Quick answer: The CAT exam date 2026 is Sunday, November 29, 2026. IIM Indore is conducting the Common Admission Test, a computer-based test held in three shifts. CAT 2026 registration ran from August 3 to September 15, 2026, and the application fee is ₹2,700 for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates.
If you are searching for the CAT exam date 2026, you probably want more than one line. You want to know what has closed, what is still ahead and what to do in the weeks left. This guide covers all of it in one place, with the status of each step as of October 24, 2026.
It also explains the application form, registration fees, eligibility and syllabus. Once you know the schedule, you can plan your practice with CAT mock tests https://www.catmock.com/ and keep track of other resources on the Cat Mock.
Key Takeaways
- CAT 2026 will be held on Sunday, November 29, 2026, in three shifts.
- Registration opened on August 3 and closed on September 15, 2026. Check iimcat.ac.in for any extension or correction window.
- The reported application fee is ₹2,700 (General, EWS, NC-OBC) and ₹1,350 (SC, ST, PwD).
- You need a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for reserved categories) or an equivalent qualification.
- CAT has no detailed official syllabus. It tests VARC, DILR and QA.
- The admit card is reported to open on November 4, 2026.
CAT Exam Date 2026: All Important Dates
CAT 2026 will be held on Sunday, November 29, 2026, as stated in the notification released on July 26, 2026. The exam is a computer-based test conducted by IIM Indore in three shifts. The admit card is reported to be available from November 4, 2026.
The table below shows each event and where it stands today.
CAT 2026 important dates and status (as of October 24, 2026)
| Event | Date | Status today |
|---|---|---|
| Notification released | July 26, 2026 | Done |
| Registration opens | August 3, 2026, 10:00 AM | Closed |
| Registration closes | September 15, 2026, 5:00 PM | Closed (check for any extension) |
| Form correction window | Short window after registration | Confirm on iimcat.ac.in |
| Admit card download | From November 4, 2026 until exam day | Upcoming |
| CAT 2026 exam | Sunday, November 29, 2026 | Upcoming, about five weeks away |
| Response sheet and provisional answer key | Expected in early December 2026 | Expected |
| Result | Expected around late December 2026 to the first week of January 2027 | Expected |
Dates marked “expected” are not official. The organisers announce them closer to the exam on the official website.
Why the CAT date falls in late November
In recent years, CAT has been held on a Sunday in the last week of November. It was November 24 in 2024 and November 30 in 2025. This year’s date, November 29, follows the same pattern. A Sunday also lets the exam run across three shifts without clashing with college days.
Exam shifts and timings
CAT 2026 will run in three shifts on the same day. You cannot choose your shift. The admit card will show your shift, test centre and reporting time. In 2025, the shifts ran from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Expect a similar pattern, but follow your own admit card.
CAT Exam Date 2026 Application Form: Dates, Steps and Documents
The CAT 2026 application form was available online at iimcat.ac.in from August 3 to September 15, 2026. Registration has now closed, so new applications are not being taken unless the organisers announce an extension. The steps below show the official process and help you with form questions.
How to fill the CAT 2026 application form
- Visit iimcat.ac.in and click on New Candidate Registration.
- Enter your name, date of birth, email and mobile number, then verify with the OTP.
- Log in with your credentials and fill in your personal and academic details.
- Upload a recent passport-size photograph and your signature as per the size and format rules.
- Choose your preferred test cities. In past cycles, candidates could pick up to five.
- Pay the application fee online.
- Review every field, submit the form and save the confirmation for your records.
Documents you need
Keep these ready before you start any government-style online form:
- A recent photograph and a scanned signature
- Your graduation or final-year marks details
- A valid category certificate if you apply as SC, ST, NC-OBC, EWS or PwD
- A valid email address and mobile number
What about form corrections?
In past years, the organisers opened a short correction window after registration closed. Only a few fields, mainly the photograph, signature and test city preferences, could be changed. Name, category and academic details were generally locked. Check iimcat.ac.in for this year’s window.
CAT 2026 Registration Fees
The CAT 2026 registration fee is ₹2,700 for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates and ₹1,350 for SC, ST and PwD candidates. The fee is paid online while submitting the form. It is ₹100 and ₹50 higher than the 2025 fee.
