What is CAT Exam? All Details, Purpose, Full Form

CAT Full Form

The full form of CAT is Common Admission Test. It is India’s most popular management entrance exam for admission into MBA and PGDM programs at IIMs and other top B-schools.

Upcoming CAT Exams:

• CAT 2026
• CAT 2027

All About CAT Exam

Find below the details of CAT exam:

Particulars	Details
Full Name	Common Admission Test (CAT)
Conducting Body	One of the IIMs (varies each year)
CAT Exam Date	November 29, 2026 (Sunday)
Mode of Exam	Computer-based test
Sessions	3 sessions in a single day
Exam Duration	120 minutes (40 minutes per section)
Sections	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)Quantitative Ability (QA)
Registration Window	August 2026 – September 2026
Admit Card Download	November 2026
Result Declaration	First week of January 2027 (tentative)
Registration Fees	₹2,600 (General/EWS/NC-OBC)  ₹1,300 (SC/ST/PwD)
Exam Centres	Approx. 170 cities across India
Official Website	https://iimcat.ac.in

What is CAT Exam?

The Common Admission Test, widely known as CAT exam, is a national-level computer-based entrance test conducted every year by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). For 2026, the exam will be conducted by IIM Kozhikode under the convener Prof. P N Ram Kumar.

CAT examination evaluates your skills in Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability over a duration of 120 minutes.

The exam is the primary gateway to MBA/PGP programs at 21 IIMs, which are India’s premier management institutes known globally for academic excellence, top faculty, high ROI, and outstanding placements. Beyond IIMs, CAT scores are also accepted by hundreds of other leading B-schools across India.

To be precise, if you aim to study management at the most reputed institutions in India and build a strong career in business or leadership, CAT is the exam that opens those doors.

Advantages of CAT Exam

These are the top reasons why CAT exam matters for aspirants like you:

• Gateway to IIMs: CAT is the only entrance exam for admission into the 21 Indian Institutes of Management, the most reputed B-schools in the country.
• Accepted by Top Non-IIMs: Prestigious institutes like FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai, and many others also accept CAT scores.
• Global Recognition: IIMs are consistently ranked among the top business schools in Asia and globally, making a CAT-based MBA highly valued.
• Career Growth & Placements: IIM graduates secure high-paying jobs across consulting, finance, technology, and global firms with impressive placement records.
• Strong Alumni Network: CAT paves the way to become part of the powerful IIM alumni network, which includes top CEOs, entrepreneurs, and leaders worldwide.
• Versatility of MBA: A CAT-based MBA opens doors across industries, from management consulting to startups, government, and social enterprises.

CAT Exam Important Dates 2026

Below are the important dates of CAT examination 2026:

Event	Date
CAT Registration Opens	August 2026
CAT Registration Closes	September 2026
CAT Admit Card Date	November 2026
CAT 2025 Exam Date	November 29, 2026 (Sunday) – 3 sessions
CAT 2025 Result Declaration	First week of January 2027 (tentative)
CAT 2025 Score Validity	Till December 31, 2027

CAT Eligibility Criteria

Check the CAT eligibility criteria below:

Criteria	Details
Education Required	Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or institution
Minimum Marks (General/EWS/NC-OBC)	At least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA
Minimum Marks (SC/ST/PwD)	At least 45% marks or equivalent CGPA
Final Year Students	Eligible to apply, but must provide a certificate from college confirming completion of degree requirements when asked
Professional Degrees	Candidates with CA, CS, ICWA (CMA), or FIAI are also eligible
CAT Age Limit	No age limit to appear for CAT
Score Conversion (CGPA to %)	If your university doesn’t specify, CGPA will be converted by dividing it by maximum CGPA and multiplying by 100
Reservation – SC	15% of seats
Reservation – ST	7.5% of seats
Reservation – NC-OBC	27% of seats (Non-Creamy Layer only)
Reservation – EWS	Up to 10% of seats
Reservation – PwD	5% of seats (as per RPwD Act, 2016)
PwD Categories	Blindness/low vision, deaf/hard of hearing, locomotor disability, cerebral palsy, autism, intellectual disability, learning disability, mental illness, multiple disabilities, acid attack victims, etc.
Certificate Requirement	SC/ST/NC-OBC/EWS/PwD candidates must upload valid certificates during registration and show originals at interview/admission

Additional Notes:

• Final year candidates will only get provisional admission until they submit final mark sheets and certificates.
• IIMs may check eligibility at any stage of the process. Meeting the minimum marks does not guarantee a call.
• Candidates must use a valid email ID and mobile number throughout the selection process.

