CAT 2026 admit card releasing November 4: download before exam on November 29

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore is set to release the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 admit card on November 4, 2026. Aspiring candidates for the management entrance examination will be able to download their hall tickets from the official IIM CAT website, iimcat.ac.in. The download window for the admit card will remain open until the examination day, November 29, 2026.

The CAT 2026 examination, a crucial component for admission to IIMs and other participating institutions, is scheduled to be held on November 29, 2026, in three distinct slots across approximately 170 test cities. Candidates are advised to secure their admit cards well in advance to avoid any last-minute complications.

CAT 2026 Examination Structure and Scoring

The CAT 2026 examination will consist of 68 questions distributed across three sections. The total duration of the test will be two hours, with candidates allotted exactly 40 minutes for each section. Switching between sections is not permitted during the examination.

The three sections of the exam include Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (Section I), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (Section II), and Quantitative Ability (Section III). For every correct answer, candidates will be awarded three marks, while one mark will be deducted for each incorrect response. A mock exam will be available on the CAT website to help candidates familiarise themselves with the test format.

Important Dates and Reporting Guidelines

The release of the CAT 2026 admit card on November 4, 2026, marks a significant step in the examination cycle. Candidates are required to download and print their admit cards, preferably two copies, and bring them along with an original photo ID proof to the test centre. Accepted ID proofs include PAN card, Driving License, Voter ID, Aadhaar card, or Ration card, which must display the candidate’s address.

Candidates are mandated to arrive at their designated test centre at least 1.5 hours before the scheduled exam start time. Late arrivals will not be granted entry to the test centre. It is recommended to visit the test centre a day prior to the examination to understand the route and estimated travel time.

Post-Examination Process and Validity

Following the examination, CAT 2026 scorecards will be made accessible on the CAT website. Candidates may also receive individual SMS notifications regarding their scorecards. The CAT results are anticipated to be declared by the first week of January 2027. the CAT 2026 score will remain valid only until December 31, 2027.

Each IIM maintains independence in setting its own eligibility criteria and selection processes. While performance in the CAT 2026 examination is a significant factor in the selection process, IIMs may also consider other inputs such as previous academic performance, relevant work experience, and other criteria when short-listing candidates.

Further reading

• CAT 2026 cutoff expected to rise for IIMs; exam on 29 November
• CAT 2026 cutoff for IIMs: top institutes require 90-99 percentile for MBA admissions
• CAT result: date and how to check Next step
• XAT 2027 official mock test 3 schedule released: take it on October 31 or November 1
• NMAT 2026: Retake registration opens November 3; register by December 17
• IBSAT 2026: Apply by Dec 1 for Dec exams for MBA/PGPM Applications open

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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