Official Website: iimcat.ac.in
Every November, roughly 3 lakh students sit down at a computer screen with 120 minutes on the clock — and for most of them, this is the moment they've been preparing for all year. Some will walk out knowing they've cracked it. Most won't. That brutal math — roughly 5,500+ PGP seats across 22 IIMs for hundreds of thousands of aspirants — is exactly what makes the Common Admission Test (CAT) India's most competitive exam.
If you're reading this, you're already ahead of the curve. This guide compiles everything now confirmed about CAT 2026 — paired with the ExamOven CAT Simulator for dedicated practice and learning. Stop chasing scattered prep advice and start building a real strategy.
CAT 2026 registration is open now and closes September 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM — the notification dropped July 25, 2026 with two changes from what most guides (including earlier drafts of this one) had assumed: registration dates moved (Aug 3–Sep 15, not Aug 1–Sep 20) and the fee went up (₹2,700/₹1,350, not ₹2,600/₹1,300). IIM Indore has also named Prof. Aditya Billore (Professor of Marketing) as the CAT 2026 convener.
Quick Overview: CAT 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
| Conducting Body | IIM Indore (confirmed in the official notification) |
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Date | November 29, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Number of Slots | 3 (Morning / Afternoon / Evening) |
| Duration | 120 minutes (40 min per section) |
| Total Questions | 68 (24 VARC + 22 DILR + 22 QA) |
| Registration Window | August 3 – September 15, 2026 |
| Application Fee | ₹2,700 (Gen/EWS/NC-OBC) / ₹1,350 (SC/ST/PwBD) |
| Test Cities | ~170 cities; choose up to 5 in order of preference |
| IIMs Accepting the Score | 22 (including the newly added IIM Guwahati) |
| Non-IIM Institutes Accepting the Score | 1,300+ |
| Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
Sources: Shiksha — CAT 2026 Notification (Live) | Careers360 — Notification Out | iQuanta — Notification Out
CAT 2026 Important Dates
The official notification dropped on July 25, 2026 — a day ahead of the "last Sunday of July" pattern most guides (this one included) had projected. Below is the confirmed schedule, with the CAT 2025 timeline alongside for reference.
| Event | CAT 2025 (Actual) | CAT 2026 (Officially Confirmed) |
|---|---|---|
| Official Notification | July 27, 2025 | July 25, 2026 ✅ |
| Registration Opens | August 1, 2025, 10 AM | August 3, 2026, 10:00 AM ✅ |
| Registration Closes | September 20, 2025, 5 PM | September 15, 2026, 5:00 PM ✅ |
| Correction / Edit Window | Late September 2025 | September 2026 (~3-day window, after registration closes) |
| Admit Card Release | November 12, 2025 | November 4, 2026 ✅ |
| Exam Day | November 30, 2025 | November 29, 2026 ✅ |
| Final Answer Key | December 17, 2025 | Expected mid-December 2026 |
| Result Declaration | December 24, 2025 | Expected 3rd–4th week of December 2026 |
( ✅ = confirmed in the official July 25, 2026 notification; others remain projections based on precedent.)
Two things changed from what was widely projected earlier this year: registration now runs August 3 – September 15 (not the Aug 1 – Sep 20 window most trackers, including earlier version of this guide, had assumed), and the correction window will be noticeably shorter than in past years. Don't rely on older articles for these two dates.
Sources: Careers360 — CAT Notification Out | Shiksha — CAT 2026 Live Updates | iQuanta — Notification Out
Who is Conducting CAT 2026?
One of the six older IIMs — Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode, or Indore — conducts CAT each year on a rotational basis.
IIM Indore is officially confirmed as the CAT 2026 convenor, as stated in the notification released July 25, 2026. IIM Indore Director Prof. Himanshu Rai has named Prof. Aditya Billore, Professor of Marketing and a Fellow of IIM Indore (holding an M.Tech and a B.E.), as the CAT 2026 convener — the faculty member who oversees the exam's planning, security, and administration on behalf of all participating IIMs. This follows the established rotation: IIM Kozhikode conducted CAT 2025 (exam held November 30, 2025; results declared December 24, 2025), and Indore was next in line. IIM Indore last convened the exam in 2020 — the year that introduced the current three-slot, 120-minute format. As the conducting IIM, it sets the notification, the test-day logistics (in partnership with TCS, which administers the exam), and coordinates with all participating institutions.
