Every year, thousands of CAT aspirants panic the moment they realise they picked the wrong exam city — or their circumstances changed after submitting the form. The question that follows is almost always the same: “Can I change my CAT exam centre?”
The honest answer is: sometimes, but only within a narrow window, and never after your admit card is out. This guide breaks down exactly when a CAT exam centre change is possible, when it isn’t, and what you should do if you’re stuck with an inconvenient allotment.
What Does “CAT Exam Centre Change” Actually Mean?
Before going further, it helps to separate two terms candidates often confuse:
- Test City Preference – the city (like Delhi, Pune, or Lucknow) you select while filling the CAT application form.
- Exam Centre/Venue – the exact college or institution within that city where you’re required to appear, assigned by the conducting IIM based on availability.
A “CAT exam centre change” request could mean either changing your preferred city or requesting a different venue within the same city. Both follow different rules, which we’ll cover below.
→ New to CAT? Get the full exam pattern and syllabus breakdown here.
Can You Change Your CAT Exam Centre After Registration?
Here’s the short version, followed by the full breakdown:
| Stage | Can You Change the Centre? | What You Can Do |
|---|---|---|
| While filling the form (before submission) | Yes | Select and reorder your city preferences freely |
| During the correction window | Partially | Edit your city preference (not exact venue) |
| After correction window closes | No | No further edits allowed |
| After admit card is released | No | Centre is final; only exceptional cases considered |
| On exam day | Rarely | Only in genuine emergencies (see exceptions below) |
Once CAT authorities release your CAT admit card, they make the exam centre printed on it final. Under normal circumstances, they do not entertain requests to change the centre.
The CAT Correction Window: Your Only Real Opportunity
If you want to change your exam city, the correction window is your one legitimate shot. This is a short period — typically a few days — that opens shortly after the CAT registration deadline, allowing candidates to edit specific fields in their application.
For the latest official updates, visit the CAT website here.
What You Can Usually Edit in the Correction Window
| Field | Editable? |
|---|---|
| Test city preference | Yes (usually) |
| Uploaded photograph/signature | Yes |
| Category or personal details | Limited/No |
| Exact exam venue within a city | No |
| Exam date or slot | No |
Missing this window means your original city preference becomes locked in, and the final centre allotment will be based on that.
Why You Might Not Get Your First Preference
Even if you never request a “change,” you may still end up at a centre you didn’t expect. This is because centre allotment depends on multiple factors working together — not your preference alone.
- Seat capacity at each centre in your chosen city
- Number of applicants requesting the same city
- Order of preference you submitted (first choice isn’t guaranteed)
- Infrastructure availability for computer-based testing at that location
If your first-preference city is oversubscribed, the authorities generally shift you to your next preferred city. That is why you should select all city options carefully instead of treating the less-preferred cities as an afterthought.
Exception Cases: When a Genuine Centre Change Is Allowed
While the standard policy is strict, IIMs have, in rare and documented situations, permitted last-minute centre changes. These are not requests you can apply for — they’re typically initiated or approved by the conducting body itself:
| Exception Scenario | What Usually Happens |
|---|---|
| Natural disaster (flood, earthquake, riots) in the centre’s city | Candidates may be reallocated to the nearest safe centre |
| Centre shuts down/breaks down on exam day | Emergency reallocation to an alternate venue, if feasible |
| Government-imposed restrictions (curfew, lockdown in that area) | Authorities may issue special instructions |
| Technical failure at the centre before the exam begins | Candidates may be moved within the same premises or nearby venue |
These situations are handled case-by-case and communicated officially — candidates cannot self-request this type of change.
Step-by-Step: What to Do If You Want to Request a Change
- Check if the correction window is still open. This is announced on the official CAT website after registration closes.
- Log in with your CAT credentials on the official application portal.
- Navigate to the test city preference section.
- Reorder or replace your city choices based on convenience, not just familiarity.
- Save and download the confirmation of your updated application.
- Wait for your admit card to see your final allotted centre — no further changes are possible after this.
Tips to Avoid Needing a Centre Change at All
- Choose your first preference as your hometown or the city you’ll definitely be in on exam day.
- Pick your backup cities based on ease of travel, not just distance.
- Avoid selecting cities purely because “everyone else is choosing it” — high-demand cities fill up faster.
- Double-check your selections before final submission; treat the correction window as a safety net, not your primary plan.
- Once your admit card is out, plan your travel and stay in advance — assuming a last-minute change is not an option.
→ Know exactly what to carry and expect — read our CAT exam day checklist here.
Quick Summary
- CAT exam centre change is only possible during the correction window, and even then, it applies to city preference, not the exact venue.
- No changes are allowed once the admit card is released, except in rare emergency situations decided by the conducting IIM.
- Centre allotment depends on seat availability and preference order, not guaranteed choice.
- Careful selection during registration is the best way to avoid last-minute centre-related stress.
FAQs: CAT Exam Centre Change
Q1. Can I change my CAT exam centre after submitting the application form?
No, once the form is submitted and the correction window closes, the exam centre preference cannot be changed under normal circumstances.
Q2. Is there any window to edit my CAT exam city preference?
Yes, a short correction window opens after registration closes, during which you can usually edit your city preference, though not the exact venue.
Q3. Can I change my CAT exam centre after the admit card is released?
No. The centre printed on your admit card is final, and change requests are not accepted except in genuine emergencies like natural disasters.
Q4. What happens if my preferred CAT exam city is unavailable?
The authorities allot you the next available city based on your preference order and the seat availability at that time.
Q5. Can I choose the exact exam venue within a city?
No, candidates can only select a preferred city. The exact venue within that city is decided by the conducting IIM.
Q6. Who decides whether candidates can change their CAT exam centre in an emergency?
The conducting IIM makes this decision and communicates it officially — candidates cannot personally request emergency changes.
Conclusion
A CAT exam centre change remains possible only during one window—the correction period after registration closes. Even then, you can change only your city preference, not the exact exam venue. Once CAT authorities release your admit card, they finalize your allotted centre in almost every case. Instead of waiting for a later change, choose your city preferences carefully during registration and use the correction window only as a backup. Combine this approach with consistent mock test practice to make exam-day logistics much easier.
→ Start practicing now — take a free CAT mock test here.
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