CAT Result 2026: Score Card Download, Percentile, Cutoff & Result Date
The CAT 2026 result is one of the most anticipated announcements for lakhs of MBA aspirants across India. CAT 2026 is expected to be conducted on November 29, 2026, and the result is expected to be declared in the third week of December 2026 on the official website iimcat.ac.in. The result includes sectional scores, overall scores, and percentile ranks, which are used by IIMs and other B-schools for shortlisting candidates for the next stage of the admission process.
CAT 2026 Result – Key Details
|
Feature |
Details |
|
Official Website |
iimcat.ac.in |
|
Exam Date |
November 29, 2026 (expected) |
|
Answer Key Release |
2–3 days after exam |
|
Result / Scorecard Release |
Third week of December 2026 |
|
Score Card Contains |
Sectional scores, overall score, percentile |
|
Result Format |
Online only (no physical scorecard sent) |
|
IIM Shortlist Announcement |
January–February 2027 |
CAT 2026 Result Timeline
|
Event |
Expected Date |
|
CAT 2026 Exam |
November 29, 2026 |
|
Response Sheet & Answer Key Release |
December 1–3, 2026 |
|
Objection Window (Answer Key) |
~1 week after answer key release |
|
Final Answer Key Release |
~2 weeks after exam |
|
CAT 2026 Result Declaration |
Third week of December 2026 |
|
IIM Call Letters / Shortlist |
January–February 2027 |
|
WAT-PI Rounds |
February–April 2027 |
|
Final Admission Offers |
April–May 2027 |
How to Download CAT 2026 Score Card
Follow these steps to download your CAT 2026 scorecard after the result is declared:
Step 1: Visit the Official Website
Go to iimcat.ac.in.
Step 2: Log In
Enter your:
-
User ID / Registration Number
-
Password
Step 3: Go to Score Card Section
Click on "Download Score Card" or the relevant link on your dashboard.
Step 4: Download and Save
Download the scorecard as a PDF. Save multiple copies as IIMs require you to submit this during the admission process.
What Does the CAT 2026 Score Card Contain?
|
Field |
Details |
|
Candidate Name |
As per registration |
|
Registration Number |
Unique CAT 2026 ID |
|
Category |
General / OBC / SC / ST / PwD |
|
VARC Scaled Score |
Sectional score for VARC |
|
DILR Scaled Score |
Sectional score for DILR |
|
QA Scaled Score |
Sectional score for QA |
|
Total Scaled Score |
Overall score across all sections |
|
VARC Percentile |
Percentile rank in VARC |
|
DILR Percentile |
Percentile rank in DILR |
|
QA Percentile |
Percentile rank in QA |
|
Overall Percentile |
Overall percentile rank |
|
Exam Date |
November 29, 2026 |
How is CAT Percentile Calculated?
CAT uses a normalisation process to account for variation in difficulty across three exam slots. The scaled score is computed and then percentile is calculated as follows:
Percentile = ((Number of candidates who scored less than you) / Total number of candidates) × 100
|
Scaled Score (Approx.) |
Percentile (Approx.) |
|
120+ |
99+ percentile |
|
105–120 |
97–99 percentile |
|
90–105 |
92–97 percentile |
|
75–90 |
85–92 percentile |
|
60–75 |
75–85 percentile |
|
Below 60 |
Below 75 percentile |
Scores and percentiles are approximate and based on CAT 2025 data. Actual numbers may vary.
CAT 2026 Answer Key
The provisional answer key and response sheet are released 2–3 days after the exam. Candidates can:
-
Download their individual response sheet.
-
Compare their answers against the official answer key.
-
Predict their score before the official result.
Objection Against CAT Answer Key
|
Feature |
Details |
|
Objection Window |
Approximately 1 week after answer key release |
|
Fee per Objection |
₹1,200–₹1,500 per question (based on CAT 2025) |
|
Refund on Valid Objection |
Fee is refunded if objection is accepted |
|
Final Answer Key |
Released after reviewing all objections |
CAT 2026 Cutoff for IIMs
IIM shortlisting is based on both overall percentile and sectional percentiles. Meeting the cutoff does not guarantee a call — it only makes a candidate eligible for shortlisting.
|
IIM |
Overall Percentile (General) |
Sectional Percentile (Approx.) |
|
IIM Ahmedabad |
99+ |
85+ in each section |
|
IIM Bangalore |
99+ |
85+ in each section |
|
IIM Calcutta |
99+ |
85+ in each section |
|
IIM Lucknow |
97+ |
80+ in each section |
|
IIM Kozhikode |
95+ |
75+ in each section |
|
IIM Indore |
95+ |
75+ in each section |
|
IIM Shillong |
90–92+ |
70+ in each section |
|
New IIMs (Amritsar, Bodh Gaya, etc.) |
85–90+ |
65+ in each section |
Cutoffs are reference figures based on CAT 2025 and may vary for CAT 2026.
Non-IIM Institutes Accepting CAT Score
|
Institute |
Approximate CAT Cutoff |
|
FMS Delhi |
98+ percentile |
|
MDI Gurgaon |
95+ percentile |
|
SPJIMR Mumbai |
95+ percentile |
|
IMT Ghaziabad |
90+ percentile |
|
NITIE Mumbai |
95+ percentile |
|
IIT Bombay (SJMSOM) |
95+ percentile |
|
IIT Delhi (DMS) |
95+ percentile |
|
TAPMI Manipal |
85+ percentile |
|
Great Lakes Chennai |
80+ percentile |
Validity of CAT Score
The CAT score is valid for 1 year from the date of result declaration. It can be used for IIM admissions for the academic year immediately following the exam.
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Frequently Asked Questions
CAT 2026 result is expected in the third week of December 2026.
The scorecard can be downloaded by logging into iimcat.ac.in after the result is declared.
No. The scorecard is only available online. No physical scorecard is dispatched.
The CAT score is valid for one year from the result declaration date.
Yes. After the provisional answer key is released, candidates can raise objections by paying a fee per question.
The top IIMs (IIM A, B, C) typically require 99+ percentile for General category candidates.
