CAT 2026: Exam Date, Eligibility, Syllabus & Marking Scheme

Senior Content Strategist | MBA Professional | Updated on - Jul 25, 2026

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02 Jul, 2026 Download the 15+ Sample Paper of CAT: Quantitative Aptitude & DILR with Solutions PDF

The CAT 2026 Exam is scheduled for Sunday, November 29, 2026. The exam will be conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) as a Computer-Based Test (CBT) in three sessions for admission to MBA and other management programmes offered by 22 IIMs and participating institutes.

Direct link to register for CAT 2026 (Available from August 3, 2026)

The CAT 2026 Information Bulletin and Registration Schedule are now available on the official website iimcat.ac.in.

CAT 2026 Notification PDF: OUT on 26th July’26

The CAT 2026 registration process will begin on August 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM and continue until September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM through the official website iimcat.ac.in. Candidates are advised to complete the registration well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues.

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwBD) or an equivalent qualification to be eligible.
The CAT 2026 admit card will be available for download from November 4 to November 29, 2026.
CAT 2026 will be conducted across approximately 170 test cities in three CBT sessions on November 29, 2026.

There are no major changes to the CAT 2026 exam pattern or syllabus, with the application fee increasing by Rs. 100 for general candidates and IIM Indore conducting the test.

Related Links:

Key Summary

In this article you will read the following:

CAT 2026 will be conducted by IIM Indore on November 29, 2026 (Sunday).
The CAT 2026 notification has been released on 25^th July’26 on iimcat.ac.in.
CAT 2026 registration begins on 3rd August 2026 and remains open till 15^th September’26
The exam will be held as a Computer-Based Test (CBT) in three slots across approximately 170 test cities.
Candidates with a Bachelor's degree and 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) are eligible to apply.
The CAT 2026 admit card is expected to be available in the last week of October 2026.
The exam will assess candidates in Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).
Practising CAT Previous Year Question Papers, Mock Tests, and following the latest CAT Syllabus 2026 are key to improving performance.

CAT 2026 Highlights

Get to know about all the details regarding CAT 2026 exam such as objective, date of the exam, session/slots, conducting body, syllabus etc.

Parameters	Details
Exam Name	Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026
Exam Purpose	Admission to MBA/PGDM programmes offered by IIMs and other participating B-schools
Conducting Institute	IIM Indore
CAT 2026 Exam Date	November 29, 2026 (Sunday)
Exam Mode	Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Exam Level	National
Exam Frequency	Once a Year
Exam Duration	120 Minutes (40 Minutes per Section)
Expected Number of Questions	66-68
Question Types	MCQs and TITA (Type in the Answer)
Sections	VARC, DILR, Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
Number of Slots	3 (Morning, Afternoon & Evening)
Expected Slot Timings	Slot 1: 8:30 AM–10:30 AMSlot 2: 12:30 PM–2:30 PMSlot 3: 4:30 PM–6:30 PM
Official Website	iimcat.ac.in
Result Validity	One Academic Year

CAT 2026 Conducting Body: Will IIM Indore Conduct the Exam?

The CAT 2026 Exam will be conducted by IIM Indore. The conducting institute manages the complete admission process, including the notification, registration, admit card, examination, answer key, and result declaration.
CAT is conducted every year on a rotational basis by one of the older IIMs. IIM Indore has previously conducted the exam in 2013, 2014, and 2020.

IIM Indore's Previous CAT Exams

CAT Year	Conducting Institute	Overall Difficulty	Key Highlights
2020	IIM Indore	Moderate	Exam duration reduced to 120 minutes due to COVID-19; 76 questions across three sections.
2014	IIM Indore	Moderate to Difficult	Balanced paper with a strong emphasis on logical reasoning and quantitative aptitude.
2013	IIM Indore	Moderate	Mix of conceptual and application-based questions across all sections.

Note: Based on recent editions, CAT 2026 is expected to follow the current format with 66–68 questions, three sections, and a 120-minute computer-based test. Any official changes will be announced in the CAT 2026 notification.

CAT 2026 Exam Dates

Take a look at the official schedule for CAT 2026.