CAT Exam Pattern

Check the latest CAT exam pattern for MBA:

Feature	Details
Mode of Exam	Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Exam Date	November 29, 2026 (Sunday)
Number of Sessions	3 sessions in a single day
Total Duration	120 minutes (2 hours)
Sectional Duration	40 minutes per section (fixed, no switching)
Language of Exam	English only
Type of Questions	Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) + Non-MCQs (TITA – Type in the Answer)
Marking Scheme	+3 marks for each correct answer
Negative Marking	-1 mark for each wrong answer (only for MCQs)
No Negative Marking	For non-MCQ (TITA) questions
Answering Rule	Must attempt questions in a fixed order; cannot go back to previous section once time ends
Calculator Allowed?	Yes, an on-screen calculator will be provided

CAT Exam Syllabus

Find the overview of CAT syllabus:

Section	Syllabus & Topics
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)	• Reading Comprehension (RC) passages
	• Para jumbles (Jumbled Paragraphs)
	• Sentence completion & correction
	• Para Summary
	• Odd sentence out
	• Vocabulary in context
	• Inference-based questions
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)	• Data tables and charts (bar graph, line graph, pie chart)
	• Caselets (data-driven problem sets)
	• Data sufficiency
	• Venn diagrams
	• Seating arrangement
	• Blood relations
	• Puzzles and games-based reasoning
	• Syllogisms & logical connectives
Quantitative Ability (QA)	• Arithmetic (Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Averages, Time & Work, Time-Speed-Distance, Simple & Compound Interest, Profit & Loss, Mixtures & Alligations)
	• Algebra (Equations, Inequalities, Progressions, Functions, Logarithms)
	• Geometry & Mensuration (Triangles, Circles, Polygons, Coordinate Geometry, Solid Geometry)
	• Number System (Divisibility, Factors, LCM & HCF, Remainders, Base System)
	• Modern Math (Permutations & Combinations, Probability, Set Theory)

Must Check: CAT Study Material for better preparation

How to Apply for CAT Examination?

1. Check eligibility

• You need a bachelor’s degree with the required minimum marks. Final-year students can apply with a provisional certificate later.

2. Keep things ready

• Active email ID and mobile number (you’ll get OTPs and all updates here)
• Scanned photo (recent, plain background) and signature
• Category/PwD certificate (if applicable)
• Class 10, 12, and graduation details (marks/CGPA, year)
• Work-experience details, if any (full-time, after graduation)

3. Go to the official site

• Open iimcat.ac.in and click Register (New Candidate Registration).
• Create your login (OTP based)
• Enter name, DOB, email, mobile → Generate OTP → verify → you’ll receive User ID & Password.

4. Log in

Use the received credentials and click Go to Application.

• Fill Personal Details: Your name/DOB auto-fill from registration. Add address, emergency contact, category, and PwD details (and scribe need, if any).
• Upload documents: Upload the photo and signature (as per size/type asked on the form). Upload valid category/PwD certificates if you’re claiming reservation.
• Enter Academics: Fill 10th, 12th, and graduation info. If your college uses CGPA and no conversion rule exists, the form guides you on converting CGPA to percentage.
• Add Work Experience (if any): Enter only full-time post-graduation experience (in days). Internships/part-time don’t count.

5. Choose Programmes & Interview City

• Tick the IIM programmes you want and select an interview city for each (as asked on the form).

6. Pick Test Cities (5 choices)

• Select five different preferred test cities in order.

7. Preview everything

• Use Preview to check each detail and document. Fix errors now. After payment, most fields lock.

8. Pay the fee online

• Pay the registration fee (as shown on the form). Save the transaction number.
• After successful payment, submit the form. Download/print the Application Summary. You’ll also get a confirmation email/SMS.
• After registrations close, a short edit window usually opens for photo, signature, and test-city preferences only. Use it if needed.

Notes:

• Use a modern browser (latest Chrome/Firefox/Edge).
• Keep the same photo handy for the CAT admit card and exam day.
• Use the official Help Desk (email/phone listed on iimcat.ac.in) for registration or payment issues.

