CAT 2026: Notification, Exam Date, Syllabus, CAT Course, Registration, & Preparation Tips

CAT 2026 Exam - Key Highlights

CAT, or Common Admission Test, is a management entrance test conducted by the Indian Institute of Management. Candidates who successfully pass the CAT exam 2026 will be admitted to the top MBA colleges in India. A basic overview of CAT 2026 is given below:

---

CAT Exam Date & Schedule 2026 (Tentative)

Based on the important announcements for previous year CAT exams, we have curated the table below representing the tentative timeline for the CAT 2026 exam dates for your reference. Keep this timeline in mind and kickstart your CAT 2026 preparation at the earliest.

---

CAT 2026 Notification

The CAT 2026 Notification is expected to be released in July 2026, announcing the official exam date and all key details such as the registration window, eligibility criteria, syllabus, exam pattern, and application fee.

Every year, one of the IIMs conducts the CAT exam and releases the official notification with all the important guidelines for aspirants.

---

CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026

To apply for CAT 2026, candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements based on previous year's trends:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree: You need a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university in any discipline.

Minimum Marks

• General and NC-OBC category: At least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• SC, ST, PWD/DA category: The minimum requirement is 45% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• Final Year Students: If you're in the final year of your bachelor's degree or awaiting results, you can also apply for the CAT exam. However, you must complete your graduation with the required percentage by the time of admission.
• Professional Degrees: Professional degrees such as CA, CS, ICWA, or FIAI with the required percentage are also eligible for the CAT exam.

Other Criteria

• There is no upper or lower age limit for appearing in the CAT exam.
• Work Experience is not mandatory for applying for CAT 2026, but is advantageous for IIM admissions.

---

CAT 2026 Registration Process

The CAT registration process 2026 will be conducted online through the official website- iimcat.ac.in. Based on the previous year’s process, here’s what candidates can expect, including the steps, fees, and documents required for registration.

CAT Registration 2026

• When the candidates open the official website, they should select ‘New Candidate Registration.’ They will be required to fill in their basic details.
• After submission, they will receive an OTP to verify their registration.
• After the verification is complete, on the email and mobile number registered, candidates will get a unique ID and password to log in.
• Now the candidates can begin entering the required details in the application form.
• The candidates will also pick the programs of their choice along with the Interview City.
• The candidates are allowed to pick 5 preferred test cities for the CAT exam 2026.

List of Documents Required For CAT 2026 Registration

While filling out the CAT application form 2026, you must also upload the required documents in the given format-

• Photo
• Signature
• NC-OBC/SC/ST certificate
• PwD certificate

Note: Candidates will be required to present their mark sheets and degrees in person.

---

CAT 2026 Application Fee (Tentative)

The application fee for CAT 2025 was revised, and it is expected that this new fee will also apply to CAT 2026. Below are the details for your reference:

Related Questions

---

CAT 2026 Syllabus

The CAT exam doesn’t have an officially defined syllabus, but by analysing previous papers and recent trends, we can identify the key topics that are usually covered. The CAT 2026 syllabus broadly includes three main sections:

• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
• Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

Since there isn't a specific CAT exam syllabus, most students preparing for the exam tend to focus on school-level math and English. Below is a list of important topics for each section.

---

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern

The CAT exam pattern highlights the overall structure, section-wise division, and marking scheme of the exam. While the official format for CAT 2026 will be confirmed later, we can refer to recent years’ patterns to understand what to expect. The CAT exam pattern is given in a tabular format below.

CAT 2026 Marking Scheme 

Similar to the previous year's exam pattern, the CAT 2026 marking scheme for both MCQ and TITA questions is different. Here is an overview of the CAT marking scheme 2026-

• In Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), candidates receive 3 marks for each correct answer, and 1 mark is deducted for every incorrect response.
• In Type in the Answer (TITA) questions, candidates receive 3 marks for each correct answer, while no marks are deducted for writing a wrong answer.
• For questions that are left unattempted, no marks are deducted, and there is no negative marking.

---

CAT 2026 Preparation Tips

MBA is one of the most sought-after master’s degrees, and the 3 lakh+ candidates applying for CAT is a testimony to this statement. So to stay ahead of the competition, candidates must study and strategize effectively.

