CAT

Overview

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level, computer-based management entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotating basis; IIM Indore was the conducting institute for the 2026 cycle. CAT scores are used by all IIMs and over a thousand other management institutes across India for admission to MBA and related postgraduate programmes.

Who can apply

Candidates need a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC, ST and PwD candidates), or an equivalent CGPA, from a recognised university. Candidates in the final year of graduation can also apply, provided they complete their degree requirements within the timeline set by the admitting institute. Holders of professional qualifications such as CA, CS, CMA or ICWAI are equally eligible. There is no age limit and no cap on the number of attempts.

Exam pattern

CAT 2026 has three sections, each with a fixed 40-minute time limit; candidates cannot move between sections early or return to a completed section.

The paper mixes multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and Type-In-The-Answer (TITA) questions. Each correct answer earns 3 marks; each wrong MCQ answer loses 1 mark. There is no negative marking for wrong TITA answers, and unattempted questions are not penalised.

Syllabus

CAT does not have a fixed syllabus. VARC tests reading comprehension and verbal reasoning, DILR tests data interpretation and logical reasoning, and QA tests school-level mathematics (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number systems) applied to problem-solving under time pressure.

Marking and results

Marks earned across the three sections are normalised to account for differences between the three exam slots on the day, and the normalised score is converted to a percentile. The overall percentile, along with sectional percentiles, is used by institutes for shortlisting.

Important dates

For the 2026 cycle, the notification was released on 26 July 2026, registration opened on 3 August 2026 and closed (after an extension) on 22 September 2026, the exam was held on 29 November 2026 in three shifts, the admit card was released on 4 November 2026, and the result is expected in the first week of January 2027.

Fees

For the 2026 cycle, the application fee was ₹2,700 for general category candidates and ₹1,350 for SC, ST and PwD candidates. The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

How to apply

Registration is done online at iimcat.ac.in, where candidates fill in personal, academic and programme-preference details, upload photograph and signature, and pay the application fee to complete the process.

After the exam

Each IIM sets its own shortlisting criteria for the next stage — typically a Written Ability Test (WAT) and/or Personal Interview (PI), sometimes combined with a Group Discussion — based on CAT percentile, sectional scores, academic record, work experience and other profile factors. WAT and PI rounds are generally held between February and April. Final admission offers combine CAT score, academic performance, WAT/PI performance and other weighted factors, with each IIM applying its own formula.

Preparation tips

Because each section has an independent 40-minute limit, practising full-length mock tests under strict sectional timing is more useful than practising sections in isolation. Building reading speed for VARC, calculation speed for QA, and structured approaches to DILR sets under time pressure are the main areas that separate high percentile scores from average ones.