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CAT 2026 is one of the most renowned and highly competitive MBA entrance exams for MBA aspirants aiming to take admission into some of the best management institutes of India such as IIM colleges. Since thousands are vying for seats in this exam, cracking the CAT requires a lot of strategy, hard work, determination, and good study material.
Depending on your standing and whether your going for your first attempt or have tried CAT before, one thing is for sure: knowing the CAT 2026 important dates, eligibility, syllabus, and exam pattern will organize your preparation. This section will enlighten you about all relevant details and preparation tips, helping you excel in CAT 2026.
CAT 2026 Important Dates
Below is a table summarizing the key dates for CAT 2026 (tentative):
| Event | Date (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| CAT 2026 Notification Release | Last week of July 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Registration Start | 1st week of August 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Registration End | 3rd week of September 2026 |
| Application Correction Window | 4th week of September 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | 4th week of October 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Exam Date | 29th November 2026 |
| Answer Key Release | 1st week of December 2026 |
| Result Declaration | 4th week of December 2026 |
CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
To apply for CAT 2026, candidates must fulfill the following criteria:
- Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD)
- Final-year students can also apply
- No age limit
- No restriction on the number of attempts
CAT 2026 Registration
Registration Process:
- Register online at the official CAT website (www.iimcat.ac.in)
- Fill in personal, academic, and work experience details
- Upload scanned photograph, signature, and category certificate (if applicable)
- Pay the registration fee (Rs. 2400 for General/OBC, Rs. 1200 for SC/ST/PwD)
Application Form Steps:
- Create a user account with valid email and mobile number
- Complete the application form with required details
- Upload documents in prescribed format
- Pay the fee online and submit the form
CAT 2026 Syllabus
The CAT syllabus is divided into three main sections:
| Section | Topics Covered | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Grammar, Sentence Completion, Verbal Logic, Syllogisms | 24 |
| DILR | Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Caselets, Graphs, Tables | 22 |
| QA | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number System, Modern Maths, Mensuration | 22 |
- Total Questions: 68
- Exam Duration: 120 minutes (40 minutes per section)
- Type: MCQs & TITA (Type-in-the-Answer)
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
CAT exam pattern is very important for effective preparation. In CAT 2024, so big changes were introduced, particularly in the DILR section, where the number of questions increased from 20 to 22. The structure also shifted from 4 sets of 5 questions to consists of sets of 5 questions and 3 sets of 4 questions.
The expected exam pattern for CAT 2026 is given below in the table:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Number of Slots | 3 |
| Total Number of Questions | 68 |
| Section-wise Time Limit | 40 minutes per section |
| Total Exam Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Question Types | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) & Type In The Answer (TITA) |
| Marking Scheme – MCQs | +3 for correct answers -1 for incorrect answers 0 for unattempted questions |
| Marking Scheme – Non-MCQs | +3 for correct answers No negative marking |
| Order of Sections | Candidates must attempt the sections in the fixed order: 1. VARC 2. DILR 3. QA |
CAT 2026 Admit Card
According to the tentative and official schedule of the previous year, the CAT 2026 admit card would be released in the last week of October 2026 to 20th November 2026. Those candidates, who have completed their process of registration and applying for the examination shall be able to download the admit card from the official website for CAT (www.iimcat.ac.in) by entering their login credentials.
The admit card is a very important document possessing details like the name of the candidate, exam day, shift time, and allotted exam center. The candidates should download, if possible print, a hard copy of their admit card much before the exam day to avoid any last-minute hassel.
Key points about CAT 2026 Admit Card:
- Release Date: Last week of October 2026 to 20th November 2026 (tentative)
- Download Mode: Online through official CAT website
- Required Credentials: User ID and password generated during registration
- Importance: Entry ticket to the exam center; must be carried along with a valid photo ID
- Availability: Admit card download window opens about 2-3 weeks before the exam and remains accessible until the exam day
CAT 2026 Exam Centers List
CAT is conducted across 150+ cities in India. Some major test cities include:
| State/UT | Major Test Cities |
|---|---|
| Delhi-NCR | Delhi, Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Meerut, New Delhi |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kolhapur, Solapur |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Dharwad, Udupi |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Salem, Tirunelveli, Vellore |
| West Bengal | Kolkata, Siliguri, Durgapur, Asansol, Hooghly, Kalyani |
| Others | Across all major states and union territories |
CAT 2026 Result Date
The CAT 2026 result is likely to be announced by the fourth week of December 2026, soon after the final answer key's release. Getting the result and scorecard requires aspirants to log in at the official CAT website (iimcat.ac.in) using their credentials; it won't be sent by post or any offline means. It is recommended that candidates get their scorecard printed for future reference and the admission process.
CAT 2026 Cut Off (Expected)
| Institute | Expected Cut Off (%ile) |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 99+ |
| IIM Bangalore | 99+ |
| IIM Calcutta | 99+ |
| IIM Lucknow | 98-99 |
| FMS Delhi | 98.2 |
| MDI Gurgaon | 95-97 |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 90+ |
CAT 2026 Study Material
- Start early: Begin preparation at least 9-12 months in advance.
- Understand the syllabus: Focus on weak areas and practise all sections.
- Mock tests: Regularly take mock tests to assess your performance and improve time management.
- Last year's question papers: Solving CAT previous year question papers will help in understanding the exam pattern and difficulty level.
- Study Material: Use standard CAT study material and trusted online resources like Cracku. Make sure you take full advantage of the resources which are available for free such as CAT study material, CAT daily targets, CAT mock tests etc.
- Revision: Regularly revise important concepts and formulas. Make sure you keep CAT formula book handy.
CAT 2026 Previous Year Papers & Study Material
Download and practice previous years' CAT question papers for a better grasp of the material. Consult a trusted source for CAT study material, which would include various online teaching portals, coaching modules, and recommended books.
CAT 2026: Conclusion
Dedicating yourself, working smartly, and taking expert advice is all what is needed for CAT 2026 preparation. Enrolling in a structured coaching program can really make all the difference in one's success. Cracku offers specialized CAT courses prepared by toppers and experts that supplement complete study material, regular mock tests, a forum for solving doubts and personalized strategies to help you stay consistent and confident throughout your preparation journey.
Don’t leave your CAT 2026 dreams to chance—join Cracku’s CAT courses today and take a decisive step towards your dream MBA!
Get started now with Cracku’s CAT 2026 courses and transform your preparation into success!
