The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2027 is India’s most prestigious national-level MBA entrance examination conducted annually by one of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). CAT scores are accepted by all 21 IIMs and more than 1,300 leading management institutes across India, including FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IIT MBA programmes, IMI, TAPMI, and several other top B-schools.
Every year, over 3.5 lakh MBA aspirants register for CAT, making it one of the country’s most competitive management entrance examinations. The exam evaluates candidates on Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).
Although the official CAT 2027 notification has not yet been released, the examination is expected to follow the usual schedule, with registration beginning in August 2027, the admit card released in October 2027, and the exam conducted on the last Sunday of November 2027.
Students exploring admission opportunities after Class 12 can also check our comprehensive guide on Engineering Entrance Exams in India After 12th to compare engineering and management career pathways.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about CAT 2027, including exam dates, eligibility, registration, application process, syllabus, exam pattern, preparation strategy, IIM admission process, and frequently asked questions.
CAT 2027 Highlights
| Particular | Details |
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) 2027 |
| Conducting Body | One of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Courses Offered | MBA, PGDM and Management Programmes |
| Mode of Examination | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 120 Minutes |
| Sections | VARC, DILR & Quantitative Aptitude |
| Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
CAT 2027 Latest Updates
The official CAT 2027 notification is expected in July 2027. Registration is likely to begin in August 2027, while the examination is expected to be held on the last Sunday of November 2027, following the trend of previous years.
Candidates are advised to regularly visit the official CAT website for the latest announcements regarding registration, syllabus, examination schedule, admit card, answer key, and results.
Candidates should regularly visit the official CAT website for the latest notifications, registration schedule, exam dates, admit card, answer key, and result announcements. Official Website: IIM CAT Official Website
What is CAT?
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level management entrance examination conducted every year by one of the IIMs on a rotational basis.
CAT scores are used for admission to:
- Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
- Faculty of Management Studies (FMS)
- SPJIMR Mumbai
- MDI Gurgaon
- IMI New Delhi
- IIT MBA Programmes
- TAPMI
- Great Lakes Institute of Management
- More than 1,300 MBA colleges across India
The examination assesses candidates’ aptitude in language skills, logical reasoning, data interpretation, and quantitative ability.
CAT 2027 Important Dates (Expected)
| Event | Expected Date |
| Notification Release | July 2027 |
| Registration Begins | August 2027 |
| Registration Closes | September 2027 |
| Application Correction | September 2027 |
| Admit Card Release | October 2027 |
| CAT 2027 Exam | Last Sunday of November 2027 |
| Response Sheet Release | December 2027 |
| Answer Key | December 2027 |
| Result Declaration | December 2027 / January 2028 |
All dates are tentative and based on previous admission cycles. The official schedule will be announced by the conducting IIM.
CAT 2027 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must satisfy the eligibility conditions before applying.
Educational Qualification
Applicants should possess a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
Final-year undergraduate students are also eligible to apply, provided they complete their degree requirements within the prescribed timeline.
Minimum Marks
| Category | Minimum Marks |
| General / EWS / NC-OBC | 50% |
| SC / ST / PwD | 45% |
Equivalent CGPA awarded by universities is also accepted.
Age Limit
There is no upper or lower age limit for appearing in CAT.
Work Experience
Work experience is not mandatory for appearing in CAT. However, several IIMs award additional weightage during the final admission process to candidates with relevant professional experience.
CAT 2027 Registration Process
The CAT application process is conducted entirely online.
Step 1 – Registration
Create an account using:
- Email ID
- Mobile Number
- Personal Details
A User ID and Password will be generated.
Step 2 – Fill Application Form
Candidates must enter:
- Personal Information
- Academic Qualifications
- Work Experience (if applicable)
- Preferred Exam Cities
- Programme Preferences
Step 3 – Upload Documents
Upload scanned copies of:
- Passport-size Photograph
- Signature
- Category Certificate (if applicable)
- PwD Certificate (if applicable)
Step 4 – Pay Application Fee
Pay the application fee through:
- Debit Card
- Credit Card
- Net Banking
- UPI
- Wallet
Step 5 – Final Submission
Review all details carefully before submitting the application.
Download the confirmation page for future reference.
