--- title: CAT Examination 2026: Exam Details, Eligibility and Prep Tips description: Prepare for the CAT Exam 2026 today. Gain insights about the examination, the eligibility criteria, syllabus, preparation tips and & more here. --- # **CAT 2026 Explained: Exam Details, Eligibility and Preparation Tips** Updated: 15 January 2026, 2:51 pm IST ## TL;DR - CAT is an entrance examination for MBA aspirants.  - The registration for this exam may begin in the first week of August 2026. - The syllabus consists of VARC, DILR and QA. - There is no age limit for applying to the CAT exam 2026. When you are getting ready for the CAT 2026, you are entering the most fiercely contested educational arenas in the country. The CAT's purpose is to act as a gateway for [MBA](https://amityonline.com/master-of-business-administration-online) aspirants seeking admission to top-tier business schools, particularly the IIMs. Every year, countless learners compete for a small number of PG-management and MBA seats. Latest data show that roughly [2.58 Lakh candidates](https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/how-many-students-appeared-for-cat-2025) appeared for this examination in 2025. In this blog, you will gain insights about the CAT 2026 exam date, syllabus, eligibility and how to prepare for the examination effectively. Looking for an [Online Degree Scholarship](https://amityonline.com/scholarship)? Amity University Online offers various options to make education more affordable, including: 1. **Sports Scholarship (CHAMPS):-** For exceptional sports achievements 2. **Defense Scholarship:-** For defense personnel and their families 3. **Divyaang Scholarship:-**  For Students with disabilities 4. **Merit-Based Scholarship:-** For outstanding academic performance 5. **ISAT-Based Awards:-** Based on Amity's flagship scholarship test For helping students to achieve their goals without financial stress. ## **CAT Exam: Purpose and Important Dates** The CAT is an entrance examination conducted annually at the national level for securing admission to postgraduate, doctorate, or fellow programs at different IIMs (Indian Institute of Management). CAT scores are also accepted by non-IIM institutions, provided they are registered as official member institutions. ### **Important Dates:**  The official CAT 2026 dates have not yet been released. However, registration for the CAT exam 2026 is expected to begin in the first week of August. Here is a tentative list of dates related to the exam:  **Events** **Dates for 2026** Release of notification for CAT 2026 July 2026 (last week) Release of the application form for CAT 2026 August 2026 (first week) Last date to fill the registration form for CAT 2026 September 2026 (third week) Application correction for CAT 2026 September 2026 (fourth week) Availability of the admit card October 2026 (fourth week) Examination Date for CAT 2026 November 2026 (fourth week) Answer key for CAT 2026 December 2026 (first week) Last date to submit an objection against the answer key December 2026 (first week) Announcement of results for CAT 2026 December 2026 (fourth week) ## **What are the Eligibility Criteria for CAT 2026?**  Apart from knowing the CAT 2026 exam details, you should also know the [CAT exam eligibility](https://amityonline.com/blog/cat-exam-guide) and make sure to meet them: ### **Educational Qualifications**  A bachelor’s degree awarded by an accredited institution or university, with the following minimum requirements:  **Category**  **Minimum Marks**  - Unreserved  - NC-OBC (Non-Creamy Layer Other Backward Classes)  - EWS (Economically Weaker Section)  50%  - PwD (Persons with Disabilities)  - SC (Scheduled Caste)  - ST (Scheduled Tribe)   45%  ### Engineering Degree Holders  When checking the CAT 2026 exam details or eligibility, know that you can also apply if you have a B.E. or B. Tech degree from an MHRD or AICTE-accredited institute with about 50% marks (45% is for the PwD, ST, or SC). ### **Final Year Students**  You can apply even in your final year of study, but admission remains provisional until proof of degree completion is submitted. ### **Age Limit for CAT**  None  ## **What is the CAT 2026 Syllabus?**  Apart from knowing what is a CAT exam​, you also need to keep in mind that there is no fixed CAT 2026 exam syllabus. You can take the mock test to understand the exam pattern and question types. Regularly check the CAT website for updates on mock tests. The section-wise syllabus of the CAT 2026 exam to help you plan your preparation strategy is as follows: ### **VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension)**  **VARC Topics**  Tense Errors  Antonyms  Idioms  Clause Types  Paragraph Completion and Interpretation  Sentence Correction  Subject-Verb Correction  Foreign-origin Words in English  Phrasal Verbs  Syllogisms  Jumbled Paragraphs  Grammar  Parts of Speech  Sentence Completion  Phrases Modifiers  Preposition  Sentence Completion  Reading Comprehension  Article Usage  Analogies  One Word Substitution  Verbal Reasoning  Word Usage in Context  \--  ### **DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning)**  **DI Topics**  Pie Charts  Tables  Quant-based DI  Line and Bar Graphs  **LR Topics**  Circular Arrangements  Cubes  Linear Arrangements  Venn Diagrams  Selection  Network Flow Diagrams  Distribution  Binary Logics  Games and Tournaments  Blood Relations  Direction Sense  Assumptions  Seating Arrangements  Data Sufficiency  Puzzles  Coding-Decoding  Data Structure  Statements  Series  Clocks and Calendars  Sets and Caselets  \--  \--  \--  \--  ### **QA (Quantitative Aptitude)**  Logarithms  Probability  Trigonometry  Profit and Loss  Permutation and Combination  Mean, Median, Mode  Linear Equations  Quadratic Equations  Number System  Binomial Theorem  Simple and Compound Interest  Ratio & Proportion  Time-Speed-Distance  Partnership  Surds and Indices  Inequalities  Mensuration  Geometry  Work and Time  Geometric Progression  Percentages  Cube and Square Roots  \--  \--  \--  **Also Read:-** [**How Students Use AI for Exams & Career Planning**](https://amityonline.com/blog/ai-for-exams-and-career-planning) ## **What is the CAT 2026 Exam Format?