CAT 2026 exam date is November 29, 2026. The computer-based exam will be conducted in three sessions, while CAT 2026 admit cards will be available from November 4 to November 29. Registration is scheduled to close on September 15, 2026, at 5 PM. Check the complete official CAT 2026 schedule below.
The CAT 2026 exam will be held on Sunday, November 29, 2026, in three sessions. The date has been officially announced by the Indian Institutes of Management in the CAT 2026 advertisement. Admit-card downloads are scheduled from November 4 to November 29, 2026, while the result is tentatively scheduled for the first week of January 2027.
CAT 2026 Exam Date: Quick Overview
| Particular | CAT 2026 Date |
|---|---|
| Registration start date | August 3, 2026, 10 AM |
| Last date to register | September 15, 2026, 5 PM |
| CAT 2026 admit card date | November 4, 2026 |
| Admit card download last date | November 29, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 exam date | November 29, 2026 |
| Exam day | Sunday |
| Number of sessions | 3 |
| Result date | First week of January 2027 — Tentative |
| Official website | iimcat.ac.in |
These are the dates currently confirmed in the official CAT 2026 advertisement.
CAT 2026 Exam Date Is November 29
The Common Admission Test 2026 will take place on November 29, 2026.
The examination will be:
- computer-based;
- conducted on a single day;
- held in three sessions; and
- conducted at test centres across approximately 170 cities.
Candidates can select up to five preferred test cities during registration. The final allotted test centre and session will be communicated through the CAT admit card.
Is the CAT 2026 Exam Date Official?
Yes. November 29, 2026 is the officially announced CAT 2026 test date, not an expected or tentative date. This distinction is important because several other CAT events, such as answer-key dates, may still be based on expectations until CAT authorities issue a separate notice.
CAT 2026 Complete Schedule
The official CAT 2026 calendar currently includes registration, admit-card, exam and tentative result dates.
| CAT 2026 Event | Official Date |
|---|---|
| Registration opens | August 3, 2026, at 10 AM |
| Registration closes | September 15, 2026, at 5 PM |
| Admit card download begins | November 4, 2026 |
| Admit card download closes | November 29, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 exam | November 29, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 result | First week of January 2027 (Tentative) |
The official advertisement does not currently specify dates for the CAT 2026 correction window, answer key or response sheet. Candidates should therefore avoid treating predicted dates for these events as confirmed.
CAT 2026 Admit Card Date
The CAT 2026 admit card will be available from November 4, 2026. The official download window is November 4 to November 29, 2026.
Candidates who successfully complete the CAT application process should preserve their CAT User ID and password, as candidate login will remain important for later exam-cycle activities. The admit card is expected to provide essential candidate-specific information including:
- allotted CAT test centre;
- exam session;
- reporting instructions;
- candidate details; and
- examination-day instructions.
A separate CAT 2026 Admit Card article should be updated only when the actual download link becomes active.
CAT 2026 Exam Timings and Sessions
CAT 2026 is officially confirmed to be conducted in three sessions. However, the official CAT 2026 advertisement currently does not publish the exact starting and ending time for each session.
Therefore, candidates should not treat slot timings circulating on third-party websites as officially confirmed CAT 2026 timings unless the same schedule is subsequently published by CAT authorities.
| CAT 2026 Session | Date | Exact Official Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | November 29, 2026 | Not yet specified in official advertisement |
| Session 2 | November 29, 2026 | Not yet specified in official advertisement |
| Session 3 | November 29, 2026 | Not yet specified in official advertisement |
The allotted slot and reporting requirements should be checked on the candidate’s CAT 2026 admit card once released.
CAT 2026 Registration Dates
CAT 2026 registration began on August 3, 2026, at 10 AM and is officially scheduled to close on September 15, 2026, at 5 PM.
Candidates yet to apply should complete:
- registration;
- application form;
- document upload;
- programme selection;
- test-city preferences; and
- fee payment
before the registration window closes.
For deadline-specific updates, check CAT 2026 Registration Last Date.
For the complete form process, use How to Fill CAT 2026 Application Form.
