CAT Exam Date 2026: All Important Dates from Exam to Result
If the idea of appearing in the CAT exam excites you, preparing for it can be even more thrilling. 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. IIM (Indian Institute of Management), the conducting body of CAT, conducts this computer-based exam every year for admission in the premier institutions of management. But before that, they always release the well-structured dates of all events. Taking a note of all these dates in advance can certainly help you perform better and score high in the examination. While the dates for the CAT exam are not ascertained officially yet, if the past pattern is considered, in 2026 the exam is most likely to be held on the last Sunday of the month of November. 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 in advance, 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 the following dates are tentative, they are on the basis of trusted sources and past patterns of the examination.
|
Event / Stage |
Date / Timeline (Expected) |
Key Highlights |
|
Official Notification Release |
July 2026 |
Released by conducting IIM on official website |
|
Registration Start Date |
August 2026 (1st week) |
Online application begins |
|
Registration Last Date |
September 2026 (mid/3rd week) |
Last chance to apply |
|
Form Correction Window |
Late Sept – Early Oct 2026 |
Edit mistakes in form |
|
Admit Card Release |
October 2026 (last week) |
Download before exam |
|
CAT 2026 Exam Date |
29 November 2026 (Expected) |
Conducted in 3 slots (CBT mode) |
|
Answer Key Release |
Early December 2026 |
Objection window available |
|
Result Declaration |
Late December 2026 – Early Jan 2027 |
Objection window available |
|
IIM Shortlisting (PI/WAT) |
Jan – March 2027 |
Calls from IIMs & B-schools |
|
Final Admission Offers |
April – May 2027 |
MBA/PGDM admissions begin |
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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) |
₹2,500 – ₹2,600 |
General category candidates |
Paid during form submission |
|
Registration Fee (SC / ST / PwD) |
₹1,250 – ₹1,300 |
Reserved categories |
Discounted fee |
|
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.
|
Section |
Number of Questions |
Time Limit |
Question Type |
Key Topics |
|
VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension) |
24 |
40 minutes |
MCQs + TITA (Non-MCQs) |
RC passages, para jumbles, summary, odd sentence |
|
DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning) |
20 |
40 minutes |
MCQs + TITA |
Graphs, tables, puzzles, arrangements |
|
QA (Quantitative Aptitude) |
22 |
40 minutes |
MCQs + TITA |
Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Numbers |
|
Total |
66 Questions |
120 minutes |
Mixed |
____ |
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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 and IITs. 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 (Expected) |
Conducted in 3 slots |
|
Provisional Answer Key + Response Sheet |
3–10 December 2026 |
Usually released within 3–7 days after exam |
|
Answer Key Objection Window |
3–13 December 2026 (approx.) |
Opens immediately after release, lasts 2–3 days |
|
Final Answer Key |
Mid–December 2026 |
Released after reviewing objections |
|
Result Announcement |
Late December 2026 – Early January 2027 |
Based on final answer key |
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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.
