CAT 2026 – Complete Guide to Common Admission Test 2026

📌 CAT 2026 – Overview

The CAT 2026 (Common Admission Test) is India’s most prestigious national-level MBA entrance examination conducted for admission into IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) and other top B-schools across the country. Every year, more than 3 lakh aspirants appear for the CAT exam to secure admission into elite management institutions.

If you are planning to pursue an MBA from IIMs or other top colleges, understanding the CAT 2026 exam pattern, eligibility, syllabus, preparation strategy, and important dates is crucial.

🎯 What is CAT (Common Admission Test)?

CAT stands for Common Admission Test
National-level MBA entrance exam
Conducted once a year (Computer-Based Test)
Gateway to:
- 21 IIMs
- 1,200+ B-Schools across India
Highly competitive exam
Tests aptitude, reasoning, and quantitative ability

📅 CAT 2026 Important Dates (Tentative)

Event	Expected Date
CAT 2026 Notification Release	July 2026
Registration Start Date	August 2026
Last Date to Apply	September 2026
Admit Card Release	October 2026
CAT 2026 Exam Date	November 2026 (Last Sunday)
Result Declaration	January 2027

Note: Official dates will be announced on the CAT official website.

🏛 Conducting Body of CAT 2026

CAT is conducted by one of the IIMs on a rotational basis.
The official authority releases:
- Notification
- Registration details
- Admit card
- Answer key
- Results

🎓 CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Criteria	Details
Educational Qualification	Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
Minimum Marks	50% for General/OBC
Reserved Category	45% for SC/ST/PwD
Final Year Students	Eligible to apply
Age Limit	No age restriction

✔ Candidates must ensure they meet the eligibility before applying for CAT 2026.

📝 CAT 2026 Exam Pattern

The Common Admission Test 2026 will follow a similar pattern to previous years.

Section	Questions	Time Limit
VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)	24	40 Minutes
DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning)	20	40 Minutes
QA (Quantitative Ability)	22	40 Minutes
Total	66 Questions	120 Minutes

Key Highlights:

Mode: Computer-Based Test
Duration: 2 hours
Sectional time limit
MCQs + Non-MCQs
Negative marking: -1 for incorrect MCQ

📚 CAT 2026 Syllabus (Section-Wise)

Although the CAT syllabus is not officially defined, it includes topics from:

1️⃣ VARC – Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension Passages
Para Jumbles
Summary Writing
Odd One Out
Para Completion
Vocabulary

2️⃣ DILR – Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

Graphs & Charts
Tables & Caselets
Seating Arrangement
Blood Relations
Puzzles
Logical Sequences

3️⃣ QA – Quantitative Ability

Arithmetic
Algebra
Geometry
Number System
Modern Math
Time & Work
Percentages
Profit & Loss

💰 CAT 2026 Application Fee (Expected)

Category	Fee
General / OBC	₹2400
SC / ST / PwD	₹1200

Payment Mode:

Debit Card
Credit Card
Net Banking
UPI

🖥 How to Apply for CAT 2026 (Step-by-Step)

Visit official CAT website
Register with email ID & mobile number
Fill application form
Upload documents:
- Photo
- Signature
- Category certificate (if applicable)
Select test cities
Pay application fee
Submit and download confirmation

🏆 CAT 2026 Selection Process

The CAT exam is just the first stage.

Step 1: CAT Score

Step 2: Shortlisting by IIMs

Step 3: WAT (Written Ability Test)

Step 4: GD (Group Discussion) – Some colleges

Step 5: PI (Personal Interview)

Step 6: Final Merit List

📊 CAT 2026 Cut-Off (Expected)

Institute	Expected Cut-Off Percentile
IIM Ahmedabad	99+
IIM Bangalore	99+
IIM Calcutta	99+
IIM Lucknow	97+
New IIMs	90–95
Top Private B-Schools	80–95

📈 Why CAT 2026 is Important?

Admission into top MBA colleges
High salary packages (₹20–30 LPA at top IIMs)
Global career opportunities
Strong alumni network
Leadership development

📘 CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy

6–12 Month Preparation Plan

✔ Step 1: Understand Exam Pattern

✔ Step 2: Master Basics

✔ Step 3: Solve Previous Year Papers

✔ Step 4: Take Mock Tests Weekly

✔ Step 5: Analyze Performance

✔ Step 6: Improve Weak Areas

📌 Best Books for CAT 2026 Preparation

Section	Recommended Books
VARC	Arun Sharma / Word Power Made Easy
DILR	Nishit Sinha / Arun Sharma
QA	Arun Sharma Quantitative Aptitude
Mocks	TIME / IMS / Career Launcher

🧠 CAT 2026 Preparation Tips

Read newspapers daily
Practice 2 RC passages daily
Solve 20 quant questions daily
Attempt sectional mocks
Focus on accuracy
Time management is crucial
Analyze every mock test

📊 CAT Score vs Percentile

CAT percentile is relative
99 percentile ≠ 99% marks
Percentile depends on:
- Total candidates
- Difficulty level
- Overall performance

🏫 Top Colleges Accepting CAT Score

Institute	Location
IIM Ahmedabad	Gujarat
IIM Bangalore	Karnataka
IIM Calcutta	West Bengal
FMS Delhi	Delhi
SPJIMR	Mumbai
MDI Gurgaon	Haryana
IMT Ghaziabad	UP

🔥 Career Opportunities After CAT

After clearing the Common Admission Test, students can pursue:

MBA in Finance
MBA in Marketing
MBA in HR
MBA in Operations
MBA in Analytics
MBA in International Business

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is CAT 2026?

CAT 2026 is the Common Admission Test for MBA admission into IIMs and top B-schools in India.

2. Who conducts CAT?

One of the IIMs conducts CAT every year on a rotational basis.

3. Is there negative marking in CAT?

Yes, -1 mark for incorrect MCQs.

4. Can final-year students apply?

Yes, final-year students are eligible.

5. How many times is CAT conducted in a year?

Once a year.

📌 Final Words on CAT 2026

The CAT 2026 (Common Admission Test) is your gateway to India’s top MBA colleges. With proper planning, smart preparation, and consistent mock practice, you can secure a high percentile and achieve admission into prestigious institutions.

Start early, stay disciplined, and focus on concept clarit