CAT 2026 Exam Date, Notification & Syllabus Snapshot
The CAT 2026 exam is officially scheduled for Sunday, 29 November 2026, per the CAT 2026 notification released in late July 2026 on iimcat.ac.in. This page gives you the confirmed timeline, fees, eligibility, marking scheme, and a high-level syllabus so you can plan the final stretch.
Key dates at a glance (official)
CAT 2026 dates are official: the notification was released in late July 2026, registration runs 3 August to 15 September 2026, the admit card arrives 4 November, and the exam is Sunday 29 November 2026 in three sessions, with results expected in the first week of January 2027.
| Milestone | Official date | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Official notification | Released late July 2026 | Read bulletin on iimcat.ac.in |
| Registration window | 3 Aug (10 AM) – 15 Sep 2026 (5 PM) | Apply early; fee ₹2,700 / ₹1,350 |
| Admit card release | 4 November 2026 | Download + verify centre |
| CAT 2026 exam | Sunday, 29 Nov 2026 (3 sessions) | Exam day protocol ready |
| Result declaration | First week of Jan 2027 (official) | Check percentile + apply |
Eligibility (per the CAT 2026 notification)
CAT eligibility needs a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks, 45% for SC, ST, and PwD candidates, or an equivalent qualification. Final-year students can apply provisionally.
- Bachelor's degree with ≥50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) or equivalent.
- Final-year students eligible (provisional).
- No age limit, no attempt cap.
- Work experience not required.
CAT 2026 exam pattern & marking
CAT 2026 runs 120 minutes across three 40-minute sections: VARC 24 questions, DILR 22, QA 22, totalling 68 questions and 204 marks. Correct answers earn 3 marks, wrong MCQs lose 1, and TITA questions have no negative marking.
- Sections: VARC (24 Q, 40 min), DILR (22 Q, 40 min), QA (22 Q, 40 min).
- Total: 68 questions, 204 marks, 120 minutes (40 min/section, no switching).
- Marking: +3 correct, −1 MCQ wrong, 0 penalty TITA.
- TITA share: Increasing trend; ~25–30% of questions are non-MCQ.
High-level syllabus map
The CAT syllabus spans three sections: VARC dominated by reading comprehension, DILR dominated by hybrid logic-data sets, and QA dominated by Arithmetic and Algebra. The full topic-priority breakup, estimated from recent papers, sits on the CAT syllabus page.
Full topic-priority breakup on the CAT syllabus page. Quick reference:
- VARC (24 Q): RC (~16 Q), Para Jumbles, Summary, Odd-one-out, Para Completion.
- DILR (22 Q): Hybrid DI+LR sets, Games & Tournaments, Venn/Set Theory, Seating, Team Selection.
- QA (22 Q): Arithmetic ~35–50%, Algebra, Geometry/Mensuration, Number System, Modern Math (PnC/Prob).
How to start today
Start CAT 2026 prep now: register on iimcat.ac.in by 15 September 2026, take a cold diagnostic mock for a baseline, and begin daily adaptive practice so difficulty calibrates to you before 29 November.
- Register at iimcat.ac.in between 3 August and 15 September 2026 (fee ₹2,700; ₹1,350 for SC/ST/PwBD).
- Take a diagnostic mock to set your baseline (free on AdaptHub).
- Pick a study plan: 6-month standard or compressed self-study.
- Start practicing on AdaptHub: it builds your daily focus from day 1.