The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 is on Sunday, 29 November 2026, which leaves about six weeks from today. Registration closed in September, so the only thing that matters now is how you use the time left. This guide covers the dates still ahead, the exam pattern you should prepare for, and a week-by-week plan for the final stretch.
CAT 2026 is being conducted by IIM Indore. About 2.84 lakh candidates registered this year, slightly fewer than the 2.95 lakh who registered for CAT 2025, according to reports compiled by MBAUniverse and Careers360.
CAT 2026 key dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration | 3 Aug to 22 Sep 2026 (closed) |
| Form correction window | 5 to 6 Oct 2026 (closed) |
| Admit card release | 4 Nov 2026 (expected) |
| CAT 2026 exam | 29 Nov 2026 (Sunday) |
| Provisional answer key | Early December 2026 (expected) |
| Result | First week of January 2027 (as per notification) |
Always confirm dates on the official website, iimcat.ac.in, because IIMs can revise the schedule.
Exam pattern to prepare for
CAT is a computer-based test held in three slots on the same day: 8:30 to 10:30 AM, 12:30 to 2:30 PM and 4:30 to 6:30 PM. You are given one slot on your admit card; you cannot choose it.
| Section | Questions (expected) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 minutes |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 40 minutes |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 68 | 120 minutes |
The question count above follows the last two years’ pattern; IIM Indore confirms the final pattern only in the exam itself.
Marking scheme
- +3 for every correct answer.
- −1 for a wrong answer in a multiple-choice question (MCQ).
- No negative marking for TITA (type-in-the-answer) questions, so never leave a TITA question blank if you have a reasonable guess.
Sectional timer: each section is locked at 40 minutes, and you cannot move between sections. PwD candidates get 160 minutes in total (53 minutes 20 seconds per section).
How to use the last six weeks
At this stage, new topics matter less than strategy, mock analysis and accuracy. Here is a plan that works for most aspirants who have finished the syllabus once.
Week 1 (16 to 22 Oct): Find your weak spots
- Take two full-length mocks and analyse each for at least as long as the mock itself.
- List the 5 topic areas where you lose the most marks (for example, arithmetic word problems, para-jumbles, games-and-tournaments DILR sets).
- Revise your formula sheet for QA.
Week 2 (23 to 29 Oct): Fix the gaps
- Spend 60% of your study time on the weak areas you listed.
- Practise 2 RC passages and 2 DILR sets every day, timed.
- One full mock at the end of the week.
Week 3 (30 Oct to 5 Nov): Build exam temperament
- Move to three mocks a week, taken at the same time as your likely slot.
- Download your admit card as soon as it is out (expected 4 Nov) and check your name, photo, slot and test centre.
- Decide your section-wise attempt targets based on mock data, not guesses.
Week 4 (6 to 12 Nov): Sharpen selection
- CAT rewards choosing the right questions. In each mock, note how many minutes you lost on questions you eventually skipped.
- For DILR, practise reading all sets in the first 3 to 4 minutes and picking the two most doable ones.
- Keep up daily reading of editorials and long-form articles for VARC.
Week 5 (13 to 19 Nov): Revise, don’t cram
- Two mocks this week, plus revision of your error log.
- Re-attempt questions you got wrong in earlier mocks without looking at the solutions.
- Sleep at fixed times; your brain needs to be sharp at your slot time.
Week 6 (20 to 28 Nov): Taper
- One last mock no later than 25 November, then stop.
- Light revision of formulas, vocabulary of common RC topics, and DILR set types.
- Visit or map your test centre route if it is unfamiliar.
Exam day checklist
- Printed admit card (with photo) and an original, valid photo ID.
- Reach well before the reporting time shown on your admit card; late entry is not allowed.
- Calculators are provided on screen; do not carry your own, or any electronic device.
- Rough sheets and a pen are given at the centre.
- Follow any additional instructions printed on your admit card; they override general guides like this one.
Eligibility recap
- A bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC, ST and PwD candidates), or an equivalent CGPA.
- Final-year students can sit for CAT 2026; admission is then provisional on completing the degree.
- There is no age limit and no work experience requirement.
After CAT: what comes next
CAT scores are used by the 21 IIMs and hundreds of other B-schools; you can shortlist colleges by CAT acceptance, fees and NIRF rank on TopMBAColleges. Each IIM publishes its own shortlisting criteria, which usually combine your CAT percentile, academic scores, work experience and diversity factors. Shortlisted candidates are called for a written ability test (WAT) and personal interview (PI) between February and April. Start reading about current affairs and your own academic background now, so PI preparation in January is easier.
If your percentile does not match your target, you also have options such as XAT, SNAP, NMAT, CMAT and MAT. Many of these have registration windows open around now, so keep an eye on them.
Frequently asked questions
When is the CAT 2026 exam?
CAT 2026 is on Sunday, 29 November 2026, in three slots across about 170 cities in India.
When will the CAT 2026 admit card be released?
The admit card is expected on 4 November 2026 on iimcat.ac.in. Log in with your CAT user ID and password to download it.
Is there negative marking in CAT 2026?
Yes, −1 for a wrong MCQ answer. TITA questions have no negative marking.
Can I change my exam slot or test city now?
No. The correction window (5 to 6 Oct 2026) has closed, and slots are allotted by IIM Indore.
How many mocks should I take in the last six weeks?
Around 12 to 15 well-analysed mocks is plenty. Analysis matters more than the number of mocks you take.
When will the CAT 2026 result be declared?
The notification says the result will be out in the first week of January 2027.