CAT 2026 registration fee by category
| Category | Application fee | Change from CAT 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS / NC-OBC | ₹2,700 | Up by ₹100 (was ₹2,600) |
| SC / ST / PwD | ₹1,350 | Up by ₹50 (was ₹1,300) |
Some older pages still show the previous year’s amounts. If you see ₹2,600 or ₹1,300 on any site, treat it as outdated and confirm the current figure on iimcat.ac.in.
What the fee covers
The fee covers your CAT application and test. After the result, each IIM and each participating institute runs its own admission process. These may have separate steps, so read each institute’s notice. In past cycles, the CAT fee was non-refundable, so check the rule before paying.
CAT Exam Date 2026 Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for CAT 2026, you need a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks, or 45% for SC, ST and PwD candidates, or an equivalent qualification. Final-year students and those awaiting results can also apply. There is no age limit and no work experience requirement.
Here is the criteria in a quick list:
- Qualification: a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification such as a professional degree.
- Marks: at least 50% or an equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST and PwD candidates).
- Final-year students: you can apply if you are in the final year or have completed your degree and are waiting for the result.
- Age: no upper or lower age limit.
- Work experience: not compulsory. Freshers and working professionals can both apply.
CAT eligibility is only the first filter. Each IIM sets its own criteria for shortlisting and admission, such as past academics, work experience and weightage. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee a call or a seat.
CAT Exam Date 2026 Syllabus and Exam Pattern
CAT has no detailed official syllabus. The exam has three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA). The topics below are commonly tested topics based on past papers, not an official list.
CAT sections and commonly tested topics
| Section | Commonly tested topics | What it tests |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | Reading comprehension passages, para jumbles, para summary, odd sentence out, sentence insertion | Reading speed, inference and language sense |
| DILR | Tables, bar and line charts, caselets, arrangements, grouping, games and tournaments, networks | Data handling and logical thinking under time pressure |
| QA | Arithmetic (percentages, ratio, time and work, speed), algebra, geometry and mensuration, number system, permutations and probability | Core school-level maths applied to tricky problems |
Expected pattern
The pattern below is based on recent papers. The official information bulletin has the final version, so confirm it before exam day.
- Mode: computer-based test, in English
- Duration: 120 minutes, with 40 minutes per section
- Question count: around 66 to 68 questions across the three sections
- Question types: multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and typed-in answers (TITA)
- Marking: +3 for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong MCQ. TITA questions have no negative marking.
- Section order: VARC, then DILR, then QA. You cannot move between sections.
CAT Exam Date 2026 vs 2025 vs 2024
Comparing past years shows how the exam schedule and fee have moved. The exam date has stayed on a late-November Sunday, and the fee has risen each year.
CAT 2026 vs CAT 2025 vs CAT 2024
| Feature | CAT 2026 | CAT 2025 | CAT 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conducting IIM | IIM Indore | IIM Kozhikode | IIM Calcutta |
| Exam date | Sunday, November 29, 2026 | Sunday, November 30, 2025 | Sunday, November 24, 2024 |
| Registration window | August 3 to September 15, 2026 | August 1 to September 13, 2025 (extended to September 20) | August 1 to September 13, 2024 |
| Fee: General / EWS / NC-OBC | ₹2,700 | ₹2,600 | ₹2,500 |
| Fee: SC / ST / PwD | ₹1,350 | ₹1,300 | ₹1,250 |
| Mode | Computer-based, three shifts | Computer-based, three shifts | Computer-based, three shifts |
IIM Indore last conducted CAT in 2020, so this year it returns to the role after several years.
CAT Admit Card, Exam Day and Result Timeline
The CAT 2026 admit card is reported to be available from November 4, 2026 until exam day. You download it from iimcat.ac.in using your login. It shows your shift, test centre, reporting time and photograph. You cannot enter the centre without it.
To download the admit card:
- Log in to iimcat.ac.in with your user ID and password.
- Click on the admit card download link.
- Check your name, photo, signature, shift and test centre.
- Download the PDF and print a clear copy.
On exam day:
- Carry the printed admit card and an original photo ID that matches your registration.
- Reach the centre well before the reporting time.
- Follow every instruction on the admit card, including the list of items that are not allowed.
After the exam, the response sheet and provisional answer key usually follow within days. Last year’s result came out on December 21, 2025. The CAT 2026 result is reported as expected between late December and early January, but the official date comes from the organisers.