Event	Official Date
CAT 2026 Notification Release	July 26, 2026
CAT 2026 Registration Begins	August 3, 2026 (10:00 AM)
CAT 2026 Registration Ends	September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM)
CAT 2026 Admit Card Release	November 4, 2026
CAT 2026 Exam Date	November 29, 2026 (Sunday)
CAT 2026 Response Sheet Release	To be Announced
CAT 2026 Answer Key Release	To be Announced
CAT 2026 Result Declaration	First Week of January 2027 (Likely)

Note: he above schedule is based on the official CAT 2026 Information Bulletin. While the notification, registration, admit card, and exam dates have been confirmed, the response sheet, answer key, and result dates are yet to be announced. The Information Bulletin states that the CAT 2026 result is likely to be declared in the first week of January 2027.

Also Check: CAT 2026 Exam Date November 29 Confirmed by Trends: Full Schedule & Slot Details

What is CAT 2026?

The Common Admission Test, or CAT, is a national-level entrance examination that provides the aspirant access to various graduate management courses in India. The examination is used for admission to the MBA or PGDM courses at the 22 IIMs in India, as well as at other top business schools in the country.

It is expected that the students who plan to take the CAT 2026 examination must have the necessary knowledge of the following:

The examination is held in Computer-Based Testing (CBT) mode in morning, afternoon, and evening sessions.
The examination will comprise questions from the following sections: Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Aptitude.

Check: Is CAT Exam Tough? Check Exam Structure, IIM Cutoffs, Difficulty Comparisons, Reddit Discussions

CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

To take the CAT 2026 Exam, all that is required is to complete a bachelor's degree in any discipline (B.A, B.Com, B.Sc) with a minimum of 50% or 45% marks (SC, ST, PwD).

Eligibility Criteria:

A bachelor’s degree with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD students)
Students in the final year of college or waiting for results can also apply (produce your degree certificate later)
People who have done CA, CS, ICWA or FIAI are also allowed if they have the required marks.
There is NO AGE LIMIT!
Unlimited Attempts.

Source: CAT 2026 Notification PDF

Check: CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026, Age Limit, Educational Qualification, Reservation Policy

CAT 2026 Marks Calculation

CAT 2026 follows the pattern of normalization of marks since the exam is held in 3 sessions and across multiple cities in India. After the exam, the raw scores are sealed across different slots. The sealed score then is used to calculate percentile, which reflects a candidate’s performance compared to other candidates.

CAT 2026 Reservation

The CAT exam follows the Government of India’s reservation policy for admission to IIMs. Seats are reserved for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD candidates, as per the prescribed percentage norms.

Category	Reservation
Scheduled Caste (SC)	15%
Scheduled Tribe (ST)	7.5%
Non-Creamy Other Backwards Classes (NC OBC)	27%
Economically Weaker Section	Till 10%
Person with Disability	5%

Source: CAT 2026 Notification PDF

Also Check: Reservation Requirements for CAT

Ques. Is there any age limit for the CAT exam?

Ans. No, there is no age limit for appearing in the CAT exam. The IIMs do not impose any age restrictions which makes it accessible to freshers, working professionals, and experienced candidates.

Ques. Is Work Experience mandatory for admission in MBA?

Ans. No, work experience is not mandatory for admission in MBA. Both fresh graduates and working professionals can apply.

Ques. Is there a fixed number of attempts for the CAT Exam?

Ans. No, there’s no cap on the number of attempts for the CAT exam. Candidates can appear for this exam multiple times.

CAT 2026 Registration Process

The CAT registration process is conducted online through the official website. Candidates must create an account with valid details- personal and academic details

Candidates Registered and Appeared in CAT 2025 Exam

For CAT 2025, approx. 2.95 lakh candidates registered, marking a noticeable 10% dip from the previous year’s records.

Out of these, about 2.58 lakh students actually showed up on exam day, resulting in an attendance of roughly 87%.

While the numbers saw a slight correction, the competition remained intense, with aspirants vying for seats across the IIMs and B-schools.

