CAT is the gateway to India's top management institutes. This year it falls on November 29, 2026. IIM Indore will conduct the exam in 2026. This exam opens up admission to the IIMs and hundreds of other B-schools.
Registration opened on August 3 and runs until September 15, 2026, at 5 PM. This exam measures your aptitude across verbal, data, and quantitative reasoning.
If you are preparing for CAT 2026, you are at the right place. This guide clearly lays out every part of CAT Exam 2026.
CAT stands for the Common Admission Test. It is held once a year for MBA aspirants. One IIM conducts it on a rotational basis, with IIM Indore in charge this year.
A CAT score can be used for admission to the IIMs and numerous other management institutes that accept CAT scores. The exam is a computer-based test held across three sessions in a single day. More than 2.5 lakh candidates have appeared for CAT in recent years, making it one of India's most competitive management entrance exams.
You must meet a clear academic bar to sit for the test.
You need a Bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks, or 45% for SC, ST, and PwD candidates.
You can apply while still completing your degree, with provisional admission later.
Holders of CA, CS, ICWA (CMA), or Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI) qualifications can apply with the required percentage.
These are the minimum CAT 2026 eligibility requirements. Individual IIMs may apply additional criteria during their admission processes.
The exam draws from three broad areas rather than a fixed prescribed list. Interestingly, the conducting IIM never publishes an official CAT syllabus. Still, the CAT 2026 syllabus settles clearly around three well-known sections.
Most quantitative topics stay within school-level mathematics. So sharp fundamentals matter here.
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer-based test |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Sections | VARC, DILR, QA |
| Total questions | 68 |
| Question type | MCQ and non-MCQ (TITA) |
| Marking | +3 correct, −1 wrong for applicable MCQs |
| Total marks | 204 |
| Sessions | Three |
Non-MCQ questions carry no negative marking, but candidates still need to manage time carefully across each section. So the CAT 2026 exam pattern rewards both accuracy and smart section management.
Each institute sets its own percentile bar. Hence, cut-offs vary widely. Top IIMs can require very high CAT percentiles for competitive shortlisting, often around the 99th percentile or higher for many candidates. However, actual shortlisting depends on each IIM's admission criteria, category, academic profile and other factors.
As per the Official CAT Website, admit card downloads begin on November 4, 2026. This card carries your exam centre, session timing, as well as reporting instructions.
You must carry a printed copy and a valid photo ID to the centre. Check every detail on it carefully once it becomes available.
Strong preparation rests on a few habits that consistently deliver results.
Consistency over months beats intense last-minute cramming here. So start early and hold a steady daily routine.
Keep a few documents ready before you start the registration form.
Having these ready makes the form quick and error-free. So gather them before you log in to iimcat.ac.in.
IIM Indore will conduct CAT 2026 on Sunday, November 29, 2026. It is a computer-based test with three sessions.
You need a Bachelor's degree with 50% marks, or 45% for SC, ST, and PwD. Final-year students can also apply.
No. There is no upper age limit to appear for the CAT exam.
Three sections. CAT 2026 has 68 questions: 24 in VARC, 22 in DILR and 22 in QA. The exam carries 204 marks and lasts two hours.
Top IIMs often require very high CAT percentiles for competitive shortlisting, usually around the 99th percentile or higher. However, the required percentile varies by institute, category, academic profile, and other selection criteria.
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