CAT 2026
Common Admission Test
Common Admission Test for admission to IIMs and top MBA colleges in India. Conducted by IIMs on rotation.
- Registration fee
- ₹2,500 (General/OBC) / ₹1,250 (SC/ST/PwD)
- Test duration
- 2 hours (40 minutes per section)
- Score valid for
- 1 Year
- Held
- Once/year (typically last Sunday of November)
Fee and schedule last checked against the official source in August 2026. Verify on the official site
CAT exam pattern
Scored on Sectional and overall percentile.
VARC
Reading comprehension plus para-jumbles and summary questions.
DILR
Data sets and logical puzzles, historically the hardest section.
QA
Arithmetic-heavy quantitative aptitude.
What score should you aim for?
90-99 percentile for top IIMs
This is the band competitive programmes typically look for — not a cut-off, and not a guarantee of admission. Individual departments publish their own requirements, and those are the only figures that bind. Always check the programme page before setting a target.
Who accepts the CAT?
All 21 IIMs plus FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, MDI Gurgaon, IITs' management departments and several hundred other Indian business schools.
Worth knowing before you book
Sectional time limits are enforced — you cannot return to an earlier section, so a weak section cannot be rescued with spare time. IIMs also apply sectional percentile cut-offs, not just the overall figure.
How your score affects an education loan
Lenders assess an education loan mainly on the institution and programme you are admitted to, the co-applicant's income, and any collateral offered. A competitive test score matters because it determines which institutions admit you — and an admission letter from a well-regarded university is what strengthens the application.
Some lenders publish concessions tied to specific institution lists. Those terms vary by lender and change often, so we do not quote a rate here — compare the current offers directly.