Check: CAT 2026 Application Form: Step-by-Step Guide, Documents & Photo Specs

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Category-wise Break-up of CAT 2025

Category	% age of Candidates Registered	% age of Candidates Appeared
GEN	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%

Gender wise Break-up

Gender	Registered	Appeared
Female	1.10 lakh	1.61 lakh
Male	1.85 lakh	0.97 lakh
Transgender	9	9

CAT 2025 DILR Question Paper PDF

CAT DILR Slot	Question Paper	Solution PDF
CAT 2025 DILR Slot 1 Question Paper	Download Pdf	Download Pdf
CAT 2025 DILR Slot 2 Question Paper	Download Pdf	Download Pdf
CAT 2025 DILR Slot 3 Question Paper	Download Pdf	Download Pdf

CAT 2025 VARC Question Paper PDF

CAT VARC Slot	Question Paper	Solution PDF
CAT 2025 VARC Slot 1 Question Paper	Download Pdf	Download Pdf
CAT 2025 VARC Slot 2 Question Paper	Download Pdf	Download Pdf
CAT 2025 VARC Slot 3 Question Paper	Download Pdf	Download Pdf

CAT 2025 QA Question Paper PDF

CAT QA Slot	Question Paper	Solution PDF
CAT 2025 QA Slot 1 Question Paper	Download Pdf	Download Pdf
CAT 2025 QA Slot 1 Question Paper	Download Pdf	Download Pdf
CAT 2025 QA Slot 1 Question Paper	Download Pdf	Download Pdf

Also Check: CAT Previous Year Question Papers

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern

The CAT exam is divided into three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude.

The test has a time limit for each section, and candidates must complete the sections in the order given within that time limit.

Also Check:

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern: Sectional Breakdown

The number of questions asked in VARC, DILR, and QA in the CAT exam is not fixed. It is subject to change. But this is the usual pattern that you should stick to.

Section	Number of Questions
Sec 1: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension	24 Questions
Sec 2: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning	22 Questions
Sec 3: Quantitative Aptitude	22 Questions
Total	68 Questions

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern Changes and Last 10 Years Question Paper Trends

The CAT 2026 exam will consist of 68 questions in total, which is consistent with the pattern established in 2024 and 2025. No major changes are expected this year.

Sections: The exam will be divided into three sections:

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC): 24 questions
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR): 22 questions
Quantitative Ability (QA): 22 questions

The exam will include both Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Type In The Answer (TITA) questions. The marking scheme awards +3 marks for each correct answer, -1 mark for incorrect MCQs, and no negative marking for TITA questions.

Key Changes in Pattern Across the Last 10 Years

Period	Major Trend
2015–2019	Stable pattern with 100 questions, 180 minutes, and three sections. Difficulty mainly fluctuated due to QA and DILR.
2020	Biggest structural overhaul: 2-hour exam, 76 questions, 3 slots because of the pandemic.
2021–2023	Exam stabilized at 66 questions. Speed and question selection became more important than endurance.
2024	Minor revision to 68 questions, with QA becoming relatively more approachable while maintaining similar section timings.

CAT Question Paper Trends

Most students preparing for CAT focus heavily on solving more questions, but fewer students actually stop to analyze section-wise behavior properly. As per the last 10 years trends, we can see that:

Arithmetic consistently carries the highest weightage inside Quant across recent CAT papers.
Algebra questions usually appear in application-heavy formats instead of direct formula-based questions.
Reading comprehension dominates VARC, making RC practice extremely important for CAT 2026 preparation online.
DILR increasingly rewards smart set selection instead of attempting every set aggressively.
Vocabulary-based VARC questions have reduced significantly over recent years.

