CAT 2026: Exam Date (Nov 29), Admit Card, Mock Test, Question Papers, Pattern, Syllabus, Previous Year Cutoff
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CAT 2026 will be conducted on November 29, 2026, in the computer based test format. The exam is considered one of the most important exams for admission to MBA and PGDM courses across the top BSchools in India including IIMs. CAT registration 2026 started on August 3, 2026, and the last date was September 22, 2026. The CAT admit card 2026 will be released on November 4, 2026, at official IIM CAT website, i.e. iimcat.ac.in.
CAT registration and form correction: The last date to register was September 22, and the form correction window was open from October 5 to October 6.
Exam Date and Mode: November 29, 2026, in CBT mode
Admit Card: November 4, 2026
CAT 2026 Dates and Events
Check the table below to know the important Common Admission Test, CAT exam date 2026 and events:
| Events | Dates |
| CAT Notification Release Date 2026 | July 25, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Application Release | August 3, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Registration Last Date | September 22, 2026 |
| Last Date of CAT Registration Fee Payment | September 24, 2026 |
| Form correction | October 5 to 6, 2026 |
| Admit card release | November 4, 2026 |
| CAT exam 2026 date | November 29, 2026 |
| Resul declaration | To be announced |
IIM CAT 2026: Highlights
The CAT 2026 exam will be conducted by IIM Indore this year. Check out the major highlights of CAT exam below in the table.
| IIM CAT 2026 | Details |
| CAT exam full form | Common Admission Test |
| Exam Level | National |
| Frequency | Annually |
| CAT application fees |
|
| Fee payment mode | Debit/credit card or net banking |
| Number of applicants (2025) | 2.95 lakh candidates appeared |
| Purpose | Admission to top MBA colleges in India (MBA and PGDM) |
| Mode of exam | Computer based test mode with MCQs and Non-MCQs |
| Exam Timings |
|
| Sections | 3 sections
|
| Official website | iimcat.ac.in
|
CAT 2026 Question Paper Pattern
Check below to know the CAT exam pattern 2026:
| Exam structure | Details |
| Number of Sections | 3 Sections
|
| CAT exam duration | 120 minutes or 2 hours |
| Mode of Exam | Online |
| Type of questions | MCQs and TITA (non-MCQs) questions |
| Number of Questions | VARC- 24 questions DILR- 22 questions QA- 22 questions Total- 68 |
| Marking Scheme |
|
| Sectional Timings |
|
| Total marks | 204 marks |
| Exam slots | Slot 1- 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Slot 2- 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM Slot 3- 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
CAT Syllabus 2026
The CAT 2026 syllabus will be divided across the three sections, i.e. Quatitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. The important topics for each section are given below:
| Section | Important Topics |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, VARC | Parajumbles, Para Summary, Sentence Completion, RC Passages, Statements and Inferences, Vocabulary, etc. |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | Seating Arrangements, Syllogisms, Blood Relations, Tables, Graphs, Data Caselets, etc. |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Number system, Algebra, Time, Speed, Work and Distance, Geometry, Mensuration, etc. |
Also Read:
- How to Improve VARC, DILR and QA Scores in CAT 2026: Section-Wise Preparation Tips
- CAT 2026 Preparation: Check 60 Days Section Wise Prep Strategy for VARC, DILR and QA
Free CAT Mock Test 2026
Students can take the free CAT mock tests for practice provided by Jagran Josh.
Jagran Josh Free CAT Mock Tests
How to Register for CAT 2026?
CAT application is a three-stage process. The stages involved in the CAT registration process are as follows:
Step 1: Register for CAT 2026
- Visit the official CAT website: iimcat.ac.in
- Click on the "Register" button under the "New Candidate Registration" section.
- Fill in your name, date of birth, email ID, mobile number, and nationality.
- Click on the "Generate OTP" button.
- An OTP (One-Time Password) will be sent to your registered mobile number upon successful submission.
- Complete the CAT 2026 registration by entering the OTP in the provided field to verify your mobile number.
