CAT 2026: Exam Date, Application Process, Admit Card, Question Papers, Syllabus, Pattern, Preparation Tips

Latest Updates 

The CAT 2026 registration process is expected to start in August 2026.

The CAT 2026 exam is tentatively scheduled to be held on 29 November 2026.

What is CAT 2026 Exam?

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the IIMs for admission to top MBA and PGDM colleges in India. To be eligible for the CAT, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for reserved categories) from a recognized university or equivalent qualification.

Every year, nearly 3 lakh candidates appear for the CAT exam, and the number continues to increase. The difficulty level of the CAT exam is generally considered moderate to high. The CAT 2026 exam pattern will includes three sections:

• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
• Quantitative Ability (QA)

As per the expected schedule, the CAT 2026 application process is likely to begin in the first week of August 2026 and end in the third week of September 2026. The CAT 2026 admit card is expected to be released in the first week of November 2026. The CAT 2026 exam is scheduled to be held on November 29, 2026, and the CAT 2026 result is expected to be announced in the second week of December 2026.

CAT 2026 Exam: Quick Highlights

The table below shows a quick overview of the CAT 2026 exam details.

The CAT 2026 exam pattern will include three sections i.e., Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. Each section will be provided with a time limit of 40 minutes, for a total exam duration of 120 minutes (2 hours). The table below shows a detailed overview of the CAT exam pattern 2026.

CAT 2026 Registration Process

The registration process for CAT 2026 exam is expected to start in August 2026. The detailed registration process is explained below:

• Step 1: Go to the official website i.e. iimcat.ac.in, there you have to click on the new registration option, then sign in with your phone number and email id.
• Step 2: After registering on the website, you have to fill out the CAT 2026 application form. In the application, you have to fill in all the details and submit all the documents, including your passport-size photograph, signature, academic certificates, etc.
• Step 3: After uploading the documents, you will have to fill in the preferred exam centers and select the order of courses and IIMs according to your preferences.
• Step 4: After filling out the application form, you will have to pay the application fee online and submit the form. 

Note: Candidates must note that they have to select up to five cities for the allotment of CAT exam center in the application form. Allotment of test city and center will be mentioned on the CAT 2026 admit card.

CAT 2026 Eligibility

The CAT 2026 eligibility criteria includes a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST/PwD) from a recognized university, or equivalent, and those in their final year or awaiting results are also eligible. The detailed eligibility has been shown in the table below.

Evolution of CAT Exam

The Common Admission Test (CAT) has evolved a lot over the last decade. The key changes in the CAT exam pattern and syllabus from 2014 to 2024 include adjustments to exam duration, question distribution, section focus, and minor syllabus refinements, with significant changes during the pandemic period (2020–2021) and more stability in recent years. The table below shows certain key changes observed over the last decade.

CAT 2026 Exam: Difficulty Trends Over the Past 5 Years 

CAT exam difficulty over the past 5 years has fluctuated between moderate and difficult, with only occasional exceptions. By analyzing the exam difficulty level trends, students may predict the difficulty level of upcoming examination. The table below shows difficulty trends of CAT examination from 2020 to 2024. 

Read More: CAT Exam Analysis

CAT 2026 Exam: Preparation Tips

To get a decent score in this CAT 2026 exam, both strong conceptual understanding and time management is required. Some of the key expert curated tips for the CAT 2026 exam preparation are:

1. Syllabus: Cover the full CAT syllabus thoroughly. Try to save time to revisit your weak areas.
2. Mock Test: Attempt as many CAT mock tests as possible.
3. RC: Practice a good number of reading comprehension, to manage time and accuracy.
4. Revision: Allocate time for quick revisions to retain important formulas, theories, and shortcuts.
5. Manage Time Effectively: Allocate fixed time per question and avoid spending too much time on tough problems.

Also Check: Last Minute Preparation Tips for CAT Exam: Boost Your Final Revision

CAT Exam 2026 Preparation Through AI Tools

AI tools can greatly enhance CAT 2026 preparation by offering personalized study plans, adaptive concept explanations, targeted practice questions, robust performance analytics, and progress tracking tailored to individual strengths and weaknesses. The following are the key ways AI tools can assist in exam preparation.

• Personalized CAT Study Schedules: Can analyze your past performance and automatically generate a dynamic, highly-detailed weekly study plan. 
• Concept Clarification: If you struggle with complicated topics, AI tutors can break them down into simpler, easy-to-understand lessons or summaries.
• Custom Practice Questions: AI can generate practice questions aligned with the current syllabus from your notes or uploaded PDF books.
• Mock Test Analysis: Advanced AI apps dissect your mock test performance in detail, showing accuracy by section, average time per question, strengths, weaknesses, and attempt-to-score ratios.
• Efficient Note-making: Tools like ChatGPT can turn lengthy notes into concise summaries and flashcards, making revision more efficient and quicker.

CAT 2026 Exam: Best Books

Selecting the perfect books for CAT preparation is key to scoring a high percentile. The table below shows some best-selling books for the CAT exam recommended for different subjects, along with their authors.

CAT 2026 Admit Card

The CAT 2026 admit card is expected to be released in the first week of November 2026. Below is the detailed process to download the CAT 2026 admit card:

• Visit the official CAT website: iimcat.ac.in.
• Find and click on the ‘Registered Candidate Login’ button. Enter your User ID and Password created during the registration process.
• Once logged in, you will be redirected to your candidate dashboard. Click on the ‘Admit Card’ tab or a similarly named link.
• Your CAT 2026 admit card will be displayed on the screen. Carefully check all the details, including your name, CAT 2026 registration number, test center, exam date, and exam time.
• If all the information is correct, click on the ‘Download’ button to save the admit card in PDF format.

