CAT Exam Date 2026: All Important Dates from Exam to Result
CAT Exam Dates always play a crucial role in the entire entrance exam process. Staying updated with all official dates of CAT exam 2026 can help decide the performance of the students. If the idea of appearing in the CAT exam excites you, preparing for it can be even more thrilling. As the date of the exam has been announced by the IIM, it is the right time to get ready for the entrance exam. This year CAT is going to be held on November 29, 2026 (Sunday) by the IIM Indore. The registration process has also started from August 3, 2026 until September 15, 2026.
It is worth noting that preparing for the CAT exam is not just about late-night studying; it is also about being familiar with all the important dates and timelines. As missing a deadline can cost an entire year, we have put together the entire CAT exam timelines with tentative dates. So, scroll down.
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CAT Exam Date for MBA 2026 - All Important Dates and Main Highlights
IIM Indore will be conducting the CAT 2026 in CBT mode across three shifts in more than 160 cities. For first-time applicants, the CAT exam can be a source of anxiety, especially when the date of the exam is very close. But you don’t need to worry because by knowing and understanding all important dates, timelines, and main highlights, you can perform 5 times better in the CAT exam. With this in mind, we have put together the sequence of all important events along with their dates for your references. While some of the following dates are tentative, they are on the basis of trusted sources and past patterns of the examination.
|
CAT 2026 Event |
Important Date |
Main Highlights |
|
CAT 2026 Notification Release |
25 July 2026 |
Official notification released by IIM Indore with complete exam schedule, eligibility, exam pattern, and registration details. |
|
CAT 2026 Registration Starts |
3 August 2026 (10:00 AM) |
Online application process begins at the official CAT website. Candidates must complete registration and submit the application fee online. |
|
Last Date to Apply |
15 September 2026 (5:00 PM) |
Final date to submit the CAT application form. No applications are accepted after the deadline. |
|
CAT 2026 Application Correction |
As notified by the conducting authority |
Candidates may be allowed to edit limited details if a correction window is announced. |
|
CAT 2026 Admit Card Release |
4 November 2026 |
Registered candidates can download their admit cards using their login credentials. |
|
CAT 2026 Exam Date |
29 November 2026 (Sunday) |
Computer-Based Test (CBT) to be conducted in three sessions across 170+ cities in India. |
|
CAT 2026 Answer Key |
First Week of December 2026 (Expected) |
Provisional answer key and response sheet are expected to be released for objection submission. |
|
CAT 2026 Result |
Second/Third Week of December 2026 (Expected) |
Scorecards will be available online and accepted by IIMs and over 1,300 MBA colleges across India. |
|
IIM Shortlisting Process |
January–March 2027 |
Qualified candidates are shortlisted by individual IIMs based on CAT score, academics, work experience, and profile. |
|
WAT, GD & PI Rounds |
February–April 2027 |
Shortlisted candidates participate in the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (where applicable), and Personal Interview. |
|
Final Admission Offers |
April–May 2027 |
Final MBA admission offers are released by participating IIMs and other B-schools based on the final selection criteria. |
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CAT 2026 Exam Fee - Application and Registration Fee
Appearing in the CAT exam requires a fixed registration fee, which ranges between 1300 INR and 2600 INR, depending upon the unreserved/reserved category. With the official announcement of the CAT 2026 registration, everything about the fee, rescheduling, and cancellation charges will be cleared. Meanwhile, here below are the most expected details about the CAT exam fee 2026.
|
Fee Type |
Amount (Expected 2026) |
Applicable For |
Key Details |
|
Registration Fee (General / EWS / NC-OBC) |
₹2,700
|
General category candidates |
Applicable to candidates in the General category. The fee is non-refundable and must be paid online. |
|
Registration Fee (SC / ST / PwD) |
₹1,350 |
Reserved categories |
Concessional application fee for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), candidates, Persons with Disabilities (PwD). |
|
Rescheduling Fee |
Not Allowed |
All candidates |
CAT does NOT allow rescheduling of exam slot/date |
|
Cancellation Fee / Refund |
No Refund
|
All candidates |
Fee is non-refundable under any circumstances |
|
Late Registration Fee |
Not Applicable |
— |
No late fee option; deadline is strict |
|
Payment Mode Charges |
Varies (small bank charges) |
All candidates |
Depends on card/UPI/net banking |
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CAT Exam Pattern
While preparing for the CAT exam, which is one of the most competitive entrance exams in the country, success is driven more by becoming familiar with the exam pattern, structure, syllabus, subjects, and important topics to cover than by working hard till midnight alone. Yes, being familiar with the exam pattern is key to doing well in your preparation. To help you get valuable insight into the CAT 2026 exam pattern we have outlined below the latest and updated exam pattern for CAT.