Documents Required
Candidates should keep the following documents ready:
- Graduation Mark Sheets
- Final Year Certificate (if applicable)
- Category Certificate
- PwD Certificate
- Passport-size Photograph
- Signature
- Aadhaar Card or Valid Photo ID
- Email ID
- Mobile Number
CAT 2027 Application Fee (Expected)
| Category | Expected Fee |
| General / NC-OBC / EWS | ₹2,600–₹2,700 |
| SC / ST / PwD | ₹1,300–₹1,400 |
The exact fee will be announced in the official notification.
CAT 2027 Exam Pattern
The CAT examination consists of three sections.
| Section | Expected Questions |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 |
| Total | 66 |
Duration
- Total Duration: 120 Minutes
- Sectional Time Limit: 40 Minutes for each section
Candidates cannot switch between sections until the allotted sectional time is completed.
CAT 2027 Marking Scheme
| Response | Marks |
| Correct Answer | +3 |
| Incorrect MCQ | -1 |
| Non-MCQ Incorrect | No Negative Marking |
Since non-MCQ (Type-in-the-Answer) questions generally do not carry negative marking, candidates should attempt them whenever possible.
Why is CAT Important?
CAT is the gateway to India’s most prestigious management institutes. A high percentile can significantly improve your chances of securing admission to top IIMs and leading MBA colleges. Beyond academics, many institutes also consider factors such as academic consistency, work experience, diversity, and performance in the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) during the final selection process.
CAT 2027 Syllabus
Unlike many competitive exams, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) do not officially release a fixed syllabus for CAT. However, based on previous years’ examinations, the syllabus broadly covers three sections.
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
This section evaluates a candidate’s reading ability, vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, and verbal reasoning skills.
Important Topics
- Reading Comprehension
- Para Jumbles
- Para Summary
- Odd One Out
- Sentence Completion
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Critical Reasoning
Preparation Tip: Read newspapers like The Hindu and The Indian Express, along with editorials, business magazines, and novels to improve reading speed and comprehension.
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
DILR is considered one of the most scoring yet unpredictable sections of CAT.
Important Topics
- Tables
- Bar Graphs
- Pie Charts
- Line Graphs
- Caselets
- Seating Arrangement
- Blood Relations
- Games & Tournaments
- Network Diagrams
- Venn Diagrams
- Scheduling
- Logical Puzzles
Preparation Tip: Practice at least 4–5 DILR sets daily and analyse multiple solving approaches to improve speed.
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
The Quantitative Aptitude section mainly tests Class 8–10 mathematics concepts with higher analytical difficulty.
Important Topics
- Arithmetic
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Mensuration
- Number System
- Percentages
- Profit & Loss
- Ratio & Proportion
- Time & Work
- Time, Speed & Distance
- Permutation & Combination
- Probability
- Functions
- Logarithms
Preparation Tip: Build conceptual clarity first, then move to advanced CAT-level problems.
Section-wise Weightage (Expected)
| Section | Difficulty | Expected Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | Moderate | High |
| DILR | Moderate to Difficult | High |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Moderate | High |
CAT 2027 Preparation Strategy
Success in CAT depends on consistency rather than studying for long hours at the last moment.
12–10 Months Before the Exam
- Understand the CAT exam pattern.
- Strengthen basic mathematics concepts.
- Improve reading habits.
- Learn logical reasoning fundamentals.
9–6 Months Before the Exam
- Begin sectional tests.
- Solve previous years’ CAT papers.
- Attempt one mock test every two weeks.
- Analyse mistakes carefully.
5–3 Months Before the Exam
- Increase mock test frequency.
- Focus on weak sections.
- Develop time-management skills.
- Practice difficult DILR sets.
Final Two Months
- Attempt 2–3 full-length mock tests every week.
- Revise formulas and concepts.
- Improve question selection strategy.
- Avoid learning completely new topics.
Best Books for CAT 2027
| Subject | Recommended Books |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Arun Sharma, Sarvesh Verma |
| VARC | Arun Sharma VARC, Norman Lewis – Word Power Made Easy |
| DILR | Arun Sharma DILR |
| Mock Tests | Previous CAT Papers & Online Mock Test Series |
CAT 2027 Admit Card
The CAT 2027 Admit Card is expected to be released in October 2027.
