CAT, or Common Admission Test, is a national-level management entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management for admission to postgraduate management programmes. Learn what CAT is, who can apply, which IIMs accept CAT and how CAT scores are used for MBA admission.
The CAT full form is Common Admission Test. It is a computer-based management entrance examination conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to their postgraduate and doctoral management programmes. CAT scores are also accepted by several non-IIM business schools that register to use CAT scores.
For the current cycle, CAT 2026 will be held on November 29, 2026, in three sessions. The official CAT 2026 advertisement lists 22 IIMs participating in the CAT ecosystem.
What is CAT Exam?
CAT is the Common Admission Test, an entrance exam used primarily for admission to management programmes at the IIMs and other participating business schools in India.
CAT does not itself grant admission to an MBA programme. Instead, candidates receive a CAT score and percentile, after which individual IIMs and other institutes apply their own admission criteria.
In simple terms:
CAT exam → CAT score/percentile → institute shortlisting → selection rounds → MBA/management admission
The official CAT advertisement also makes an important distinction: merely meeting CAT’s basic eligibility requirements does not guarantee an IIM shortlist. Each IIM can apply additional programme-specific selection criteria.
CAT Full Form
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| CAT full form | Common Admission Test |
| Exam type | Management entrance examination |
| Conducted by | Indian Institutes of Management |
| Exam mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Frequency | Once a year |
| Main purpose | Admission to eligible management programmes |
| Score accepted by | IIMs and registered non-IIM institutions |
| Official website | iimcat.ac.in |
A common mistake is calling CAT the “Common Admissions Test.” The official name is Common Admission Test.
What is CAT Exam For?
CAT is primarily taken by students who want to pursue postgraduate management education.
CAT scores can be used for admission to:
- eligible postgraduate management programmes at IIMs;
- Fellow/Doctoral programmes at IIMs where CAT is an accepted test;
- MBA and management programmes at participating non-IIM institutes; and
- selected management programmes at universities, IITs and business schools that accept CAT scores.
However, candidates must apply separately wherever required.
The IIMs do not conduct the admission process for non-IIM institutes, even when those institutes accept CAT scores.
Who Conducts the CAT Exam?
CAT is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management. The responsibility for administering CAT is handled within the IIM system, while the exam is used across participating IIMs for eligible programmes. For example, the official CAT 2026 advertisement is published through the IIM system and directs candidates to the CAT website for final rules, procedures and updates.
How Many IIMs are There for CAT?
The CAT 2026 official advertisement lists 22 Indian Institutes of Management:
| IIM | IIM |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | IIM Amritsar |
| IIM Bangalore | IIM Bodh Gaya |
| IIM Calcutta | IIM Guwahati |
| IIM Indore | IIM Jammu |
| IIM Kashipur | IIM Kozhikode |
| IIM Lucknow | IIM Mumbai |
| IIM Nagpur | IIM Raipur |
| IIM Ranchi | IIM Rohtak |
| IIM Sambalpur | IIM Shillong |
| IIM Sirmaur | IIM Tiruchirappalli |
| IIM Udaipur | IIM Visakhapatnam |
This is worth noting because many older CAT resources still refer to 21 IIMs. The current CAT 2026 advertisement lists 22, including IIM Mumbai. Admission rules are not identical across these institutes. Candidates should check the eligibility and selection procedure of the specific IIM programme they want to join.
CAT Exam Eligibility
For CAT 2026, candidates generally need a recognised bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification. The category-wise minimum graduation requirement is:
| Category | Minimum Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 50% or equivalent CGPA |
| EWS | 50% or equivalent CGPA |
| NC-OBC | 50% or equivalent CGPA |
| SC | 45% or equivalent CGPA |
| ST | 45% or equivalent CGPA |
| PwD/PwBD | 45% or equivalent CGPA |
Candidates in the final year of their bachelor’s degree and candidates awaiting results can also apply subject to the applicable conditions. Professional qualifications such as CA, CS, CMA/ICWA and Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India are also recognised under CAT eligibility rules.
Does CAT Have an Age Limit?
There is no prescribed age limit for appearing for CAT, provided the candidate fulfils the educational eligibility requirements.
Is Work Experience Required for CAT?
No. Work experience is not mandatory to appear for CAT. Fresh graduates can take CAT. Individual IIMs may, however, award weightage for work experience later during shortlisting or final selection.
Can Final-Year Students Give CAT?
Yes. Students appearing in the final year of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification can apply for CAT. If selected for admission, they may have to provide the required degree-completion documents within the deadline prescribed by the admitting institute.
CAT Exam Sections
CAT evaluates aptitude across three major areas:
VARC — Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
This section tests areas such as:
- reading comprehension;
- verbal reasoning;
- paragraph-based questions; and
- language comprehension.
DILR — Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
This section typically involves:
- logical arrangements;
- data sets;
- tables and charts;
- caselets; and
- analytical reasoning.
QA — Quantitative Ability
QA broadly covers mathematical problem-solving across areas such as:
- arithmetic;
- algebra;
- geometry;
- number systems; and
- other quantitative concepts.
The exact CAT exam structure can evolve between cycles, so candidates should use the current official exam instructions/mock rather than assuming an older question count will remain unchanged.
For the complete current-cycle structure, use the dedicated CAT 2026 Exam Pattern page once published.
