Planning to crack CAT 2026 and earn a seat at an IIM?
This guide covers everything you need — official exam dates, the full syllabus, registration steps, eligibility criteria, and a preparation roadmap to help you start strong.
IIM typically conducts the CAT exam in the last week of November. The official CAT 2026 notification usually drops in July or August. Bookmark the official portal: iimcat.ac.in
What is CAT 2026?
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is India’s most competitive MBA entrance exam. The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) jointly conduct CAT every year, and over 200 top business schools across India accept CAT scores for admission. With more than 3 lakh candidates registering annually, a strong CAT 2026 score opens doors to the country’s best management programmes.
CAT 2026 exam date and schedule
The IIMs have not officially announced the CAT 2026 exam date yet. Based on the pattern from previous years, here is the expected schedule candidates should plan around.
| Event | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| Official notification release | July–August 2026 |
| CAT 2026 registration opens | August 2026 |
| Registration deadline | September 2026 |
| CAT 2026 admit card download | October–November 2026 |
| CAT 2026 exam date | Last week of November 2026 |
| CAT 2026 result date | January 2027 |
These are expected dates based on previous years. Always verify with the official IIM CAT portal once the notification drops.
CAT 2026 eligibility criteria
Before you register, make sure you meet the CAT exam eligibility 2026 requirements set by the IIMs.
- A bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates)
- Candidates in their final year of graduation can also apply
- No age limit — anyone who meets the degree requirement can sit the exam
- Professional degree holders (CA, CS, ICWA) with equivalent qualifications are eligible
The IIMs do not set a minimum work experience requirement for CAT 2026. However, some IIM programmes prefer candidates with prior work experience during the interview stage.
CAT 2026 registration — how to apply
The CAT 2026 registration process runs entirely online through the official portal. Follow these steps once the window opens in August.
- Visit iimcat.ac.in and click “Register”
- Create your profile with a valid email ID and mobile number
- Fill in your personal, academic, and work experience details
- Upload your photograph and signature in the specified format
- Select your preferred exam city (up to three choices)
- Pay the registration fee and save your confirmation
Registration fee
| Category | Fee (expected) |
|---|---|
| General / EWS / OBC-NC | ₹2,600 |
| SC / ST / PwD | ₹1,300 |
The IIMs typically do not allow fee refunds after submission, so double-check every detail before you pay.
CAT 2026 syllabus
The IIMs do not publish an official CAT 2026 syllabus document, but the exam consistently tests three sections. Here is a detailed breakdown of what each section covers.
Section 1 — Verbal ability and reading comprehension (VARC)
- Reading comprehension passages (literary, business, social science themes)
- Para jumbles — rearranging sentences into a logical paragraph
- Para summary — picking the best summary for a paragraph
- Odd sentence out from a paragraph
Section 2 — Data interpretation and logical reasoning (DILR)
- Tables, bar graphs, pie charts, line graphs
- Caselets — text-based data sets with multiple questions
- Seating arrangements and scheduling puzzles
- Network diagrams and binary logic problems
Section 3 — Quantitative ability (QA)
- Arithmetic — percentages, profit/loss, time-speed-distance, ratios
- Algebra — equations, inequalities, functions
- Geometry and mensuration
- Number systems and modern maths (permutation, probability, sets)
Exam pattern at a glance
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 40 minutes |
| DILR | 20 | 40 minutes |
| QA | 22 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 66 | 120 minutes |
CAT follows negative marking — each wrong MCQ answer costs you 1 mark. Non-MCQ (TITA) questions carry no negative marking. Attempt wisely.
How to prepare — month-by-month plan
Cracking this entrance test demands a structured, consistent plan — not last-minute cramming. Here is how toppers approach it.
6 months out
- Build your reading habit — 2 articles daily from The Hindu, The Economist, or HBR
- Cover QA fundamentals: arithmetic, algebra, and geometry from NCERT Class 9–10
- Start with one DILR set per day to build logic speed
3 months out
- Attempt full-length mock CATs every weekend
- Analyse every mock — time per question, accuracy per section, weak topic patterns
- Focus on DILR caselets, which trip up most candidates
1 month out
- Shift from learning to revision — no new topics
- Take 2–3 mocks per week under strict exam conditions
- Work on your sectional time management strategy
Results, percentile and IIM shortlisting
The IIMs typically declare the CAT 2026 result in January 2027. Your scorecard shows your raw score, scaled score, and percentile for each section. Most IIMs shortlist candidates for their Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds based on the overall percentile and sectional cutoffs.
Top IIMs (A, B, C, L, I, K) generally expect an overall percentile of 99 and above. Newer IIMs and other top schools shortlist candidates at 90–95 percentile.
Frequently asked questions
The IIMs rotate the responsibility of conducting CAT each year. The IIM that hosts CAT 2026 will confirm once the official notification releases in July or August.
The IIMs impose no limit on the number of CAT attempts. You can sit the exam every year as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.
Yes. CAT divides the 120-minute duration into three fixed 40-minute sections. You cannot move between sections before your time for that section ends.
Yes. Students in their final year of a bachelor’s degree can register and sit the test. They must submit proof of graduation completion at the time of IIM admission.
Based on previous years, The IIMs open registration in August 2026. Watch iimcat.ac.in for the official announcement.
The bottom line
This entrance exam rewards candidates who build genuine problem-solving skills — not those who simply memorise shortcuts. Start your preparation early, take mock tests seriously, and track your progress section by section. The IIM seat you want is achievable with the right plan and consistent effort.
Keep checking iimcat.ac.in for the official CAT 2026 notification. Everything on this page updates as soon as the IIMs publish confirmed dates.
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