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The CAT (Common Admission Test ), is a national – level MBA Exam conducted by IIMs on a rotational basis. The CAT entrance exam will initiate the shortlisting process of MBA aspirants who wish to join IIMs for an MBA. So, it is important to start CAT preparation with full dedication so that you can crack the exam with a good score.
Check the official website of IIM CAT to know all the important timelines for CAT . So, candidates must check the latest CAT. Syllabus and exam pattern and start their preparation as soon as possible.
The test includes three sections.
- VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension)
- DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning) and
- QA(Quantitative Ability).
Overall it’s an online exam of three hours split into one hour for each portion. The IIMs (Indian Management Institutes) started this test and are selecting candidates for various Post Graduate and Fellow/Doctorate programmes courses through the exam. The CAT exam is conducted once a year.
Sectional Weightage & Marks Distribution (Expected)
Note the table below to get the expected sectional weightage and test structure for the CAT Exam .
| CAT Paper Sections | Total Questions | MCQs | TITA | Maximum Marks |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 21 | 3 | 72 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 14 | 6 | 60 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 14 | 8 | 66 |
| Total | 66 | 49 | 17 | 198 |
CAT 2026: Key Highlights
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Category
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Details
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Exam Name
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Common Admission Test (CAT)
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Conducting Body
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Any of the Top IIMs
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Official Website
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www.iimcat.ac.in
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Medium of exam
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English
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Exam Level
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National
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Frequency
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Annual
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Exam Mode
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Computer-Based Test (CBT)
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Number of Questions
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68
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Question Types
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Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) & Type in The Answer (TITA)
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Selection Process
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CAT scores, Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) for some IIMs
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Score Validity
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1 year
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Number of IIMs Participating
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21 IIMs
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Other Institutes Accepting CAT Scores
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1000+ Prestigious management institutes and business schools in India
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CAT 2026 Important Dates
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Events
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Dates 2026 (Tentative)
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Notification release of CAT 2026
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Last week of July 2026
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Release of CAT 2026 application form
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1st week of August 2026
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Last date to fill CAT 2026 registration form
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3rd week of September 2026
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CAT 2026 Application Correction
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4th week of September 2026
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Availability of CAT 2026 admit card
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4th week of October 2026
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CAT 2026 Exam Date
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4th week of November 2026
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CAT 2026 Answer key
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1st week of December 2026
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CAT 2026 Last date to submit objection against answer key
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1st week of December 2026
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Announcement of CAT 2026 result
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4th week of December 2026
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CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
- Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s degree from a UGC-recognized institute with at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD).
- Engineering Degree Holders:B.Tech/B.E. from AICTE/MHRD-recognized university with 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD).
- Final Year Students: Eligible if they meet the 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) criteria.
- Age Limit: No upper or lower age limit.
- Attempt Limit: No restriction on the number of attempts.
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Category
|
Reservation Percentage
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|
OBC
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27%
|
|
SC
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15%
|
|
ST
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7.50%
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PwD
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3%
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CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
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Mode of Examination
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Computer-based
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|
Medium of Examination
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English
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|
Slots for Exam
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3
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|
Total Questions
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68
|
|
Questions Per Section
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VARC: 24
DILR: 22
QA: 22
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Time Allotted
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120 minutes (40 minutes per section)
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Type of Questions
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MCQs and TITA (Type In The Answer)
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Marks Awarded for Correct Answer
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+3 for every right answer
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Marks Deducted for Wrong Answer
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-1 for every wrong answer
No negative marking for TITA
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CAT 2026 Syllabus
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Syllabus
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Topics
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Verbal Ability Reading Comprehension
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Fill in the blanks, Verbal Logic, Para Jumbles, Grammar, Reading Comprehension, Sentence, Completion, Jumbled, Paragraphs, Different Usage of the same word, Syllogisms, Parts of speech
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|
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
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Venn Diagram, Coding-Decoding, Binary Logic, Blood Relations, Syllogism, Direction Sense, Tables, Bars and Line Graphs, Puzzles, Family Tree, Assumptions, Pie Charts, Seating Arrangement, Data Sufficiency, Clocks and Calendars
|
|
Quantitative Aptitude
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Mean, mode, median, Binomial theorem, Geometry, Ratios and Proportion, Work and Time, Algebra, Percentages, Mensuration, Time, Speed and Distance, Square Root and Cube Root, Number System, Simple interest and compound interest, Geometric Progression, Surds and Indices
|
CAT 2026 Application Form
- Visit the official CAT website.
- Click on the ‘Go to Application Form’ link.
- The candidate’s name and date of birth (DOB) will be auto-filled based on registration details.
- Enter father’s/husband’s/guardian’s name and gender.
- Select category and nationality.
- Provide a valid postal address and an alternate email ID (if applicable).
- Fill in academic qualifications, including:
- Total marks obtained in 10th, 12th/Diploma, Bachelor’s degree (pursuing or completed), Master’s degree, or any professional degree.
- Enter work experience details (if applicable).
- Choose preferred programs and select four preferred exam cities.
- Candidates must select six exam cities in order of preference, as test centers will be allotted based on availability.
- Upload scanned images of:
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Signature
- Category certificate (if applicable)
- Ensure the documents meet the prescribed format and size requirements.
- Click on Save & Continue to review the entered details.
- Once verified, submit the application form.
- No hard copy of the registration form needs to be sent via post or offline mode.
- Keep a printout of the submitted application form for future reference.
Application Fee Details
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Category
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Registration Fee
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|
SC/ST/PWD candidates
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Rs. 1200/-
|
|
All other category candidates
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Rs. 2400/-
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CAT 2026 Admit Card
CAT 2026 Answer Key.
CAT 2026 Result
