The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore will conduct the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 on November 29, 2026, in three sessions.

The CAT 2026 admit card is scheduled for release on November 4, 2026, while the result is expected in the first week of January 2027.

CAT scores are used for admission to IIMs and more than 1,000 other management institutes across India.

CAT 2026 will have 68 questions carrying 204 marks, with a sectional time limit of 40 minutes for VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude.

Latest Updates on CAT 2026

  • CAT 2026 recorded 2.84 lakh registrations, about 3.7% fewer than the 2.95 lakh registrations reported for 2025.
  • Around 2.48 lakh to 2.53 lakh candidates may appear in 2026 based on recent attendance trends. This is an estimate, not an official attendance figure.
  • CAT 2026 registration closed on September 22, and the extended fee-payment deadline ended on September 24.
  • The application correction window closed on October 6. Photograph, signature and test city preferences were the editable fields.
  • IIM Indore is scheduled to release the CAT 2026 admit card on November 4.
  • The official CAT mock test is expected on the IIM CAT portal; candidates should use the official website for its release.

This CAT 2026 guide covers exam dates, registration, eligibility, fees, exam pattern, syllabus, topic-wise weightage, preparation strategy, previous year papers, mock tests, score vs percentile, IIM cutoffs, selection process and MBA colleges accepting CAT scores.

Free PDFs to start your CAT 2026 Preparation

PDF Formula sheet
CAT 2026 Quant Formula Sheet
1,25,000+ downloads Download free
PDF Exam Pattern
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern Analysis
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PDF Syllabus
CAT 2026 Official Syllabus
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Related Links:

CAT 2026

Key Summary

  • IIM Indore will conduct CAT 2026 on November 29, 2026, in three sessions.
  • CAT 2026 registration is closed, and the fee payment deadline was September 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM IST.
  • The CAT 2026 form correction window closed on October 6 at 5:00 PM. Candidates could edit their photograph, signature and test city preferences.
  • The exam will have 68 questions across VARC, DILR, and QA, with a total duration of 120 minutes.
  • Candidates will receive +3 marks for each correct answer and -1 for each incorrect MCQ. No negative marking applies to TITA questions.
  • CAT 2026 results are expected in the first week of January 2027.

CAT 2026 Highlights

Particulars CAT 2026 Details
Full Form Common Admission Test
Exam Name CAT 2026
Conducting Institute IIM Indore
CAT 2026 Convener Prof. Aditya Billore
Examination Date November 29, 2026
Registration Status Closed
Registration Last Date September 22, 2026
Fee Payment Deadline September 24, 2026
Correction Window October 5 to October 6, 2026
Examination Mode Computer-Based Test
Examination Sessions 3
Total Questions 68
Maximum Marks 204
Examination Duration 120 minutes
VARC Questions 24
DILR Questions 22
QA Questions 22
Sectional Duration 40 minutes
Correct Answer +3 marks
Incorrect MCQ -1 mark
Incorrect TITA No negative marking
Minimum Eligibility 50% in Bachelor's degree; 45% for SC/ST/PwD
Age Limit No age restriction
Admit Card November 4, 2026
Result First week of January 2027 (expected)
Official Website iimcat.ac.in

CAT 2026 Registration Statistics: How Many Candidates Applied?

IIM Indore reported 2.84 lakh registrations for CAT 2026. This is around 3.7% lower than the 2.95 lakh registrations reported for 2025 and 13.7% below the 3.29 lakh registrations recorded in 2024.

  • CAT 2026 registrations fell for the second consecutive year after the 2024 peak.
  • Based on recent attendance rates, around 2.48 lakh to 2.53 lakh candidates may appear in 2026. This estimate may change once the exam is held.
  • Registration totals show the number of applicants, not the number who will actually take the test.
  • The final attendance figure for CAT 2026 will be known only after the examination.
CAT Year Registered Candidates Appeared Candidates Status
CAT 2026 2.84 lakh 2.48–2.53 lakh (estimated) Exam scheduled for November 29
CAT 2025 2.95 lakh Around 2.58 lakh Completed
CAT 2024 3.29 lakh Around 2.93 lakh Completed
CAT 2023 Around 3.28 lakh Around 2.88 lakh Completed
CAT 2022 Around 2.55 lakh Around 2.22 lakh Completed
CAT 2021 Around 2.31 lakh Around 1.92 lakh Completed

The estimated 2026 attendance is based on recent participation rates and is not an official count. Do not compare the 2026 estimate with completed-year attendance as if both were final figures.

