CAT 2026 is the Common Admission Test for IIM postgraduate and fellow/doctoral management programmes and is also accepted by listed non-IIM institutions.
What this exam or admission route is
CAT registration is the test application. After results, candidates must still follow each IIM’s admission policy and any separate application required by a non-IIM institution.
Who can apply
Check the 2026 advertisement for bachelor’s-degree marks, category relaxation, final-year eligibility and professional-degree provisions. Enter aggregate marks using the university’s official conversion method.
Exam or selection structure
- Computer-based test
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
- Quantitative Ability
- Scaled scores and percentiles are used; institute shortlisting is separate
How to apply
- Register at iimcat.ac.in
- Enter academic/work-experience details carefully
- Select test cities and interview cities where requested
- Download admit card and later the scorecard from the candidate login
Preparation and planning
Take sectional and full mocks, analyse every mistake and build a question-selection strategy. CAT rewards choosing solvable sets and questions, not simply attempting the maximum.
Documents to keep ready
- Class 10 certificate for name and date of birth
- Qualifying-examination marksheets and certificate
- Recent photograph, signature and valid photo ID
- Category, EWS, PwD, domicile or experience certificate, where applicable
- Application confirmation, fee receipt, admit card and scorecard
Official links
Fact-check note: verified on 2 September 2026. Future dates, fees, seats and eligibility can change. The current official notification always takes priority over this guide.