CAT 2027 Exam, Expected Dates, Registration & Schedule

Which IIM will conduct CAT 2027?: CAT 2027 will be conducted by one of the senior IIM colleges under the rotational system. Official confirmation is expected in mid-2027, while candidates can rely on previous trends for a preparation strategy.

Common Admission Test (CAT) exam 2027, India's most competitive MBA entrance exam, will be administered by one of the major Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) using the conventional rotational system.

While the official conducting body for CAT 2027 has yet to be announced, the older IIMs, such as Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Indian Institute of Management Lucknow, Indian Institute of Management Indore, and Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, generally take responsibility.

The official announcement about the CAT 2027 conducted by IIM is expected in July or August 2027, along with the release of the exam notification. Till then, students can use previous trends, exam patterns, and sectional difficulty levels to carefully prepare for the CAT 2027.

Which IIM will conduct CAT 2027?

Every year, one of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) conducts the Common Admission Test (CAT) on a rotating basis. However, no specific IIM has been announced to host the CAT 2027 exam. This information is often published before the exam notification date, which is usually in mid-2027.

CAT exam has previously been conducted alternately at various IIMs, including IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Lucknow, and IIM Calcutta. CAT 2027 will be conducted by one of the IIMs (as always), the particular institute responsible will be officially announced later (probably in July 2027).

CAT 2027 Conducted by IIM

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) for CAT 2027 has not yet been officially declared. The conducting body is selected by rotation from the six senior IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore, and Kozhikode). The official notification for CAT 2027 is normally released in July/August of that year.

CAT 2027 Exam Conducting Body

CAT (Common Admission Test) 2027 exam will be administered by one of India's major business schools, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). The duty for organising the exam is assigned annually among multiple IIMs, with the selected IIM for a given year organising everything from notification and registration to exam administration and results release.

For example, the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode has organised the CAT 2026 exam. The same rotational approach will be used to choose which IIM will host CAT 2027, and more details will be formally announced before the registration date.

Which IIM Is Expected to Conduct CAT 2027

CAT Exam 2027 will be conducted by one of the premier IIMs. IIM Indore is expected to conduct CAT 2026. In CAT 2025, the level of Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VARC) and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) was moderate; however, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) questions were more difficult. Students can use this structure to study for the exam, predict the level of difficulty, and plan a strategy to pass it.

List of IIMs that Conducted CAT in Previous Years

Every year, one of the top IIMs conducts the Common Aptitude Test on a rotating basis. The table below indicates which IIMs administered the exam in the last 9 years. These are the IIMs that have conducted the CAT exam in previous years.

What to Expect from CAT 2027 Based on Past Trends

CAT exam 2027 is expected to use the same limited 120-minute format that was introduced during the pandemic.

• Duration: 120 minutes (40 minutes per section).
• Total Questions: Approximately 66–68 questions.
• Sectional Breakdown:
• VARC: 24 questions.
• DILR: 22 questions (recently increased from 20 in 2024/2025).
• QA: 22 questions.
• Marking Scheme: +3 for right answers, -1 for incorrect answers, and 0 for incorrect TITA (Type-In-The-Answer) questions.

Section-Wise Trends

• Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC): Results indicate an increased focus on reading comprehension, which accounts for about 67-70% of the part. Expect deep, inference-heavy passages from different fields such as philosophy, sociology, and science.
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): Traditionally, the most dynamic and difficult section. Recent papers prefer logic-driven sets to large calculation-based ones, with subjects such as games & tournaments and complex puzzles dominating.
• Quantitative Aptitude (QA): Plan for a continuous focus on arithmetic and algebra, which often account for more than 60% of this section. Trends indicate a shift to more conceptual, "variable-based" questions that eliminate students who focus entirely on shortcuts.

Competition & Admissions

• Candidate Count: The number of registrations peaked at over 3.3 lakh in 2024. Registrations are expected to stabilise at 3.05-3.15 lakh by 2027.
• Percentile Requirement: General category candidates usually need a 99.5+ percentile to get a call from the "Old IIMs" (A, B, C). Top non-IIMs, such as FMS Delhi, have realistic targets of 99.5 percentile or higher.

Which IIM Will Conduct CAT 2027: Conclusion

CAT 2027 will be conducted by one of the senior IIMs under the established rotational system. While the official announcement is awaited, past trends provide reliable guidance for aspirants planning their preparation.

Understanding previous conducting bodies, exam patterns, and sectional trends helps candidates build a structured strategy. Focus on consistent preparation, balanced sectional practice, and percentile targets to maximise your chances of securing admission to top IIMs and leading MBA institutes.