CAT 2026 Registration Closes September 15 at 5 PM; Apply at iimcat.ac.in

CAT 2026 registration closes on September 15 at 5 PM, leaving MBA aspirants with a limited window to complete their applications through the official CAT portal. IIM Indore will conduct the Common Admission Test on November 29, 2026, across approximately 170 test cities.

No registration-extension announcement has been issued so far, making the September 15 deadline the one candidates should work toward.

CAT 2026 Important Dates

Event	Date
Registration Started	August 3, 2026 at 10 AM
Registration Deadline	September 15, 2026 at 5 PM
Admit Card	From November 4, 2026
CAT 2026 Exam	November 29, 2026
Conducting IIM	IIM Indore

Do Not Wait for a Deadline Extension

CAT registration has been extended in some previous years, but candidates should never plan on an extension.

Unless IIM Indore issues a formal notice, registration closes at 5 PM on September 15.

How to Apply for CAT 2026

1. Visit the official CAT website.
2. Complete new candidate registration.
3. Verify contact information.
4. Enter personal details.
5. Add academic qualifications.
6. Enter work experience where applicable.
7. Select IIM programmes.
8. Choose test-city preferences.
9. Upload documents.
10. Pay the examination fee.
11. Save the final application.

CAT Application Fee

Category	Fee
General/EWS/NC-OBC	Rs 2,700
SC/ST/PwD	Rs 1,350

Check Application Status After Payment

Do not assume payment alone means the form has been successfully submitted.

Verify the application status and save confirmation.

CAT 2026 Eligibility

The standard eligibility framework requires a bachelor's degree with the prescribed minimum marks or equivalent CGPA.

Final-year degree students can also apply subject to the official conditions.

Check Category Details Carefully

Reservation-category mistakes can become difficult to correct later.

Use valid certificates and ensure candidate details are consistent.

Choose Test Cities Realistically

Do not select a city because an online rumour claims one location receives easier questions.

Choose cities based on:

• Travel practicality
• Distance
• Accommodation
• Personal convenience

CAT Is Scheduled in Three Sessions

CAT will be conducted on November 29.

Normalization is used because candidates appearing in different sessions may face different question sets.

CAT Tests Three Major Areas

• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
• Quantitative Ability

Candidates should follow the official CAT 2026 material for the final pattern.

Sectional Performance Matters

A very strong overall percentile does not guarantee every IIM shortlist if a candidate misses a required sectional threshold.

Balanced preparation is therefore essential.

CAT Score Is Only One Admission Factor

Individual IIMs can consider:

• CAT score
• Academic record
• Work experience
• Academic diversity
• Gender diversity
• Interview performance

Use the Remaining Preparation Period Wisely

After registration closes, candidates still have more than two months before the examination.

This is enough time for substantial improvement.

Mock Analysis Is More Important Than Mock Count

After every mock, identify:

• Conceptual errors
• Time-management errors
• Poor question selection
• Calculation mistakes
• Guessing errors

Final Takeaway

CAT 2026 registration closes September 15 at 5 PM, and no extension has been announced so far.

MBA aspirants should complete registration, payment and document uploads before the deadline rather than relying on a possible last-minute extension.

Once the application is submitted, attention should immediately return to preparation for the November 29 examination.