CAT 2026 Response Sheet: Release Date, Steps To Download

CAT 2026 Response Sheet

To all CAT 2026 aspirants, having a plan B after the CAT exam is arguably the best thing. However, when you should go for plan B is a big question. Once the CAT 2026 exam is completed, you will know how it went. But sometimes the expectations might hurt, or sometimes there might be a good improvement also. So, to know where you stand after the CAT exam, you must check the CAT 2026 response sheet. It is expected to be released in the first week of December; the tentative date is 3rd December 2026. Once you cross-verify the response sheet with the CAT 2026 answer key, you will get full clarity on your raw score.

CAT Response Sheet 2026: What Does It Contain?

The CAT response sheet records how you responded to questions during your CAT 2026 exam. It also displays the answer considered correct in the provisional answer key.

This makes the response sheet more than a record of your attempts. It becomes the first clear mirror of your CAT performance.

You can compare every response with the official answer key while checking questions individually. Therefore, you get a clearer idea about your expected marks before the final scorecard.

Also Read, CAT Exam Analysis 2025, Slot & Section-wise Paper Analysis

CAT Response Sheet 2026 Release Date

The CAT Response Sheet 2026 is expected on December 3, 2026, based on the usual post-exam timeline. The exact release date will be updated here once the CAT conducting body, IIM Indore, officially announces it.

The response sheet generally appears within a short period after the examination. For CAT 2025, the exam was conducted on November 30, while the response sheet was released on December 4.

Keep checking the official CAT portal once the CAT 2026 exam concludes. The response sheet and provisional answer key can arrive together or within a short gap.

CAT Response Sheet 2026 Download Link

The CAT Response Sheet 2026 download link will be available through the official CAT candidate login. You will need your registered login credentials to access the document.

Follow these steps after the response sheet becomes available:

1. Visit the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in.
2. Click on the Candidate Login displayed on the portal.
3. Enter your registered User ID, Password and captcha carefully.
4. After logging in, open your candidate dashboard to see your response sheet.
5. Find the link mentioning the Response Sheet or related examination documents.
6. Open the response sheet and verify your recorded responses.
7. Download and save the document for future reference; if you want, you can take a printout. But it contains a lot of pages.

Keep a copy of the response sheet even after calculating your score. It can help while verifying an objection or reviewing your CAT performance.

How to Use the CAT Response Sheet 2026?

The response sheet becomes useful when you move beyond simply checking correct answers. You can use it to understand accuracy, estimate marks, and assess your performance across sections.

1. Calculate Your CAT Marks

Start by comparing your recorded responses with the CAT answer key. Mark each correct, incorrect, and unanswered question separately.

For MCQs, apply the official marking scheme after verifying the answers. Non-MCQ questions may have different response rules, so check the official instructions carefully.

This gives you an estimated raw score before the official result becomes available.

2. Estimate Your CAT Percentile

Your raw marks do not directly represent your final CAT percentile. CAT uses normalization across different examination slots before percentile calculation.

Therefore, your response sheet can provide an estimated score, but not your confirmed percentile.

You can use a CAT percentile calculator after calculating your expected marks. This can help you understand the approximate percentile range associated with your performance.

3. Compare CAT Marks vs Score

A useful review involves separating the marks you attempted from the marks you actually earned. This distinction can reveal whether accuracy or question selection affected your performance.

For instance, you might notice that attempting fewer questions could have protected your score. Another attempt could show strong accuracy despite a lower number of attempts.

That comparison makes your post-exam analysis more meaningful.

4. Check Your CAT Slot-Wise Performance

CAT is conducted across different sessions, so slot-wise comparison can add useful context. The difficulty level can vary between slots, which is why normalization matters.

You can read a CAT slot-wise analysis alongside your response sheet. This helps you understand how your section performance compares with the reported difficulty.

However, avoid treating unofficial analysis as your final result. The official scorecard remains the final authority.

5. Review VARC, DILR and QA Separately

Do not stop after calculating your total score. Check each section independently and identify patterns in your attempts.

You may discover that:

• VARC had high accuracy but fewer attempts.
• DILR contained a set that consumed too much time.
• QA included familiar questions that were left unanswered.
• A few errors came from rushing through otherwise manageable questions.

This review creates Awareness about your actual exam behaviour.

How to Raise Objections Against the CAT Answer Key?

If you believe an official answer contains an error, check the objection facility provided through the CAT portal.

The exact objection process, fee, and deadline will be announced with the response sheet. Therefore, verify these details directly before submitting a challenge.

Usually, the process requires you to:

1. Log in through the official CAT candidate portal.
2. Open the objection or answer-key section.
3. Select the relevant question ID.
4. Identify the response or answer you want to challenge.
5. Provide a clear explanation for your objection.
6. Upload supporting material if requested.
7. Submit the objection within the specified deadline.

Do not raise objections simply because your answer differs from the key. Check the question carefully and support your argument with reliable evidence.

What If Your CAT Exam Did Not Go Well?

A disappointing CAT attempt does not erase the work you put into preparation. Your response sheet can actually become a useful starting point for your next move.

• Suppose your expected CAT score falls below your target. Instead of treating that number as the end, inspect why it happened.
• Did DILR take too much time? Did negative marking hurt your score? Did familiar Quant questions remain untouched? Was the issue knowledge, speed, selection, or exam pressure?
• Stories of aspirants such as Vineeth, who have shared their CAT journeys, can also offer perspective. Reading how others handled setbacks can remind you that one examination does not define your entire MBA journey.
• The response sheet gives you evidence instead of assumptions. Use that evidence while deciding whether you need another attempt or a different approach.

CAT Response Sheet 2026: What Should You Do After Downloading It?

Once your response sheet arrives, avoid checking the total score first and stopping there. Spend a little time reviewing each section with a clear method.

A simple sequence can help:

• Download the response sheet and save a personal copy.
• Match every response against the CAT answer key.
• Calculate your estimated raw marks.
• Check your sectional performance separately.
• Use a CAT percentile calculator for an approximate range.
• Compare your marks with available CAT marks vs. score analysis.
• Go through the CAT slot-wise analysis for additional context.
• Check the objection window before its deadline.
• Review mistakes without judging your entire CAT journey.

Your response sheet is essentially a map of your CAT attempt. It shows the turns you took, the questions you skipped, and the errors that cost marks.

Use it for verifying your performance, not merely predicting your result. Moreover, if CAT went differently than expected, the same document can help you find the next route.

CAT 2026 Response Sheet: Conclusion

The CAT Response Sheet 2026 will help candidates understand their performance after the CAT exam. By comparing the recorded responses with the CAT answer key, aspirants can calculate their estimated raw marks, review sectional performance, and get an approximate idea of their CAT percentile. The response sheet is expected to be released on December 3, 2026, although candidates should wait for the official announcement for confirmation.

After downloading the CAT response sheet, candidates should carefully verify their answers, check their estimated CAT marks, review VARC, DILR, and QA performance, and check the answer-key objection window. Using the response sheet for detailed analysis can help candidates understand their exam performance and make informed decisions about their next steps.