Step 2: Fill out the CAT Application Form 2026
- The application form is divided into six sections. Candidates must fill all sections accurately to ensure successful submission.
| Section | Details Required |
| 1. Personal Details | Enter basic information including: - Full Name - Date of Birth - Father's Name - Category (SC/ST/OBC, etc.) - Gender - Nationality - Communication Address - Email ID - Mobile Number |
| 2. Academic Details | Provide educational qualifications including: - Class 10 and 12 scores - Bachelor's degree details - Marksheet - Information on other professional courses (if applicable) |
| 3. Work Experience | For candidates with prior work experience, enter: - Name of the organization - Job title/designation - Duration of employment |
| 4. Programmes | Select preferred IIMs and the MBA programmes you wish to apply for. |
| 5. Test City | Choose up to six cities as your preferred CAT exam centres, in order of preference. |
| 6. Payment | Pay the application fee using one of the following modes: - Credit/Debit Card - Internet Banking - Paytm or PayU Wallets |
Step 3: Payment of CAT Registration Fees
Once the registration process is completed for the CAT 2026 exam, candidates need to pay the application fee. The fee has to be paid in online mode.
What is CAT 2026 Exam Fees?
CAT fee is to be paid at the time of application form submission. Until the fee is paid, the CAT application form will not be accepted. Candidates must pay the fee and submit the application form before the deadline. Given below is the latest CAT registration fee.
| Category | CAT Exam Fee |
| General, EWS and NC-OBC | INR 2,700 |
| SC, ST and PwD | INR 1,350 |
CAT Exam 2026 Difficulty Level
Based on the past few year trends, CAT difficulty level 2026 is expected to be moderate to difficult. IIM Indore is conducting the CAT exam 2026 this year, and it is known to give some surprises on the exam day. No changes in the exam pattern have yet been announced, so it is likely that the duration of the exam will be 120 minutes, with 40 minutes given to each section. Check the expected sectional difficulty level for CAT exam 2026:
| Section | Difficulty Level | Key Highlights |
| VARC | Moderate to Difficult | RC passages can be lengthy and time consuming. Grammar and para summary questions test the comprehension skills of the candidates |
| DILR | Difficult | Sets are often tricky and can require multiple layer of reasoning and analysis |
| QA | Moderate | Calculations can be lengthy and would require students to have conceptual clarity and not just know the formulas. |
Top Colleges Accepting CAT Scores 2026
Over 1200 BSchools accept CAT scores for MBA/PGDM admissions including the IIMs, FMS Delhi, IIT Delhi, etc. Check the table below to know the top MBA colleges accepting CAT scores in India:
| Name of the College | NIRF Rankings 2025 | Expected CAT Cutoff 2026 |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 1 | 95 percentile |
| IIM Bangalore | 2 | 85 percentile |
| IIM Calcutta | 7 | 85 percentile |
| IIM Lucknow | 5 | 90 percentile |
| IIT Delhi | 4 | 90 percentile |
| IIM Kozhikode | 3 | 85 percentile |
| IIM Mumbai | 6 | 90 to 95 percentile |
| IIM Indore | 8 | 90 percentile |
| MDI Gurgaon | 9 | 95 to 97 percentile |
| IIM Rohtak | 19 | 94 to 97 percentile |
| IIM Trichy | 16 | 94 to 97 percentile |
| IIM Ranchi | 18 | 94 to 97 percentile |
| SPJIMR, Mumbai | 20 | 85 percentile |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 30 | 90 to 95 percentile |
| TAPMI, Manipal | 39 | 85 to 90 percentile |
| Great Lakes, Chennai | 37 | 85 to 90 percentile |
| IIT Kharagpur | 12 | 95 to 98 percentile |
| IIT Bombay | 14 | 95 to 98 percentile |
| IIT Madras | 13 | 85 to 98 percentile |
Also Read:
- CAT 2026 Cutoff for IIMs: Check Expected Percentile, Sectional and Category Wise
- CAT Cutoff 2026: Top Management Colleges for 60, 70, and 80 CAT Percentile Scores
Jagran Josh IIM Call Predictor
Securing a shortlisted call from an IIM is one of the most unpredictable stages of the CAT admission cycle. With 22 IIMs now accepting CAT scores, candidates have a wider area to apply with their CAT scores. Candidates can use the following MBA CAT 2026 profilizer to predict which IIM they can get for MBA admissions. Click on the following link:
| Jagran Josh Exclusive IIM Call Predictor |
Also Read:
CAT Score vs Percentile 2026: Check The Safe Score For 99+ Percentile
How to Score 99 Percentile in CAT 2026? Tips, Strategy and Study Plan
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