CAT 2026 Exam Day Guidelines: Do’s and Don’ts, Reporting Time, Dress Code & Items to Carry

CAT 2026 Exam Guidelines: 10 Dos and Don'ts

In this article on CAT guidelines and 10 Dos and Don'ts for the exam day, Careers360 will help and guide candidates through the quick CAT 2026 exam day tips to be followed on IIM Entrance Test day to score better. Read the complete article to know the CAT guidelines 2026 and all that it takes to crack the entrance exam and convert to IIMs or other top B-schools.

CAT Exam 2026: Exam Day Guidelines

1. Admit Card: Print on A4 paper using a laser printer. Affix the same photograph used during registration.
2. Reporting Time: Arrive before the gate closing time. Late entry is not allowed.
3. Test Centre: Visit the centre a day before to ensure timely arrival. No change in test centre is allowed.
4. ID Proof: Carry one valid government-issued photo ID. No damaged or smudged IDs are accepted.
5. Items Not Allowed: No phones, gadgets, watches, stationery, or jewellery. Thick-soled shoes and large buttons are prohibited.
6. Rough Work: Writing pad and pen provided. Return them after the test.
7. Exiting the test centre: No candidate shall be permitted to leave the Test Centre before the end of the CAT exam 2026
8. Bio-breaks: Only in emergencies. Re-frisking is required to enter the exam hall and no extra time given.
9. Test Day: Parents/guardians are not allowed inside the centre. No re-entry after the exam starts.
10. Travel & Stay: Candidates must arrange their own travel and accommodation.

CAT Exam Guidelines 2026: Do's and Don'ts for the Exam Day

Candidates appearing for the CAT 2026 are advised to follow the CAT guidelines below. If any of you do not follow the CAT exam guidelines 2026, you will be sent out of the centre.

Check the timings

Candidates who appear for the exam must be aware of the timings for the CAT 2026 exam so that they do not miss anything. This is the foremost CAT 2026 exam day tip. In the wake of an increasing number of candidates appearing in the CAT exam, candidates are advised to reach the CAT 2026 exam centre well in advance, so that the authorities get enough time to check their documents.

CAT 2026 Exam Day Guidelines for Female Students

All female MBA aspirants planning to take the CAT 2026 exam must be aware of some of the basic guidelines that must be followed. Ignoring any of the guidelines could lead to damaging consequences on the exam day. Take a look at the following CAT exam guidelines that must be followed by all female candidates.

• Make sure that you do not wear jewellery on the exam day.
• All candidates must wear simple and decent clothing, which is mandatory.
• Any student found wearing high heels, high-soled footwear such as shoes and sandals, will not be allowed.
• Lastly, anyone found cheating through unfair methods will be considered for serious action.

CAT 2026 Dress Code

All candidates who will be appearing for the CAT 2026 exam must know that showing materials is not the traditional exam day theme for CAT 2026. Instead, candidates must follow minimalist clothing and simple footwear. Check out the following points, which mention the CAT 2026 dress code for a smooth entry into the examination hall.

• All candidates must follow simple clothing.
• Students can opt to wear plain T-shirts and lightweight jeans.
• Shoes or footwear with thick soles will not be allowed inside the examination hall.
• Jewellery such as gold earrings, studs, chains, bracelets, etc., is strictly banned inside the exam hall.
• Nose pins/rings, bangles, anklets or any other metalic ornaments are also not allowed.

What things to carry for the CAT exam 2026?

• CAT exam-related documents, such as duly filled-out admit cards and ID cards
• A simple transparent ballpoint pen
• Additional photograph (For attendance sheet)
• Personal transparent water bottle

List of Do's for CAT 2026 Exam Day

• Carry a CAT Admit Card and Photo ID Proof
• Prior visit to the exam centre of CAT 2026
• Be on time
• Check seating arrangements
• Verification of documents
• Rough work only on scratch sheet
• Obey the invigilators
• Use the washroom beforehand to avoid wasting any time on bio-breaks
• Submit admit card and writing pad

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Let us look at each point one by one to understand what is mandatory and should be done by candidates on the day of CAT 2026:

Carry an Admit Card and a Valid Photo ID Proof

Important CAT 2026 exam day tip- Carry a hard copy of the CAT 2026 admit card. Note that candidates without a hard copy of the hall ticket of CAT will not be allowed to enter the exam centre at any cost. A duly filled CAT 2026 exam admit card is a mandatory document. Test takers must ensure that the signature and photograph printed on the admit card is legible. Candidates are requested to check the following information on their admit card beforehand:

• Name of the candidate
• PwD Status
• Date and Day of Test
• Registration Number
• Reporting/ Entry time at Centre
• Gate Closing Time of Centre
• Test Center address
• Test City
• Time and Session of CAT 2026

As an important do's of CAT 2026, along with the CAT admit card, candidates have to carry at least one photo ID as proof. Candidates must keep in mind that the photograph and signature provided on the ID proof should be visible and not be smudged or damaged by any means. Candidates who have (a) a pacemaker or (b) implants (metal) or (c) other devices (s) for Medical reasons (s) are required to produce a medical certificate for the same. Any of the documents can be used by candidates as photo ID proof on exam day:

• Passport
• Voter ID Card
• Aadhaar Card
• PAN Card
• Driving License
• Employer ID Card
• College ID Card

Note: No candidates were allowed inside the exam hall without an admit card, valid ID proof, and proper frisking. Frisking will be carried out without touching the body through a Handheld Metal Detector (HHMD).

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Be On-Time

As per the previous records, candidates are required to report to the exam centre one and a half hours before the exam. Time management is very important in the CAT 2026 exam, be it in reporting time or completing the questions accurately. The last entry stops 15 minutes before the exam time.

CAT Slot Timings and Reporting Time 2026 (will be correctly mentioned in the admit card):

Check Seating Arrangements In Advance

Once candidates reach the CAT 2026 exam centre, the first thing they need to do is find their respective seats. Lab numbers will not be displayed outside the centre to avoid any crowding at any one place in any situation. At the time of entry, barcode readers were available to scan the CAT admit card. Details about the hall/lab number will be communicated to candidates at the same time.

Verification of Documents

After getting inside the exam centre, an important CAT 2026 exam day tip is that the candidates must get their documents verified. This is an important process because it is only after the verification of the documents that candidates will be allowed to proceed to their respective exam labs to take the test. Candidates are required to paste passport-size photographs and sign on the attendance sheet.

Rough Work On Scratch Sheet

Upon reaching the exam lab, candidates will be provided with five rough sheets to do the calculation work. Candidates will not be allowed to leave before the total duration of two hours is complete. Candidates who answer the questions on the desk, hand, or anywhere else are subject to being penalised. Do your rough work only on the sheets provided by the invigilator. It is directed by the invigilator that candidates should write their names and registration ID on the rough sheets.

Obey The Invigilators

The examiner who is there to assist candidates before, during, and after CAT 2026 is the invigilator. Candidates will have to follow their CAT exam guidelines if they do not wish their candidature to be cancelled. In case of any issues, like finding a seat while logging in, any hamper during the exam, submitting issues, etc., candidates can ask for the help of the invigilator. If you have any issues, ask for clarity.

Use the Washroom Beforehand

Since time management is an important aspect, candidates are requested to carefully plan everything before the exam. If candidates are feeling uneasy due to sensitivity/exam day pressure, they are advised to use the washroom before the exam starts. As CAT is considered to be the toughest of all MBA entrance exams, candidates are not allowed to use the washroom during the exam duration.

Submit Admit Card, Writing Pad

On completion of the CAT 2026 exam, the candidates are advised to follow this CAT 2026 tip: candidates must move out in an orderly manner, one candidate at a time. While leaving the exam lab/hall, candidates will have to submit the rough sheets provided by the invigilator along with a hard copy of their admit card for security reasons. Candidates not abiding by the CAT exam rules may face severe consequences.

Note: Test Day Exception Forms: In case any exceptional situation arises on the day of CAT, candidates will be required to sign an Exception Form.

