When is the CAT 2026 exam? How much time do I need to prepare for CAT? Can I get into IIM through self-preparation, or do I need a CAT coaching?
Students are filled with such questions, confusion, and doubts. If you want to crack the CAT and get admission in MBA in top B-schools, this guide is for you. Here, you will get to know everything related to CAT, from the CAT exam 2026 registration last date to the CAT exam pattern 2026 and tips to perform well in the entrance exam.
What is the CAT 2026 exam date?
Let’s address the most searched question first – CAT 2026 exam date.
While the official CAT notification 2026 will be released around July, the exam follows a very predictable pattern every year. It’s almost always conducted on the last Sunday of November.
So, the expected CAT 2026 exam date is: 29 November 2026.
Here’s a rough timeline so you’re not caught off guard:
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- CAT notification 2026: July 2026
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- CAT exam 2026 registration date: First week of August 2026
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- CAT exam 2026 registration last date: Around mid-September 2026
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- Admit card: October 2026
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- Exam: Last Sunday of November
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- Results: January 2027
Most students wait for the notification to “start seriously.” That’s a mistake. By August, the serious crowd is already giving mocks.
What is the CAT exam pattern 2026?
Before you solve even a single question, you should know what the exam actually looks like. The CAT exam pattern 2026 is expected to stay similar to recent years.
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- Total duration: 120 minutes
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- Sections: 3
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- Time per section: 40 minutes (fixed, no switching)
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- Total questions: 66
Also Read: CAT Time Table and Preparation Strategy
Most important LRDI topics for CAT
Section-wise CAT Question Paper split:
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- VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension): ~24 questions
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- DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning): ~20 questions
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- QA (Quantitative Aptitude): ~22 questions
Marking scheme:
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- +3 for every correct answer
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- -1 for wrong MCQs
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- No negative marking for non-MCQs (TITA)
Sounds manageable? On paper, yes. But CAT is less about solving everything and more about choosing what not to solve. That’s where most people struggle.
What is the CAT 2026 syllabus?
There’s no official syllabus released by IIMs, which can feel confusing at first. But over the years, the pattern has been very consistent.
VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)
This section is dominated by reading comprehension.
You’ll typically see:
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- 4–5 RC passages
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- Para jumbles
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- Para summary
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- Odd sentence out
If your reading habit is weak, this section will feel heavy. If it’s strong, this becomes your scoring area.
DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning)
This is the most unpredictable section.
Topics include:
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- Charts and graphs
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- Logical puzzles
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- Seating arrangements
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- Caselets
Some sets feel impossible at first glance. The trick is not to solve everything, but to identify doable sets quickly.
QA (Quantitative Aptitude)
This is where many non-maths students panic—but it’s more doable than it seems.
Focus on:
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- Arithmetic (biggest weightage)
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- Algebra
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- Geometry
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- Number systems
If you’re starting from scratch, begin with Arithmetic. It gives the fastest returns.
How many hours should you study for CAT preparation?
You don’t need 10 hours a day. That’s not sustainable for most students. What works better is consistency.
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- If you’re starting now (10–12 months left): 2–3 hours daily is enough
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- If you’re starting later (6–8 months): 3–5 hours daily
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- If you’re working or in college: 2 hours on weekdays + longer weekends
The biggest mistake? Counting hours without tracking progress.
Two focused hours > six distracted hours.
Can I prepare for CAT 2026 in 6 months?
Yes, you can. But not with self-study. To crack the CAT in 6 months, you need the best CAT coaching for proper guidance.
A 6-month prep usually means:
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- Less time for basics
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- More pressure from mocks
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- Faster decision-making
According to experts at FundaMakers, this is a realistic preparation timeline that students should follow:
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- First 2 months: Build concepts
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- Next 2 months: Practice + sectional tests
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- Last 2 months: Full-length mocks + analysis
People do crack CAT in 6 months, but they’re either very disciplined or already decent in one section.
If you have more time, use it. Don’t compress your preparation unnecessarily.
When should you start taking mocks?
Most students delay mocks because they feel “not ready.” Here’s the truth: you will never feel ready.
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- Begin mocks within 2–3 months of preparation
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- Start with 1 mock every 2 weeks
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- Gradually increase to 1–2 mocks per week
But here’s what actually matters: analysis.
If you’re taking a 2-hour mock, spend at least another 2 hours reviewing:
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- Why you got questions wrong
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- Which questions you should have skipped
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- Where you wasted time
That’s where your score improves.
What are the biggest mistakes CAT aspirants make?
You can save yourself a lot of frustration by avoiding these:
- Ignoring DILR
It looks manageable initially, but becomes a problem later.
- Hoarding study material
Too many PDFs, but too little practice.
- Avoiding mocks because of low scores
Mocks are supposed to be messy at first. This is how you prepare. Don’t be afraid of low scores in mocks.
- Not analyzing mistakes
If you don’t review your errors, you’ll repeat them.
What is the Best Coaching for CAT in Lucknow?
Students across Uttar Pradesh search for the best CAT coaching in Lucknow or the best online CAT coaching to start their preparation.
If you are one of those students, do not waste your time on big names that charge extra money just for the brand name.
FundaMakers is the best CAT coaching in Lucknow. Led by educators with 15+ years of experience in the education industry, FundaMakers helps you ace CAT entrance exams.
What makes FundaMakers the best CAT coaching in Lucknow?
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- Proven Results:
1 in every 3 students from FundaMakers land in top B-schools. You can check our CAT results.
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- Small Batch Size for Proper Attention:
Our batch size is limited to 25-30 students so that educators can provide personalised attention and guidance to each student.
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- Smart Student Portal:
We offer an exceptional student portal with study material, LIVE online classes, and hybrid class option which is not available anywhere else.
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- AI-powered IIM Call Predictor:
We use AI to analyse and predict the B-school you can get into, based on your performance. This helps you get a clear idea of your preparation and helps you gear up.
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- 15000+ Questions Solved during Classes:
We provide more than 15,000 CAT questions which are enough to prepare any student to ace the CAT entrance exam. We conduct regular CAT mocks to prepare students to manage the stress and exam fear.
Final thoughts
The CAT 2026 exam date might seem far away right now, but the competition isn’t slowing down.
What matters isn’t how early you start, it’s how consistently you show up.
Keep track of:
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- CAT notification 2026
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- CAT exam 2026 registration date
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- CAT exam 2026 registration last date
But beyond that, focus on your daily process.
Start small. Stay regular. Take mocks. Improve step by step.
Because at the end of the day, CAT isn’t just testing your knowledge. It’s testing how well you can manage time, pressure, and decisions. You’ll need this in a B-school too. And that’s exactly what FundaMakers teach you.
