CAT 2026: Exam Date, Syllabus, Pattern, Registration, Eligibility, Preparation Tips

Conducted by one of the top IIMs every year by rotation, Common Admission Test is the largest MBA entrance exam for MBA admission in 21 IIMs and other top B-schools. So, it is the mandatory entrance exam for MBA admission 2026 in all the 21 IIMs, FMS Delhi, IIFT Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi and hundreds of other top B-schools in India. Around 2.58 lakh candidates appeared in the CAT 2026 exam out of 2.95 lakh registered candidates. Total number of candidates who registered for CAT 2024 exam was 3.29 lakhs and total number of candidates who appeared in the exam was 2.93 lakhs only. Salient Points about the CAT Exam are:

• CAT is a computer-based test conducted at more than 150+ test cities and 400+ test venues
• CAT exam duration is two hours. Time allotted for three sections is 40 minutes each.
• CAT exam pattern is divided into 68 questions covering three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension; Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability

CAT 2026 will be conducted by IIM Indore. Check complete details about CAT exam 2026 in table below.

Going by past years’ trends, CAT 2026 exam date is November 29, 2026. Expected CAT 2026 dates for registration, admit card and result release and other events are given below:

CAT IIM convener is one of the six older IIMs by rotation. Knowing the CAT 2026 Conducting Body is important because it sets exam pattern-difficulty level, and communicates with all stakeholders including students and media. Given that other five top IIMs have conducted CAT in last five years, IIM Indore is expected to be the CAT 2026 convenor. Check CAT convenors for past exams in table below.

Below are the important points regarding CAT 2026 eligibility criteria:

• A candidate with minimum 50% marks in graduation is eligible
• A final year student in graduation is also eligible
• There is no age limit to apply and appear in the exam
• Note that IIMs have different eligibility criteria for MBA Admissions

CAT registration 2026 process will open on August 1, 2026. CAT registration fees 2026 is Rs 2,600 for General/EWS/NC-OBC candidates and Rs 1,300 for SC/ST/PwD categories. How to fill CAT Application Form 2026? CAT registration 2026 process can be completed by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Register for User ID and Password 
Visit the CAT official website iimcat.ac.in and register for getting your User ID and password. 

Step 2: Login to CAT Website
After receiving your User ID and password, login to CAT website and enter the same to login to your account.

Step 3: Complete CAT Form Filling Process
How to fill CAT Exam Form? CAT Application Form filling can be completed by filling these details:  

1. PERSONAL DETAILS
2. ACADEMICS
3. WORK EXPERIENCE
4. PROGRAMMES
5. TEST CITY
6. DECLARATION  

List of Documents Required for CAT Registration

• Valid email address & mobile number for entire exam duration
• Passport size photograph (within 1200 x 1200 pixels, < 80 KB)
• Scanned signature (within 80mm x 35mm, < 80 KB)
• Educational qualification details (SSC, HSC, Bachelor's, Master's, etc.)
• Valid EWS/NC-OBC/SC/ST certificate (if applicable)
• Valid PwD certificate (if applicable)
• Caste/Tribe certificate (for reserved category candidates)
• Additional documents as per the selected category, if applicable

Read Guide to CAT 2026 Registration Process. 

CAT 2026 exam scores will be accepted by 21 IIMs for more than 50 general and specialized MBA programs. Check list of IIMs accepting CAT scores with their Post Graduate Programmes in Management (PGP) programs and website in table below. Please note that Admission process for each IIM is independent of CAT exam. While performance in the CAT 2025 examination is an important component for consideration in IIM admission process, each IIM has their own eligibility criteria including academic cut-offs and relative weights and follow different selection processes. 

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern is divided in three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. Each section can be further divided into sub-sections. Overall, CAT exam pattern has become more focused on conceptual clarity, time management, and logical reasoning ability. Over the last five years, the CAT pattern has undergone several notable changes in its pattern, as highlighted below.

1. Total Number of Questions:

• In 2019 and 2020, CAT had 100 questions (VARC: 34, DILR: 32, QA: 34).
• From 2021 onwards, the number of questions was reduced to 66 (VARC: 24, DILR: 20, QA: 22), making the test shorter but more intense. This pattern continued till CAT 2023.
• Total number of questions in CAT 2024 and 2025 exam were increased to 68.

2. Time Duration:

• Until 2019, CAT had a 3-hour duration (60 minutes per section).
• From 2020 onwards, the exam duration was reduced to 2 hours, with 40 minutes per section, which increased the pressure on time management.

