CAT 2026 registration is expected to begin in the first week of August 2026, while the official notification is likely to be released in the last week of July. Candidates aiming for MBA admission to any of the 22 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and several other leading business schools will need to appear for the Common Admission Test (CAT). Check out the CAT 2026 Exam Date, Eligibility, Registration Process, Syllabus, Exam Pattern, and Preparation Strategy.

What is CAT 2026?

CAT is the most popular MBA entrance exam in India. CAT is an annual admission test organised by one of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and is the gateway to MBA and postgraduate management courses at all the 22 Indian Institute of Managements (IIMs) and other top management institutes in the country.

Every year, lakhs of graduates from engineering, commerce, science, arts and other disciplines appear for CAT in the hope of securing admission to some of India's most competitive business schools. The data available indicates that in 2025, almost 2.95 lakh candidates registered for the exams and 2.58 lakh candidates appeared in the exams.

CAT 2026 Key Highlights

Particular	CAT 2026 Details
Examination Name	Common Admission Test (CAT)
Conducting Institute	IIM Indore
Examination Level	National-level MBA entrance examination
Application Mode	Online
Examination Mode	Computer-Based Test
Expected CAT 2026 Exam Date	29 November 2026 (Sunday)
Number of Exam Slots	Three
Duration	120 Minutes
Official Website	iimcat.ac.in

CAT 2026 Important Dates

Event	Expected Date
Notification & Registration Opens	August 1, 2026
Registration Last Date	September 15, 2026
Admit Card	November 2026
CAT Exam Date	November 29, 2026
Result / Scorecard	January 2027
IIM Interview Process	February–April 2027
Final Admission	May–June 2027

Why is the CAT so Important?

CAT for many of the graduates is more than an entrance exam. It is a stepping stone towards getting into Indian Institute of Management or other recognized business school.

Some candidates aspire to build their career in Consulting, finance and marketing. Others would like to pursue leadership, entrepreneurship and/or business analytics opportunities. CAT is also popular among working people who want to advance their careers via an MBA.

Whether you should take the CAT or not depends on your career objectives. However, if you want to go ahead and take admission to an IIM or any other business school that accepts CAT scores, it is one of the most crucial exams in India.

CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Typically, the candidates applying for CAT 2026 should:

Requirement	Details
Degree	Bachelor's in any discipline from recognized university
Minimum Marks	50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates)
Final Year	Final year students may apply (degree must be completed by time of joining)
Age Limit	No age limit
Attempts	No limit on number of attempts

 

CAT 2026 Registration Process

1. Visit the Online portal 
2. Create an account with personal details
3. Fill in the required details and add the documents 
4. Submit a recent passport sized photo and signature.
5. Choose the desired test cities and programmes.
6. Make an online application fee payment.
7. After successful submission, download the confirmation.

CAT 2026 Registration Fees

• For General category candidates: ₹2600.
• For SC/ST and PWD, ₹1,300.

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern & Section Details

Section	Full Name	Questions	Time
VARC	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension	24	40 minutes
DILR	Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning	20	40 minutes
QA	Quantitative Aptitude	22	40 minutes
Total		66	120 minutes

CAT Exam Marking Scheme:

• MCQ correct: +3 marks
• MCQ wrong: −1 mark
• TITA (non-MCQ) correct: +3 marks
• TITA wrong: 0 marks (no negative marking)

Note that the sectional time limit is strict; and one cannot move between sections before each 40-minute window ends.

What are TITA Questions in CAT?

One aspect of the CAT examination that often confuses first-time candidates is the Type In The Answer (TITA) format. Unlike multiple-choice questions, TITA questions require candidates to type their answers directly into the answer box instead of selecting from options. 

 

CAT 2026 Syllabus

VARC — Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (24 Q)

Reading Comprehension (RC) — 16 questions:

• 4 RC passages (each 400–700 words)
• Passage types: Business, Social Science, Humanities, Science
• Questions test: Main idea, Inference, Tone, Vocabulary in context

Verbal Ability — 8 questions (TITA — no negative marking):

Teaching & Classroom Resources

• Para Jumbles (sentence ordering)
• Para Summary (choose best summary for a paragraph)
• Odd Sentence Out (find sentence that doesn't belong)

DILR — Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (20 Q)

Data Interpretation (DI):

• Tables, Bar Charts, Pie Charts, Line Graphs, Caselets
• Mixed graphs requiring multi-step calculations

Logical Reasoning (LR):

• Seating Arrangements (Linear + Circular)
• Blood Relations
• Scheduling / Sequencing
• Games & Tournaments
• Networks / Routes
• Numbers & Quantities (LR-based)

QA — Quantitative Aptitude (22 Q)

Topic	Approx. Questions
Arithmetic (Ratio, %, Profit, TSD, TW)	6–8
Algebra (Equations, Inequalities, Functions)	4–6
Number System	2–4
Geometry & Mensuration	4–6
Modern Math (P&C, Probability)	2–3
Sequences & Series	1–2

 

CAT 2026 Admit Card  

As per the tentative as well as official schedule from the previous year, the CAT 2026 admit card is expected to be released somewhere in the last week of October 2026 , up to 20th November 2026. For those applicants who have completed their registration process and also submitted the application for the test, downloading the admit card should be possible from the official CAT site i.e. www.iimcat.ac.in, simply by using the login credentials created during registration.

This admit card is basically the entry pass and has details like candidate’s name, exam date, shift timing and the allocated exam center. It is advised to download it, and keep a hard copy of it before the exam day, so there isn’t any last-minute hassle.

How to Prepare for CAT 2026

There is no time for last minute changes in preparation for CAT. The guidance available indicates that candidates should seek to start preparation at least 6 months prior to the examination.

The following is a practical preparation strategy:

Having a daily study schedule.

• Creating conceptual clarity first, then speeding up.
• Regularly taking mock tests.
• Solving the previous years CAT papers.
• Reviewing errors following each mock.
• Learning time management as per paper pattern

It is also suggested to use mock papers prior to full coverage of the syllabus so that weaknesses and strengths can be identified.

Common Mistakes of CAT Aspirants 

Avoidable mistakes may waste a lot of time for many applicants in the application process. Some of the more frequently made mistakes are:

• Last minute registrations.
• Incorrect document formatting when uploading.
• Inputting wrong school data.
• Using a non-working mobile number or email address.
• Not downloading the confirmation page following a payment.

Note: The early submission of the application leaves sufficient time to make corrections (if needed) before the deadline.

Is the CAT Entrance Exam Worth it?

CAT is one of the most important management entrance exams in the country for those who want to join IIM or any other business school that considers it for MBA admissions.

Is There Any CAT Alternative Exam?

There are many other management entrance exams like GMCAT (Global Management Common Aptitude Test). However, it is important to first decide if you want to study at IIM, top university, or from a college that aligns with you. 

While there's a lot of preparation involved with CAT, it's important to understand why you want to take the time to study management. When you know what you want your career to be, you'll plan and make better decisions all along the process of getting into your next school.

 

Still confused? Get free career counselling by calling at  08071296497