
| Updated On - Sep 21, 2026
22 Sep, 2026 CAT 2026 Fee Payment Deadline Extended to September 24 at 5 PM
22 Sep, 2026 Last Chance to Apply for CAT 2026: Registration Closes Today at 5 PM
21 Sep, 2026 Take Full-Length & Sectional CAT 2026 Mock Tests Online with Solutions
02 Jul, 2026 Download the 15+ Sample Paper of CAT: Quantitative Aptitude & DILR with Solutions PDF
CAT 2026 registration will close on September 22, 2026, at 5 PM. With the exam scheduled for November 29, 2026, candidates should now shift their focus from registration to mock tests and performance analysis.
As over 3 lakh students register for the CAT exam every year, candidates should start taking full-length and sectional mocks now to improve speed, accuracy and question selection before the exam.
| CAT 2026 Mock Test Link: Official Link |
| CAT 2026 Mock Test Link - For PwD Candidates: Official Link |
| CAT 2026 Mock Test Link - For PwD Candidates (Blindness and Low Vision): Official Link |
What the best CAT mock test series 2026 offers:
Related Links:

A good mock test series replicates the actual CAT interface, gives slot-normalised scores, and provides detailed question-level analysis.
Below are the most widely used free and paid mock test platforms for CAT 2026. For free options, start with the official IIM-provided mock before moving to other series.
| Mock Test Series | Tests Available | Solutions | Free/Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Official Mock (iimcat.ac.in) | 1 full-length | Not provided | Free |
| Collegedunia CAT Mock Test | 10+ full-length | Detailed solutions | Free |
| IMS SimCAT | 25+ full-length | Video + text | 1 free, rest paid |
| TIME AIMCAT | 20+ full-length | Detailed | 1 free, rest paid |
| Career Launcher MOCK CAT | 15+ full-length | PDF + video | Partially free |
| iQuanta Free Mocks | 5 full-length | Community solutions | Free |
The IIM official mock is the most important one to attempt - it uses the same interface as the real exam.
The Collegedunia mock series is updated annually to match the latest pattern (68 questions, TITA distribution, sectional limits).
Check:
PDF-format mock tests are useful for offline practice and for detailed review after an online attempt.

Taking mocks without analysing them is the most common preparation mistake. The score matters less than what you extract from the attempt. Here is how students who consistently score 99 percentile analyze their mocks.
After every mock, spend at least 2 hours on analysis - more time than you spent on the mock itself. The standard is: you should be able to explain why you got every wrong answer wrong, not just check the correct answer.
Mock Analysis Example
Suppose you attempted 18 QA questions and got 12 correct.
Your analysis should not stop at 12 correct.
Instead, classify the six incorrect questions:
This gives you a more useful conclusion: your problem may not be QA knowledge alone. It may also involve question selection and calculation accuracy.