Check: How Many Students Applied for CAT 2026? 2.84 Lakh Candidates Registered

How Many Students Appeared for CAT 2025 vs Previous Years (2019-2025)

CAT Year Registered Candidates Appeared Candidates Attendance Rate Trend / Observation
CAT 2025 2,95,000 2,45,000 83% Registrations continued to remain high with a slight rise compared to 2024
CAT 2024 2,93,000 2,49,000 85% Recorded one of the highest registration numbers in CAT history
CAT 2023 2,88,000 2,42,000 84% Candidate participation continued its upward trend after the pandemic period
CAT 2022 2,22,000 1,90,000 86% Registrations increased significantly as exam participation recovered
CAT 2021 2,30,000 1,92,000 83% Candidate numbers started stabilising after pandemic disruptions
CAT 2020 2,27,000 1,90,000 84% Exam conducted during the COVID-19 period with reduced participation
CAT 2019 2,44,000 2,09,000 86% Represented the pre-pandemic registration trend
How Many Students Appeared for CAT 2025 vs Previous Years (2019-2025)

How Many Students Appeared for CAT 2025 Category-wise

Roughly 2.95 lakh students registered for CAT 2025 and about 2.58 lakh appeared, an attendance rate near 87%.

Category Registered Appeared
General 65.76% 65.32%
EWS 5.26% 5.59%
NC-OBC 17.82% 18.52%
SC 8.75% 8.34%
ST 2.38% 2.22%
PwD 0.49% 0.49%

CAT Exam Date 2026

  • CAT 2026 will be held in computer-based mode.
  • The examination will take place across multiple cities.
  • Candidates cannot select their examination slot independently.
  • Sectional timing will remain applicable throughout the examination.
  • The examination centre and slot details will be available on the admit card.

Source: CAT 2026 Notification PDF

CAT 2026 Events Dates Status
CAT Notification July 26, 2026 Released
Registration Started August 3, 2026 Completed
Registration Deadline September 22, 2026 Closed
Fee Payment Deadline September 24, 2026 Closed
Application Correction Window October 5–6, 2026 Closed
CAT Admit Card November 4, 2026 Scheduled
CAT 2026 Exam November 29, 2026 Confirmed
CAT Answer Key December 2026 Expected
CAT Result First week of January 2027 Expected

Source: CAT 2026 Information Bulletin and official announcements. Dates marked expected are subject to official confirmation.

Also Check: CAT 2026 Full Schedule and Slot Details

CAT 2026 Exam Slot Timings

CAT 2026 will be conducted in three shifts. Each session will have a duration of two hours.

Exam Slot Reporting/Exam Schedule
Slot 1 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Slot 2 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Slot 3 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Candidates should check the exact reporting time and examination centre mentioned on their admit cards. The reporting time may be different from the examination starting time.

CAT Admit Card 2026: Release Date and Download Process

IIM Indore is scheduled to release the CAT 2026 admit card on November 4, 2026. Registered candidates will be able to download their hall tickets from the official website using their login credentials. The download facility is expected to remain available until the examination date, November 29.

Candidates must carry a printed copy of the admit card to their allotted test centre. Before leaving for the exam, check the reporting time, centre address and instructions mentioned on the hall ticket.

Check: CAT 2026 Admit Card: Direct Link, Login Steps and What to Check

How to Download CAT 2026 Admit Card

Follow these steps to download your CAT 2026 hall ticket:

  1. Visit the official CAT website: iimcat.ac.in.
  2. Log in to the CAT 2026 candidate portal.
  3. Enter your registered login credentials.
  4. Find and click the admit card download link.
  5. Open the hall ticket and verify the information displayed.
  6. Download the PDF and take a clear printout.

The admit card contains the candidate's personal details, photograph, examination slot, test centre address and exam-day instructions. Candidates should check these details carefully before the examination.

Check: CAT 2026 Admit Card: How to Download, Login and Fix Common Issues

CAT Admit Card 2026: Common Errors and How to Resolve Them

Candidates should compare their admit card details with their application form and valid photo ID. If they find an error, they should contact the official CAT helpdesk for guidance rather than attempting to change the document themselves.

