The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 will be held on Sunday, 29 November 2026. CAT is the entrance test for MBA and PGP programmes at all 22 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and many other B-schools. IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2026, with Prof. Aditya Billore as Convener. This page covers the CAT 2026 dates, eligibility, fee, exam pattern, and how to download your scorecard.
Latest update (25 September 2026): CAT 2026 registration closed on 22 September 2026 at 5:00 PM. The IIMs extended the fee payment window until 24 September 2026 at 5:00 PM, but only for candidates who had registered by 22 September. The registration deadline was not extended again.
Next step: the admit card can be downloaded from 4 November 2026.
CAT 2026 important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Official notification (press release and information bulletin) | 26 July 2026 |
| Registration opens | 3 August 2026 (Monday), 10:00 AM |
| Registration closes (extended from 15 September) | 22 September 2026 (Tuesday), 5:00 PM |
| Fee payment window closes (only for those registered by 22 September) | 24 September 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Application edit window (photo, signature and test city preferences only) | A short window after registration closes – check the CAT website |
| Admit card download | 4 November 2026 to 29 November 2026 |
| CAT 2026 exam | 29 November 2026 (Sunday), in three sessions |
| Result | Likely by the first week of January 2027 |
| Score validity | Until 31 December 2027 |
Important links
- Official CAT website: iimcat.ac.in
- Registered candidate login (admit card, application): CAT 2026 login
- CAT 2025 scorecard login: Download CAT 2025 scorecard
- CAT 2026 Information Bulletin (PDF)
- CAT 2026 Eligibility (PDF)
- CAT 2026 Press Release, 26 July 2026 (PDF)
- Media Release – fee payment extension, 22 September 2026 (PDF)
Eligibility
- A Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST and PwBD candidates), from a university recognised in India, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Ministry of Education.
- A professional degree (CA, CS, ICWA/CMA, or Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India) with the required percentage is also accepted.
- Final-year students and those awaiting results can apply. If selected, they join provisionally and must submit a completion certificate from their university by the date set by the IIM.
Reservation: 15% seats for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for NC-OBC, up to 10% for EWS and 5% for PwBD candidates. NC-OBC certificates must be issued on or after 1 April 2026, and EWS certificates must be valid for 2026–27.
Registration fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| SC, ST and PwBD | ₹1,350 |
| All other candidates | ₹2,700 |
The fee is paid once, however many IIMs you apply to. It is not refundable.
CAT 2026 exam pattern
| Section | Time |
|---|---|
| Section I – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 40 minutes |
| Section II – Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 40 minutes |
| Section III – Quantitative Ability (QA) | 40 minutes |
| Total | 120 minutes |
- CAT is a computer-based test held in three sessions on the same day.
- Each section has exactly 40 minutes, and you cannot switch between sections.
- A mock test is available on the CAT website to help you get used to the exam screen.
Test cities
CAT 2026 will be held in about 170 cities across India. Candidates chose five preferred cities while registering. Once a test centre is allotted, it cannot be changed. The name of your test centre will be printed on your admit card.
How to download the CAT scorecard
- Go to iimcat.ac.in when the results are announced (likely by the first week of January 2027).
- Log in with your CAT user ID and password.
- Download the scorecard PDF. It shows your scaled score and percentile for each section and overall. Candidates may also get an SMS.
- Save a copy. The CAT 2026 score stays valid until 31 December 2027.
Looking for last year’s score? CAT 2025 candidates can still log in to the CAT 2025 scorecard page.
What happens after the result
Each IIM sets its own shortlisting criteria. Besides the CAT percentile, IIMs look at Class 10 and 12 marks, graduation marks, work experience and diversity factors. Shortlisted candidates are called for a Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD) and/or Personal Interview (PI). Many non-IIM institutes also use CAT scores; IIMs have no role in their selection process.
Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
All 22 IIMs admit students through CAT. Visit each IIM’s website for its programmes and admission policy:
Ahmedabad · Amritsar · Bangalore · Bodh Gaya · Calcutta · Guwahati · Indore · Jammu · Kashipur · Kozhikode · Lucknow · Mumbai · Nagpur · Raipur · Ranchi · Rohtak · Sambalpur · Shillong · Sirmaur · Tiruchirappalli · Udaipur · Visakhapatnam
IIM Sambalpur is the IIM in Odisha. Through CAT 2026 it offers the MBA, MBA (Business Analytics) and MBA for Working Professionals.
CAT helpdesk
Helpline: 1800 210 0175 · Email: cat2026_helpdesk@iimidr.ac.in
Beware of fake websites: https://iimcat.ac.in is the only official website for CAT 2026. Do not share personal details or make payments on any other site.
Preparing for CAT
With about two months left before 29 November, focus on full-length mock tests and review every mock carefully. The Quant, Reasoning and English skills needed for CAT overlap with Banking PO exams. Use our Quant, Reasoning and English pages, and read an editorial every day for Reading Comprehension. Our Banking package also covers CAT, XAT and MAT aptitude.
Source: official CAT 2026 website, iimcat.ac.in (press release dated 26 July 2026, information bulletin, and media releases dated 15 and 22 September 2026). Dates can change; always confirm on the official website.