Common Admission Test - CAT

📘 CAT Overview

Common Admission Test - CAT is administered by Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), through the designated organising IIM. CAT is India's flagship national management entrance test for admission to the IIMs and many other business schools. The page is intended for students planning the cycle, so any date marked Expected should be treated as tentative until the authority publishes the final notification.

| Particular | Details |

|---|---|

| Short Name | CAT |

| Exam Type | Management Entrance |

| Academic Level | Postgraduate |

| Conducting Body | Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), through the designated organising IIM |

| Mode | Online |

| Frequency | Once a year |

📅 CAT Important Dates

| Event | Date / Status |

|---|---|

| Application | Expected: August–September |

| Examination | Expected: November |

| Result / Score | Expected: December –January 2028 |

Dates can change because of administrative decisions, court orders, public holidays or changes in the academic calendar. Candidates should use the official website before making travel, coaching or admission-payment decisions.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Candidates need a recognised bachelor's degree with the minimum marks prescribed by CAT rules; final-year students and candidates awaiting results can apply subject to conditions. Category-wise relaxation and professional-degree equivalence follow the official CAT notification.

Programme or institute eligibility can be stricter than the basic entrance-test eligibility. Candidates should therefore check both the examination bulletin and the admission rules of the college/university they intend to join.

📝 Application Process

The usual application flow is:

1. Register on the official examination/admission portal with an active email address and mobile number.

2. Fill personal, academic and category details exactly as they appear on supporting documents.

3. Select the required paper, programme or test city/slot where the exam allows a choice.

4. Upload the photograph, signature and supporting certificates in the prescribed format.

5. Pay the application fee and save the confirmation page or payment receipt.

6. Use the correction window, if offered, only after checking all details carefully.

Candidates should avoid unofficial payment links and should never assume that registration for the entrance examination automatically registers them for university counselling.

📚 Exam Pattern and Syllabus

Computer-based test covering Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. The exact duration, section timing and question mix are announced by the organising IIM.

The official syllabus should be used as the final preparation boundary. Where an exam has different papers, streams or programme groups, candidates must study the paper code that matches their intended course rather than a generic syllabus downloaded from an older year.

🎫 Admit Card and Exam-Day Checks

The admit card is normally released through the official candidate login before the examination. Students should verify the name, photograph, test date, reporting time, centre or online-test instructions, permitted identification documents and any prohibited items. If the examination uses slot booking or remote proctoring, the system requirements and mock-test instructions should be completed in advance.

📊 Result, Rank and Admission

IIMs shortlist candidates independently using CAT performance and their published admission criteria; non-IIM institutions run their own selection processes.

A qualifying score does not always guarantee admission. Final selection can depend on category, institute preferences, programme eligibility, counselling registration, interviews, document verification and seat availability.

💡 Preparation Tips

• Balance quantitative practice with reading comprehension and reasoning instead of preparing only one strong section.

• Use sectional tests to identify speed bottlenecks before moving to full mocks.

• Review every mock by question type, time spent and avoidable errors.

• Build mental-math and approximation skills for faster data interpretation.

• Keep a steady reading habit for verbal ability and current/business awareness where the exam includes it.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Who conducts CAT?

Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), through the designated organising IIM is responsible for the examination or admission process described on this page.

❓ When will CAT be held?

The current schedule field is **Expected: November **. If it is marked expected, candidates should wait for the official notification before treating it as final.

❓ What is the mode of CAT?

The listed mode is Online. Some examinations have different components or programme-specific delivery modes, so the current bulletin should be checked.

❓ Who is eligible for CAT?

Candidates need a recognised bachelor's degree with the minimum marks prescribed by CAT rules; final-year students and candidates awaiting results can apply subject to conditions. Category-wise relaxation and professional-degree equivalence follow the official CAT notification.

❓ Does qualifying CAT guarantee admission?

No. Candidates must also satisfy the target institution's eligibility and complete the applicable counselling, interview, preference or document-verification process.

❓ Where should candidates verify updates?

Use the official conducting authority's website and current information bulletin. Avoid relying on an old coaching calendar for final dates.

Official reference: https://iimcat.ac.in/