CAT 2026 Exam Date, Application, Eligibility, Syllabus
CAT 2026– IIM will release the CAT exam notification 2026 in July 2026. Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 will be held in November 2026 in three sessions for admission to various Post Graduate and Fellow programmes of IIMs. Non-IIM member institutions will also accept the CAT 2026 Scores. Eligible candidates will be able to fill and submit the CAT application form at iimcat.ac.in. The last date to submit CAT 2026 registration form will fall in September 2026.
In order to apply for the Common Admission Test 2026, aspirants should possess a Bachelor’s Degree with at least 50% marks. CAT 2026 will be conducted in 150 test cities across the country. Here, we have collaborated some of the sought-after information regarding the Common Admission Test 2026.
Common Admission Test (CAT), the national-level MBA Entrance Exam, is the most renowned among the graduates who want to pursue post-graduation in management courses. Popular Management institutes of India, IIMs (Indian Institute of Management) select suitable candidates as per their performance in the CAT 2026 entrance exam followed by Group Discussion and Interview.
CAT 2026 Exam Summary
| Exam Name | Common Aptitude Test, commonly referred as CAT |
| Exam Conducting Authority | Indian Institute of Management (IIM) |
| Exam Level | All-India Level Examination |
| Exam Mode | Online OR Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Test Type | Post-Graduation Entrance Test |
CAT 2026 Exam Date
IIM will release the CAT exam date 2026 online. Candidates can check the tentative CAT 2026 exam dates in the below table
CAT Exam Date 2026
| Events | Important Dates |
| CAT Notification 2026 Release Date | July 30, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Online Application Start Date | July 30, 2026 |
| Online CAT 2026 Application Process Concluded on | September 2026 |
| Release of CAT Exam Admit Card | October 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Exam Date | November 2026 |
| Declaration of CAT Exam Result | December 2026 |
CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
IIMs may verify eligibility at different stages of selection procedure, hence, it is mandatory to satisfy the below mentioned CAT exam 2026 eligibility norms before filling the online forms.
- As per the eligibility of CAT, Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC/ ST/ PWD/ DA candidates) from a recognized University/ Institutes.
- Candidates appearing for the final year of Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification exam and are awaiting results can also apply.
- Candidates who have completed the professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA) with required percentage can also apply
CAT 2026 Application Form
The application form of CAT 2026 will be released on July 30 tentatively. The link for submitting CAT exam application form will be updated online. The online application form of CAT exam 2026 will be available at iimcat.ac.in 2026. After checking the complete eligibility, candidates can apply for CAT 2026 till September 2026. Candidates are advised to read all the necessary details prior to fill the application. Candidates belonging to the reserve categories should upload a copy of their SC/ST/PwD certificates at the time of registration
CAT 2026 Application Fee
Along with the CAT exam application form, candidates have to remit the application fee. Without the prescribed application fee, no forms will be accepted by the authority. Candidates have to submit the CAT exam fee through online mode such as net banking, credit card or debit card.
- For General & OBC candidates: Rs. 2300/-
- For SC/ST/PWD (DA) candidates: Rs. 1150/-
CAT 2026 Test Centres
Common Admission Test 2026 will be conducted in around 150 test cities. Candidates have to select any four test cities in order of their preference while filling the CAT 2026 application form.
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
- CAT is Computer Based Test (CBT)
- The CAT exam 2026 will be held in English medium only.
- There will be 03 sections i.e. Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning
- Exam paper contains 66 multiple choice questions
- Test duration will be of 40 minutes per section (Total 120 minutes)
- For every correct answer, 03 marks will be awarded and 01 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer
CAT 2026 Syllabus
Refer the below topics to get estimate of CAT Syllabus
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation
- Average
- Number System
- Time & Work
- Percentage
- Mensuration
- Algebra
- Trigonometry
- Permutation Combination
- Geometry
- Quadratic
- Profit and Loss
- Linear Equation
- Probability, etc
- Logical Reasoning and English/Verbal Ability
- Clocks
- Calendars
- Binary logic
- Seating arrangement
- Blood relations
- Logical sequence
- Assumption
- Premise
- Conclusion
- Linear and Matrix Arrangement
Reading Comprehension
- Verbal Reasoning
- Syllogisms
- Analogies
- Antonyms and synonyms
- Fill in the blanks
- Sentence correction
- Idioms, etc.
