CAT 2027: Exam Date, Registration, Eligibility, Syllabus & Exam Pattern

IIM Ahmedabad is expected to conduct CAT 2027 exam on November 28. Candidates aspiring for MBA admission 2028-30 batch at any of the 22 IIMs are required to appear for CAT 2027. Check all details on IIM CAT 2027 here.

All About CAT 2027

CAT 2027 exam will be conducted on November 28, 2027. Based on historical notification trends over the past five years, the official notification is released on the last weekend of July. Registration process for the exam will start in the first week of August at iimcat.ac.in website. The CAT exam is conducted by one of the top 6 IIMs on a rotationary basis. As per the trends, IIM Ahmedabad will convene CAT 2027 exam in three slots.

CAT is considered the toughest MBA entrance exam in India and nearly 2.50 lakh candidates appear for it every year. The exam syllabus includes Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. Preparation takes a minimum of 6 months. Read on this page, all about CAT Exam 2027.

CAT 2027: Overview & Important Highlights

CAT is an annual exam, conducted on a single day in three shifts. Check the key highlights of CAT 2027.

CAT 2027 Exam Date: When Will the Exam Be Conducted?

CAT 2027 exam schedule will be released along with the exam notification in the last week of July. Check the table below for CAT 2027 expected dates.

IIM CAT 2027 Notification: Release Date and Details

IIM Ahmedabad will release CAT 2027 exam notification in the last week of July, 2027. Candidates planning to appear for the CAT 2027 exam will find details such as registration schedule, admit card release date, exam date, IIM courses, and more with the notification. CAT exam notification will also include information on what details can be edited using the form correction window, eligibility details, and more.

Download CAT PYQs for Practice

Candidates can download CAT previous year question papers to prepare for the upcoming exam session. Download CAT PYQ PDF below:

CAT Mock Test by Shiksha

Candidates must practise as many mock tests as possible to secure a 99 percentile in CAT exam. Find full-length CAT mock test links below for practice. Candidates can also use CAT sample papers and past question papers for practice.

CAT Eligibility Criteria 2027

Check the space below for CAT 2027 eligibility criteria:

• The minimum eligibility criteria for CAT 2027 is graduation with 50 per cent marks from a recognised university.
• For SC/ST/PwD candidates, the minimum score requirement is 45 per cent.
• Candidates in final year of graduation can also apply.
• Candidates having a professional degree such as ICAI CA/ICSI CS/CMA/ICWAI can also appear for CAT.

Also Read: CAT 2027 Eligibility Criteria

CAT 2027 Registration: Start Date, Last Date and Application Process

CAT 2027 registration form will be available in online mode only from the first week of August. Candidates will have to create a login to apply. Those who have appeared for the exam before will also need a new registration. Check below the process to apply for CAT 2027:

1. Go to iimcat.ac.in website
2. Click on ‘new registration’ option
3. Enter basic details to create a login
4. Use OTP to verify details
5. Fill personal and academic details
6. Upload a passport size photo and scanned signature
7. Select test cities, IIMs and courses
8. Add work experience (optional)
9. Pay application fee and complete the process

CAT fee for General candidate is INR 2600 and for SC/ST/PwD candidates, it is INR 1300. The fee is to be paid online through debit card/credit card or net banking.

Details to be filled in CAT Application Form

Candidates will have to provide the following details while filling the CAT 2027 application form:

• Personal details

• Communication address

• Emergency contact details

• Document upload, including passport-size photo, signature, and category certificate)

• Academic details

• SSC/Class 10 details

• HSC/Class 12/Diploma details

• Bachelor’s degree details

• Master’s degree details

• Other professional degree details

• Work experience

• Programmes and interview city preference

• Upto five test city preferences

Also Read: CAT 2027 Registration Process

CAT 2027 Syllabus: VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude

CAT has three sections - VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. The syllabus has remained the same over the years and no change is expected in 2027 either. Check below important topics included in CAT syllabus.

• VARC section of CAT will have 24 questions based on Reading Comprehension, Parajumbles, Para-completion, Odd Sentence Out, and Parasummary.
• DILR section of CAT will have 22 questions based on Tables, Pie Charts, Bar Graphs, Coding-Decoding, Syllogism, Family Tree, Blood Relation, Clocks and Calendar, Abstract Reasoning, etc.
• Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT will have 22 questions from Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Profit and Loss, Time-Speed-Distance, Trigonometry, Number System, etc.

CAT 2027 Exam Pattern: Sections, Questions and Marking Scheme

CAT 2027 will be conducted in computer based test mode. The exam duration will be 120 minutes and format of questions will be both MCQs and TITA. Check below, CAT exam pattern highlights:

Also Read:

• CAT Question Paper PDFs
• CAT Mock Test for Practice
• CAT Preparation Tips and Strategy
• CAT books for preparation

What is TITA Questions in CAT Exam Paper?

TITA refers to the "Type In The Answer" question type. These are non-MCQ questions in the CAT exam where candidates need to solve the question and type the answer text into the on-screen text box. TITA questions are different from MCQs as these does not have any options for candidates to choose from.

How to Prepare for CAT 2027

CAT is among the toughest MBA entrance exam in India. To prepare for CAT, candidates need a structured strategy. Tips to prepare for CAT exam are as follows:

• Establish a Daily Routine: Consistent preparation is more important than raw hours. Candidates must balance their college or work, and start with 1-2 hours of study a day, and gradually increasing the number of hours for CAT prep.

• Choose Between Coaching and Self-Prep: In the first stage of preparation, candidates must choose the prep approach between self-study or coaching for CAT preparation . Selft prep to crack CAT is possible only with disciplined study a aggressive mock test practice. Candidates who lack foundational knowledge or discipline must conside a coaching for a good score in CAT.

• Start Mock Tests Early: Begin taking mocks even before completing the entire syllabus to analyse the foundations and adjust the study plan accordingly. Before starting the mocks, candidates must learn important CAT formulas .

• Progressive Mock Test Strategy: Take as many mocks as possible. Start with untimed or relaxed mocks to focus on getting answers right, then progress to timed mocks. One can also practise previous year CAT question papers . Finally, match exam simulations, which includes simulating the travel, venue, timing, and attire of the exam day.

• Exam Strategy: Focus on question selection and effective time management. Attempt the questions you are confident about to avoid negative marking, and wastage of time.

CAT 2027 Preparation Timeline and Study Plan by Past Toppers

CAT exam preparation can be streamlined based on interactions with past CAT toppers. Know exact strategies that helped past CAT toppers secure a 99+ percentile below:

Check below some helpful CAT preparation articles by Shiksha

• How to prepare for CAT in 6 months
• How to prepare for CAT in 3 months

CAT Cutoffs for IIMs

CAT cutoffs for IIMs are of two types - qualifying cut offs and final cut offs. Qualifying cut off is the minimum percentile required for being eligible for IIM-PI round, whereas final cut off is the minimum percentile on which a candidate is actually selected for PI round. Check the table below for IIM qualifying cut offs.

Read More:

• CAT Selection Process
• IIM selection criteria and admission process