CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit, Qualification, Marks & Who Can Apply

CAT 2026 Exam: Overview

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a highly competitive entrance exam in India, primarily for admission to prestigious management programs such as the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top business schools. The CAT exam is the gateway to some of the best management programs in India, and thorough preparation is key to achieving a high percentile.

CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Who can Apply?

As per the eligibility criteria for CAT 2026, candidates have to meet certain parameters set by the conducting body. Candidates, before filling out the CAT application form and starting their preparation for the CAT exam, should, first of all, know who is eligible for the CAT exam. Aspirants wishing to appear in this MBA entrance exam should meet the following eligibility criteria for the CAT exam:

• Educational Qualification: Bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a recognised university.
• Minimum Score for General: Should secure a minimum of 50% for the open category in their Bachelor's Degree
• Minimum Score for SC/ST: Graduation score of 45% for SC/ST/Pwd candidates.
• Professional Courses: Candidates with professional courses like CA/CS/ICWA/CMA can apply for the CAT 2026
• Final Year Students for CAT 2026: Final year of bachelor's degree students are also eligible to apply for the CAT exam 2026. However, such candidates will have to submit the certificate of completion from the principal or registrar of their university or institution on or before the date stipulated by the respective IIMs.
• Work Experience for CAT 2026: Candidates with work experience will have some added preference/ weightage. But work experience is not mandatory as per the CAT exam eligibility 2026.
• SC/ST Criteria: The respective caste/tribe must be listed in the GOI schedule.

CAT Exam 2026: Number of Attempts

The Common Entrance Test (CAT) does not impose any restrictions on the number of times a candidate can write it. If you meet the CAT eligibility criteria for a particular year, you can appear for the CAT exam as many times as you want.

Also read:

• CAT Attempt Limit
• CAT Exam Date: Important Dates, Registration Timeline, and Preparation Tips

Question: What is the pass mark for CAT?

Answer: According to the pass mark for CAT or the CAT eligibility criteria, candidates who have completed any bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a recognised university with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) can apply for the CAT exam 2026.

Question: Can 12 pass apply for CAT?

Answer: No, a 12th-pass student is not eligible for CAT. Since the CAT exam is an MBA entrance test, a candidate must have a bachelor's degree.

Question: Who is not eligible for CAT?

Answer: Those who have completed their graduation but are unable to secure 45% marks in the same are not eligible to apply for the CAT entrance exam.

Question: How many students appeared for CAT 2025?

Answer: Around 2.58 lakhs eligible candidates attended the previous year's CAT entrance exam for PGDM and MBA admission at IIMs and 1,200+ B-schools in India.

Question: How many attempts for a CAT?

Answer: There is no limit on the number of CAT exam attempts set by the authorities. A candidate can attempt the CAT entrance test as many times as they want.

Age Limit for CAT 2026 Exam

All MBA aspirants need to know what the CAT exam eligibility and how to match the specified age criteria for the CAT exam beforehand. Candidates appearing for this MBA entrance exam can check the age limit for the CAT exam below.

• Minimum age eligibility for CAT exam: There is no age limit for appearing in the CAT exam 2026. Candidates, regardless of age, can apply for this CAT exam. The only criterion for CAT exam eligibility is that candidates must have a degree with the required marks.
• CAT maximum age limit: Any person can apply for CAT 2026 at any stage of their career. According to the CAT entrance exam eligibility, there is no maximum age for the CAT exam.

Check out the CAT notification to know more about CAT 2026 eligibility.

Also, Check

• When and How to Start CAT Preparation?
• CAT Preparation - How to prepare for CAT without coaching

CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Academic Qualification

For the CAT 2026 exam eligibility criteria, IIM mentions the academic qualifications and the marks that the candidates must secure to be able to appear for the CAT exam.

CAT Exam Educational Qualifications

12th marks are required for the CAT exam. A bachelor's degree is required with a minimum of 50% after completing intermediate education.

MHRD/ AICTE: The University shall be declared annexed by an Act of the Parliament or the State Legislature of India or shall be treated as a university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.

NOTE: The candidates who appeared in the final year of the degree examination should submit the certificate from the Registrar/ Principal of the respective institution or university. The certificate must state that they have met all the requirements for an equivalent qualification on the date the certificate is issued.

Also Check: Download Sample Paper for CAT Preparation

CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026: Graduation Marks

The minimum education qualification required to apply for the CAT 2026 exam is a graduation. Check out below the CAT eligibility criteria and minimum marks required for general and reserved category candidates.

CAT 2026 Exam Eligibility Criteria: Registration with Backlogs

One of the most common questions for students with any academic backlogs in their graduate program is whether they can enrol for the CAT 2026 exam. It should be clarified that CAT aspirants who have academic backlogs during their graduate program can apply and register for the CAT exam without any problem.

Any candidate who scores above 50% (45% for the reserved category) in the degree (even in supplementary) can apply for CAT 2026. When completing the CAT 2026 registration form, ask, "Are you in your final year of your bachelor's degree?" Select "Yes" to the question.

IIM CAT 2026 Eligibility: Reservation Criteria

IIMs will have their own individual selection criteria for admission. They follow the reservation guidelines set by the Government of India. To know the CAT eligibility criteria for OBC, MBC, SC, ST, PwD, and General, see the table below:

CAT 2026 Reservation Criteria

Reservation Policy for Persons with Disabilities (PwD)

For the PwD category candidates, they must bring a PwD certificate issued by a competent authority. Candidates can avail of the benefit provided for PwD only upon submission of the PwD certification issued by a competent authority. Details of various types of disabilities accepted under the PwD reservation are given below:

• Low vision/ blind candidates.
• Candidates with hearing impairment.
• Candidates with a locomotive disability or cerebral palsy.

Quick Links

• Check CAT Score vs Percentile
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Who is not eligible for CAT 2026?

• If the candidate is in the process of completing their professional degree (CS/ CA/ ICWA) without appearing for their bachelor’s degree.
• The candidate is pursuing both a bachelor’s degree and a professional degree, but has not yet completed both.
• If the candidate's score in the degree is less than 50% (45% for SC/ ST/ PWT candidates), he or she is ineligible to apply for the CAT exam.
• If the degree is not recognised by MHRD/ AICTE/ UGC, the candidate will be considered ineligible for the CAT examination.

CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Work Experience Requirements

• Candidates are not required to have any prior work experience.
• Even if the CAT application form 2026 asks for it, there is no necessary condition to fulfil it.
• It should be noted that during the final examination, some weightage may be given by IIMs for this work experience. However, the exact weightage has never been revealed, and it will vary from one IIM to another.

CAT Registration 2026

The CAT application form will be released in the first week of August 2026. Candidates who fulfilled the CAT exam eligibility 2026 can fill out the registration form in online mode. After providing all the necessary information in the CAT application form and uploading the documents, candidates must pay the CAT exam fees depending on the category to which they belong. The fees have to be paid online.

Quick Links

• Know how to fill out the CAT Application Form
• Check details of the CAT Application Form Correction Window

IIM Eligibility Vs CAT Eligibility

• When IIMs convene the CAT exam, their eligibility criteria are not the same. There are some minor contradictions that every candidate who wants to study at IIMs should be aware of.
• Although, as per the age criteria for the CAT exam, there is no age limit for both the CAT exam qualification and the qualification for IIM admission, the two-year bachelor’s degree accepted as per the requirement for the CAT exam qualification criteria is not accepted by IIMs, and their management programmes require a three-year bachelor’s degree.
• Other than that, there are no discrepancies between the CAT exam qualification and the IIM qualification.