3. Sectional Pattern & Difficulty Level:

• VARC section has seen a greater emphasis on Reading Comprehension, with fewer Verbal Ability questions.
• DILR Section has become more reasoning-focused, with tougher logic-based sets and fewer straightforward data interpretation questions.
• QA Section has shifted slightly towards Arithmetic, making it more accessible for non-engineering background candidates.

4. Question Types – MCQ vs. TITA:

• The TITA (Type in the Answer) questions have fluctuated but generally make up 25-30% of the total paper. Check break-up of CAT 2025 in the following section.
• The number of MCQs has reduced, making the paper more unpredictable, as TITA questions do not have negative marking.

5. Slot-wise Variations & Normalization:

• Since CAT is conducted in multiple slots, the level of difficulty has varied across different slots, requiring score normalization to ensure fairness in percentile calculations.

CAT Exam Pattern 2026 
CAT 2026 exam pattern is divided in three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude. Check expected breakup in table below. 

The CAT exam pattern is divided into three sections, each of which can be further categorized into sub-sections. Since the exam is conducted in three different slots, there are minor variations in the exam pattern within the sections across slots. Check CAT Section wise composition for Slot 1 of CAT 2025 exam. 

• CAT 2025 exam syllabus covers three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). While IIMs do not release a fixed syllabus, the CAT exam syllabus can be derived from CAT exam pattern.
   
• The VARC section includes Reading Comprehension (RC), Paragraph Completion, Summary Writing, and Odd Sentence questions, testing candidates on their reading speed, comprehension, and verbal reasoning. The DILR section assesses analytical and problem-solving skills through data-based caselets, logical puzzles, seating arrangements, tournaments, and graphs/charts-based interpretation.
   
• The Quantitative Ability (QA) section focuses on mathematical concepts, with questions from Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Modern Math, and Number Systems. Arithmetic topics such as Percentages, Ratios, Profit & Loss, and Time & Work form a significant portion of the QA section. Algebra includes Linear & Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, and Logarithms, while Geometry covers Circles, Triangles, and Mensuration. Modern Math topics like Permutation & Combination and Probability also appear in the exam. Check complete details in tables below.

Read more about CAT 2026 Syllabus for different sections.

Preparing for CAT requires a logical and phase wise approach. Follow this CAT 9 month Preparation Plan that is divided into four stages: building fundamentals, strengthening performance, optimizing strategy, and stabilizing execution before the exam.

Phase 1: Building Foundation (Months 1–3)

This phase focuses on building conceptual clarity and study discipline. The objective is to strengthen fundamentals across all three sections before introducing serious mock pressure. Key focus areas during this phase are:

• Understand CAT pattern, sectional timing, and scoring.
• Complete Arithmetic (Percentages, Ratio, Averages, Profit & Loss).
• Start Algebra basics and Number System.
• Read 1–2 RC passages daily.
• Solve 2 basic LRDI sets daily.
• Maintain an error log notebook.
• Take 2-3 diagnostic full mocks by Month 3.
• Begin sectional tests, moving from untimed to timed tests.

Phase 2: Strength Building (Months 4–6)

This phase transitions from learning to performance improvement. Speed, question selection, and timed practice become central. Key focus areas during this phase are:

• Complete Algebra, Geometry, and Modern Maths.
• Increase LRDI practice to 3 timed sets daily.
• Practice 3–4 RCs weekly under time constraints.
• Start full-length mocks (1 per week initially).
• Spend at least twice the mock test time on analysis.
• Identify weak topics and recurring mistakes.
• Develop basic attempt strategy for each section.

Phase 3: Performance Optimization (Months 7–8)

The goal here is percentile improvement. Strategy refinement, consistency, and high-level mock performance define this phase. Key focus areas during this phase are:

• Take 2 full-length mocks per week.
• Improve DILR set selection speed.
• Refine VARC elimination techniques.
• Moe to QA accuracy toward 85%+.
• Strengthen weak subtopics only (avoid overlearning).
• Track attempt accuracy and time allocation.
• Simulate real exam slot timing.

Phase 4: Final Consolidation (Month 9)

This is the final stability phase. You should not attempt to learn new concepts and focus only on refinement, revision, and mental conditioning. Main focus areas during this phase are:

• 2–3 Mocks weekly. Do not take any Mock in Last Week
• Revise formulas, shortcuts, and key concepts.
• Review error log thoroughly.
• Focus on sectional cut-off safety.
• Maintain sleep cycle and exam-day rhythm.
• Avoid burnout and unnecessary new material.

Along with above prep tips, also read useful CAT preparation strategies and tips, shared by CAT toppers with MBAUniverse.com. 