Source: Careers360 — CAT Notification Out (IIM Indore) | MBAUniverse — CAT 2026 Convener | Free Press Journal — IIM Indore to Conduct CAT Again
What Is CAT? (And Why Does It Matter So Much?)
CAT is a national-level Computer Based Test conducted annually for admission to postgraduate management programs (MBA/PGP). It is the gateway to 22 IIMs — which collectively offer approximately 5,500+ PGP/MBA seats — and over 1,300 non-IIM participating institutions, including well-regarded B-schools like FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, and MDI Gurgaon.
India now has 22 IIMs, not 21. IIM Guwahati — Assam's first IIM and the second in the Northeast after IIM Shillong — was formally inaugurated in February 2026 under the mentorship of IIM Ahmedabad, with a ₹555 crore government allocation. It admitted its first PGP batch (2026–28) directly through the CAT 2025 cycle, and will appear as a standard program choice on the CAT 2026 application form.
Here's the number that puts everything in perspective: CAT 2025 (held November 30, 2025 by IIM Kozhikode) saw roughly 2.95 lakh candidates register, with results declared on December 24, 2025 showing 12 candidates achieving a perfect 100 percentile. The competition is intense, the margin for error is thin, and your CAT score is valid for one year only — making preparation urgency very real.
To put the cutoffs in context: getting into IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, or Calcutta requires a 99+ percentile. IIM Lucknow, Indore, and Kozhikode typically demand 97–98 percentile. Even newer and "baby" IIMs (including the brand-new IIM Guwahati) hover around 88–94 percentile as their floor.
Sources: Shiksha — CAT 2026 (22 IIMs) | MBAUniverse — CAT 2025 Toppers | CollegeDekho — IIM Selection Criteria
CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- Minimum Degree: A Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from a recognized university or institution.
- Minimum Marks: 50% aggregate or equivalent CGPA for General, NC-OBC, and EWS candidates. 45% aggregate for SC, ST, and PwD candidates.
- Final-Year Students: You can apply even if results are pending. However, admission remains provisional until your final marksheet and degree certificate are submitted and verified.
- Professional Degrees: Holders of CA, CS, or ICWA qualifications are eligible, provided they meet the minimum percentage criteria.
- Age Limit: There is no minimum or maximum age limit for CAT.
Meeting the minimum percentage does not guarantee a shortlist call. Each IIM independently verifies academic eligibility at the interview stage — candidates who misrepresent their scores face disqualification.
Source: TopRankers — CAT 2026 | Cracku — CAT 2026 Notification
Reservation Policy
SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are eligible with 45% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA. Category certificates must be valid and in the Government of India format for the current financial year.
The official notification specifies exact certificate-timing rules this year: NC-OBC certificates must be issued on or after April 1, 2026, and EWS certificates must be valid for 2026–27, based on financial year 2025–26. If your certificate predates this, check the information bulletin for the accepted workaround (an undertaking plus your older certificate).
CAT 2026 Registration: Step-by-Step Guide
Registration opens August 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM and closes September 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM, entirely online at iimcat.ac.in. No offline applications are accepted. (Note: these dates are confirmed in the official notification and differ slightly from the Aug 1 / Sep 20 window that was widely projected earlier in the year.)
Step 1 — Create Your Profile
Visit the official CAT portal. Click "New Candidate Registration." Enter your name, date of birth, email ID, and mobile number to receive your User ID and Password.
Step 2 — Fill the Application Form
Log in and enter your personal and contact details, category information (General / NC-OBC / EWS / SC / ST / PwD), academic qualifications (Class 10, 12, and graduation), and any full-time post-graduation work experience.
Step 3 — Select Programs and Test Cities
Choose your preferred IIM campuses and MBA/PGP programs. Select up to 5 test city preferences (from ~170 cities) in order of priority. You'll be allotted one city based on availability.
Step 4 — Upload Documents
Upload scanned copies of the following before submitting:
- Passport-sized photograph (white background)
- Signature
- Category / PwD certificate (if applicable)
Specific file size and dimension requirements will be in the 2026 notification bulletin on iimcat.ac.in.
Step 5 — Pay the Fee and Submit
Pay online via credit card, debit card, net banking, or UPI. Download the confirmation page after successful payment.
Changes to your name, date of birth, or category are not allowed after final submission. The fee is non-refundable under any circumstance.
A correction/edit window opens in September 2026, shortly after registration closes — reportedly a shorter ~3-day window this year — allowing limited changes to your photograph, signature, and test city preferences.
