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Is CAT Exam Online Or Offline: Get Complete Information About CAT 2026 Format
November 27, 2025
Overview: Is CAT exam online or offline? The CAT exam is a computer-based test for MBA aspirants, which is conducted in online mode in the month of November every year. Read on to know the complete details about the CAT 2026 exam format!
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a crucial exam for students pursuing business and management careers at top IIMs (Indian Institute of Management) and other leading business schools in India.
The CAT exam 2026 is tentatively scheduled for November 30. Before registering for the exam, make sure you have a full understanding of its format and mode.
Also Read: How Many Times CAT Exam is Conducted in a Year
Is CAT Exam Online or Offline?
The CAT exam 2026 remains a topic of debate about whether it will be conducted online or offline. The Common Admission Test, or CAT 2026, serves as the gateway for students aspiring to pursue a career in business and management at top IIMs (Indian Institute of Management) and other leading business schools in India.
The CAT exam is a national-level computer-based exam conducted online annually by one of the IIMs.
It comprises three sections: verbal ability and reading comprehension (VARC), data interpretation and logical reasoning (DILR), and quantitative ability (QA).
The exam consists of three sections: VARC, DILR, and QA. Each section has a time limit of 40 minutes.
The sections are to be attempted in the order VARC> DILR>>QA, and once the time is up for a section, the next section will automatically start.
It's not possible to switch between the sections during the exam.
Check: CAT Exam Previous Year Question Paper
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Here are the key highlights of the CAT exam 2026:
| Particulars | Details |
| CAT Full Form | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Conducting Institute | Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) |
| Exam Level | National |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| CAT Exam Date 2026 | Sunday, November 29, 2026 (tentatively) |
| CAT Exam Timings | To be notified |
| Registration Fees | SC/ST/PwD - INR-1250/- GEN - INR 2500/- |
| Eligibility Criteria | Graduation with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST students) |
| Number of Applications in the CAT exam | 3.28 lakh (in 2023) |
| Exam Purpose | Admission in IIMs, SPJIMR, FMS, MDI, IMT and over 1,200 B-Schools in India |
| Courses Offered Through CAT Exam | MBA/ PGDM |
| CAT Entrance Exam Sections | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), Quantitative Ability (QA) |
| Mode | Online Computer-Based Test (CBT) with MCQs and non-MCQs |
| Number of test cities for the CAT Exam | 150 |
| Website | https://iimcat.ac.in/ |
Also Read: CAT Exam Maths Syllabus 2026
Is CAT Exam Online or Offline: Schedule for 2026
The 2026 CAT exam is going to be held on November 29. Here is the complete and detailed information about the important events and their dates:
| CAT Registration 2026 Particulars | CAT Exam 2026 Registration Date |
| CAT Exam 2026 Registration Date | August 1, 2026 (10:00 AM) |
| CAT 2026 Registration Last Date | September 20 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Admit Card Release Date | November 5, 2026 |
| CAT Exam Registration Fees | INR 1250 (Reserved categories) INR 2500 (Other categories) |
| CAT 2026 Exam Date | November 30, 2026 |
| CAT Exam 2026 Registration Date & CAT Notification Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
Practise: Time and work CAT questions with solutions
CAT Registration 2026 Direct Official Link
Also Read: How Many Students Appear for CAT Exam Every Year
Is CAT Exam Online or Offline: Exam Pattern
It is important to familiarise yourself with the CAT Exam Pattern 2026 to kickstart your preparations for the Exam. Here is the expected CAT exam pattern for 2026:
| Mode of CAT exam | Computer-Based Test |
| CAT exam Date 2026 duration | 120 minutes (40 minutes per section) |
| Number of questions | 66 |
| CAT total marks | 198 |
| Language of the question paper | English |
| Number of answer choices | 4 |
| Question Type | MCQ and non-MCQ |
| Total Sections | 3 |
| Mode of Paper | Online Only |
| Question Types | MCQs and Non-MCQs (TITA) |
| Section Names | 1. Quantitative Aptitude 2. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension 3. Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation |
Also Read: CAT Exam 2026 Shift Timings
Is CAT Exam Online or Offline: Section Wise Analysis
The CAT exam is conducted online and has an overall time limit of 120 minutes. It's essential to understand the number of questions in CAT exam 2026 asked in each section to avoid any panic during the exam.
Since you can't switch between sections, it's best to have a good understanding of CAT exam marking scheme and pattern.
Here's a table to give you an idea of the number of questions in each section of the CAT exam, including both multiple-choice and non-multiple-choice questions."
| Section | Number of MCQs | Number of Non-MCQs | Total Questions |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 21 | 3 | 24 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 14 | 6 | 22 |
| Quantitative Ability | 14 | 8 | 22 |
| Total | 49 | 17 | 68 |
Check: CAT Exam Paper Analysis Year-wise
Also Read: CAT Exam Preparation Books 2026
Is CAT Exam Online or Offline: Exam Syllabus
When considering whether the CAT exam is online or offline, it's important to note that it is conducted online across 150 cities in India in an online mode.
Over 3 lakh candidates take the CAT exam every year, which consists of three major sections: verbal ability and reading comprehension (VARC), data interpretation, logical reasoning, and quantitative ability (QA).
Here is the detailed CAT exam syllabus for 2026
| Exam Sections | CAT Exam |
| Logical Reasoning/Abstract Reasoning | Arrangements Analogies Critical Reasoning Coding and Decoding Clock and Calendar Sequence and series, Blood relations, Directions, Syllogisms, Puzzles |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Number system, Work and time pipes, and Cisterns, Averages, Percentages, Compound Interest, Arithmetic Progression, Quadratic and Linear equations, Ratio and proportion, Simple interest, Time, speed and distance, Profit and loss |
| Verbal Ability / Reading Comprehension | Reading Comprehension, General grammar, Sentence Completion, Sentence Correction, Synonyms and Antonyms, One word substitution, Jumbled paragraphs, Contextual usage, Odd one out, Fill in the blanks, Idioms, Syllogisms, Vocabulary |
Check: How to crack CAT in 6 months
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Also Read: CAT Exam Duration [Latest Updates]
Is CAT Exam Online or Offline: Preparation Strategy
To prepare for the 2026 CAT exam online mode, start with a mock test to understand your starting point and set your goals. Then, focus on understanding fundamental concepts and their applications.
- Take regular mock tests for CAT 2026 to get familiar with the question types and strategies for the VARC, LR, and QA sections.
- Create a study strategy based on your strengths and take sectional tests to deepen your understanding.
- Finally, thoroughly revise the syllabus to reinforce your knowledge before the exam.
Read more: Documents required to carry for CAT exam 2026
Also Read: CAT Exam Accepted Colleges
Conclusion
CAT Exam Online or Offline? Remember, the CAT exam is conducted online. Aspirants must understand its format and mode to prepare effectively.
Focusing on comprehensive preparation strategies for the CAT 2026 exam is key to excelling in this computer-based test.
Also check: CAT Exam Admission
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Lalita Vishwakarma
Content Writer
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