CAT Exam
Hey there, future management leader! If you are dreaming of walking the prestigious corridors of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) or top-tier B-schools like FMS, MDI, or SPJIMR, cracking the CAT is your golden ticket.
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is India’s most prestigious and competitive MBA entrance exam. Navigating its deadlines, syllabus, and eligibility criteria can be overwhelming, but don’t worry! In this comprehensive, EEAT-compliant guide, we will answer every single question you have about the CAT exam, focusing heavily on CAT 2026 deadlines, the VARC syllabus, and the exam pattern. Let’s dive in!
1. Understanding the Basics: What is the CAT Exam?
What is CAT exam? The CAT (Common Admission Test) is a national-level computer-bas.ed entrance examination for admission to postgraduate management programs (MBA/PGDM) in India.
What is the full form of CAT? The full form of CAT is the Common Admission Test.
What is CAT exam 2026? CAT 2026 refers to the specific edition of the Common Admission Test that will be conduct.ed in November 2026, serving as the gateway for MBA admissions for the 2027-2029 academic batch.
Who conducts CAT exam? The CAT exam is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis. One IIM acts as the convener each year. For example, IIM Bangalore conducted CAT 2024, and IIM Kozhikode conducted CAT 2025.
Is CAT compulsory for IIM admission? Yes, clearing the CAT is strictly mandatory for admission to all 21 IIMs for their flagship MBA/PGP programs.
Is CAT difficult? Yes, CAT is considered one of the toughest exams in India due to its high competition, tricky questions, and strict sectional time limits. However, with dedicated preparation, it is highly crackable.
How many attempts are allowed in CAT?
How many attempts are allowed in CAT? There is no limit on the number of attempts. You can appear for the CAT exam every year as long as you meet the basic eligibility criteria.
Is there negative marking in CAT? Yes, there is a negative marking of -1 mark for every incorrect Multiple Choice Question (MCQ). However, there is no negative marking for Type-In-The-Answer (TITA) questions. You are award.ed +3 marks for every correct answer.
Is CAT conduct.ed online or offline? CAT is conduct.ed entirely online. It is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) where candidates visit designated exam centers to take the test on a computer provided by the authorities.
Can final-year students apply for CAT? Yes, final-year students graduating in 2027 are fully eligible to apply provisionally.
Is work experience requir.ed for CAT? No, work experience is not mandatory to apply for or take the CAT exam. Freshers can apply. However, having work experience (usually 1 to 3 years) is given extra weightage by top IIMs during the final selection process.
2. CAT Exam Deadlines 2026: The Complete Timeline
Missing a CAT deadline can cost you an entire academic year. The registration usually opens in August and closes in September. Here is a detailed table of the expected CAT 2026 deadlines:
| Event | Expected Timeline for CAT 2026 |
|---|---|
| CAT 2026 Notification Release | Last week of July 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Registration Start Date | First week of August 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Registration Last Date | Third week of September 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Form Correction Date | Last week of September 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | Last week of October 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Exam Date | Last Sunday of November 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Answer Key Date | First week of December 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Objection Window Date | Second week of December 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Results Announced | First week of January 2027 |
Deep Dive into CAT Deadlines & Registration
What is the CAT 2026 exam date? CAT 2026 is expect.ed to be held on the last Sunday of November 2026 (e.g., November 29, 2026).
When will CAT 2026 registration start? Registration is expect.ed to open in the first week of August 2026.
What is the CAT 2026 registration last date? The last date to apply is expect.ed to be in the third week of September 2026 (e.g., September 20, 2026).
What is the last date to apply for CAT 2026? The last date to apply is the same as the registration last date—mid-to-late September 2026.
What is the CAT 2026 application deadline? The application deadline is strictly enforc.ed. The portal shuts down completely on the announced last date.
When will CAT 2026 admit cards be releas.ed? Admit cards are typically released in the last week of October 2026.
When will CAT 2026 results be announced?
When will CAT 2026 results be announc.ed? Results are expect.ed in the first week of January 2027.
What is the CAT 2026 answer key date? The provisional answer key is usually releas.ed within a week of the exam, in the first week of December 2026.
What is the CAT 2026 objection window date? Candidates can challenge the answer key by paying a fee (usually ₹1,200 per question) during the objection window, which opens in the second week of December 2026 for 2-3 days.
What is the CAT 2026 form correction date? The form correction window opens for 2-3 days immediately after the registration portal closes (usually the last week of September). You can edit your photograph, signature, and test city preferences.
What are CAT 2026 exam slot timings? CAT is conduct.ed in three slots on exam day:
- Slot 1: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
- Slot 2: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
- Slot 3: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Can CAT 2026 registration be extend.ed? The IIMs rarely extend the CAT registration deadline. However, in case of major server issues, they might extend it by 1-2 days. Always check the official iimcat.ac.in website.
Can I apply for CAT after the deadline? No. Once the portal closes, you cannot apply for CAT 2026. You must wait for CAT 2027.
Is CAT 2026 registration open now? If you are reading this in mid-2026, keep checking the official website. It opens in August.
3. CAT Eligibility Criteria
What is the CAT eligibility criteria? You need a recognized Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks (45% for reserved categories).
What percentage is requir.ed for CAT? General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates need a minimum of 50% aggregate marks (or equivalent CGPA) in their bachelor’s degree.
