The Common Admission Test (CAT) is India’s largest and most competitive MBA entrance exam, opening the door to the 22 IIMs and over 1,000 other B-schools including FMS Delhi and SPJIMR Mumbai. Conducted once a year on a rotational basis by one of the IIMs, CAT 2026 will be organised by IIM Indore on 29 November 2026.
With registrations already open, here’s a complete breakdown of the CAT 2026 exam date, eligibility, exam pattern and a section-wise strategy to help you push toward a 99+ percentile.
CAT 2026 Exam Date and Key Highlights
Particular |
Detail |
| Conducting Institute | IIM Indore |
| Notification Release | 25 July 2026 (released) |
| Registration Window | 3 August 2026 – 15 September 2026 |
| Exam Date | 29 November 2026 (Sunday), in three shifts |
| Admit Card Release | 4 November 2026 |
| Application Fee | ₹2,700 (General/EWS/NC-OBC), ₹1,350 (SC/ST/PwD) |
| Accepting Institutes | 22 IIMs and 1,000+ B-schools |
CAT 2027 Eligibility Criteria
- Educational qualification: A bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates).
- Final-year students: Eligible to apply, provided they complete their degree with the required percentage before the admission process begins.
- Age limit: There is no upper age limit to appear for CAT.
- Number of attempts: No restriction on how many times a candidate can take CAT.
CAT Exam Pattern 2027
Section |
Questions |
Duration |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 questions | 40 minutes |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20–22 questions | 40 minutes |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22–24 questions | 40 minutes |
| Total | ~68 questions | 120 minutes |
CAT Marking Scheme
- +3 marks for every correct answer
- −1 mark for every incorrect MCQ response
- No negative marking for Non-MCQ (TITA) questions
- Scores are normalised across shifts before the final percentile is calculated
CAT 2027 Preparation Strategy
Protect Your Strong Section, Fix the Weak One
- CAT percentile is calculated section-wise as well as overall — a single weak section can drag down an otherwise strong composite score, so no section can be ignored.
- Identify your weakest section early through diagnostic mock tests, then dedicate extra weekly hours specifically to it.
Section-Wise Focus Areas
Section |
What to Prioritise |
| VARC | Reading Comprehension speed, para-jumbles, summary and odd-sentence-out questions |
| DILR | Set-based reasoning, data caselets, arrangement and seating puzzles |
| QA | Arithmetic, Algebra, Number Systems and Geometry — the highest-weightage QA topics |
Time Management Is Its Own Skill
- You get roughly 40 minutes per section with no switching allowed — practise strictly under sectional time limits from day one, not just on full mocks.
- Learn to identify and skip time-draining questions early instead of getting stuck chasing every question.
Mock Tests Are Non-Negotiable
- Take at least one full-length mock test every week starting three to four months before the exam, and increase frequency closer to November.
- Spend more time analysing each mock than taking it — track question-level mistakes, time spent per question, and attempt-accuracy trade-offs.
Frequently Asked Questions on CAT 2026
Q. Is there a fixed CAT syllabus?
A. No official syllabus is prescribed by the IIMs. Preparation is generally based on Class 10–12 level Mathematics and English, along with logical reasoning and data interpretation skills.
Q. What CAT percentile is needed for a top IIM?
A. Top IIM cutoffs for the general category typically range between 95 and 99+ percentile, though this varies by IIM and category each year.
Q. Does CAT alone guarantee an IIM seat?
A. No. A valid CAT percentile only makes you eligible for shortlisting — final admission depends on academic profile, work experience, diversity factors and performance in the WAT-PI round.