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List of Don'ts for the CAT 2026 Exam Day

• Say Bye to Personal Belongings
• Do Not Sign the CAT 2026 Admit Card Beforehand
• No Unfair Practices
• Seat Change Request
• No Bio-Breaks
• Do Not Peek Into Fellow Test Taker’s Screen
• Do Not Apply Mehndi/Henna
• Don’t Wear Restricted Items
• Do Not Waste Rough Sheets
• No Companion Allowed

Let us look at each point one by one to understand what is mandatory and should not be done by candidates on the day of CAT 2026:

Say Bye to Personal Belongings

To ensure proper safety measures, no candidate should keep any personal belongings with him/her. Personal belongings refer to the following items:

• Electronic Gadgets
• Stationery items
• Bag/ Mobile/ Calculator/ IPAD/ IPOD/ Bluetooth/ Headset/ Digital Wrist Watch/ Laptop/ Camera.

Do Not Sign the Admit Card Beforehand

One of the important CAT 2026 exam day tips is not to sign the admit card for CAT without the presence of an invigilator. Sometimes candidates don’t read the CAT exam guidelines and make the mistake of signing the admit cards beforehand. Note that, it is strictly required that candidates sign the CAT 2026 exam admit card in the presence of the invigilator only.

Any candidate’s admit card that is signed before the entry would be considered invalid. Also, candidates must ensure that the signature they provide matches the printed signature, i.e., the one they uploaded at the time of registration.

No Unfair Practices

In CAT 2026, no candidate should use unfair practices to crack the test and get good results. Carrying short notes, writing on hands with a pen/henna, or any such means are strictly prohibited. Any candidate found guilty will not be allowed to carry forward with the test, and their candidature will be cancelled immediately.

Seat Change Request

In no case, seat change requests made by candidates entertained at the end. Candidates were required to sit only in the seat allotted to them. Before each shift started, the seating area was thoroughly cleaned: monitor, keyboard, mouse, webcam, desk, and chair.

No Bio-Breaks

Any request related to bio-breaks while inside the exam lab will not be entertained by the invigilators. Unless it is a medical emergency, candidates have no option left. Those suffering from diabetes or any other ailment must carry a medical certificate and produce it to the invigilator if any need arises.

Do Not Peek Into Fellow Test Taker’s Screen

No candidate should look or be interested in what other/fellow candidates are doing. Keep your posture straight and look only at the computer screen provided. Do not peek into what others are doing or which answers they are marking. In case of any confusion/doubt, candidates should only clarify those doubts with the invigilators or test centre officials.

Do Not Apply Mehndi/Henna

This instruction is especially important for female candidates. Usually, in CAT, candidates have to do biometrics, and if mehndi/henna is applied on the hand, it may create issues in completing the biometric process.

Don’t Wear Restricted Items

Candidates should check the latest CAT 2026 admit card instructions and official exam-day guidelines for the final list of prohibited items. Candidates must not wear jackets, jewellery, watches, electronic gadgets, or shoes. If candidates are wearing or carrying any of these items, you will have to deposit them at the entrance gate.

Do Not Waste Rough Sheets

Before starting the exam, the invigilator will provide a writing pad to the candidates, which has to be submitted back once the exam is over.

No Companion Allowed

Until and unless a candidate is a PwD candidate and has asked for a scribe, no friends/companions/relatives accompanying you were allowed to enter beyond the gates of the test centre.

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CAT 2026: Exam Day Work Flow for Candidates

CAT 2026 Exam Day Process

• Reach the test centre before the reporting/gate-closing time.
• Show admit card and valid ID.
• Complete security checks and verification.
• Locate the allotted lab/seat.
• Complete registration/biometric/photo verification as instructed.
• Receive the writing pad.
• Log in and verify candidate details.
• Read the exam instructions and begin the test.
• Complete the two-hour test.
• Return the writing pad and follow the exit instructions.

CAT 2026 Exam Day Checklist

Before leaving home

• CAT 2026 admit card
• Valid photo ID
• Required photograph, if specified in the admit card/instructions
• Check test centre address
• Check reporting time
• Check route and travel time
• Check prohibited-item list

At the test centre

• Reach before gate closing
• Complete document verification
• Follow frisking/security instructions
• Locate the allotted lab
• Follow invigilator instructions
• Use only the writing material provided

Before leaving

• Return writing pad/scratch material as instructed
• Collect deposited belongings
• Leave the centre as directed