How to Download the CAT 2026 Admit Card: Steps, Exam Day Slot Timings for November 29 and What to Carry

The CAT 2026 admit card was released on 6 November 2026. To download it, log in at iimcat.ac.in with your CAT user ID and password, open the admit card link on your dashboard, and save the PDF. Print it, because only a printed copy is accepted at the test centre on Sunday, 29 November 2026.

IIM Indore, which is conducting CAT this year, had first listed 4 November as the release date before moving it to 6 November. The admit card stays available for download until exam day, so there is no need to panic if the site is slow in the first few hours. Log in again later or try another browser.

Steps to download the CAT 2026 admit card

1. Go to the official website, iimcat.ac.in. Do not use links forwarded on WhatsApp or Telegram.
2. Click Registered Candidate Login.
3. Enter the user ID and password you created during registration, and complete the captcha.
4. On the dashboard, click the CAT 2026 Admit Card link.
5. Check every detail, then download the PDF and save a copy on your phone and email.
6. Print it on A4 paper. Many coaching centres advise printing two copies, one to carry and one as a spare.

Forgot your password? Use the forgot password option on the same login page; the reset link goes to your registered email and mobile number.

CAT 2026 exam day: slot timings

CAT 2026 is a computer-based test held in three slots on 29 November. Your slot and test centre are printed on the admit card; you cannot pick or change them now. The reporting and gate-closing times below are as reported by education portals; follow the exact time printed on your own admit card if it differs.

The paper lasts 120 minutes, with 40 minutes each for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). You cannot switch between sections.

What details to check on the admit card

• Your name, photograph and signature
• Date of birth and category
• Exam date, slot and reporting time
• Test centre name and full address
• Any PwD or scribe facility you applied for

If anything is wrong, contact the CAT help desk through the contact details given on iimcat.ac.in straight away, and keep a screenshot of the error. Do not correct the admit card by hand.

Documents to carry on 29 November

• The printed CAT 2026 admit card
• One original, valid photo ID such as an Aadhaar card, PAN card, passport, voter ID or driving licence. The name should match the admit card.
• If applicable, your PwD certificate or scribe documents, and any proof of a name change

A phone screenshot or digital copy of the admit card is not accepted.

What you cannot take inside

Mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators and any other electronic devices, bags, books, notes and loose stationery are not allowed inside the exam hall. A basic on-screen calculator is provided. Education portals also advise simple clothes without many pockets or metal accessories, as candidates are frisked at entry. Read the instructions page of your own admit card, which is the final word.

What happens after the exam

IIMs usually release a provisional answer key and candidate responses a few days after CAT, with a short window to raise objections, followed by results. The CAT 2026 answer key and result dates have not been announced yet. We will update this article when they are.

Preparing for other exams this season too? Our education section tracks admit cards, results and exam dates, including the CA Foundation September 2026 result.

Frequently asked questions