Is CAT an Online Exam?
CAT is officially described as a computer-based test.
That does not mean candidates take the examination from home. CAT is conducted at designated test centres on computers provided at the centre.
For CAT 2026, the exam is planned across approximately 170 test cities, and candidates can submit five test-city preferences while applying.
How Does MBA Admission Through CAT Work?
Appearing for CAT is only the first stage of the admission process.
A typical CAT-based MBA admission journey looks like this:
- Register and appear for CAT
- Receive CAT score and percentile
- Meet institute-specific CAT requirements
- Get shortlisted by participating institutes
- Attend further selection rounds where applicable
- Institute calculates the final composite score
- Admission offer is issued
Different institutes may consider different combinations of:
- CAT score or percentile;
- sectional performance;
- Class 10 marks;
- Class 12 marks;
- graduation marks;
- work experience;
- academic diversity;
- gender diversity;
- Written Ability Test;
- Personal Interview; and
- other programme-specific criteria.
Therefore:
A high CAT percentile does not automatically guarantee admission to an IIM.
Each institute publishes its own admission process.
Is CAT Only for IIMs?
No. CAT is closely associated with the IIMs, but CAT scores can also be used by registered non-IIM institutions. The official CAT advertisement states that CAT scores may be used by listed non-IIM member institutions, while the IIMs have no role in those institutions’ selection processes. Examples of CAT-accepting institutions outside the IIM system can include management departments at universities, IITs and private/public business schools, depending on the admission cycle. Candidates should always verify acceptance from the institute’s own admission website before applying.
CAT vs MBA: What is the Difference?
CAT and MBA are not the same thing.
| CAT | MBA |
|---|---|
| Entrance examination | Postgraduate management degree |
| Used for admission | Course/programme studied after admission |
| Conducted by IIMs | Offered by universities and management institutes |
| Produces score/percentile | Leads to academic qualification |
| Usually taken before MBA admission | Pursued after selection |
So when someone says they are “preparing for CAT,” they are preparing for an entrance test, not studying an MBA course.
Is CAT Compulsory for MBA?
No. CAT is not compulsory for every MBA programme in India.
Different institutions accept different entrance examinations, which may include:
- CAT
- XAT
- CMAT
- MAT
- NMAT
- SNAP
- state-level MBA entrance tests; or
- institution-specific tests.
Some universities may also offer MBA admission through other approved selection routes. CAT is most important for candidates targeting IIMs and other colleges that specifically accept CAT scores.
Is CAT Difficult?
CAT is considered competitive because candidates are assessed relative to a large applicant pool and top institutes have limited seats. Its difficulty does not come only from advanced concepts. Performance also depends heavily on:
- speed;
- accuracy;
- question selection;
- reading ability;
- logical reasoning;
- sectional time management; and
- maintaining performance under exam conditions.
A candidate therefore does not need to attempt every question to perform well.
CAT Score vs CAT Percentile
CAT score and CAT percentile are different.
CAT score represents performance based on marks obtained in the examination.
CAT percentile shows a candidate’s relative performance compared with other CAT test-takers.
For example, a 95 percentile does not mean 95% marks. It broadly indicates performance above a large proportion of candidates.
This distinction becomes important during IIM shortlisting because institutes frequently specify percentile-based requirements.
CAT 2026: Current Exam Cycle
For candidates currently planning to take CAT, the active cycle is CAT 2026.
The official schedule states:
- registration opened: August 3, 2026
- registration closes: September 15, 2026 at 5 PM
- admit card window: November 4–29, 2026
- CAT 2026 exam date: November 29, 2026
- result: first week of January 2027, tentatively
Read more about CAT 2026
Who Should Take CAT?
CAT is most relevant for candidates who:
- want to pursue management education;
- are targeting one or more IIMs;
- want to apply to CAT-accepting MBA colleges;
- are comfortable preparing for aptitude-based testing; or
- want to keep multiple management-school options open through one entrance examination.
Students should first shortlist the colleges and programmes they are interested in and then check whether CAT is accepted for those admissions.
FAQs on CAT Exam
Can a student from Arts, Commerce or Science appear for CAT?
Yes. CAT is not restricted to a particular undergraduate stream. Candidates from Arts, Commerce, Science, Engineering and other recognised bachelor’s programmes can apply if they satisfy the applicable degree and marks requirements.
Can I appear for CAT after completing a distance or online degree?
Eligibility depends on whether the qualification and awarding institution meet the recognition requirements prescribed for CAT. Candidates should verify the status of their specific degree and institution before registering rather than assuming that the mode of study alone determines eligibility.
Does an IIM MBA admission happen automatically when I select an IIM in the CAT form?
No. Selecting an IIM programme in the CAT application only indicates your interest where applicable. Candidates must still satisfy the institute’s eligibility, shortlisting and final-selection criteria.
Do all IIMs require the same CAT percentile?
No. Each IIM sets its own programme-specific shortlisting and selection criteria. Minimum qualifying percentiles can differ by institute, programme, category and section, and clearing a published minimum does not guarantee an interview call.
Can CAT be taken more than once?
Yes. CAT is conducted annually and there is no general restriction limiting a candidate to a single attempt. Candidates who continue to meet the eligibility requirements can appear again in another CAT cycle.
