This year, IIM Indore is expected to oversee the administration of CAT 2026. Last Year, it was IIM Kozhikode.
Based on the last Sunday trend, the CAT 2026 exam date is anticipated to be November 29, 2026. The official date will be confirmed in the CAT 2026 notification, which will probably be released in July 2026 on the official website iimcat.ac.in, where candidates can find details about the exam date, registration process, syllabus, registration process, list of documents required for CAT registration, and some preparation tips to help you get started early.
Check out the overview of CAT 2026, including the anticipated exam schedule, eligibility requirements, exam pattern, and syllabus in the article below:
Candidates are evaluated on their quantitative aptitude, data interpretation, logical reasoning, verbal ability, and reading comprehension in the CAT aptitude test. It is administered in computer-based test mode at specific locations throughout India.
There is going to be a fierce rivalry because more than 4.5 lakh applicants are expected to take the test each year. As a result, candidates should prepare for CAT 2026 for at least six to nine months. Students must answer 68 questions in total in the given period of 2 hours (120 minutes).
For all the information regarding the Common Admission Test 2026, including the CAT exam date for MBA, CAT exam fees, and the release of the CAT exam 2026 registration date, CAT 2026 exam dates and time, keep reading this article.
CAT Exam Date 2026
For your information, we have compiled the table below that shows the tentative schedule for the CAT 2026 exam dates based on the significant announcements for the previous year's CAT exams. Remember this timeframe and begin preparing for the CAT 2026 as soon as possible.
Following the announcement of the notification, the full schedule of the CAT 2026 exam will be available on the website iimcat.ac.in. Below is a detailed breakdown of the tentative dates and times for the CAT 2026 exam:
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CAT Exam Events
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CAT Exam Date 2026 (Tentative)
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CAT 2026 notification Release
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Last week of July 2026
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CAT exam 2026 registration dates
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First week of August 2026
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CAT 2026 Registration Last Date |
Third/Fourth week of September 2026 |
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CAT form correction Window Opening
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Third/Fourth week of September 2026
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CAT admit card 2026 Release
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First week of November 2026
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CAT 2026 exam date
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November 29, 2026
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CAT answer key release
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December 2026
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Declaration of the CAT 2026 result
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Third/Fourth week of December 2026
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CAT Exam 2026 - Overview
The important details about the CAT exam date 2026 must be known to all applicants who intend to take the CAT exam 2026. The CAT exam 2026 will run for two hours this year in three slots, as was the last year. Every section of the CAT exam 2026 will have a time limit, and incorrect answers will result in a negative mark, except for TITA questions.
The following are some crucial details regarding CAT 2026 for applicants planning to take the exam.
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The CAT exam will take place in 170 cities in 2026 in 3 slots.
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The CAT exam 2026 will run for two hours.
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The convener of the CAT 2026 exam this year will soon be revealed by IIM Indore, which is expected to administer the CAT 2026
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The CAT Exam Date 2026 is tentatively scheduled to be held on November 29, 2026, according to the customary last Sunday of November schedule.
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It is anticipated that approximately 4,50,000 candidates will take the CAT this year.
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Particulars
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CAT Exam Details
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CAT Full Form
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Common Admission Test (CAT)
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Level
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National
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CAT exam 2026 Administrator
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Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore
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CAT exam notification link
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July 2026 Expected
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Eligibility criteria for the CAT 2026 exam
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Graduation with 50 % aggregate (45 % for SC/ST students)
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Frequency
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Once a Year
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Mode of filling the CAT 2026 application form
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Online CBT
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CAT Exam Timings
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Slot 1: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Slot 2: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Slot 3: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
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CAT 2026 exam marking scheme
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Negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer
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CAT exam fees
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INR 2,600 for the General category
INR 1,300 for SC/ST/PwD
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CAT exam 2026 syllabus
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Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Quantitative Ability (QA)
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Number of cities
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170
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Official CAT 2026 website
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https://iimcat.ac.in
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CAT Notification 2026
The official exam date and all important information, including the registration window, eligibility requirements, syllabus, exam format, and application fee, are anticipated to be announced in the final week of July 2026, as was the case last year.
Each year, one of the IIMs administers the CAT exam and publishes an official announcement with all the pertinent information for candidates
CAT Registration 2026
Examine all the information regarding the CAT 2026 Application form, from online registration to submission.
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The CAT exam 2026 is expected to be held on November 29, 2026, in 3 slots, based on the last Sunday trend.
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The notification is expected to be released in July 2026.
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Registrations are expected to begin in the first week of August 2026.