Error or Discrepancy What Candidates Should Do
Incorrect name or spelling Compare the name with the submitted application and valid photo ID. Contact the CAT helpdesk if the details do not match.
Incorrect date of birth Check the date against the application form and supporting documents, then report the discrepancy through the official helpdesk.
Incorrect category Review the submitted application details and contact the CAT authorities for clarification.
Photograph or signature missing or unclear Check the downloaded PDF and report the issue to the official helpdesk.
Incorrect exam slot or test centre Verify the details displayed on the admit card and seek clarification from the CAT helpdesk. Do not assume that the allotted centre or slot can be changed.
Admit card download or login problem Recheck the login credentials and try accessing the official portal again. Contact the helpdesk if the problem continues.
Barcode or other verification detail appears unclear Download the PDF again and check whether the issue persists. Contact the official helpdesk if necessary.

Candidates reporting a discrepancy should keep their application confirmation, fee-payment receipt and valid photo ID available in case supporting documents are requested. Report problems as soon as possible and follow the instructions provided by the CAT authorities.

Check: How to Download CAT 2026 Admit Card: Login Steps and Error Fix

CAT 2026 Conducting Body

IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2026 and managing the major examination-related activities. These include the release of the notification, registration, application correction, admit cards, examination, answer key and result.

The CAT conducting institute changes periodically among the participating IIMs. For 2026, IIM Indore is responsible for coordinating the examination process.

Prof. Aditya Billore, Professor of Marketing at IIM Indore, is the CAT 2026 Convener

CAT Difficulty Trend: Last Five Years

Year Conducting IIM Overall Difficulty Key Point
2025 IIM Kozhikode Moderate to Difficult Slightly tougher than 2024, DILR sets leaned more reasoning-heavy
2024 IIM Calcutta Moderate Question count raised to 68 from 66
2023 IIM Lucknow Moderate VARC leaned heavier on Reading Comprehension
2020 IIM Indore Moderate Duration cut to 120 minutes, 76 questions across three sections
Note: CAT 2026 is expected to retain the 68-question, 120-minute format seen in 2024 and 2025. No structural change has been officially announced.

CAT Quantitative Aptitude Sample Paper

CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Sample Paper

CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Sample Paper

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

You get 40 minutes per section and must attempt them in the fixed order. Switching back to a previous section is not allowed.

Section Questions Time
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension 24 40 min
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning 22 40 min
Quantitative Aptitude 22 40 min
Total 68 120 min
Parameter Marks
Correct answer +3
Wrong MCQ -1
Wrong TITA No negative marking
Unattempted 0

Check: CAT 2026 Marking Scheme: TITA vs MCQ Negative Marking and Section-Wise Weightage

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern Changes Compared to Previous Years

CAT Year Total Questions Duration Major Change
2020 76 120 minutes Duration reduced
2021 66 120 minutes Revised question count
2022 66 120 minutes Structure continued
2023 66 120 minutes Structure continued
2024 68 120 minutes Question count increased
2025 68 120 minutes Structure continued
2026 68 120 minutes Announced pattern

Also Check:

CAT 2026 Syllabus

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension, para jumbles, para summary, para completion, vocabulary, idioms, error spotting and critical reasoning.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

Bar graphs, line charts, pie charts, tables, Venn diagrams, data sufficiency and caselets on the DI side. Seating arrangements, puzzles, blood relations, direction sense, games and tournaments, and binary logic on the LR side.

Quantitative Aptitude

Percentages, profit and loss, ratio and proportion, averages, time speed and distance, interest, mixtures, equations, logarithms, geometry, mensuration, permutations, probability and progressions.

Read More: CAT Syllabus 2026: PDF Download, Topics & Section-wise Weightage

Most downloaded CAT 2026 resources this week

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CAT QA Syllabus 2026: Topics and Weightage
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CAT DILR Syllabus 2026: Topics and Weightage
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CAT VARC Syllabus 2026: Topics and Weightage
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CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy: How to Prepare in the Last 60 Days

You have close to four months from today. Five to six focused hours a day is enough if you stay consistent.

