Q. Who is eligible for CAT 2026?
Candidates should meet the eligibility requirements specified by the CAT 2026 conducting authority. Based on the latest published CAT eligibility criteria, a candidate must generally have:
- A Bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates.
- At least 45% marks or equivalent CGPA for candidates belonging to SC, ST and PwD categories.
- Candidates appearing in the final year of their Bachelor's degree or awaiting their final-year results may also be eligible, subject to the conditions specified in the CAT notification.
- Candidates with a completed professional degree such as CA, CS or ICWA may also be eligible under the applicable CAT rules.
Candidates should check the official CAT 2026 notification for the final eligibility conditions before applying.
Q. When will CAT 2026 registration start?
CAT 2026 registration will begin on August 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM IST. Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria can register online through the official CAT website during the registration window.
Q. What is the last date to apply for CAT 2026?
The last date to register for CAT 2026 is September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM IST. Candidates are advised not to wait until the last date and should complete their registration and fee payment well in advance.
Q. Who is not eligible for CAT 2026?
A candidate may be ineligible if they do not meet the minimum educational qualification or other requirements prescribed by the CAT 2026 notification. This may include candidates who:
- Do not have a Bachelor's degree or an eligible equivalent/professional qualification.
- Do not meet the minimum percentage requirement prescribed for their category.
- Do not satisfy the eligibility conditions applicable to final-year candidates.
- Do not hold a degree or qualification recognized under the applicable CAT eligibility rules.
Note: Candidates should refer to the official CAT 2026 notification for the definitive eligibility criteria. Professional qualifications such as CA, CS and ICWA should not be listed as automatically ineligible because such qualifications have been accepted under CAT eligibility rules in previous years.
Q. Is there any reservation for female candidates in CAT 2026?
CAT does not provide a separate reservation of seats or marks specifically for female candidates in the examination. However, individual IIMs and other participating institutions may consider gender diversity as one component of their admission or selection process. Candidates should check the admission policy of the institute to which they are applying.
Q. Is there any age limit or limit on the number of CAT attempts?
CAT does not prescribe an upper age limit or a fixed maximum number of attempts. Candidates who meet the eligibility requirements can appear for the examination in different years.
Q. Can final-year graduation students apply for CAT 2026?
Yes. Candidates who are appearing for the final year of their Bachelor's degree or have completed their degree requirements and are awaiting results may apply, subject to the conditions specified in the CAT 2026 notification. Selected candidates may be required to submit proof of completion of their degree within the prescribed timeline.
Q. What are the important things to know before appearing for CAT 2026?
Candidates should keep the following points in mind:
- CAT is a computer-based examination conducted at designated test centres.
- Candidates should carry the documents and identification proofs specified in their admit card and CAT instructions.
- An on-screen timer is provided during the examination.
- An on-screen calculator may be available if permitted by the examination authorities.
- Candidates should follow the instructions given by the invigilators at the test centre.
- Candidates must sit at their allotted workstation and follow the prescribed examination procedures.
- Rough sheets, if provided, must be returned as instructed after the examination.
Candidates should carefully read the CAT 2026 admit card and test-day instructions before appearing for the examination.
Q. Will there be any changes in the CAT 2026 exam pattern?
The CAT 2026 exam pattern should be considered subject to confirmation by the official CAT 2026 notification. The conducting IIM may modify the number of questions, sectional duration, marking scheme or other examination-related details.
Candidates should check the official CAT website for the latest CAT 2026 exam pattern before beginning their final preparation.
Q. Can candidates answer CAT questions in any order?
Candidates must follow the navigation rules specified in the CAT examination interface. Within a section, the examination interface may allow candidates to move between questions according to the instructions provided. Candidates cannot assume that they must answer every question in chronological order.
Q. Is there negative marking for unattempted questions in the CAT exam?
No. Candidates are generally not penalized for leaving a question unanswered. However, the exact marking scheme for CAT 2026 should be confirmed from the official notification when it is released.
Q. Is there a sectional time limit in CAT?
Yes, CAT has historically included a separate time limit for each section, and candidates are required to complete each section within the prescribed duration. The exact sectional timing for CAT 2026 should be confirmed from the official CAT 2026 notification.
Q. Can a candidate carry a calculator to the CAT exam centre?
Candidates should not carry a physical calculator into the examination unless specifically permitted by the CAT authorities. CAT has historically provided an on-screen calculator for use during the examination.
Candidates should follow the items permitted and prohibited in the CAT 2026 test-day instructions.
Q. What is the qualifying score for CAT?
CAT does not have one universal "passing mark" that guarantees admission to an IIM or B-school. IIMs and other institutions use CAT scores/percentiles along with other admission criteria for shortlisting candidates.
The required CAT percentile can vary significantly depending on the institute, programme, category and admission policy.
Q. What is the CAT 2026 marking scheme?
The CAT marking scheme consists of marks for correct answers and, where applicable, negative marks for incorrect Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). Non-MCQ/TITA questions have historically been treated differently from MCQs.
The exact number of questions, marks per question and negative-marking rules for CAT 2026 should be confirmed from the official CAT 2026 notification.
Q. What is the duration of CAT 2026?
CAT 2026 exam duration is 120 minutes for all candidates.
Q. How many questions are there in CAT 2026?
The total number of questions and their distribution across the three sections—Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA)—should be confirmed from the official CAT 2026 notification.
The number of questions can change from one CAT edition to another, so candidates should not rely on the previous year's pattern as a confirmed CAT 2026 pattern.
Q. What is the difference between MCQ and TITA questions in CAT?
MCQ questions provide multiple answer choices, while TITA (Type In The Answer) questions require candidates to enter their answer without selecting from given options.
TITA questions can require more time because candidates do not have answer choices to use for elimination or comparison. Candidates should therefore practice both formats during CAT preparation.
Q. Does CAT have three sections?
Yes. CAT has traditionally consisted of three sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
Candidates should check the official CAT 2026 notification for the final examination structure and question distribution.
Q. Does CAT score guarantee admission to an IIM?
No. Meeting the minimum CAT eligibility criteria or obtaining a particular CAT percentile does not automatically guarantee admission. IIMs use their respective admission policies, which may consider CAT performance along with academic profile, work experience, diversity factors, performance in subsequent selection stages and other criteria.
The official CAT information also states that merely fulfilling the minimum eligibility criteria does not ensure shortlisting by IIMs.
Q. What are the total marks of CAT exam 2026?
For the CAT 2026 examination the total marks are 198. As per CAT marking scheme, each question is worth 3 marks. So, the total marks of 66 questions in the CAT exam are 66x3= 198. Also, there is a negative marking of - 1 mark for every wrong answer.
Q. How many times can a candidate appear in the CAT Examination?
No bar on the number of attempts for CAT entrance. An aspiring candidate can attempt the CAT examination multiple times. There are no age restrictions as well.
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