Dashboard · Exams · CAT
Common Admission Test
MBA entrance for IIMs and other top business schools. 66 questions in 120 minutes across VARC, DILR, and Quant.
Updated 26 Aug 2026 ·Vacancy counts change every cycle — always confirm the exact number in the latest official notification before applying.
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Source: official exam authority notification · refreshed weekly. How this works →
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Vocabulary in ContextIn the passage 'The committee's report was criticized for its pedantic focus on minor procedural details while ignoring substantive policy issues,' the word 'pedantic' most nearly means:
Tap an option to check your answer.
Start with a diagnostic
10 questions across the syllabus to see where you stand.
Verified against the official notification. Source ↗ · last reconciled 2026-05.
Historical cutoffs are a guide, not a prediction. Use them to set a realistic target, not to predict next year's exact number.
These are shortlisting cutoffs only — final selection weights CAT, academics, work-ex, gender diversity, written assessment + PI.
| Year | Category | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | IIM Ahmedabad | ≥ 99 overall · ≥ 80 each section |
| 2024 | IIM Bangalore | ≥ 99 overall · ≥ 85 each section |
| 2024 | IIM Calcutta | ≥ 99 overall · ≥ 85 each section |
| 2024 | IIM Lucknow | ≥ 92.5 overall · ≥ 80 each section |
| 2024 | IIM Kozhikode | ≥ 90 overall · ≥ 80 each section |
| 2024 | IIM Indore | ≥ 90 overall · ≥ 80 each section |
| 2024 | New IIMs (avg) | ≥ 80 overall · sectional ≥ 70-75 |
Source: official ↗ · verified 2026-05.
Topic-by-topic weightage averaged across 2022-2024 papers. Use this to decide where to invest study hours, not where to skim. Source ↗ · verified 2026-05.
72/198 marks avg
Reading Comprehension (4 passages, ~16 Qs)
Verbal Ability (Para-summary, Para-jumble, Misfit, Para-completion)
60/198 marks avg
Logical Reasoning sets (3-4 sets)
Data Interpretation sets (1-2 sets)
66/198 marks avg
2025
32 questions
Take paper →2024
33 questions
Take paper →2023
34 questions
Take paper →2022
33 questions
Take paper →2021
28 questions
Take paper →Take any mock in your preferred language — use the language picker inside the mock to switch (Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, and 15 more).
CAT — Quick Practice
FULL20 questions · 120 min
Start mock →Full-length subject tests below — 25 questions each, real exam format, instant scoring. Want to drill a single topic? Every topic has its own 10-question test in the syllabus.
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
49 QsData Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
87 QsQuantitative Aptitude
44 QsTell Shishya exactly what to test you on — topics, size, difficulty — and get a fresh mock in seconds. Leave the box blank and we'll target your weakest topics.
Take a mock to see where you stand on the leaderboard.
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What can I get from CAT?
Mock-score → expected rank → likely outcome. Use the mocks below to find your current band, then plan how many marks you need to climb.
Top 0.5% — IIM A/B/C prime territory
100–100% · Rank 1 – 400
Old IIMs competitive range
The CAT 2026 exam will continue as a 2-hour computer-based test with approximately 68 questions including MCQs and TITA questions. The exam will be conducted in three slots: 8:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 4:30 PM.
As per the official notification, CAT 2026 admit cards will be available for download from November 4, 2026 onwards at iimcat.ac.in. Candidates must carry the printed admit card along with valid photo ID on exam day.
IIM Indore has activated the CAT 2026 registration portal from August 3, 2026. Candidates can apply until September 15, 2026, 5:00 PM. The application fee has been revised to INR 2,700 for unreserved categories and INR 1,350 for reserved categories.
Tap any topic for its study notes + a 10-question topic test
Reading Comprehension
4 long passages with 4 questions each — main idea, inference, tone, vocab in context, author's purpose.
Para Jumbles
TITA-format: arrange 4–5 jumbled sentences into a coherent paragraph.
Para Summary
Choose the option that best summarises a 4–6 sentence paragraph.
Odd Sentence Out
Identify the sentence that does not fit the paragraph (TITA).
Para Completion
Choose the sentence that best completes a paragraph.