  • Give 1.5 hours each to VARC, DILR and QA.
  • Keep one hour for revising what you already covered.
  • In November, shift to two hours of mock tests daily and analyse every mock properly.
Preparation Period Main Focus Recommended Activities
September 28 – October 4 Preparation Assessment Attempt a diagnostic mock and identify weak areas
October 5 – October 11 Concept Revision Revise Arithmetic, Algebra, RC and DILR
October 12 – October 18 Sectional Practice Attempt sectional tests and analyse mistakes
October 19 – October 25 Mock Test Practice Attempt 2 full-length mocks and review performance
October 26 – November 1 Accuracy Improvement Focus on question selection and time management
November 2 – November 8 Examination Simulation Practise full-length mocks under actual time limits
November 9 – November 15 Previous Year Papers Solve CAT papers and analyse section-wise performance
November 16 – November 22 Final Revision Revise formulas, concepts and important question types
November 23 – November 28 Light Revision Review notes and avoid excessive testing
November 29 CAT 2026 Examination Follow the examination-day strategy

CAT 2026 Preparation Kit

CAT 2026

Prepare Smart. Practice Better.

Access essential CAT preparation resources for every stage of your exam preparation.

VARC DILR QA PYQs Mock Tests
📘
PDF

Complete CAT 2026 Syllabus

Get the complete CAT 2026 syllabus covering VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude.

Download PDF →
📝
PDF

CAT Previous Year Question Papers

Practice with CAT previous year question papers to understand the exam pattern and question trends.

Download PDF →
📅
PDF

CAT 2026 Exam Preparation Plan

Follow a structured preparation plan covering revision, practice, PYQs, sectional tests and mocks.

Download PDF →

CAT 2026 Recommended Books: Section-Wise Preparation Resources

Section Recommended Book Preparation Focus
Quantitative Aptitude How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma Concept building and graded practice
Quantitative Aptitude Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Nishit K. Sinha Application-based questions
DILR Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT by Nishit K. Sinha Logical reasoning and data sets
DILR How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma DI and LR practice
VARC How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT by Arun Sharma Verbal reasoning and comprehension
VARC Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis Vocabulary development
Practice Previous Year CAT Question Papers Examination-level practice

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CAT 2026 Mock Test

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Also Check:

CAT 2026 Expected Cutoff

Official cutoffs usually land in late December or the first week of January, once results are out.

  • For a general category call from Ahmedabad, Bangalore or Kozhikode, keep your target at 98 to 99 percentile and above.
  • Sectional cutoffs matter as much as the overall figure. Newer IIMs may sit near 70 to 75 percentile per section.

Also Check: CAT 2026 Safe Percentile for IIM A, B and C: Score to Target

CAT 2025 Category-Wise Qualifying Percentile

IIM Gen EWS OBC SC ST PwD
IIM Ahmedabad 95+ 95+ 90+ 85+ 75+ 85+
IIM Bangalore 85+ 75+ 75+ 70+ 65+ 60+
IIM Calcutta 75+ 65+ 65+ 60+ 55+ 45+
IIM Lucknow 90+ 82+ 82+ 65+ 60+ 60+
IIM Mumbai 85+ 75+ 75+ 70+ 65+ 65+
IIM Indore 90+ 90+ 80+ 60+ 45+ 45+
IIM Kozhikode 85+ 75+ 75+ 65+ 65+ 55+
IIM Shillong 75 75 75 60 50 -
IIM Udaipur 95 81 81 66 42 42
IIM Tiruchirappalli 90 75 75 50 30 30

These are qualifying percentiles for shortlisting, not final selection scores. Actual converts usually sit well above these numbers.

Also Check:

Non-IIMs Accepting CAT 2026 Scores

More than 90 non-IIM institutes use CAT scores for admission. Here are the ones students target most.

