CAT 2026 Complete Guide: Exam Date, Registration, Eligibility, Syllabus, Pattern, Admission & FAQs
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CAT Exam 2026 Notification has been officially released by IIM Indore. CAT 2026 registration begins on August 3, 2026 (10:00 AM) and will remain open until September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM). The CAT 2026 exam will be conducted on November 29, 2026 (Sunday) in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode across 170+ test cities nationwide. The examination will be conducted in three sessions of 120 minutes each on a single day. It comprises three sections—Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA)—with a total of 68 questions. Read this article to get complete details on the CAT exam date 2026, CAT 2026 registration date, eligibility, syllabus, exam pattern, admit card, result, and MBA admission process. Everything CAT 2026 aspirants need in one guide.
What is the CAT Exam?
CAT is a national-level management entrance test conducted by one of the IIMs on a rotational basis. As per past trends, IIM Indore is expected to conduct the CAT exam 2026, and CAT scores from this cycle will be accepted by more than 1,000 management institutes across India, making it one of the most widely recognized MBA entrance exams in the country. The exam assesses a candidate's problem-solving skills, analytical thinking, reading comprehension, and decision-making ability—all of which are essential for a successful management career.
The scale of the examination has grown consistently over the years—CAT 2024 saw 3.29 lakh registrations, while CAT 2025 recorded 2.95 lakh registered candidates, of whom approximately 2.58 lakh (nearly 87%) appeared for the test. CAT 2026 is expected to attract a similarly large pool of candidates, with projections estimating participation in excess of 4 lakh aspirants.
Related CAT Resources: For a complete breakdown of exam dates, eligibility, and syllabus, visit our detailed guide: CAT 2026 Exam Complete Guide .
CAT Exam 2026 Highlights
The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 is India's premier national-level MBA entrance examination conducted by IIM Indore for admission to MBA and PGDM programmes offered by the IIMs and other leading B-schools across India. The official CAT 2026 notification has been released, confirming the registration schedule, exam date, admit card release, and other important details.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
| Conducting Institute | IIM Indore |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Registration Starts | August 3, 2026 (10:00 AM) |
| Registration Ends | September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Admit Card Release | November 4, 2026 |
| CAT Exam Date 2026 | November 29, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Test Cities | 170+ |
| Participating IIMs | 21 |
| Courses Offered | MBA / PGDM |
| Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
CAT Exam 2026: Important Dates
The official CAT 2026 schedule has been announced by IIM Indore. CAT 2026 registration begins on August 3, 2026 and closes on September 15, 2026. The CAT 2026 exam will be conducted on November 29, 2026, while the result is expected to be announced in December 2026. The table below provides the complete CAT 2026 timeline.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| CAT 2026 Notification Release | Last Week of July 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Registration Starts | August 3, 2026 (10:00 AM) |
| CAT 2026 Registration Ends | September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| CAT 2026 Admit Card Release | November 4, 2026 |
| CAT Exam Date 2026 | November 29, 2026 (Sunday) |
| CAT 2026 Answer Key | Expected December 2026 |
| CAT Result 2026 | Expected December 2026 |
CAT Registration Date & Application Process 2026
CAT 2026 registration begins on August 3, 2026 (10:00 AM), following the release of the official CAT 2026 notification by IIM Indore in the last week of July 2026. Registration for the CAT exam 2026 will remain open until September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM). Candidates are strongly advised to complete the CAT 2026 application form well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues or payment failures on the official portal.
Steps to Register for CAT Exam 2026
- Visit the official CAT website (iimcat.ac.in)
- Create a new user account using a valid email ID and mobile number
- Fill in personal, academic, and work experience details
- Select up to five preferred test cities
- Upload photograph and signature as per the specified format
- Pay the CAT 2026 application fee online
- Submit the application and download the confirmation page
Keeping track of the CAT 2026 registration date is critical, since IIMs do not usually extend the deadline once it closes.
CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Before applying, candidates should check whether they meet the CAT 2026 eligibility conditions:
- Bachelor's degree from a recognised university with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates)
- Final-year students are also eligible to apply, provided they submit proof of degree completion later
- Professional degree holders such as CA, CS, CMA, or Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India are also eligible
- No upper age limit to appear for CAT, and there is no cap on the number of attempts
CAT Syllabus 2026
There is no fixed, officially published syllabus for CAT, but based on previous years' papers, CAT syllabus 2026 is expected to cover the following broad areas:
| Section | Key Topics |
|---|---|
| VARC | Reading comprehension, para-jumbles, para-summary, verbal reasoning |
| DILR | Data tables, graphs, caselets, logical puzzles, seating arrangements |
| QA | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number systems, modern maths |
CareerChoice360 Tip: Prepare a CAT 2026 5 Months Strategy . Aim to complete the CAT syllabus by August–September, dedicate October–November to full-length mock tests, and analyze every mock thoroughly. Scoring well in 30–35 questions can often fetch a 99+ percentile, depending on the exam's difficulty level.
CAT Exam Pattern 2026
The CAT 2026 exam pattern comprises three sections—VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Ability—with approximately 66–68 questions to be attempted in 2 hours across three timed slots. Read the table below for detailed information on the CAT Exam Pattern 2026 .
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Sections | 3 |
| Sections | VARC, DILR, Quantitative Ability |
| Exam Duration | 2 Hours (three slots of 40 minutes each) |
| Number of Questions | Approximately 66–68 |
| Question Type | MCQs & Non-MCQs (TITA) |
| Marking Scheme | +3 for every correct answer; -1 for incorrect MCQs; no negative marking for TITA questions |
CAT 2026 Admission Process
After the exam, shortlisted candidates are called for further selection rounds conducted independently by each institute. The admission process typically includes a Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI).
Final selection is based on the CAT score, academic record, work experience, and performance in these rounds. Since there is no centralized counseling for CAT, each IIM and participating B-school manages its own admission cycle after results are declared.