All CAT 2026 dates
| Event | Date | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | 3 Aug 2026 (10 AM) to 22 Sep 2026 (5 PM) | Confirmed · closed | CAT website |
| Fee payment (registered candidates only) | Until 24 Sep 2026, 5 PM | Confirmed · closed | Media release, 22 Sep |
| Admit card download | 4 Nov 2026, 5 PM, to 29 Nov 2026 | Confirmed | Information Bulletin, CAT FAQ |
| CAT 2026 exam | Sun, 29 Nov 2026, three sessions | Confirmed | Information Bulletin |
| Response sheet and provisional answer key | Not announced | Expected after the exam | CAT website |
| Result | Likely by the first week of Jan 2027 | Official estimate | Information Bulletin |
| Score validity | Until 31 Dec 2027 | Confirmed | Information Bulletin |
Registration first closed on 15 September and was extended to 22 September. The IIMs can change test cities, centres, times and dates, so check iimcat.ac.in, the only official CAT website, before you rely on any date. We’ll update this page when the answer key and result dates are announced.
CAT 2026 admit card
From the official CAT 2026 FAQ:
- Where: log in at iimcat.ac.in with your registered User ID and password. It isn’t posted or emailed.
- When: from Wednesday, 4 November 2026, 5:00 PM, until exam day.
- What it shows: your name, test date, PwD status, test centre, and exam session and time. Check each one as soon as you download it.
- On exam day: bring a printed copy. Paste the same photograph you uploaded at registration. Don’t write or do rough work on it, which counts as unfair means. Follow the instructions printed on the card.
- If something is wrong or missing: contact the CAT help desk at 1800 210 0175 or cat2026_helpdesk@iimidr.ac.in well before exam day.
Identity is checked at the centre with your admit card, photo ID and biometrics, and you can appear in only one session. Bring the photo ID that your admit card instructions ask for.
Answer key and result
The IIMs haven’t announced dates for the response sheet or the answer key yet. In past cycles, these were posted on iimcat.ac.in some days after the exam, with a short window to challenge answers. Your response sheet lets you total your raw marks before the result: the CAT score calculator does the arithmetic.
The Information Bulletin says the result is likely by the first week of January 2027. Scorecards are on the CAT website and may also be sent by SMS. The scorecard shows scaled scores and percentiles, so it can differ from your raw total. For how marks have translated to percentiles before, see CAT marks vs percentile.
XAT, SNAP and NMAT dates
These exams set their own schedules. Get their dates from the official sites:
- XAT (XLRI and others): xatonline.in
- SNAP (Symbiosis): snaptest.org
- NMAT (GMAC): mba.com/exams/nmat
Frequently asked questions
When is CAT 2026?
Sunday, 29 November 2026, in three sessions (forenoon, afternoon and evening), per the CAT 2026 Information Bulletin.
When will the CAT 2026 admit card be released?
From Wednesday, 4 November 2026, 5:00 PM, on iimcat.ac.in. It stays available until 29 November 2026.
When will the CAT 2026 result come out?
The Information Bulletin says results are likely by the first week of January 2027. The exact date hasn't been announced.
How long is the CAT 2026 score valid?
Until 31 December 2027, per the CAT 2026 Information Bulletin.
