Common Admission Test (CAT)

CAT Application Process

The Common Admission Test (CAT) application is completed online through the official CAT portal. For CAT 2026, registration opened on 3 August 2026. The originally announced deadline of 15 September was subsequently extended to 22 September 2026.

Step-by-step application process

1. Visit the official CAT website
   CAT official website

2. Register as a new candidate

   • Enter your name, date of birth, email ID and mobile number.

   • Verify your email/mobile through OTP.

   • Create your login credentials.

3. Log in and fill the application form
   You generally need to provide:

   • Personal details

   • Communication/address details

   • Category information

   • Class 10 and 12 academic details

   • Graduation details

   • Other qualifications, if applicable

   • Work experience, if applicable

4. Select IIM programmes

   Select the IIM programmes you want to be considered for. The CAT fee is paid once regardless of the number of IIM programmes selected.

5. Choose test cities

   CAT 2026 applicants could select five preferred test cities. The final city is subject to availability.

6. Upload required documents

   Upload the photograph, signature and applicable category/PwD certificates and other documents specified in the application instructions.

7. Pay the application fee

   For CAT 2026, the reported fee was:

   • ₹2,700 — General/EWS/NC-OBC

   • ₹1,350 — SC/ST/PwDC

8. Review and submit

   Carefully check your details before submitting the form. After submission, save/download the confirmation and application details for future reference.

CAT eligibility

For CAT 2026, candidates generally needed a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA; the minimum was 45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates. Final-year bachelor's students and candidates awaiting results could also apply provisionally, subject to the applicable requirements.

Important

Since CAT 2026 registration has already closed, this process is most useful if you're preparing for the next CAT cycle (CAT 2027). Dates, fees and requirements for CAT 2027 may differ, so the official notification should be treated as final.

CAT Syllabus

The Common Admission Test (CAT) syllabus is broadly divided into three sections:

1. VARC — Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

2. DILR — Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

3. QA — Quantitative Ability

There is no officially fixed chapter-by-chapter CAT syllabus. The topics below represent the areas generally tested based on the CAT pattern and previous papers.

1. VARC — Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension

• Main idea and central theme

• Author's viewpoint and tone

• Inference-based questions

• Supporting arguments

• Facts and details

• Logical structure of passages

• Vocabulary in context

Verbal Ability

• Para-jumbles

• Para-summary

• Odd sentence out

• Sentence completion

• Paragraph structure and logical flow

Preparation focus: Regularly read editorials, essays, books and other long-form material and practise extracting the argument and structure of passages.

2. DILR — Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

Data Interpretation

• Tables

• Bar graphs

• Line graphs

• Pie charts

• Caselets

• Data comparison

• Ratios and percentages

• Data sufficiency-style reasoning

Logical Reasoning

• Seating arrangements

• Puzzles

• Games and tournaments

• Team selection

• Scheduling

• Distribution and grouping

• Routes and networks

• Venn diagrams

• Binary/logical conditions

DILR questions are often presented as sets, where several questions are based on the same information.

3. QA — Quantitative Ability

Arithmetic

• Percentages

• Profit, loss and discount

• Ratio and proportion

• Averages

• Simple and compound interest

• Time, speed and distance

• Time and work

• Mixtures and allegations

Algebra

• Linear equations

• Quadratic equations

• Inequalities

• Functions

• Algebraic expressions

• Sequences and series

Number System

• Divisibility

• Factors and multiples

• HCF and LCM

• Remainders

• Units digit

• Number properties

Geometry & Mensuration

• Lines and angles

• Triangles

• Quadrilaterals

• Circles

• Polygons

• Coordinate geometry

• Areas and volumes

Modern Mathematics

• Permutation and combination

• Probability

• Set theory

Priority for preparation

A practical order is:

QA: Arithmetic → Algebra → Geometry → Number System → Modern Mathematics

VARC: Reading Comprehension → Para-summary → Para-jumbles → Odd sentence out

DILR: Tables/graphs → Arrangements → Games/tournaments → Selection/grouping → Mixed sets

Remember that CAT is not simply a syllabus-based exam

CAT Preparation Tips

Preparing for the Common Admission Test (CAT) requires a combination of conceptual clarity, regular practice, mock tests, and good time management. The exam has three sections: VARC, DILR, and QA.

