CAT 2026 registration opened on August 3, 2026, and closes on September 15, 2026, through the official portal, iimcat.ac.in. Meanwhile, the CAT 2026 exam is scheduled for November 29, 2026, and IIM Indore will conduct the exam. To apply, candidates need a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks, while SC/ST/PwD candidates need 45%. Therefore, eligible candidates should complete the application carefully before the deadline.
Table of contents
- 1. Quick Answer
- 2. CAT 2026 Highlights
- 3. Official Dates & Timeline
- 4. Eligibility Criteria
- 5. Reservation Policy
- 6. Application Fees
- 7. Documents & Photo Guidelines
- 8. How to Register — Step by Step
- 9. Form Correction Window
- 10. Exam Cities
- 11. Exam Pattern & Syllabus
- 12. Preparation Timeline & Common Mistakes
- 13. What Happens After CAT? Result, Percentile, GD-PI
- 14. MBA Admission Timeline 2027
- FAQs
- 16. Conclusion
1. Quick Answer
CAT 2026 registration is the online application process for the Common Admission Test, which helps candidates seek MBA admission at the 21 IIMs and other participating B-schools. This year, registration opened on August 3, 2026, and closes on September 15, 2026, through iimcat.ac.in. After registration, candidates can appear for the CAT 2026 exam on November 29, 2026. IIM Indore will conduct the examination this year.
Additionally, candidates need a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks. SC/ST/PwD candidates need at least 45%. However, final-year students can also apply if they meet the required admission conditions. Therefore, candidates should check their eligibility and documents before submitting the form
2. CAT 2026 Highlights
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam name | Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
| Conducting body | IIM Indore |
| Notification released | July 26, 2026 |
| Registration window | August 3 – September 15, 2026 |
| Exam date | November 29, 2026 (three shifts) |
| Exam mode | Computer-based test (CBT) |
| Sections | VARC, DILR, QA |
| Application fee | ₹2,700 (General/EWS/NC-OBC); ₹1,350 (SC/ST/PwD) |
| Official website | iimcat.ac.in |
3. Official Dates & Timeline
The CAT calendar runs from notification to admission, and each stage feeds directly into the next. Missing one date can cascade into missed opportunities later.
| Event | Date (2026–27) |
|---|---|
| CAT 2026 notification | July 26, 2026 |
| Registration opens | August 3, 2026 |
| Registration closes | September 15, 2026 |
| Admit card download | November 12 – 29, 2026 |
| CAT exam date | November 29, 2026 |
| Answer key release | Early December 2026 |
| Result declaration | Late December 2026 – early January 2027 |
| IIM shortlisting & WAT-GD-PI | January – March 2027 |
| Final admission offers | April – June 2027 |
These dates reflect the current official notification; a few downstream dates (result, PI schedules) are institute-dependent and typically confirmed closer to the event, so it’s worth checking iimcat.ac.in periodically rather than relying on a fixed guess.
4. Eligibility Criteria
To register for CAT 2026, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university. The degree must come from an institution recognised by the appropriate statutory authority.
Candidates generally need at least 50% aggregate marks. However, SC/ST/PwD candidates need 45%. There is no upper age limit for CAT. Similarly, candidates can appear for the examination without a mandatory work-experience requirement.
Furthermore, final-year students and candidates awaiting results may also apply, subject to the admission requirements. Professional degree holders, including B.Tech/B.E. graduates, can also apply if they meet the applicable eligibility conditions.
Recommended Reading: Looking beyond the CAT exam? Explore RCM’s MBA programme and admission process.
Wondering which colleges will actually consider your CAT score? Our upcoming guide, “Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT 2026 Score,” will cover this in depth
5. Reservation Policy
CAT follows the Government of India’s reservation framework across categories: SC, ST, NC-OBC, EWS, and PwD/Divyangjan. Reserved-category candidates receive a relaxation in the minimum qualifying percentage (45% instead of 50%) and a reduced application fee. Actual seat-level reservation, however, is applied by each participating institute during admission, not during CAT registration itself — CAT only records the category for eligibility and fee purposes.
6. Application Fees
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / EWS / NC-OBC | ₹2,700 |
| SC / ST / PwD | ₹1,350 |
Fees are payable online via net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI, and are non-refundable once submitted — a detail worth double-checking before the final payment step.
7. Documents & Photo Guidelines
Keep these ready before starting the form: a valid photo ID (Aadhaar/passport/PAN), a recent passport-size photograph, a scanned signature, category certificate (if applicable), PwD certificate (if applicable), and mark sheets of Class 10, 12, and graduation. Photographs typically need to be recent (within the last few months), in colour, with a plain light background, saved as JPEG within the prescribed file-size limit — the exact specifications are listed on the CAT information bulletin each year.
8. How to Register — Step by Step
- Submit and download the confirmation page for your records.
- Visit the official CAT website and click “New Registration.”
- Enter your name, mobile number, and email ID to generate a CAT ID.
- Log in and complete the personal, academic, and work-experience details.
- Upload photograph and signature as per specifications.
- Select your preferred exam cities (up to a limit specified by the notification).
- Choose the IIMs/programmes you wish to be considered for.
- Pay the application fee online.
- Review the form summary carefully.
9. Form Correction Window
CAT typically opens a short correction window shortly after registration closes, allowing candidates to fix errors in category, exam city preference, or personal details. Not every field is editable, so it’s best to verify all details before the first submission rather than depending on the correction window.
