CAT 2026: Exam Date, Pattern, Eligibility, Syllabus and Result

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the computer-based entrance exam that the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) use to admit students to their postgraduate and doctoral management programmes. Many other leading B-schools accept CAT scores too. IIM Indore is the convening institute for CAT 2026. The exam is on Sunday, 29 November 2026, in three slots.

CAT 2026 at a glance

• Conducting body: IIM Indore (convening IIM for 2026)
• Exam date: Sunday, 29 November 2026
• Slots: 3 slots. Times reported: 8:30–10:30 AM, 12:30–2:30 PM and 4:30–6:30 PM
• Mode: Computer-based test (CBT) at test centres, in about 170 cities
• Duration: 120 minutes (160 minutes for PwBD candidates)
• Sections: VARC: 24 questions, 40 min · DILR: 22 questions, 40 min · QA: 22 questions, 40 min (pattern as in CAT 2025; expected to stay the same)
• Total questions / marks: 68 questions / 204 marks (expected)
• Marking scheme: +3 for each correct answer. −1 for each wrong MCQ. No negative marking for TITA (type-in-the-answer) questions. No penalty for unanswered questions
• Registration fee: ₹2,700 (General and others). ₹1,350 (SC/ST/PwBD)
• Registration window: 3 August to 22 September 2026, 5 PM (extended from 15 September). Closed
• Admit card: From 4 November 2026 (expected)
• Result: Not yet announced. Expected late December 2026 or early January 2027
• Score validity: Until 31 December 2027
• Official website: https://iimcat.ac.in

CAT 2026 eligibility

To appear for CAT 2026, you need:

• A bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST and PwBD candidates) from a recognised university. Or
• A professional qualification such as CA, CS, ICWA (CMA) or FIAI, with the required percentage.
• Final-year students of a bachelor's degree can apply. Students who have finished their degree and are waiting for results can apply too. If selected, you must show proof of graduation at admission.

There is no age limit and no limit on the number of attempts. Work experience is not required to take the exam. Class 12 students are not eligible. Students who want to join an IIM straight after school should look at IPMAT and similar integrated-programme tests.

CAT 2026 exam pattern

The test has three sections, and each section has its own timer. You get 40 minutes for each section and cannot move between sections. Each section has a mix of:

• MCQs: You choose one of four options. A wrong answer costs 1 mark.
• TITA questions: You type in the answer. A wrong answer costs nothing.

Questions per section (CAT 2025 pattern, expected to continue):

• Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC): 24 questions, 40 min
• Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR): 22 questions, 40 min
• Quantitative Ability (QA): 22 questions, 40 min
• Total: 68 questions, 120 min

PwBD candidates get 160 minutes in total, or 53 minutes 20 seconds per section. The number of MCQ and TITA questions in each section can change from year to year. Check the split in the official instructions and the mock test on iimcat.ac.in.

CAT 2026 syllabus summary

The IIMs do not publish a formal syllabus. Past papers show what each section usually covers:

• VARC: Reading comprehension passages, which make up most of the section, plus para-summary, para-jumbles and odd-sentence-out questions.
• DILR: Sets built on tables, graphs, arrangements, games and tournaments, networks, scheduling and puzzles. Each set has four to six questions.
• QA: Arithmetic (percentages, profit and loss, ratios, time-speed-distance, time and work, interest), algebra, geometry and mensuration, number systems, and modern maths (permutations, combinations and probability). Arithmetic and algebra usually carry the most weight.

CAT 2026 admit card

The admit card is expected on iimcat.ac.in from 4 November 2026. You download it by logging in with your CAT user ID and password. It shows your test slot, reporting time and centre address. Bring a printout and a valid original photo ID to the centre.

CAT 2026 result and scorecard

IIM Indore will first publish the candidate response sheets and a provisional answer key, and candidates can raise objections. The final result comes after that, and it is expected in late December 2026 or early January 2027. The scorecard will show:

• A scaled score for each section and overall. Raw scores are normalised across the three slots so that candidates are compared fairly.
• A percentile for each section and overall. Your percentile shows the share of test-takers who scored below you.

The scorecard is valid until 31 December 2027.

How IIMs and other B-schools use your CAT percentile

IIMs. Each IIM sets its own admission policy. CAT is a filter, not a final ranking. A typical IIM process works like this:

1. The IIM sets minimum overall and sectional percentile cut-offs, which differ by category.
2. Candidates who clear the cut-offs are shortlisted on a composite score. This combines CAT with academic marks from Class 10, Class 12 and graduation, work experience, and sometimes gender or academic diversity.
3. Shortlisted candidates take a written ability test (WAT) and personal interview (PI). The final merit list re-weights CAT alongside the WAT, PI and profile scores.

For example, IIM Bangalore's published process for its 2026–28 PGP batch set minimum CAT 2025 percentiles for General candidates at 85 overall and 80/75/75 in VARC/DILR/QA. CAT made up 55% of its pre-interview score and 25% of its final score. The percentile at which candidates actually received calls was much higher than these minimums.

Non-IIMs. Many institutes outside the IIM system accept CAT scores, including FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR, IIT B-schools and several state and private universities. These institutes run their own shortlisting, cut-offs and interviews, and you apply to each one directly. Applying through the CAT form does not count as an application to them.

CAT 2026 FAQs

1. Who conducts CAT 2026?
IIM Indore is the convening institute for CAT 2026. NTA does not conduct it.

2. When is the CAT 2026 exam?
Sunday, 29 November 2026, in three slots at test centres in about 170 cities.

3. Can I take CAT in the final year of graduation?
Yes. Final-year bachelor's students can apply. You must finish your degree with the minimum marks before admission.

4. Is there negative marking in CAT?
Yes, but only for MCQs. Each wrong MCQ costs 1 mark. Wrong TITA answers and unanswered questions carry no penalty. Each correct answer earns 3 marks.

5. How long is a CAT score valid?
The CAT 2026 score is valid until 31 December 2027.