CAT 2026 Exam Guide: Dates, Eligibility, Pattern & Colleges Accepting CAT

CAT 2026 Exam Overview: Conducting Body & Purpose

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the gateway to India's most sought-after management programmes. It is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management — one IIM takes charge each year on a rotational basis — and the score is accepted by all IIMs and by over 1,200 other business schools, making it the single most important MBA entrance exam in the country. A strong CAT percentile, combined with academics, work experience and a good interview, opens the door to the IIMs as well as top non-IIM B-schools. For a full route map of MBA admission in India, see our MBA Admission 2026 guide; if your score is on the lower side, the MBA options for low CAT scores and MBA without CAT guides are useful.

CAT 2026 Important Dates (Expected)

⚠ These CAT 2026 dates are indicative, based on the exam's usual annual cycle — the conducting IIM had not released the official 2026 schedule at the time of writing. Always confirm the exact notification, registration and exam dates on the official portal iimcat.ac.in before planning.

CAT 2026 Eligibility

To appear for CAT you need a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates), or an equivalent CGPA, from a recognised university. Final-year students and those awaiting results are also eligible to apply. There is no age limit and no cap on the number of attempts. Candidates with professional degrees (CA/CS/CMA) are eligible on the same basis. Final admission eligibility (work experience, academic diversity, etc.) is set by each B-school over and above the CAT score.

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

CAT is a computer-based test of 120 minutes (40 minutes per section, taken in a fixed order). It mixes multiple-choice (MCQ) and non-MCQ "type-in-the-answer" (TITA) questions.

Marking: +3 for a correct answer and −1 for an incorrect MCQ; there is no negative marking for TITA questions. Scores are normalised across slots and reported as scaled scores and percentiles (overall and sectional). The exact number of questions can change year to year — confirm the latest pattern in the official CAT bulletin.

Colleges Accepting CAT 2026 — Full List of B-Schools

CAT scores are accepted by the IIMs and by 1,200+ MBA/PGDM institutes across India. Below are the B-schools on FindUrCollege that admit through CAT — click any college for its fees, cutoffs, placements and admission process. (Explore by city: MBA Bangalore · MBA Pune · MBA Mumbai · MBA Delhi NCR · Top MBA Mumbai · Top MBA Delhi.)

Targeting a specific score band? See MBA for low CAT scores, or compare CAT with other routes via GMAT/GRE MBA admission, XAT, NMAT, SNAP and CMAT.

CAT Percentile & Cutoffs — What Score Do You Need?

CAT results are reported as percentiles, not raw marks. As a broad guide: the top IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta) and schools like FMS Delhi and MDI Gurgaon typically shortlist around 98–100 percentile; the newer IIMs and strong non-IIMs around 90–97 percentile; and many good PGDM institutes accept 80–90 percentile. Cutoffs vary every year by category and by programme, and the final call depends on your overall profile — academics, work experience, diversity and interview. For college-specific cutoffs, open any B-school above.

How FindUrCollege Helps CAT Aspirants

From shortlisting the right B-schools for your expected percentile to application strategy, essays/SOPs and interview preparation, FindUrCollege's counsellors guide CAT aspirants end-to-end — including options if your score is below your target. Use the free form on this page, or message us on WhatsApp at +91 91126 50438 for a free MBA profile review.

Frequently Asked Questions — CAT 2026