Will the deadline get extended? Nobody knows yet, and there's no official signal either way as of this update. For context: CAT 2025's registration deadline was pushed back about a week (from September 13 to September 20, 2025), and CAT 2022 saw a similar extension. That's two out of the last several years — not nothing, but not a pattern to plan around either. IIM Indore is under no obligation to extend, there's no late-fee window, and no offline fallback. Treat September 15 as final and register early enough to leave room for a payment retry or a document re-upload if something goes wrong.
Source: Career Launcher — CAT Registration | JIMS Rohini — CAT 2026 Registration Last Date
CAT 2026 Application Fee
| Category | Confirmed Fee (CAT 2026) | CAT 2025 Fee |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS / NC-OBC | ₹2,700 | ₹2,600 |
| SC / ST / PwBD | ₹1,350 | ₹1,300 |
The fee went up this year — confirmed in the official July 25, 2026 notification. Most guides published before today assumed it would stay flat at ₹2,600/₹1,300; it didn't.
Source: Shiksha — CAT 2026 Notification (Live) | iQuanta — Notification Out
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
The structure has been stable since the last major revision in 2024 (when total questions rose from 66 to 68, with DILR gaining 2 questions). CAT 2025 followed this exact same structure, and every major coaching platform tracking CAT 2026 reports no changes on the horizon.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Total Duration | 120 minutes |
| Sections | 3 (fixed sequence, no switching) |
| Time Per Section | 40 minutes |
| Total Questions | 68 |
| Question Types | MCQs and TITA (Type In The Answer / Non-MCQ) |
| Correct Answer | +3 marks |
| Incorrect MCQ | -1 mark (negative marking) |
| Incorrect TITA | 0 marks (no penalty) |
| Unattempted | 0 marks |
| Calculator | On-screen only; personal devices strictly prohibited |
Section-Wise Breakdown
| Section | Questions |
|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 |
| Total | 68 |
The section sequence is fixed: VARC → DILR → QA. Candidates cannot revisit a previous section once the 40-minute window closes. The ExamOven CAT Simulator provides a timed practice interface to help you prepare under exam conditions.
Source: Tarkashastra — CAT 2026 Pattern | HitBullseye
CAT 2026 Syllabus: Section-by-Section
The CAT does not have a rigidly "prescribed" syllabus the way board exams do. What it does have is a very consistent pattern of topic areas. Here's what actually shows up:
1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
VARC is often misunderstood as a "language" section. It is actually a reasoning and comprehension section that heavily rewards analytical reading over raw vocabulary.
- Reading Comprehension (RC): 3–4 long passages per exam, testing inference, tone, author intent, and main argument — not surface-level recall.
- Para Jumbles: Re-ordering sentences into a coherent paragraph. Often in TITA format (no negative marking).
- Para Summary: Choose the best summary of a given paragraph from 4 options.
- Odd Sentence Out: Identify the sentence that doesn't belong in a paragraph.
- Sentence Completion: Less frequent, but occasionally appears.
Most high-scorers in VARC are not "English people" — they are structured thinkers who practice reading dense analytical writing regularly. Build the habit early.
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
This section has evolved to become the most variable in difficulty. It is no longer about speed alone — it's about set selection strategy.
- Data Interpretation: Tables, bar graphs, pie charts, line graphs, caselets, Venn Diagrams (3 and 4 circles), and network diagrams.
- Logical Reasoning: Seating arrangements (linear and circular), blood relations, scheduling problems, binary logic, routes and maps, constraint-based puzzles.
In any given DILR section, 2 out of 4 sets are often significantly harder than the other 2. The test-taker who correctly identifies and skips the hard sets wins the section.
3. Quantitative Ability (QA)
Arithmetic and Algebra together have historically comprised over 60% of QA questions. Geometry and Number Systems make up much of the rest.
- Arithmetic: Percentages, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest, Time-Speed-Distance, Time & Work, Mixtures & Alligation.
- Algebra: Linear and Quadratic Equations, Logarithms, Functions, Inequalities, Progressions.
- Geometry & Mensuration: Triangles, Circles, Polygons, Coordinate Geometry, Area and Volume.
- Number Systems: Remainders, HCF/LCM, Properties of Integers, Factorials.
- Modern Math: Permutation & Combination, Probability, Sequences & Series, Set Theory.
CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy
There is no shortage of CAT advice on the internet. Most of it says the same things in different orders. What follows is a phased, honest strategy — one that acknowledges that your time and energy are finite.