CAT Year	Overall Difficulty	Key Areas Tested	Major Changes in Pattern / Questions
2024	Easy–Moderate	VARC: Inference-heavy RCs, Para Summary DILR: Mixed DI + LR sets, moderate calculations QA: Arithmetic & Algebra dominated	Total questions increased from 66 → 68 (24 VARC, 22 DILR, 22 QA). QA was comparatively easier than 2023.
2023	Difficult	VARC: Dense RCs, Abstract passages DILR: Set selection was crucial QA: Algebra-heavy, Number System	Pattern unchanged (66 questions), but QA and DILR became significantly tougher. Considered one of the hardest CATs in recent years.
2022	Moderate	VARC: Balanced RCs & VA DILR: One easy and one difficult set per section QA: Arithmetic, Algebra	Pattern remained stable (66 questions). Better balance across all three sections than 2021.
2021	Moderate–Difficult	VARC: Narrative RCs DILR: Moderate reasoning sets QA: Arithmetic, Algebra	Total questions reduced from 76 → 66. Distribution became 24 VARC, 20 DILR, 22 QA.
2020	Moderate	VARC: RC-heavy DILR: Balanced DI & LR QA: Arithmetic and Algebra	COVID-year changes: Exam duration reduced from 180 → 120 minutes, questions reduced 100 → 76, exam conducted in 3 slots.
2019	Moderate–Difficult	VARC: RC dominant DILR: Difficult LR sets QA: Arithmetic, Geometry	Last CAT with 100 questions and 3-hour duration. DILR emerged as the deciding section.
2018	Moderate–Difficult	VARC: Inference-based RCs DILR: Complex puzzles and DI QA: Algebra, Arithmetic	No structural change. DILR was widely regarded as the toughest section.
2017	Moderate	VARC: Easier RCs DILR: Standard puzzles QA: Arithmetic and Algebra	Pattern unchanged (100 questions). VARC was relatively easier, improving overall attempts.
2016	Difficult	VARC: RC emphasis DILR: Reasoning-intensive sets QA: Geometry, Algebra, Arithmetic	No structural changes. One of the toughest CAT papers, especially QA and DILR.
2015	Difficult	VARC: RCs & Verbal Ability DILR: New integrated reasoning sets QA: Arithmetic, Algebra	First full year after introduction of the three-section format (VARC, DILR, QA). Non-MCQs (TITA) became an important feature.

CAT 2026 Marking Scheme

The CAT exam uses a +3 and -1 marking system, and no negative marking for TITA questions allowing candidates to attempt questions without the fear of losing marks.

Parameters	Marks
Marks for Correct Answer	+3
Negative Marking for MCQ	-1
Negative Marking for TITA	No Negative Marking
Unattempted Question	0

CAT 2026 Syllabus

Each section of the CAT Exam is designed to test the candidate‘s skills required for management studies.

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension - Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Paragraph Summary, Paragraph Completion, Vocabulary and One-Word Substitution, Idioms and Phrases, Spotting Errors, Critical Reasoning, and Analogies and Antonyms.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning-

Data Interpretation topics include the following: Bar Graphs, Line Charts, Pie Charts, Tables and Data Sets, Venn Diagrams, Data Sufficiency, Caselets and Analytical Data Sets.

Logical Reasoning topics include the following: Seating Arrangements (Linear and Circular), Puzzles and Scheduling, Blood Relations and Family Trees, Direction Sense, Clocks and Calendars, Games and Tournaments, Logical Matching and Binary Logic.

Quantitative Aptitude- Percentages, Profit and Loss, Ratio and Proportion, Averages, Time, Speed, and Distance, Simple and Compound Interest, Mixtures and Allegations, Linear and Quadratic Equations, Logarithms, Geometry and Mensuration, Permutations and Combinations, Probability and Progressions.

Also Check: CAT Syllabus PDF: Section-wise Syllabus, High Weightage Topics, Download PDF

CAT 2026 Subject wise Syllabus

CAT QA Syllabus PDF - Check Topics and Weightage
CAT DILR Syllabus PDF- Check Topics and Weightage
CAT VARC Syllabus PDF - Check Topics and Weightage

CAT 2026 Admit Card

The CAT admit card is released on its official website before the exam. Candidates must download it using their login credentials and must carry a printed copy to the exam centre on test day.

The CAT 2026 Admit Card will be released on the official CAT website and will be available for download from 4^th Nov 2026 to 29th November,2026
Candidates can expect to receive their admit cards around 10th or 11th November 2026.
The CAT 2026 admit card will remain available on the official website until the exam day, allowing candidates to download it until the day of the exam.

