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Registration is closed and the admit card is due on 4 November. Here's how to use the final five weeks without burning out.
CAT 2026 will be held on Sunday, 29 November 2026, in computer-based mode across three slots. Registration closed on 15 September. Admit cards are scheduled for release on 4 November on the official portal, iimcat.ac.in, and the result is expected in the first week of January 2027. The paper has three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
With roughly five weeks left from the date of this article, the question is no longer what to study, but how to revise.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Official notification | 25 July 2026 |
| Registration | 3 August – 15 September 2026 |
| Admit card | 4 November 2026 |
| Exam | 29 November 2026 |
| Provisional answer key | Usually within a week or so of the exam |
| Result | Expected first week of January 2027 |
Dates after the exam are based on past patterns; confirm on iimcat.ac.in when they're announced.
| Section | What it tests |
|---|---|
| VARC | Reading comprehension passages, para-jumbles, para-summary, odd sentence |
| DILR | Data sets: tables, charts, arrangements, games and tournaments, logic puzzles |
| QA | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number systems, modern maths |
Each section is sectionally timed, which means you cannot jump back to VARC once its time is up. In recent years the paper has had a total duration of two hours with an equal time limit per section and a mix of MCQs (with negative marking) and TITA (type-in-the-answer) questions without negative marking. The IIM conducting CAT 2026 sets the exact pattern, so read the instructions on the admit card and in the official mock carefully.
Report any mismatch to the CAT helpdesk immediately. Changes are much harder to make close to exam day.
This is not a fresh-start plan. It assumes you've covered most of the syllabus and need to sharpen.
The CAT score is a percentile. It is only one input. Each IIM publishes its own shortlisting criteria, typically combining:
Shortlisted candidates move to written ability tests (WAT), group discussions or personal interviews. Many non-IIM B-schools also accept CAT scores.
Can I still register for CAT 2026?
No. Registration closed on 15 September 2026.
Where do I download the admit card?
From iimcat.ac.in using your login, once released on 4 November.
How many mocks should I take in the final month?
Most toppers suggest 8–12 serious mocks in the final month, with thorough analysis after each. Quality of analysis matters more than the number.
Is there negative marking?
In recent CAT papers, MCQs had negative marking and TITA questions did not. Check the instructions for CAT 2026.
When will the result come?
The expected window is the first week of January 2027.
The final five weeks reward calm, not cramming. Diagnose with mocks, fix a short list of weak areas, rehearse at your exact slot time, and taper before 29 November. Keep 4 November marked for the admit card, and keep iimcat.ac.in as your single source for official updates.
