CAT 2026 Admit Card Release Date Changed: IIM Indore to Open Download Link on November 6.Candidates preparing for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 will have to wait two more days to download their admit cards. IIM Indore has revised the CAT 2026 hall ticket release date, which was earlier expected to be November 4. As per the updated announcement issued on November 4, candidates will now be able to download their admit cards from November 6, 2026.
The admit cards have already been generated for eligible candidates. However, the download facility will become available on the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in, on the revised date. Applicants will need their CAT application login ID and password to access the document.
CAT 2026 is scheduled to take place on November 29, 2026, in three shifts. Along with the admit card update, the IIMs have also announced that the official mock test will be available from November 6. This will give candidates an opportunity to understand the computer-based examination interface before the actual test.
CAT Admit Card 2026: Latest News
The postponement of the admit card release date is the key update for CAT aspirants. Candidates who had planned to download their hall tickets on November 4 should now check the official website on November 6.
The revised schedule confirms that the admit card download window will remain open from November 6 to November 29, 2026. The announcement does not specify an exact activation time, so candidates should keep checking the official portal.
It is advisable to download the hall ticket as soon as the link becomes active. Waiting until the examination date could create unnecessary problems, particularly if candidates face login difficulties or notice an error in their details.
CAT Admit Card 2026: Important Dates and Details
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
| Conducting Institute | IIM Indore |
| Admit Card Release Date | 6 November 2026 |
| Earlier Expected Date | 4 November 2026 |
| Admit Card Download Window | 6 to 29 November 2026 |
| CAT Exam Date | 29 November 2026 |
| Examination Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Examination Shifts | 3 |
| Exam Cities | Approximately 170 |
| Login Credentials | Application Login ID and Password |
| Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
CAT 2026 Admit Card Download Link
The CAT 2026 admit card download link will be available through the official candidate login portal from November 6. Candidates should use the official website rather than relying on links shared through unofficial websites or social media posts.
Official CAT Website: https://iimcat.ac.in/
Once the link is activated, applicants can log in using their registered application credentials and download their individual hall tickets.
How to Download CAT Admit Card 2026?
Downloading the CAT hall ticket is a straightforward process. Candidates should keep their login details ready and follow these steps after the link becomes active:
- Visit the official website, iimcat.ac.in.
- Open the CAT 2026 candidate login section.
- Enter your registered application login ID and password.
- Submit the details to access your candidate dashboard.
- Click on the CAT 2026 admit card download option.
- Your hall ticket will appear on the screen.
- Check the details printed on the admit card.
- Download the PDF and take a clear printout for examination day.
Keep the downloaded copy safe. It is also sensible to save a digital copy on your phone or computer for future reference.
Forgot CAT 2026 Login Password? Here’s What to Do
Some candidates may have difficulty remembering their CAT application password when trying to download the hall ticket. In that situation, use the Forgot Password option available on the official CAT website.
Follow the password recovery instructions displayed on the portal and use your registered contact details wherever required. Make sure you can access your registered email or mobile number before starting the recovery process.
Details to Check on CAT 2026 Admit Card
Downloading the admit card is not the final step. Candidates should carefully read the entire document and confirm that their personal and examination details are correct.
The hall ticket is expected to contain details such as:
- Candidate’s name
- Registration or roll number
- Examination name
- Photograph and signature
- Examination centre name and address
- Reporting time
- Examination slot
- Examination duration
- Important examination-day instructions
If you find an error in your name, photograph, signature or other information, contact the examination authorities through the official CAT portal. Do not leave such issues unresolved until examination day.
CAT 2026 Exam Date and Shift Information
IIM Indore will conduct CAT 2026 on Sunday, November 29, 2026. The examination will be held in three shifts at test centres across approximately 170 cities.
The exact examination session and reporting time will be mentioned on each candidate’s admit card. Therefore, candidates should not assume that everyone will have the same reporting time or examination slot.
Applicants were given the opportunity to select five preferred cities during registration. However, the final centre will be allotted by the examination authority. As per the available update, candidates will not be allowed to change the centre after it has been allotted.
Once the hall ticket is downloaded, check the centre’s complete address and plan your journey in advance.
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
CAT 2026 will have 68 questions across three sections. The total examination duration will be two hours.
| Section | Subject |
|---|---|
| Section I | Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
| Section II | Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
| Section III | Quantitative Ability (QA) |
| Total Questions | 68 |
| Total Duration | 120 Minutes |
CAT 2026 Section-Wise Time Limit
Candidates will receive 40 minutes for each section. The examination rules do not allow candidates to switch between sections while attempting a particular section.
| Section | Time |
|---|---|
| VARC | 40 Minutes |
| DILR | 40 Minutes |
| Quantitative Ability | 40 Minutes |
| Total | 120 Minutes |
CAT 2026 Marking Scheme
The marking scheme provides three marks for every correct answer, while one mark is deducted for each incorrect response.
- Correct answer: +3 marks
- Incorrect answer: -1 mark
Candidates should read the instructions displayed during the examination carefully and understand the applicable response rules before starting the test.
CAT 2026 Mock Test Also Available from November 6
There is another important update for candidates: the official CAT 2026 mock test is also scheduled to be available from November 6.
The mock test will include sample questions to help candidates become familiar with the examination format and computer-based interface. It will allow them to understand how questions are displayed and how to navigate the test screen.
Candidates should make use of this facility instead of treating it as an optional formality. Even those who have attempted several practice tests can benefit from becoming familiar with the official interface.
IIMs Announce Additional Security Measures for CAT 2026
The IIMs have announced additional security arrangements for the upcoming examination. These include face matching and the deployment of mobile jammers at selected examination locations.
These measures are intended to strengthen examination security and support a fair testing environment.
Candidates should follow the identity verification process and all instructions mentioned on their admit cards. Any specific examination-centre requirements should be checked before leaving for the test.
Documents to Carry on CAT Exam Day
Candidates should prepare their examination documents in advance. According to the available examination information, the following documents may be required, as applicable:
- Printed copy of the CAT 2026 admit card.
- Valid original photo identity proof.
- Scribe-related documents, wherever applicable.
- Relevant medical certificates, wherever applicable.
The admit card and identity document will be checked during verification at the examination centre. Candidates should also follow the instructions printed on their individual hall tickets.
CAT 2026 Preparation: What Should Candidates Focus on Now?
With the examination approaching, this is the time to make preparation more focused. Rather than trying to cover every unfamiliar topic, candidates should revise the concepts they already know and work on accuracy.
A few practical priorities can help during the remaining preparation period:
Revise familiar topics: Give proper time to concepts already covered. In Quantitative Ability, Arithmetic and Algebra deserve attention. For VARC, continue practising Reading Comprehension passages.
Practise DILR sets: Solve previous-year CAT sets to understand different question structures and improve your approach to selecting sets.
Manage sectional time: Each section has a fixed 40-minute limit. Practise working within that time and avoid spending too long on a single difficult question.
Use the official mock test: Attempt the CAT mock test when it becomes available on November 6. Pay attention to the interface and question navigation, not just the questions themselves.
Analyse your mistakes: After every practice test, identify where you lost time or made avoidable errors. Focus your revision on those areas.
FAQs on CAT Admit Card 2026
Q1. When will the CAT 2026 admit card be released?
The CAT 2026 admit card will be available for download from November 6, 2026. The earlier expected date of November 4 has been postponed.
Q2. What is the official website to download the CAT admit card?
Candidates can download their hall tickets from the official website, https://iimcat.ac.in/.
Q3. What login details are required for downloading the CAT hall ticket?
Candidates need their registered CAT application login ID and password.
Q4. What is the last date to download the CAT 2026 admit card?
The download facility is scheduled to remain available until November 29, 2026.
Q5. When will CAT 2026 be conducted?
CAT 2026 will be held on Sunday, November 29, 2026, in three shifts.
Q6. When will the CAT 2026 mock test be released?
The official mock test is scheduled to be available on the CAT website from November 6, 2026.
Q7. How many questions will be asked in CAT 2026?
The examination will contain 68 questions from VARC, DILR and Quantitative Ability.
Q8. What is the total duration of CAT 2026?
The total examination duration is two hours, with 40 minutes allotted to each section.
Q9. Can candidates change their allotted examination centre?
The available examination update states that candidates cannot change their centre once it has been allotted.
Q10. What should candidates do if they find an error on the admit card?
Candidates should contact the examination authorities through the official CAT website and seek correction before the examination.
