The CAT 2026 admit card is scheduled for release on November 4 at iimcat.ac.in.
After downloading it, check your exam shift, centre code, name and photograph. Your allotted slot and exam centre are mentioned on the admit card and cannot be changed.
- CAT 2026 is on November 29, 2026, in three shifts: 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM.
- Your shift and centre are allotted by IIM Indore from the city preferences you chose while registering, subject to seat availability; do not expect a change after the admit card is out.
- Carry a printed A4 admit card with your photograph pasted and an original photo ID; a phone copy is not safe to rely on because phones are not allowed inside.
- Reporting time in CAT 2025 was 7:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM for the three shifts, and late entry was not allowed; confirm the 2026 time on your admit card.
Related Articles:
- Check CAT Admit Card 2026 Live Updates: Download Link @ iimcat.ac.in
- CAT 2026 Exam Day Documents Checklist
Key Summary
- Admit card date: November 4; downloadable until exam day, November 29.
- Check the exam shift, centre code, name and photo on every page of the printout.
- If the shift or centre field reads "Not Updated", recheck later; this was seen in CAT 2025.
- Report any error to the CAT helpdesk (1800 210 0175) the same day.
Your CAT 2026 Admit Card Checklist: What to Do and When
The steps below are in the order you should do them, starting today.
| When | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Today (November 2 - 3) | Find your registration ID and password; reset the password if needed; arrange a printer; keep one original photo ID and passport-size photographs ready |
| November 4 (release day) | Log in, download the PDF, save it on your phone and email, and check shift, centre code, name and photo on every page |
| November 4 - 5 | Report any error to the helpdesk with a screenshot; do not wait for the final week |
| Week of November 9 | Plan the route to the centre; book travel or a hotel if your centre is in another city; shift your mock timing to match your slot |
| November 27 - 28 | Visit or map the centre; print 2 - 3 copies; paste the photograph; keep the documents in one folder |
| Exam morning | Reach before the reporting time; sign the admit card in front of the invigilator as instructed |
Source: IIM CAT Official Website
How to Download the CAT 2026 Admit Card
- Go to iimcat.ac.in and open the registered candidate login.
- Enter your user ID and password.
- Open the admit card link on your dashboard.
- Download the PDF and keep a copy on your phone and email.
- Print every page on A4 paper in clear print.
- If the portal is slow on release day, wait and try again later in the day; the admit card stays available until the exam.
- If you forgot your password, use the reset option on the login page and check your registered email and mobile number.
Source: IIM CAT Official Website
Check more details: CAT Admit Card 2026: Release Date Nov 4, Download Link, Steps, & Exam Day Guidelines
First 10 Minutes After Downloading: Check These 8 Things
| Check | Why It Matters | If Wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Exam shift | Decides your reporting time (7:00 AM, 11:00 AM or 3:00 PM in CAT 2025) | If it reads "Not Updated", recheck later in the day or the next day |
| Centre code and address | Used to plan travel; centres are not changed after allotment | Contact the helpdesk if the city is not one of your preferences |
| Name | Must match your photo ID | Carry a name-change proof such as a gazette notification, affidavit or marriage certificate |
| Photograph | Must look like the application photo and match the ID | Contact the helpdesk immediately |
| Signature | You sign again in front of the invigilator | Report if missing |
| Registration number | Used at verification | Report if mismatched |
| Every page | Details and instructions run across pages | Reprint if any page is faint |
| Exam date | November 29, 2026 | Report any difference |
Source: IIM CAT Official Website; Collegedunia: CAT 2026 exam day documents
CAT Admit Card Sample
How Are CAT 2026 Slots and Centres Allotted?
You do not choose your slot; you choose city preferences at registration, and IIM Indore allots the slot and centre.
- Centres are assigned from the city preferences you chose, subject to seat capacity at each centre.
- CAT 2024 was held in 156 cities with more than 400 centres, and CAT 2025 was expected to be similar in size.
- Centre changes were not allowed after the correction window closed in CAT 2025. Do not plan around a swap.
- If you got a slot that clashes with work or travel, plan leave and travel now rather than waiting for a change.