CAT vs XAT vs SNAP: How the Exam Timing Differs
CAT is usually the first big MBA exam of the season. XAT is usually held in early January, and SNAP is usually held in December with more than one test attempt. Exact 2026-27 dates for XAT and SNAP come from their own official websites.
Many aspirants prepare for all three. Here is a simple way to think about it:
- CAT: late November, one attempt, scores accepted by IIMs and many other institutes.
- XAT: early January, with a decision-making section. See the official XAT website.
- SNAP: December, multiple attempts possible. See the official SNAP website.
How to Use the Weeks Before CAT 2026
With about five weeks left, your goal is accuracy and calm, not new topics. No plan can promise a score, but this routine works for many aspirants.
- Take a full mock every week. Use the real section order and time limits.
- Review each mock for two hours. List which errors came from concepts, speed or careless mistakes.
- Practise one sectional test every other day. Keep the 40-minute limit.
- Revise formulas and shortcuts. Keep a one-page QA sheet.
- Read daily. Aim for 30 to 40 minutes of editorials and long articles for VARC.
- Solve a few DILR sets daily. Choose the sets carefully rather than attempting all of them.
- Slow down in the last week. Do light revision and sleep well.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Small slips can cost you more than a hard question. Watch out for these:
- Trusting unofficial dates. Many pages mix “expected” and confirmed dates. Check iimcat.ac.in.
- Using the wrong category certificate. An invalid certificate can create trouble later.
- Mismatched details. Your photo ID must match the name on your admit card.
- Downloading the admit card late. Do it the day it opens and check every detail.
- Ignoring the instructions on the admit card. Read the allowed and not-allowed items list.
- Skipping sectional timing practice. You cannot move between sections, so you must manage 40 minutes in each.
- Changing your strategy in the last week. Stick to what your mocks show works.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CAT exam date 2026?
The CAT exam date 2026 is Sunday, November 29, 2026. IIM Indore will conduct the computer-based test in three shifts. You can download your admit card from iimcat.ac.in, which is reported to open on November 4, 2026. Your shift and test centre will appear on it.
Is CAT 2026 registration still open?
No, not as of October 24, 2026. The registration window ran from August 3 to September 15, 2026. If the organisers announced any extension or correction window, you will see it on iimcat.ac.in. Always check the official site before relying on third-party pages.
What is the CAT 2026 registration fee?
The reported CAT 2026 fee is ₹2,700 for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates and ₹1,350 for SC, ST and PwD candidates. This is higher than last year’s ₹2,600 and ₹1,300. Confirm the amount on iimcat.ac.in, since some older pages still show the previous fee.
What is the eligibility for CAT 2026?
You need a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC, ST and PwD candidates) or an equivalent qualification. Final-year students can also apply. There is no age limit, and work experience is not required. Individual IIMs may have extra admission criteria.
What is the CAT 2026 syllabus?
CAT has no detailed official syllabus. The exam has three sections: VARC, DILR and QA. Commonly tested topics include reading comprehension, para jumbles, data interpretation, logical reasoning sets, arithmetic, algebra, geometry and number system. These are based on past papers, not on an official list.
Which IIM is conducting CAT 2026?
IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2026. IIM Kozhikode conducted CAT 2025, and IIM Calcutta conducted CAT 2024. Each year, a different IIM takes the responsibility, but all IIMs use the same CAT scores for admission to their MBA programmes.
When will the CAT 2026 admit card be released?
The CAT 2026 admit card is reported to be available from November 4, 2026 until exam day, November 29. You can download it from iimcat.ac.in using your login. Check your name, photo, shift and test centre carefully, and keep a printed copy.
When will the CAT 2026 result be out?
The official CAT 2026 result date is not confirmed yet. Reports expect the result between late December 2026 and the first week of January 2027. Last year’s result was declared on December 21, 2025. Watch iimcat.ac.in for the final announcement.
Conclusion
The CAT exam date 2026 is Sunday, November 29, 2026, and IIM Indore is the conducting institute. Registration, with the ₹2,700 and ₹1,350 fees, has closed, so your focus now is the admit card, the exam-day rules and steady practice.
Treat every date on third-party pages as a pointer and confirm it on iimcat.ac.in. For mocks, past papers and a routine for the final weeks, start with the Cat Mock.
