CAT Exam – Complete Guide, Syllabus & Preparation
What is the CAT Exam?
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is India’s most prestigious national-level management entrance exam, conducted annually for admission to IIMs and top B-schools such as FMS, SPJIMR, MDI, and many more. CAT evaluates a candidate’s aptitude in Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, and Verbal Ability.
Cracking CAT opens doors to MBA and PGDM programs that lead to high-growth careers in consulting, finance, marketing, analytics, and leadership roles.
CAT Exam Highlights
• Exam Name: Common Admission Test (CAT)
• Conducting Body: Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
• Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
• Duration: 2 Hours (40 minutes per section)
• Sections: 3
• Frequency: Once a year
• Accepted By: IIMs + 1200+ B-Schools in India
Exam Slots – 3 Slots (Morning , Afternoon & Evening)
CAT Exam Fees – Rs 2600 ( Gen/EWS/NC-OBC Category)
Rs 1300 (SC/ST/PWD Categort)
CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria
To appear for CAT, candidates must fulfill the following criteria:
• Bachelor’s degree with minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD)
• Final-year graduation students are eligible
• No age limit
• No restriction on number of attempts
Professional Degrees: Professional degrees such as CA, CS, ICWA, or FIAI with the required percentage are also eligible for the CAT exam.
Work Experience is not mandatory for applying for CAT 2026, but is advantageous for IIM admissions.
CAT Exam Date & Schedule (Tentative) | |
CAT 2026 Important Events | CAT Exam Dates (Tentative Timeline) |
CAT 2026 Notification Release | Last week of July |
CAT 2026 Registration Start Date | First week of August |
CAT 2026 Registration Last Date | Third/Fourth week of September |
CAT Form Correction Window Opening | Third/Fourth week of September |
CAT Admit Card Release | First week of November |
CAT 2026 Exam Date | November Last Week / December First Week (Tentative) |
CAT Results Announcement | Third/Fourth week of December 2026 |
CAT Exam Pattern
Total Number of questions Expected – 68
Type of Questions – Mix of MCQs and Non MCQs/TITA Questions
Medium of CAT Exam – English
The CAT exam consists of three sections, each with a fixed time limit.
1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)|Total Questions – 24 (Expected) with 72 marks.
• Reading Comprehension passages
• Para Jumbles
• Odd sentences out and inferences
• Para Summary
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) |Total Questions – 22 (Expected) with 66 marks.
• Blood Relations,Directions , Clocks & Calendars and Syllogism
• Charts & Graphs
• Other form of visualization
• Tables
3. Quantitative Ability (QA) |Total Questions – 22 (Expected) with 66 marks.
• Arithmetic (Percentages, Time & Work, Profit & Loss)
• Trigonometry
• Geometry & Mensuration
• Number Systems and Averages
Marking Scheme:
✔ +3 for correct answer
✖ –1 for incorrect MCQs
✔ No negative marking for Non MCQs questions
How To Download CAT 2026 Admit Card?
Once the CAT admit card is released, candidates can download it by following the steps given below:
- Step 1: Visit the official CAT website- iimcat.ac.in.
- Step 2: Log in using your CAT User ID and Password.
- Step 3: Click on the Login button.
- Step 4: Go to the Download Admit Card section.
- Step 5: Download and print your CAT Admit Card / Hall Ticket for future reference.
How to Prepare for CAT Exam?
A smart CAT preparation strategy focuses on concept clarity, practice, and mock analysis.
- Understanding of basics: It’s extremely important to have a good grasp of your basics. Strong fundamentals will help you understand the language of the questions better and will assist you in solving them within the limited time frame.
- Create a Study Plan: The motivation to study hard for acing CAT 2026 should come from within. With that motivation, one should create a study plan customized to their routine. Ensure that there is no room for negotiation, and make sure that your weekly goals are attainable.
- Mock Test & Analysis: You can divide your mocks into three parts: topic tests, sectional tests, and full-length mock tests. This approach will create a balance of easy and difficult papers, providing you with a better idea of how well you will perform on the actual exam, as well as helping you improve your speed.
- Previous Year CAT Papers: Solving the previous year’s CAT papers will provide you with valuable insights into the types of questions that may appear on the actual exam and help you gauge the expected level of difficulty.
- Prepare for Non-CAT Exams as Well: It is always good to keep your options open. While CAT should remain the main target, candidates should also consider appearing for non-CAT exams to be on the safe side.