Candidates can download it using their:
- User ID
- Password
The admit card will contain:
- Candidate Name
- Registration Number
- Exam Centre
- Reporting Time
- Exam Day Instructions
Candidates must carry:
- Printed Admit Card
- Original Photo ID Proof
CAT 2027 Answer Key
The provisional answer key is generally released within a few days after the examination.
Candidates can:
- View their response sheet.
- Calculate expected scores.
- Submit objections within the specified deadline.
The final answer key is published after reviewing all valid objections.
CAT 2027 Result
The CAT 2027 Result is expected in December 2027 or January 2028.
The scorecard includes:
- Overall Percentile
- Sectional Percentiles
- Scaled Scores
- Candidate Details
Candidates should download and retain the scorecard for the admission process.
IIM Admission Process After CAT
Clearing CAT does not automatically guarantee admission to an IIM. Each institute follows its own admission criteria.
Stage 1: Shortlisting
Candidates are shortlisted based on:
- CAT Percentile
- Academic Performance
- Work Experience
- Category
- Diversity Factors
Stage 2: WAT/GD/PI
Shortlisted candidates may be invited for:
- Written Ability Test (WAT)
- Group Discussion (GD)
- Personal Interview (PI)
Some IIMs may conduct only WAT and PI.
Stage 3: Final Selection
The final merit list considers:
- CAT Score
- Academic Performance
- Work Experience
- WAT Score
- GD Performance (where applicable)
- PI Performance
Top Colleges Accepting CAT Scores
Apart from the IIMs, CAT scores are accepted by several prestigious management institutes.
Some leading colleges include:
- Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
- FMS Delhi
- SPJIMR Mumbai
- MDI Gurgaon
- IMI New Delhi
- IIT Delhi (DMS)
- IIT Bombay (SJMSOM)
- IIT Kharagpur (VGSoM)
- TAPMI Manipal
- Great Lakes Institute of Management
- FORE School of Management
- IMT Ghaziabad
Candidates considering AICTE-approved management institutes can verify approval status through the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). External Link: AICTE Official Website
Why Choose CAT?
CAT remains India’s most preferred MBA entrance examination because it offers admission to:
- Top-ranked IIMs
- Government MBA Colleges
- Premier Private B-Schools
- IIT MBA Programmes
- Institutions with excellent placement records
A strong CAT percentile can significantly improve your career prospects in management, consulting, finance, marketing, operations, and analytics.
CAT 2027 Preparation Tips
- Create a realistic study timetable.
- Read newspapers daily.
- Solve one DILR set every day.
- Revise Quantitative Aptitude formulas regularly.
- Attempt full-length mock tests.
- Analyse every mock test thoroughly.
- Focus on accuracy before speed.
- Improve time management.
- Strengthen weak sections.
- Maintain consistency throughout your preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is CAT conducted every year?
Yes. CAT is conducted annually by one of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
Who is eligible for CAT 2027?
Candidates with a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university, as well as final-year undergraduate students, are generally eligible to apply, subject to the official notification.
Is there any age limit for CAT?
No. There is no upper age limit for appearing in CAT.
Can final-year students apply?
Yes. Final-year graduation students are eligible to register.
Is there negative marking in CAT?
Yes. Incorrect answers to MCQs generally attract negative marking, while non-MCQ questions usually do not.
What is considered a good CAT percentile?
A percentile of 99+ is generally regarded as highly competitive for admission to the older IIMs, although final selection depends on several additional factors.
Which IIM will conduct CAT 2027?
The conducting IIM will be announced through the official CAT notification.
When will CAT 2027 registration begin?
The official schedule has not been announced yet. Based on previous years, registration is expected to begin in August 2027.
Is work experience compulsory for CAT?
No. Work experience is not mandatory but may provide additional weightage during the admission process at some institutes.
How many times can I appear for CAT?
There is no restriction on the number of attempts as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.
Conclusion
The CAT 2027 Exam is expected to remain the gateway to India’s premier management institutes, including the IIMs and several top-ranked B-schools. Aspirants should begin their preparation early, focus on conceptual clarity, practice mock tests regularly, and stay updated with official announcements regarding registration, exam dates, admit cards, and results. A disciplined preparation strategy, combined with consistent practice and performance analysis, can significantly improve your chances of securing a high percentile and admission to your preferred MBA institute.