Source: CAT 2026 Notification PDF

Also Check: CAT 2026 Admit Card: Download Admit Card @iimcat.ac.in, Direct Download Link

Ques. Should I take a colour printout or black & white is fine for CAT admit card?

Ans. You can take any colour of Admit card to the exam centre but remember to take physical copy of admit card. Otherwise you won’t be allowed to enter the centre.

Ques. How many copies of admit cards should I carry to the exam centre?

Ans. You are allowed to take only one copy of the admit card inside the exam centre. So, carry only one copy.

Ques. Can someone else download my admit card using my credentials?

Ans. Yes, anyone can download it as long as the credentials are correct. If you are skeptical that someone else has downloaded your admit card, then change your username and password.

CAT 206 Exam Preparation Strategy

Starting from March, you have 8 months in total to start studying with all your might. In these 8 months you can easily polish those areas in which you are good and can strengthen your weak areas.

If you miss a day, cover those hours in your weekends. Consistency is what acts as a separator, separating 99-percentilers from 90-percentilers.
Know Your Syllabus- Knowing your syllabus thoroughly is half the battle won. Before starting your preparation, on DAY 1, go through the CAT syllabus. Read each and every part of the syllabus.
Even though the CAT Syllabus is not based on a particular curriculum, but after so many years, people have developed a dedicated syllabus for the exam.
The syllabus is designed in a way to test the candidates’ aptitude across 3 sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
Most Important: Create a timetable! Whether you’re fully dedicated to the preparation, a working professional, or a student, you need a set timetable.
Algebra and Arithmetic continues to contribute up to 45–50% in QA questions, while Reading Comprehension forms about 70% of the VARC section.

Check:

CAT 2026 Subject wise Mock Tests

CAT 2026 Subjects	Take Test
CAT QA Mock Test	Take Test
CAT DILR Mock Test	Take Test
CAT VARC Mock Test	Take Test

Also Check:

CAT 2026 Preparation: Daily Plan for Self Study

Whether you are a student or a working professional, you can accordingly devote your time to prepare for CAT. On an average, 5-6 hours on a daily basis is a must for optimum preparation for CAT 2026.

Devote 1.5 hours each to VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Aptitude.
Read 1-2 topics to strengthen your reading habit along with practice questions.
1 hour is specifically to be kept for revision of what has already been covered.
In the last month, i.e November, give 2 hours for mock tests daily.

If you are someone who cannot function without a dedicated roadmap, we’ve got one for you.

Here’s a simple 8-month roadmap for CAT 2026. The idea is: build basics → practice→ mocks→ full revision. Keep your study session consistent rather than extreme.

Also Check:

CAT 2026: 5 Months Preparation Strategy

Month 1: Build Your Basics

Section	Preparation Strategy	Goal
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	Start with Arithmetic topics such as Percentage, Ratio, Profit & Loss, Averages, Time and Work. Solve basic practice questions daily.	Build conceptual clarity in fundamental topics.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	Read editorials, essays, fiction, and non-fiction for about 1 hour daily. Practice 2–3 pages of RC passages per week. Begin with basic grammar and para-jumbles.	Improve reading speed and comprehension skills.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)	Practice 2 sets every day. Focus on tables, bar graphs, arrangements, and puzzles.	Develop logical thinking and data interpretation skills.

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Month 2: Strengthen Core Topics

Section	Preparation Strategy	Goal
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	Cover Algebra, Number System, and Geometry basics. Practice 20–25 questions daily with a timer.	Improve speed and accuracy in core topics.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	Increase RC practice to 2–3 passages daily. Start practicing para-summary and odd-sentence questions.	Strengthen comprehension and verbal reasoning ability.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)	Practice 3–4 sets daily and focus on speed and logical structure.	Enhance analytical and reasoning skills.

Month 3: Start Mock Tests

Focus Area	Preparation Strategy	Goal
Mock Tests	Attempt 1 mock test per week (or more depending on preparation level).	Get familiar with the exam pattern and time pressure.
Mock Analysis	Analyze each mock test carefully to identify mistakes and weak areas.	Improve strategy and accuracy.

