Conducting Body: Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs on rotation) National Level Entrance Exam 2026
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CAT: Common Admission Test

Comprehensive student gateway for MBA, PGDM, Executive MBA across 21 IIMs, FMS, SPJIMR, MDI, IIT DoMS, JBIMS admissions. Access official registration schedule, question papers with solutions, cutoff ranks, college predictors, and counselling guides.
MBA, PGDM, Executive MBA across 21 IIMs, FMS, SPJIMR, MDI, IIT DoMS, JBIMS Duration: 2 Hours (120 Minutes, 40 Min per section) Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT) Total Marks: 198 Frequency: Once a Year (Last Sunday of November) Fee: ?2,400 (General/OBC) / ?1,200 (SC/ST/PwD)
198
Total Score
10
PYQ Papers (PDF)
10
Cutoff Records
2 Hours (120 Minutes, 40 Min per section)
Time Allotted
National
Exam Scope
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Overall Difficulty Meter Subject-wise Breakdown Topic Distribution Matrix Student Reactions Expected Good Attempts Analysis FAQs

CAT 2026 Paper Analysis & Difficulty Level

Shift-wise Faculty Review

Consolidated expert faculty review and student feedback across shifts for CAT. The overall paper difficulty is rated Moderate to Challenging with a balanced distribution across core subject areas.

Overall Difficulty
Moderate
Balanced question spread
Time Pressure
High / Lengthy
Multi-step numericals
Good Attempts (99 %ile)
75% - 82%
With 90%+ accuracy

Section-Wise Difficulty Breakdown

Section / Subject Difficulty Rating Key Topic Highlights Expected Good Attempts
Section 1 (Core Concepts) Moderate Formula-based, direct definitions, theoretical recall 80% - 85%
Section 2 (Application & Problem Solving) Moderate to Tough Multi-concept linkages, multi-step reactions / calculations 65% - 75%
Section 3 (Analytical / Numerical) Lengthy / Tough Rigorous numerical calculations, data analysis caselets 55% - 65%

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Paper Analysis

How is the shift-wise paper difficulty normalized in CAT?
The conducting authority uses a standard percentile normalization formula based on the relative performance of all candidates across each shift, ensuring no candidate is disadvantaged by an inherently tougher paper.
What constitutes a 'safe score' in CAT for Tier-1 colleges?
Aiming for an 80%+ raw score or 99+ percentile generally secures admission into top-tier institutes and premier branches across India.

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