CAT 2026: Exam Date (Nov 29), Registration (Started on Aug 3), Check Complete Guide

Learning from past CAT toppers can help you build an efficient daily schedule and avoid common preparation mistakes.

CAT 2026 aspirants must practise previous years' CAT question papers during their preparation phase to understand the different types of questions asked in the exam.

CAT Questions with Answers PDF Download

Download free PDFs of CAT exam previous year papers along with the official answer keys in the table below:

Slot-Wise CAT Question Paper with Solutions

Find direct links for slot wise CAT question papers with solutions

Candidates can practise a free CAT mock test to assess their preparation level. Analysing CAT mock tests and taking relevant action will help candidates improve with every practice test. Candidates can use online CAT mock test using the links below:

How to Analyse CAT Mock Test 2026?

Besides merely appearing for CAT mock test, candidates must analyse their performance to improve before exam day. CAT mock test analysis requires candidates to journal every mistake they made while taking the mock exam, every question where they spent more time than expected. Analysing and journaling all mistakes in CAT mock test will help candidates with focused preparation.

Also Check: CAT Mock Test by Shiksha

CAT 2026 Mock Test Strategy: When to Start and How Many to Take?

Practising CAT mock tests is among the primary preparation techniques to build speed as well as accuracy. Check CAT mock test strategy below:

• When to Start?: Begin taking full-length mock tests once 50 to 60 per cent of the CAT syllabus is covered.
• Frequency: Take 1 mock per week initially. Increase frequency to 2 to 3 mocks per week in the last month before CAT exam.
• How many mocks to practice?: Aim to complete at least 40 full-length mocks and 20 sectional tests overall before exam day.
• Analysis Method: Spend 2 to 3 hours analysing every mock test. Categorise errors into conceptual mistakes, calculation errors, and poor question choices.

For additional details on test series, sectional tests, and scoring benchmarks, refer to the detailed CAT mock test article.

The CAT admit card 2026 will be released on November 4. Candidates will need to carry a hard copy of the CAT 2026 admit card to the exam centre. The hall ticket will be available for download until the exam day.

Steps to Download CAT 2026 Admit Card

Given below are the steps for downloading the CAT admit card 2026:

1. Visit the official CAT website: iimcat.ac.in.
2. Click on the 'Admit Card Download' option.
3. Enter your CAT 2026 application number and password.
4. Click on the 'Admit Card' option to open it.
5. Click on the download icon and save a copy.

Candidates find personal details, test schedule, exam centre address, and exam day instructions mentioned on the CAT 2026 admit card. Besides the details, candidates also find a barcode on the admit card for digital verification.

How to Resolve Discrepancies on CAT Admit Card 2026?

Candidates must resolve the discrepancies on CAT admit card by following the steps below:

• Compare the details in the CAT hall ticket against the details on original photo ID and academic certificates.
• Identify errors in regard with name, date of birth, category, or issues with photograph/signature.
• Call the official CAT helpline or use CAT Grievance Portal inside the login dashboard.
• Officials may ask for a filled in copy of CAT application form, fee receipt, and valid photo ID. Keep all supporting documents handy. 

CAT Exam Centres 2026

CAT exam centres will be allotted to candidates based on the preferences mentioned in their application forms. Candidates are required to choose a total of five test cities out of 170 cities. Nearly 300 centres are divided across these cities.

The hall ticket will carry complete details of the test centre allotted to the candidate. Candidates must check the location before the exam date to calculate the distance and travel time. Candidates must appear at their allotted test centre only; they cannot take the exam at any other CAT centre. The test venue will be under CCTV surveillance to prevent cheating or irregularities during the conduct of the IIM CAT exam.

What to carry at CAT Exam Centre?

Candidates appearing for CAT 2026 exam must carry a hard copy of their admit card, photo ID proof, two recent photographs, and any supporting documents (in case of name change, medical/PwD certificates.

Also Read: Know What to Carry on CAT Exam Day

The CAT 2026 answer key will be released 2-3 days after the exam. It can be expected around December 2 or 3. The provisional CAT answer key 2026 will be released in the form of a candidate response sheet containing question-wise correct answers and the candidate's responses. It will be available for download via login. Check the CAT 2026 answer key download process below:

• Go to the official website: iimcat.ac.in.
• Click on the 'Answer Key/Response Sheet option.
• Enter your CAT application ID and password.
• The answer key will be displayed.
• Download it and save it as a PDF.

The official CAT answer key will be open to challenge. If candidates feel that the official answer to any question is incorrect, they can raise an objection against it. They will have to fill out an online form available on the student dashboard and upload a document supporting their claim. All objections will be examined, and if any objection is found to be valid, the CAT provisional answer key will be revised and released as the final answer key. 

Also Read: CAT Answer Key 2026

Find the breakdown of difficulty level across CAT previous year question papers:

• CAT 2025:Moderate All three slots of CAT 2025 paper had a moderate difficulty level. Most test takers found VARC as the highest-scoring section. Whereas DILR was considered tougher than expected, and QA was challenging but doable by most test takers.
• CAT 2024:Easiest Candidates found CAT 2024 question paper to be the easiest in recent years. All three slots of CAT 2024 question paper were easier in last five years.
• CAT 2023:Toughest Most candidates who solved the CAT 2023 question paper regarded it as the toughest exam paper. VARC in the CAT 2023 question paper was tough in Slots 2 and 3. Additionally, Quant was also rated as the toughest section compared to past few years. DILR sets of CAT 2023 were also termed as the lengthiest seen in the last five years.
• CAT 2022:Moderate A moderate year. The overall difficulty remained highly stable, though DILR remained a persistent sticking point and caused variations between slots.
• CAT 2021:Mod-Difficult The overall difficulty level of CAT 2021 exam was Moderate to Difficult. The exam had a reduced total of 66 questions with a time limit of 120 minutes.
• CAT 2020:Mod-Difficult Candidates who appeared for CAT 2020 exam found it to be moderately to highly difficult. The CAT 2020 paper saw a major change with the reduced exam duration from three hours to two hours and total number of questions in CAT from 100 to 76.
• CAT 2019:Mod-Difficult The overall difficulty level of CAT 2019 paper was moderate to difficult. CAT Quant and DILR questions were easy to moderate, whereas VARC was considered difficult and tricky.
• CAT 2018:Moderate Candidates who solved CAT 2018 question paper found VARC and DILR to be on the easier side, with Quant being tricky and time-consuming.
• CAT 2017:Easy-Mod Candidates found the CAT 2017 exam to be easy to moderate. Several candidates reported that the CAT 2017 question paper was on similar structural lines to the CAT 2016.
• CAT 2016:Mod-Difficult The overall difficulty level of CAT question paper was moderate to difficult. Candidates found the CAT 2016 exam to be time-consuming.

The CAT 2026 result will be announced online on the official website, iimcat.ac.in, in the third week of December. Candidates will be able to download their CAT scorecard using their login ID and password. Know how to check the CAT exam results below:

• Log on to the official CAT website: iimcat.ac.in.
• Click on the 'Login' tab.
• Enter your CAT application number and password.
• Click on the 'Scorecard' section.
• Click on the download option and save the PDF of the CAT 2026 scorecard.

The CAT exam score is accepted for admission to 22 IIMs and more than 1,600 B-schools across India. The IIM CAT scorecard is valid for one year.

CAT 2026 Scorecard Details

Each candidate's CAT scorecard 2026 will contain the following information:

• CAT 2026 registration number/User ID
• Candidate's name, DOB, category, and gender
• Date, slot, and exam timings
• Candidate's contact details and email ID
• CAT scaled score (overall)
• CAT score (section-wise)
• CAT percentile score (section-wise)
• CAT percentile score (overall)

The CAT cutoff for IIM admission is the minimum score required to get shortlisted for the selection rounds. The cutoffs vary based on category as well as the institute.

CAT Cutoffs for IIMs (Expected)

Find the CAT cutoff percentiles for all IIMs below. These are qualifying cutoffs, and the final cutoff will be higher.

*The CAT cutoff percentiles mentioned in the table above are for the General category. For SC/ST/OBC/PwD/EWS categories, the CAT cutoffs are lower.

Also Check: Top Non-IIMs Accepting CAT Scores

Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Scores: Check CAT Cutoffs for Non-IIMs

Apart from IIMs, CAT scores are accepted by nearly 1,600 MBA colleges across India. Check the expected CAT cutoffs below for some of the top MBA colleges other than IIMs:

The CAT selection process is a multi-stage evaluation system used by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top business schools to select candidates for their MBA/PGP programs. Clearing the CAT exam is only the first step. Final admission depends on a Composite Score (CS) that combines CAT percentiles, academic records, work experience, diversity factors, and performance in the second-round interview stages.

Stage-wise Selection Process via CAT Exam 2026 

1. Meet Minimum CAT Cutoff: Candidates must score above the minimum required sectional and overall percentiles set by each IIM to be eligible for initial screening.
2. Shortlisting for WAT/PI: Eligible candidates are shortlisted based on a composite score. This score is based on normalised CAT performance, Class 10 and 12 marks, graduation scores, and diversity bonus points.
3. Second Round Evaluation (WAT-GD-PI): Shortlisted candidates can participate in the selection rounds, such as
   • Written Ability Test (WAT)
   • Personal Interview (PI)
   • Group Discussions (GD)
   • Extempore
4. Final Merit List Compilation: Institutes calculate the final composite score by assigning specific weightages to the CAT score, PI performance, WAT score, work experience quality, and academic profile.

Selection Parameters besides CAT Scores

Top business schools use different parameters to ensure a balanced classroom. These parameters can include:

• Past Academic Performance (Class 10, Class 12, Graduation)
• Work Experience
• Academic Diversity
• Gender Diversity

IIM Selection Weightage (CAT vs Profile vs PI)

Every business school has its separate selection criteria and weightage distribution. The table below outlines the general weightage ranges used by top institutes for final merit list preparation:

NOTE: IIM selection weightage may change every year. Candidates will find details of the selection process when IIM releases the admission policy.

IIM Admission Routes via CAT 2026

All IIMs accept CAT scores for admissions; however, there is no common counselling or selection process for all IIMs. IIM admission vis CAT follows the below-mentioned routes:

• Independent Selection route: Top IIMs, including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore, Shillong, and Mumbai, conduct their own individual shortlisting, WAT, and PI rounds independently.
• IIM CAP: A centralised admission channel where one coordinating IIM conducts a single combined WAT-PI round for several newer and baby IIMs. Each participating IIM in CAP creates its own merit list using its individual weightage formula (notified with the admission policy).
• IIM JAP: A joint admission comprising some newer IIMs (including IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Kashipur, and IIM Tiruchirappalli) that conduct a standard interview round.
• IIM SAP: A secondary interview round conducted by select baby IIMs for candidates who did not meet standard CAP cutoffs or to fill remaining seats.

Also Read: Top MBA Colleges After CAT 2026: Cutoff & Fees

Check some important FAQs related to CAT exam below: