CAT 2026 Exam Day Guide: Admit Card, Reporting Time and What to Carry

CAT 2026 is on Sunday, 29 November 2026, conducted by IIM Indore in three slots across India. You've done the preparation; this guide makes sure nothing goes wrong on the day itself.

Important: your admit card is the final word on your slot, reporting time, test centre and exam-day rules. Read every instruction on it carefully, and check iimcat.ac.in for any updates. iimcat.ac.in for any updates.

Your admit card

• Download it from iimcat.ac.in by logging in with your user ID and password. CAT 2026 admit cards have been available since 4 November 2026.
• Check every detail: Check every detail: your name, photo, signature, slot, test centre address and reporting time. If anything is wrong, contact the CAT helpdesk immediately.
• Print it on A4 paper, in colour if possible, and keep at least one extra copy. A phone screenshot is not accepted.
• Visit or map your test centre a day or two before the exam, so you know exactly how long it takes to get there.

Slot timings and reporting

CAT 2026 is held in three slots on 29 November. Your admit card shows your slot, the reporting time and the gate-closing time.

• Plan to arrive well before the reporting time. Security checks, biometric verification and photographs take time, and queues build up.
• The gate closes before the exam starts. If you arrive after the gate-closing time on your admit card, you won't be allowed in.
• Build in a buffer for traffic, parking or finding the right building.

What to carry

• Printed admit card, with any photograph or signature affixed as instructed on it.
• Original government photo ID exactly as specified in the CAT instructions (for example, Aadhaar card, passport, PAN card, voter ID or driving licence). The name must match your admit card. A photocopy or phone image is not enough.
• Any certificates the instructions ask for, such as a PwD certificate if you're using a scribe or compensatory time.
• A transparent water bottle, if permitted by your admit card instructions.

What not to bring

Most personal items are not allowed inside the exam hall, and there may be no safe place to store them at the centre. Leave these at home or with someone accompanying you:

• mobile phones (even switched off), smartwatches and fitness bands
• calculators, earphones, Bluetooth devices and any other electronics
• books, notes, paper and stationery (a scribble pad and pen are provided at your desk)
• wallets, bags, jewellery and metal accessories

Wear simple, comfortable clothing. Check your admit card for any specific dress instructions.

Inside the exam hall

• Biometric check: your photo and fingerprints are taken at registration. Keep your hands clean and dry.
• Before the test starts: you'll have a few minutes to log in and read the instructions. Confirm the on-screen details match your admit card.
• Scribble pad: write your name and registration number on it as instructed, use it for rough work, and return it before you leave.
• On-screen calculator: a basic calculator is available on screen. Use it only when mental maths is slower.
• Sectional timing: each section (VARC, DILR, QA) has 40 minutes in a fixed order. The system moves you to the next section automatically.

Strategy on the day

• Stick to the plan you practised in mocks. Exam day is not the time to try a new approach. Our CAT 2026 overview covers section-wise strategy in detail.
• Expect at least one tough section. Every slot has one. Stay calm, pick the questions you can do and move on.
• Leave each section behind once it's over. A difficult VARC doesn't decide your DILR or QA.
• Watch the timer, but don't panic. Check it at fixed points, such as the 20- and 35-minute marks in each section.
• TITA questions carry no negative marking, so attempt them whenever you have a reasonable answer.

The day before CAT

• Revise lightly: your formula sheet and error log, nothing new.
• Don't take a full mock. A bad score the day before can shake your confidence for no benefit.
• Lay out everything you need: printed admit card, photo ID, any certificates and your water bottle.
• Plan your travel with a time buffer, and set two alarms.
• Sleep well. A rested mind thinks faster and makes fewer careless mistakes.

Exam-day checklist

• Printed admit card (plus a spare copy)
• Original photo ID matching the admit card name
• Photo or signature affixed on the admit card, if required
• Any certificates the instructions ask for
• Transparent water bottle, if permitted
• No phone, smartwatch, wallet or electronics on you
• Route and travel time to the centre checked
• Arrive well before the reporting time on your admit card

After the exam

The IIMs usually release a provisional answer key and your response sheet a few days after CAT, with a window to raise objections. The CAT 2026 result is expected in the first week of January 2027. After that, each IIM publishes its own shortlisting criteria and calls shortlisted candidates for WAT, group discussion or interview rounds. See the CAT 2026 exam guide for how scores turn into admissions.

Frequently asked questions

One last mock before the big day

If you have time this week, take a free full-length CAT mock to rehearse your exam-day routine, or follow the Aceora CAT mock test series. All the best for 29 November!