CAT 2026 Exam: Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted for candidates to get admission into the top business schools of India. CAT 2026 Exam is expected to be conducted in the last week of November 2026. The CAT 2025 syllabus and exam pattern are not expected to see major changes.
The CAT Scores are accepted by 21 IIMs and over 1200 B-schools in India for admission into various PG management programs. Candidates planning to appear for the CAT 2026 Exam should know everything about the exam dates, notification, registration, eligibility criteria, syllabus, exam pattern, and more.
The CAT exam is the gateway to top business schools in India. It is conducted annually in a computer-based test that evaluates a candidate’s skills in quantitative ability, logical reasoning, and verbal ability. Preparing well for CAT 2026 can open doors to prestigious MBA programs and career opportunities. The table below contains the CAT Exam 2026 overview:
CAT 2026 Exam Overview | |
Particulars | Details |
Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
Conducting Body | Any top Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) |
CAT Frequency | Annual |
Exam Level | National |
Medium of Exam | English |
Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
No. of Questions | 66 |
CAT Question Types | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) Type in The Answer (TITA) |
CAT Score Validity | 1 year |
Number of IIMs Participating in CAT 2025 | 21 IIMs |
Non-IIMs Accepting CAT Scores | 1000+ prestigious management institutes and business schools in India |
Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
The CAT exam 2026 is expected to be conducted in the last week of November 2026. Candidates can check the table below to know about the tentative dates related to important events and dates of the CAT Exam:
CAT Exam 2026 Tentative Dates | |
Events | Tentative Dates |
CAT 2026 Notification Release | July 2026 |
CAT 2026 Registration Window | August-September 2026 |
CAT 2025 Form Correction Window | September 2026 |
CAT 2026 Admit Card Release Date | Last week of October 2026 |
CAT 2026 Exam Date | Last Week of November 2026 |
CAT 2026 Results | December 2026 |
Aspirants must ensure that they meet all the CAT 2026 eligibility requirements before beginning their CAT 2026 exam preparation. The notable CAT 2026 eligibility criteria are provided below:
General/NC-OBC: Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks.
Reserved categories (ST/SC/PwD): Minimum 45% marks.
Final-year students can apply, subject to passing requirements before admission.
Professional qualification holders (CA, ICWA, CS, FIAI) are eligible.
No age limit for the CAT 2026 exam.
CAT 2026 Registration is expected to be initiated from August 2026. Interested candidates are required to complete the CAT registration process online at the official website. The CAT exam will be scheduled to be conducted in November 2026. Candidates are advised to complete the CAT 2026 Registration process at the earliest to avoid any last-minute hassles.
CAT Registration 2026 can be done only online by candidates. The registration process is expected to start in August 2026. To successfully register for the CAT 2026 exam, candidates can follow the steps mentioned below:
Step 1: Go to the official CAT website at iimcat.ac.in.
Step 2: Click on the "New Candidate Registration" link.
Step 3: Enter basic details to generate login credentials.
Step 4: Log in using your user ID and password.
Step 5: Fill out the application form carefully.
Step 6: Upload documents in the prescribed format.
Step 7: Select preferred exam centers (up to 6).
Step 8: Pay the registration fee online.
Step 9: Review and submit the form.
Step 10: Download and print the confirmation for reference.
While the CAT Exam syllabus is not officially outlined by the exam authorities, candidates can determine the crucial topics for the exam by reviewing previous years' papers. Familiarity with these topics is crucial for candidates to develop a solid preparation plan. Candidates can check the table below to know more about the CAT Exam Syllabus 2026:
CAT Exam Syllabus 2026 | |
CAT Sections | Topics Covered |
VARC | RC passages, Verbal logic, Para jumbles, Odd sentence out, Para summary, Inferences, One-word substitution, Odd one out, Syllogism, Analogies |
LRDI | Blood Relations, Directions, Syllogism, Binary Logic, Clocks and Calendars, Tables, Charts, Graphs, Connectives, Matching/Puzzles, Logical Sequence, Number and Letter Series, Venn Diagrams, Seating Arrangement, Coding-Decoding, Caselets and Table |
Quantitative Aptitude | Geometry, Averages, Simple & Compound Interest, Trigonometry, Percentages, Arithmetic, Number Systems, Algebra, Modern Maths, Mensuration, Profit and Loss |
Candidates preparing for CAT 2026 should become well-acquainted with the exam pattern to gain insight into the structure and types of questions included in the exam. The following table provides details of the CAT exam pattern 2026 based on previous year trends:
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern | |
Particulars | Details |
No. of sections | 3 sections VARC DILR QA |
Total Number of Questions | 66 |
Type of Questions | MCQs and TITA (Type In The Answer) |
Questions per Section | VARC: 24 DILR: 20 QA: 22 |
Time Allotted | 120 minutes (40 minutes per section) |
Marks for Correct Answer | +3 for each correct answer |
Negative Marking for Wrong Answer | -1 for each incorrect answer |
Negative Marking for TITA Questions | No negative marking for TITA questions |
The CAT 2026 admit card is a crucial document that candidates must bring on the exam day. It is expected to be available for download at the official website by the last week of October or the first week of November 2026. Candidates can follow the steps mentioned below to download their CAT Exam Admit Card:
Step 1: Log in to the official IIM CAT website (iimcat.ac.in) using their ID and password.
Step 2: Search and click on the link for "CAT 2025 Admit Card".
Step 3: On the new page, candidates can access their admit card.
Step 4: Review all the details mentioned on the admit card and proceed to download its PDF.
Step 5: Print a copy of the CAT admit card and save it for reference on the exam day.
CAT Exam 2026 is one of the most important tests for MBA aspirants across India. This year, the CAT exam 20256 is scheduled to be held in the last week of November 2026. Candidates planning to appear for the CAT Exam 2026 should mark their calendar and start their preparation early to score well in the exam. Stay focused and get ready to take the next big step toward your dream management career.
CAT 202 results are expected to be released in the third week of December 2026. Candidates can view their results by visiting the official CAT website and selecting the appropriate link to access the results. Candidates have to use their login details, namely their CAT ID and password, to access the candidates' portal. The validity of the CAT scorecard will be for one year. Therefore, candidates must seek admission to MBA courses in 2027 using their CAT 2026 scores.
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