Check: CAT Previous Year Question Papers Difficulty Comparison 2020 to 2025

Month 4: Intensive Practice

Focus Area	Preparation Strategy	Goal
Full-Length Mocks	Increase the number of mocks to 3–4 per week.	Build exam stamina and improve performance.
Sectional Tests	Attempt sectional tests regularly and focus on weak areas.	Strengthen section-wise preparation.

Check: CAT Previous 10 Years Question Papers with Solutions PDF for 99 Percentile

Month 5: Final Revision Month

Focus Area	Preparation Strategy	Goal
Mock Tests	Attempt mocks from reputed online educators that follow the latest exam pattern.	Adapt to new question types and exam trends.
Previous Year Questions	Solve questions from Previous Year Question Papers.	Understand the pattern and difficulty level.
Revision	Revise formulas, tables, squares, cubes, and important concepts. Practice HOTS questions daily.	Improve retention and final exam performance.

Make such plans that suit your timetable and work accordingly.

Recommended Resources for CAT 2026

To ensure you are not overwhelmed by too many books, here’s a curated list of the most reliable resources used by students to clear CAT 2026.

Section	Primary Book/Resources	Feature
Quantitative Aptitude	How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude by Arun Sharma	It categorizes questions into Levels of Difficulty.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)	Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation by Nishit K. Sinha	Provides a great variety of modern CAT-style sets which are more logic-based than calculation-based.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	Newspaper or Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis	The best sources to build a foundation in vocabulary and root words for better reading speed.
Reading Practice	The Hindu editorials	Essential for high-level reading comprehension. CAT often picls passages from philosophy, science, and history.
Practice Material	Previous Year Questions (20 years)	Non-negotiable. Real CAT questions from the last 10 years are the best indicator of what to expect in 2026.

Related Links:

Source: Reddit

Candidates on the social media platform, Reddit, were seen discussing the CAT exam preparation.
Students were sharing their own point of views regarding the strategy to prepare for the exam.
One of the students shared their own list of resources that they used during the preparation.

CAT 2026 Result and Scorecard

After the exam concludes, the students eagerly wait for their results.

The CAT 2026 Exam results are speculated to be released around the fourth week of December 2026 or the first week of January 2027.
While the exact date and time will be disclosed by IIM Indore, this time frame provides students with a reliable window to wait for their results.
Candidates must note that CAT results are released in a single announcement on the official website, via SMS, and by email.
Candidates should regularly check the official CAT website for the latest updates regarding the CAT 2026 result and other important announcements.

Also Check: Top IIMs & Colleges Accepting CAT 2026

CAT 2026 Expected Cutoff

The official cutoff for CAT 2026 Exam is speculated to be released somewhere in the last week of December 2026 or during the first week of January 2027.

The exact date of the cut-off release will be announced by IIM Indore.

General category aiming for admission in top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kozhikode must keep their percentile in 98-99 range or above.
Section-wise cut offs for VARC, DILR, and QA are expected to soar high. Many less demanding IIMs or B-schools, may go for low sectional cut off, around 70–75 percentile, while high ranking IIMs, might set the cut off on a higher range.

CAT 2025 Category-wise Cutoff List

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

Also Check: CAT Previous Years Cut-Offs

Non-IIMs accepting CAT 2026 scores.

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According to CAT 2025 Convener Prof. Ram Kumar P N, “93 non-IIM institutions will also use CAT 2025 scores this year for admission into their management programmes.”

