Complete Guide to CAT exam 2026 registration last date 2026

The official CAT exam 2026 registration last date is September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM IST. Online applications opened on August 3, 2026, on the official portal iimcat.ac.in. Candidates must complete profile creation, document submission, and fee payment before the deadline to appear for the exam on November 29, 2026.

At ExamBhai, our expert management exam strategists have compiled this definitive guide to walk you through every critical deadline, registration nuance, eligibility rule, and preparation roadmap for CAT 2026.

What is the Exam?

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is India's premier national-level management entrance examination conducted annually by one of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis. For the CAT 2026 cycle, IIM Indore serves as the coordinating institute.

CAT acts as a mandatory gateway for admission into postgraduate management programs (MBA/PGDM) across 21 IIMs and over 100 top non-IIM B-schools across the country, including FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, and IIT management departments. The test evaluates candidates across three primary sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).

Key Highlights 2026

Staying updated with the official timeline ensures you complete your application without last-minute server bottlenecks. Below is the comprehensive schedule for CAT 2026:

• Official Notification Release: July 26, 2026
• Registration Opening Date: August 3, 2026 (10:00 AM IST)
• CAT Exam 2026 Registration Last Date: September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM IST)
• Form Correction Window: September 24 – September 27, 2026 (Expected)
• Admit Card Release Date: November 4, 2026
• CAT 2026 Exam Date: November 29, 2026 (Sunday)
• Official Answer Key Release: First week of December 2026
• Result Declaration: Fourth week of December 2026 / First week of January 2027
• Exam Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
• Exam Duration: 120 Minutes (40 minutes per section)
• Application Fee: ₹2,700 for General/EWS/NC-OBC; ₹1,350 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates

Syllabus 2026

The CAT 2026 syllabus does not have a rigid predefined boundary; however, questions are systematically drawn from standardized quantitative, analytical, and verbal topics. Below is the section-wise break-up:

Exam Pattern

Understanding the exact exam layout and scoring scheme is vital for effective time management during test day. We recommend trying out your speed by taking practice free mock tests for Management on ExamBhai designed to replicate the real exam interface.

In the Quantitative Aptitude section, your total score (S_{QA}) is calculated using the formula:

[S_{QA} = 3 \cdot C - 1 \cdot W_{MCQ}]

where (C) is the number of correct responses and (W_{MCQ}) represents wrong answers in MCQ format.

Eligibility Criteria

According to the official guidelines released on the Government of India portal for IIM admissions (iimcat.ac.in), candidates must fulfill the following criteria:

1. Educational Qualification: Candidates must hold a Bachelor's Degree, awarded by any University or educational institution incorporated by an Act of the Parliament or State Legislature in India, with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Persons with Disability (PwD) categories).
2. Final Year Students: Candidates appearing for the final year of their Bachelor's degree/equivalent qualification examination and those who have completed degree requirements and are awaiting results can also apply.
3. Equivalent Qualifications: Candidates possessing an equivalent qualification recognized by the Ministry of Education, Government of India (including professional degrees like CA, CS, ICWA) are eligible.
4. Age Limit & Attempts: There is no upper age limit or restriction on the number of attempts for the CAT exam.

Application Process

Complete your registration well before the CAT exam 2026 registration last date by following these step-by-step instructions:

1. Portal Registration: Visit iimcat.ac.in and click on 'New Candidate Registration'. Enter your Name, Date of Birth, Email ID, Mobile Number, and Nationality to generate your User ID and Password via OTP verification.
2. Personal & Academic Profile: Log in using your credentials. Enter your personal details, category details, emergency contact numbers, and complete academic records starting from 10th standard up to your Bachelor's degree.
3. Work Experience: If applicable, fill in relevant full-time work experience up to July 31, 2026.
4. Program Selection: Choose your preferred IIM programs and select interview cities for each program.
5. Test City Preference: Select up to 5 preferred exam cities from the drop-down menu.
6. Document Upload: Upload scanned copies of your passport-size photograph, signature, and Category/PwD certificates (if applicable) strictly in the prescribed formats.
7. Payment of Fee: Pay the registration fee online via UPI, Net Banking, Credit Card, or Debit Card. Download and save your submitted application confirmation receipt.

Preparation Strategy

To achieve a 99+ percentile in CAT 2026, a structured study plan divided into three phases is essential. You can start assessing your preparation levels right now by utilizing practice free mock tests for Management on ExamBhai.

Phase 1: Conceptual Clarity & Fundamentals (Months 1–3)

Focus on clearing fundamentals across Arithmetic, Algebra, and basic DILR frameworks. Solve foundational exercises and build reading habits by analyzing articles from Aeon, The Hindu, and The Economic Times to improve reading speed for VARC.

Phase 2: Sectional Practice & Speed Enhancement (Months 4–5)

Solve topic-wise sectional tests and focus on question selection. CAT is an exam of selection, not elimination. Target accuracy over blind attempts. You can evaluate your section-wise accuracy by attempting practice free mock tests for Management on ExamBhai.

Phase 3: Full-Length Mocks & Analysis (Final 2 Months)

Take at least 15–20 full-length mock tests under real exam timing conditions. Spend twice as much time analyzing mistakes as taking the test. Track your raw scores and evaluate your performance growth using percentile metrics.

Mathematically, your overall accuracy rate (A) across total attempts (N) is given by:

[A = \frac{C}{N} \times 100]

Target an overall accuracy rate (A \ge 85%) to consistently secure high percentiles.

Cut-Off Trends

As per official admission policy releases across IIM portals (such as iimcat.ac.in and individual IIM websites), selection for personal interviews involves both minimum sectional cut-offs and overall percentile scores. Below is a comparative snapshot of historical composite percentile cut-offs for top B-schools:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the CAT exam 2026 registration last date? Ans: The last date to complete your online application for CAT 2026 is September 15, 2026, by 5:00 PM IST. No registrations will be accepted after this official deadline.

Q2: Will the CAT 2026 registration deadline be extended? Ans: While the registration window was extended by a few days in certain past years, candidates must not count on an extension. IIM Indore recommends completing the process well before September 15, 2026, to avoid server rush.

Q3: Can I correct errors in my CAT 2026 application form after submission? Ans: Yes, a limited correction window typically opens in late September 2026. However, candidates can only modify specific fields such as photo, signature, and test city preferences. Personal details like name, DOB, and email cannot be changed.

Q4: Is there any offline application option for CAT 2026? Ans: No, CAT 2026 registration is strictly online via the official portal iimcat.ac.in. Physical application forms are not accepted under any circumstances.

Q5: What is the application fee for CAT 2026? Ans: The registration fee is ₹2,700 for General, EWS, and NC-OBC category applicants, and ₹1,350 for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates.

Q6: Are final-year graduation students eligible to register for CAT 2026? Ans: Yes, final-year undergraduate students are fully eligible to apply, provided they complete their degree requirements and submit proof of minimum required marks at the time of final admission.