CAT 2026 is officially scheduled. The country’s most competitive MBA entrance — the Common Admission Test — will be conducted by IIM Indore on Sunday, 29 November 2026, with the official notification window opening in the last week of July 2026 and registration commencing on iimcat.ac.in in the first week of August 2026. For lakhs of aspirants targeting the IIMs, FMS, SPJIMR, MDI and other top B-schools, the calendar is now set.
This post walks through every confirmed and indicative detail: the timeline, eligibility, fee structure, exam pattern, who should start when, and the realistic prep arc for a November exam. If you are sitting on the fence between a 2026 attempt and a 2027 attempt, this is the brief that helps you decide.
CAT 2026 — Key Dates at a Glance
| Event | Indicative Date |
|---|---|
| Conducting IIM | IIM Indore |
| Notification PDF release | Last week of July 2026 (around 26–27 July) |
| Registration window opens | First week of August 2026 |
| Registration window closes | Around 20 September 2026 |
| Admit card download | Early November 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Exam Day | Sunday, 29 November 2026 |
| Answer key & objections | Early December 2026 |
| Result declaration | Second week of January 2027 |
Source: iimcat.ac.in and confirmation reports from Mint / Business Standard. Final notification will supersede.
Who Should Register for CAT 2026?
The eligibility bar is deliberately low so that the funnel is wide — the cut happens at the score and shortlist stage, not at the application stage.
- Graduates with at least 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST/PwD).
- Final-year undergraduates from any stream — engineering, commerce, humanities, sciences, law, medicine.
- Professional qualifications like CA, CS, ICWA equivalents (with the prescribed percentage).
- No upper age limit; no cap on number of attempts.
Reservation categories — SC, ST, NC-OBC, EWS, PwD — apply as per Government of India norms.
Registration Fee (Indicative)
- General / EWS / NC-OBC: ₹2,600
- SC / ST / PwD: ₹1,300
You can choose up to four IIM programmes per application. Non-IIM B-schools that accept CAT scores (FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IITs, NITIE, IMI, MICA, IMT and 1,200+ others) have separate applications.
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
The structure has been stable since CAT 2021. Expect:
- Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT) at notified centres across ~150 cities.
- Duration: 120 minutes (40 minutes per section, sectional timing enforced).
- Slots: Three slots on exam day — Forenoon, Afternoon, Evening.
- Sections:
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) — ~24 questions
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) — ~20 questions
- Quantitative Ability (QA) — ~22 questions
- Marking: +3 for correct, –1 for incorrect MCQs, no negative for TITA (non-MCQ).
- Normalisation across slots through scaled scores and percentiles.
How Long Is “Enough” Prep for CAT 2026?
From 21 May 2026 to 29 November 2026 you have roughly 27 weeks — about 6 calendar months. That is the textbook “serious second attempt” or “focused first attempt” window. Here’s the realistic split:
- Foundation (Now – End July, ~10 weeks): rebuild arithmetic, algebra, geometry, grammar fundamentals, RC reading speed, basic LR sets. One concept module + 30 minutes RC daily.
- Sectional mastery (August – mid-October, ~10 weeks): sectional tests twice a week, topic-wise drills, error log discipline.
- Mock-test phase (mid-October – 28 November, ~7 weeks): at least 15–20 full-length mocks with same-day analysis. The analysis hours matter more than the mock itself.
If you are starting fresh today and can give 3–4 focused hours daily, a 90+ percentile is genuinely on the table. Above 99 needs that plus a strong mock-analysis culture.
What Should You Do This Week?
- Bookmark iimcat.ac.in and set a phone reminder for 27 July 2026.
- Keep a scanned passport-size photo and signature ready (the application portal is strict about specifications).
- Diagnose where you stand: take one untimed CAT 2023 or 2024 paper this weekend. Treat it as a baseline, not a verdict.
- Start a daily reading habit — one long-form editorial from The Hindu or Mint. VARC scores are built in May, not in October.
Common Mistakes Aspirants Make in the May–July Window
- Joining a coaching too early and burning out by August. Pace yourself.
- Hoarding 12 books per section. Pick one core source per section and exhaust it.
- Ignoring DILR until October. DILR is the section that decides percentile bands — start sets from June.
- No error log. Without a written record of why you got something wrong, mock scores plateau.
- Chasing 99.5%ile from day one. Aim for clean fundamentals first; percentile is a lagging indicator.
CAT 2026 vs Other MBA Exams
If you’re serious about an MBA in 2027, CAT is not your only shot:
- XAT 2026 (XLRI Jamshedpur) — already concluded on 4 January 2026.
- SNAP 2026 — December 2026 (multiple sittings).
- NMAT, CMAT, MAT, IIFT, TISSNET — staggered across November 2026 – February 2027.
Most prep done for CAT is transferable to these exams, especially CMAT, IIFT and NMAT. Treat CAT as the centrepiece, not the only piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the CAT 2026 notification PDF release?
Indicatively in the last week of July 2026 (around 26–27 July). The notification will be hosted on iimcat.ac.in and carry the official, final calendar.
When is the CAT 2026 exam date?
Sunday, 29 November 2026, conducted by IIM Indore in three slots across approximately 150 cities.
What is the CAT 2026 application fee?
Indicatively ₹2,600 for General / EWS / NC-OBC and ₹1,300 for SC / ST / PwD candidates. Final fee will be confirmed in the notification.
Is there an age limit or attempt limit for CAT 2026?
No. There is no upper age limit and no cap on the number of attempts.
Can final-year students apply for CAT 2026?
Yes. Final-year UG students from any discipline can apply, subject to securing the minimum aggregate at graduation.
Is 6 months enough to prepare for CAT 2026?
For most working professionals and college students with 3–4 focused hours daily, six months is a realistic window for a 90+ percentile. Targeting 99+ benefits from a longer runway and a disciplined mock-analysis routine.
The CAT Gurukul Edge
CAT Gurukul’s daily practice ecosystem — VARC RCs, DILR sets, QA topic drills and full-length CBT mocks — is built specifically for the 29 November 2026 attempt. If you want a structured plan tailored to your baseline, call our mentors on 70330 05444 and book a free diagnostic.
The notification will arrive in 67 days. The exam in 192. The runway is short, but it is enough — if you start this week.
Sources: iimcat.ac.in · IIM Ahmedabad · IIM Bangalore · IIM Calcutta · Mint · Business Standard · The Hindu.
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