CAT Result 2026: Expected December at iimcat.ac.in, Counselling, Cutoff and Score vs Percentile

The CAT 2026 result is expected in December 2026 at iimcat.ac.in. IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2026, with the exam scheduled for November 29, 2026 across three sessions. Around 2.84 lakh candidates have registered for this cycle — a moderate dip from the 2.95 lakh who signed up last year.

Once the result is out, you can log in to iimcat.ac.in with your CAT ID and password to download your scorecard. It shows your scaled scores and percentile for each of the three sections — VARC, DILR, and QA — plus your overall CAT percentile.

• CAT 2026 result is expected in December 2026 — IIM Indore will release it at iimcat.ac.in
• Your scorecard shows section-wise scaled scores (VARC, DILR, QA) and your overall CAT percentile
• Log in at iimcat.ac.in with your CAT ID and password to access and download the scorecard
• Top IIMs (A, B, C) typically require 85–95+ overall percentile for General category, along with sectional cutoffs in each section
• A weak section can cost you an IIM call even if your overall percentile is high — sectional cutoffs apply for all three sections
• CAT 2025 result was declared on December 24, 2025; a similar mid-to-late December timeline is expected for CAT 2026
• The CAT 2026 scorecard will be valid for one year from the date of issue

IIM Indore prepares the CAT 2026 scorecard and merit list. Each participating IIM and B-school then runs its own selection process — your CAT percentile is the starting point, not the final word on admission.

CAT Result Previous Year Statistics

CAT has seen wide swings in participation over the past five years — from under 2 lakh candidates appearing in 2021 to nearly 3 lakh in 2024. Knowing how many students appeared and when results were declared in each cycle gives you a realistic sense of what to expect from CAT 2026.

After a spike in CAT 2023 and 2024 — when over 3.28 lakh candidates registered each year — participation has been declining. CAT 2025 saw registrations fall by about 10% and CAT 2026 has dipped further to roughly 2.84 lakh. That said, the actual number of people who sit the exam is typically about 87–89% of those who registered, so around 2.5 lakh candidates are expected to appear this November.

The table below tracks how quickly IIMs have declared the result in recent years. This is useful for planning your post-exam timeline — when to expect your scorecard and when to start tracking B-school application deadlines.

Since CAT 2022, IIMs have kept the exam-to-result gap to just 24–25 days. CAT 2021 took 36 days, but that was an outlier driven by the COVID-era process. The consistent 24–25 day window since 2022 is a reliable guide: if the CAT 2026 exam is on November 29, plan for the scorecard to go live around December 23–24, 2026.

How to Check CAT Result 2026

Your CAT 2026 result is only available online at iimcat.ac.in. There is no offline or SMS-based result — you must log in to the portal with your CAT ID and password to access and download your scorecard. Keep those credentials saved well before result day, as the site can be slow with heavy traffic immediately after the result goes live.

Here is how to check your CAT 2026 result step by step:

1. Go to the official website — open iimcat.ac.in in your browser.
2. Click on "CAT Login" — the login button is on the homepage.
3. Enter your CAT ID and password — you created these when you registered for CAT 2026.
4. Open the Scorecard tab — after logging in, look for the "Scorecard" or "Result" section on your dashboard.
5. Download the PDF — your scorecard opens as a PDF. Save it to your device and take a printout for records.

If you have forgotten your CAT ID or password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page. Your registered mobile number and email address will help you recover access.

CAT 2026 Scorecard — What Does It Contain?

The CAT 2026 scorecard is your official result document. It is what you submit when applying to IIMs and other business schools. Understanding what it shows — and what it does not — helps you read your performance correctly and plan your applications.

The scorecard does not show your raw marks or how many questions you answered correctly. It shows scaled scores and percentile ranks. Scaling adjusts scores across the three exam sessions to correct for any variation in difficulty, making your score comparable with those of students from other sessions on the same day.

Once you have your scorecard, check all personal details — name, date of birth, category — against your application documents. If anything is wrong, contact IIM Indore immediately. A mismatch at the interview or admission stage can delay or disqualify your application.

Your scorecard is valid for one year. That means it covers only the 2026–27 admission cycle. You cannot carry it forward to apply for programmes starting in 2027–28 — you would need to appear for CAT again.

What to Do After CAT Result 2026

Once the CAT 2026 result is out in December 2026, the admission process kicks into gear. Here is a step-by-step of what happens next and what you should do at each stage.

Step 1 — Download and verify your scorecard
Log in to iimcat.ac.in and save your scorecard PDF. Check that your name, roll number, and category are correct. Any error must be reported to IIM Indore straight away.

Step 2 — Compare your score against each IIM’s cutoffs
IIMs release their shortlisting criteria in January. Compare both your overall percentile and your three sectional percentiles against each IIM’s published minimums. You need to meet all cutoffs — overall and sectional — to stay in the running for a WAT-PI call.

Step 3 — Apply to non-IIM B-schools
Many top business schools — FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR, IMT Ghaziabad, and hundreds of others — accept CAT scores. Some open applications before the exam and ask for your score after it comes out; others open post-result. Check each school’s portal for deadlines.

Step 4 — Attend WAT-PI rounds
IIMs shortlist candidates through a composite score that combines your CAT percentile with your academic record and work experience. If you make the cut, you are called for a Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI). These rounds usually run from February to April 2027 at IIM campuses.

Step 5 — Participate in the CAP process if applicable
Several IIMs run a Common Admission Process (CAP) — a joint interview round where one interview covers shortlists at multiple participating IIMs. If you are called under CAP, check which IIMs are in the pool and prepare accordingly. CAP details are announced after individual shortlists go out.

Step 6 — Accept your admission offer
After WAT-PI rounds, IIMs release their final merit lists and send admission offers. You need to confirm your seat and pay the admission fee before the deadline. Missing the deadline means losing the offer, even if your rank is good.