Suggested Resource: See a full checklist of CAT registration mistakes and correction rules.
10. Exam Cities
CAT 2026 is expected to be held across 170+ test cities in India. Candidates select their preferred cities during registration; allotment is on a first-come, first-served basis tied to registration timing, so applying early improves the chance of getting a preferred centre.
11. Exam Pattern & Syllabus
CAT 2026 is a 2-hour computer-based test divided into three sections, each with its own fixed 40-minute time limit:
| Section | Duration | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension) | 40 minutes | Reading comprehension, para-jumbles, summary, verbal reasoning |
| DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning) | 40 minutes | Data sets, caselets, logical puzzles, arrangements |
| QA (Quantitative Ability) | 40 minutes | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number systems, modern math |
Questions are a mix of MCQs and TITA (Type In The Answer), with negative marking only on MCQs. The syllabus itself doesn’t change much year to year, which is why practising previous years’ papers remains one of the most reliable preparation methods.
Suggested Resource: MBA specializations aligned with today’s industry.
12. Preparation Timeline & Common Mistakes
With roughly four months between registration and the exam, a 90-60-30 day structure works well: the first stretch for concept-building and diagnostic tests, the middle for timed sectional practice, and the final month for full-length mocks and revision. Among the most common registration mistakes: mismatched name spelling across documents, wrong category selection, blurry photo/signature uploads, and missing the correction window entirely. A slow, careful first submission avoids most of these.
Suggested Reading: Understand the investment required for your MBA.
For a detailed day-by-day breakdown, our upcoming post, “CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy“ will walk through the full 30/60/90-day plan with mock-test milestones — link to be added on publish.
13. What Happens After CAT? Result, Percentile, GD-PI
Once CAT concludes, IIMs release a provisional answer key, followed by the final key and results. Your CAT score is a raw, section-normalised number; your CAT percentile reflects your relative rank against all test-takers — it’s the percentile, not the raw score, that institutes actually shortlist on. Percentile cut-offs vary widely: IIMs and top-tier schools often shortlist above the 95th–99th percentile, while a large number of well-established B-schools accept candidates in the 60th–85th percentile range. Shortlisted candidates then go through Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) rounds between January and March, before final offers are made.
Suggested Resource: See placement outcomes before choosing an MBA college.
Want exact cut-off numbers by institute and category? “CAT 2026 Cutoff“ will break down IIM, top private, and state university thresholds — link to be added on publish.
Not sure what to do right after the result? “What After CAT 2026?“ will cover the result-to-admission sequence — GD, PI, WAT, and college selection — step by step. Link to be added on publish.
14. MBA Admission Timeline 2027
| Phase | Approximate Period |
|---|---|
| CAT registration | August – September 2026 |
| CAT exam | November 2026 |
| Result & percentile | December 2026 – January 2027 |
| Shortlisting, WAT-GD-PI | January – March 2027 |
| Final offers & counselling | March – May 2027 |
| Academic session begins | June – July 2027 |
Many candidates focus only on the exam and overlook this second half of the journey — comparing colleges, understanding fee structures, and shortlisting institutes that match their percentile realistically. Doing this in parallel with CAT preparation, rather than after the result, saves valuable time.
Campus Experience: Explore student life, clubs, events, leadership activities, and campus culture at RCM.
FAQs
Registration opened on August 3, 2026, and closes on September 15, 2026.
CAT 2026 will be held on November 29, 2026, in three shifts, conducted by IIM Indore.
Candidates with a bachelor’s degree and at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD); final-year students may also apply.
₹2,700 for General/EWS/NC-OBC candidates and ₹1,350 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
Three sections — VARC, DILR, QA — each 40 minutes, with MCQ and TITA questions covering verbal, logical, and quantitative reasoning.
Yes, as long as the backlog is cleared before the admission process begins.
No, freshers can apply; work experience is only considered by some institutes at the selection stage.
In contrast, your CAT score represents your normalised raw marks, whereas your CAT percentile reflects your relative standing among all test-takers. Therefore, MBA institutes primarily use the percentile, rather than the score, to shortlist candidates for the next stages of the admission process.
Candidates can typically select multiple preferred cities, subject to a maximum limit stated in the notification.
A limited correction window opens after registration closes, but not all fields are editable.
Before beginning the CAT 2026 registration, make sure you have a valid photo ID, a recent photograph, a scanned signature, a category certificate (if applicable), along with your academic mark sheets.
No — while IIMs and a few top schools have high cut-offs, many reputed B-schools admit candidates in the 60th–85th percentile range.
Results are expected between late December 2026 and early January 2027.
16. Conclusion
CAT 2026 registration is the first step in a journey that ultimately leads to MBA admission in 2027, rather than just a standalone application process. Therefore, completing the registration accurately is essential because it lays the foundation for every stage that follows. By ensuring your dates, eligibility, application fee, and required documents are correct from the beginning, you can avoid unnecessary delays and last-minute issues when percentile calculations, shortlisting, and admission deadlines become more competitive. Furthermore, regardless of the CAT percentile you eventually achieve, numerous reputed MBA institutions—including industry-oriented programmes such as RCM Bhubaneswar—offer valuable opportunities. Consequently, the most effective strategy is to prepare for both the CAT examination and your MBA admission journey simultaneously, enabling you to make informed decisions and maximize your chances of securing admission to the right business school.
Ready to start your MBA journey? Apply Online at RCM
