CAT 2026
CAT 2026: Exam Date, Eligibility, Pattern and Syllabus
CAT 2026 is scheduled for 29 November 2026, with admit-card download starting on 4 November. Registration and the announced correction window are closed. The official standard format is three sections in 120 minutes. Use this guide to check confirmed rules, choose the detailed page you need and plan the remaining preparation.
Last verified: 7 October 2026. This is an independent preparation guide; applications, admit cards and official notices are available through iimcat.ac.in.
CAT 2026 at a glance
CAT is the Common Admission Test used for admission to management programmes at the IIMs and by listed non-IIM institutions. Taking CAT is one part of the admission process; each institution sets its own selection requirements.
| Question | Current answer |
|---|---|
| Who is conducting CAT 2026? | IIM Indore, as announced in the official July 26 release |
| When is the exam? | Sunday, 29 November 2026, in three sessions |
| Can I still register? | No; the final registration deadline was September 22 |
| When do admit cards begin? | November 4, according to the official portal |
| What is the standard format? | VARC, DILR and QA; 120 minutes, 40 per section |
| What are the graduation thresholds? | 50% for General/EWS/NC-OBC; 45% for SC/ST/PwBD |
Important dates and what comes next
The payment extension and edit window applied to existing applicants only. Neither reopened registration. Results are described in the bulletin as likely in the first week of January 2027; a precise result date is not confirmed here.
| Milestone | Date or status |
|---|---|
| Registration closed | September 22, 5:00 PM IST |
| Payment-only extension ended | September 24, 5:00 PM IST |
| Limited edits ended | October 6, 5:00 PM |
| Admit-card download begins | November 4 |
| Exam day | November 29 |
Who meets the CAT eligibility requirements?
The bulletin requires a recognised bachelor’s degree or an eligible equivalent/professional qualification with the relevant marks. Final-year students and candidates awaiting results can be eligible, with completion evidence required by the admitting IIM if selected.
Use your university’s certified CGPA conversion method. Do not apply a generic conversion formula if your institution provides one. CAT eligibility and admission competitiveness are separate questions.
Exam pattern: confirmed structure versus assumptions
The July release confirms 40 minutes each for VARC, DILR and Quantitative Ability, in that order, without switching sections while answering a section. The standard duration is 120 minutes.
The reviewed release does not confirm a total question count or full numerical marking scheme. A fixed total such as 68 questions or 204 marks should not be assumed without the official instructions. Follow official test and mock instructions for those details and any approved accommodations.
What should you study?
The official section names provide the framework. A practical study map includes reading comprehension and verbal reasoning; data interpretation and logical sets; and quantitative fundamentals such as arithmetic, algebra and geometry.
That map is preparation guidance, not an official chapter list or fixed weightage forecast. Use timed work to identify whether the problem is understanding, accuracy, selection or pacing before choosing the next study task.
A useful preparation cycle for the remaining weeks
Begin with your latest mock rather than a generic target number of attempts. Select a small number of recurring errors, repair them with focused practice and test the change in the next timed attempt. Keep separate observations for all three sections.
A working candidate may need shorter weekday sessions and a longer weekend mock review. A full-time candidate may have more practice time, but neither benefits from taking tests without analysing them. This is editorial planning advice, not a promised percentile formula.
- Protect regular reading and evidence-based answer elimination in VARC.
- Practise choosing and representing DILR sets before committing long stretches of time.
- Redo Quant errors and then attempt fresh mixed problems.
- Keep the application record safe and check admit-card details when released.
How CAT connects to IIM and other MBA admissions
The bulletin lists participating IIM programmes, including IIM Guwahati. It does not provide a single fixed seat count or common shortlist formula for every programme. Check the programme’s own policy for academic cutoffs, CAT requirements, work-experience considerations and later selection stages.
Non-IIM institutions using CAT scores manage their own admissions. A CAT application should not be assumed to complete every business-school application. Check the programme and admission year before using a seat-intake figure or cutoff estimate.
Plan your next steps
Sources and verification notes
Official sources were checked on 7 October 2026. Later dated notices take precedence over the original bulletin where a deadline has changed. Study plans and worked examples are editorial guidance, not official exam rules.
Related guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the next CAT 2026 milestone?
The official portal lists admit-card download from November 4; the exam is on November 29.
Has registration reopened?
No. The official notices distinguish the closed September 22 registration deadline from later payment-only and limited-edit windows.
Does CAT publish a chapter-wise syllabus in the reviewed release?
No. The July release confirms sections and timing; our topic checklist is preparation guidance.
Does a CAT score guarantee an IIM seat?
No. Each IIM applies its own admission criteria and selection process.