Updated 23 October 2026
Where you take CAT matters almost as much as how you prepare for it. A long commute, an unfamiliar building or a late arrival can cost you focus before the first question appears. Here is what the official CAT 2026 advertisement says about test centres, and a simple plan for exam day.
What the official notice says
According to the CAT 2026 advertisement published by the IIMs:
- CAT 2026 will be conducted in test centres spread across around 170 test cities.
- Candidates were given the option to select any five test cities in order of preference during registration.
- The list of cities may be subject to changes at the discretion of the CAT authorities.
The test is computer-based and takes place on 29 November 2026 in three sessions. Your exact centre and session are printed on your admit card, which can be downloaded from 4 to 29 November 2026 on iimcat.ac.in.
Step 1: Read your centre address carefully
When your admit card is out, note the full centre address, not just the city. Large cities can have several centres far apart from each other. Search the address on a map and check:
- the travel time at the hour you will be travelling, not in the middle of the night;
- whether there is more than one entrance to the campus;
- where you can be dropped off or park.
Step 2: Do a trial run if you can
If the centre is in your city, visit it once before exam day, ideally at the same time of day as your session. You will learn about traffic, the exact gate and how long the walk from the road takes. If the centre is in another city, plan to arrive the previous day.
Step 3: Follow the official reporting instructions
The admit card and the CAT website carry the rules for exam day: when to report, what identification to bring and what is not allowed inside. These rules come from the CAT authorities, so read them on the official documents rather than relying on second-hand lists. Pack your bag the night before.
Step 4: Build a buffer
Plan to reach the centre well before the reporting time printed on your admit card. Late arrival is the one exam-day problem that preparation cannot fix.
If your centre is not what you expected
The advertisement notes that the list of test cities can change at the CAT authorities’ discretion. If you have a genuine problem with your allotted centre, the only route is the CAT helpdesk on the official website. Raise it early, and keep your registered email and mobile number active. The advertisement asks every candidate to maintain a valid and unique email and phone number throughout the selection process.
Use the commute you’ll save
A well-planned exam day frees your mind for the paper. Until then, keep your practice steady. CAT Gurukul’s free CAT practice questions cover VARC, DILR and QA, and our free CAT demo needs no payment.
Source: Official CAT 2026 advertisement published by the IIMs and the CAT website, iimcat.ac.in.
