Careers360 Logo
ask-icon
share
    CAT Score Validity 2026: How Long Is CAT Score Valid, IIM Rules & MBA Colleges

    CAT Score Validity 2026: How Long Is CAT Score Valid, IIM Rules & MBA Colleges

    Team Careers360Updated on 03 Jul 2026, 04:16 PM IST

    The CAT 2026 score validity is 1 year; for example, the CAT 2026 exam will conclude on November 29, 2026, so your score will be valid till December 31, 2027. The CAT score validity determines the period for which a candidate can use the score of the CAT exam to seek admission to MBA/PGDM programs at any CAT-accepting institution. The CAT score validity may vary for some of the colleges, but for most B schools, the validity of the CAT score is a maximum of 1 year. After 1 year, candidates have to reappear for the CAT exam for the particular year to procure a valid CAT score.

    CAT Score Validity 2026: How Long Is CAT Score Valid, IIM Rules & MBA Colleges
    CAT Score Validity

    How to Download CAT Scorecard 2026?

    The CAT scores are provided through the CAT scorecard 2026. The CAT scorecard can be downloaded from the official website by candidates using their CAT login credentials generated during the CAT registration. The CAT scorecard 2026 can be downloaded using the steps mentioned below.

    • Step 1: Visit the IIM CAT official website, that is, iimcat.ac.in
    • Step 2: Click on the CAT result 2026 link titled- ‘CAT Result 2026 Tab’ and enter your CAT user ID and password to log in
    • Step 3: Next, click on the ‘IIM CAT Score Card 2026’ tab
    • Step 4: CAT result 2026 will appear on the screen
    • Step 5: Download the CAT scorecard 2026 and keep it for future reference

    Also Check:

    Amity University-Noida MBA Admissions 2026

    Ranked among top 10 B-Schools in India by multiple publications | Top Recruiters-Google, MicKinsey, Amazon, BCG & many more.

    UPES MBA Admissions 2026

    Last Date to Apply: 31st July | Ranked #36 amongst institutions in Management by NIRF | 100% Placement

    Question: How do CAT score percentiles differ from scaled scores?
    Answer: In the CAT exam, a scaled score is a candidate's actual numerical marks that are obtained after a statistical adjustment for test slot difficulty. Whereas a percentile indicates a candidate's relative position or rank among all the test-takers.

    Past 10 years CAT Question Papers with Solutions
    Ace CAT with confidence! Download the Past 10 Years' CAT Question Papers with detailed answers to understand exam trends, improve accuracy, and maximize your percentile.
    Download Ebook

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: Is CAT score valid for 2 years?
    A:

    No, the validity of the CAT scorecard 2026 is one year. The CAT score 2026 can be used for MBA admission 2027 till December 31, 2027.

    Q: Is the CAT 2026 response sheet out?
    A:

    The CAT 2026 response sheet as well as the answer key will be released in December 2026, on the official site, iimcat.ac.in. All candidates will be able to log in using their credentials and check their slot-specific response sheet. 

    Q: What is the validity of the CAT score? How long is the CAT 2026 valid for?
    A:

    The validity of the CAT score 2026 is for 1 year. After 1 year, the CAT score for the preceding year will be considered invalid for seeking admission to any B school. To apply for colleges, candidates will have to appear again for the CAT exam.

    Q: How many CAT attempts are allowed?
    A:

    There is no limit on the number of CAT attempts that a candidate can take.  You can take the exam as many times as you want, provided you meet the eligibility criteria for each attempt. 

    Q: What is a valid CAT score for IIM?
    A:

    A good CAT score for IIM admissions generally falls within the 95-99 percentile range for newer IIMs and top private B-schools, while the older, more established IIMs often require a score above the 98th percentile for general category candidates.

    Q: How many CAT attempts are allowed?
    A:

    There is no limit on the number of CAT attempts that a candidate can take.  You can take the exam as many times as you want, provided you meet the eligibility criteria for each attempt. 

    Q: What is a valid CAT score for IIM?
    A:

    A good CAT score for IIM admissions generally falls within the 95-99 percentile range for newer IIMs and top private B-schools, while the older, more established IIMs often require a score above the 98th percentile for general category candidates.

    Q: What is a good score for CAT?
    A:

    A good CAT score will depend on the college that a candidate aims for. If the goal is to pursue an MBA from IIMs then a good score would be percentile between 98-99.9. Other than IIMs a percentile between 90-99 would be considered good enough.

    Q: Can I get IIM with the 95 percentile?
    A:

    At 95 percentile IIM is feasible for some reserved categories. For the General category candidates 95 percentile may fall short of converting an IIM. However, lower-tier IIMs can be targeted with the 95 percentile.

    Q: Does CAT have a negative marking?
    A:

    Yes. The CAT exam has negative marking. For every answer marked wrongly by a candidate, 1 mark will be deducted. For every correct answer, 3 marks are awarded. No marks are deducted for questions left unattempted by the candidate.

    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