Every year about 2-3 lakh students appear for the CAT exam. With a high competition for a limited number of seats at top management institutions like IIMs and B-schools, the CAT 2026 exam scores will play an important role in a student’s admission process. Although the CAT 2026 exam will be held during November, 2026, it is best to start your preparation early. CAT 2026 is a management exam with 3 sections, VARC, DILR and QA.
Total questions in CAT are 68, where VARC section has 24 questions and both DILR and Quant sections comprise 22 questions each. Students must aim to achieve high marks and know the total CAT exam marks are 204. While each correct answer receives 3 marks, -1 for incorrect answers may affect CAT scores. Exam pattern for CAT 2026 remains the same as previous year. Students must learn to manage their time and complete all CAT 2026 sections in under 40 minutes each.
The total exam duration is 120 minutes or 2 hours. PwD students are allotted extra minutes to solve their CAT paper. It is important to score good marks in the CAT 2025 exam as it helps secure admission into top MBA colleges with a high ROI like IIMs, B-schools, IITs, etc. Admission process for CAT 2026 starts with registrations which shall begin soon (July 2026). After you complete the CAT 2026 registration process, download your CAT 2026 admit card and appear for the exam. The shortlist is based on CAT scores.
Students must aim for 99+ percentile to get into top IIMs. 90-94 percentile scores are suitable for tier 2 management schools and 80-89 percentile is sufficient for tier 3 MBA colleges like IBS Hyderabad, DES, IIM Jammu, etc. Top management institutions like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta offer a high ROI with average salaries being ₹34.45 LPA, ₹34.88 LPA, and ₹34.23 LPA, respectively. The fee range at top 3 IIMs (A,B, and C) is between ₹26 to ₹27 Lakhs for the complete MBA course.
Students must have a simple yet practical strategy which allows them to focus on the important aspects of the CAT 2026 exam. A good strategy makes the best use of 24 hours in a day for effective preparation and extensive practice. Students aiming to get a high score of 99 percentile in CAT 2026 must practice at least 48-50 mock tests before the exam and previous 5-10 year CAT question papers. You may choose to enroll for online CAT coaching centres to receive CAT study material, video lectures and more. Top platforms for CAT 2026 preparation is iiQuanta to get 24/7 support and guidance in your CAT 2026 preparation journey.
What is the CAT Admission Process 2026?
Taking admission via CAT requires a student to begin their journey by registering for the exam. Students may expect the CAT exam 2026 registration to begin by the 1st week of August, 2026. Registration for the CAT exam is simple, you must log into the official iimcat.ac.in website and fill out the online application form, enter details as requested, upload documents required and pay the application fee online while submitting the form.
Students taking the CAT 2026 exam and clearing the minimum cutoff marks are eligible for IIM and other top B-school admissions in 2026. The selection or shortlisting process for each college whether it is an IIM or a B-school differs based on their internal policies. While CAT scores are one component in the selection process, a candidate’s overall profile such as their academic history, work experience, GD performance, WAT results, etc are considered for final selections.
The best colleges for a management aspirant are the most reputed IIMs, especially IIM A, B and C. For entering these colleges, your CAT score is expected to be above 90-99+ percentile. Without such a score, admission into top IIMs is difficult but B-schools and private colleges are easily considerable. Students going through the entire process may ask what is the salary after CAT exam? Considering you are selected at top IIMs, you may expect average salaries between ₹30 to ₹35 LPA.
What is the CAT 2026 Marking Scheme?
The marking scheme of the CAT exam is yet to be released. For the time being, students may assume that CAT 2026 shall follow the same marking scheme as of CAT 2025 and previous years. For the past 5 years, there have not been many changes under the CAT marking scheme. It is likely expected to remain the same. Negative marking in CAT 2026 will reduce your marks, so avoid guesswork unnecessarily.
Marking Scheme for CAT 2026
| Parameter | Marks Allotted |
| Each Correct MCQ Answer | Student gets +3 marks |
| An Incorrect MCQ Answer | -1 mark |
| TITA Questions | No negative marking |
| Unattempted Questions | No Loss of Marks |
| Total Marks | 204 |
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
Students must have a clear understanding of the CAT exam pattern, its style, number of questions, type of questions and so on. Such a pattern familiarity beforehand helps resolve complex questions asked in the CAT 2026 examination with ease. While the number and type of CAT questions are prefixed norms, the difficulty level of subject wise questions varies from year to year.
| CAT Exam Pattern 2026 Breakdown | |
| Aspects | Details |
| Total Questions | 68 |
| Number of Sections | 3 |
| CAT Sectional Time Limit | 40 minutes |
| CAT Exam Duration | 120 minutes |
What Are the Latest Changes in CAT 2026 Exam Pattern?
