MBA entrance exam · CAT 2026
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern, Dates and Marking Scheme
CAT 2026 is a 120-minute computer-based test on Sunday, 29 Nov 2026, with 3 sections in a fixed order (VARC, DILR, QA) and exactly 40 minutes for each. A correct answer earns +3; a wrong multiple-choice answer costs 1 mark and a wrong type-in answer costs nothing, per the latest official statement of the marking scheme. Question counts for 2026 are published only after the test; CAT 2025 had 68.
By ProCounsel Editorial TeamReviewed by ProCounsel counselling teamLast updated 12 Nov 2026
Official sources only · last verified 12 Nov 2026
What are the sections in CAT 2026?
Conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (CAT 2026 conducted by IIM Indore; CAT 2025 by IIM Kozhikode; CAT 2024 by IIM Calcutta).
| Order | Section | Time | Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VARCVerbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 40 min | Not announced yet |
| 2 | DILRData Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 40 min | Not announced yet |
| 3 | QAQuantitative Ability | 40 min | Not announced yet |
| Total | 120 min | — |
Source: PRESS RELEASE for Common Admission Test 2026 (CAT 2026), IIM Indore, 26 July 2026· last verified 11 Nov 2026
The section timer is strict: when a section’s 40 minutes end, the test moves on, and you cannot return to it or skip ahead. Plan your time per section rather than across the whole paper.
How is CAT marked, and is there negative marking?
The marking scheme below is taken from the latest official statement of it, the CAT 2023 result release. The CAT 2024, 2025 and 2026 bulletins and releases do not restate it, so treat it as the expected scheme until the CAT Centre confirms otherwise.
| Question type | Correct | Wrong | Not answered |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCQ (multiple choice) | +3 | -1 | 0 |
| TITA (type in the answer) | +3 | 0 | 0 |
Source: CAT 2023 Result Media Release, IIM Lucknow (21 Dec 2023)· last verified 11 Nov 2026
Officially, type-in questions are called “Non-MCQ” or short-answer questions; “TITA” is the common name for them. The split between MCQ and type-in questions in each section is not officially published.
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When is CAT 2026, and when is the result?
| Registration closed | 22 Sep 2026, 5 PM (extended from 15 Sep 2026)Source: CAT 2026 Media Release (22 Sep 2026)· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| Admit card download | 4 Nov to 29 Nov 2026Source: CAT 2026 Information Bulletin (26 Jul 2026)· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| Exam date | Sunday, 29 Nov 2026, in three sessionsSource: CAT 2026 Press Release, IIM Indore (26 Jul 2026)· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| Result | “likely to be declared by the First week of January, 2027” (no exact date published)TentativeSource: CAT 2026 Information Bulletin (26 Jul 2026)· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| Score valid until | 31 Dec 2027Source: CAT 2026 Information Bulletin (26 Jul 2026)· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
Colleges’ own 2027 application deadlines, with calendar export
Who can take CAT 2026, and what does it cost?
| Mode | Computer-based test, in about 170 test citiesSource: CAT 2026 Information Bulletin (26-07-26)· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| How often it is held | Once a year, held on a single day in three sessions (29 Nov 2026). The registration fee is paid once whatever the number of IIM programmes applied to.Source: CAT 2026 Information Bulletin (26-07-26)· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| Eligibility | A Bachelor's Degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST and PwBD), from a university or institution incorporated by an Act of Parliament or State legislature, a deemed university, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Ministry of Education. Final-year students and candidates awaiting results can also apply; if selected they join provisionally. CA/CS/ICWA (CMA)/FIAI with the required percentage are also eligible.Source: CAT 2026 Eligibility· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| Score validity | The CAT 2026 score is valid only until 31 December 2027.Source: CAT 2026 Information Bulletin (26-07-26)· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| Fee — SC, ST and PwBD | ₹1,350Source: CAT 2026 Information Bulletin (26-07-26)· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| Fee — All other candidates | ₹2,700Source: CAT 2026 Information Bulletin (26-07-26)· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
Has the CAT pattern changed in recent years?
