CAT 2026 exam dates have been officially announced by IIM Indore. The CAT 2026 notification was released on July 26, 2026, confirming the registration, admit card and examination schedule.

CAT Registration 2026 started on August 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM, and the last date to apply is September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

CAT 2026 Notification PDF: OUT on 26th July’26
  • The CAT 2026 exam date is November 29, 2026 (Sunday).
  • IIM Indore will conduct the exam in three sessions across approximately 170 test cities.
  • The CAT 2026 admit card will be released on November 4, 2026, while the result is scheduled for the third week of December 2026.

Candidates can check the complete CAT 2026 exam schedule, including registration, form correction, admit card, exam, answer key and result dates below.

Event CAT 2026 Date
CAT 2026 Notification July 26, 2026
CAT Registration Starts August 3, 2026, 10:00 AM
CAT Registration Last Date September 15, 2026, 5:00 PM
CAT Form Correction To be announced
CAT Admit Card November 4, 2026
CAT 2026 Exam Date November 29, 2026
CAT 2026 Answer Key To be announced
CAT 2026 Result Third week of December 2026

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CAT 2026 exam date

Table of Contents

  1. CAT 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule: Overview
  2. CAT 2026 Notification Release
  3. CAT 2026 Registration Date
  4. CAT 2026 Admit Card Date
  5. CAT 2026 Exam Date
  6. CAT 2026 Answer Key & Response Sheet
  7. CAT 2026 Result & Scorecard
  8. CAT 2026 Cutoff Release Dates
  9. CAT 2026 Counselling: Shortlisting and Selection Process Dates
  10. CAT 2026 FAQ’s

CAT 2026 Exam Dates: Latest Updates

  • CAT Registration 2026 is currently open from August 3 to September 15, 2026.
  • The last date for CAT Registration 2026 is September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
  • The CAT 2026 admit card will be released on November 4, 2026.
  • The CAT 2026 exam will be conducted on November 29, 2026, in three sessions.
  • The CAT 2026 result is scheduled to be announced in the third week of December 2026.
  • The dates for the CAT 2026 answer key and response sheet will be announced after the examination.

Check: CAT Registration 2026: Last Date, Apply Online, Direct Link @ iimcat.ac.in

CAT 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule

The CAT 2026 schedule has been released with the official notification. Candidates should follow the confirmed dates

CAT 2026 Event Date
Official Notification July 26, 2026
Registration Begins August 3, 2026, 10:00 AM
Registration Ends September 15, 2026, 5:00 PM
Application Correction To be announced
Admit Card Release November 4, 2026
CAT Exam November 29, 2026
Provisional Answer Key To be announced
CAT Result Third week of December 2026

Note: Dates for the answer key, response sheet, correction window and subsequent admission processes will be updated once officially announced.

CAT 2026 Notification Release Date

IIM Indore released the CAT 2026 notification on July 26, 2026. The official notification contains important information related to the CAT 2026 application process, eligibility, fee, test cities, examination date and other instructions.

The notification confirms the following:

  • CAT 2026 Registration: August 3 to September 15, 2026
  • Registration Start Time: 10:00 AM
  • Registration Last Date: 5:00 PM on September 15
  • Admit Card: November 4, 2026
  • CAT Exam: November 29, 2026
  • Result: Third week of December 2026
  • Application Fee: ₹2,700 for General/EWS/NC-OBC and ₹1,350 for SC/ST/PwD
  • Exam Sessions: Three
  • Test Cities: Approximately 170

Candidates should read the notification carefully before filling out the application form.

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CAT 2026 Registration Date

  • CAT Registration 2026 started on August 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM.
  • Candidates can submit the application form until September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM through the official CAT website.
  • The registration process includes creating a login, entering personal and academic details, selecting test cities, uploading documents and paying the application fee.

CAT 2026 Registration Dates

Particular CAT 2026 Details
Registration Start Date August 3, 2026, 10:00 AM
Registration Last Date September 15, 2026, 5:00 PM
Application Mode Online
Official Website iimcat.ac.in
Conducting Institute IIM Indore
Application Correction To be announced

Candidates are advised to submit the form before the deadline instead of waiting for the last day. Early submission allows sufficient time to resolve payment, OTP or document-upload issues.

Ques. Can I use a mobile phone to fill out the CAT application?

Ans. Candidates can access the CAT application portal online, but using a desktop or laptop is recommended for completing the form, uploading documents and making the payment smoothly.

Ques. What should I do if I make a mistake in my CAT application form?

Ans. Candidates should carefully review all details before submitting the application. IIM Indore is expected to announce a CAT 2026 application correction window after registration closes. The exact dates and editable fields will be confirmed on the official CAT website.

Ques. Is work experience mandatory for CAT 2026?

Ans. No. Work experience is not mandatory for CAT 2026. Fresh graduates, final-year students and working professionals can apply if they meet the prescribed eligibility criteria.

CAT 2026 Application Fees

The CAT 2026 application fee is ₹2,700 for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates and ₹1,350 for SC, ST and PwD candidates.

