IIM Indore (on behalf of all IIMs)
CAT 2026 (Common Admission Test)
Important Dates
Eligibility
Bachelor's degree with minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD). Final year graduation students can also apply. No age limit. No restriction on number of attempts.
Syllabus
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), Quantitative Aptitude (QA).
Official Links
CAT 2026 — Complete Guide
CAT — the Common Admission Test — is the most prestigious MBA entrance exam in India. Every year, nearly 3 lakh candidates register, competing for seats in the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and hundreds of other top business schools. A high CAT percentile is the first step toward an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, or any of the other 17 IIMs.
IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2026. Registration opens on August 1, 2026 and the exam is on November 29, 2026.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration Opens | August 1, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | September 20, 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | October – November 2026 |
| Exam Date | November 29, 2026 |
| Result (Expected) | January 2027 |
| IIM Interviews | February – April 2027 |
Eligibility
Any graduate with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) can apply. Students in their final year of graduation are also eligible to appear. There is no age limit and no cap on attempts. Even working professionals with 10+ years of experience sit for this exam.
Exam Pattern
The paper has three sections — VARC, DILR, and QA — each with a 40-minute time limit. You cannot switch between sections during the exam.
| Section | Full Name | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 24 | 72 |
| DILR | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 20 | 60 |
| QA | Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 66 |
| Total | 66 | 198 |
MCQ questions carry -1 negative marking. TITA (Type In The Answer) questions have no negative marking.
Syllabus
VARC tests your reading speed and comprehension through passages from diverse topics — economics, science, literature, history. Verbal Ability questions include para-jumbles, odd sentences, and para-summary.
DILR gives you sets of data (tables, graphs, caselets) and tests your ability to interpret information and reason logically. This section has become tougher over the past few years.
QA covers Class 10-12 math — Arithmetic, Number System, Algebra, Geometry, Modern Math. If your math foundation is strong, this section can be your scoring zone.
Score and Percentile
CAT results are announced as percentiles, not raw scores. Each IIM has its own percentile cutoff — the top 6 IIMs typically require 99+ percentile for general category. Even a 95-97 percentile opens doors to IIM Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore, Shillong, and many more.
After CAT — WAT-PI
Getting a good percentile is just the start. IIMs call candidates for Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI). Your final admission is based on a composite score of CAT percentile, academics, work experience, and interview performance.
Application Fee
Around ₹2,400 for general and ₹1,200 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
Official Website
iimcat.ac.in — Registration opens August 1.