Starting your prep in July? You've got about 4.5 months until exam day — enough time to build real competence if you're consistent. Don't try to compress the full January–May "Foundation" phase into a few weeks. Instead, run Foundation and Sectional Testing in parallel for 6–8 weeks (mornings for concept-building, evenings for light sectional practice), then move into the Phase 2/3 mock-heavy routine below from September onward.
Phase 1: Foundation Building (January – May)
Goal: Build conceptual clarity from scratch. No shortcuts yet.
- QA: Start with Arithmetic. Master percentages, ratios, and TSD before moving to anything else — these alone make up a large chunk of the paper. Use Arun Sharma (McGraw Hill) or Sarvesh Verma's Quantum CAT.
- VARC: Read one article a day from long-form publications: Aeon, The Economist, The Atlantic, or The Guardian. Don't time yourself. Focus on following arguments, not just words.
- DILR: Solve 2 sets a day without a timer. The goal is to understand puzzle structures, not score points yet. You can find high-quality practice sets in the ExamOven DILR Library.
End-of-phase check: By May, you should be able to solve any Arithmetic problem cold — without having to "think about what formula applies."
Phase 2: Sectional Testing & Weak Area Work (June – August)
Goal: Convert understanding into exam performance.
- Begin Sectional Tests (VARC-only, DILR-only, QA-only) to identify specific weak spots.
- Start a weekly mock test schedule from August. Take mocks in your actual expected exam time slot — your brain needs to be conditioned to think hard at that specific hour.
- Practice set selection in DILR. Scan all 4 sets in the first 4–5 minutes before diving into any.
- In QA, start a formula revision book — a small notebook with all key formulas. Review it for 20 minutes every morning.
End-of-phase check: Your mock scores should be consistently improving. More importantly, you should be able to explain why you got each wrong answer wrong.
Phase 3: Mock Test Intensification & Refinement (September – November)
Goal: Peak performance on exam day.
- Increase to two mocks per week. After each mock, spend at least 2× the time you spent writing the mock on analysis. Review every question you attempted — correct and incorrect. The ExamOven CAT PYQs provide AI-driven insights into your performance.
- Re-solve difficult DILR sets without looking at solutions first. This is more valuable than attempting new sets.
- For VARC, stop trying to "improve reading speed." Instead, focus on understanding passage structure — where is the main argument? Where is the author using examples vs. evidence?
- Two weeks before the exam: reduce new learning, increase revision. Sleep well. Maintain your testing routine.
Recommended Books for CAT 2026
| Subject | Recommended Book |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability | Quantitative Aptitude for CAT — Arun Sharma (McGraw Hill) |
| Quantitative Ability (alternative) | Quantum CAT — Sarvesh Verma |
| Vocabulary | Word Power Made Easy — Norman Lewis |
| DILR | How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT — Arun Sharma |
| DILR (alternative) | The Pearson Guide to DILR — Nishit Sinha |
| Mock Tests | ExamOven Adaptive CAT Mocks, TIME, Career Launcher, IMS |
| Past Papers | Official CAT papers 2017–2025 (available at iimcat.ac.in) |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
In DILR:
- Spending 25+ minutes on a single difficult set and running out of time. Always scan all 4 sets first.
- Attempting sets in the order they appear on screen (the hardest set often appears first).
In VARC:
- Reading RC passages word-by-word instead of focusing on argument flow and paragraph function.
- Ignoring TITA questions in Para Jumbles — zero negative marking means you should always attempt them.
In QA:
- Attempting every question in sequence. Skip time-consuming trap questions immediately.
- Neglecting Geometry — it's harder to learn late, but it reliably appears every year.
In General:
- Obsessing over mock test percentile scores instead of deeply analyzing why you got answers wrong.
- Comparing preparation levels with peers. Your exam is individual; your analysis should be too.
After CAT: What Happens Next?
Cracking CAT is just step one. Here's the broader IIM admission pipeline:
- CAT Result (Mid-to-Late December 2026, expected): Scores are normalized across the three exam slots, then converted to percentiles. CAT 2025 results, for reference, were out just 24 days after the exam.
- IIM Shortlisting: Each IIM independently shortlists candidates based on its own composite score — CAT percentile, academic record (Class 10, 12, graduation), work experience, and diversity factors. Criteria differ significantly between IIMs.
- WAT/GD + PI: Shortlisted candidates appear for Written Ability Test (WAT) or Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI).
- Final Merit List: IIMs release final admission offers based on a weighted composite of all stages.