More important resources for CAT exam:

CAT VARC Syllabus	CAT DILR Syllabus
CAT Quant Syllabus	CAT Quant Questions
CAT Exam Analysis	CAT Answer Key
CAT Toppers	CAT Practice Questions
Best books for CAT	CAT VARC Questions
CAT Reading Comprehension Questions	CAT Verbal Ability Questions
CAT Quant Practice Questions

List of IIMs for CAT Exam 2026

The following are the IIMs accepting CAT exam for MBA and other management exams:

S. No.	IIM	Year of Establishment	State
1	IIM Ahmedabad	1961	Gujarat
2	IIM Calcutta	1961	West Bengal
3	IIM Bangalore	1973	Karnataka
4	IIM Lucknow	1984	Uttar Pradesh
5	IIM Indore	1996	Madhya Pradesh
6	IIM Kozhikode	1996	Kerala
7	IIM Shillong	2007	Meghalaya
8	IIM Raipur	2010	Chhattisgarh
9	IIM Ranchi	2010	Jharkhand
10	IIM Rohtak	2010	Haryana
11	IIM Kashipur	2011	Uttarakhand
12	IIM Tiruchirappalli	2011	Tamil Nadu
13	IIM Udaipur	2011	Rajasthan
14	IIM Amritsar	2015	Punjab
15	IIM Bodh Gaya	2015	Bihar
16	IIM Nagpur	2015	Maharashtra
17	IIM Sambalpur	2015	Odisha
18	IIM Sirmaur	2015	Himachal Pradesh
19	IIM Visakhapatnam	2015	Andhra Pradesh
20	IIM Jammu	2016	Jammu & Kashmir
21	IIM Mumbai	2023	Maharashtra

CAT Selection Process

The selection process after the CAT exam is not the same for every IIM. Each IIM follows its own admission policy, but the broad stages are usually similar. 

Stage	What Happens
1. CAT Exam	You appear for the CAT test on 29 November 2026. Your score becomes the first filter for admission.
2. Shortlisting by IIMs	Each IIM releases its own shortlist of candidates based on CAT scores. The cut-offs, academic requirements, and weights differ across IIMs.
3. WAT/GD/PI	Shortlisted candidates are called for Writing Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and/or Personal Interview (PI). Some IIMs may skip GD and only conduct WAT + PI.
4. Other Factors Considered	Apart from CAT score, IIMs also look at:Past academic performanceWork experienceGender diversityAcademic background diversity
5. Final Merit List	Each IIM prepares a weighted score combining CAT performance, WAT/GD/PI scores, academics, work experience, and diversity factors.
6. Admission Offer	Candidates who make it to the merit list receive admission offers from IIMs. You can accept and join the program by paying the admission fee.

Important Notes

• Varies by IIM: There is no single selection rule. Each IIM decides its own process, cut-offs, and weights.
• Verification: If shortlisted, you must show all mark sheets, certificates, and valid category/PwD documents at the interview.
• Final Year Students: Admission is provisional until you submit your final degree certificate by the deadline (December 31, 2027 for CAT 2026)

Practice with CAT PYQs:

CAT Previous Year Papers	CAT 2025 Question Paper
CAT 2024 Question Paper	CAT 2023 Question Paper
CAT 2022 Question Paper	CAT 2021 Question Paper
CAT 2020 Question Paper	CAT 2019 Question Paper

CAT Exam Reservation Policy

Admission to the IIMs through CAT follows the reservation rules of the Government of India. Seats are reserved for different categories as shown below:

Category	Percentage of Seats Reserved
Scheduled Caste (SC)	15%
Scheduled Tribe (ST)	7.5%
Other Backward Classes (OBC – Non-Creamy Layer)	27%
Economically Weaker Section (EWS)	Up to 10%
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD)	5%

Key Points You Should Know:

• The PwD category includes candidates with at least 40% disability such as blindness/low vision, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, cerebral palsy, autism, intellectual disability, learning disability, mental illness, and multiple disabilities.
• Certificates for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD must be in the Government of India–approved format and uploaded during CAT registration. Originals will be verified at the time of interview and admission.
• NC-OBC certificates must be issued on or after April 1, 2026, and EWS certificates must be valid for the year 2026–27.
• Failing to provide valid certificates during admission will shift you to the General category or make you ineligible.
• While IIMs aim to admit students in these proportions, all candidates must still meet the minimum eligibility and performance standards.

CAT Exam Centres 2026

CAT 2026 will be conducted across approximately 170 cities in India.