Category CAT 2026 Application Fee
General / EWS / NC-OBC ₹2,700
SC / ST / PwD ₹1,350

The application fee is paid online while submitting the CAT 2026 application form.

CAT 2026 Application Fees

Also Read: CAT Registration 2026 Started: Last Date Sept 15, Apply Online, Direct Link @ iimcat.ac.in

Ques. Can I use a mobile phone to fill out the CAT application?

Ans. It is highly recommended to use a desktop or laptop for the registration process to ensure all fields and document upload features function correctly.

Ques. What should I do if I make a mistake in my name or date of birth?

Ans. Critical fields like Name, DOB, Email, and Phone Number cannot be edited once the form is submitted. You would need to register again with a new email and pay the fee again.

Ques. Is it mandatory to have work experience to apply for CAT?

Ans. No, work experience is not mandatory. Freshers and final-year students are equally eligible to apply.

CAT 2026 Admit Card Date

  • CAT 2026 admit card will be released on November 4, 2026.
  • Candidates will be able to download their admit cards by logging in to the official CAT website using their User ID and password.
  • The admit card will contain important information such as the candidate's name, photograph, test centre, reporting time, examination session and exam-day instructions.

CAT 2026 Admit Card Details

Particular CAT 2026 Details
Admit Card Release Date November 4, 2026
Mode Online
Official Website iimcat.ac.in
Credentials Required User ID and Password
Exam Date November 29, 2026

Note: IIMs do not send hard copies of the admit card via post or email. Candidates must download the PDF and take at least two color printouts on A4-sized paper.

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Ques. What should I do if my photograph is not visible on the CAT admit card?

Ans. If the photograph or signature is blurry or missing, you must contact the IIM helpdesk immediately. You may also be required to carry extra physical photographs to the center as per the instructions.

Ques. Can I change my CAT 2026 exam center after the admit card is released?

Ans. No, requests for changes in the test city or the specific exam center are not entertained by the IIMs once the allocation is finalized.

CAT 2026 Exam Date

  • The CAT 2026 exam date is November 29, 2026 (Sunday).
  • IIM Indore will conduct CAT 2026 in three sessions on the same day.
  • The examination will be conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode across approximately 170 test cities.

Source: CAT 2026 Notification PDF

CAT 2026 Exam Day Schedule

Particulars Slot 1 Slot 2 Slot 3
Reporting Time 7:00 AM 11:00 AM 3:00 PM
Test Screen Login 8:15 AM 12:15 PM 4:15 PM
Exam Begins 8:30 AM 12:30 PM 4:30 PM
Exam Ends 10:30 AM 2:30 PM 6:30 PM
Duration 120 Minutes 120 Minutes 120 Minutes

The exact reporting time and test-centre address will be mentioned on the candidate's admit card.

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Ques. Can I request a change in my CAT 2026 exam slot?

Ans. Candidates are allotted an examination session by the conducting authority. Requests for changing the allotted slot are generally not entertained. Candidates should follow the instructions mentioned on their admit card.

Ques. Will the difficulty level be the same for all three slots?

Ans. The three CAT sessions may contain different question sets. IIMs use the prescribed normalisation/scaling process to account for differences in difficulty across sessions while calculating scores and percentiles.

Ques. Is there a break between the three sections of the exam?

Ans. No. CAT is conducted with a section-wise time limit, and candidates cannot carry unused time from one section to another.

CAT 2026 Answer Key & Response Sheet

The CAT 2026 response sheet and provisional answer key will be released after the examination. The official release date has not been announced yet.

Candidates will be able to log in to the CAT website to view their recorded responses and compare them with the provisional answer key. If IIM Indore opens an objection window, candidates can submit objections within the specified period.

CAT 2026 Answer Key Dates

Event CAT 2026 Date
CAT 2026 Exam November 29, 2026
Response Sheet To be announced
Provisional Answer Key To be announced
Objection Window To be announced
Final Answer Key To be announced

Also Read:

Ques. Is the response sheet different from the answer key?

Ans Yes. The CAT response sheet shows the answers recorded for a particular candidate, while the answer key contains the correct answers to the questions asked in the examination.

Ques. What happens if my objection is accepted?

Ans. Candidates can challenge the provisional answer key if IIM Indore provides an objection window. The exact process, fee and deadline will be mentioned in the official notification released with the response sheet

Ques. Can I challenge the Final Answer Key?

Ans. The final answer key is prepared after reviewing objections to the provisional key. Candidates should follow the official instructions regarding the final answer key and grievance process.

CAT 2026 Result & Scorecard

  • CAT 2026 result is scheduled to be announced in the third week of December 2026.
  • Candidates will be able to download their CAT scorecards through the official website using their login credentials.
  • The CAT scorecard will contain the candidate's overall score, sectional scores, overall percentile and sectional percentiles.

