Common Admission Test
CAT · 2026
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is India's premier national-level MBA entrance examination conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). CAT scores are accepted by all participating IIMs and hundreds of leading management institutes across India for admission to MBA, PGP and other postgraduate management programmes. Explore CAT eligibility, syllabus, exam pattern, previous papers, admission notifications and preparation resources in one place.
Ready to Apply?
Visit the official portal for the latest notification and online form.
Official WebsiteCAT — All Updates
0 total postsNotification
Coming soon
Admit Card
Coming soon
City Intimation
Coming soon
Answer Key
Coming soon
Result
Coming soon
Syllabus & Pattern
Coming soon
Previous Papers
Coming soon
Date Sheet
Coming soon
Salary & Job Profile
Coming soon
Eligibility Criteria
Qualifications Required
- Bachelor's Degree
- Final Year Bachelor's Degree
Selection Process
CAT Computer Based Test (CBT)
Appear for the Common Admission Test (CAT), which is the primary entrance examination for MBA and management admissions.
Shortlisting by Institutes
Participating IIMs and other institutes shortlist candidates using CAT scores and their own admission criteria.
Written Ability Test (WAT) (where applicable)
Some institutes conduct a Written Ability Test to evaluate written communication and analytical skills.
Personal Interview (PI)
Shortlisted candidates attend a Personal Interview conducted by the respective institute.
Final Merit List
Institutes prepare the final merit list using CAT score, academic profile, work experience and institute-specific selection criteria.
Admission & Document Verification
Selected candidates complete document verification, fee payment and admission formalities.
Exam Pattern
Mode
CBT (Computer-Based)
Questions
68
Total Marks
204
Duration
120 Minutes (40 minutes per section)
Section-wise Breakdown
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 72 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 66 |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | 66 |
| Total | 68 | 204 |
Marking Scheme
+3 for each correct answer, −1 for each incorrect MCQ. No negative marking for TITA (Type In The Answer) questions.
Syllabus Overview
The CAT syllabus broadly evaluates candidates in Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). The official CAT Information Bulletin does not prescribe a fixed syllabus. Candidates should prepare using previous year question papers, mock tests and the exam pattern followed by the participating IIMs.
Prepare for CAT
Key Subjects
Official Resources
Official Website
Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
Helpline
1800 210 0175
CAT — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about eligibility, exam pattern, application, and results.
Frequently Asked Questions
CAT (Common Admission Test) is a national-level MBA entrance examination conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to MBA, PGP and other management programmes.
The Common Admission Test is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). Each year, one IIM serves as the convening institute on behalf of all participating IIMs.
Candidates who have completed a Bachelor's degree or are in the final year of their Bachelor's programme can apply, subject to the prescribed minimum percentage requirements.
No. There is no minimum or maximum age limit for appearing in CAT.
CAT scores are accepted by all participating IIMs for MBA, PGP, Executive MBA and selected doctoral programmes, as well as many non-IIM management institutions.
Yes. CAT is conducted as a Computer Based Test (CBT).
The examination evaluates candidates in Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. (The bulletin does not formally enumerate these as a syllabus.)
No. In addition to the IIMs, many participating non-IIM management institutions also accept CAT scores for admission.
The validity period depends on the admission cycle announced by the conducting authority and participating institutes. Refer to the latest notification for the applicable cycle.
The latest official notification and information bulletin are available on the official CAT website and the corresponding yearly notification page on your site.