Before moving with other aspects of the CAT preparation journey, it is crucial to know the roots of the CAT paper pattern and how it has changed over the years. From 66 questions, the CAT exam total expected questions has increased to 68. Total questions asked has increased indicating that the number of questions asked in 1 or more CAT 2026 sections has also increased. A detailed breakdown of the recent changes in the CAT 2026 exam pattern has been highlighted below.
| Latest Changes to CAT Exam Pattern | |
| Affected Areas | Changes Made |
| Total Questions | Rose from 66 to 68 |
| DILR Section Questions | Rose from 20 to 22 |
| DILR Section Revised Pattern | 3 sets of 4 questions and 2 sets of 5 questions |
What Are the Latest Updates in CAT 2026 Admission Process?
IIM Kashipur, Raipur, Ranchi, and Tiruchirappalli have introduced a new Joint Admission Process or JAP 2026. This move has been made to streamline the admission process and decrease administrative burden on the aspirants and the institutions. It also shows the collaborative resource management techniques deployed by IIMs to foster a unified, transparent admission process.
- 4 IIMs – IIM Kashipur, Raipur, Ranchi, and Tiruchirappalli shall participate in a Joint Admission Process 2026.
- The main aim is to introduce uniformity, reduce administrative tasks and promote transparency.
- The JAP 2026 shall be based on the CAT 2025 scores.
- IIM Raipur shall manage the JAP 2026 for the 4 participating IIMs.
List of CAT 2026 Top Colleges
IIMs emerge at the best CAT colleges. At the forefront of all IIMs are IIM A, B, and C. These institutions emerge as the best colleges which students typically target for their MBA studies. The CAT 2026 top colleges have a high cutoff due to increased competition and limited seats. In a recent publication by under the TOI Education domain, it was revealed that IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta and the Indian School of Business are consistently ranking in on international platforms such as QS Global MBA, Times Higher Education, etc.
Top 5 Globally Ranked CAT MBA Colleges
The QS Global MBA ranking 2026 is out. As per the report, IIM Bangalore ranks 52nd followed by IIM Ahmedabad at 58th rank. On the other hand, as per the IIRF National 2025 ranking, IIM Ahmedabad ranks 1st and both IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta tie up on the 3rd rank. Check the top 5 globally ranked CAT 2026 accepting MBA colleges below.
| List of Top Colleges Accepting CAT With Global Ranking | ||
| College Name | QS Global MBA 2026 Rank | IIRF National 2025 |
| ISB Hyderabad | 65th | 6th |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 58th | 1st |
| IIM Bangalore | 52nd | 3rd |
| IIM Calcutta | 61st | 3rd |
| IIM Kohzhikode | 86th | 7th |
CAT Preparation Strategy 2026
Preparing for the CAT 2026 exam takes strength and determination. With the CAT 2026 exam expected to take place on November 29th or November 30th, 2026 as will be announced, students must keep a note of important CAT preparation strategies. The most important aspect of the CAT 2026 exam is the Quant section. Just like iQuanta helps students prepare for Quant and gain confidence, here are some helpful tips to ace the exam.
CAT Preparation Plan for Beginners
Beginners must remember the 3 stages for CAT 2026 preparation. The first stage is understanding the CAT exam pattern and building the basics. Students may take help of the 3 CAT basic modules offered by iQuanta as part of its CAT 2026 full course to learn CAT concepts. The 2nd stage of preparation for beginners is developing clarity on CAT concepts covered and the 3rd stage is about practice to improve speed plus accuracy.
| CAT 2026 Preparation Tips for Beginners | |
| Tips | Detailed Instructions |
| Primary Focus | Understand the foundation of CAT 2026 through topics like arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. |
| Fine-tune Basics | Apply the basic understanding of CAT fundamentals to different practical problems, use mentorship and guidance by trusted platforms such as iQuanta. |
| Practice Repeatedly | Practice CAT level questions from previous years papers and online question banks, study material etc. Do not break your practice pattern, work on questions daily, find mistakes and improve speed cum accuracy to gain confidence. |
CAT 2026 Preparation Plan for Working Professionals
Individuals with a full time job understand both the importance of working and pursuing an MBA by clearing the CAT 2026 exam. The difficult question is how to pass the entrance exam without quitting your job. There is no meaning in doubting your ability although limited time may be a constraint for CAT 2026 preparation for working professionals. Here is a CAT 2026 preparation plan for working professionals to prepare alongside a job.
