CAT (Common Admission Test)

139 DAYS REMAINING FOR EXAM
Sunday, November 29, 2026
Content Writer Priya Singh
Updated On Date: Jun 30, 2026

CAT Counselling

CAT 2026 – Counselling

 

It is important to clarify a common misconception: There is no centralized counselling process for CAT. Unlike some other entrance exams where a single authority manages seat allocation, the IIMs and other participating B-schools conduct their admission processes independently.

Here are the details of how the post-CAT admission process typically works:

The Admission Workflow

  • Independent Shortlisting: Each IIM and participating institute sets its own unique cutoff criteria. After CAT results are declared, they release individual shortlists for candidates who meet their specific requirements (based on CAT percentile, academic history, work experience, etc.).
  • Common Admission Process (CAP): While most older IIMs conduct their own independent selection rounds, many of the newer ("Baby") IIMs participate in a Common Admission Process (CAP) to streamline the interview and assessment rounds for shortlisted candidates.
  • Selection Rounds (WAT/GD/PI): Candidates who are shortlisted must appear for the selection stages mandated by the institute:
    • WAT (Written Ability Test): An essay-writing round to assess clarity of thought and writing skills.
    • GD (Group Discussion): Used by some institutes to assess collaborative and communication skills.
    • PI (Personal Interview): The most critical round, used to evaluate personality, confidence, and "fit" for the program.
  • Composite Score Calculation: After the interviews, institutes calculate a final Composite Score for each candidate. This score is a weighted combination of:
    • CAT Exam Percentile.
    • Performance in PI/WAT/GD.
    • Academic background (10th, 12th, and graduation marks).
    • Work experience and diversity factors (academic or gender).
  • Offer Letters: Institutes release their final merit lists independently. If selected, you will receive an offer letter via email or your personal portal login on the respective institute's website.
  • Seat Acceptance: Once an offer is received, you must accept the seat by paying an acceptance fee within the institute's specified deadline.

Important Documentation

If you are shortlisted for the interview or final admission, you will generally be required to provide:

  • Original and self-attested copies of 10th, 12th, and graduation mark sheets.
  • CAT 2026 scorecard.
  • Interview call letter issued by the respective IIM.
  • Reservation/Category certificates (e.g., OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS) or PwD certificates if applicable.
  • Proof of work experience (if claimed in the application).
Check out the CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
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