All About CAT Exam 2026: Pattern, Syllabus, Cutoff & Top Colleges

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is undeniably the biggest and most competitive MBA entrance exam in India. It is the absolute primary gateway to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top-tier business schools like FMS Delhi and SPJIMR.

If you are serious about pursuing an MBA in India, CAT is the non-negotiable benchmark.

Here is everything you need to know about the CAT exam for 2026 admissions:

Exam Overview & Conducting Body

• Exam Name: Common Admission Test (CAT)
• Conducting Body: Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) - It rotates annually among the top 6 IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode).
• Frequency: Once a year (Typically the last Sunday of November)
• Mode of Exam: Computer Based Test (CBT)

Exam Pattern & Total Marks

The CAT exam tests candidates strictly on speed, accuracy, and logical deduction under immense time pressure.

• Total Duration: 120 Minutes (2 Hours)
  • Note: There is a strict sectional time limit of 40 minutes per section.
• Total Questions: 66 Questions
• Total Marks: 198 Marks
• Question Types: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Non-MCQs (TITA - Type In The Answer)
• Marking Scheme:
  • +3 marks for every correct answer
  • -1 mark for every incorrect MCQ
  • 0 negative marking for TITA questions

Sectional Breakdown

1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC): 24 Questions
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR): 20 Questions
3. Quantitative Aptitude (QA): 22 Questions

Expected Cut-offs (Percentile)

CAT scores are calculated as percentiles relative to all test-takers (usually 3 Lakh+ students).

• IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta: 99.5+ Percentile
• Other Old IIMs (Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode) & FMS Delhi: 99.0+ Percentile
• New IIMs & Top Tier-1 Colleges (SPJIMR, MDI Gurgaon): 95.0+ to 98.0+ Percentile
• Baby IIMs & Good Tier-2 Colleges: 85.0+ to 90.0+ Percentile

Top Colleges Accepting CAT Scores

• Indian Institutes of Management (All 20 IIMs)
• FMS, Delhi University
• SPJIMR (S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research), Mumbai
• MDI (Management Development Institute), Gurgaon
• IITs (Department of Management Studies at IIT Bombay, Delhi, Madras, etc.)
• NITIE (Now IIM Mumbai)
• IMI (International Management Institute), New Delhi
• IMT (Institute of Management Technology), Ghaziabad
• GIM (Goa Institute of Management)

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