Institute Percentile Range
FMS Delhi 98-99+
DMS IIT Delhi 97-99+
IIFT Delhi 95-98+
JBIMS Mumbai 95-99+
SJMSOM IIT Bombay 94-98+
MDI Gurgaon 94-97+
SPJIMR Mumbai 85-97+
VGSoM IIT Kharagpur 90-95+
XIMB Bhubaneswar 90-95+

See Also: Top MBA Colleges in India Accepting CAT 2026

CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

  • CAT 2026 eligibility criteria require candidates to have a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent CGPA in a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university.
  • Candidates belonging to SC, ST and PwD categories need at least 45% marks.
  • There is no age limit or restriction on the number of CAT attempts.
  • Final-year graduation students and candidates with professional qualifications such as CA, CS, CMA (ICWA) and FIAI can also apply, subject to meeting the required eligibility conditions.
CAT 2026 Eligibility Requirement Details
Academic Qualification Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university/institution
Minimum Percentage for General Category 50% marks or equivalent CGPA
Minimum Percentage for SC/ST/PwD Category 45% marks or equivalent CGPA
Eligible Professional Courses CA, CS, CMA (ICWA), FIAI candidates can apply if they meet the required marks criteria
Final Year Students Eligible to apply. Admission remains provisional until completion of the degree
Age Limit for CAT 2026 No age limit
Attempt Limit No restriction on the number of attempts
Graduation Stream Requirement Candidates from any academic background can apply
CGPA to Percentage Conversion If the university provides no conversion formula, percentage is calculated as: (CGPA ÷ Maximum CGPA) × 100
CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Source: CAT 2026 Notification PDF

Also Check: CAT Eligibility 2026: Age Limit, Qualification, Reservation Policy

CAT 2026 Eligibility for Final-Year Students

Final-year undergraduate students can appear for CAT 2026 if they meet the conditions specified in the information bulletin.

However, admission to an IIM may remain provisional until the candidate completes graduation and submits the required documents within the institute's specified timeline.

Candidates should check individual IIM admission policies because academic requirements and document submission deadlines may vary.

CAT 2026 Reservation Policy: Category-Wise Seat Reservation in IIMs

For admission to IIMs, category-wise seat reservation is followed as per Government of India norms.

CAT 2026 Reservation Policy: Category-Wise Seat Reservation in IIMs

Source: CAT 2026 Notification PDF

Category Reservation
Scheduled Caste (SC) 15%
Scheduled Tribe (ST) 7.5%
NC-OBC 27%
EWS Up to 10%
PwD 5%

FAQs on CAT 2026

Ques. I am in my final year. Can I apply for CAT 2026?

Ans. Yes, final-year undergraduate students can apply for CAT 2026 if they meet the eligibility conditions. Candidates must obtain the required minimum marks in their bachelor's degree and submit proof of completion within the deadline specified by the respective IIM.

Ques. When exactly is the CAT 2026 exam?

Ans. CAT 2026 is scheduled for November 29, 2026, and will be conducted in three sessions. Candidates must check their admit cards for the allotted slot, reporting time and examination centre details.

Ques. Is the CAT 2026 exam pattern changing this year?

Ans. Candidates should refer to the official CAT 2026 information bulletin for the confirmed pattern. The exam has three sections: VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude, with a separate time limit for each section. Check the official website for the final question count and marking scheme.

Ques. I am not from a commerce background. Am I still eligible for CAT 2026?

Ans. Yes. CAT is open to graduates from different academic backgrounds, including engineering, science, arts, commerce and humanities. Candidates generally need at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA in their bachelor's degree, while SC, ST and PwD candidates need at least 45%, subject to the official eligibility rules.

Ques. Does the conducting IIM change the difficulty level of CAT?

Ans. The conducting IIM may change from year to year, but this does not mean the exam will automatically become easier or harder. CAT difficulty depends on the questions set for each section. Since the exam takes place in multiple sessions, scores are normalised to account for differences in difficulty across slots.

Ques. Is there a limit on the number of CAT attempts?

Ans. No. There is no fixed limit on the number of CAT attempts. Candidates can appear in multiple years as long as they satisfy the eligibility requirements for each examination cycle.

Ques. How is the CAT percentile calculated?

Ans. CAT percentile indicates the percentage of candidates who scored equal to or below a candidate's performance. The calculation uses the candidate's scaled score after normalisation across examination sessions. Therefore, percentile is not the same as percentage of marks, and the same raw score may correspond to different percentiles in different years.

Ques. Do I need work experience for admission to an IIM?

Ans. No. Work experience is not compulsory for admission to every IIM's postgraduate management programme. Fresh graduates can apply, although some IIMs consider work experience as one factor during shortlisting or final selection. The weight assigned to work experience varies by institute and admission year.