About the Exam
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is India's most prestigious national-level management entrance examination, conducted on a rotational basis by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). It is the gateway to 21 IIMs and over 1,200 other top-tier B-schools across the country, including FMS Delhi, IIT DoMS, SPJIMR, and MDI Gurgaon. The exam evaluates a candidate's aptitude in quantitative skills, data interpretation, logical reasoning, and verbal ability.
Exam Pattern
Duration
2 Hours (40 Minutes per section)
Total Marks
198 Marks
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
24 Questions
72 Marks
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
20 Questions
60 Marks
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
22 Questions
66 Marks
Top Accepting Institutes
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta
Department of Management Studies (DoMS), IIT Madras
At a Glance
- Conducting BodyIIMs (Rotational)
- FrequencyOnce a year
- Mode of ExamComputer Based Test (CBT)
- Validity of Score1 Year
- Total CandidatesApprox. 3.3 Lakhs
Important Dates 2027
30 Jul 2026
CAT Notification Release
02 Aug 2026
Registration Starts
20 Sep 2026
Registration Ends
24 Nov 2026
CAT Exam Date
21 Dec 2026
Results Declaration
Syllabus Overview
VARC
Reading Comprehension Passages
Para Jumbles
Para Summaries
Odd One Out
DILR
Seating Arrangements
Blood Relations
Syllogisms
Venn Diagrams
Bar/Line Graphs
QA
Arithmetic (Profit/Loss, Time/Speed/Distance)
Algebra
Geometry
Modern Math
Number System