Arithmetic (TSD, Work, Mixtures, Ratio, Percentages)
Algebra + Number System
Geometry + Mensuration
Modern Math (P&C, Probability, Sequences)
98–100% · Rank 400 – 1,500
Top IIMs shortlist zone
96–98% · Rank 1,500 – 3,000
Established IIMs in reach
92–96% · Rank 3,000 – 8,000
Good IIMs and top private
85–92% · Rank 8,000 – 30,000
Tier 2-3 B-schools range
70–85% · Rank 30,000 – 2,00,000
Below competitive threshold
0–70% · Rank 2,00,000+
AI-curated from historic cut-off patterns. Always verify with the latest official notification before making decisions.
The official CAT 2026 notification and bulletin was released on July 26, 2026. Prof. Aditya Billore of IIM Indore is the CAT 2026 Convener. The exam is confirmed for November 29, 2026 in three shifts across approximately 170 cities.
CAT 2026 Notification Released
passedSun, 26 Jul, 2026
Official bulletin released by IIM Indore
CAT 2026 — registration opens
passedSun, 2 Aug, 2026
CAT 2026 Registration Start
passedMon, 3 Aug, 2026
Registration opened at 10:00 AM
CAT 2026 Registration Last Date
20 days awayTue, 15 Sept, 2026
Registration closes at 5:00 PM
CAT 2026 Form Correction Window (expected)
29 days awayThu, 24 Sept, 2026
Expected Sep 24-27 based on past cycles; allows edits to photo, signature, and test city preferences only
CAT 2026 Admit Card Download
70 days awayWed, 4 Nov, 2026
Available from November 4, 2026 as per official notification
📈CAT 2026 Exam
95 days awaySun, 29 Nov, 2026
Computer-based test in 3 slots (8:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 4:30 PM) across 170 cities
CAT 2026 Answer Key & Response Sheet (expected)
101 days awaySat, 5 Dec, 2026
Expected early December 2026 based on past trends
CAT 2026 Result (expected)
119 days awayWed, 23 Dec, 2026
Official bulletin states 'first week of January 2027' but results typically come in late December based on previous years
Tables-based DI
Single and multi-table data — percentages, averages, comparison.
Bar Charts
Simple, stacked, and grouped bar graphs — calculation and comparison.
Line Charts
Trend interpretation, growth rates, multiple-line comparisons.
Pie Charts
Single and double pie charts — share, percentage and combination problems.
Scatter & Radar Charts
Interpretation of scatter plots, bubble charts, radar / spider charts.
Caselets
Paragraph-based DI sets without graphical aids — pure data extraction.
Mixed / Combined DI
Sets combining tables, charts and text in a single problem.
Venn Diagrams
2-set and 3-set Venn problems — overlaps, exclusive regions.
Logical Puzzles
Grid-based puzzles, distribution puzzles, conditions-based reasoning.
Seating Arrangement
Linear, circular and rectangular arrangements with conditions.
Blood Relations
Family-tree problems, generation tracking, pointing-style relations.
Direction Sense
Compass-based movement, final position and shortest distance.
Syllogism
Two- and three-statement deductions using all/some/no quantifiers.
Coding-Decoding
Letter-letter, letter-number and conditional coding patterns.
Number / Letter Series
Identify next term or missing term in a sequence.
Clocks & Calendars
Angle between hands, day-of-week calculation, leap-year logic.
Games & Tournaments
League/knockout scheduling, points-table-based reasoning.
Routes & Networks
Shortest path, network flow, connectivity puzzles.
Cubes
Cube cutting, painting, and counting problems.
Binary Logic / Truth-Tellers
Truth-teller, liar and alternator problems.
Arithmetic
~40% of QA. The highest-weightage area in CAT.
Algebra
~30% of QA. Linear & quadratic equations, functions and progressions dominate.
Geometry & Mensuration
~15% of QA. Triangles, circles and 2D/3D mensuration are most frequent.
Number Systems
~5–7% of QA. Divisibility and remainders are most-asked.
Modern Math
~5–7% of QA. P&C and probability lead this area.
Central Sector Scholarship Scheme (CSSS)
₹12·Ministry of Education, Govt. of India
NIRF 2025-ranked — clear of marketing fluff.
IIM Ahmedabad
AhmedabadGujarat · Central
NIRF Management #1 (2024)
IIM Bangalore
BengaluruKarnataka · Central
NIRF Management #2 (2024)
IIM Kozhikode
KozhikodeKerala · Central
NIRF Management #3 (2024)
IIT Madras
ChennaiTamil Nadu · Central
NIRF Overall #1, Engineering #1, Management #4 (2024)
IIT Delhi
New DelhiDelhi · Central
NIRF Overall #4, Engineering #2, Management #4 (2024)