| CAT 2026 Preparation Tips for Professionals | |
| Particulars | Helpful Tips |
| Strengthen Math Skills | Go through class 6th to 10th grade mathematics concepts to freshen up basic math skills. |
| Purposeful Practice | Find your strengths and weaknesses and challenge yourself to improve by overcoming weaknesses and building upon the strengths. |
| Solving PYQs and Mock Tests | Solve previous year papers and mock tests to try to score maximum net marks. At this point, recognize your flaws and create a strategy for practice which will help you build confidence and reduce exam related uncertainty. |
CAT 2026 – MBA Salary
As per Dellotte’s campus workforce trends report, the top 10 MBA colleges in India offer a median salary package of ₹26 LPA. CAT 2026 accepting colleges MBA salaries have risen by 8.3% in 2025. The growth in MBA graduates median or average packages year by year demonstrates a significant demand of industry ready management professionals across India.
Although most MBA salary packages offered across different branches such as consulting, finances, IT, etc, are in the range of 24.8 LPA to ₹27.7 LPA. Below is a snapshot of the top 10 MBA colleges salary over the last 2 years which has shown a positive increase in the median package offered.
| CAT MBA Salary at Accepting Colleges | ||
| Particulars | 2025 Median Package | 2024 Median Package |
| Top 10 MBA Colleges | ₹26 LPA | ₹24 LPA |
Tier 1 & Top 10 MBA Colleges Salary
Below table compares the base salaries of tier 1 MBA colleges such as IIMs, FMS, ISB, XLRI, etc and shows the sector which is most in demand. Students taking the CAT 2026 exam must plan their college, course and specialization after taking into account the MBA placements status quo. Check the summary of CAT 2026 MBA salary for top 10 and tier 1 colleges as extracted from the Deloitte Campus Workforce Trends report released in June, 2025.
| Industry-wise Placement Trends for CAT Accepting Colleges | ||
| MBA Sectors | Tier 1 Colleges Base Salary | Top 10 Colleges Base Salary |
| Manufacturing | ₹24.7 LPA | ₹27.2 LPA |
| FMCG | ₹22 LPA | ₹27.7 LPA |
| Consulting | ₹23.6 LPA | ₹25.3 LPA |
| Financial Services | ₹21.7 LPA | ₹26.6 LPA |
| IT | ₹21.5 LPA | ₹26.4 LPA |
| Life Sciences/Pharma | ₹19.3 LPA | ₹24.8 LPA |
CAT Cutoff – Expected 2026 Cutoffs for Top Colleges
Since the expected cutoffs for CAT 2026 are not yet released. Students may refer to the CAT cutoffs of the previous year such as CAT 2025 or CAT 2024 to estimate CAT 2026 cutoffs. Based on trends, expert insights and relevant college updates, the below table has been prepared which lists down the CAT 2026 expected cutoffs for top colleges by grouping similar colleges accepting the same range of CAT cutoffs as the other.
| CAT 2026 Cutoffs College-wise | |
| Group of Colleges | Expected CAT 2026 Cutoff Marks |
| Top 3 IIMs (A, B, C) | 98 – 104+ |
| IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore, IIM Kozhikode | 85 – 97 |
| New IIMs, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay | 72 – 84 |
| MDI Gurgaon, IMT Ghaziabad, IMI Delhi | 55 – 70 |
| TAPMI, BIMTECH, FORE School of Management | 40 – 54 |
| Tier-2 MBA Colleges | 30 – 39 |
CAT 2026 – Top Non-IIMs to Target
Apart from competitive IIMs which are the best colleges, students may also prefer other colleges based on their CAT scores. The CAT 2026 top non-IIMs to target include famous government
Colleges such as FMS Delhi, and UBS Chandigarh. A comprehensive list is given below for top CAT accepting non-IIMs to target for those students who are not able to secure seats in their dream colleges like IIM A, B or C.