CAT 2024 Topper Srishti Vazirani, who scored 99 Percentile, shared following last minute CAT preparation tips

• In terms of my test-taking strategy, I had finalized my approach by early November after several mock analyses and strictly followed it on exam day. My focus was on smart question selection and maintaining composure throughout. Earlier, I had a tendency to get stuck on tough questions especially in QA and waste 7–8 minutes trying to solve them out of ego. To fix this, I started scanning the entire section first, marking the easy ones, and then moving on to the more difficult questions. This approach helped me manage time better and stay composed during the test.
• I stopped studying two days before the exam and take things light and that’s something I consciously followed.

Read more CAT Toppers Interviews on MBAUniverse.com 

Toppers recommend that taking CAT 2026 Mock Tests is of utmost importance as it is a very important preparation tool. If you are seriously preparing for the exam and wish to score high percentile, it is necessary to attempt more and more Mock Tests to get ready for the exam day. If you are looking for free high quality CAT Mock Tests, check MBAUniverse.com CAT Mock Tests. They are based on last 10 Years’ actual CAT papers (based on CAT 2024, CAT 2023, CAT 2022, CAT 2021 and other previous year’s CAT paper). You can take them free online after a simple registration. 

CAT Previous Year Papers 
CAT Previous Year Question papers are also very important CAT preparation tools. IIM release CAT question papers every year since 2017. CAT previous papers are of great help and serve as CAT preparation guide. MBAUniverse.com has prepared series of CAT Previous Year Question Papers with Solutions. Download a few CAT Previous Year Paper pdf from the links below. Visit CAT previous years papers for last 10 years papers.

Should I enroll for CAT 2026 coaching? This is a common question in the minds of CAT aspirants. If you decide for coaching, selecting the right CAT coaching institute is an important step. Check key details to help you decide.

a) Top National CAT Coaching Institutes
Top three CAT coaching institutes with national presence are TIME, IMS and Career Launcher. They offer both offline and online CAT coaching course with fees ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 75,000. TIME is known for tough Mocks. Career Launcher Mock Tests was appreciated by CAT toppers. IMS Learning has strong online courses.

b) Top Online CAT Coaching Institutes 
Cracku has emerged as a strong alternative to traditional coaching institutes like TIME and IMS. Similarly, many YouTube channels like Rodhas are also popular.

c) Top Regional CAT Coaching Institutes
Many coaching institutes have strong presence in some cities or states like MBA Guru in Delhi NCR.

d)  Specialized Verbal or Quantitative Coaching Institutes

The cost of CAT coaching varies based on the mode and institute:

• Online Programs: Generally, range from Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000.
• Offline Programs: Typically range from Rs 25,000 to Rs 75,000.

Selecting the Right Institute
When choosing a coaching institute, consider the following:

• Student Feedback: Look for reviews from former students who have taken CAT recently. Also check CAT Toppers interview where they reveal their coaching institutes.
• Faculty Expertise: Research the qualifications and experience of the teaching staff.
• Study Material: Ensure the institute provides comprehensive and up-to-date materials.
• Mock Tests and Analysis: Regular testing and performance analysis are crucial for tracking progress.

Read this article on CAT coaching for complete details. 

Over the years, the number of CAT exam registrations has seen a fluctuating trend, with a significant increase in last two years. The number of candidates who took CAT 2025 exam dropped. Check CAT exam registration trends for last 20 years in the table below. 

CAT 2025 will be held on November 19, 2026 at more than 300 test centres in 170 cities in India. CAT 2025 was held on November 30, 2025 at 339 test centres in 170 cities in India. Last year, for CAT 2024, the number of CAT test cities were increased to 170 from 160 last year. The choice of CAT 2024 Test Cities was reduced to 5 from earlier 6 cities. Check List of CAT Exam Test Cities

The CAT 2026 Admit Card is the official hall ticket issued by the IIM conducting CAT and is a mandatory document to appear in the exam. CAT admit card also contains details such as the candidate’s name, registration number, category, photograph, signature, exam date, time slot, reporting time, and exam centre address. CAT Exam Admit Card 2026 is expected to be released on November 11, 2026. Candidates can download it by logging in with their registered user ID and password. To access it, visit iimcat.ac.in, click the “Login” tab, enter your credentials, and go to the “Admit Card” section. Download the file and take multiple printouts. On exam day, carry the admit card along with a valid photo ID to the test centre. Read complete details on how to download CAT 2026 admit card.

CAT 2026 Result Release Date is December 21, 2026 (Expected). This expected date is based on past trends and recent updates on CAT exam. CAT results will be released on CAT official website iimcat.ac.in. Check how to download CAT 2025 result scorecard.

Apart from IIMs, some of the prominent MBA colleges excluding IIMs which will accept CAT 2026 score for MBA admission are given in table below. 

Top MBA Colleges accepting CAT 2026 Scores