1. Understand the CAT syllabus and pattern

Before starting, become familiar with:

• VARC: Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability

• DILR: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

• QA: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number Systems, etc.

• Section-wise time limits and question types

• MCQ vs. non-MCQ questions and the marking scheme

2. Build your basics first

Spend the initial phase strengthening fundamentals rather than immediately attempting difficult questions.

• QA: Start with percentages, ratios, averages, profit & loss, time & work, equations, etc.

• VARC: Develop reading comprehension and vocabulary through regular reading.

• DILR: Practise different types of arrangements, tables, graphs, games and puzzles.

3. Make reading a daily habit

For VARC, read for 30–45 minutes every day.

Good material includes:

• Newspapers and editorials

• Long-form articles

• Non-fiction books

• Magazines and essays

Focus on understanding the author's argument, tone, assumptions and conclusions, rather than simply increasing reading speed.

4. Practise DILR strategically

DILR can be challenging because the main difficulty is often identifying the right approach, not just performing calculations.

Try several sets regularly and analyse:

• How you identified the structure

• Which information was important

• Where you spent too much time

• Whether another approach would have been faster

5. Focus heavily on Arithmetic and Algebra in QA

These areas form an important part of CAT-level quantitative preparation. Make sure you understand concepts before memorising shortcuts.

Maintain a small formula/concept notebook for revision.

6. Start mock tests after building fundamentals

Don't wait until the final weeks to take your first mock.

A useful progression is:

• Early preparation: topic tests and sectional tests

• Middle phase: approximately 1 full mock per week

• Final phase: increase mock frequency according to your performance and available time

The analysis after a mock is often more valuable than simply taking another mock.

For every mock, record:

• Questions you got wrong

• Questions you could have solved but skipped

• Questions where you made calculation/reading errors

• Time spent per section

• Topics requiring further revision

7. Don't try to solve every question

CAT rewards selection as well as solving ability.

During practice, develop the ability to quickly classify questions as:

• Easy → solve

• Moderate → solve if time permits

• Time-consuming/uncertain → consider leaving

Accuracy is particularly important because incorrect MCQ answers can attract negative marking.

8. Create a realistic daily schedule

For someone studying alongside college or work, even 2–3 focused hours a day can be productive.

For example:

• 45 min: QA concepts/practice

• 45 min: VARC reading + questions

• 45 min: DILR sets

• 15–30 min: Review mistakes

On weekends, dedicate additional time to sectional tests or mocks.

9. Maintain an error log

This is one of the simplest ways to improve.

For every mistake, write down:
Question → mistake → reason → correct approach → lesson

After a few weeks, you'll see recurring weaknesses and can target them directly.

10. Don't ignore previous CAT questions

Practising previous-year CAT questions helps you understand the actual difficulty, question styles and recurring concepts much better than relying only on generic aptitude questions.

A simple preparation strategy

First phase: Build concepts + develop reading habit
↓
Second phase: Topic-wise practice + DILR sets
↓
Third phase: Sectional tests + previous-year questions
↓
Final phase: Full mocks + intensive analysis + revision

The key is consistent practice rather than studying for extremely long hours occasionally.

CAT 2026 — Latest Update

As of 24 September 2026, the important update is that CAT 2026 registration has closed. The registration deadline was extended from September 15 to September 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

• Conducting institute: IIM Indore

• Exam: Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026

• Exam date: 29 November 2026 (Sunday)

• Sessions: 3

• Test cities: Around 170

• Admit card: Scheduled from 4 November 2026

• Registration: Closed on 22 September 2026

• Application fee: ₹2,700 for General/EWS/NC-OBC candidates and ₹1,350 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.

What happens next?

If you have already registered, your immediate focus should be:

1. Download the admit card when it becomes available.

2. Prepare for VARC, DILR and QA.

3. Take full-length mocks under the actual CAT time constraints.

4. Check the official CAT website regularly for announcements.

Official CAT website

If you missed CAT 2026 registration, the September 22 deadline has passed; the reported extension was the final registration window.