The Common Admission Test (CAT) is scheduled for November 29, 2026. Registration opened on August 3, 2026. Contemporaneous reporting said the original September 15, 2026, deadline was extended to September 22 at 5 pm, with fee payment for those registered by September 22 extended through September 24. These deadlines have passed. As the primary entrance exam for the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and numerous other management schools across India, adhering to the official timeline is crucial for candidates.
This guide covers the published dates and schedule details, including registration, correction windows, admit-card availability, and exam-day sessions.
CAT 2026 Important Dates
IIM Indore, the expected conducting body for CAT 2026, has released the preliminary schedule. Candidates should note that while core dates like the exam day and registration deadlines are confirmed, post-exam dates such as result declaration remain tentative until formally announced post-exam.
- Notification Release: July 25, 2026
- Registration Begins: August 3, 2026
- Registration Closes: September 22, 2026, at 5 pm (reported extension from September 15).
- Application Edit Window: October 5, 2026, 10 am to October 6, 2026, 5 pm (reported CAT 2026 dates). The reported editable items were photograph, signature, and test-city preferences. The edit window has closed.
- Admit Card Download Window: November 4-29, 2026
- Mock Test Availability: No date stated in the advertisement; check the CAT website for notices
- CAT Exam Date: November 29, 2026
- Response Sheet Release: No date stated in the advertisement; check the CAT website for notices
- Answer Key Challenge Window: No date stated in the advertisement; check the CAT website for notices
- Result Declaration: First week of January 2027 (tentative)
Registration and Application Timeline
The application process is exclusively online through the official portal (iimcat.ac.in). Candidates must complete their registration and submit the application fee of ₹2,700 (₹1,350 for SC, ST, and PwD categories) by September 22, 2026, at 5 pm; the reported fee-payment extension through September 24 applied to candidates registered by September 22.
To register, candidates must first generate a unique user ID and password. The comprehensive application form requires detailed academic records from Class 10 onwards, personal information, valid category or disability certificates (if applicable), and a choice of up to five preferred test cities. Given the strict deadlines, candidates should ensure all uploaded documents, particularly the scanned photograph and signature, meet the exact dimension and format specifications outlined in the official bulletin.
After registration closed, the reported CAT 2026 edit window ran from October 5, 2026, at 10 am to October 6, 2026, at 5 pm, and covered photograph, signature, and test-city preferences. This window has closed. It is critical to verify all details before the initial fee payment, as primary profile fields like name, date of birth, category, and email address cannot be edited during this correction phase.
Admit Card and Exam Day Schedule
Registered candidates can download their admit cards starting November 4, 2026. The admit card is a mandatory document that specifies the allocated test center, reporting time, and the exact exam slot.
The CAT 2026 advertisement lists the November 29 test at 170 test centres in three sessions, but does not state the session clock times. Follow the slot shown on the candidate-specific admit card.
Candidates must report to their assigned centers well ahead of their designated slot time. The early reporting allows sufficient time for rigorous frisking, document verification, and biometric registration. Latecomers are strictly denied entry once the gates close.
The CAT 2026 advertisement reviewed here confirms three sessions but does not state detailed test duration, per-section timing, question count, maximum marks or marking penalties. Check the CAT 2026 information bulletin and your test-slot instructions before relying on section timings or scoring rules.
Post-Exam Timeline: Results and Selection Process
The CAT 2026 advertisement does not give dates for release of response sheets, provisional or final answer keys, or the challenge window. Check the official CAT website for the latest notices.
The CAT 2026 advertisement does not give a final answer-key date; check the official CAT website for notices. The CAT advertisement lists the first week of January 2027 as the tentative result-declaration window.
It is important to note that CAT does not conduct a centralized counselling process. Once the results are declared, the role of the CAT conducting body concludes. The CAT 2026 advertisement says scores may be used by listed non-IIM member institutions, but it does not state an exact scorecard validity period. Check the official CAT website and each institution's admissions policy for applicable validity conditions. Each IIM and non-IIM institution sets its own selection process; candidates should monitor those institutions’ official websites for shortlists and next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions on CAT Dates
When was the CAT 2026 official notification released? Contemporaneous reporting dates the CAT 2026 notification to July 25, 2026. For the controlling schedule, eligibility rules, and fees, consult the official advertisement and CAT website.
Can I change my test city preferences after submitting the application? For CAT 2026, the reported edit window ran October 5-6 and has closed. The reported editable items were photograph, signature, and test-city preferences; check the CAT website for any cycle-specific notice.
How long is the CAT scorecard valid? The CAT 2026 advertisement says scores may be used by listed non-IIM member institutions, but it does not state an exact scorecard validity period. Check the official CAT website and each institution's admissions policy for applicable validity conditions.