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CAT Exam DayChecklistStrategy

CAT Exam Day Checklist: What to Carry and What to Expect

PrepTest Hub Team •Edited by BITS Pilani and IIM alumni •October 22, 2026

Key takeaways

  • Carry your printed admit card and the photo ID named on it, and reach the centre by the reporting time printed on the admit card.
  • CAT has three sections of 40 minutes each, taken in a fixed order: VARC, DILR, then Quant. You cannot go back to a finished section.
  • MCQs carry +3 for a right answer and -1 for a wrong one. Typed-in answers carry no negative marking.
  • Check the official CAT notice for your slot, because rules and timings can be updated.

CAT 2026 is scheduled for 29 November, and most of your score on that day is decided by calm, small decisions rather than by new knowledge. This checklist covers what to carry, what happens at the centre and how to run the 120 minutes. Always confirm the details on the official CAT website and on your admit card, because instructions can change from year to year.

The week before

  • Download your admit card and print two copies. Check your name, photo, slot and the address of the test centre.
  • Visit the centre area if you can, or check the route and travel time on the same time of day as your slot.
  • Take your last full mock about five to seven days before, not the day before.
  • Fix your sleep schedule so you are awake and alert at the time of your slot.

Documents and items

  • Admit card (printed) and the original photo ID listed on it.
  • Any other document that the admit card asks for, for example a category certificate if you have registered under a reserved category.
  • A small bottle of water and any items the instructions allow. Do not carry notes, phones, smart watches or study material into the exam hall, because lockers and rules differ by centre.

Candidates are normally given rough sheets and a pen inside the test room, and an on-screen calculator is available, so do not carry your own stationery. Practise with the official CAT mock on the exam website so the calculator and the screen layout are familiar.

At the centre

  1. Reach the centre by the reporting time on the admit card. Late entry is usually not allowed.
  2. Expect an ID and photo check, a biometric check and a search. Follow the staff instructions.
  3. You will be seated at a computer and shown instructions before the clock starts.

The 120 minutes

  • VARC: 40 minutes, 24 questions.
  • DILR: 40 minutes, 22 questions.
  • Quant (QA): 40 minutes, 22 questions.

The sections are timed separately. When the 40 minutes end, the section closes automatically and you cannot return to it. That makes sectional time management the most important skill, and our guide to CAT time management by section shows how to split the time.

Marking in one minute

A correct MCQ scores 3 marks and a wrong one loses 1 mark. Questions that you type the answer to have no negative marking, so attempt every one of those that you can. Unattempted questions score zero. Our post on percentile versus score explains what your marks turn into.

Habits that protect your score

  • In each section, spend the first two to three minutes scanning to choose the easiest questions and sets first.
  • Skip a question that has taken you more than about two minutes and come back to it if there is time.
  • Do not carry a bad section into the next one. A weak VARC does not predict a weak Quant.
  • In DILR, choose sets by how clearly the data is laid out, not by how short they look. Our set selection guide explains how.
  • Keep a steady pace. A panic burst of guessing costs more marks than it earns.

After the exam

Do not discuss answers with friends in the hallway, because it rarely helps and often spoils the next stage of your preparation. Rest, and look at XAT, SNAP and NMAT if you want more attempts at the same cycle.

Practise the real thing

Run at least one full-length mock under exam conditions on the CAT mock tests page, and revise formulas with the formula sheet and the flashcards.

This is a study aid. Exam rules, timings and the list of allowed items are set by the exam authority and may change, so rely on your admit card and the official CAT notices.

Ready to put this into practice?

Take a CAT Practice Test → Revise with CAT Flashcards →

Related guides

CAT Time Management: A Section by Section Plan for the Exam CAT sections are timed separately and cannot be revisited. See a two pass plan for VARC, DILR and Quant, with suggested time blocks and how to practise it in mocks. CAT Exam Pattern 2026: Full Syllabus, Marking Scheme, and Section-Wise Breakdown A complete, plain-English breakdown of the CAT exam pattern: sections, timing, syllabus, and marking scheme, with everything you need before you start preparing. How to Improve CAT DILR Accuracy: A Practice Routine That Works DILR accuracy comes from a method: read the whole set, draw the skeleton, branch carefully and check every condition. Here is a routine and a weekly plan. CAT Last 7 Days: What to Do and What to Avoid A day-by-day plan for the final week before CAT: revise, take one last mock, sharpen weak areas lightly and protect your sleep.