What is CAT Exam? Complete Guide for Beginners 2026

CAT stands for Common Admission Test. It is India’s most prestigious MBA entrance exam conducted annually by one of the IIMs. It is a 68-question, 120-minute computer-based test covering VARC (24 questions), DILR (22 questions), and Quantitative Ability (22 questions). Around 3 lakh students appear every year for approximately 5,300 IIM seats. Results are expressed as percentiles, not raw marks, and are normalized across slots.

The CAT exam is used for MBA and PGDM admissions at all 21 IIMs and over 1,300 B-schools in India. The CAT percentile is used as a primary shortlisting criterion, but final admission also depends on academic scores, work experience, and GD-PI performance.

Any graduate with at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) can appear for CAT. Final-year students can apply provisionally. CA, CS, and ICWA holders are also eligible. There is no age limit and no restriction on the number of attempts.

The CAT 2026 registration fee is ₹2,600 for General and OBC-NCL candidates and ₹1,300 for SC, ST, and PwD candidates. Payment is made online during the registration window, typically from August to mid-September. The fee is non-refundable.

There is no limit on the number of attempts for CAT. Candidates can appear every year. Each attempt is independent, and only the most recent score is considered valid for admissions.

The CAT score is valid for one year only. For example, CAT 2026 scores are valid for the 2026–27 admission cycle and cannot be used for future years.

The CAT exam is highly competitive, with 3–4 lakh candidates competing for limited seats. A 99+ percentile is needed for top IIMs, but a 90+ percentile can be achieved with 6–9 months of structured preparation. Preparation time may vary depending on the student’s background.

Top IIMs such as Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore, and Kozhikode consistently report 100% placements. Newer IIMs report around 95%+. Average packages range from ₹11–20 LPA at newer IIMs to ₹30–35 LPA at top IIMs.

No, CAT scores are accepted by over 1,300 B-schools in India. Top non-IIM colleges include FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai, IIFT Delhi, and IIT management departments, making CAT one of the most versatile MBA entrance exams.