CAT 2026 Exam Date: 29 November, Admit Card From 4 Nov

The CAT 2026 exam date is Sunday, 29 November 2026, which is a little over four weeks away. The test will be computer-based and held in three sessions at centres in about 170 cities. Admit cards can be downloaded from 4 November. IIM Indore is running the exam this year. Below are the remaining dates, the official exam pattern, what to check on your admit card and how to use the weeks you have left.

The dates and rules here come from the official CAT 2026 Information Bulletin and IIM Indore’s press release, both published on 26 July 2026.

CAT 2026 exam date and important dates

The original registration deadline was 15 September. According to The Indian Express, the IIMs extended it to 5 PM on 22 September. That window has now closed, so if you haven’t registered, you can’t sit CAT 2026.

Candidates paid a registration fee of ₹2,700, or ₹1,350 for SC, ST and PwBD candidates, just once no matter how many institutes they apply to. The bulletin says fees can’t be refunded under any circumstances.

How many candidates are taking CAT 2026?

Careers360 reports that about 2.84 lakh candidates registered this year, down from roughly 2.95 lakh in 2025, a fall of 3.7%.

CAT 2026 exam pattern

The press release confirms the same structure used in recent years:

Each section gets exactly 40 minutes, and you can’t switch between sections while answering. So you can’t bank time from a quick VARC section and use it on DILR. Your pacing has to work section by section. The IIMs have said an official mock exam will be available on the CAT website so candidates can get used to the interface.

CAT 2026 admit card: what to check

When you registered, you picked five preferred test cities. The bulletin says you’ll be allotted one of them where possible, or a nearby city if not. Once a centre is allotted, it can’t be changed. Your test centre and session are printed on the admit card, which you can download from 4 November on iimcat.ac.in.

Download it on the first day and check:

• Your name, photograph and signature, which should match what you uploaded
• The test centre address and your session timing
• The reporting instructions and the list of documents to carry

If the centre is in a different city, book travel and a place to stay early.

Beware of fake CAT websites

The press release calls iimcat.ac.in the sole official website for CAT 2026. It asks candidates to check the URL before entering personal details or making payments, and to report suspicious sites to cat2026_helpdesk@iimidr.ac.in. The help desk number listed in the bulletin is 1800 210 0175.

Eligibility and how IIMs use your score

To sit CAT you need a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA, or 45% for SC, ST and PwBD candidates. Final-year students can apply but must later submit a completion certificate by the date set by each IIM. Holders of professional qualifications such as CA, CS, CMA or FIAI with the required percentage are also eligible.

A good CAT score alone doesn’t guarantee a call. The bulletin says each IIM sets its own eligibility criteria, cut-offs and weightings, and may also look at past academic performance, work experience and other inputs. Some non-IIM institutions also accept CAT scores, but the IIMs have no role in their selection. Meeting the minimum eligibility criteria also doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be considered for shortlisting. Seats are reserved at 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for NC-OBC, up to 10% for EWS and 5% for PwBD candidates.

How to use the last month before CAT 2026

With about a month left, the focus shifts from learning new topics to performing on test day:

• Take full-length mocks in real conditions. Keep to the 40-minute section limits and the fixed order, since you can’t move back and forth on the day.
• Analyse each mock in detail. Review the questions you skipped and those you got wrong. Most of what you learn from a mock comes from this review.
• Practise question selection in DILR. In a 40-minute section, choosing the right sets matters as much as solving them.
• Read every day for VARC. Regular reading keeps your speed steady.
• Check the official mock on iimcat.ac.in once it goes live, so the screen layout feels familiar on exam day.

Many students now prepare with AI tools. If you’re doing the same, our look at how AI is changing education in 2026 discusses where these tools help and where they don’t. If you’re weighing an MBA against work experience first, read our guide to the PM Internship Scheme 2026 and our report on how India’s IT giants are using AI at work, which give a sense of the job market MBA graduates will enter.

Frequently asked questions

What is the CAT 2026 exam date?

CAT 2026 will be held on Sunday, 29 November 2026, in three sessions as a computer-based test.

When will the CAT 2026 admit card be released?

The admit card will be available to download on iimcat.ac.in from 4 November 2026 until the exam day, 29 November 2026.

Which IIM is conducting CAT 2026?

IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2026, and Prof. Aditya Billore is the convener.

What is the duration of CAT 2026?

The test lasts 120 minutes, with 40 minutes for each of the three sections: VARC, DILR and Quantitative Ability.

When will the CAT 2026 result be declared?

The bulletin says results are likely by the first week of January 2027. Scores remain valid until 31 December 2027.

Featured image: trakesht / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.