XAT- Xavier Aptitude Test 2027
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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.
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.
Also Check:
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.
The CAT score validity for different CAT-accepting colleges is given in the table below.
| CAT Colleges | CAT Score Validity |
|---|---|
1 year | |
1 year | |
1 year | |
1 year | |
1 year | |
1 year | |
1 year | |
1 year | |
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1 year | |
1 year | |
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1 year |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
On Question asked by student community
With a Telangana state merit rank of 10,953, admission to MBBS Category A in Hyderabad Muslim minority colleges is generally very difficult. However, you may have a better chance for BDS Category A, depending on the year's cutoff and seat availability.
Hello,
Yes, MBBS and BDS seats are available through Kendriya Sainik Board Secretariat (KSB) for wards of categories of Defence personnel. You can check more at ksb.gov.in/admission-mbbs-bds-colleges.htm.htm
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
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