CAT 2026 — At a Glance
About CAT 2026
The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 is expected to be conducted on 29 November 2026 (Sunday), continuing the tradition of being held on the last Sunday of November. The examination will be organized by Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, the designated conducting authority for CAT 2026.
CAT 2026
CAT 2026 registration ends on September 22, 2026, at 5 PM. Candidates who have not yet submitted the CAT 2026 application form and paid the registration fee must complete the process before the deadline to be eligible for the November 29 exam.
IIMs have extended the CAT 2026 fee payment window by two days, till September 24, 2026, at 5 PM. The extension is available only to candidates who completed their CAT 2026 registration by September 22, 2026 but could not complete the fee payment. Please note that there is no extension of the CAT-2026 registration deadline, which remains 22 September 2026 at 05:00 PM.
Source: IIM’s official Media Release PDF
Apply for CAT 2026 Before 5 PM Today (CLOSED) |
CAT 2026 exam will be held on Sunday, November 29, 2026, in three shifts. IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2026, and the CAT 2026 Notification was released on July 26, 2026, on the official website, iimcat.ac.in.
The CAT 2026 form correction window dates have not been officially announced. The correction window is expected to open in the first week of October 2026.
There is no change in the CAT 2026 eligibility criteria.
Candidates need a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates). There is no age limit or restriction on the number of CAT attempts.
CAT 2026 will have 68 questions in 120 minutes, with 40 minutes each for VARC, DILR and QA.
CAT scores are accepted by all 21 IIMs and more than 1,000 B-schools across India.
The CAT 2026 Admit Card is scheduled for November 4, 2026, while the CAT 2026 Result is expected in the first week of January 2027.
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.
Related Links:
CAT Registration 2026: Last Date Extended to Sept 22, Apply Online @ iimcat.ac.in, Direct Link
CAT Previous Year Question Papers with Solutions
CAT Preparation 2026: Study Plan, Mock Tests and Topper Tips
Key Summary
IIM Indore conducts CAT 2026 on November 29, 2026.
Registration is closed now, but the CAT registration fee payment deadline has been extended till 24th Sept 5:00 PM
The paper has 68 questions across VARC, DILR and QA in 120 minutes.
Marking is +3 for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong MCQ, with no penalty on TITA questions.
Results are expected in the first week of January 2027.
CAT 2026 Highlights
Key Area | CAT 2026 Details |
|---|---|
Exam | Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
Conducting Institute | Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIM Indore) |
CAT 2026 Convener | Prof. Aditya Billore, Professor of Marketing, IIM Indore |
Notification Status | Released on July 26, 2026 |
Registration Status | Registration Started on August 3, 2026 |
Registration Deadline | September 22, 2026, till 5 PM (CLOSED) |
Registration Fee Payment Deadline | September 24, 2026, till 5 PM |
Examination Date | November 29, 2026 (Sunday) |
Examination Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
Test Sessions | 3 |
Session Timings | 8:30 AM–10:30 AM; 12:30 PM–2:30 PM; 4:30 PM–6:30 PM |
Total Questions | 68 |
Total Test Time | 120 minutes |
Sectional Time Limit | 40 minutes per section |
VARC | 24 questions |
DILR | 22 questions |
QA | 22 questions |
Marking Scheme | +3 for a correct answer; -1 for an incorrect MCQ |
TITA Questions | No negative marking for incorrect TITA responses |
Eligibility | Bachelor's degree with 50% marks; 45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates |
Age Requirement | No age limit |
Application Fee | ₹2,700 for General/EWS/NC-OBC; ₹1,350 for SC/ST/PwD |
Admit Card | Scheduled from November 4, 2026 |
Result Timeline | Expected by the first week of January 2027 |
Official Portal | iimcat.ac.in |
Score Acceptance | All 22 IIMs and 1,000+ other management institutes |
CAT 2026 Conducting Body
IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2026 and will manage the notification, registration, admit card, exam, answer key and result. The six older IIMs conduct CAT on a rotational basis, and IIM Indore is taking charge of the CAT 2026 exam this year.
Prof. Aditya Billore, Professor of Marketing at IIM Indore, is the CAT 2026 Convener. He is a Fellow of IIM Indore and holds an M.Tech and B.E. degree. IIM Indore Director Prof. Himanshu Rai said the institute aims to conduct CAT 2026 with fairness, transparency, security and operational excellence.
