination. The total test duration is 120 minutes.

The recent CAT pattern comprises 68 questions, with 24 questions in VARC and 22 each in DILR and QA.

CAT Marking Scheme

• +3 marks for every correct answer.

• -1 mark for an incorrect MCQ.

• No negative marking for TITA (Type in the Answer) questions.

• No marks are awarded for unanswered questions.

CAT 2026 Syllabus

The CAT syllabus is broadly divided into three sections:

1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

Important areas include:

• Reading Comprehension

• Para Summary

• Para Jumbles

• Odd Sentence Out

• Verbal Reasoning

• Sentence-based questions

• Vocabulary and language comprehension

Reading Comprehension generally forms a significant portion of the VARC section.

2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

Key areas include:

• Tables and charts

• Graphs and caselets

• Data interpretation

• Arrangements

• Distribution

• Seating arrangements

• Venn diagrams

• Networks and routes

• Logical reasoning sets

3. Quantitative Ability (QA)

Important topics include:

• Arithmetic

• Algebra

• Number System

• Geometry and Mensuration

• Modern Mathematics

• Percentages

• Profit and Loss

• Ratio and Proportion

• Time, Speed and Distance

• Time and Work

CAT 2026 Exam Centres and Sessions

CAT 2026 is being conducted in three sessions on November 29, 2026. Candidates select their preferred test-city options during registration, subject to availability and the examination authority's allotment.

Candidates should carefully check their CAT admit card for the exact examination centre, reporting time and session details.

CAT Admission Process 2027–29

Qualifying for CAT is only the first stage of the MBA admission process. After the CAT result, IIMs and other participating B-schools conduct their own selection processes.

The admission process generally involves:

1. CAT Score and Percentile

Institutes consider the candidate's overall CAT percentile and, where applicable, sectional performance.

2. Shortlisting

Each IIM independently shortlists candidates based on factors such as:

• CAT percentile

• Sectional percentile

• Academic performance

• Graduation marks

• Work experience

• Diversity factors

• Other institute-specific criteria

3. WAT / GD / PI

Depending on the institute and programme, shortlisted candidates may be required to participate in:

• Written Ability Test (WAT)

• Group Discussion (GD)

• Personal Interview (PI)

The exact process varies from one IIM or B-school to another.

4. Final Selection

The final admission decision may consider CAT performance, academic profile, work experience, diversity, WAT/GD/PI performance and other parameters specified by the institute.

CAT Preparation Tips

To perform well in CAT, candidates should follow a structured preparation strategy:

• Understand the complete CAT exam pattern and syllabus.

• Strengthen fundamental concepts in Quantitative Ability.

• Read newspapers, articles and quality publications regularly for VARC preparation.

• Practise different types of DILR sets.

• Solve previous years' CAT question papers.

• Take regular mock tests and analyse performance.

• Work on speed and accuracy.

• Develop a section-wise time-management strategy.

• Focus on both overall and sectional performance.

Since each CAT section has a fixed time limit, candidates should practise solving questions within the 40-minute sectional window.

Conclusion

The CAT 2026 exam is an important opportunity for students targeting IIMs and other leading MBA colleges in India. With the examination scheduled for November 29, 2026, candidates should focus on revision, mock tests, time management and accuracy during the final stage of preparation.

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