CAT 2026 Result & Scorecard Details

Particular CAT 2026 Details
CAT Exam Date November 29, 2026
Result Date Third week of December 2026
Result Mode Online
Scorecard Available through candidate login
Official Website iimcat.ac.in
CAT 2026 Result & Scorecard

Ques. Will I receive my CAT result via SMS or Email?

Ans. Candidates should check the official CAT website for their scorecard. Any SMS or email notification about the result should be treated as an alert to check the official portal.

Ques. How can I download my CAT 2026 scorecard?

Ans. Candidates can download the CAT 2026 scorecard by visiting iimcat.ac.in, logging in with their credentials and accessing the result/scorecard section after the result is declared.

Ques. What is a "Scaled Score" in CAT?

Ans.Since the exam is held in multiple slots, some might be slightly tougher than others. Scaling is a statistical process that levels the playing field so that no candidate is at a disadvantage due to their slot timing.

Ques. What is the next step after the CAT result is declared?

Ans. After the CAT result, individual IIMs and other participating institutes will conduct their respective admission processes. Shortlisted candidates may be called for stages such as Written Ability Test (WAT), Personal Interview (PI) or other selection components, depending on the institute.

CAT 2026 Cutoff Release Dates

There is no single common CAT cutoff for all IIMs. Each IIM publishes its own admission criteria and qualifying percentile requirements.

  • The qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile required to remain eligible for consideration.
  • The percentile required actually to receive an interview call can be significantly higher.
Event Timeline
CAT 2026 Result Third week of December 2026
IIM Shortlists After CAT 2026 Result
WAT/PI Process As per individual IIM schedules
Final Admission Offers As per individual IIM schedules

Note: Meeting an IIM's minimum qualifying CAT cutoff does not guarantee an interview call or admission.

Also Read: CAT Score Vs Percentile

CAT 2026 Counselling: Shortlisting and Selection Process Dates

CAT does not have one centralized counselling process for all IIMs. After the CAT 2026 result, individual IIMs will release their admission shortlists according to their respective selection criteria.

The selection process may consider:

  • CAT 2026 overall and sectional percentile
  • Class 10 and Class 12 academic performance
  • Graduation marks
  • Work experience
  • Academic diversity
  • Gender diversity
  • Written Ability Test
  • Personal Interview
  • Other institute-specific criteria

Candidates should check the official admission policy of each IIM for the exact selection process and dates.

Also Read:

Ques. Do I need to apply separately to each IIM after the CAT result?

Ans. The application and shortlisting process varies among IIMs. Candidates should check the admission policy of each institute to determine whether any additional application or registration is required.

Ques. Is CAT percentile the only factor considered for IIM admission?

Ans. No. IIMs may consider several factors in addition to CAT performance, including academic record, work experience, diversity and performance in the subsequent selection rounds. The weightage varies across institutes.

Ques. What is the weightage of the CAT score in final selection?

Ans. The weightage varies by institute but generally ranges from 35% to 60%. The remaining weightage is distributed among the Personal Interview, academic record (10th/12th/UG), work experience, and diversity points.

Ques. What happens if my interview dates for two different IIMs clash?

Ans. If you have clashing dates, you can reach out to the admission office of the respective IIMs. Most institutes have a "buffer day" and are accommodating if you provide proof of the clash.

CAT 2026 FAQ’s

Ques. What is the CAT 2026 exam date?

Ans. The CAT 2026 exam will be conducted on November 29, 2026 (Sunday) in three sessions.

Ques. When did CAT Registration 2026 start?

Ans. CAT Registration 2026 started on August 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM through the official CAT website.

Ques. What is the last date for CAT Registration 2026?

Ans. The last date for CAT Registration 2026 is September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

Ques. When will the CAT 2026 admit card be released?

Ans. The CAT 2026 admit card will be released on November 4, 2026.

Ques. When will the CAT 2026 result be declared?

Ans. The CAT 2026 result is scheduled to be declared in the third week of December 2026.

Ques. Is there an age limit for CAT 2026?

Ans. There is no upper age limit for appearing in CAT. Candidates must meet the prescribed educational eligibility requirements.

Ques. Can final-year students apply for CAT 2026?

Ans. Yes. Candidates in the final year of their Bachelor's degree or those awaiting their graduation results can apply, subject to the eligibility conditions specified by the IIMs.

Ques. Can working professionals apply for CAT 2026?

Ans. Yes. Working professionals can apply for CAT 2026 if they meet the prescribed educational eligibility criteria. Work experience is not mandatory for appearing in CAT.

Ques. How many times can I appear for CAT?

Ans. There is no restriction on the number of CAT attempts. Eligible candidates can appear for CAT in multiple years.

Ques. Can I use a calculator in CAT 2026?

Ans. Candidates should follow the calculator-related instructions provided by IIM Indore in the official CAT 2026 examination guidelines. Any permitted on-screen tools will be available within the examination interface.

Ques. Can I change my category after CAT Registration 2026?

Ans. Candidates should enter their category correctly while filling out the CAT application form and provide the required certificate, where applicable. Changes to critical application details after submission are subject to the correction options officially provided by IIM Indore.