CAT 2026 Exam Shift Timings, Schedule, Admit Card Download and Mock Test Details

Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have released an official media announcement regarding the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026. According to the announcement dated November 4, 2026, the CAT 2026 examination will take place on November 29, 2026 (Sunday), in three shifts.

Candidates who have successfully registered for the examination can download their CAT 2026 admit cards between November 6 and November 29, 2026. The examination authority will also provide an online mock test from November 6 to help candidates become familiar with the computer-based test interface.

CAT 2026 Exam Date and Important Dates

IIMs have announced the examination date, admit card availability and mock test schedule for CAT 2026. Candidates can refer to the following table for the latest updates.

Candidates preparing for the examination can also explore the CAT 2026 exam overview to understand the examination process, eligibility requirements, syllabus and other important details.

CAT 2026 Shift Timings: Three Shifts Explained

CAT 2026 will be conducted in three shifts on November 29, 2026. However, the official media announcement has not specified the exact reporting time, examination start time or end time for each shift.

Candidates should refer to their admit cards for their allotted examination slot and reporting instructions.

Important: Candidates should not rely on unofficial shift timings circulating online. The final examination schedule and reporting instructions should be checked through the official CAT website and individual admit cards.

CAT 2026 Admit Card: Release Date and Download Details

IIMs have generated the admit cards for all eligible CAT 2026 candidates. The hall tickets are available for download from November 6, 2026, through the official CAT portal.

Candidates must use their registered login credentials to access and download the admit card.

How to Download CAT 2026 Admit Card?

Follow these steps to download the CAT 2026 hall ticket:

1. Visit the official website at iimcat.ac.in.

2. Click on the CAT 2026 login option.

3. Enter your CAT User ID and password.

4. Access the candidate dashboard.

5. Click on the admit card download link.

6. Check the details mentioned on the admit card.

7. Download and print a copy for examination-day reference.

Details to Check on CAT 2026 Admit Card

After downloading the hall ticket, candidates should carefully verify the following information:

• Candidate's name and photograph

• CAT registration number

• Examination date

• Allotted examination shift

• Reporting time

• Test centre name and address

• Examination-day instructions

In case of any discrepancy, candidates should contact the official CAT helpdesk for clarification rather than making unauthorised changes to the admit card.

Candidates can also check the CAT 2026 exam centre details to understand the test centre-related information and examination arrangements.

CAT 2026 Mock Test: Availability and Details

The CAT 2026 mock test will be made available on the official website starting November 6, 2026. The mock test will contain sample questions and help candidates familiarise themselves with the computer-based examination interface.

Attempting the mock test can help candidates understand:

• The CAT computer-based test interface.

• How to navigate between questions.

• How to select and review answers.

• How to use the available examination tools.

• The general format of the online test.

Candidates should use the mock test to become comfortable with the examination interface before the actual CAT 2026 examination.

For additional practice, candidates can also access CAT previous year question papers with solutions to understand question patterns, practise important topics and assess their preparation.

CAT 2026 Examination Day: Security Measures and Important Instructions

According to the official media announcement, IIMs have introduced additional security measures to ensure the smooth and secure conduct of CAT 2026.

Security Measures

The additional measures include:

• Face Matching: Face-matching arrangements will be implemented as part of candidate verification.

• Mobile Jammers: Mobile jammers will be deployed at selected examination locations.

Contingency Guidelines

The examination authority has also clarified that IIMs reserve the right to change the examination date or time if circumstances require such a decision.

The information published on the official CAT website will remain subject to the decisions and directions issued by the Central Government, State Governments and IIMs from time to time.

Candidates should regularly check the official website for any changes to the examination schedule or other important announcements.

Other MBA Entrance Exam Updates

Candidates exploring multiple management entrance examinations can also stay updated with other MBA admission notifications. For example, applicants appearing for XAT 2027 can check the XAT 2027 application correction date and latest updates to track important application-related deadlines.