| Non-IIMs to Target with CAT 2026 Scores | |
| ISB Hyderabad | XLRI Jamshedpur |
| FMS Delhi | SIBM Pune |
| IIT Delhi DMS | IIT Kharagpur VGSoM |
| MDI Gurugram | IIT Madras DoMS |
Top CAT 2026 MBA Colleges Fees
After taking the CAT 2026 exam, the main stage for students which creates tremendous pressure and confusion is choosing a college. The top CAT 2026 MBA colleges are all the old and new IIMs, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, IIFT New Delhi, etc. Similar preferred management institutions which students choose after clearing CAT 2026 are IMI New Delhi, XIM Bhubaneshwar, TAPMI Manipal, FORE School of Management, BIMTECH and IIT MBA Departments. Check the table below for details on the fees of top CAT 2026 MBA colleges.
| CAT MBA Colleges Fees | |
| College Name | Fees |
| FMS | ₹60,818 each semester |
| IIM A | ₹27,50,000 |
| IIM B | ₹10-₹25 Lakhs |
| IIM C | ₹21.92 Lakhs |
| IIM Indore | ₹11,04,000 (1st Year) and ₹10,11,800(2nd Year) |
| IIM Kohzhikode | ₹23,50,000 |
| IIM Lucknow | ₹10,95,000 (1st Year) and ₹9,80,000 (2nd Year) |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | ₹26.5 Lakhs |
To help CAT aspirants, iQuanta has made a detailed timetable and study plan that will help you in staying consistent in your CAT journey. This time table has weekly targets as well. Join the free CAT preparation community to get the time table.
CAT 2026 – Top MBA Colleges Placements
While the admission process and fees and cutoffs are important, knowing where you will stand after completing your MBA or other management courses is equally important. Students planning their career through an MBA from top colleges and a good CAT score must know the placement details of top management colleges to make an informed decision. Final placement records including the average salary package in LPA is listed beside the college name in the table below.
| Top MBA Colleges Through CAT 2026 Placements | |
| Institute Name | Average Placement Package |
| IIM-A | 34.45 |
| IIM-B | 35.92 |
| IIM-C | 35.07 |
| IIM-K | 28.05 |
| IIM-L | 30 |
| IIM-Indore | 25.68 |
Top 10 MBA Colleges in India Without CAT Exam
Students can also seek admission without going through the entire CAT 2026 registration and test taking process. Colleges such as ISB, XLRI, SPJIMR, and TISS among others are well ranked MBA colleges in India that allow students to pursue management courses without the requirement for CAT exam. Below is a list of top MBA colleges india without CAT exam admission requirements.
| Top 10 MBA Colleges in India Without CAT Exam | |
| College Name | Accepted Entrance Tests |
| XLRI Jamshedpur | XAT |
| ISB Hyderabad | GMAT, GRE |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | CAT, GMAT |
| JBIMS Mumbai | CET, CAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA |
| TISS Mumbai | CAT |
| NMIMS Mumbai | NMAT |
| SIBM Pune | SNAP |
| SCMHRD Pune | SNAP |
| MICA Ahmedabad | CAT, XAT, GMAT, MICAT |
| IMT Ghaziabad | CAT, GMAT, XAT |
Start Your CAT Preparation Now!
As the competition in CAT exam is quite intense and if top IIMs are your target, then this is the right time to strat your preparation. Strat with the basics, once you have conceptual clarity and a solid foundation, then you can start with the advance level CAT questions. iQuanta has been toppers’ recommendation for years as they have helps students throughout their preparation journey. We have customised modules for each section and they have a basic module to clear your basics and then comes the advance module. We also provide 14*7 doubt solving assistance so you get your doubts solved within minutes. We have the largest CAT preparation community in India with more than 4 lakh members that helps you in peer to peer learning.
iQuanta CAT Course 2026
CAT Exam FAQs
To reduce math anxiety for CAT 2026, first learn the basic math concepts from NCERt books from classes 6th to 10th. Then work on applying the theory to practical problems. Practice as much as possible to reduce anxiety and bring confidence. Take help of mentors online to work on your weaknesses and strengths in the CAT 2026 Quant preparation.
The 3 stages for CAT 2026 preparation are learning the fundamentals, fine-tuning basics, and practicing for perfection.
After clearing the CAT 2026 exam, if you get placed at the top 10 MBA colleges in India, you may expect a salary package between ₹19.3 LPA to ₹24.7 LPA depending on your specializations. At tier 1 colleges, the salary you will receive after getting selected based on your CAT 2026 score may be in the range of ₹24.8 LPA to ₹27.7 LPA as per chosen specialization.
