The CAT Exam Date 2026 is November 29, 2026 (Sunday). IIM Indore will conduct CAT 2026 in three computer-based test slots across around 170 cities.

• CAT 2026 registration started on August 3, 2026 and closes on September 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM as the CAT 2026 registration deadline has been extended from September 15 to September 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM

• The CAT 2026 application correction window is expected in September 2026. The confirmed dates will be announced on the official CAT website.

• CAT 2026 exam will be held on November 29, 2026 (Sunday) in three slots: 8:30–10:30 AM, 12:30–2:30 PM and 4:30–6:30 PM.

• CAT 2026 admit card will be available from November 4, 2026. It will include the assigned exam slot and test centre details.

• CAT 2026 result is scheduled for the first week of January 2027.

For the latest updates on CAT Exam Date 2026, registration, admit card and other important events, candidates should check the official CAT website regularly.

When is CAT 2026 Exam Date?

The CAT 2026 exam will be held on November 29, 2026, which falls on a Sunday. IIM Indore will conduct the exam in three sessions on the same day.

Candidates do not choose their exam slot. The allotted slot and test centre will be mentioned on the CAT 2026 admit card.

• CAT 2026 exam date: November 29, 2026

• Exam day: Sunday

• Exam mode: Computer-based test

• Number of slots: 3

Source: CAT 2026 Notification PDF

CAT 2026 Registration Date and Last Date

• The CAT 2026 registration started on August 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM. The last date to submit the application form is September 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

• Candidates should complete the form and payment before the deadline. Waiting until the last day can lead to problems if there is a payment or technical issue.

• The CAT 2026 application fee has increased to ₹2,700 for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates and ₹1,350 for SC, ST and PwD candidates

Source:  Media Release for Common Admission Test 2026 

Read More: CAT Registration 2026: Direct Link, Last Date, Fee & How to Apply

Also Check: CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Educational Qualification, Minimum Marks, Age Limit

Register Here:

Note: Registration is accepted only through the official CAT website. Applications submitted through any other portal will not be considered.

CAT 2026 Form Correction Date

The CAT 2026 application correction window is expected in the last week of September 2026. Current schedule trackers expect it around September 24–27, but candidates should wait for the official announcement before treating these dates as final.

The correction window generally allows candidates to edit selected application details. The exact editable fields will be specified by IIM Indore.

Source: CAT 2026 Notification PDF

CAT 2026 Exam Time and Slot Timings

CAT 2026 will be conducted in three slots on November 29, 2026. Each slot will last two hours. The three sessions are scheduled from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM.

The exact reporting and gate-closing instructions should be followed as printed on the admit card.

Source: CAT 2026 Notification PDF

CAT 2026 Exam Date: Previous Year Trend

CAT is generally conducted on a Sunday in November. The actual date changes each year because the exam is usually scheduled on the last Sunday of November.

The recent trend shows that CAT has continued to be held in November, with the exam date moving according to the last Sunday of the month.

How Many Days Are Left for CAT 2026?

As of September 3, 2026, there are 87 days left for the CAT 2026 exam on November 29, 2026.

With less than three months remaining, candidates should focus on completing the syllabus, taking full-length mocks and analysing previous-year CAT papers.

What to Do Before CAT 2026 Exam Date?

• Complete the remaining high-weightage topics first.

• Take regular section-wise and full-length CAT mocks.

• Analyse mistakes after every mock instead of only checking the score.

• Practise managing the 40-minute sectional limit.

• Keep your CAT admit card and required documents ready once the hall ticket is released.

• Avoid making major changes to your preparation strategy in the final few weeks.

What Happens After CAT 2026 Exam?

The CAT exam is only the first stage of the MBA admission process. After the result, individual IIMs and other B-schools use their own admission criteria for shortlisting candidates.

The next stages can include WAT, PI and other selection components, depending on the institute. Candidates should therefore track individual college deadlines after the CAT result.

IIM Shortlisting and Admission Schedule: January–May 2027

CAT 2026 has no centralised counselling or seat-allotment process. Each of the 21 IIMs independently shortlists students, conducts its own WAT-PI (Written Ability Test and Personal Interview) rounds, and issues admission offers on its own timeline. Students shortlisted by multiple IIMs must manage separate applications, interview dates, and offer-acceptance deadlines simultaneously.

• Shortlisting Criteria: Each IIM applies its own composite score formula that typically combines CAT percentile, Class X marks, Class XII marks, graduation score, work experience, gender diversity, and academic diversity — weights differ across IIMs

• Shortlist Release (Expected): January 2027 — individual IIMs begin publishing shortlists after the CAT result in late December

• WAT-PI Rounds (Expected): February–April 2027 — personal interviews and written ability tests conducted at IIM campuses or designated cities

• Final Admission Offers (Expected): April–May 2027 — offers released in stages; students must accept within the stipulated deadline or the seat passes to the next shortlisted student

• Academic Session Start (Expected): June–July 2027 for MBA / PGP programmes at IIMs