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The last date to apply for CAT 2026 is expected to fall in the last week of September 2026.
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Candidates should choose "New Candidate Registration" when they access the official website. After submitting their basic information, they will receive an OTP to verify their registration.
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Once the verification process is finished, candidates will receive a unique ID and password to log in to their registered email address and mobile number.
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At this point, they can start filling out the application form with the necessary information. They will also be able to select five preferred test cities for the CAT exam in 2026. They will have to enter their basic information
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Applicants must register on the iimcat.ac.in website, fill out the CAT application, and pay the exam cost.
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The notification contained all the information regarding the exam, including the CAT 2026 exam dates and time, and the CAT exam 2026 registration date
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To prevent any confusion later, please make sure you read the instructions completely before filling out the form.
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Complete all required fields, making sure to register with a distinct and working email address and mobile number, as these will be used for all official correspondence.
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Before registering, all necessary information must be obtained, including personal data, academic information, employment history, test city, programs, pictures, documents, etc.
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Students must verify all information after filling out the form entirely before submitting it, since requests for revisions will be entertained only once during the correction window period.
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Do not submit more than one form at a time, as this could result in form rejection.
The CAT 2026 registration fees is INR 1300 for students in reserved categories and INR 2600 for those in unreserved categories. Net banking or a debit/credit card must be used to pay the fee. Candidates must properly fill out the CAT 2026 application form because the application cost is non-refundable. The submission of the form will not be completed until the fee is paid.
Statistics
Last year, approximately 2.95 lakh students enrolled for the IIM CAT test, while 2.58 lakh people showed up. IIM Kozhikode was expecting a record-breaking 3.5 lakh CAT 2026 application forms last year. The CAT exam form 2026 is expected to break all previous records this year in terms of applications since its foundation as a national-level management entrance exam.
The CAT exam dates for MBA admission are expected to be set by the conducting body at IIM Indore. Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) use the CAT exam form 2026 to admit students for MBA and PGDM programs.
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) last year effectively discontinued its own entrance exam and started accepting the CAT scores, which will continue this year as well for admission to MBA programs in business analytics and international business.
Approximately 1200 of the top MBA colleges in India accept the CAT exam scorecard for admission to their management programs. Top non-IIM MBA schools like MDI Gurugram, SPJIMR, IMT, FMS, IM, IITs, GIM, GLIM, LIBA, NITIE, MICA, IRMA, and others will also take the CAT 2026 score for admission.
CAT Admit Card 2026
Candidates must possess their CAT 2026 admit card on the CAT exam 2026 to enter the exam hall. Successfully registered applicants can use the official website's login to download their CAT admission card online. The CAT admission card 2026 will be released a few days before the exam and will remain available till the day of the exam. These are some crucial admission card-related facts that aspirants should be aware of. Look at them down below.
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Only registered candidates can download the CAT 2026 admit card by using their CAT ID and password from the official IIM CAT website, iimcat.ac.in.
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The admit card will provide the exam location, date, and other information for the CAT exam 2026.
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The CAT 2026 admit card is a crucial piece of document to have on exam day.
CAT Exam Dates for MBA: Slot Scheduling
Every component of the CAT exam 2026 has a time limit. The candidate cannot edit the sections they have already attempted; the screen automatically advances to the next one after the allotted time has elapsed. You must monitor your time and adjust your exercise accordingly.
The following are the three exam sessions for the CAT exam 2026, as per last year’s trends:
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Slot 1: Early morning: 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
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Slot 2: In the afternoon: 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
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Slot 3: Evening session: 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
CAT 2026 Answer Key
The preliminary CAT Answer Key 2026 release date is expected to fall in December, 2026, in the form of a response sheet. The CAT Answer Key PDF will be made available on the official website.
This answer key can be used to calculate the scores and file an objection against any answer you see unfit. Students must pay a fee of INR 1500 per objection against the CAT Answer Key 2026.
Candidates must visit the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in, and log in using their CAT 2026 ID and password for the CAT Answer Key 2026 pdf download. Candidates will be able to verify their answers and determine their CAT exam percentile with the help of the CAT 2026 answer key.
Candidates who successfully contests the official responses to the exam's questions during the CAT 2026 answer key challenge session will have their objection fee refunded. The official final CAT answer key link will be updated if any of the candidates' concerns are determined to be legitimate.
CAT Results 2026
The CAT official website will release the CAT results 2026 in December, 2026, tentatively. The final answer key is formulated after all the objections against the answer key are resolved, which will serve as the foundation for the final results.
Candidates will be able to download the CAT result 2026 by visiting the official website and entering their login details (CAT ID and password). The CAT 2026 scorecard will remain valid all through 2026 and 2027.