| Year | VARC questions | DILR questions | QA questions | Time | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT 2026 | Not yet | Not yet | Not yet | 120 min | PRESS RELEASE for Common Admission Test 2026 (CAT 2026), IIM Indore, 26 July 2026 |
| CAT 2025 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 120 min | Media Release for Common Admission Test 2025 (CAT 2025), dated 01.12.2025 |
| CAT 2024 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 120 min | Media Release for Common Admission Test 2024 (CAT 2024), dated 25.11.2024 |
The structure — three sections, 40 minutes each, 120 minutes in all — has stayed the same across these years. PwD candidates were given 160 minutes in CAT 2024 and 2025. Source: CAT 2025 Media Release (1 Dec 2025)· last verified 11 Nov 2026
Already have a mock percentile?
See which IIMs’ published minimums it clears with the CAT percentile eligibility checker.
Which colleges accept CAT scores?
All 50 institutes below use CAT in their official admission documents. Many more B-schools accept CAT; we list only those whose data we have verified.
| Institute | City | NIRF 2025 | Total fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM AhmedabadMBA-PGP | Ahmedabad | #1 | ₹27,50,000source |
| IIM AmritsarMBA | Amritsar | #64 | ₹19,50,000source |
| IIM BangalorePGP | Bengaluru | #2 | ₹26,00,000source |
| IIM Bodh GayaMBA | Bodh Gaya | #31 | ₹17,96,000source |
| IIM CalcuttaMBA | Kolkata | #7 | ₹27,00,000source |
| IIM IndorePGP | Indore | #8 | ₹24,00,000source |
| IIM JammuMBA | Jammu | #35 | ₹22,80,756source |
| IIM KashipurMBA | Kashipur | #23 | ₹20,80,000source |
| IIM KozhikodePGP | Kozhikode | #3 | ₹23,50,000source |
| IIM LucknowMBA | Lucknow | #5 | ₹20,50,000source |
| IIM MumbaiMBA | Mumbai | #6 | ₹21,00,000source |
| IIM NagpurMBA | Nagpur | #25 | ₹21,00,000source |
| IIM RaipurMBA | Raipur | #15 | ₹20,08,000source |
| IIM RanchiMBA | Ranchi | #18 | ₹19,20,000source |
| IIM RohtakPGP | Rohtak | #19 | ₹17,90,000source |
| IIM SambalpurMBA | Sambalpur | #34 | ₹19,55,000source |
| IIM ShillongPGP | Shillong | #38 | Not published |
| IIM SirmaurMBA | Paonta Sahib (Sirmaur) | #51 | ₹21,00,000source |
| IIM TiruchirappalliPGPM | Tiruchirappalli | #16 | ₹19,50,000source |
| IIM UdaipurMBA | Udaipur | #21 | Not published |
| IIM VisakhapatnamPGP | Visakhapatnam | #29 | ₹23,58,590source |
| AMSOM (Ahmedabad University)P1 | Ahmedabad | Not in top 100 | ₹14,00,000source |
| CBS KolkataPGDM | Kolkata | Not in top 100 | ₹7,70,000source |
| DMS IIT DelhiP1 | New Delhi | #4 | ₹12,00,000source |
| EDIIPGDM-E | Gandhinagar | Not in top 100 | ₹13,95,000source |
| FMS DelhiMBA | New Delhi | Not in top 100 | ₹2,60,300source |
| Globsyn (GBS) KolkataPGDM | Kolkata | Not in top 100 | ₹8,95,000source |
| Great Lakes ChennaiP1 | Chennai | #37 | ₹22,50,000source |
| IBS HyderabadMBA | Hyderabad | #46 | ₹17,01,000source |
| IIEST Shibpur SOMSP1 | Howrah | Not in top 100 | ₹4,77,700source |
| IIFT DelhiInternational-Business | New Delhi | #17 | ₹19,73,000source |
| IISWBMP1 | Kolkata | Not in top 100 | ₹8,30,000source |
| IMI New DelhiPGDM | New Delhi | #40 | ₹23,54,000source |