|
Particular |
Details |
|
Exam Name |
Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
|
Conducting Body |
IIM Indore |
|
Exam Mode |
Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
|
Exam Duration |
120 Minutes (2 Hours) |
|
Total Sections |
3 |
|
Sectional Time Limit |
40 Minutes for each section |
|
Total Questions |
66 |
|
Total Marks |
198 |
|
Medium of Exam |
English |
|
Question Types |
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Type In The Answer (TITA) |
|
Marking Scheme |
+3 marks for each correct answer |
|
Negative Marking |
-1 mark for every incorrect MCQ |
|
Negative Marking for TITA |
No negative marking |
|
Section Switching |
Not allowed during the exam |
|
Number of Exam Slots |
3 (Morning, Afternoon, Evening) |
|
Difficulty Level |
Moderate to Difficult |
|
Official Website |
iimcat.ac.in |
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Marking Scheme
|
Question Type |
Marks |
|
Correct Answer |
+3 marks |
|
Wrong Answer (MCQ only) |
-1 mark |
|
TITA (non-MCQ) |
No negative marking |
CAT Syllabus Exam 2026
Understanding the CAT exam syllabus is like an unsung strategy to prepare for the exam and crack it with high scores. A look into the CAT syllabus provides a clear roadmap for learning and planning the study. As it ensures better preparation and success in the exam, we have put together the list of the latest subject-wise topics and subtopic syllabus for CAT 2026.
|
Section |
Topic |
Subtopics / Areas Covered |
|
VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension) |
Reading Comprehension |
Passages (inference, tone, main idea, fact-based questions) |
|
Para Jumbles |
Arrange sentences logically |
|
|
Para Summary |
Summarizing short paragraphs |
|
|
Odd Sentence Out |
Identify unrelated sentence |
|
|
Vocabulary (Indirect) |
Context-based word usage |
|
|
Grammar (Basic) |
Error spotting (limited focus) |
|
|
DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning)
|
Data Interpretation |
Tables, bar graphs, pie charts, caselets |
|
Logical Reasoning |
Seating arrangement, puzzles, games & tournaments |
|
|
Venn Diagrams |
Set-based problems |
|
|
Data Sufficiency |
Logical evaluation of data |
|
|
Arrangements |
Linear & circular arrangements |
|
|
Reasoning Sets |
Mixed logical puzzles |
|
|
QA (Quantitative Aptitude)
|
Arithmetic |
Percentages, profit & loss, time & work, time-speed-distance, averages, ratio |
|
Algebra |
Equations, inequalities, functions, progressions |
|
|
Geometry & Mensuration |
Triangles, circles, polygons, area, volume |
|
|
Number System |
Divisibility, LCM/HCF, remainders |
|
|
Modern Math (Limited) |
Probability, permutations & combinations, set theory |
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CAT Exam 2026 Eligibility
The CAT exam comes with a number of eligibility criteria to meet. Whether you meet all the academic requirements or not can decide your eligibility to apply for the exam and ultimately your chances of admission into top management institutes like the IIMs. It means understanding all the eligibility criteria and terms of admission for CAT should be the starting point of your journey to study in the nation’s top MBA institutions. So, what exactly are the eligibility criteria for CAT 2026? Let’s find out.
|
Criteria |
Requirement |
Key Details |
|
Educational Qualification |
Bachelor’s Degree |
Must have a degree from a recognized university |
|
Minimum Marks (General / EWS / NC-OBC) |
50% aggregate |
Or equivalent CGPA |
|
Minimum Marks (SC / ST / PwD) |
45% aggregate |
Relaxation of 5% |
|
Final Year Students |
Eligible |
Can apply if degree is completed before admission |
|
Professional Degrees |
Accepted |
CA / CS / ICWA / Fellow programs are valid |
|
Age Limit |
No restriction |
Candidates of any age can apply |
|
Number of Attempts |
Indian & Foreign Nationals |
Both can apply (different admission routes for foreign candidates) |
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CAT Answer Key and Result Releasing Dates
The exam conducting body of the CAT releases the answer key just 10-12 days before the announcement of the final result to ensure transparency in the evaluation of the answer sheets. The CAT answer key contributes a lot to help the students assess and calculate their expected scores even before the final results are declared. Find below the tentative date for the answer key and final results.
|
Event |
Expected Date (CAT 2026) |
Details |
|
CAT 2026 Exam Date |
29 November 2026 (Sunday) |
The CAT 2026 examination will be conducted in three sessions across multiple test cities in India. |
|
Provisional Answer Key + Response Sheet |
Provisional Answer Key + Response Sheet |
Candidates can download their response sheet by logging into the official CAT portal using their User ID and Password. |
|
Provisional Answer Key Release |
First Week of December 2026 (Expected) |
The provisional answer key will be released along with the response sheet, enabling candidates to estimate their scores. |
|
Answer Key Objection Window |
First Week of December 2026 (2–3 Days) |
Candidates can challenge any answer by submitting supporting documents and the prescribed objection fee within the specified period. |
|
Final Answer Key Release |
Third Week of December 2026 (Expected) |
The final answer key will be published after reviewing all valid objections. No further challenges will be accepted. |
|
CAT 2026 Result Declaration |
First Week of January 2027 (Tentative) |
The CAT 2026 scorecard will be available for download from the official website. The score is accepted by all IIMs and over 1,300 MBA colleges in India. |
|
CAT 2026 Scorecard Availability |
January–December 2027 |
Candidates can download and use the scorecard throughout the MBA admission cycle. |
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Published: 01 May, 2026 | Updated: 05 Aug, 2026
Written By:
Pawan Rawat is a full-stack content writer with expertise in crafting research-based educational blogs and articles, paying close attention to detail. He has mastered the art of creating SEO-optimized content for websites. When he's not working to pay the bills, he spends his time lifting weights at the gym, clicking random photos, reading books, or planning his next adventure.
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