State/UT	Exam Cities
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	Port Blair
Andhra Pradesh	Guntur, Kakinada, Kurnool, Nellore, Rajahmundry, Tirupathi, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam
Arunachal Pradesh	Itanagar
Assam	Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Silchar
Bihar	Aurangabad, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Purnea
Chandigarh	Chandigarh
Chhattisgarh	Bhilai, Raipur
Delhi-NCR	Delhi, New Delhi, Faridabad, Gurugram, Noida, Panipat, Ghaziabad, Greater Noida
Goa	Madgaon, Panaji
Gujarat	Ahmedabad, Anand, Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara
Haryana	Ambala, Bahadurgarh, Hisar, Palwal, Rohtak, Sonipat
Himachal Pradesh	Shimla, Waknaghat
Jammu & Kashmir	Jammu, Samba, Kashmir
Jharkhand	Bokaro, Dhanbad, Jamshedpur, Ranchi
Karnataka	Bangalore, Belagavi (Belgaum), Dharwad, Gulbarga, Hubli, Mangalore, Mysore, Udupi
Kerala	Ernakulam, Kasaragod, Kollam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thrissur, Trivandrum
Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Sagar
Maharashtra	Ahmednagar, Amravati, Aurangabad, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Pune, Raigad, Satara, Solapur, Thane, Ulhasnagar
Meghalaya	Shillong
Manipur	Imphal
Mizoram	Aizawl
Nagaland	Kohima
Ladakh	Leh
Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu	Silvassa
Odisha	Balasore, Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Sambalpur, Rourkela
Puducherry	Puducherry
Punjab	Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Fatehgarh Sahib, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Pathankot, Patiala, Ropar, Sangrur
Rajasthan	Ajmer, Alwar, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Sikar, Udaipur
Tamil Nadu	Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Namakkal, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli
Telangana	Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Warangal
Tripura	Agartala
Uttar Pradesh	Agra, Allahabad, Barabanki, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Greater Noida, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Noida, Varanasi
Uttarakhand	Dehradun, Roorkee
West Bengal	Asansol, Bankura, Burdwan, Durgapur, Hooghly, Howrah, Kalyani, Kolkata, Siliguri

CAT 2026 Admit Card

The CAT Admit Card is your entry pass to the exam hall. Without it, you won’t be allowed to take the test.

Feature	Details
Release Date	November 2026
Last Date to Download	November 29, 2026 (Exam Day)
Where to Download	Only from the official website iimcat.ac.in
Details Mentioned	Candidate’s name, roll number, photograph, signature, exam date, session, reporting time, test city, and test centre address
Documents Needed on Exam Day	– Printed Admit Card (with the same photo as uploaded)- Valid Photo ID (Aadhar/Passport/PAN/Voter ID/Driving License)

Steps to Download CAT 2026 Admit Card:

• Visit iimcat.ac.in.
• Click on “Login” under Registered Candidate.
• Enter your User ID and Password.
• Go to the “Admit Card” section.
• Download the PDF and take multiple printouts.

Important Instructions for CAT Exam Day:

• Carry two printouts of the admit card (in case one is misplaced).
• Paste the same passport photo on the admit card that was uploaded during registration.
• Arrive at the exam centre at least 90 minutes before reporting time.
• Follow all instructions mentioned on the admit card carefully.

Explore the detailed CLAT Exam analysis here:

CAT Exam Analysis	CAT Slot 1 Exam Analysis
CAT Slot 2 Exam Analysis	CAT Slot 3 Exam Analysis

CAT Exam Result & Scorecard

The CAT 2026 result will be declared in the first week of January 2027 (tentative). Candidates can check their scores online and download the official scorecard.

Feature	Details
Result Date	First week of January 2027 (tentative)
Where to Check	On the official website
Login Details Required	User ID and Password
Format of Result	Online only (no hard copy sent by post)
Scorecard Validity	Till December 31, 2027

CAT Cut Offs

Below is the expected CAT cut-off 2026:

