CAT
Conducted by Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
MBA Entrance Exams10 series123 testsFree starter includedExam Date · 29 November 2026
About this exam
CAT (Common Admission Test) is the national management-entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to their MBA/PGP programmes and over 1000 other B-schools. It is a single computer-based test of 120 minutes with three sections taken in a fixed order under a hard 40-minute-per-section limit: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (24 questions), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (22 questions) and Quantitative Aptitude (22 questions), for 68 questions and 204 marks. Each correct answer earns +3; each wrong MCQ loses 1 mark, while type-in-the-answer (TITA) questions carry no negative marking. Selection to the IIMs is by percentile plus academics, work experience, diversity and a final Written Ability Test / Group Discussion and Personal Interview round.
Eligibility
A Bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD), or a professional qualification (CA/CS/ICWA). Final-year graduation students may apply. There is no age limit. Confirm against the live notification on iimcat.ac.in.
Important Dates
- 29 November 2026Exam DateCAT 2026 ExamCommon Admission Test held on Sunday, 29 November 2026 in three sessions across the country.Official link
Recently
- 3 August 2026RegistrationCAT 2026 Registration OpensOnline registration opens on 3 August 2026 (10:00 am) on iimcat.ac.in.
- 15 September 2026Last dateCAT 2026 Registration ClosesLast date to complete CAT 2026 registration is 15 September 2026 (5:00 pm) on iimcat.ac.in.
- 4 November 2026Admit CardCAT 2026 Admit CardAdmit card released on 4 November 2026 on iimcat.ac.in, downloadable up to exam day.
Dates follow the official notification or the published calendar of the conducting body. A date marked Estimated is our expectation from past cycles, not an announcement. Always confirm on the official website.
Exam Pattern
CAT
| Section | Qs | Marks | Negative | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 24 | 72 | 1 | 40 min |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 22 | 66 | 1 | 40 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 66 | 1 | 40 min |
| Total | 68 | 204 | 120 min |
Sectional timing: each section has its own timer.
Pattern as configured for our mock tests. Always confirm against the official notification.
Exam Tiers
CAT
