CAT 2026: Dates, Registration, Fees, Eligibility, Syllabus, Exam Pattern, PYQs & Preparation Tips

Somdatta Roy

Senior Content Writer | Updated on - Dec 6, 2025

The Common Admission Test is the national-level entrance exam for the MBA/PGDM admission in the prestigious IIMs or B-Schools. The CAT 2026 exam for the academic year 2027-29 is tentatively scheduled for November 29, 2026. Based on past trends, the official notification will likely be released in late July 2026, with registration opening in early August 2026.

Eligibility for the registration requires a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks (45% for reserved categories) and final-year students are also eligible to apply. There are no age or attempt limits for this highly competitive exam, which sees nearly 3 lakh+ candidates annually. Start your preparation now with a strategic plan which includes understanding the core CAT syllabus and practicing Previous Year Questions (PYQs). The official updates will be updated on the official website www.iimcat.ac.in later.

CAT 2026: Important Dates

Based on the trends from previous years' Common Admission Test (CAT) exams, here is the tentative date sheet for CAT 2026:

CAT 2026 Registration Process

Check out the CAT 2026 registration process (as a new candidate) in short:

• Step 1: Go to ac.in and click "New Candidate Registration."
• Step 2: Enter details (name, DOB, valid mobile and email address) to receive a verification OTP, which generates your user ID and password.
• Step 3: Use credentials to log in and complete the main application form using personal, academic details, work Experience: Detail full-time work (optional for fresh graduates), programs & cities: up to six preferences.
• Step 4: Upload the following in the specified format: Photograph, Signature, Category/PwD Certificate (If applicable).
• Step 5: Pay the non-refundable registration fee online expected to be INR 2,600 for General/EWS/NC-OBC and INR 1,300 for SC/ST/PwD applicants.
• Step 6: Review the entire form to submit it and print the application and e-receipt for future reference.

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern and Syllabus

The exam is a CBT with a duration of 2 hours. The CAT 2026 exam pattern is expected to remain consistent with previous years.

• Sections: The exam has three sections, with a fixed time limit of 40 minutes for each:

• Question Types: The test includes both Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and non-MCQs (Type in the Answer or TITA).
• Marking Rule: Check the CAT 2026 marking scheme here:
• +3 marks for each correct answer.
• -1 mark for each incorrect MCQ answer.
• No negative marking for TITA questions.

Preparation Tips for CAT 2026

Start from this month for your CAT 2026 exam preparation to finish early. Know the tricks to make a strong study plan:

• Begin your exam preparation at least 10-12 months before the original examination month. So, this is the perfect time to plan accordingly.
• Create a weekly timetable to cover all sections and topics systematically. Ensure you make a strong conceptual clarity in all subjects.
• Regularly take sectional tests first and then start with the full-length mock tests to identify weak areas and improve time management from the beginning.
• Practice PYQs that help you understand the real exam structure, question types and difficulty level.

Read More List:

• CAT 2026 Exam Books: Section-Wise Recommendation and Book list according to Topper's Preference & More
• CAT Previous Year Question Papers (2019-2025): Download Official PDFs (with Answer Keys)

UP NEET PG 2025 counselling will be conducted in four rounds, allocating 85% state quota seats based on choices, NEET scores, and reservations. The remaining 15% All India Quota seats will be managed by MCC.

UP NEET PG 2025 counselling dates have been officially released on the state’s exam portal, upneet.gov.in. You can begin round 1 registration process from November 06, 2025. To participate in the seat allocation, you must register online and submit your preferred choices of colleges and courses. The deadline for application submission is October 10, 2025. If you have qualified NEET PG 2025 exam and meet the minimum cutoff criteria, you are eligible to take part in Uttar Pradesh NEET PG counselling process.

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