Several platforms offer full-length CAT mocks without requiring registration. These are useful for students who want a quick attempt without committing to an account. However, the tradeoff is limited analytics.
| Platform | Registration Required | Full Length | Solutions Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia CAT Mock | No | Yes (68 questions) | Yes |
| iimcat.ac.in Official Mock | Yes (CAT login) | Yes | No |
| iQuanta Free Mock | No (basic access) | Yes | Community-based |
Check:
A recurring complaint about mock tests is that they feel easier or harder than the real exam. Here is what the data from past years tells you - and how to calibrate accordingly.
| Parameter | CAT Mock Tests | Actual CAT 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Question Pattern | Most reputed mocks follow the latest CAT structure. | The official pattern will be confirmed by IIM Indore. |
| Total Questions | Most current mocks use 68 questions. | Expected to follow the latest pattern, subject to official confirmation. |
| VARC | Difficulty varies from moderate to difficult across providers. | Actual difficulty will depend on the CAT 2026 paper. |
| DILR | Some mocks deliberately include complex sets to test selection skills. | Difficulty and set selection will vary by CAT 2026 slot. |
| QA | Mocks generally include a mix of easy, moderate and difficult questions. | Actual difficulty will be known only after the examination. |
| Time Limit | 40 minutes per section in current-pattern mocks. | 40 minutes per section. |
| Best Benchmark | Use performance trends across multiple mocks. | Compare with CAT 2024 and CAT 2025 papers for actual exam-level practice. |
After each mock, you need a way to translate your raw score into an expected percentile. The actual CAT uses normalization across three slots - mock series have their own percentile systems. Here is how to use them correctly.
| Score Range (out of 204) | Expected Overall Percentile | IIM Shortlist Possibility |
|---|---|---|
| 120 and above | 99+ percentile | Old IIMs (ABC) |
| 100-119 | 97-99 percentile | New IIMs, FMS Delhi |
| 80-99 | 95-97 percentile | MDI Gurgaon, IIFT |
| 60-79 | 90-95 percentile | Tier 2 B-schools |
| 47-59 | 85-90 percentile | State-level top colleges |
These ranges are based on CAT 2024-2025 patterns and will update once the CAT 2026 notification confirms the exam structure.
Full-length mocks are not always the right tool. When you are in the early stages of preparation or fixing a specific section, sectional mocks give focused feedback without the fatigue of a 2-hour full attempt.
| Section | Questions | Time | Key Topics to Focus On | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 40 minutes | RC passages (65-70% weight), para-summary, odd sentence out | Moderate |
| DILR | 22 | 40 minutes | Arrangement sets, games and tournaments, network diagrams, data tables | Hard |
| QA | 22 | 40 minutes | Arithmetic (30-35% of QA), algebra, number system, geometry | Moderate |
Check:
Working professionals face a different prep challenge - limited daily hours and high fatigue. The mock strategy for a working professional has to be realistic, not aspirational.
| Month | Mock Type | Frequency | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | Sectional + 1 full-length mock/week | 1 full + 4 sectional mocks | Time management and identifying weak areas |
| October 2026 | Full-length mocks | 2 per week | Set selection, accuracy and attempt strategy |
| November 2026 | Full-length mocks | 3 per week until exam week | Final strategy and exam-day calibration |
Mobile apps let you practice VARC and DILR on your commute and QA during short breaks. The best apps sync with web accounts so your analytics stay consistent.
| App | Platform | Free Tests | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Exam Prep | Android and iOS | Yes | Full-length mocks + college predictor |
| IMS India (SimCAT) | Android and iOS | 1 free SimCAT | Detailed analytics and large test pool |
| Career Launcher | Android and iOS | Limited free tests | Full mock series with video solutions |
| iQuanta | Android | Yes | DILR sectional practice and live doubt-solving |
| Unacademy (CAT) | Android and iOS | Partial | Video-integrated practice sets |
Previous year papers are the best mock tests available - they are the actual exam. CAT papers from 2017 onwards are available slot-wise and represent the most accurate difficulty benchmark you can get.
| Year | Slots Available | Questions | Difficulty | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT 2025 | Slot 1, 2, 3 | 68 | Moderate-Hard | Download PDF |
| CAT 2024 | Slot 1, 2, 3 | 68 | Moderate (DILR hard) | Download PDF |
| CAT 2023 | Slot 1, 2, 3 | 66 | Hard | Download PDF |
| CAT 2022 | Slot 1, 2, 3 | 66 | Moderate | Download PDF |
| CAT 2021 | Slot 1, 2, 3 | 66 | Moderate-Hard | Download PDF |
| CAT 2020 | Slot 1, 2, 3 | 76 | Easy-Moderate | Download PDF |
Check: CAT Previous 10 Years Question Papers with Solutions PDF for 99 Percentile
Candidates often make mistakes not while taking the mock but while analysing it.
The current CAT preparation discussion increasingly focuses on question selection, PYQ analysis and mock analysis rather than simply increasing the number of tests. Recent competitor content from CatMock and Careers360 reflects this shift
Ques. How many CAT mock tests are enough for CAT 2026?
Ans. There is no fixed number that guarantees a particular percentile. Candidates should focus on taking enough tests to establish a reliable performance trend and analyse each test in detail.
Ques. When should I start full-length CAT mocks?
Ans. Candidates can start diagnostic full-length mocks before completing the entire syllabus. By September and October, full-length mocks should become a regular part of preparation, followed by detailed analysis.
Ques. Is the CAT 2026 official mock available now?
Ans. The official CAT 2026 mock has not been announced as available yet. Current preparation resources indicate that the official mock is generally released around one to two weeks before the examination.
Ques. When is the next free CAT 2026 mock test?
Ans. Shiksha's current schedule lists its fourth free CAT 2026 mock for September 27, 2026, at 3 PM. It is listed as a 68-question, two-hour test.
Ques. Are CAT 2025 papers useful for CAT 2026 preparation?
Ans. Yes. CAT 2025 had 68 questions across VARC, DILR and QA, making it useful for practising the latest paper structure.
Ques. Should I solve CAT PYQs before taking mocks?
Ans. PYQs can be used before and alongside mocks. They help candidates understand authentic CAT question framing, while mocks provide additional unfamiliar questions and exam simulation.
Ques. How should I analyse a CAT mock test?
Ans. Record attempts, correct answers, incorrect answers, accuracy, time spent and questions that were selected incorrectly. Then identify the concepts and question types responsible for repeated mistakes.
Ques. Should I attempt TITA questions in CAT mocks?
Ans. Yes, when the mock follows the current CAT-style marking scheme. CAT 2025 had no negative marking for TITA questions, while incorrect MCQ responses attracted a one-mark penalty. The exact 2026 question-type distribution should be checked against the official test instructions when released.
Ques. Can mock-test percentile predict CAT 2026 percentile?
Ans. No. A mock percentile depends on the particular test and its candidate pool. It should be used to track progress rather than as an exact CAT percentile prediction.
Ques. Is the official CAT mock more important than coaching mocks?
Ans. The official mock has a different purpose. It is particularly useful for understanding the official test interface and process. Coaching and preparation-platform mocks provide a larger volume of practice and performance analysis.
Ques. How many CAT mocks should working professionals take?
Ans. Working professionals can combine sectional tests during weekdays with one full-length mock on a dedicated weekend study session. The frequency can be increased in October and early November depending on available preparation time.