Searching for the CAT 2026 registration date? You are early — and that is a good thing. As of 25 June 2026, the official CAT 2026 notification has not yet been released on iimcat.ac.in, which means the conducting IIM, the exact registration window and the exam date are all still expected / tentative. This guide gives you the realistic timeline MBA aspirants should plan around, plus eligibility, the VARC/DILR/QA exam pattern, the application fee and a from-today preparation roadmap — so you are ready the moment the official window opens.
Important — read this first: Every date below is tentative and based on historical CAT cycles. Nothing is confirmed until the official CAT 2026 notification is published at iimcat.ac.in. We will update this page as soon as the IIMs announce the dates.
Expected CAT 2026 Notification & Registration Timeline (Tentative)
The Common Admission Test follows a remarkably stable annual rhythm. CAT is conducted by the IIMs on a rotational basis, and each year the notification appears around the end of July, with the application window running through most of September and the exam falling on the last Sunday of November. Based on this pattern, here is the expected CAT 2026 schedule:
| Event | Expected / Tentative Date |
|---|---|
| Official notification released | Late July 2026 (tentative) |
| Registration / application opens | ~1 August 2026 (tentative) |
| Registration closes | ~20 September 2026 (tentative) |
| Admit card download | Early November 2026 (tentative) |
| CAT 2026 exam date | Last Sunday of November 2026 (tentative) |
| Result declaration | First week of January 2027 (tentative) |
The conducting IIM for 2026 has also not been officially confirmed; in the recent cycle the test was administered by IIM Indore (iimidr.ac.in). Reputable business press such as Mint, Business Standard and The Economic Times typically report the official dates within hours of the IIM announcement — but treat even those reports as confirmation of the official notification, not a substitute for it. Bookmark iimcat.ac.in and check it from late July onward.
CAT 2026 Eligibility
Eligibility criteria for CAT have been consistent and are expected to continue unchanged (pending the official notification):
- A Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC, ST and PwD candidates) from a recognised university.
- Candidates in the final year of their degree or awaiting results are eligible to apply.
- Professional qualifications such as CA, CS or ICWA are also accepted.
- No upper age limit and no cap on the number of attempts.
Note that clearing CAT only makes you eligible to apply to the IIMs and other participating B-schools — final admission depends on each institute’s own cut-offs, WAT/GD/PI rounds and composite scoring.
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern: VARC, DILR & QA
CAT is a computer-based test of 120 minutes (40 minutes per section, with no inter-section switching). Based on the established structure, the expected pattern is:
| Section | Focus | Time |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 40 min |
| DILR | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 40 min |
| QA | Quantitative Aptitude | 40 min |
Scoring follows the standard scheme: +3 for each correct answer and −1 for each wrong MCQ answer (non-MCQ / TITA questions carry no negative marking). The exact number of questions per section is confirmed only in the official notification and information bulletin.
CAT 2026 Application Fee (Expected)
Going by the most recent cycle, the application fee is expected to be approximately ₹2,500 for General/OBC/EWS candidates and around ₹1,250 for SC/ST/PwD candidates (tentative — to be confirmed in the official notification). The fee is non-refundable and is paid online during registration.
How to Prepare for CAT 2026 From Now
With the registration window expected in August, you have a focused runway. Here is how serious aspirants should use it:
- Build fundamentals first (June–July): Lock down QA arithmetic, algebra and number systems, and read a non-fiction passage daily to strengthen VARC.
- Layer in DILR sets: DILR is the great differentiator — practise one timed set every day and review the logic of sets you got wrong.
- Start sectional and full-length mocks (August onward): Simulate the 40-minute section discipline and learn to leave questions strategically. Explore our CAT mock tests to benchmark your percentile.
- Analyse, don’t just attempt: Spend more time reviewing each mock than taking it. Track accuracy and time per section.
- Get structured guidance: A guided programme keeps your prep on schedule through the registration and exam crunch. See our CAT courses.
The candidates who convert calls to the top IIMs are rarely the ones who started latest — they are the ones who built consistency well before the official notification dropped. Registration is a formality; the percentile is built in the months before it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the expected CAT 2026 registration date?
The CAT 2026 registration is expected to open around 1 August 2026 and close around 20 September 2026. These dates are tentative and based on historical patterns — the exact window will be confirmed only when the official notification is published on iimcat.ac.in.
Q2. Has the official CAT 2026 notification been released?
No. As of 25 June 2026, the official CAT 2026 notification has not yet been released. The conducting IIM, registration window and exam date remain expected/tentative until the IIMs announce them on iimcat.ac.in.
Q3. When is the CAT 2026 exam expected to be held?
CAT is traditionally held on the last Sunday of November, so CAT 2026 is expected in late November 2026 (tentative). Confirm the exact date on the official website once the notification is out.
Q4. What is the CAT 2026 exam pattern?
CAT is a 120-minute computer-based test with three sections — VARC, DILR and QA — of 40 minutes each, with +3 for correct answers and −1 for wrong MCQ answers. The exact question count is confirmed in the official information bulletin.
Sources: iimcat.ac.in, iimidr.ac.in, and reputable business press (Mint, Business Standard, The Economic Times). All 2026 dates are tentative pending the official notification.