**  After gaining clarity on CAT exam is for what purpose, you should also note that IIM Kozhikode may likely conduct the CAT 2026 examination, which will follow the format given below:  **Exam Component**  **Details**  Total Marks  204  Total Questions  68  VARC Questions  24  DILR Questions  22  QA Questions  22  Mode  CBT (Computer-Based Test)  Total Duration  120 minutes  Sectional Duration  For non-PwD candidates: 40 minutes  For PwD candidates: 53 minutes and 20 seconds  Marks Awarded for Correct Answer  +3  Marks Deducted for Incorrect Responses in MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)  \-1  Marks Deducted for Incorrect Responses in TITA (Type in the Answer)  None  Number of Sessions  Three sessions, as follows:  - Morning Session: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.  - Afternoon Session: 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.  - Evening Session: 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  ## **CAT 2026 Registration Process: Steps, Fee, and System Requirements**  Registering for the **CAT 2026** exam requires you to follow a few quick, simple steps as follows:  - Visit the official website.  - Fill in the necessary details to get your user ID and password.  - Use the user ID and password to log in to complete the application process.  - Pay the application fee online, according to your category, to submit your application successfully.  **Note:** No corrections are allowed once the registration process is complete. Thus, you should be careful throughout the entire process: ### **Application Fee**  Here is the category-wise application fee:  **Category**  **Application Fee**  - General  - NC-OBC  - EWS  Rs. 2400  - SC  - ST  - PwD  Rs. 1200  ### **System Requirements**  Apart from the CAT exam eligibility and syllabus, ​there are certain system requirements for a smooth application process completion, including:  **Browser Requirements**  **Minimum Device Requirements**  - Mozilla (version 122-141)  - Google Chrome (version 114-138)  - Microsoft Edge (version 114-137)  - Android version 4.0  - iOS version 11  ## **CAT 2026 Preparation Tips**  Here are some preparation tips to help you effortlessly ace the exam: ### **Create a Balanced Study Plan**  A proper study plan, dedicating sufficient time to each section, getting enough sleep, and taking breaks are crucial. ### **Attempt Mock Tests**  Taking mock tests on reliable platforms and analysing your performance in them will help you understand your strong and weak areas. ### **Practice Time Management** To improve your response speed, practise regular time management using a timer or timed mock tests. ### **Avoid Monotony in Preparation** You should check the [CAT exam syllabus](https://amityonline.com/blog/cat-exam-everything-you-need-to-know) and then prepare topics from each section daily to ensure a varied approach and reduce monotony. ### **Solve Past Papers**  Past papers help assess your knowledge level and understand the question paper pattern. ### **Revise Regularly**  Revisiting the topics studied is essential for strong conceptual clarity and better recall.  ## **Conclusion**  Clearing the CAT exam requires an in-depth knowledge of the CAT exam syllabus for MBA, its format, and other essential requirements. With the detailed, important information mentioned here, you have all the prerequisites in one place for a structured preparation strategy. Additionally, the tips listed will help boost your chances of clearing the CAT 2026 exam. 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She is a young talented writer with a flair for generating content and story-telling. After completing her master’s in mass communication from JMI, New Delhi, she enjoyed a career in print journalism before moving to the scope of generating content. She has completed her bachelor’s in Psychology from Delhi University. ## frequently asked questions * * * ### Who will conduct the CAT examination for 2026? + The CAT 2026 will be conducted by one of the IIMs on a rotational basis, with strong indications pointing towards IIM Kozhikode. It’s advised that you complete the CAT 2026 registration on time. * * * ### How to start preparing for the CAT 2026? + To prepare well for CAT 2026, use your time and resources wisely. Keep track of important CAT dates, study regularly, and focus on building strong fundamentals. * * * ### Is the CAT 2026 going to be tough? + The difficulty level of this entrance examination varies from year to year. However, it is expected to be moderate to tough, particularly in DILR and VARC. * * * ### What subjects should you focus on for CAT 2026 preparation? + You should focus on Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, and Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation. Building basics in each section first and then practising questions regularly helps improve performance. * * * ### How is performance assessed in the CAT exam? + CAT performance is assessed using percentile rankings, which show how you performed compared to other candidates. MBA colleges, including the IIMs, shortlist candidates based on percentile cut-offs rather than raw numbers. * * *