CAT 2026 Exam Timing: Slots, Reporting Time, and What to Expect
Your CAT 2026 exam timing depends entirely on which of three slots you’re assigned — and that single detail changes your reporting schedule, your day’s routine, and even how your score gets compared to everyone else’s. Here’s the full breakdown.
- CAT 2026 Exam Date and Slot Overview
- CAT 2026 Exam Timing: All Three Slots
- CAT 2026 Exam Timing: Expected Reporting Time
- Sectional Time Limits Within Each Slot
- Can You Choose or Change Your Slot?
- Extra Time for PwD Candidates
- What Happens If You’re Running Late
- Preparing Around Your Specific Slot
- Frequently Asked Questions
CAT 2026 Exam Date and Slot Overview
CAT 2026 is being conducted by IIM Indore on Sunday, 29th November 2026, across roughly 170 test cities, to accommodate an applicant pool expected in the range of 4–4.5 lakh candidates. Running everyone through a single sitting simply isn’t feasible at that scale, which is why the exam is split into three slots on the same day — spreading candidates across morning, afternoon, and evening sessions to manage both test-centre capacity and server load for a fully computer-based exam.
CAT 2026 Exam Timing: All Three Slots
Table 1 — CAT 2026 exam timing by slot
| Slot | Exam Timing | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM | 120 minutes |
| Afternoon | 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM | 120 minutes |
| Evening | 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM | 120 minutes |
CAT 2026 Exam Timing: Expected Reporting Time by Slot
IIM Indore hasn’t published exact reporting times for CAT 2026 at the time of writing — that detail is issued on individual admit cards, downloadable from 4th November 2026. Based on the consistent pattern from previous cycles, candidates should expect to report roughly 90 minutes before their slot’s exam timing, to allow for security checks, biometric verification, and seating.
Table 2 — Expected reporting time by slot (based on historical pattern)
| Slot | Exam Timing | Expected Reporting Time |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | 8:30 AM | ~7:00 AM |
| Afternoon | 12:30 PM | ~11:00 AM |
| Evening | 4:30 PM | ~3:00 PM |
Key Takeaway
A 90-minute reporting window feels excessive until you’re standing in a slow-moving verification queue with ten minutes to spare. Plan your travel to arrive at the reporting time, not the exam start time — arriving “early enough” for the exam itself is often too late for entry.
Sectional Time Limits Within Each Slot
Within your two-hour slot, CAT 2026 exam timing is further divided into three fixed 40-minute blocks — one each for VARC, DILR, and QA, in that order. You cannot borrow time from one section to finish another, and once a section’s 40 minutes end, it locks automatically and moves you to the next. This sectional rigidity is part of why practicing under strict, section-by-section timing matters more than practicing with a loose two-hour countdown.
Can You Choose or Change Your Slot?
No. Slot allocation is handled entirely by IIM Indore and cannot be requested, influenced, or changed by the candidate after the fact. Whatever slot appears on your admit card is final — plan your exam-day routine around it rather than hoping for a preferred timing.
A Detail Worth Preparing For
If you’re assigned the evening slot, you’ll be doing your most demanding cognitive task of the day after a full day of low-grade anticipation and, for many candidates, less sleep the night before. Simulate this in at least a few mocks — attempt a full-length test in the late afternoon or evening at least once before the real exam, rather than only ever practicing in the morning.
Extra Time for PwD Candidates
Candidates with benchmark disabilities are entitled to additional time — 13 minutes and 20 seconds extra per section, in line with CAT’s compensatory time provisions. This adjustment applies within the same sectional structure and slot system described above, and is factored into the exam software automatically for eligible candidates.
What Happens If You’re Running Late
- Entry to the exam hall closes at a fixed time before the slot begins — arriving after that closing time typically means being denied entry entirely, with no exceptions for traffic or personal circumstances.
- Biometric verification and document checks take real time, especially at busier centres — a large queue can eat into your buffer even if you technically arrived “on time.”
- Visiting your exam centre a day in advance, if feasible, removes a significant source of last-minute uncertainty about route and travel time.
Preparing Around Your Specific Slot
Once your admit card confirms your CAT 2026 exam timing, a few adjustments are worth making in your final weeks of preparation:
- Shift your mock-test schedule to match your actual slot’s time of day, so your body and focus are calibrated to perform then, not just whenever is convenient to practice.
- Plan your pre-exam meal and hydration around your slot timing — an evening slot needs a different eating schedule than a morning one.
- Recheck your travel route and estimated time to the centre once the exact address is on your admit card, rather than relying on a general area assumption.
For the broader final-weeks plan this fits into, see our CAT 2 months preparation plan, and for what to expect from the on-screen tools during your slot, our CAT exam calculator breakdown covers exactly what’s available on screen.
Practice Under Real Exam-Day Conditions
Matching your mock schedule to your actual slot timing is easiest with a structured program. Quantifiers CAT Academy’s Sangharsh 2.0 CAT Crash Course includes full-length mocks built to mirror the real exam experience.
Explore the Crash CourseFor the latest official word on CAT 2026 exam timing, reporting instructions, and any last-minute updates, always cross-check the official CAT website rather than relying on any third-party summary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CAT 2026 exam timing for each slot?
Morning: 8:30–10:30 AM, Afternoon: 12:30–2:30 PM, Evening: 4:30–6:30 PM, each lasting exactly 120 minutes on 29th November 2026.
Can I choose my CAT 2026 exam timing or slot?
No. Slot allocation is done entirely by IIM Indore and appears only on your admit card — it cannot be requested or changed.
How early should I report before my CAT 2026 exam timing?
Based on the historical pattern, roughly 90 minutes before your slot’s start time, though the exact reporting time will be printed on your individual admit card.
Is there a sectional time limit within each slot?
Yes. Each slot is divided into three fixed 40-minute sections — VARC, DILR, and QA in that order — with no ability to move time between sections.
Do PwD candidates get extra time within their slot?
Yes, an additional 13 minutes and 20 seconds per section, applied automatically within the same slot structure for eligible candidates.
