Common Admission Test (CAT): Exam Fees, Test Structure and Pattern, Important Dates, Exam date

Common Admission Test (CAT): History, Exam Fees, Test Structure and Pattern, Important Dates, Exam date, Application Form, Registration, Eligibility Criteria

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is an all-India management entrance examination conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). The IIMs are India’s top management institutes, and introduced the Common Admission Test (CAT) to select candidates for their business management programs. This computer-based entrance exam is conducted annually for admission to the two-year full-time postgraduate management programs offered by the IIMs. In addition to the IIMs, several other leading business schools in India, including IITs, FMS, Jaipuria Institute of Management, SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, MDI, and NITIE, also accept CAT scores as part of their admission process.

Common Admission Test (CAT) History

After 2008, the CAT exam pattern was reorganized into sections such as Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability, Reading Comprehension, Verbal Ability, and Data Sufficiency. Over the years, the exam pattern has been refined to better assess candidates’ aptitude, analytical skills, and problem-solving abilities.

Until 2013, the Common Admission Test (CAT) was conducted over a testing window spanning several days during October and November. In 2014, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) became the technology partner for the examination, and the testing window was reduced to two days.

From 2015 onwards, CAT has been conducted as a single-day, computer-based examination. The responsibility for conducting the exam rotates among the older Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). In recent years, CAT has been conducted by IIM Ahmedabad (2021), IIM Bangalore (2022), IIM Lucknow (2023), IIM Calcutta (2024), and IIM Kozhikode (2025).

For CAT 2026, IIM Indore is expected to conduct the examination as part of the rotational cycle among the older IIMs. The exam is expected to be held on 29 November 2026, the last Sunday of November, with the official notification anticipated in July 2026 and the registration process likely to begin in August 2026. As in previous years, the examination will be conducted in three computer-based sessions across multiple test cities in India.

Who Can Apply?

To appear for the CAT, you must hold a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA. Candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), or Differently Abled (DA) categories must have at least 45% marks or an equivalent CGPA.

The bachelor’s degree must be awarded by a government-recognized university or an educational institution established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be a deemed university under  Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification recognized by the Ministry of HRD, Government of India.

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Candidates who are in the final year of their bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification, as well as those awaiting their results, are also eligible to apply.

The CAT is a computer-based test (CBT). Since 2009, the CAT exam has been conducted online. Candidates are expected to have basic computer operating skills. They should be able to manage their time and work efficiently, as the duration of the CAT exam is 120 minutes (2 hours).

CAT 2026 Exam Fees:

CAT Test Structure and Pattern

For CAT 2026, the IIMs have not changed the structure and continue to be a 3 section test.

Refer to the details below:

Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 Important Dates