What is CAT eligibility for SC candidates? For SC, ST, and PwD candidates, the minimum requirement is relax.ed to 45% aggregate marks.
Can final-year students apply for CAT? Yes, final-year graduation students are eligible to apply provisionally.
Can students from any stream apply for CAT? Yes, students from any stream (Science, Commerce, Arts, Engineering, Law) can apply.
Is graduation compulsory for CAT? Yes, holding a recognized Bachelor’s degree is absolutely mandatory.
Is work experience mandatory for CAT? No, freshers can apply. Work experience is only given weightage during the final PI round, not for taking the exam.
4. CAT Registration Process
How can I register for CAT? Visit iimcat.ac.in, create a new user account, fill in your details, select IIMs, pay the fee, and download the confirmation.
How can I fill the CAT application form? Log in with your credentials, fill in your personal, academic, and work experience details, and select your preferred 6 test cities.
What documents are requir.ed for CAT registration? You need your 10th, 12th, and graduation marksheets, a passport-size photo, your signature, and a valid photo ID (Aadhaar/PAN). Category certificates are requir.ed for reserv.ed quotas.
What is the CAT application fee? The fee is approximately ₹2,400 for General/OBC and ₹1,200 for SC/ST/PwD.
How can I upload a photo and signature in the CAT form? You must scan them as per the exact dimensions (photo: 30mm x 45mm, signature: 80mm x 35mm) and upload them in JPEG/JPG format.
How can I choose CAT exam centres? During the application process, you can select up to 6 preferred test cities. The authorities will allot you one center based on availability.
5. CAT Exam Pattern 2026
What is the CAT exam pattern 2026? The exam consists of 66 questions divided into 3 sections, to be solv.ed in 120 minutes.
How many questions are ask.ed in CAT? Approximately 66 questions (this can vary slightly, e.g., 66 to 68).
How many sections are there in CAT? There are 3 sections: VARC, DILR, and QA.
What is the CAT exam duration? The total duration is 120 minutes (2 hours).
What is the CAT sectional time limit? Each section has a strict 40-minute time limit. You cannot switch between sections.
What is the CAT marking scheme? +3 marks for every correct answer, -1 mark for every incorrect MCQ, and 0 marks for incorrect or unattempted TITA questions.
6. Deep Dive: CAT VARC Syllabus & Question Types
The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section is the first section you will face in the CAT exam. It usually consists of 24 questions. Let’s break down the syllabus and question types.
What is the CAT VARC syllabus? The VARC syllabus is broadly divid.ed into Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability.
What are the important CAT VARC topics? The most important topics are Reading Comprehension, Para-jumbles, Para-summary, Odd-one-out, and Sentence Completion.
What are CAT Reading Comprehension questions? RC questions test your ability to read a passage (usually 400-600 words) and answer questions based on its main idea, tone, inferences, and factual details. Passages are from diverse topics like philosophy, history, science, economics, and sociology.
How many Reading Comprehension questions are ask.ed in CAT? RC makes up the bulk of the VARC section. Out of 24 questions, typically 16 to 18 questions are from Reading Comprehension (usually 4 passages of 4 questions each).
What are CAT para-jumble questions? You are given 4 to 5 jumbl.ed sentences. You must arrange them in a logical, coherent sequence to form a meaningful paragraph. In CAT, these are usually TITA questions (no options provided).
What are CAT para-summary questions? You are given a short paragraph (100-150 words) and must choose the option that best summarizes the paragraph without introducing entirely new, unrelat.ed information.
What are CAT sentence completion questions? These questions provide a paragraph with the last sentence missing. You must choose the option that best concludes or completes the paragraph logically.
7. Cutoffs, Percentiles, and College Acceptance
What is the CAT cutoff? The cutoff is the minimum percentile requir.ed to be shortlisted for the next round (GD/PI/WAT). It varies by IIM and category.
What is a good CAT percentile? A percentile of 95+ is consider.ed good for general category students, opening doors to new and baby IIMs. For the top IIMs (BLACKI), a 99+ percentile is generally requir.ed.
Which colleges accept CAT scores? All 21 IIMs, IITs (IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, etc.), FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai, and over 1,200 private B-schools accept CAT scores.
What happens after CAT results? After CAT results are declar.ed, IIMs shortlist candidates for Group Discussions (GD), Written Ability Tests (WAT), and Personal Interviews (PI). Final selection is based on the composite score of CAT, academics, work experience, and PI.
Conclusion
Navigating the CAT exam deadlines and syllabus requires meticulous planning. Now that you have the complete breakdown of CAT 2026, you can create a solid study plan. Start early, clear your basics, take regular mock tests, and focus heavily on time management. With consistent effort, you can easily secure a 95+ percentile and gain admission to your dream B-school. Best of luck on your journey to becoming a future management leader!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The CAT 2026 registration last date is expect.ed to be in the third week of September 2026 (e.g., September 20, 2026).
Yes, there is a negative marking of -1 for every incorrect Multiple Choice Question (MCQ). There is no negative marking for Type-In-The-Answer (TITA) questions.
CAT 2026 is expect.ed to be held on the last Sunday of November 2026 (e.g., November 29, 2026).
Yes, final-year graduation students are eligible to apply for CAT provisionally. They must submit their final passing certificate before the MBA program commences.
Para-jumble questions give you 4 to 5 jumbled sentences that you must arrange logically to form a coherent paragraph. In CAT, these are usually TITA questions without options.
