CAT 2026 exam date declared

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026, one of India’s most competitive entrance exams for management programmes, will be held on November 29, 2026. The exam serves as the gateway to MBA and other postgraduate management courses offered by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and several leading business schools across the country.

According to the official notification, there are no major changes in the CAT 2026 exam pattern or syllabus. The exam will continue to be conducted in computer-based mode (CBT) across three sessions on the scheduled date.

The CAT 2026 question paper will comprise 68 questions divided into three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Candidates will have a total of 120 minutes to complete the examination, with 40 minutes allotted to each section. Test-takers will not be permitted to switch between sections until the allotted time for a particular section has ended.

The marking scheme also remains unchanged. Each correct answer carries three marks, while one mark will be deducted for every incorrect response to a multiple-choice question (MCQ). However, there is no negative marking for Type In The Answer (TITA) questions or for questions that are left unanswered. Candidates are advised to attempt MCQs carefully to minimise the impact of negative marking.

The CAT syllabus has also remained unchanged this year. While the conducting IIM does not prescribe an official topic-wise syllabus, the examination continues to assess candidates on concepts covered under VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude, based on patterns observed in previous years.

Aspirants are advised to familiarise themselves with the latest exam pattern and marking scheme, so they can plan their preparation and maximise their performance on test day.