CAT 2026 Registration to Exam Timeline
The current official timeline gives candidates approximately two and a half months between the registration deadline and the examination.
September 15: Registration Closes
Complete the application and successful fee payment by 5 PM unless CAT authorities subsequently announce a change.
November 4: Admit Card Download Begins
Registered candidates should access their CAT login once the admit-card link becomes active.
November 29: CAT 2026 Exam
Candidates will appear in their allotted session and test centre.
January 2027: CAT Result
The official advertisement tentatively places the CAT 2026 result in the first week of January 2027.
CAT 2026 Test Centres
CAT 2026 will be conducted across approximately 170 test cities. Candidates can enter five different city preferences in order of preference while submitting the CAT application. The CAT authorities have also stated that the test-city list may change at their discretion. The actual test centre allotted to a candidate should be treated as final only after checking the CAT admit card.
When Will CAT 2026 Answer Key Be Released?
There is no officially announced CAT 2026 answer-key date yet in the CAT advertisement. After the exam, CAT authorities typically move through stages involving candidate responses, provisional answers and objections, but the exact CAT 2026 schedule should be published only after official confirmation. CollegeShastra should therefore update a dedicated CAT 2026 Answer Key page when the official notice becomes available instead of publishing a predicted release date as confirmed.
When Will CAT 2026 Result Be Declared?
The official CAT 2026 advertisement states:
Result declaration: First week of January 2027 — Tentative.
This is different from the CAT exam date and admit-card dates, which have already been specifically scheduled.
Candidates should avoid assuming a December result date based solely on previous CAT cycles or unofficial predictions.
What to Do Before CAT 2026 Exam Date
Once registration is complete, preparation should gradually shift from learning concepts to timed performance.
Before Admit Card Release
Prioritise:
- completing the CAT syllabus;
- section-wise practice;
- previous-year CAT papers;
- regular mock tests; and
- analysing mistakes after each mock.
After Admit Card Release
Check:
- exam city;
- test-centre address;
- allotted session;
- reporting time;
- candidate details; and
- exam-day instructions.
Plan travel to the test centre in advance, especially if the centre is outside your immediate locality.
Final Week Before CAT 2026
Focus mainly on:
- revision;
- mock analysis;
- key formulas;
- reading practice;
- question selection; and
- sleep/routine consistency.
Avoid attempting to learn large new topics immediately before the exam.
CAT 2026 Exam Date vs Admit Card Date
Candidates frequently confuse these two dates.
| Event | Date | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| CAT admit card date | November 4, 2026 | Candidate receives centre/session details |
| CAT exam date | November 29, 2026 | Candidate appears for CAT |
The admit-card window remains open through the CAT exam date itself.
CAT 2026 Important Dates: Confirmed vs Not Yet Announced
For clarity:
Officially Announced
- Registration start: August 3
- Registration deadline: September 15
- Admit card: November 4–29
- Exam: November 29
- Result: first week of January 2027 — tentative
Not Yet Officially Dated
- Application correction window
- Official mock release
- Response sheet
- Provisional answer key
- Answer-key objection window
This separation is important because many CAT date pages mix confirmed dates with predicted dates, which can mislead candidates.
FAQs on CAT 2026 Exam Date
Is CAT 2026 being held on a Sunday?
Yes. November 29, 2026 falls on a Sunday, which is the officially announced CAT 2026 exam date.
Will all CAT 2026 candidates take the exam at the same time?
No. CAT 2026 will be conducted in three sessions. Candidates will be allotted a specific session, which should be confirmed through their admit card.
Can I choose my CAT 2026 exam session?
The official advertisement allows candidates to choose five test-city preferences, but it does not provide a facility for candidates to select their preferred CAT session. The allotted session should be checked on the admit card.
Can CAT 2026 be postponed after the date has been announced?
November 29 is the officially announced exam date. Any change would require an official CAT notification. Candidates should not act on social-media claims or unofficial date changes unless they are confirmed through the CAT website.
Is the CAT 2026 result date final?
No. The official advertisement describes the first week of January 2027 as tentative, so the exact result date may be announced later.