Some of those universities are mentioned below:

NIRF Ranking	Universities	Percentile	Test/s
4	Department of Management Studies, IIT-Delhi	97-99+	CAT
9	MDI Gurgaon (Management Development Institute)	94–97+	CAT
10	XLRI Jamshedpur (Xavier School of Management)	94–98+ (CAT for select programs)	Primarily XAT; CAT limited
~10-12	SJMSOM IIT Bombay (Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management)	94-98+	CAT
~12-15	VGSoM IIT Kharagpur (Vinod Gupta School of Management)	90-95+	CAT
~15-20	IIFT Delhi (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade)	95-98+	CAT
~20	SPJIMR Mumbai (S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research)	85-97+	CAT, GMAT, XAT
Not ranked sep. (high reputation)	FMS Delhi (Faculty of Management Studies)	98-99+	CAT
Not ranked sep. (high reputation)	JBIMS Mumbai (Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies)	95-99+ (All India via CAT)	CAT, MAHCET, GMAT
~30-40	XIMB Bhubaneswar (Xavier Institute of Management)	90–95+	CAT, XAT

FAQs

Ques: I am in my final year of college right now. Am I eligible to sit for the exam?

Ans: Of course you are eligible to sit for the exam. You just need to ensure that you don’t drop out of the university. Complete your degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) by the time admissions begin.

Ques: When is the actual exam date?

Ans: The CAT 2026 exam is expected to be held on November 29, 2026. The official notification is not out yet. But it will be released soon.

Ques: Is the pattern for the exam changing? Does it change every year?

Ans: The official pattern will be confirmed in the July notification but current trends do suggest a slight change in the pattern. That being said, the change in pattern won’t be something absolutely new.

Ques: I am not from commerce background and I have not even done B.Com, can I appear in the CAT 2026 exam?

Ans: Yes, absolutely. You don’t need to be from commerce stream or a degree in B.Com. You just need to qualify your bachelor's degree in any subject with 50% and 45% (reserved category candidates) and you will be eligible to sit in the exam.

Ques: Which IIM is conducting the exam this year? Does it affect the difficulty level of the exam?

Ans: IIM Indore is the conducting body for CAT 2026 exam. While every IIM has their own style of setting paper, the overall difficulty level of CAT is expected to remain the same or slightly higher, regardless of which institute is in charge.

Ques: Is self-study better for the CAT exam or should I join any coaching centre?

Ans: There is no correct answer for this question. It totally depends on your learning style, current aptitude, and discipline. Both “self-study” and “coaching centres” have given us students who have secured 100 percentile in the CAT exam.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.

CAT Latest Updates

Key Summary

CAT 2026 Highlights

CAT 2026 Conducting Body: Will IIM Indore Conduct the Exam?

IIM Indore's Previous CAT Exams

CAT 2026 Exam Dates

What is CAT 2026?

CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria:

CAT 2026 Marks Calculation

CAT 2026 Reservation

CAT 2026 Registration Process

Candidates Registered and Appeared in CAT 2025 Exam

Category-wise Break-up of CAT 2025

Gender wise Break-up

CAT 2025 DILR Question Paper PDF

CAT 2025 VARC Question Paper PDF

CAT 2025 QA Question Paper PDF

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern Changes and Last 10 Years Question Paper Trends

Key Changes in Pattern Across the Last 10 Years

CAT Question Paper Trends

CAT 2026 Marking Scheme

CAT 2026 Syllabus

CAT 2026 Subject wise Syllabus

CAT 2026 Admit Card

CAT 206 Exam Preparation Strategy

CAT 2026 Subject wise Mock Tests

CAT 2026 Preparation: Daily Plan for Self Study

CAT 2026: 5 Months Preparation Strategy

Month 1: Build Your Basics

Recommended Resources for CAT 2026

CAT 2026 Result and Scorecard

CAT 2026 Expected Cutoff

CAT 2025 Category-wise Cutoff List

Non-IIMs accepting CAT 2026 scores.

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Previous Year CAT Questions

Latest CAT News

CAT 2026 Notification LIVE Updates

IIM CAT 2026 Application Fee Increased for All Categories

IIM Indore Releases CAT 2026 Notification Exam on November 29

IIM Fees for MBA through CAT

How to Apply for CAT 2026 Registration Guide for MBA Aspirants

CAT 2026 Notification IIM Indore Convener Exam Nov 29 Registration Opens Aug 1

CAT 2026 Application Fee: Category-Wise Fee Structure and Payment Modes

CAT 2026 Application Timeline: Registration, Correction Window, Admit Card and Result Dates

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