CAT Syllabus 2026
The CAT exam 2026 syllabus is expected to remain the same as that of CAT 2026, including Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) and Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR). Examine the key CAT subjects included in the curriculum below.
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CAT Exam 2026 Syllabus
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Section
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Topics
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Weightage in Exam
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Quantitative Ability (QA)
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Arithmetic
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Modern Maths
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Number System
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Algebra
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Mensuration
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Trigonometry
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Geometry
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34-36%
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Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
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Data Charts
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Data Tables
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Bar Graphs
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Venn Diagrams
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Seating Arrangement
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Team Formation
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Clocks & Calendars
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30-32%
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Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
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Long & Short Passages
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Jumbled Paragraphs
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Para-summary
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Picking the Out Sentence
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32-34%
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CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
The DILR section's question count was raised from 20 to 22 last year. The exam pattern was unchanged in any other way. The CAT exam format is anticipated to remain consistent this year. View the highlights of the CAT exam pattern in the table below:
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There are three sessions for the CAT exam.
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Every session lasts for 40 minutes.
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VARC, DILR, and QA are the three sections that make up the CAT exam paper.
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There are 68 questions throughout the exam.
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The whole exam is allotted 120 minutes as its time limit.
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Candidates receive three points for each correct response. In addition, one mark is subtracted for each wrong response.
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Non-MCQs do not have a negative marking system; thus, there are no consequences for skipping questions.
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The CAT 2026 exam will contain a maximum possible score of 204.
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Answering every question is not required.
CAT Cut Offs 2026
The CAT cut off, or minimum score requirement, is the basis for MBA admission to all B-schools, including IIMs and non-IIMs. IIMs publish the final cut-offs following the results and the qualifying CAT cut-offs before the test. For reference, see the qualifying CAT cut-offs for prior years below.
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IIM
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Qualifying CAT cut-offs
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IIM Ahmedabad
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85
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IIM Bangalore
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85
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IIM Calcutta
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85
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IIM Lucknow
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90
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IIM Indore
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90
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IIM Kozhikode
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85
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IIM Amritsar
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90
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IIM Nagpur
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94
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IIM Sambalpur
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94
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IIM Trichy
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94
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IIM Raipur
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94
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IIM Ranchi
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94
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IIM Kashipur
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94
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IIM Vizag
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80
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IIM Udaipur
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94
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IIM Bodhgaya
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94
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IIM Shillong
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75
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IIM Sirmaur
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94
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IIM Rohtak
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95
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IIM Nagpur
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85
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IIM Jammu
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94
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IIM Mumbai
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94
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The IIM CAT Selection Process 2026
The CAT 2026 score of the MBA admission batch 2026 will be used by the IIMs to shortlist applicants. The Written Ability Test (WAT) and the Personal Interview (PI) are part of the admissions procedure. The steps for IIM admission via CAT are shown below:
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Step 1: Candidates are shortlisted based on their CAT scores.
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Step 2: WAT-PI round conduct
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Step 3: Final admissions selection and offer
When choosing a candidate, the institute will also look at their work experience, class 10, class 12, and graduation grades.
Also Read :
FAQs CAT Exam Date 2026
Q1. What is the CAT exam Registration Date?
The CAT exam 2026 Registration date is expected to begin in the first week of August 2026 and end in September 2026. The notification is expected to be released in July 2026. The Common Admission Test 2026 is expected to be conducted on November 29, 2026.
Q2. What is the minimum and maximum age requirement for the CAT exam 2026?
Candidates of any age can participate in the CAT exam 2026 as long as they meet the requirements for eligibility. There is no upper age limit.
Q3. How can I apply for the CAT exam 2026?
Visit the official website of the CAT and fill in your details, and pay your registration fees to apply for it.
Q4. What is the purpose of the CAT exam 2026?
The Common Admission Test 2026 is a national entrance exam that is required for admission to the top 20 IIMs and other MBA programs in India.
Q5. What is the CAT exam fee 2026?
The CAT exam fee is Rs. 2600 for general category students and Rs. 1300 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
Q6. How long does the CAT exam 2026 last?
The CAT exam 2026 runs for two hours, with forty minutes allotted to each component (or fifty-three minutes and twenty seconds for PwD applicants).
Q7. How will the CAT 2026 exam be structured?
The CAT 2026 exam pattern this year has no changes compared to the previous year.
Q8. What is the CAT exam Date 2026?
The CAT exam Date 2026 will be released with the notification in July 2026, by the Indian Institute of Management, IIM Indore.