CAT 2026 Exam Pattern, Admit Card, Syllabus & Registration Fees Details

The CAT 2026 notification will be released by the conducting IIM. This year, the conducting institute is expected to be IIM Indore. The notification will include all the important details related to the examination, such as the exam date, registration schedule, eligibility criteria, application fees, and exam pattern.

The official notification is expected to be released on the CAT official website https://iimcat.ac.in in the last week of July 2026. Candidates should download the notification as soon as it becomes available and carefully read all the instructions before completing the registration process.

CAT 2026 is expected to be conducted on 29th November 2026, and the entire examination process is likely to be managed by IIM Indore. The tentative schedule is provided below.

Before you begin your preparation, be sure you fulfill the fundamental eligibility criteria.

• Educational Qualification: Bachelor Degree with minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD students) from a recognized university.
• Final Year Students: Candidates who are appearing in the final year of their graduation are also allowed to apply.
• CAT 2026 Age Limit: There is no declared upper age limit for CAT 2026.
• Number of Attempts: A candidate is not limited in the number of attempts for CAT.

Registration charges are among the most searched topics before applying for CAT 2026. Below is the complete fee structure and payment information.

The CAT 2026 application fee is expected to be ₹2,600 for General, OBC, and EWS candidates, while SC, ST, and PwD candidates may need to pay ₹1,300. The fee must be paid online during the application submission process and is completely non-refundable under any circumstances.

Candidates can make the payment through Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI. No offline payment facility will be available.

To prepare smartly, it is important to understand the CAT Exam Pattern 2026. CAT 2026 is expected to follow the same trend as CAT 2025, with a total of 68 questions divided across three sections.

The examination will consist of Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Candidates will be required to complete the exam within 120 minutes, with a strict sectional time limit of 40 minutes for each section.

The VARC section is expected to contain 24 questions carrying a total of 72 marks. The DILR and QA sections are likely to have 22 questions each, carrying 66 marks per section.

Each correct answer will be awarded +3 marks, each wrong MCQ will be penalized with −1 mark, and TITA (Type in the Answer) questions will not have any negative marking. This makes TITA questions a strategic advantage, and candidates should attempt them whenever possible since there is no penalty for an incorrect response.

The CAT paper consists of two types of questions:

• MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions): Negative marking of −1 mark is applicable for every incorrect answer.
• TITA Questions (Type in the Answer): No negative marking. Answers must be typed directly on the screen.

Once the allotted 40 minutes for a section are over, the system automatically locks that section and candidates cannot return to a previous section.

There is no formal CAT 2026 syllabus prescribed by the IIMs. However, based on the exam pattern and trends observed over the past few years, the syllabus can be broadly divided into three major sections – VARC, DILR, and QA.

The VARC section primarily focuses on Reading Comprehension, which generally carries around 66% of the section's weightage. Reading passages are usually around 600 words long and are followed by 4–5 questions.

Major Topics Covered:

• Reading Comprehension: Passages based on social sciences, business, literature, and science.
• Para Jumbles: Rearranging jumbled sentences to form a meaningful paragraph.
• Para Summary: Selecting the most appropriate summary of a paragraph.
• Odd Sentence Out: Identifying the sentence that does not fit within a paragraph.

The DILR section evaluates a candidate’s ability to analyze data and solve logical problems within a limited time frame. Questions are usually based on data sets, arrangements, and logical puzzles.

Key Topics Covered:

• Tables, Bar Graphs, Pie Charts, and Line Graphs.
• Caselets and Mixed Data Sets.
• Blood Relations.
• Seating Arrangement.
• Clocks and Calendars.
• Logical Reasoning.
• Games and Tournaments.
• Circular Arrangements and Cubes.

The Quantitative Aptitude section is generally divided into five major areas: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Modern Mathematics, and Number System.

Key Topics Covered:

• Arithmetic: Percentage, Profit & Loss, Time-Speed-Distance, Work & Time, Ratio & Proportion.
• Algebra: Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations, Functions, and Inequalities.
• Geometry: Triangles, Circles, Coordinate Geometry, and Mensuration.
• Number System: Factors, Remainders, LCM, and HCF.
• Modern Mathematics: Probability, Set Theory, Permutation, and Combination.

The CAT 2026 Admit Card is expected to be released in the last week of October or the first week of November 2026 on the official CAT website. Candidates will be able to download it by logging in with their registered credentials.

The admit card is a mandatory document for appearing in the examination and contains important information related to the test.

• Test City allotted to the candidate.
• Complete Exam Centre Address.
• Exam Date and Reporting Time.
• Exam Slot Details.
• Candidate's Personal Information.
• Important Exam Day Instructions.

• The admit card will be available only on the official CAT website: https://iimcat.ac.in. No hard copy will be sent to candidates.
• On the day of the examination, candidates must carry a printed copy of the admit card along with a valid government-issued photo ID.
• Entry to the examination centre will not be permitted without the admit card.
• Candidates should carefully verify all details printed on the admit card, including their name, photograph, exam date, slot, and test centre information.

Registration for CAT 2026 will be conducted entirely online, and no hard copy of the application form needs to be sent. Once the official notification is released, candidates can follow the steps below to complete the registration process.

1. Visit the official CAT website: https://iimcat.ac.in
2. Register using a valid mobile number and email ID.
3. Fill in all personal, academic, and work experience details accurately.
4. Upload your passport-size photograph and signature in the prescribed format and size.
5. Select up to six preferred test cities in order of preference.
6. Pay the registration fee online using Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI.
7. Download and save the payment confirmation receipt for future reference.

• Improve your VARC performance by reading editorials, newspapers, and long-form articles daily to build strong reading comprehension skills.
• For DILR, practice a variety of unconventional data sets and logical puzzles to improve flexibility and problem-solving ability.
• In QA, begin your preparation with Arithmetic and Algebra, as these topics generally carry the highest weightage in the exam.
• Once your basic concepts are clear, start taking full-length mock tests regularly, ideally at least once every week.
• Analyze every mock test thoroughly. Understanding your mistakes and weak areas is often more valuable than focusing only on the score.

CAT 2026 is your gateway to some of India's top management institutes. With the notification expected to be released in the last week of July 2026, this is the ideal time to build a preparation strategy and begin your journey toward a high percentile score. Stay connected with CareerChoice360 for the latest CAT 2026 updates, expert guidance, preparation resources, and tools that can help you secure admission to your dream B-school.