IIM	General	EWS	OBC	SC	ST	PwD
IIM Ahmedabad	95+	80+	75+	70+	60+	70+
IIM Bangalore	85+	75+	75+	70+	65+	60+
IIM Calcutta	75+	65+	65+	60+	55+	45+
IIM Lucknow	90+	82+	82+	65+	60+	60+
IIM Mumbai	85+	75+	75+	70+	65+	55+
IIM Indore	90+	90+	80+	60+	45+	45+
IIM Kozhikode	85+	75+	75+	65+	55+	55+
IIM Shillong*	–	–	–	–	–	–
IIM Udaipur	95	81	81	66	42	42
IIM Trichy	95	81	81	66	42	42
IIM Ranchi	95	81	81	66	42	42
IIM Rohtak	97+	93+	83+	60+	50+	–
IIM Raipur	90	80	80	65	55	45
IIM Kashipur	95	81	81	66	42	42
IIM Nagpur	95	81	81	66	42	42
IIM Bodh Gaya	95	81	81	66	42	42
IIM Sirmaur	95	81	81	66	42	42
IIM Amritsar	90+	90+	80+	55+	40+	40+
IIM Sambalpur	90+	80+	75+	55+	40+	40+
IIM Visakhapatnam	80+	72+	72+	45+	30+	30+
IIM Jammu	95	81	81	66	42	42

• These are expected cut-offs for CAT 2026 based on trends and insights.
• IIM Shillong does not have an overall cut-off; it follows sectional cut-offs, which vary each year.
• Actual cut-offs depend on factors like exam difficulty, number of applicants, and IIM-specific admission policies.

Top 10 Colleges Accepting CAT Score (Non-IIMs)

College	Location	Key Programmes
Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi University	New Delhi	MBA, Executive MBA
SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR)	Mumbai	PGDM, Global Management Programmes
Management Development Institute (MDI)	Gurgaon	PGDM, Executive PGDM
Institute of Management Technology (IMT)	Ghaziabad	PGDM (Full-time, Executive, Part-time)
Xavier Institute of Management (XIM University)	Bhubaneswar	MBA (Business Management, HRM, RM, etc.)
Department of Management Studies (DMS), IIT Delhi	New Delhi	MBA (Full-time, Executive)
Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (SJMSOM), IIT Bombay	Mumbai	MBA, Executive Programs
Vinod Gupta School of Management (VGSoM), IIT Kharagpur	Kharagpur	MBA, Executive Programs
Great Lakes Institute of Management	Chennai, Gurgaon	PGDM, PGPM
International Management Institute (IMI)	New Delhi	PGDM, Executive PGDM

Why Consider Non-IIMs?

• Many of these institutes are ranked among the top 20 B-schools in India.
• Offer excellent placements comparable to some IIMs.
• Strong industry connections, global exposure, and alumni network.
• Specialized programs (Finance, Analytics, Global Business, HR) for diverse career goals.

How to Prepare for CAT Exam?

Use these expert-curated tips for CAT preparation:

1. Understand Exam Pattern and Syllabus

• CAT has 3 sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
• You get 40 minutes per section with no option to switch.
• Start by going through the detailed CAT syllabus and note your strong and weak areas.

2. Make a Study Plan

• Dedicate at least 3–4 hours daily if you are a student, or 2–3 hours daily if you are working.
• Split your time across all three sections.
• Keep weekends for CAT mock tests and analysis.

3. Build Section-wise Strategy

• VARC: Read newspapers, editorials, and practice comprehension daily.
• DILR: Practice sets from past year CAT papers; focus on puzzles and data caselets.
• QA: Strengthen basics in arithmetic, algebra, and geometry; practice speed calculations.

4. Practice with Mock Tests

• Take full-length CAT mock tests regularly. After every mock, spend double the time analyzing mistakes. Track accuracy and speed improvements over time.

5. Use the Right Study Material

• NCERT books (Class 9–10) for basics in Maths.
• Join the best online CAT coaching or offline CAT classes for solid preparation.
• Standard CAT preparation books for QA, VARC, and DILR.
• Online practice platforms for daily quizzes and timed tests.

6. Focus on Time Management

• Practice solving questions under time limits. Learn when to skip tough questions and move ahead. Build a balance between speed and accuracy.

7. Keep Revising

• Maintain short notes and formulas for quick revision. Revise weekly to avoid forgetting concepts. Focus on weak areas but don’t ignore your strengths.

8. Stay Consistent & Motivated

• CAT exam preparation is a 6–12 month journey, so stay regular. Track your progress in a notebook or app. Stay calm and confident; CAT rewards clarity and persistence.

India’s Top CAT/MBA Prep Programs:

• Online XAT Coaching
• Online SNAP Coaching
• Online OMET Coaching

Best Offline Coaching Programs for CAT:

CAT Coaching in Jaipur	CAT Coaching in Nagpur
CAT Coaching in Mumbai	CAT Coaching in Bhopal
CAT Coaching in Jodhpur	CAT Coaching in Gwalior