CAT 2026 Exam - All You Need to Know About CAT 2026

IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2026. The official notification was released on July 26, 2026, and registration opened on August 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM. The registration deadline, originally September 15, was extended to September 22, 2026, 5:00 PM. Registration is now closed. The exam will be held on Sunday, November 29, 2026, in three sessions across approximately 170 test cities. The result is expected in the first week of January 2027.

Important Updates of CAT 2026 Exam

1. Registration opened on August 3, 2026 and closed on September 22, 2026, 5:00 PM (extended from September 15).
2. CAT 2026 will be conducted in three sessions on November 29, 2026. The slots are 8:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 4:30 PM.
3. Admit cards will be available from November 4, 2026.
4. About 170 cities have test centres, and candidates chose up to 5 preferred test cities at the time of registration.
5. CAT 2026 score validity is up to December 31, 2027.
6. The registration fee is ₹2,700 for General candidates and ₹1,350 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.

Also Read - All about CAT Exam | CAT Exam Dates 2026

Eligibility Criteria for Common Admission Test 2026

1. Candidates must have a bachelor's degree from a recognized institute or any University in India.
2. All the candidates are required to have at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA in graduation. If they belong to SC/ST/PwD then they need to have 45% marks.
3. There are no age limitations for this exam.
4. There are no limitations on the number of attempts for CAT exam.
5. Some institutes require work experience so read the eligibility criteria of the institute carefully before applying.

See - Trending gd-topics | Detailed CAT Eligibility Criteria

Updated Syllabus of CAT 2026 Exam

The latest syllabus of the CAT exam has been divided into 3 sections.

1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) - Passage on the current affairs in the world and business, Para Summary, Jumbled Paragraph, Error Correction of Verb, Noun, Pronoun, Adjective, Adverb, Part of Speech, Time Clauses, Passive writing, Analogies, Critical Reasoning, Sentence Completion, Irrelevant Statements, Phrasal Verbs Usage.
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) - Data Tables, Charts, Bar Diagrams, Pie Charts, Graphs, Data Analysis, Caselet Data, Clocks, Calendars, Binary Logic, Seating Arrangement, Blood Relations, Assumption, Cubes, Rows, Linear and matrix, Team Formation, Input-Output and more.
3. Quantitative Ability (QA) - LCM, HCF, Percentages, Profit and Loss, Interest, Speed, Time and Distance, Time and Work, Proportion, Number System, Algebra, Probability, Binomial Theorem, Logarithm, Surds, Set, Probability Functions, Trigonometry and More.

Note:- CAT does not have a predefined syllabus all the syllabi you find on the internet are just based on the previous paper and mock test. So above mentioned syllabus covers most of the topics but not all as the CAT syllabus has no limitations.

Exam Pattern -

1. No. of Questions - 66
2. Question Type - MCQs
3. Duration of the Exam - 120 Minutes
4. Mode of Examination - Computer-Based Online Test
5. Marks for Right Answer - 3 Marks
6. Marks Deducted for Wrong Answer - -1 marks
7. For Leaving the Question - No Marks will deduct
8. Extra - 13 Minutes for PwD Candidates

Expected Cutoff of Top MBA College Accepting CAT 2026 Score

See the List of - Top 50 MBA Colleges in India | Top MBA Colleges in Jaipur

Important Tips for the CAT Exam

1. Start preparation with a careful and detailed analysis of the exam syllabus and pattern.
2. Candidates can opt for coaching or do self-studies for exam preparation in both cases discipline is the key. Whether you like it or not if you want to crack CAT then you have to give 5-6 hours of studies.
3. Learn time management in exams by solving more and more mock tests, practice tests, and papers from previous years. Almost 70% of candidates say they have left the question unattempted due to less time.
4. Do not follow one study material blindly check for other sources as well. Ask your peers to help you prepare.
5. Solving more and more questions will increase your confidence level and speed in exams. There is no alternative to this you have to follow it.
6. Try to sharpen skills instead of memorizing things. Exams do not expect you to know all the answers instead they expect you to know most of the answers.
7. The CAT exam and its preparation is a test of time management, stress management, resource management, and skill management. So the candidates who have managed all of them seamlessly will become great business people and managers in the future.
8. Always feel relaxed and if you feel anxious drink water. It is good to have some anxiety as it drives you to give extra effort.

Official Website of CAT 2026 - https://iimcat.ac.in/

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