You may also visit CAT 2026 Registration page to learn more about the registration process.

What Is the CAT 2026 Registration Fee?

There has been a revision in the CAT 2026 application fee. The fee has been increased for the CAT entrance exam 2026. Check out the table below for the CAT exam fees:

Who Is Eligible to Apply for CAT 2026?

You must have to meet the CAT 2026 eligibility criteria to appear for the exam. Here are the eligibility criteria based on past year’s trends:

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree: You must hold a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized institute in any discipline.

Minimum Marks Requirements

• General & NC-OBC Category: Must have secured a minimum of 45% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• SC, ST, PWD/DA Category: The minimum mark requirement is 45% or equivalent CGPA.
• Final Year Students: If you are in the final year of your bachelor’s degree or waiting for the result, you are also eligible to appear for the CAT exam. Still, you have to complete your graduation with the required percentage by the time of admission.
• Professional Degree: Professional degree holders, such as CA, CS, ICWA, or FIAI with the required percentage are also eligible for CAT 2026.

Age Limit for CAT And Work Experience

• There are no upper or lower age limit criteria to appear in the CAT 2026.
• No work experience is required to appear for the CAT exam. However, it is advantageous for admission at IIM.

When Will the CAT 2026 Admit Card Be Released?

You must carry your CAT admit card 2026 on the day of the examination. You should be aware of the following points about the CAT admit card:

• Only the registered candidates can download the CAT 2026 admit card.
• You have to log in to your account with the ID and password on the official website of CAT.
• Your CAT admit card will contain your details like exam venue, exam date, your name, and other information.
• You must carry your admit card on the date of the CAT exam 2026.
• Make sure that all the information mentioned on your admit card are correct. If you see any discrepancies, immediately contact the exam conducting authority.

Which Top Colleges Accept CAT 2026 Scores?

Here is the list of top IIMs that accept the CAT 2026 score:

What Is the Expected CAT 2026 Cutoff?

Once the CAT 2026 result is released, top B-schools like IIMs, MDI, FMS, etc will start releasing the CAT 2026 cutoff. Based on the cutoff score, they will shortlist the candidates for admission to the MBA programs. Check out the table below for the expected cutoff for CAT 2026:

Expected Cutoff Colleges 2026 Cutoff for IIMs

Here is the list of IIMs along with their expected CAT cutoff 2026:

Expected Cutoff Colleges 2026 Cutoff for Non-IIMs

The table below shows the non-IIMs along with their expected cutoff score:

What Is the CAT 2026 Exam Pattern?

Check out the table below for the CAT paper pattern:

What Is the CAT 2026 Marking Scheme?

Similar to the last year’s exam pattern, the marking scheme for both MCQs and non-MCQs will remain the same. Here is an overview of the CAT 2026 marking scheme:

What Is the CAT 2026 Syllabus?

The exam-conducting authority does not officially release the CAT syllabus. It is based on the topics from which the questions were asked in the CAT previous year papers. If you are applying for the CAT exam 2026, then the first step is to learn the syllabus. Check out the table below for the detailed CAT syllabus 2026:

How Has the CAT Exam Changed Over the Years?

The following table breaks down the structure of the CAT exam, a national-level entrance test for management programs in India.

Based on changes introduced in 2024, the exam consists of 68 questions, not 66, with DILR and QA having 22 questions each and VARC having 24. Each correct answer is worth 3 marks, and there is a 1-mark penalty for wrong multiple-choice answers. However, the TITA (type-in-the-answer) questions have no penalty.

The recommended preparation hours in the original table are subjective and not officially prescribed. Exam-takers are allotted 40 minutes per section and cannot switch between them once the time is up.

Where Can You Download the CAT 2026 Question Paper?

You may check CAT question paper 2025 to know the trends and practice for CAT exam 2026.

You can visit CAT Question Paper page to get more previous years' question paper for your exam preparation.

When Will the CAT 2026 Answer Key Be Released?

CAT answer key 2026 will be released within 2 to 3 days after concluding the CAT exam 2026. CAT answer key is generally released in the third week of December every year. Exam conducting authority will release the CAT answer key 2026 once the paper is evaluated and all the responses from the candidates are recorded. The official answer key will include the recorded responses of all the candidates for the year 2026, along with the correct answers determined by experts.

You can check the CAT response sheet and CAT answer key, by login to your account. It will help you to estimate your CAT score and probable CAT percentile. The exam conducting authority will also allow you to raise objections against the official answer key if you see any error in the answer key. However, there will be a fee of INR 1200 per question for raising objections against the answer key. The final CAT 2026 result will be released based on the revised CAT 2026 answer key.

When Will the CAT 2026 Result Be Announced?

CAT result 2026 is expected to be released in the third week of December 2026. You can check the results through the official website of CAT exam 2026. You must login to your account with the login credentials like ID and password.

What’s After Qualifying CAT Exam 2026?

After qualifying for the CAT 2026 exam and achieving the required cutoff, you will be called for the selection process by the participating institute. The admission process may vary from college to college, depending on factors, such as CAT 2026 scores, Written Ability Test, and GD/PI. Check out the details below for the selection process:Written Ability Test (WAT)

• Group Discussion (GD)
• Personal Interviews (PI)

Where Can You Take CAT 2026 Mock Tests?

Practicing the CAT mock test can help you master all the topics included in the syllabus and improve speed and accuracy. If you are appearing for the CAT exam 2026, then you should practice at least 40 to 50 mock tests during your preparation phase.

The exam-conducting authority will release the CAT mock test series on the official website a few days before the examination. You can practice the official mock test too before the exam date. The official mock test will help you to understand the exam pattern and marking scheme.

How Should You Prepare for CAT 2026?

These are some important preparation tips to prepare for the CAT exam 2026:

• Make sure to cover the CAT syllabus thoroughly. Don’t leave any topic as questions can be asked from anywhere.
• Attempt a good number of mock tests to develop your speed and accuracy during the exam.
• Dedicate time to regular revision, so that you are always well-versed.
• Practice mental maths for quick calculation.
• Practice a good number of RC passages from last year’s CAT question paper.