CAT 2026 Notification: Registration, Exam Pattern, & Important Dates

CAT 2026 Notification Release Date: The last week of July 2026 (Around 26-29) is tentatively the CAT 2026 notification release date. The PDF for the same will be uploaded on iimcat.ac.in and advertised it top publications like The Hindu, Times of India and Hindustan Times. 

The CAT 2026 notification will contain all the important information about the exam. Students should keep an eye out for the same. The notification will offer detail about dates, exam patterns, marking scheme and other crucial details. The CAT is taken by over 3 lakh students annually and is the country’s most popular management entrance exam.

Read More – CAT Syllabus 

What is Mentioned in CAT 2026 Notification?

The key information in CAT 2026 comprises:

1. Name of the IIM conducting CAT 2026
2. The exact date and time of the exam
3. The structure of the application fee
4. Reservation policy
5. Eligibility criteria
6. List of cities where CAT will be conducted
7. Validity of the CAT score

If you looking for the best CAT coaching classes in India, try IMS India’s online and classroom programs for CAT 2026.

Lakhs of students apply for admission to the best MBA programs in the top colleges of India via the CAT exam. 

This notification marks the beginning of this year’s CAT exam cycle, which starts with registrations.

How to Fill CAT Application Form?

The application form for CAT exam is available at iimcat.ac.in website. You can fill the form and submit it online. Check below the step to fill CAT application form:

Step 1: Go to iimcat.ac.in website

Step 2: Click on ‘new registration’ and fill your basic details to register

Step 3: Verify CAT registration with OTP received in email

Step 4: Go to CAT application form

Step 5: Enter personal and academic details and upload your photo and signature

Step 6: Select cities for centre allotment

Step 7: Select IIMs and courses

Step 8: Pay the requisite fee to complete the process

CAT Registration 2026

Now, we come to the second most important part of the CAT notification – the registration process. While we will write another blog on how to register for CAT and the most common mistakes to avoid while filling out the CAT form, we’ve prudently included some of the most important parts here for you to remember.

1. Always preview the whole CAT application form before submitting it. Although there is a form correction window of 3 days, you’ll only be allowed to edit the form once.
2. Only 3 kinds of errors are permitted to be changed during the form correction window: photograph, signature, and your test city preferences.
3. Make sure you list out the test city preferences accurately. Once the test city, centre, and slot are allotted, no change requests will be entertained.
4. Always try and complete the CAT registration process as early as you can. Often, some documentation errors need to be rectified early. Filling out the form early and not waiting for the CAT registration last date will give you enough time to deal with any roadblocks that might occur.
5. According to the CAT notification, the CAT exam registration fees for general candidates are Rs. 2500, while the same is Rs. 1250 for PwD and reserved category students.
6. While filling out the registration form, keep soft copies of your documents, such as mark sheets and photographs, ready. Ensure the documents match the specifications as mentioned on the official website.
7. Your form will only be considered submitted once you complete the payment and receive an authorised notification endorsing it.

Read More – CAT Cutoff

CAT exam pattern 2026

Assuming there are no major changes to the CAT exam pattern, the paper will consist of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, and Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation. Read More – CAT Exam Pattern

While the weightage and marking scheme can only be confirmed after the CAT notification is out, here are some pointers based on our analysis of past CAT papers.

1. You can safely expect 10-14 arithmetic questions in the CAT exam.
2. The QA section will most likely have 6-8 TITA questions.
3. The VARC section will include 5-8 TITA questions. Many students choose not to focus on reading comprehension and underestimate the difficulty level of the passages. RC will form a significant portion of the VARC weightage. Do not take it lightly.
4. The LRDI section will have 22-24 questions, 18-20 of which will be Logical Reasoning questions. The remaining will come from Data Interpretation.

Conclusion

With the CAT notification to be out soon, it is time for you to switch gears and accelerate your preparation. Only a few months remain before D-Day. The IMS CATapult Live Online is the perfect program to help you complete your preparation well in time for CAT 2026. You’ll get access to 100+ mentor-led interactive classes, 50+ masterclasses, multiple one-on-one strategy sessions, and 90+ full-length mock tests. Moreover, the program is designed to help you ace 111 management entrance tests other than CAT, including XAT, SNAP, NMAT, MICAT, CET, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, CUET-PG, and IBSAT.

FAQs

Is the CAT notification for 2026 out?

No, the CAT 2026 notification with all the details on exam date, registration, and admit card  has not been released yet. It will most likely be released in July 2026.

When can I apply for the CAT exam in 2026?

The CAT 2026 registration date is expected to start in the first week of August 2026 and close in the third week of September 2026.

Which IIM will conduct CAT 2026?

The name of the IIM that will conduct CAT 2026 will be announced in the notification.

Can I crack a CAT in 30 days?

Yes. You can crack the CAT in 30 days if you have a strong baseline score, a CAT preparation plan, and consistent mock practice.  

Is CAT harder than IIT?

CAT is not as hard as IIT-JEE, which is known for its rigour, vast syllabus, subject complexity and heavy competition. 

Can I crack MBA CAT in 3 months?

Yes. You can crack the MBA CAT in 3 months if you already have a strong baseline score, 5-7 hours of daily practice, and strategic study plan.