Careers360 Logo
ask-icon
share
    CAT Attempt Limit 2026: Maximum Attempts, Age Limit, Eligibility & IIM Admission Rules

    CAT Attempt Limit 2026: Maximum Attempts, Age Limit, Eligibility & IIM Admission Rules

    Team Careers360Updated on 04 Jul 2026, 02:27 PM IST

    The CAT attempt limit is not specified. The CAT (Common Admission Test) is held once every year for admission to IIMs and other top-rated MBA/PGDM colleges. CAT 2026 will be held on November 29, 2026. Candidates can attempt the CAT 2026 on the day in three slots. There is no specific CAT attempt limit, which is a relieving factor as the CAT exam itself puts a bit of pressure on the aspirants. Moreover, there is no CAT attempt age limit. The CAT attempt limit might not be there, but the candidates should go for a CAT exam a maximum of 2 (3 in rare cases), as it does take a toll on the personal and professional life of the candidate.

    CAT Attempt Limit 2026: Maximum Attempts, Age Limit, Eligibility & IIM Admission Rules
    CAT Attempt Limit

    CAT Attempt Limit for Different Categories

    For candidates belonging to different categories, there is no CAT attempt limit specified. There is no CAT attempt limit for the general category as well. The eligibility criteria, however, differ slightly for different categories. The CAT eligibility criteria for various categories are given in the table below.

    Category

    CAT Eligibility Criteria

    CAT Exam Attempt Limit

    General

    Bachelor’s Degree with 50% marks or equivalent CGPA from a UGC-recognised institute.

    Unlimited

    SC/ST/PwD

    Bachelor’s Degree with 45% marks or equivalent CGPA from a UGC-recognised institute.

    Unlimited

    CAT Attempt Limit for IIM Admission 2027-29

    The IIMs have not prescribed any CAT exam attempt limit as part of their eligibility criteria. The candidates across all age groups are shortlisted based on their CAT 2026 percentiles. To get shortlisted, candidates need to have a CAT percentile at par with the CAT cutoff for a particular IIM. For final selection, the candidate needs to perform well in the group discussion (GD) and personal interview (PI) rounds.

    Candidates with work experience in significant roles have the chance to make their profile stand out among other applicants. Work experience is not mandatory as per the eligibility criteria of the IIMs.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: Which is the best IIM in India?
    A:

    IIM Ahmedabad is considered to be the best IIM in India. It has the highest CAT cutoffs among the peer IIMs. As per the NIRF ranking, IIM Ahmedabad bagged the number one spot for colleges in the management category.

    Q: How many times can CAT be taken?
    A:

    The CAT exam can be taken by the candidates for any number of times they wish to. There is no specified number of CAT attempts limit barring a candidate. The CAT exam is held once every year by one of the IIMs. The CAT score is accepted by different IIMs and top management institutes across the country.

    Q: What is the validity of the CAT score?
    A:

    The validity of the CAT score is one year from the date of declaration. The valid CAT score for admission will be acceptable by a college for a given academic year only. For the next year, candidates will be required to take the CAT exam for a valid CAT score.

    Q: What is the fee for the CAT exam?
    A:

    The registration fee for the CAT exam is Rs. 2400 for General Category candidates and Rs. 1200 for candidates belonging to reserved categories. The CAT exam fee can be paid online through various modes like credit/debit cards, net banking, and UPI.

    Articles
    |
    Certifications By Top Providers
    Online MBA
    Via Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar
    Corporate Tax Planning
    Via Netaji Subhash Open University, Kolkata
    Strategic Management
    Via Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
    Online MBA Business Analytics
    Via Centre for Distance and Online Education, Anna University, Chennai
    Digital Marketing
    Via Panjab University, Chandigarh
    Online MBA
    Via Centre for Distance and Online Education, Anna University, Chennai
    Explore Top Universities Across Globe

    Questions related to CAT

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to CAT ?

    Hello Dear Student,
    An SC rank of 82 in a Common Entrance Test (CET) is highly competitive and typically guarantees admission into top-tier state universities, central universities, or highly-ranked private institutions. Whether a specific seat is currently available depends directly on the exact university's counselling schedule. Many institutes require you

    If by OC you mean Open Category/General category in India, and you have 95%+ throughout your academics (Class 10, Class 12, and graduation) , then your CAT percentile target depends on the B-schools you're aiming for.

    Here's a general guideline:

    Target B-school Safe CAT Percentile (General Category)
    Indian Institute of

    Hello Dear Student,

    Low-Tier IIIT CSE vs Jadavpur University B.Arch (for MBA Aspirants)

    If your primary goal is to pursue an MBA later, switching from CSE at a lower-tier IIIT to B.Arch at Jadavpur University solely for academic diversity is generally not the best strategy.

    B.Arch and MBA Preparation

    • B.Arch

    Hello Dear Student,

    EWS eligibility for CAT 2025-26 hinges on current financial records, but a renewed certificate is required for final IIM admissions. If future income exceeds the 8 lakh threshold, candidates will likely lose EWS status and be reclassified to the General category rather than facing seat cancellation.

    Hope

    Hello Dear Student,

    If your Class 12 marksheet shows "Passed" overall and you are currently pursuing BCA, then you should generally be eligible for CAT, CUET PG, and NIMCET.

    • CAT: Eligibility is based on your bachelor's degree. A Class 12 RT in Maths usually does not affect CAT eligibility.
    • CUET