CAT 2026 Mock Test
IIM will release CAT mock test on the CAT website: www.iimcat.ac.in. CAT exam mock test help candidates to understand the functionality and navigation of the actual exam. The mock test of CAT 2026 link will be available by the end of October 2026.
CAT 2026 Preparation Tips
- Read English Newspaper Daily for cracking the English and General Awareness questions with high score
- Start Solving the Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation questions as early as possible, as it is the toughest section
- Solve sample papers and previous year’s papers to know the examination pattern and difficulty level.
CAT 2026 Admit Card
The CAT admit card will be issued in October 2026. The admit card will be uploaded online on the main website of CAT exam 2026, iimcat.ac.in. Candidates will need their application number to download the admit card of CAT 2026. It is an important document for all the aspirants as without the admit card, candidates won’t be able to enter the examination hall. IIM CAT India 2026 admit card will contain the exam centre, date and timing of exam and some personal details of the candidates such as name and category.
CAT 2026 Result
The exam conducting authority will announce the result of CAT 2026 in the 2nd week of January 2027. The result will be announced in the form of score card that can be downloaded with the help of CAT ID and password. The CAT 2026 result card will contain sectional and overall scores and percentiles. Candidates will not receive any hard copy of the score card at their postal address.
CAT 2026 Scorecard
The scorecard of CAT 2026 will be made available at IIM CAT website. Candidates will also receive SMS regarding the same. CAT 2026 scores are valid only till December 31, 2026. Hence, candidates are advised to keep the CAT scorecard safe.
Programmes Offered
Post Graduate Programmes in Management (PGP)
| Institute | Programmes | Website |
| IIM Ahmedabad | PGP, PGP-FABM, ePGP | http://www.iima.ac.in/ |
| IIM Amritsar | PGP, PGPEM, PGPPM | http://www.iimamritsar.ac.in/ |
| IIM Bangalore | PGP | http://www.iimb.ac.in/ |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | PGP | http://www.iimbg.ac.in/ |
| IIM Calcutta | PGP | http://www.iimcal.ac.in/ |
| IIM Indore | PGP, PGP-HRM | |
| IIM Jammu | PGP | http://www.iimj.ac.in/ |
| IIM Kashipur | PGP, EPGP | http://www.iimkashipur.ac.in/ |
| IIM Kozhikode | PGP, EPGP (IIMK, IIMK Kochi Campus) | http://www.iimk.ac.in/ |
| IIM Lucknow | PGP, PGP-ABM, PGP-SM | http://www.iiml.ac.in/ |
| IIM Nagpur | PGP | http://www.iimnagpur.ac.in/ |
| IIM Raipur | PGP | www.iimraipur.ac.in |
| IIM Ranchi | PGP, PGP-HRM | www.iimranchi.ac.in |
| IIM Rohtak | PGP, EPGP, EPGPX | www.iimrohtak.ac.in |
| IIM Sambalpur | PGP | www.iimsambalpur.ac.in |
| RGIIM Shillong | PGP, PGPEX | www.iimshillong.ac.in |
| IIM Sirmaur | PGP | www.iimsirmaur.ac.in |
| IIM Tiruchirappalli | PGP, PGPBM | www.iimtrichy.ac.in |
| IIM Udaipur | PGP | www.iimu.ac.in |
| IIM Visakhapatnam | PGP | www.iimv.ac.in |
Fellow Programmes in Management (FPM) [equivalent to Ph.D.]
| Institute | Programmes |
| IIM Ahmedabad | FPM |
| IIM Bangalore | FPM |
| IIM Calcutta | FPM |
| IIM Indore | FPM |
| IIM Kashipur | FPM & EFPM |
| IIM Kozhikode | FPM |
| IIM Lucknow | FPM |
| IIM Raipur | FPM & EFPM |
| IIM Ranchi | PhD, EPhD |
| IIM Rohtak | FPM |
| RGIIM Shillong | FPM |
| IIM Tiruchirappalli | FPM |
| IIM Udaipur | PGP |
| IIM Visakhapatnam | FPM |
Contact Address/ Help Desk
CAT Centre
Admissions Office
Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
Diamond Harbour Road, Joka
Kolkata 700104
CAT website: www.iimcat.ac.in
cathelpdesk@iimcat.ac.in
Help Desk Number: 18002108720
Other Important Links
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