CAT Dress Code 2026 for Male and Female; Know Things to Carry or Not Carry on Exam Day
Common Admission Test 2026 ( CAT )
CAT 2026 admit card download
4 Nov '26 - 29 Nov '26
CAT 2026 aspirants must be aware of the do and don'ts of the exam as any deviation from the guidelines can result in disqualification. Know here, the CAT 2026 dress code and things to carry or not carry to the exam centre on November 29, 2026.
CAT 2026 Dress Code for Male & Female
CAT 2026 exam will be conducted by IIM Kozhikode on November 29, 2026 at about 350 centres in 170+ cities across India. The exam will be conducted under CCTV surveillance and there will be strict guidelines to prevent cheating, questions leak or other mal practices. For that, the examination authority has released official guidelines. Candidates taking the CAT 2026 need to be well aware of these guidelines before reaching the test centre. It is important that they know the CAT exam process and requirements well so that they don’t make any mistake which may lead to inconvenience and/or disqualification. Candidates find things to carry and exam day guidelines mentioned on the CAT admit card 2026.
One of such aspects is knowing the YES and NO of the CAT exam day. Preparing for the CAT 2026 exam day not only means that the candidate has studied all the topics. It also means that the candidate is prepared for the exam day. So, they need to know the CAT exam day guidelines. These CAT exam day rules and regulations include:
- Reaching the CAT 2026 exam centre on time
- Carrying CAT 2026 admit card all the necessary documents of identification
- Not carrying electronic gadgets to the CAT exam centre
- Wearing clothes as per instructed in the test day guide
- Following the instructions for biometric attendance and seating arrangement, etc.
Instructions mentioned on the CAT 2026 admit card is a very helpful tool for the candidates to familiarise themselves with 'dos' and 'don'ts' of CAT. The hall ticket has been released. Download it and check the guidelines. For the convenience of CAT 2026 aspirants, we have listed down items that the candidate must and must not carry to the CAT exam centre.
- What is the CAT 2026 Exam Day Dress Code?
- Things to Carry on CAT 2026 Exam Day
- Things Not to Carry to the CAT 2026 Exam Centre
- Practice CAT Mock Test by Shiksha
What is the CAT 2026 Exam Day Dress Code?
Check the following instructions related to dress code for appearing in the exam. It is imperative to follow the CAT exam dress code to avoid any sort of hassles during the entry:
- Candidates are not allowed to wear jewellery that contains metal
- Candidates are not allowed to wear closed footwear, cap, jackets and clothes with pockets and large buttons inside the exam hall
- Candidates with a metal implant, pacemaker, etc. in their body will be required to present a medical certificate for the same
- Socks, plain pullovers, sweaters, cardigans (without any pockets) are allowed inside the test lab
Commonly asked questions
Every candidate must carry a blue/black ball point pen and a few copies of their passport size photo to the exam centre. They must not carry any stationary item other than the pen. Candidates who have diabetes can carry fruits as per medical prescription. No other item will be allowed inside the exam venue. Candidates must not carry bags or valuables as there will be no arrangement for depositing while candidates appear for the exam. Candidates must also not carry notebooks or rough paper to the CAT exam centre. Any candidate found with an unauthorised item will be disqualified.
On CAT exam day, candidates have to follow a number of guidelines like cooperating with the exam centre staff during identification process, etc.:
CAT exam day dos:
- Reach examination centre at the reporting time mentioned on your CAT admit card. 2.
- Carry two copies of the CAT admit card, one photo ID card, passport size photos
- PwD candidates should carry relevant certificates and documents.
- Carry a blue/black ball point pen for signing attendance sheet
- Cooperate with test centre staff and follow instructions
- 7. While entering answers, use only computer mouse.
- Do not touch keyboard as doing so will lead to screen locking.
CAT exam day don'ts:
- Do not carry items such as bags, purses, pencil box, beepers, wrist watch, calculators, mobile phones, electronic devices, scanners, cameras, wireless/Bluetooth transmission or any such communication devices.
- Don't wear closed shoes, jewellery made of metal, jackets, clothes with pockets, mehendi on palms. Socks are allowed inside it.
- Don't wear caps, hoodies or jackets/shirts with pockets
- Don't be late for exam. Entry gates will be closed 15 minutes before the commencement of exam.
- No candidate will be allowed to enter the exam centre after that.
- Don't cheat or indulge in mal practice. You can be disqualified due to any such ACT.
