CAT

The CAT 2026 Notification will confirm all key details including the CAT 2026 exam date, registration start and last date, registration fees, eligibility criteria, exam pattern and duration, list of participating IIMs and their programmes, test cities and choice options, and the official CAT website for registration.

CAT 2026 Notification is expected to be released on Sunday, July 26, 2026 — following the established pattern of IIMs releasing the CAT notification on the last Sunday of July every year. It will be published simultaneously on the official CAT website iimcat.ac.in and as advertisements in major national newspapers including The Hindu and Times of India.

Yes. Many CAT toppers have cracked CAT without formal coaching by following a structured self-study plan using books like Arun Sharma's QA and VARC series, Nishit K. Sinha's DILR book, and free resources like YouTube channels (Rodha, 2IIM, Cracku). The key requirements for self-preparation are: a clear day-wise study schedule, regular mock tests, thorough error analysis, and daily reading from The Hindu, Business Standard, and Aeon Essays for VARC practice. Take Free CAT mock tests available on MBAUniverse.com.

Scoring 99 percentile in CAT 2026 requires a structured 6–9 month plan covering three pillars: concept clarity, mock test discipline, and a personalised test-taking strategy. Start with high-weightage topics: Arithmetic and Algebra in QA, RC passages in VARC, and arrangement-based sets in DILR. Follow a month-wise schedule: concept building from March to May, speed practice in June–July, intensive mocks in August–September, and final revision in October–November. Take mocks regularly but analyse every mock as seriously! At 99 percentile, the difference is rarely knowledge. Instead, accuracy, composure, and smart set selection under time pressure makes all the difference.

Ideally, CAT 2026 preparation should begin 6–9 months before the exam. The recommended month-wise plan is: March–May for building fundamentals, June–July for practice and speed, August–September for intensive mocks, October–mid-November for final revision, and the last two weeks for light revision and mental preparation.

CAT is consistently one of India's most competitive management entrance exams. Difficulty varies across slots and years, but the overall challenge comes from strict time pressure (68 questions in 120 minutes), unpredictable question patterns, and intense competition. Approximately 3 lakh candidates competing for around 11,000 IIM seats. With structured preparation of 6–9 months covering VARC, DILR, and QA, aspirants can significantly improve their chances of scoring 95+ percentile.

The most recommended books for CAT Verbal Ability preparation are: How to Prepare for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension for CAT by Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay (12th Edition, 2025), Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT by Nishit K. Sinha (Pearson), and High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin.

No. TITA (Type In The Answer) questions in CAT Verbal Ability carry no negative marking. This makes them strategically important. Aspirants should attempt all TITA questions, including Para Jumbles and Odd One Out, even if they are not sure.