For more Mock Tests, check: Free CAT Mock Test 2026: Free PDF Download, Solutions and Performance Analysis
Documents and Rules for Exam Day (As Per CAT 2025)
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Admit card | Printed on A4 with your photograph pasted; sign it in front of the invigilator |
| Photo ID | One original valid ID such as Aadhaar, PAN, passport, driving licence or voter ID; name and photo must match the admit card |
| Photographs | Two passport-size photographs similar to the application photo |
| Name mismatch | Carry a government name-change document |
| PwBD with scribe | Disability certificate and signed scribe affidavit |
| Digital copies | Do not depend on phone copies; phones are not allowed inside |
| Not allowed | Phones, smartwatches, calculators, stationery and jewellery; parents are not allowed inside the centre |
| Rough work | Scratch sheets and pen are provided at the centre and must be returned |
| Late entry | Not allowed once the gates close |
| Breaks | No scheduled bio-breaks; the timer does not stop |
CAT Previous Year Question Papers PDF: Overview and Pattern (2020–2025)
| CAT Exam Year | Total Questions | Exam Pattern | Overall Difficulty | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Download CAT 2025 Question Paper | 68 | Latest Pattern | Difficult | Final Revision & Latest Pattern |
| Download CAT 2024 Question Paper | 68 | Latest Pattern | Moderate to Difficult | Mock Test Practice |
| Download CAT 2023 Question Paper | 66 | Current Pattern | Difficult | Advanced Practice |
| Download CAT 2022 Question Paper | 66 | Current Pattern | Moderate | Concept Building |
| Download CAT 2021 Question Paper | 66 | Current Pattern | Moderate | Speed & Accuracy |
| Download CAT 2020 Question Paper | 76 | Pattern Transition | Moderate | Understanding Pattern Changes |
Dress Code and Centre Visit
- Wear simple, comfortable clothes: avoid frilled tops, large buttons, thick-soled shoes, metal ornaments and watches.
- Avoid mehendi on your hands, as it can affect verification.
- Visit the centre a day before or at least check the route at the same time of day as your slot.
- Re-frisking happens before you enter the hall, and no extra exam time is given for it.
Check: CAT 2026 Dress Code: What to Wear, Documents to Carry and Exam Day Guidelines
Using the Admit Card to Plan Your Last 25 Days
Once you know your shift, set the timing of your full mocks to the same hours. A morning-slot candidate should not take every mock at night.
- Morning shift: take mocks at 8:30 AM on weekends and wake up 3 hours earlier on weekdays during the last week.
- Afternoon shift: avoid a heavy lunch before your mocks and practise the 12:30 PM start.
- Evening shift: keep your day light and avoid late-afternoon fatigue by resting from 1:00 PM on mock days.
- Practise the pattern: use a CAT mock test and solve previous papers from the CAT 2026 question papers page with the 40-minute limit per section.
Common Admit Card Mistakes to Avoid
- Downloading but not checking: a wrong name or photo found on exam day cannot be fixed at the gate.
- Printing only the first page: carry the complete printout.
- Forgetting to paste the photograph before reaching the centre.
- Carrying a college or employer ID only when a government photo ID is safer; carry whichever matches your registration name.
- Planning a centre change or a late slot swap that is unlikely to be allowed.
- Reaching exactly at reporting time without allowing for traffic and verification queues.
CAT Admit Card Out Tomorrow FAQs
Ques. When will the CAT 2026 admit card be released?
Ans. It is scheduled for November 4, 2026 on iimcat.ac.in. No release time has been announced, so check the portal through the day.
Ques. Can I change my CAT 2026 exam centre or slot after the admit card is out?
Ans. In CAT 2025, centre changes were not allowed once the correction window closed, and you were not given a new centre after the admit card was released. Plan for the allotted centre and check the 2026 instructions.
Ques. What if my CAT admit card shows "Not Updated" for the exam shift or centre?
Ans. This field showed "Not Updated" before allotment in CAT 2025. Recheck the login later in the day or the next day, and contact the helpdesk if it does not update.
Ques. Which ID can I carry to the CAT exam?
Ans. One original valid photo ID such as Aadhaar, PAN, passport, driving licence or voter ID. The name and photo must match the admit card; confirm the accepted list on your 2026 admit card.
Ques. My name on the ID is different from the admit card. What should I do?
Ans. Carry a government-issued name-change document such as a gazette notification, affidavit or marriage certificate, and report the issue to the CAT helpdesk at 1800 210 0175 before exam day.
Ques. Can I show the CAT admit card or ID on my phone?
Ans. No. Carry a printed A4 admit card and an original ID. Phones are not allowed inside the exam hall, so digital copies are not safe to depend on.
Ques. Is there any break during the CAT exam?
Ans. There are no scheduled bio-breaks, and the exam timer does not stop. Use the washroom before entering the hall.
Ques. Will I get rough sheets in the CAT exam?
Ans. Yes. Scratch sheets and a pen are provided at the centre, and you must return them before leaving the hall.
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