How Many Days Are Left for CAT 2026? Countdown, Admit Card and Final-Month Preparation Plan

There are 26 days left for CAT 2026. The Common Admission Test will be held on Sunday, 29 November 2026, by IIM Indore, in three slots at test centres in about 170 cities. The CAT 2026 admit card will be available from tomorrow, 4 November, on iimcat.ac.in and can be downloaded until the exam day.

How Many Days Are Left for CAT 2026?

There are 26 days left for CAT 2026 as of 3 November 2026. The exam is on Sunday, 29 November 2026. The countdown above updates automatically each day, so it always shows the days left from today.

CAT 2026 at a glance: exam date, sectional time and a final-month roadmap.

CAT 2026 days left by date

CAT 2026 Admit Card: Available From 4 November

The CAT 2026 admit card will be released on 4 November 2026 on iimcat.ac.in and can be downloaded until 29 November. Candidates log in with their registered user ID and password.

1. Visit iimcat.ac.in and click the registered candidate login.
2. Enter your CAT 2026 user ID and password.
3. Open the admit card download link.
4. Check your name, photograph, exam slot, reporting time and test centre address.
5. Download and print the admit card.

Download the admit card on the first day and check every detail, since any error should be reported to IIM Indore well before the exam.

CAT 2026 Exam Timings and Slots

CAT 2026 will be held in three slots on 29 November 2026, each lasting 120 minutes. The slot and reporting time for each candidate are printed on the admit card.

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern: Sections, Questions and Marks

CAT has three sections, each with a fixed 40-minute time limit, and candidates cannot switch between sections. Each correct answer carries three marks, and one mark is deducted for a wrong MCQ answer; there is no negative marking for unanswered questions or wrong TITA (non-MCQ) answers.

CAT exam pattern, based on the CAT 2025 format. IIM Indore may change the number of questions for CAT 2026.

For how difficult each section has been in recent years, see CAT 2026 difficulty level: trends and expected section-wise analysis.

CAT 2026 Preparation Plan for the Last 26 Days

With 26 days left, the aim is to sharpen accuracy and exam strategy rather than learn new topics. The plan below divides the remaining time into four dated phases.

Week 1 (3–9 November): Analyse your preparation

• Take a full-length mock and identify weak topics in VARC, DILR and QA.
• Analyse wrong answers and questions that took too long.
• Revise core QA concepts and formulas.
• Practise reading comprehension and different DILR set types.

Week 2 (10–16 November): Sectional practice

• Take full-length mocks under the 120-minute limit.
• Use sectional tests for your weakest section.
• Review wrong and skipped questions, and note question types you can solve quickly.

Week 3 (17–23 November): Exam strategy

• Revise concepts across all three sections and practise previous CAT papers.
• Refine question selection and time allocation.
• Take mocks at the same time as your allotted slot, where possible.
• Try IIM Indore's official mock test, which is expected in the second week of November.

Final days (24–28 November): Revision and readiness

• Revise formulas, shortcuts and mistakes from your error log.
• Practise familiar question types; avoid new or lengthy topics.
• Confirm your test centre, documents and travel.
• Keep a regular sleep schedule and avoid too many mocks in the last two days.

Can I Crack CAT 2026 in 26 Days?

Candidates who have covered the fundamentals can use the remaining 26 days well for revision, mocks and performance analysis. Those starting from scratch will find it hard to cover the full syllabus, and should focus on the topics they can master and on accuracy.

How Many Mock Tests Before CAT 2026?

There is no fixed number. About two full-length mocks a week works for most candidates, provided there is time to analyse each one properly. After every mock, check:

• overall and sectional scores
• wrong and skipped questions
• whether mistakes came from concepts, calculation, question selection or time
• topics where mistakes repeat

A candidate who takes two mocks and analyses them carefully usually gains more than one who takes many without review. Attempt KollegeApply's CAT Mock Test 2026.

How to Improve VARC, DILR and QA in the Last 26 Days

Why Are CAT Mock Scores Fluctuating?

Fluctuating scores are common. They usually come from differences in mock difficulty, poor question selection, spending too long on hard questions, calculation errors, misreading passages or picking the wrong DILR sets. Judge your preparation across several mocks rather than on one score.

CAT 2026 Preparation for Working Professionals

Use weekends for full-length mocks and detailed analysis.

What to Do in the Last 7 Days Before CAT 2026

From 22 November, focus on consolidating what you know: revise formulas and shortcuts, review mock mistakes, practise familiar question types, check your admit card and centre, arrange your ID documents and keep a regular sleep schedule. Avoid changing your strategy in the final days. Download the CAT Formula Sheet 2026.

CAT 2026 Exam Day Checklist

• Printed CAT 2026 admit card
• Original photo ID as specified on the admit card
• Photograph affixed on the admit card, if instructed
• Test centre address and reporting time checked
• No prohibited electronic devices or items
• Arrival within the reporting window on the admit card

The instructions printed on the admit card take precedence over any general checklist.

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FAQs on CAT 2026 Days Left