Written by
CoachingKhojo Team
Updated on:
02/05/2026
The Common Admission Test, or CAT, is more than just an entrance exam; it is a gateway to the most prestigious boardrooms and leadership roles in India. Conducted annually by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis, CAT is the primary requirement for admission into the 21 IIMs and hundreds of other top-tier management institutes like FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, and SPJIMR Mumbai.
If you are an MBA aspirant looking toward the 2026 cycle, you are stepping into a competitive arena where nearly 3 lakh candidates vie for a limited number of seats. To succeed, you need more than just intelligence; you need a strategic blueprint.
In this blog, we will talk about the CAT examination in detail, including its eligibility, syllabus, important dates, exam pattern, registration, selection process, cut-offs, and more.
CAT is a computer-based test (CBT) that evaluates a candidate’s aptitude across three core areas: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
The corporate landscape is shifting. Companies now look for managers who possess high analytical ability, emotional intelligence, and quick decision-making skills. The CAT exam is specifically designed to test these traits under extreme time pressure.
| Particulars | Details |
| Full Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Conducting Body | One of the IIMs (varies each year) |
| CAT Exam Date | November 29, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-based test |
| Sessions | 3 sessions in a single day |
| Exam Duration | 120 minutes (40 minutes per section) |
| Sections |
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Ability (QA) |
| Registration Window | August 2026 – September 2026 |
| Admit Card Download | November 2026 |
| Result Declaration | First week of January 2027 (tentative) |
| Registration Fees | ₹2,600 (General/EWS/NC-OBC) ₹1,300 (SC/ST/PwD) |
| Exam Centres | Approx. 170 cities across India |
| Official Website | https://iimcat.ac.in |
Planning is the first step toward success. While official dates are usually released in July, the CAT cycle follows a highly predictable pattern.
|
Event |
Tentative Date |
|
Official Notification Release |
Last week of July 2026 |
|
Registration Commencement |
First week of August 2026 |
|
Registration Deadline |
Third week of September 2026 |
|
Admit Card Release |
Fourth week of October 2026 |
|
CAT 2026 Exam Day |
November 29, 2026 (Sunday) |
|
Provisional Answer Key |
First week of December 2026 |
|
Result Declaration |
Second week of January 2027 |
UPSC and CAT have different eligibility standards, but CAT is relatively straightforward. However, ensure you meet the minimum percentage requirements to avoid disqualification during the IIM interview rounds.
The exam pattern has seen minor shifts in recent years to keep the testing environment dynamic. For 2026, we expect the 2-hour format to continue
| Feature | Details |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Number of Sessions | 3 sessions in a single day |
| Total Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Sectional Duration | 40 minutes per section (fixed, no switching) |
|
Sectional Breakdown |
|
| Language of Exam | English only |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) + Non-MCQs (TITA – Type in the Answer) |
| Marking Scheme | +3 marks for each correct answer |
| Negative Marking | -1 mark for each wrong answer (only for MCQs) |
| No Negative Marking | For non-MCQ (TITA) questions |
| Answering Rule | Must attempt questions in a fixed order; cannot go back to the previous section once time ends |
| Calculator Allowed? | Yes, an on-screen calculator will be provided |
Note on TITA: Type-In-The-Answer (TITA) questions require you to type the numerical answer using an on-screen keyboard. These are goldmines because they carry no negative risk.
To master the CAT exam, you must understand the weightage and topics of each section. While the IIMs do not release a fixed syllabus, the following table represents the most consistent topics and question distributions based on the trends seen in the last few years.
|
Section |
Core Area |
Key Topics & Chapters |
Expected No. of Questions |
|
Section 1: VARC |
Reading Comprehension |
Social Sciences, Philosophy, Humanities, Science & Tech, Business & Economics, Current Affairs |
16 Questions (4 Passages) |
|
Verbal Ability |
Para-jumbles (TITA), Odd-one-out sentences, Para-summary, Sentence Completion |
8 Questions |
|
|
Section 2: DILR |
Data Interpretation |
Caselets, Tables, Bar Graphs, Line Charts, Pie Charts, Spider Charts, Mixed Graphs |
10 - 12 Questions |
|
Logical Reasoning |
Linear & Circular Seating Arrangements, Blood Relations, Games & Tournaments, Routes & Networks, Binary Logic, Venn Diagrams (3 & 4 sets) |
10 - 12 Questions |
|
|
Section 3: QA |
Arithmetic |
Percentages, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest, Ratio & Proportion, Mixtures & Alligations, Time-Speed-Distance, Time & Work |
8 - 10 Questions |
|
Algebra |
Linear & Quadratic Equations, Logarithms, Progressions (AP/GP), Functions, Inequalities, Maxima & Minima |
5 - 7 Questions |
|
|
Geometry |
Lines, Angles, Triangles, Circles, Polygons, Coordinate Geometry, Mensuration (2D & 3D) |
3 - 4 Questions |
|
|
Number System |
HCF & LCM, Remainders, Divisibility Rules, Prime Factorisation, Unit Digits |
1 - 2 Questions |
|
|
Modern Math |
Permutations & Combinations, Probability, Set Theory, Sequences |
1 - 2 Questions |
The registration for CAT 2026 will be entirely online at iimcat.ac.in.
