Common Admission Test 2026
About the Entrance Exam
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a highly competitive national-level computer-based test designed to evaluate and select the finest management minds for post-graduate business administration programs (MBA/PGDM). Held annually on the last Sunday of November, the exam serves as a standard benchmark for academic readiness across more than 20 IIMs and hundreds of non-IIM member institutions. The test focuses not on rote memorization, but on checking a candidate's speed, accuracy, decision-making capabilities, and analytical mindset under tight sectional time limits.
Duration
120 Min
Questions
66
Mode
ONLINE
Frequency
ONCE_A_YEAR
CAT 2026 Notification Release
Scheduled Date
CAT 2026 Registration Start Date
Scheduled Date
CAT 2026 Registration Last Date
Scheduled Date
Application Form Correction Window
Scheduled Date
CAT 2026 Admit Card Release Date
Scheduled Date
CAT Exam Date 2026
Scheduled Date
CAT Answer Key Release Date
Scheduled Date
CAT Result 2026 Release Date
Scheduled Date
Exam Pattern
Breakdown of subjects and marking
Score Range
0-204
The paper follows a strict objective pattern mixed with Type-In-The-Answer (TITA) questions. Each correct attempt grants $+3$ marks, while every incorrect MCQ attracts a $-1$ penalty. There is no negative marking for TITA questions.
| Section | Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 24 | 40m |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 20 | 40m |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 40m |
The CAT registration cycle operates completely online via the official iimcat website, typically commencing in August and wrapping up by September.
Required Documents:
- Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s Degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) or an equivalent CGPA from a recognized university.
- Final Year Students: Final-year undergraduate students or those awaiting results are fully eligible to apply.
- Documentation Pack: Requires clear digital scans of passport-size photos, signatures, category certificates (if applicable), and accurate semester-wise graduation transcripts.
- Application Fee: Form submission requires online payment of registration fees (2600 for General/OBC and 1300 for reserved categories).
Total Marks
204
Passing Criteria
No Fixed Cutoff (Operates purely on a comparative percentile ranking framework based on normalized scales)
CAT results are published in the form of overall and sectional percentiles using an advanced multi-session normalization process to ensure structural fairness across different slot difficulties. Scoring a $99+$ percentile typically requires securing a high raw score base depending on the paper's difficulty matrix. Top IIMs release their subsequent shortlists for Written Ability Tests (WAT) and Personal Interviews (PI) immediately following the scorecard release.