- Don't create a ruckus inside the test lab
- Don't leave your seat until the exam duration gets over and the invigilator announces exit.
CAT exam is held in about 170 cities across India. Candidates can choose up to six cities as their preferred test location. The list of test cities for CAT is available in application form. Candidates should choose the test city carefully as the request to change the test city later may or may not be accepted due to non-availability of seats at the centres in that particular city. Given below are the cities where CAT exam is usually held.
Things to Carry on CAT 2026 Exam Day
Below is the list of most important document to be carried to the CAT exam centre. Entry will not be granted to candidates who will fail to present the relevant documents.
CAT 2026 Admit Card
CAT admit card is the most important document to be carried to the exam centre. Candidates will not be allowed entry into the examination hall without the CAT admit card. Each test taker must download their CAT 2026 admit card from the official website before November 30 and affix the same passport size photo as the one uploaded along with the CAT application form. Also, take two printouts of the CAT admit card 2026 and carry both to the exam hall.
DO NOT sign the CAT admit card beforehand as it has to be done at the exam centre in the presence of the invigilator.
Photo Identity Proof
Items not to carry to the CAT exam centre
At the CAT 2026 exam centre, you will be required to present a photo identity card provided by the Government of India. A secondary identity proof along with the CAT 2026 admit card is mandatory so that the authorities can keep a check on imposters.
As a photo identity proof, you can carry any of the following documents:
• College ID (must be supported with a valid debit/credit card)
• Employee ID
• Driving License
• Passport
• PAN Card
• Voter ID
• Aadhaar Card
Name Change Document
In cases where the name of the candidate had been changed due to any event (like marriage, legal name change, divorce), he or she will be required to carry a name change document that supports the new name. This document can be a marriage certificate, divorce degree, etc. Also, carry a notarised photocopy of the supporting document.
Medical Certificate and Scribe Affidavit
Candidates belonging to PwD category will be required to carry a medical certificate supporting the disability claim and a scribe affidavit (on the prescribed form by IIMCAT) to the exam centre. All the documents will be verified by the officials at the CAT exam centre post frisking. No candidate will be allowed to proceed to their computer system without document verification.
Also Read: List of important documents to carry on CAT exam day
Only admit card, photo identity card, required Medical certificate(s) and Scribe affidavit (if any) would be permitted beyond the frisking point at the CAT exam centre.
However, candidates coming from far off places, must carry food items and other essentials at the exam centre. They must reach early to find a place for keeping their belongings safely. It is advised not to carry watches, mobile phones, wallets and other expensive items there will be no arrangement of depositing bags and valuables inside the test centre premises and none of the exam centre staff will take the guarantee of the safety of the candidate’s belongings.
Things Not to Carry to the CAT 2026 Exam Centre
The CAT conducting body bans bags, purses, pencil boxes, beepers, wristwatches, calculators, mobile phones, electronic devices, scanners, cameras, wireless or Bluetooth devices, notepads, and all written material from the exam hall. Any candidate found with these items faces disqualification.
Candidates need not carry a pen. They will be provided with one pen and one scribble pad for rough work in the test lab. They will have to drop the one copy of admit card, pen and scribble pad (with all pages intact) in the boxes at the exam hall before exiting.