To reach the 99th percentile, your preparation must evolve from understanding basic concepts to mastering time management. This table breaks down the three critical phases of your CAT journey, helping you transition from a beginner to an exam-ready aspirant.
|
Phase |
Duration |
Focus Area |
Detailed Action Plan |
|
Phase 1: Foundation |
January – May |
Concept Building & Basics |
• QA: Complete basics of Arithmetic (Percentages, Ratios, TSD) and Algebra. • VARC: Develop a reading habit. Read 2-3 high-quality editorials daily (Aeon, The Hindu). • DILR: Solve 2 basic puzzles/sets daily to get comfortable with logical structures. • Goal: Accuracy over speed. Understand "Why" a formula works. |
|
Phase 2: Consolidation |
June – August |
Syllabus Completion & Sectionals |
• QA: Finish remaining topics like Geometry, Number Systems, and Modern Math. • VARC: Increase intensity to 4 RC passages daily; start practising Para-jumbles and Para-summaries. • DILR: Move to advanced sets (Games & Tournaments, complex Venn Diagrams). • Goal: Start taking Sectional Tests to manage the 40-minute time limit per section. |
|
Phase 3: The Mock Season |
September - November |
Strategy & Full-Length Mocks |
• Mocks: Take 1-2 full-length mocks per week in actual exam slots. • Analysis: Spend 3+ hours analysing every 2-hour mock. Track "Silly Mistakes" vs. "Conceptual Gaps." • Decision Making: Practice "Question Selection" learning, which involves picking and skipping. • Goal: Peak performance, mental stamina, and finalised exam-day strategy. |
The admit card is typically released in late October. It is a mandatory document.
While IIMs are the primary target, other institutes offer world-class ROI.
|
Institute |
Expected Cut-off |
|
IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta |
99.5+ Percentile |
|
FMS Delhi |
98.5+ Percentile |
|
SPJIMR Mumbai |
96-98 Percentile (Profile Based) |
|
MDI Gurgaon |
95+ Percentile |
|
IIT Bombay/Delhi (DoMS) |
97-98 Percentile |
The following are the IIMs accepting the CAT exam for MBA and other management exams:
| S. No. | IIM | Year of Establishment | State |
| 1 | IIM Ahmedabad | 1961 | Gujarat |
| 2 | IIM Calcutta | 1961 | West Bengal |
| 3 | IIM Bangalore | 1973 | Karnataka |
| 4 | IIM Lucknow | 1984 | Uttar Pradesh |
| 5 | IIM Indore | 1996 | Madhya Pradesh |
| 6 | IIM Kozhikode | 1996 | Kerala |
| 7 | IIM Shillong | 2007 | Meghalaya |
| 8 | IIM Raipur | 2010 | Chhattisgarh |
| 9 | IIM Ranchi | 2010 | Jharkhand |
| 10 | IIM Rohtak | 2010 | Haryana |
| 11 | IIM Kashipur | 2011 | Uttarakhand |
| 12 | IIM Tiruchirappalli | 2011 | Tamil Nadu |
| 13 | IIM Udaipur | 2011 | Rajasthan |
| 14 | IIM Amritsar | 2015 | Punjab |
| 15 | IIM Bodh Gaya | 2015 | Bihar |
| 16 | IIM Nagpur | 2015 | Maharashtra |
| 17 | IIM Sambalpur | 2015 | Odisha |
| 18 | IIM Sirmaur | 2015 | Himachal Pradesh |
| 19 | IIM Visakhapatnam | 2015 | Andhra Pradesh |
| 20 | IIM Jammu | 2016 | Jammu & Kashmir |
| 21 | IIM Mumbai | 2023 | Maharashtra |
| College | Location | Key Programmes |
| Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi University | New Delhi | MBA, Executive MBA |
| SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) | Mumbai | PGDM, Global Management Programmes |
| Management Development Institute (MDI) | Gurgaon | PGDM, Executive PGDM |
| Institute of Management Technology (IMT) | Ghaziabad | PGDM (Full-time, Executive, Part-time) |
| Xavier Institute of Management (XIM University) | Bhubaneswar | MBA (Business Management, HRM, RM, etc.) |
| Department of Management Studies (DMS), IIT Delhi | New Delhi | MBA (Full-time, Executive) |
| Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (SJMSOM), IIT Bombay | Mumbai | MBA, Executive Programs |
| Vinod Gupta School of Management (VGSoM), IIT Kharagpur | Kharagpur | MBA, Executive Programs |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management | Chennai, Gurgaon | PGDM, PGPM |
| International Management Institute (IMI) | New Delhi | PGDM, Executive PGDM |
| Institute Name | Mode of class | Fees | Best For | City |
| IMS | Online + Offline | ₹ 37,950/- -₹ 78026/- | Top-tier mocks (AIMCAT), serious prep | Pan India |
| TIME Institute | Online + Offline | Rs. 39,950 - ₹80,000 | Structured classroom coaching | Pan India |
| Career Launcher | Online + Offline | ₹36,500 - ₹70,000 | GD-PI prep + mentorship and VARC | Pan India |
| MBA Pathshala | Online | ₹17,999 - ₹23,999 | Structured prep + consistency | Online |
| Rodha Classes | Online | ₹13,499 - ₹35,499 | Deep QA + LRDI concepts (advanced prep) | Online |
| Elites Grid | Online | ₹28,000 - ₹36,000 | LRDI mastery + structured program | Online |
| Cracku | Online | ₹29,999 - ₹59,999 | Mock tests + analytics | Online |
| iQuanta | Online | ₹35,170 - ₹61,484 | Daily practice + doubt solving | Online |
| Takshzila | Online | ₹6,000 - ₹28,000 | Quant basics + concept clarity | Online |
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