The CAT 2026 admit card is now available on the official website, iimcat.ac.in. IIM Indore, which is conducting the Common Admission Test this year on behalf of the IIMs, released the hall tickets on November 6, and candidates can download them by logging in with their registered User ID and password. The exam will be held on Sunday, November 29, 2026, in three slots across about 170 test cities.
With barely three weeks to go, the admit card is the document that turns months of MBA preparation into an actual seat in an exam hall. Here is everything you need to know about downloading it, checking it and what to expect on exam day.
CAT 2026 Admit Card: Key Details at a Glance
| Exam | Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
| Conducting institute | IIM Indore |
| Admit card released | November 6, 2026 |
| Official website | iimcat.ac.in |
| Exam date | Sunday, November 29, 2026 |
| Mode | Computer-based test, three slots |
| Test cities | About 170 |
| Duration | 120 minutes (40 minutes per section) |
| Login needed | User ID and password |
How to Download the CAT 2026 Admit Card
- Go to the official website, iimcat.ac.in.
- Click on the "Registered Candidate Login" link.
- Enter your User ID and password, and fill in the captcha if asked.
- Open the admit card link on your dashboard.
- Check all details carefully and download the PDF.
- Take at least two clear printouts on A4 paper and keep one as a spare.
Use only the official website to download your hall ticket. If the site is slow during peak hours, as some candidates reported on release day, try again later instead of using unofficial links shared on social media.
Details to Check on Your Hall Ticket
Before you file it away, read the admit card line by line. It carries your name, registration or roll number, category, photograph and signature, the name and address of your test centre, your allotted slot, and the reporting and gate-closing times. If anything is wrong, contact the CAT helpdesk through the official website straight away. Do not edit or alter the PDF yourself.
CAT 2026 Slot Timings and Reporting Time
| Slot 1 | 8:30 am to 10:30 am (reporting 7:00 am, gate closes 8:15 am) |
| Slot 2 | 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm (reporting 11:00 am, gate closes 12:15 pm) |
| Slot 3 | 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm (reporting 3:00 pm, gate closes 4:15 pm) |
Your slot is fixed on the admit card and cannot be changed. Plan your travel to reach the centre well before the reporting time, especially if your centre is in an unfamiliar part of the city. Visiting the venue a day or two before the exam is a simple way to avoid a last-minute rush.
Exam Pattern: Sections and Marking
CAT 2026 has three sections, each with its own 40-minute timer. You cannot switch between sections during the test.
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): 24 questions
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): 22 questions
- Quantitative Ability (QA): 22 questions
That adds up to 68 questions and a maximum of 204 marks. Each correct answer earns three marks. A wrong answer to a multiple-choice question costs one mark, while there is no negative marking for unanswered questions or for TITA (type-in-the-answer) questions. Students should keep this in mind when deciding whether to guess.
What to Carry and What to Leave at Home
On exam day, you must carry a printed copy of your admit card along with one original photo ID, such as your Aadhaar card, PAN card, voter ID or passport. The name on the ID should match the admit card.
Mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, other electronic gadgets and your own stationery are not allowed inside the exam hall. Wear simple, comfortable clothing and avoid metal accessories to make the security check quicker.
What It Means for MBA Aspirants
CAT scores are used by the 22 IIMs and a large number of other business schools across India for admission to their MBA and PGP programmes. For lakhs of graduates and working professionals, this one test can decide which campus they land at next year. The final three weeks are best spent on full-length mocks under real slot timings, reviewing mistakes, and protecting sleep and health rather than starting new topics.
What Happens Next
After the exam on November 29, IIM Indore is expected to publish candidate response sheets and a provisional answer key, with a window to raise objections. Results are expected around the first week of January 2027, though IIM Indore has not yet announced an official date. After results, individual IIMs will release their own shortlists for interviews and written ability tests.
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