CAT 2026: Registration (Open), Exam Date (Nov 29), Syllabus, Pattern, Question Papers, Preparation Tips

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by one of the BLACKI IIMs. This year, CAT 2026 is being conducted by IIM Indore. Prof. Aditya Billore, Professor of Marketing at IIM Indore, is the CAT 2026 Convener. The Common Admission Test is conducted to test business aptitude, communication skills, and reasoning ability. Being one of the top MBA entrance exams in India, IIM CAT is also the toughest. The CAT question paper is prepared by a panel of experts from the IIM that conducts the exam for that year.

The CAT entrance exam score is valid for admission to 22 IIMs, as well as 1600+ colleges accepting CAT score. The admission process for full-time MBA programmes offered through CAT scores includes the Writing Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI).

CAT Notification 2026: Key Information

The IIM CAT 2026 notification was released on July 26. The official notification informs candidates about all aspects of the exam, such as the test date, application schedule, admit card, and result announcement. Candidates can refer to the CAT exam notification 2026 to know the following details:

• Eligibility criteria
• Reservation policy
• Courses offered by IIMs through CAT
• Application details
• CAT exam pattern
• Exam timings
• Number of test cities

Also Check:

• Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score in India 2026
• Top 30 Non IIMs Colleges Accepting CAT Score

On average, around 2.5 lakh candidates appear for the CAT examination every year, out of which only 20-25 score between the 99.99 and 100 percentile. This indicates that the CAT is a high difficulty level exam. Check the table below for the CAT exam snapshot:

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CAT eligibility criteria are defined in line with AICTE guidelines for PG-level professional courses. Given below are the main criteria that candidates have to meet to be eligible for the CAT entrance exam:

• Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with a minimum of 50 per cent marks (45 per cent for SC/ST/PwD candidates).
• Final-year Bachelor's degree candidates are also eligible to apply for CAT. Such candidates must ensure that the scores of the first two years of their programme meet the minimum requirement.
• Professional degree holders such as CAs, CSs, CMAs, or Fellows of the Institute of Actuaries of India can also apply, provided they meet the minimum score requirement.
• There is no age limit for appearing in the CAT exam. 

Also Read: CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026

IIM Reservation Policy 2026

Find the reservation policy at IIMs for admissions via CAT exam:

IIM Indore hosts the CAT registration cum application form online. To know how to fill the CAT application form, check the registration process below:

• Visit the CAT exam official website: iimcat.ac.in.
• Click on 'CAT 2026 New Registration'.
• Enter your name, date of birth, nationality, phone number, and email ID to register.
• Log in with the User ID received on your registered email to fill out the CAT 2026 application form.
• Enter personal and academic details (parents' details, contact info, etc.).
• Upload a recent passport-size photo and a scanned signature.
• Select your preferred courses and IIMs.
• Select CAT exam city preferences from the drop-down menu.
• Pay the CAT application fee via credit/debit card or net banking.

Also Read: CAT Application Form 2026 

CAT Application Fee 2026

The CAT registration fee varies based on the candidate's category. Check the table for CAT 2026 exam fees below: 

The CAT 2026 question paper will have MCQs and TITA questions. There will be negative marking for incorrect attempts. Check the highlights of the CAT 2026 exam pattern below:

CAT Exam Pattern 2026: Key Points to Note

• Each section will be of 40 minutes. The computer screen will move to the next section as soon as the time is up for a section. 
• Questions will be in MCQ as well as TITA (Type In The Answer) format. For MCQs, candidates will have to mark only one option as the correct answer. 
• For TITA questions, they will have to enter the answer using the keyboard.
• In the CAT examination, candidates will be allowed to use an onscreen calculator. They will also be given a loose sheet to do rough work.
• The total marks for the CAT exam 2026 will be 204.

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CAT 2026 Sectional Breakup

VARC has the maximum weightage in CAT and is also the lengthiest. Given below is the sectional breakup of the CAT question paper:

Changes in CAT Exam Pattern Over the Years

Not much has changed in the CAT exam pattern in the post-COVID era. Over the years, the IIMs have strived to make the exam more balanced to allow academic diversity in MBA classrooms. While the IIM CAT exam was earlier an 180-minute test, it is now a 120-minute test. Check the table below for changes in the sectional weightage of the exam.

Also Read: Changes in CAT exam over the years

The CAT exam syllabus is broadly divided into three sections: VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Aptitude. Check below for the main topics of the CAT syllabus 2026. 

Also Read:

• CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus
• Logical Reasoning Topics for CAT

Primary tips for section-wise CAT preparation:

Divide the CAT 2026 exam preparation into phases. The first phase should include section-wise and topic-wise syllabus coverage—both theory and practice. If you have joined a coaching institute, you will be guided well. However, if you are self-studying, you should ensure you are using the best resources. Refer to the best books for CAT, join online study groups, and subscribe to recommended CAT preparation channels. Read books and watch videos to gain complete clarity on the concepts. 

The second phase of CAT exam preparation 2026 should be dedicated to CAT mock test practice only. Candidates must practise a minimum of 40 full-length and 20 sectional mocks of various difficulty levels to master all aspects of the CAT examination. While practising CAT mock tests, they must analyse each performance to evaluate their progress. The aim of practising CAT mocks is to get faster and more accurate with each consecutive mock test. 

The third and final phase of CAT preparation is all about revision and working on strong areas. Revise theorems and formulae on a daily basis. Go through key English grammar concepts, keep solving passage-based questions, and focus on topics from which the maximum number of questions are asked. Keep practising mocks until you reach 99+ percentile marks.

Check the list below for important articles on CAT 2026 exam preparation:

• How to Prepare for CAT in 6 Months
• CAT Preparation Plan: Ultimate Tips from Experts
• Strategies to Score 99+ Percentile in CAT Exam
• CAT 2026 DILR Strategy to Score 26 Marks and Get 95 Percentile
• CAT 2026 VARC Strategy to Score 30 Marks and Get 95 Percentile
• CAT 2026 Quant Strategy to Score 25 Marks and Get 95 Percentile

CAT Topper Tips and Strategy

CAT preparation is a long journey, and candidates are expected to be consistent. Learn how the CAT toppers of previous years managed exam preparation and stress. Discover their CAT preparation strategy.

Best Books for CAT 2026 Preparation

• NCERT Mathematics books (Class 9-10)
• How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma
• Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha
• Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by Sarvesh Verma
• Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Nishit Sinha
• Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal
• A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by RS Aggarwal
• How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma
• How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma
• Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit Sinha
• Data Interpretation by Nishit Sinha
• CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri
• How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay
• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Nishit Sinha
• Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
• High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin
• 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary by Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis