As per the latest notification released on July 26, 2026, the CAT 2026 result date is expected to be declared in the first week of January 2027 on the official CAT website.

CAT 2026 Result Date

Source: CAT 2026 Notification PDF

The exact result date has not been announced yet. However, the CAT 2026 result PDF download link is expected to be available in the last week of December 2026 or early January 2027.

Direct Link to Download CAT 2026
  • Candidates can download their CAT 2026 result by logging in to the CAT result 2026 PDF download link provided on the IIM CAT official website, iimcat.ac.in, with their CAT User ID and Password.
  • CAT 2026 will be conducted in three sessions across several cities in India. Since the exam will be held in multiple sessions, the results will be prepared using the CAT normalisation process
  • The CAT 2026 score is valid only till December 31, 2027 and will accordingly be accessible on the website.
  • Candidates can use their CAT scores to apply for management programmes offered by IIMs, other private and public B-schools, IITs and IISc

Related Links:

CAT 2026 Result Date

What is the CAT Result?

The CAT (Common Admission Test) result is an official scorecard that shows a candidate's VARC, DILR, and QA sectional and overall scaled scores and percentiles.

  • CAT Score is accepted by all 22 IIMs and over 1,600 other business schools in India for MBA and management admissions.
  • Candidates use the result to predict their chances in top MBA colleges in India and other B-schools.
  • For the last few years, the CAT results have been released by the last week of December, so the CAT 2026 result is expected in late December 2026.

To check the result, candidates must log in using their registration ID and password and download the scorecard for future reference.

Understanding the CAT Result helps aspirants plan their next steps for MBA admissions and prepare for interviews or other selection processes.

Also Read: Why is the 99.99th Percentile not enough in CAT anymore?

Ques. When will CAT 2026 Result be declared?

Ans. CAT 2026 result is officially scheduled for the first week of January 2027. IIM Indore may release it earlier based on the recent result-date trend.

Ques. Where can I check CAT Result 2026?

Ans. Candidates can check the result on the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in.

Ques. Who will release CAT 2026 Result?

Ans. IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2026 and will release the result.

CAT 2026 Result Date: Past Years' Trend

CAT Year Exam Date Result Date Gap (Days)
2026 November 29, 2026 December 23 or 24, 2026 (Expected) 25 days
2025 November 30, 2025 December 24, 2025 24 days
2024 November 24, 2024 December 19, 2024 25 days
2023 November 26, 2023 December 21, 2023 25 days
2022 November 27, 2022 December 21, 2022 24 days
2021 November 28, 2021 January 3, 2022 36 days
2020 November 29, 2020 January 2, 2021 34 days
CAT 2026 Result Date: Past Years' Trend

CAT 2026 Result Date: Previous Years' Trends (2025-2018)

  • As per the previous years' trends, the CAT has a very low success rate of approximately 2%, with a difficulty level of moderate to difficult.
  • For CAT 2025 as well, the trend remains unchanged with the same 2% success rate.
  • This is also because of high competition, with only a few thousand seats available in the top IIMs and B-schools, but lakhs of students taking the CAT every year.
Year Registered Candidates Appeared Students Difficulty Level Candidates Who Scored 100 Percentile Approx. Success Rate
CAT 2026 (Expected) 3.20+ lakh 2.85–2.95 lakh Moderate to difficult (Expected) 12–15 (Expected) 2% (Approx.)
CAT 2025 2.95 lakh 2.58 lakh Difficult 12 2%
CAT 2024 3.29 lakh 2.93 lakh Moderate 14 2%
CAT 2023 3.23 lakh 2.88 lakh Difficult 14 2%
CAT 2022 2.5 lakh 2.22 lakh Moderate to difficult 11 2%
CAT 2021 2.29 lakh 1.91 lakh Moderate to difficult 9 2%
CAT 2020 2.27 lakh 1.90 lakh Moderate to difficult 9 2%
CAT 2019 2.44 lakh 2.09 lakh Moderate 10 2%
CAT 2018 2.40 lakh 2.09 lakh Moderate to difficult 11 2%

Also Read:

Ques. Can I challenge the CAT 2026 results?

Ans. No, the CAT 2026 results cannot be challenged or re-evaluated. The evaluation process is computer-based and automated, ensuring accuracy and consistency. Once the results are declared, they are final.

Ques. What if I forget my login credentials for results?

Ans. If you forget your login credentials for the CAT 2025 results, you can use the “Forgot User ID/Password” option on the official CAT login page. You will need to provide your registered email ID or mobile number to reset your password and regain access to your account.

CAT 2026 Result: CAT Result 2025 vs CAT Result 2024

Compared to an easier CAT 2024 paper that required a higher raw score of 95 marks for a 99 percentile, a significantly tougher DILR and Quant section in CAT 2025 compressed top-end scores, dropping the 99 percentile requirement to approximately 84.8 marks.

CAT Result 2025:

CAT 2026 Result: CAT Result 2025 vs CAT Result 2024

CAT Result 2024:

CAT 2026 Result: CAT Result 2025 vs CAT Result 2024

How to Check CAT 2026 Result Online: Step-by-Step Guide

The only authentic source for CAT 2026 result verification is the CAT result 2026 official website at iimcat.ac.in. Avoid third-party platforms that may compromise your information or provide inaccurate CAT 2026 result data.

Candidates can download their CAT scorecard 2026 by following these steps:

  1. Visit iimcat.ac.in.
  2. Click on the CAT 2026 Result/Scorecard link.
  3. Enter your CAT User ID and Password.
  4. Submit the login details.
  5. Open the scorecard displayed on the dashboard.
  6. Check the overall and sectional scores and percentiles.
  7. Download the CAT 2026 scorecard.
  8. Save a copy for the IIM admission process.

The result is issued as an individual scorecard rather than as a consolidated rank list. Previous CAT result cycles followed the same login-based process.

How to Check CAT 2026 Result Online: Step-by-Step Guide

Source: iimcat.ac.in

Check:

How to Check CAT Result 2026 on Mobile?

Candidates can check their CAT Result 2026 from a smartphone after the result is announced. The process is the same as on a desktop and requires the registered login credentials.

  • Open the official CAT website on your mobile browser.
  • Click on the CAT Result 2026 link on the homepage.
  • Enter your CAT 2026 User ID and password to log in.
  • Your overall score, sectional scores and percentiles will appear on the screen.
  • Download the CAT 2026 scorecard and save a copy on your phone or cloud storage.
  • Keep the scorecard safely for IIM and MBA admission applications.
  • Log out after downloading the scorecard, especially if you are using a shared device.

Also Read: CAT 2026 Scorecard explained

Ques. Can I check CAT Result 2026 on my mobile?

Ans. Yes. The result can be accessed through a mobile browser, provided the official CAT website is accessible.

Ques. What if I forget my CAT password?

Ans. Use the password recovery option available on the CAT login page and follow the instructions provided by the official portal.

Ques. Can someone else download my CAT scorecard?

Ans. The scorecard is linked to the candidate's login credentials. Candidates should not share their User ID or password.

CAT 2026 Scorecard: Details Mentioned

  • The CAT 2026 scorecard provides both sectional and overall performance details.
  • Candidates should check the scorecard carefully because IIM shortlisting can consider sectional as well as overall percentile.
Details on CAT 2026 Scorecard What It Shows
Candidate Details Name, CAT registration details and other personal information
VARC Score Scaled score and percentile in Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
DILR Score Scaled score and percentile in Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
QA Score Scaled score and percentile in Quantitative Aptitude
Overall Score Combined scaled score across the three sections
Overall Percentile Relative performance in CAT 2026
Sectional Percentiles Percentile obtained in VARC, DILR and QA

CAT 2026 Scorecard SAMPLE

CAT 2026 Scorecard SAMPLE

Source: Reddit Image

Check:

Ques. What is the difference between CAT score and CAT percentile?

Ans. The CAT score represents your marks after the applicable scoring and scaling process. Percentile shows your relative performance compared with other candidates.

Ques. Does CAT scorecard show sectional percentile?

Ans. Yes. The scorecard reports sectional percentiles for VARC, DILR and QA, along with the overall percentile.

Percentile Predictor

CAT Result Login Problems and Errors

Issue Common Causes Data Insights Suggested Solution
Incorrect Credentials Wrong DoB format, typing errors, server overload 30-40% of candidates face temporary login errors Use the correct DoB format, try incognito/different browser, retry after some minutes
Forgotten Login Credentials Lost registration email, forgot password/DoB format 10-15% of candidates need credential recovery Use the “Forgot Password” option; retrieve ID from email or contact the CAT helpdesk
Section/Scorecard Not Visible Delayed slot normalisation, browser cache/cookies Common in multi-slot exams due to normalisation Clear cache, try another device/browser, wait 1-2 hours
Server/Technical Errors High portal traffic, server downtime or glitches Traffic spikes to 5-6 lakh simultaneous logins Retry during off-peak hours, switch browser/device, contact helpdesk if persistent

CAT Scorecard Discrepancy: Marks, Percentile, or Section Mismatch

Type Causes Impact Action
Marks Mismatch Normalisation errors, technical glitches 1-2 marks can change percentile 2-3 pts Verify with the response sheet; contact helpdesk
Percentile Mismatch Slot normalisation, calculation updates Common in the 90-99 percentile range Recalculate; contact helpdesk if large
Section Score Mismatch Slot normalisation, TITA vs MCQ errors Can affect section cutoffs Cross-check marks; report to helpdesk
General Discrepancy Server glitches, processing errors May impact cutoffs/shortlist Keep screenshot; report to CAT support

Check: CAT 2026 Scorecard Errors: How to Identify Discrepancies & Step-by-Step Guide to Report Issues to IIM Helpdesk

How Is CAT Percentile Calculated?

CAT percentile is calculated after evaluating raw scores, normalising them across exam slots, and converting the final scores into percentiles.

Stage What Happens
1. Raw Score +3 marks for every correct answer; -1 mark for an incorrect MCQ. No negative marking for incorrect TITA questions.
2. Section-wise Score Scores are calculated separately for VARC, DILR and QA.
3. Normalisation Scores are adjusted to account for differences in difficulty across CAT exam slots.
4. Scaled Score The normalised score is used to calculate the final sectional and overall scores.
5. Percentile Scores are converted into sectional and overall CAT percentiles shown on the scorecard.

What Factors Are Considered in CAT Normalisation?

The normalisation process compares candidate performance across different test sessions. Key statistical parameters include:

Parameter Purpose
Highest Score Helps assess the top performance in a slot
Lowest Score Indicates the lower end of performance
Mean Score Shows the average performance
Median Score Represents the middle performance level
Top 10 Percentiles Helps assess high-performing candidates
Lowest 10 Percentiles Helps compare performance at the lower end

Check:

CAT 2026 Score vs Percentile Analysis

The CAT Score vs Percentile data of 2026 shows that the top percentile has slightly increased in 2025, indicating exam difficulty is tough, requiring 118-136 to secure a 99.9+ percentile.

  • Candidate with 99 percentile, scored 85-110 marks, slightly higher than previous years.
  • For 98 percentile, candidates scored in a score range of 79-85, showing consistent high performance to stay in the top percentiles.
  • 95 percentile: 64-66 marks, indicating that if candidates score above 65 ensures a strong percentile.
  • 90 percentile: 52-61 marks, suggesting that candidates with moderate accuracy has secured good ranks.
Percentile CAT 2026 (Expected) CAT 2025 CAT 2024 CAT 2023 CAT 2022
99.9+ 110 – 125 118 – 136 100 – 110 101 – 112 109 – 118
99.0 83 – 98 85 – 110 92 – 101 94 – 103 101 – 108
98.0 75 – 88 79 – 85 80 – 89 82 – 90 88 – 95
95.0 62 – 72 64 – 66 69 – 75 70 – 76 75 – 81
90.0 52 – 60 52 – 61 58 – 65 59 – 66 63 – 69
85.0 45 – 52 45 – 49 50 – 56 51 – 57 54 – 60
80.0 38 – 46 39 – 44 43 – 49 44 – 50 46 – 52
CAT 2026 Score vs Percentile Analysis

Also Check: CAT Score Vs Percentile: Check Section-Wise, Slot-Wise & Previous-Year Detailed Analysis

IIM Call Predictor 2026: Estimate Your Shortlist Chances

Once you have appeared for the exam and analysed your expected performance, you can use IIM Call Predictors to estimate your chances of receiving PI-WAT shortlists from various IIMs. However, keep in mind that a high CAT percentile is not the sole criterion for selection; several other metrics heavily influence the official IIM shortlisting process.

Before using a call predictor, candidates should note that the IIM shortlisting depends on:

  • CAT Performance: Both overall and section-wise cut-offs.
  • Academic Record: Marks obtained in Class 10, Class 12, and Graduation.
  • Diversity Factors: Academic background (non-engineering advantage) and gender diversity.
  • Work Experience: Quality and duration of professional experience (usually measured in months).
  • Reservation Category: Classification under General, EWS, NC-OBC, SC, ST, or PwD.

Also Check:

CAT 2026 Result: Category-Wise Expected IIM Call Percentiles

  • The category-wise IIM Call percentile shows that General category candidates typically need a high percentile of 95-99+ for top IIMs, while newer IIMs are more accessible with 85-90.
  • As per the reserved categories, EWS candidates require 90-95 for older IIMs and 75-85 for newer ones, whereas OBC candidates need 85-90 and 70-80, respectively.
  • SC and ST candidates have slightly lower cutoffs: 75-85 and 65-75 for top IIMs, 60-70 and 55-65 for newer IIMs
Category Top IIMs (A, B, C) Other & Baby IIMs
General (GEN) 95-99+ percentile 85-90 percentile
EWS 90-95 percentile 75-85 percentile
NC-OBC 85-90 percentile 70-80 percentile
SC 75-85 percentile 60-70 percentile
ST 65-75 percentile 55-65 percentile
PwD 60-70 percentile 50-60 percentile
CAT 2026 Result: Category-Wise Expected IIM Call Percentiles

Also Read:

CAT Helpdesk Contact for Result Errors

If you face any error regarding the CAT 2026 Results, these contacts are provided by the official CAT registration/administration guidance and past official guides, and remain the authoritative way to report issues, including result discrepancies:

Category Contact Type Details Availability / Notes
Technical / Result Errors Email cathelpdesk@iimcat.co.in For login issues, scorecard download problems, or incorrect result details
Phone / Toll-Free 1-800-210-0175 Mon-Sat, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM, (have User ID, registration number ready)
Academic / Eligibility Queries Email cat2024_helpdesk@iimcal.ac.in For DOB, category, PwD status, and certificate-related queries
Phone 033-7121 1104 Mon-Fri, 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Postal Address CAT 2024 Centre, Admissions Office, IIM Calcutta, Diamond Harbour Road, Joka, Kolkata - 700104 For sending documents or formal requests

Source: CAT official website (iimcat.ac.in) and IIM admission policy documents

Also, Check:

CAT Result 2026 FAQs

Ques. When will CAT 2026 Result be released?

Ans. CAT 2026 result is officially scheduled for the first week of January 2027. A late-December release is possible based on recent trends, but no exact December date has been officially confirmed.

Ques. How can I download CAT 2026 Scorecard?

Ans. Visit iimcat.ac.in, log in with your CAT User ID and Password, open the scorecard section and download the PDF.

Ques. What details are mentioned in the CAT scorecard?

Ans. The scorecard includes candidate details, registration number, sectional scaled scores, sectional percentiles, overall scaled score and overall percentile.

Ques. How is CAT percentile calculated?

Ans. CAT first calculates raw scores, then applies the applicable scaling/normalisation process before converting the scaled scores into sectional and overall percentiles.

Ques. Is CAT percentile the same as CAT percentage?

Ans. No. Percentile represents a candidate's relative position among test takers and is not the percentage of marks scored.

Ques. Will CAT 2026 Result be released separately for each slot?

Ans. No. Candidates receive their individual scorecards after the common result declaration. The result is not released separately for each examination slot.

Ques. What happens after CAT 2026 Result?

Ans. Candidates should compare their overall and sectional percentiles with target-college requirements, check application deadlines and prepare for the respective IIM/B-school selection process.

Ques. Does a high CAT percentile guarantee admission to an IIM?

Ans. No. IIMs use their own shortlisting and admission criteria. CAT performance is important, but academic profile, work experience, diversity and interview performance may also be considered.

Ques. How many days after CAT is the result usually declared?

Ans. In CAT 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, the result was declared 24–25 days after the examination. CAT 2021 was an exception, with a 36-day gap.