The most frequent question that comes into the mind of the majority of CAT aspirants is, “How To Start Preparing For CAT?”. Here are some preparation tips to help you score well in CAT 2026:

• Understanding of basics: It's extremely important to have a good grasp of your basics. Strong fundamentals will help you understand the language of the questions better and will assist you in solving them within the limited time frame.
• Create a Study Plan: The motivation to study hard for acing CAT 2026 should come from within. With that motivation, one should create a study plan customized to their routine. Ensure that there is no room for negotiation, and make sure that your weekly goals are attainable.
• Mock Test & Analysis: You can divide your mocks into three parts: topic tests, sectional tests, and full-length mock tests. This approach will create a balance of easy and difficult papers, providing you with a better idea of how well you will perform on the actual exam, as well as helping you improve your speed.
• Previous Year CAT Papers: Solving the previous year’s CAT papers will provide you with valuable insights into the types of questions that may appear on the actual exam and help you gauge the expected level of difficulty.
• Prepare for Non-CAT Exams as Well: It is always good to keep your options open. While CAT should remain the main target, candidates should also consider appearing for non-CAT exams to be on the safe side.

---

Best Books For CAT 2026 Preparation

Selecting the right study material for CAT preparation is significant and critical for top performance. We have curated a CAT section-wise list of books which will help you prepare better.

Related Questions

---

How To Download CAT 2026 Admit Card?

Once the CAT admit card is released, candidates can download it by following the steps given below:

• Step 1: Visit the official CAT website- iimcat.ac.in.
• Step 2: Log in using your CAT User ID and Password.
• Step 3: Click on the Login button.
• Step 4: Go to the Download Admit Card section.
• Step 5: Download and print your CAT Admit Card / Hall Ticket for future reference.

---

CAT 2026 Answer Key

The CAT 2026 answer key, also called the response sheet, is usually released around 8-10 days after the exam. It contains the answers marked by each candidate during the test and helps them estimate their probable score before the official result is declared.

Candidates can log in to the official CAT portal to download their response sheet and question paper. Using the official answer key, they can compare their responses, calculate their approximate scores, and get an early idea of their performance in the exam.

---

CAT 2026 Exam Centres (Expected)

The CAT 2026 exam centres list will be released before the commencement of the exam. Every year, the exam authorities release a fresh list of CAT exam centres. For the academic year 2026-28, the list of CAT exam centres is as follows:

---

CAT 2026 Answer Key

The CAT 2026 answer key is released once the CAT response sheet is released. It comes out around 8-10 days after the exam. It contains the correct answers and helps candidates estimate their probable score before the official result is declared.

Candidates can log in to the official CAT portal to download their response sheet and question paper. Using the official answer key and response sheet, they can compare their responses, calculate their approximate scores, and get an early idea of their performance in the exam.

---

CAT 2026 Results

The CAT 2026 results are expected to be announced in December 2026 on the official CAT website. Once the results and cut-off scores are declared, the IIMs and other top B-schools will begin their shortlisting process for the 2026-28 MBA batch, which includes interviews and further selection rounds.

Unlike other exams, CAT does not have a centralized counseling process. Each IIM conducts its own admission procedure, which may include a Personal Interview (PI), Written Ability Test (WAT), or Group Discussion (GD).

---

IIM CAT 2026 Selection Process

The IIMs will select candidates based on their CAT 2026 scores for the MBA admission batch of 2026. The admission process includes a Written Ability Test (WAT) and a Personal Interview (PI). Below are the stages of the IIM admission process through CAT:

Stage 1: Shortlisting of candidates based on their CAT score

Stage 2: Candidate evaluation in the WAT-GD-PI round

Stage 3: Final selection and offer for MBA/PGDM admission

Note: Most of the B-schools will also consider candidates' marks from Class 10, Class 12, and their undergraduate degree, as well as their work experience, when making selection decisions.

---

CAT 2026 Helpdesk

In case of any discrepancies in your admit card details, contact the CAT exam authorities immediately through the official helpdesk:

• E-mail: cathelpdesk@iimcat.ac.in
• Phone: 1800-2108-720 (Toll-Free)