CAT Exam 2026: Notification, Eligibility, Online Form, & Exam Dates

CAT (Common Admission Test) is a premier national-level management entrance exam conducted annually for admission to prestigious postgraduate and Fellow/Doctorate programs across IIMs. It is administered on a rotational basis by one of the top six IIMs. The official CAT notification will be released in August 2026, and the exam is scheduled for November 29, 2026. CAT scores are accepted by 21 IIMs and numerous top-tier MBA colleges across India, remaining valid for one year only.

CAT Notification 2026

The official notification for the CAT 2026 Exam will be released in August 2026. Aspirants planning to apply for postgraduate and Fellow/Doctorate programs at IIMs and participating non-IIM institutions should read this comprehensive guide for detailed insights regarding the CAT Exam 2026.

CAT Exam Notification PDF  (Previous Year) - Click to Download 

CAT 2026 Exam Summary

Graduates seeking admission to prestigious postgraduate and Fellow/Doctorate programs at IIMs and esteemed non-IIM institutions must qualify for the CAT Exam, widely recognized as India's premier MBA entrance test. Interested candidates should review the exam overview table below for quick reference.

CAT 2026- Important Dates

Important dates for the CAT entrance exam will be officially announced alongside the notification. The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 will be conducted on November 29, 2026. Check all crucial exam dates from the table provided below.

CAT Exam 2026 Registration Link

Eligible graduates aspiring to secure admission into top B-schools must successfully submit their registration form for the Common Admission Test. Online registration for the CAT Exam 2026 will commence immediately following the release of the official notification. Applications are accepted exclusively in online mode; submissions via any other channel will be strictly rejected under all circumstances.

CAT Exam 2026 Application Fee

 During the CAT registration process, candidates are required to pay the specified application fee securely through online payment methods only (Credit/Debit Card or Net Banking).

How to Register for CAT 2026 Exam?

1. Log in to the IIM CAT official website of IIM or register from the above link.
2. Click on “Register” mentioned under New Candidate Registration and create a user ID by entering details such as name, date of birth, email ID, and phone number.
3. Click on ‘Generate OTP,’ and the OTP will be sent to the registered mobile number.
4. Enter the OTP and verify your CAT registration.
5.  Now click on ‘Login’ as mentioned under Registered Candidate Login and enter the registration number generated in the previous step.
6.  Enter all the information in the application form, including personal and academic details, work experience (if any).
7.  Upload scanned signature and photograph in the prescribed format.
8.  Select a minimum of test cities and preferred IIM campuses for WAT-PI shortlisting
9. Pay CAT application fees online via debit/credit card or net banking and click on “Submit”.
10.  Download your CAT Application Form for future reference.

CAT Exam Eligibility 2026

Since CAT grants admission to advanced postgraduate and Fellow/Doctorate programs, holding a recognized graduation degree is mandatory. Review the detailed CAT Eligibility Criteria, including essential academic qualifications, in the section below.

IIM CAT Academic Qualification 

• Candidates who have scored 50% marks (aggregate) or equivalent CGPA in a bachelor’s degree (General) and 45% for SC/ST/people with disabilities are eligible to register.
• The candidates who are in the final year of their Graduation or waiting for results are also eligible to appear in the CAT entrance exam.
• Candidates who have completed their professional degree in CA/CS/ICWA with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) can also apply for CAT exam.

Note: Candidates currently appearing for their final-year bachelor’s degree examinations, or those who have completed their degree requirements and are awaiting final results, are also eligible to apply.

CAT Exam Pattern 2026

Before initiating your preparation journey for the CAT Exam, it is crucial to thoroughly understand the official exam pattern established by the IIMs for the entrance test. 

• The CAT exam will be conducted through Online Computer Based and the duration of exam has been revised to 2 hours.
• There will be three sections in the exam:

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
3. Quantitative Ability

• The number of Questions will be 66 for 198 marks, and the per-section distribution is as follows

1. VARC - 24 Questions
2. DILR - 20 Questions
3. QA - 22 Questions

• Each correct answer will be awarded +3 marks and a penalty of 1 mark for each incorrect answer.

Click For Detailed CAT 2026 Exam Pattern

CAT 2026 Syllabus 

While the exam pattern undergoes periodic updates, the core CAT syllabus remains consistent. The primary topics covered in the CAT syllabus include the following:

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension: Reading Comprehension, Verbal Ability, Para Jumbles, Para Summary, Sentence Completion, Inferences, and more.

Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation: Tables, Graphs, Data Caselets, Blood Relations, Seating Arrangements, Syllogisms, and more.

Quantitative Aptitude: Geometry, Algebra, Number System, Arithmetic, Mensuration, and other advanced mathematical concepts.

CAT Syllabus 2026 - Click to Check

CAT 2026 Cut Off

Official CAT cut-off marks are published shortly after the declaration of exam results. In the interim, candidates can analyze historical cut-offs by reviewing the CAT Cut-Off data for 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016 provided in the table below.

Universities Accepting CAT Scores

A large network of premier IIMs and prominent non-IIM business schools accept CAT scores for admission to their postgraduate and doctoral programs. 

IIM Universities Accepting CAT Scores

Explore the comprehensive list of IIM universities that accept valid CAT scores for postgraduate and doctorate admissions. 

1. IIM Calcutta
2. IIM Ahmedabad
3. IIM Bangalore
4. IIM Lucknow
5. IIM Kozhikode
6. IIM Indore
7. IIM Shillong
8. IIM Rohtak
9. IIM Ranchi
10. IIM Raipur
11. IIM Udaipur
12. IIM Nagpur
13. IIM Tiruchirappalli
14. IIM Kashipur
15. IIM Visakhapatnam
16. IIM Bodh Gaya
17. IIM Amritsar
18. IIM Sambalpur
19. IIM Sirmaur
20. IIM Jammu

Non-IIM Universities Accepting CAT Scores

Explore the comprehensive list of non-IIM universities and premier business schools that accept CAT scores for postgraduate and doctorate programs. 

1. FMS, Delhi University
2. SPJIMR, Mumbai
3. MDI, Gurgaon
4. IMT, Ghaziabad
5. IIT Kanpur-IME
6. IMI, Delhi
7. IIT Delhi - DoMs
8. IIT Bombay-SJMSOM
9. IIT Madras-DoMs
10. IIT Roorkee-DoMs
11. IIT Kharagpur-VGoSM
12. IIT Dhanbad-ISM
13. Great Lakes Institute of Management
14. IMT, Nagpur
15. IMI, Kolkata
16. IPE, Hyderabad
17. ITM, University
18. Institute of Management, Nirma University
19. IIITM, Gwalior
20. Goa Institute of Management (GIM), Goa

CAT 2026 Exam Centre 

Applicants are given the flexibility to select a minimum of 6 preferred cities for their exam center preferences during registration.