General Overview
The Common Admission Test, widely known as CAT, is a national-level management aptitude examination conducted in India. Its primary purpose is to facilitate admissions into postgraduate management programs, most notably the Master of Business Administration (MBA), offered by a multitude of esteemed business schools and management institutes across the nation. The significance of CAT is underscored by its acceptance as the principal shortlisting criterion for all 21 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). Beyond the IIMs, CAT scores are recognized by over 1,300 other business schools in India, encompassing prestigious institutions such as the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) Delhi, S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) Mumbai, Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon, and Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Ghaziabad. This broad acceptance makes CAT one of the most pivotal entrance examinations for individuals aspiring to pursue management education in India.
Exam Pattern and Section Wise Break Down
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Total Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Total Number of Questions | 68 (approximately, can vary slightly) |
| Total Marks | 204 (if 68 questions, 3 marks per question) |
| Number of Sections | 3 |
| Sectional Time Limit | 40 minutes per section (candidates cannot switch between sections) |
| Order of Sections | Fixed: 1. VARC, 2. DILR, 3. QA |
| Marking Scheme | +3 marks for each correct answer |
| -1 mark for each incorrect Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) |
| No negative marking for incorrect Non-Multiple Choice Questions (TITA - Type In The Answer) |
| No marks for unattempted questions |
| Question Types | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Non-MCQs (TITA) |
| Section | Number of Questions | Time Allotted | Marks |
|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 minutes | 72 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 40 minutes | 66 |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | 40 minutes | 66 |
| Total | 68 | 120 minutes | 204 |
This section wise break down is based on CAT 2025.
Important Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|
| CAT Full Form | Common Admission Test |
| Conducting Institute for 2026 | Indian Institute of Management Indore (Expected) |
| Exam Level | National |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Medium of Exam | English |
| Number of IIMs Participating | 22 |
| Courses Offered through CAT | MBA/PGDM, Executive MBA, PhD, FPM |
| Score Validity | 1 year |
| Eligibility Criteria | Graduation with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST/PwD) |
| CAT Exam Fees (Indicative) | INR 2,500 (General category) and INR 1,250 (Reserved category) |
| Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
Registration and Attendance Statistics
| Year | Total Registered | Total Appeared (Number) | Males Appeared | Females Appeared |
|---|
| 2020 | 227,835 | 190,143 | 123,593 | 66,548 |
| 2021 | 229,969 | 191,660 | 124,579 | 67,079 |
| 2022 | 255,501 | 222,184 | 144,417 | 77,763 |
| 2023 | 328,000 | 255,000 | 165,750 | 89,250 |
| 2024 | 329,000 | 258,000 | 167,700 | 90,286 |
This data is based on approximation and might not be accurate.
Important Dates
| Event | Tentative Date/Period |
|---|
| CAT 2026 Official Notification | Last week of July 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Registration Starts | First week of August 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Registration Ends | First to Third week of September 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Admit Card Release | October 2026 / November 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Exam Date | November 29, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key | Early December 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Result Date | Last week of December 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Exam Timings (3 Slots) | Slot 1: 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Slot 2: 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Slot 3: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM |
This data is based on approximation and might not be accurate.
Syllabus
| QA |
|---|
| Arithmetic | Algebra | Geometry | Modern Maths | Number System |
|---|
| Percentages | Linear Equations | Lines and Angles | Permutation and Combination | Properties of Numbers |
| Profit and Loss | Quadratic Equations | Triangles | Probability | Factors and Multiples |
| Simple and Compound Interest | Inequalities | Quadrilaterals | Set Theory | HCF and LCM |
| Ratio and Proportion | Functions and Graphs | Circles | Venn Diagrams | Divisibility Rules |
| Averages | Logarithms | Polygons | Binomial Theorem | Remainders |
| Mixtures and Alligations | Surds and Indices | Mensuration | | Factorials |
| Time, Speed and Distance | Polynomials | Coordinate Geometry | | Base Systems |
| Time and Work | Maxima and Minima | Trigonometry | | Cyclicity / Unit Digit |
| Partnership | Sequences and Series | | | |
| VARC |
|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Verbal Ability |
|---|
| Main Idea | Para Jumbles |
| Inference | Para Summary |
| Specific Details / Facts | Odd Sentence Out |
| Author's Tone / Style | Para Completion |
| Application / Extension of Idea | Fill in Blanks |
| DILR |
|---|
| Data Interpretation | Logical Reasoning |
|---|
| Tables | Arrangements |
| Bar Graphs | Puzzles |
| Line Charts | Grouping/Team Formation |
| Pie Charts | Networks/Routes |
| Caselets | Games/Tournaments |
| Venn Diagrams (Data) | Logical Conditions |
| Mixed Graphs | Venn Diagrams (Logic) |
| Data Sufficiency | Binary Logic |
| Calculation-based | Quant-Based LR |
| Maxima/Minima Sets | Miscellaneous Puzzles |
Topic-wise Question Distribution
| Section | Category | CAT 2022 | CAT 2023 | CAT 2024 |
|---|
| QA | Total | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Arithmetic | 8-9 | 8-9 | 8-10 |
| Algebra | 7-8 | 7-8 | 7-8 |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 3-4 | 3-4 | 3-4 |
| Number System | 1-2 | 1-3 | 1-2 |
| Modern Mathematics | 1-2 | 0-1 | 1-2 |
| DILR | Total | 20 | 20 | 22 |
| Data Interpretation (DI) | 10 (2 sets) | 10 (2 sets) | 10-12 (2-3 sets) |
| Logical Reasoning (LR) | 10 (2 sets) | 10 (2 sets) | 10-12 (2-3 sets) |
| VARC | Total | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Reading Comprehension (RC) | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Verbal Ability (VA) | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| OVERALL EXAM TOTAL | 66 | 66 | 68 |