Everything about CAT 2026
— updated for this cycle.
Dates, pattern, syllabus, eligibility, and the colleges that accept it. All updated for this admission cycle.
READ ON7 MIN READ
- CONDUCTED BYIIM Indore2026 host · expected
- MODEComputer-based3 slots · single day
- DURATION2 hours40 min per section
- FREQUENCYOnce a yearLast Sunday of November
- APPLICATION FEE₹2,600₹1,300 · SC/ST/PwD
- 01234567890123456789days to go29 Nov 2026
READ ON7 MIN READ
SECTIONS3VARC · DILR · QA
QUESTIONS68MCQ + TITA mix
TOTAL MARKS204+3 / -1 MCQ
ASPIRANTS2.95L'25 registrations · 2.58L appeared
IIM SEATS~5,00022 IIMs combined
JUMP STRAIGHT TO
01 OVERVIEW
What CAT actually is.
Background context, in two paragraphs. Skip ahead if you've already taken it before.
CAT is the most widely accepted MBA entrance exam in India, conducted annually by the IIMs on a rotational basis. Scores are accepted by 22 IIMs, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, MDI, and over 100 other top B-schools across the country.
Roughly three lakh candidates appear every year for around five thousand IIM seats — which puts CAT among the most competitive standardised tests in the world. The actual exam is short, the preparation is long, and the application window is where most aspirants quietly fall off.
THE APPLYO FRAMEOne profile, multiple CAT-accepting colleges.
That's what Applyo is built for.
That's what Applyo is built for.
02 TIMELINE
Important dates
— 2026 cycle.
Indicative dates, anchored against the 2025 calendar. Notification confirms the actual schedule.
Last year's notification (CAT 2025)For reference / pattern continuity
27 July 2025
Official notification expectedReleased on iimcat.ac.in
Late Jul 2026
Registration window opensSingle application, no late window
~6 Aug 2026
Registration closesForm, fee, photo, signature, category certificate
~13 Sep 2026
Admit card downloadCentre + session allotted, no reschedule
Early Nov 2026
CAT 2026 exam dateLast Sunday of November · forenoon · afternoon · evening
Sun, 29 Nov 2026
Response sheet + answer keys7-day window for objections
Mid Dec 2026
Results & scorecardSectional and overall percentiles
Early Jan 2027
03 ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility &
exam pattern.
The two questions every aspirant lands on first: am I eligible? and what does the paper look like?
Eligibility · Who can apply
Three conditions. That's it.
- Bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks45% relaxed minimum for SC/ST/PwD candidates · CGPA equivalents accepted
- Final-year students are eligibleProvisional certificate accepted at the time of admission
- No upper age limit, no attempt capCAT may be attempted any number of times across years
SEAT RESERVATION AT IIMSPer Ministry of Education policy. Valid category certificate required at registration.
27%NC-OBC
15%SC
7.5%ST
10%EWS
5%PwD
Exam Pattern · Structure
Three sections. Fixed order. 40 minutes each.
| SECTION | QUES | MARKS | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARCVerbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 24 | 72 | 40 min |
| DILRData Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 22 | 66 | 40 min |
| QAQuantitative Ability | 22 | 66 | 40 min |
| Total | 68 | 204 | 120 min |
Correct+3 marks
Incorrect-1 marks
TITANo negative
Section SwitchNot allowed
Practice this patternCATSprint
04 SYLLABUS
What's actually tested.
Broken down by section, with the topic weights we observed in the last three CAT papers.
VARC
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
Roughly 70% RC, 30% verbal reasoning. Speed and inference, not vocabulary.
Reading Comprehension
~16Q
Para-jumbles
2-3Q
Para-summary
2-3Q
Odd one out
1-2Q
Sentence completion
1-2Q
DILR
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
Set-based. Caselets dominate. The differentiator on most score days.
Data tables & caselets
~8Q
Bar/Pie/Line graphs
~4Q
Seating arrangement
~3Q
Puzzles
~3Q
Set theory
~2Q
QA
Quantitative
Arithmetic-heavy, class-9 to class-11 syllabus. Don't get pulled into advanced math.
Arithmetic
~9Q
Algebra
~5Q
Geometry & Mensuration
~4Q
Number System
~2Q
Modern Math
~2Q
05 APPLICATION
How to apply for CAT 2026.
The official IIM CAT form takes about 35 minutes, end-to-end, if your documents are ready.
01
Register on iimcat.ac.inEmail and phone number. You receive a unique 8-digit registration ID — store it; you'll need it across every login.
02
Fill personal, academic & work details10th, 12th, graduation marks; work experience month-by-month; programme preferences across the 20 IIMs.
03
Upload photograph, signature, certificatesJPEG only · photo 80-300 KB · signature 10-80 KB · category certificate (PDF) if applicable.
04
Pay the application fee₹2,600 (General & NC-OBC) or ₹1,300 (SC/ST/PwD). UPI, net-banking, debit and credit cards accepted.
05
Choose your preferred test citiesUp to six cities in order of preference. Final allotment depends on capacity and is non-negotiable.
06
Download admit card (~2 weeks before exam)Verify your name, photo, exam-centre address, and session timing. Carry a printed copy and a valid ID to the centre.
06 FAQ
Things aspirants
ask us about CAT.
Can't find what you're looking for?
CAT is held once a year. You can attempt it any number of times across years — there's no cap on attempts.
Still have questions?
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