| IMNU (Nirma)MBA | Ahmedabad | #53 | ₹13,17,000source |
| IMT GhaziabadP1 | Ghaziabad | #30 | ₹23,00,000source |
| IMT HyderabadPGDM | Hyderabad | #72 | ₹16,00,000source |
| IPE HyderabadPGDM | Hyderabad | Not in top 100 | ₹9,00,000source |
| Jaipuria IndorePGDM | Indore | Not in top 100 | ₹13,50,000source |
| KJSIMMBA | Mumbai | #65 | ₹23,87,500source |
| MANAGE HyderabadPGDM-ABM | Hyderabad | #95 | ₹9,75,000source |
| MDI GurgaonPGDM | Gurugram | #9 | ₹26,55,310source |
| MICAPGDM-C | Ahmedabad | #33 | ₹29,50,000source |
| PIMR IndoreMBA | Indore | Not in top 100 | ₹3,80,000source |
| Praxis KolkataPGDM | Kolkata | Not in top 100 | ₹11,00,000source |
| SJMSOM IIT BombayMBA | Mumbai | #14 | ₹15,55,800source |
| SMS, University of HyderabadMBA | Hyderabad | Not in top 100 | ₹2,19,220source |
| SoM-PDEUMBA | Gandhinagar | #89 | ₹14,20,000source |
| SPJIMRPGDM | Mumbai | #20 | ₹24,86,000source |
| TISS MumbaiMA-HRM&LR | Mumbai | Not in top 100 | ₹2,03,500source |
| WeSchoolPGDM | Mumbai | #75 | ₹14,00,000source |
What CAT percentile do you need for each college?
Frequently asked questions
How many questions will CAT 2026 have?
The CAT Centre has not announced it. Question counts are published only after the test. CAT 2025 had 68 questions: VARC 24, DILR 22, QA 22, and the official mock says the number of questions may vary from year to year.
Is there negative marking in CAT?
Yes, for multiple-choice questions: a wrong MCQ answer costs 1 mark, while a wrong type-in (TITA) answer costs 0. A correct answer earns 3 marks and an unanswered question scores 0. This is the scheme in the latest official statement (CAT 2023 result release); the 2024 to 2026 documents do not restate it.
Can I move between sections or choose the order in CAT?
No. The sections come in a fixed order (VARC, DILR, QA) and each is timed at exactly 40 minutes. You cannot go back to a section once its time is over, or move ahead early.
When will the CAT 2026 result be declared?
The CAT 2026 Information Bulletin says the result is “likely to be declared by the First week of January, 2027” (no exact date published). Treat this as tentative until the CAT Centre announces a date.
How much time do PwD candidates get?
In CAT 2024 and CAT 2025 the official media releases gave PwD candidates 160 minutes in total instead of 120. Check your own admit card for the time allowed this year.
Sources
Official CAT Centre documents (https://iimcat.ac.in), last checked on 12 Nov 2026.
- PRESS RELEASE for Common Admission Test 2026 (CAT 2026), IIM Indore, 26 July 2026 (2026)
- Media Release for Common Admission Test 2025 (CAT 2025), dated 01.12.2025 (2025)
- Media Release for Common Admission Test 2024 (CAT 2024), dated 25.11.2024 (2024)
- CAT 2023 Result Media Release, IIM Lucknow (21 Dec 2023) (2023)
- CAT 2025 Media Release (1 Dec 2025) (2025)
- CAT 2026 Media Release (22 Sep 2026) (2026)
- CAT 2026 Information Bulletin (26 Jul 2026) (2026)
- CAT 2026 Press Release, IIM Indore (26 Jul 2026) (2026)
- CAT 2026 Information Bulletin (26-07-26)
- CAT 2026 Eligibility
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