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 2026 Exam Dates
CAT Notification was released on July 26, 2026. Candidates should complete registration by the deadline, as the application window closes at 5 PM on September 22, 2026.
Source: CAT 2026 Notification PDF
CAT 2026 Event | Date / Schedule |
|---|---|
CAT 2026 Notification | July 26, 2026 |
CAT 2026 Registration Begins | August 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM |
CAT 2026 Registration Last Date | September 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM (CLOSED) |
CAT 2026 Form Correction | September 24–27, 2026 (Expected) |
CAT 2026 Admit Card | November 4, 2026 |
CAT 2026 Exam Date | November 29, 2026 (Confirmed) |
CAT 2026 Answer Key | December 3, 2026 (Expected) |
CAT 2026 Result | First week of January 2027 (Expected) |
What Happens After the CAT 2026 Registration Deadline?
There is no late-fee application window for CAT 2026. Candidates who do not submit the application by September 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM will not be eligible to appear for the exam.
CAT 2026 Registration Last Date Today: What Should Candidates Do?
CAT 2026 registration has closed on September 22 at 5 PM. Candidates who have not completed the application and fee payment must do so before the deadline. There is no late-fee application window currently announced
Can I Register for CAT 2026 After 5 PM Today?
No. Candidates who do not submit the CAT 2026 application and complete the fee payment by 5 PM on September 22 will not be eligible to appear for CAT 2026, unless IIM Indore announces any further change
CAT Form Correction Window 2026
The CAT 2026 form correction window is expected to open in the first week of October 2026 on the official website, iimcat.ac.in. Candidates can use this facility to correct permitted details in their application form.
The correction facility is expected to allow changes to details such as the photograph, signature and test city preference, subject to the official correction guidelines.
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 |
Source: CAT 2026 Notification PDF
CAT 2026 Reservation
For admission to IIMs, category-wise seat reservation is followed as per Government of India norms.
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% |
CAT 2026 Registration Process
CAT 2026 registration has started from August 3, 2026, and candidates can submit the application form until September 22, 2026.
The registration process is available online at the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in.
Candidates can complete the CAT 2026 application form by following these steps:
Step | Process |
|---|---|
Step 1: Create CAT Login | Visit iimcat.ac.in and register using your email ID and mobile number to generate a User ID and password. |
Step 2: Login & Fill Form | Use your credentials to log in and start filling the CAT 2026 application form. |
Step 3: Enter Required Details | Fill in personal details, academic information, work experience (if applicable), preferred MBA programmes and test city choices. |
Step 4: Upload Documents & Submit Fee | Upload the required documents, complete the declaration, pay the application fee and submit the form. |
Details required in CAT 2026 Application Form:
Personal Information
Academic Details
Work Experience
Programme Preferences
Test City Selection
Declaration & Fee Payment
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 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 2026 Application Fee
Candidates need to pay the CAT 2026 application fee after completing the registration form on the official website, iimcat.ac.in.
These amounts have increased from the CAT 2025 fees of ₹2,600 and ₹1,300, respectively.
The fee can be paid online after entering personal details, academic information and uploading the required documents.
Candidate Category | CAT Form Fee 2026 |
|---|---|
General | ₹2,700 |
EWS | ₹2,700 |
NC-OBC | ₹2,700 |
SC | ₹1,350 |
ST | ₹1,350 |
PwBD | ₹1,350 |
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 |
What the Last Ten Years Show
Arithmetic carries the highest weightage inside Quant across recent papers.
Algebra shows up in application-heavy formats rather than direct formula questions.
Reading comprehension dominates VARC, so daily RC practice matters more than vocabulary drills.
DILR rewards smart set selection over attempting every set.
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.
CAT 2026 Admit Card
The admit card will be downloadable from November 4 until exam day, November 29, 2026.
You log in with your registration ID and password on the official website.
Carry one printed copy to the centre. Colour or black and white both work.
CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy
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.
Month | Focus |
|---|---|
August | Build basics in arithmetic, start daily RC reading, two DILR sets a day |
September | Algebra, number system and geometry, three to four DILR sets daily |
October | Three to four full mocks per week plus sectional tests |
November | Previous year papers, formula revision, final mocks |
Recommended Books
Section | Resource |
|---|---|
Quantitative Aptitude | Arun Sharma, sorted by difficulty level |
DILR | Nishit K. Sinha, strong on modern logic-based sets |
VARC | Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis, plus daily editorials |
Practice | Previous year papers from the last ten years |
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.
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.
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+ |