Common Admission Test

Key facts

Conducting body

Indian Institutes of Management

Eligible class

Bachelor's Degree

Exam level

National

Exam areas

Management

Typical exam month

November

Academic year

2026-2027

Primary goal

To shortlist candidates for admission to various Post Graduate (MBA/PGDM) and Fellow/Doctorate (PhD) management programmes offered by the IIMs, as well as by listed non-IIM member institutions.

Syllabus subjects

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

Exam structure

CAT is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) consisting of exactly three timed sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). The total duration is 120 minutes. Candidates are allotted exactly 40 minutes per section and cannot switch between sections during the exam. PwBD candidates receive an extended 53 minutes and 20 seconds per section (160 minutes total). The test comprises a mix of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and Type In The Answer (TITA / non-MCQ) questions. Based on recent cycles (2024-2026), the exam contains 68 total questions worth 204 marks. An on-screen virtual calculator is provided in the exam interface; physical calculators are strictly prohibited.