Practice CAT Mock Test by Shiksha
Find mock tests curated for CAT 2026 exam:
| CAT Mock Test by Shiksha | Direct Link for CAT Mock Test |
|---|---|
| Mock Test 1 | Practice CAT Mock Test |
| Mock Test 2 | Practice CAT Mock Test |
| Mock Test 3 | Practice CAT Mock Test |
| Mock Test 4 | Practice CAT Mock Test |
| Mock Test 5 | Practice CAT Mock Test |
| Mock Test 6 | Practice CAT Mock Test |
Commonly asked questions
The Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT is the third and the last section of the question paper. It has 22 questions and the total marks is 66. This section of the CAT exam is usually dominated by Arithmetic and Algebra. Most of the questions out of 22 are asked from these two topics. There are about 7-9 Algebra questions and 7-9 Arithmetic questions (the exact number varied for all three slots). Apart from these two topics, there are questions from Mensuration Modern Math and Number System in the Quantitative Aptitude section CAT. Some of the important sub topics in this section include: Arithmetic topics: Ratio and Proportion, Simple and Compound Interest, Profit and Loss Mixtures and Allegations Averages, Percentages, Mean Median Mode, Time and Work, Time Speed and Distance Algebra topics: Basics Algebraic Formulae, Number of integer solutions, Quadratic Equations, Finding out roots, Maxima and Minimal, Higher Degree Equations, Linear Equations, Problems on ages, Descartes Rule of Signs, Inequalities, Logarithm, Functions, Modifications of Graphs, The smallest Value in a Maximum Function Number System topics: Finding Out Last Two Digits, Number of Trailing Zeroes, Finding out Remainders based on, Basic Divisibility Rules, Binomial Theorem, Simplifying the Dividend (Single and/or Multiple Divisors), Basics of Numbers, Properties of Numbers, Divisibility Rules, Divisibility and Factors, the highest Common Factor and the lowest Common Multiple, Finding Out the Last Digit, Fermat's Theorem, Euler's Theorem, Pattern Recognition and Cyclicity of Remainders, Wilson's Theorem, Base Systems, Conversion of Bases, Addition/Subtraction/ Multiplication in different bases Geometry Topics: Lines and Angles, Triangles Basic Concepts, Area, Angles, Similar Triangles Polygons, Circles, Solids / Mensuration 3D Geometry, Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry Modern Math topics: Sequence and Series Binomial Theorem, Set Theory, Permutation and Combination, Probability.
The total number of questions in the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section of CAT exam is 22 (as per CAT 2024 question paper). Earlier, the number of DILR questions was 20.
There is equal number of question distribution between Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, which means both sections have 11 questions each. The total marks for DILR is 66. The questions on Data Interpretation as based on Tables, Graphs, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, whereas Logical Reasoning questions are based on Blood Relation, Seating Arrangement, Caselets and Syllogism. This section of the CAT is usually moderate in terms of difficulty level and about 12-14 correct attempts are good enough to score high marks. Some of the other important topics include Series, Proposition, Direction Sense, Coding-Decoding, Assumptions, Clocks and Calendars, Statements, Binary Logic, Data Structures, Data Sufficiency and Data Arrangement. To score high in this section, candidates must practice a good number of practice tests and sectional mock tests. The better you learn to interpret given data and apply reasoning to a given situation, the better you get at solving related questions.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 days ago
No, according to the estimated data, you would need a CAT cutoff of atleast 94 percentile to be qualified for final admission offer. Note that this percentile is not official and is only an estimate, since the institute does not release the cutoff publicly.
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, you can join IIM Kashipur without CAT, depending on the desired programme. You can get admission to any of the offered courses except MBA. Check the list below to know which exam is accepted for which programme.
- Executive MBA (EMBA): GMAT, IIM Kashipur EMAT (Executive Management Aptitude Test).
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
Candidates must maintain a dedicated formula sheet for properties of polygons, circle theorems, and mensuration formulas. Instead of memorising blindly, candidates must solve 15-20 problems for each sub-topic to understand how and when to apply each formula.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 5 days ago
It is technically possible to get 99 percentile in CAT Quants if a candidates obtains a perfect score in Arithmetic and Algebra. However, it can be highly risky as CAT exam often has Geometry questions aligned with Algebra or Coordinate systems. Sometimes candidates must know two different concepts
D
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 5 days ago
Triangles (properties, similarity, congruence, and theorems) is the most heavily tested sub-topic in CAT exam. Other high-yield areas include Circles (tangents, chords, and cyclic quadrilaterals), Mensuration (area and volume of 2D/3D shapes), and Coordinate Geometry.
R
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 5 days ago
Geometry is a an important topic in the Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section. Candidates can typically expect 3 to 5 questions out of the 22 total QA questions, making up roughly 15% to 20% of the section.
B
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
Candidates should first understand basic concepts, including divisibility rules, prime factorisation, HCF and LCM, and remainders. They should then solve topic-wise practice questions and previous years' CAT questions to improve accuracy and problem-solving speed.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
There is no fixed number of questions from the Number System in CAT. The number of questions varies across exam slots and years. Candidates should prepare the topic along with other important areas of Quantitative Aptitude.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
Yes, the Number System is an important topic for CAT Quantitative Aptitude. Questions may test concepts such as divisibility, remainders, factors, and properties of integers. Candidates should also practise applying these concepts to different question types.
J
Contributor-Level 7
Abhishek Dhawan is a content writer and editor with 7+ years of experience in education journalism. He holds a BA degree from the University of Delhi. At Shiksha, Abhishek primarily covers MBA and BBA entrance
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