As an example: IIM Indore's 2026–28 admission criteria allocate 20% weight to the CAT score in the final merit list, with 74% weight on Class 10 and 12 academic performance, and 6% for diversity. Strong CAT performance alone is necessary but not sufficient.
CAT 2026 vs. Other MBA Entrance Exams
Not sure if CAT is the right exam for you? Here's a quick comparison:
| Exam | Conducted By | Accepting Colleges | Difficulty | Exam Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT | IIM (rotational) | 22 IIMs + 1,300+ B-schools | Very High | Nov (1 day) |
| XAT | XLRI Jamshedpur | XLRI, XIMB, 150+ B-schools | High | Jan |
| SNAP | Symbiosis International | Symbiosis institutes | Moderate | Dec (3 attempts) |
| NMAT | GMAC | NMIMS, 50+ colleges | Moderate | Oct–Dec (3 attempts) |
| CMAT | NTA | 1,000+ AICTE-approved institutes | Moderate | Jan |
Most serious MBA aspirants appear for CAT + at least 1–2 of the above to maximize their options.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the CAT 2026 exam date?
Confirmed: CAT 2026 will be held on November 29, 2026 — the last Sunday of November, as officially stated in the July 25, 2026 notification.
Who is conducting CAT 2026?
Confirmed: IIM Indore, as stated in the official July 25, 2026 notification — following the rotational system among the older IIMs. IIM Kozhikode conducted CAT 2025; Indore was next in the rotation and last convened the exam in 2020. Prof. Aditya Billore, Professor of Marketing at IIM Indore, is the named CAT 2026 convener.
Will the CAT 2026 registration deadline be extended?
There's no official word either way as of this update — treat September 15, 2026 as final. For context, CAT 2025's deadline moved by about a week (Sep 13 → Sep 20, 2025) and CAT 2022 saw a similar extension, but it's never announced in advance and never guaranteed. Don't delay your application on the chance of one.
When does CAT 2026 registration start?
Confirmed: Registration opens August 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM and closes September 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM. This is a shift from the Aug 1 – Sep 20 window seen in CAT 2025 and widely projected earlier this year — don't rely on older articles for these dates.
How many IIMs accept CAT 2026 scores?
22 IIMs, up from 21. IIM Guwahati, inaugurated in February 2026, is India's newest IIM and will appear as a standard program option on the CAT 2026 form.
When will CAT 2026 results be declared?
Likely mid-to-late December 2026. CAT 2025 results were declared on December 24, 2025 — just 24 days after the exam — so the "January" timeline often quoted in older guides is outdated.
What is the CAT 2026 application fee?
Confirmed: ₹2,700 for General/EWS/NC-OBC candidates and ₹1,350 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates — an increase from CAT 2025's ₹2,600/₹1,300.
What is the minimum percentage required for CAT 2026?
50% aggregate marks in graduation for General, NC-OBC, and EWS candidates. 45% aggregate for SC, ST, and PwD candidates.
Can final-year students apply for CAT 2026?
Yes. Final-year undergraduate students are eligible to apply, subject to submission of final marksheets before the IIM verification stage.
How many questions are there in CAT 2026?
68 questions in total: 24 in VARC, 22 in DILR, and 22 in QA.
Is the CAT 2026 syllabus changed?
No changes. The official notification confirms the syllabus and pattern remain consistent with CAT 2024 and CAT 2025 — same 68-question, 120-minute structure.
How many times can I attempt CAT?
There is no limit on the number of CAT attempts. CAT scores are valid for one year only.
Key Resources
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| ExamOven CAT Simulator | examoven.com/exam-library?q=cat |
| Official CAT Portal | iimcat.ac.in |
| Registration closing Sep 15? Read this first | CAT 2026 Registration Deadline: Last-Minute Checklist |
| MBAUniverse CAT Coverage | mbauniverse.com/cat |
| Career Launcher CAT Registration Guide | careerlauncher.com |
| CollegeDunia CAT Page | collegedunia.com/exams/cat |
| IIM Indore Official Site | iimidr.ac.in |
| IIM Guwahati Official Site (22nd IIM) | iimg.ac.in |
This guide was refreshed on September 4, 2026. Since the last update (July 26, 2026), we confirmed IIM Indore's website and checked registration status directly — no extension has been announced, and September 15 remains the deadline. Exam date, registration window, fee, and eligibility remain confirmed. The only remaining projection is the result date (expected 3rd–4th week of December 2026, based on the CAT 2025 precedent). Always cross-check against the official information bulletin on iimcat.ac.in before making any decisions.
