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CAT

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 is a national-level management entrance exam conducted by one of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis. It serves as the gateway for admission to MBA/PGDM programs across IIMs and over 1,200 B-schools in India. Candidates can register online through the official website: iimcat.ac.in. The registration window, application fees, and detailed instructions for filling the application form will be available in the official notification. Applicants must follow the prescribed guidelines for uploading photograph, signature, and other required documents to ensure successful submission.

    • Candidates aspiring to appear for CAT 2026 must meet certain academic and age criteria specified by the conducting IIM. Eligibility requirements are outlined in the official notification, but the general criteria are as follows:

      1. Academic Qualification

      • A candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST, and PWD candidates) from a recognized university or institute.

      • Final year students of a Bachelor’s degree are also eligible to apply, provided they complete their graduation requirements by 30 June 2026.

      2. Age Limit

      • There is no upper or lower age limit to appear for CAT. Candidates of any age meeting the academic requirements are eligible.

      3. Work Experience (Optional)

      • Work experience is not mandatory, but relevant professional experience may be considered during the selection process by certain IIMs for shortlisting or final admission.

      4. Other Requirements

      • Candidates must have valid registration on the official CAT portal (iimcat.ac.in).

      • Scanned copies of photograph, signature, and category certificates must meet the specifications mentioned in the notification.

      Note: Final eligibility criteria will be confirmed in the official CAT 2026 notification, and candidates should always refer to it before applying.

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 is a computer-based test (CBT) conducted for admission into MBA/PGDM programs at IIMs and other participating institutes. The exam evaluates candidates on quantitative ability, data interpretation, logical reasoning, and verbal ability.

Key Features:

  • Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)

  • Duration: 3 hours

  • Sections: 3 (VARC, DILR, QA)

  • Number of Questions: Typically 66–76 questions

  • Marking Scheme: +3 for correct answers, -1 for wrong answers (for MCQs), no negative marking for non-MCQs

  • Medium: English

Section-wise Pattern (Expected for 2026):

Section No. of Questions Marks Duration Question Type
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) 24–26 72–78 60 mins MCQs + Non-MCQs
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) 20 60 60 mins MCQs + Non-MCQs
Quantitative Ability (QA) 22–24 66–72 60 mins MCQs + Non-MCQs

Additional Notes:

  • Each section is time-bound, and candidates cannot switch between sections freely.

  • Non-MCQs require typed answers or selection of options without negative marking.

  • The overall score and sectional performance are used to calculate percentiles for admission.

College Name Location Approx. Seats Expected CAT Cut-off Percentile (General)
IIM Ahmedabad Ahmedabad, Gujarat 400 99+
IIM Bangalore Bangalore, Karnataka 450 99+
IIM Calcutta Kolkata, West Bengal 400 99+
IIM Lucknow Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 400 98–99
IIM Kozhikode Kozhikode, Kerala 400 98–99
IIM Indore Indore, Madhya Pradesh 400 97–98
IIM Udaipur Udaipur, Rajasthan 200 95–97
IIM Trichy Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu 200 95–97
IIM Raipur Raipur, Chhattisgarh 200 94–96
IIM Kashipur Kashipur, Uttarakhand 200 94–96
IIM Shillong Shillong, Meghalaya 200 93–95
IIM Sirmaur Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh 120 90–93
IIM Jammu Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir 120 90–93
IIM Sambalpur Sambalpur, Odisha 120 90–92
FMS Delhi Delhi 200 95–97
SPJIMR Mumbai Mumbai, Maharashtra 240 93–95
MDI Gurgaon Gurgaon, Haryana 240 92–95
IMT Ghaziabad Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 180 90–94
NMIMS Mumbai Mumbai, Maharashtra 240 90–94
TAPMI Manipal Manipal, Karnataka 180 90–92
JBIMS Mumbai Mumbai, Maharashtra 60 95–97
Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai, Tamil Nadu 180 90–92
IMT Nagpur Nagpur, Maharashtra 120 90–92
Event Date (Expected) Notes
CAT 2026 registration start date 1-Aug-2026 Official notification release on iimcat.ac.in
Last date to fill CAT 2026 application form 25-Sep-2026 Online submission only
Last date to pay application fee 25-Sep-2026 Payment through online modes; late fee may apply
CAT 2026 form correction window To be notified Only minor corrections allowed (photo, signature, details)
Issuance of CAT 2026 admit card 15-Oct-2026 (expected) Download from official portal
CAT 2026 exam date 23-Nov-2026 (single-day exam or multiple sessions) Exact date to be confirmed
Release of CAT 2026 provisional answer key To be notified For non-MCQ questions (if applicable)
Declaration of CAT 2026 result Jan 2027 Scorecards available online
Admission process / GD-PI schedule Feb – Apr 2027 Institutes release their shortlists and schedule individually

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