CAT 2026 Exam: Answer Key 

The CAT 2026 answer key will be released after the examination. It will feature the correct responses to the questions asked in the exam. Students may also challenge the answer key by submitting valid documents if they find any discrepancies. The detailed process to download the CAT 2026 answer key is provided below.

• Visit the official website of CAT website (iimcat.ac.in).
• Click on the 'CAT 2026 Answer Key' link.
• Enter CAT login ID and password.
• The answer key will appear on the screen.
• Click on the 'download' icon to save it as a PDF.

CAT 2026 Exam: Result

The CAT 2026 results will be released on iimcat.ac.in. The results are expected to be declared by December 2026 after the examination. The scorecard will feature the percentiles, which will be used by participating institutes during their admission process. To access and download the CAT 2026 scorecard, candidates must log in using their application ID and password.

CAT 2026 Counselling Process

The CAT 2026 counselling process is expected to begin in late December 2026. There is no centralized CAT counselling process; instead, IIMs and other participating management institutes conduct their own selection procedures. The process generally involves shortlisting candidates based on CAT scores, followed by a Written Ability Test (WAT) and a Personal Interview (PI). Some institutes may also include a Group Discussion (GD). Final admission decisions are made based on CAT scores, performance in the selection rounds, and academic and work experience. A detailed step-by-step guide to the admission process is provided below.

• Shortlisting and Call Letters: IIMs and other B-schools shortlist candidates based on their CAT scores and other criteria like academic performance and work experience. Shortlisted candidates receive call letters from the respective IIMs or B-schools, informing them about the dates, venues, and slots for the WAT and PI rounds. 
• WAT & GD: After shortlisting candidates are required to clear written ability test (WAT) and group discussion (GD)
• PI: After WAT & GD candidates have to go through a personal interview. PI round is a crucial part of the selection process, and candidates are evaluated on their general knowledge, business acumen, and communication skills. 
• Finalized Score: After the completion of WAT, GD (if applicable), and PI, the IIMs and B-schools make final admission decisions based on a weighted score that considers CAT scores, WAT/GD performance, and PI performance.
• Final Admission and Reporting: Once the seat is confirmed, candidates must report to the allotted campus within the given timeline.

Read More: CAT Reservation Policy

Top Colleges Accepting CAT Exam Score

Along with IIMs about 1600 B-schools in India accept CAT exam scores for admission. The list of some of the key institutions with its previous CAT cutoff is given below.

IIM CAT 2026 : Number of Seats

The list below shows the number of seats in the MBA/PGP programs of IIM campuses.

The following table shows the CAT 2026 important dates and events.

The CAT 2026 exam syllabus includes a total of 3 sections, i.e., Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. Understanding and analysing the syllabus not only helps students to understand the exam pattern and difficulty but also allows them to figure out their weak areas. Below is the CAT 2026 section-wise syllabus and important topics.

CAT 2026 Exam Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) Syllabus

The CAT 2026 VARC syllabus is shown in the table below.

CAT 2026 Exam Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) Syllabus

The CAT 2026 DILR important topics are listed below in the table.

CAT 2026 Exam Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Syllabus

The CAT 2026 QA important topics are listed below in a table.

To get a decent percentile in the CAT 2026 examination, students need to analyze the CAT previous year question papers. By solving the previous year question papers, students can get an idea of the exam pattern and syllabus. Students may download the CAT past question papers listed below.

Read More: CAT 2024 Question Paper with Answer Key

IIMs will release the CAT 2026 cutoff after the exam results. The CAT cutoff generally represents the minimum percentile required for candidates to be eligible for admission to various IIMs. For the general category, the qualifying cutoff usually ranges between 80 to 90 percentile, while the final cutoff for top IIMs may go up to 98-100 percentile.

Below is the expected CAT 2026 cutoff for the 21 IIMs:

Note: These are expected CAT 2026 cutoffs based on previous years’ trends and may vary once the official cutoff is announced by the IIMs.

CAT 2026 Exam: FAQs

Ques. What is CAT 2026?

Ans. CAT 2026 (Common Admission Test) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the IIMs for admission to MBA, PGDM, and Executive MBA programs in India for session 2026-2028.

Ques. Who is eligible to appear for CAT 2026?

Ans. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for reserved categories) from a recognized university or equivalent. Final-year students can also apply.

Ques. When will the CAT 2026 registration start and end?

Ans. The CAT 2026 registration is expected to start in the first week of August 2026 and end in the third week of September 2026.

Ques. When is the CAT 2026 exam scheduled?

Ans. The CAT 2026 exam is tentatively scheduled for November 29, 2026.

Ques. When will the CAT 2026 admit card be released?

Ans. The CAT 2026 admit card is expected to be available in the first week of November 2026 on the official CAT website (iimcat.ac.in).

Ques. What is the CAT 2026 exam pattern?

Ans. CAT 2026 will have 3 sections:

• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) – 40 minutes
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) – 40 minutes
• Quantitative Ability (QA) – 40 minutes

Ques. How many questions are in the CAT 2026 exam and what are the types?

Ans. Based on previous years, the exam is expected to have around 68 questions, including MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) and Type-in-the-Answer questions.

Ques. What is the marking scheme for CAT 2026?

Ans. Each correct answer carries +3 marks, and for every incorrect MCQ, 1 mark is deducted. Type-in-the-answer questions have no negative marking.

Ques. Where can I find previous years’ CAT question papers?

Ans. CAT 2026 previous years’ question papers are available on the official CAT website and through various third-party educational portals. These papers help in understanding exam trends and difficulty levels.

Ques. When will the CAT 2026 results be announced?

Ans. The CAT 2026 results are expected to be declared in the second week of December 2026 on the official CAT website.