CAT 2026 Registrations Fall to 2.84 Lakh: How Should Aspirants Change Their Preparation Strategy?

CAT 2026 Registration Trend: How Many Candidates Have Applied?

The registration figures show that CAT 2026 has moved further away from the peak recorded in 2024. The exam received approximately 3.29 lakh registrations in 2024, followed by 2.95 lakh in 2025 and 2.84 lakh in 2026. This is the second consecutive annual decline.

Note: The data has been taken from the official data released by the respective IIMs that conducted the exam that year.

The difference between the 2024 peak and the 2026 figure is approximately 45,000 registrations, or 13.7%. However, candidates should distinguish between registration numbers and actual attendance. In CAT 2025, around 2.95 lakh candidates registered, while approximately 2.58 lakh appeared for the examination. The number of CAT 2026 test-takers will be known only after the examination.

Candidates should also keep track of the CAT 2026 exam date and important events to avoid missing examination-related updates. The registration trend provides useful context, but it cannot tell candidates how difficult CAT 2026 will be or what percentile they will receive. Those outcomes depend on the examination and candidates' relative performance.

Does a Fall in CAT Registrations Mean Less Competition?

A lower registration count can make the overall applicant pool smaller, but it does not necessarily make admission easier. Candidates should consider three factors before drawing conclusions from the data.

First, registrations do not represent actual test-takers. Some candidates who register do not appear for the exam. Therefore, the final attendance figures offer a more accurate view of the number of people who take the test.

Second, CAT percentile is a relative measure. A percentile indicates how a candidate has performed in comparison with other test-takers. A smaller applicant pool does not automatically translate into a higher percentile for the same raw score. Candidates can use a CAT percentile predictor to estimate their percentile based on their expected score, keeping in mind that the result is only an estimate.

Third, IIM admissions involve more than CAT scores. Individual institutes use their own shortlisting and selection criteria, which may include sectional and overall CAT performance, academic records, work experience, diversity factors and performance in later selection rounds. The weight assigned to each factor varies by institute. Aspirants should understand the IIM admission criteria and selection process for their target colleges before deciding on a percentile goal.

For example, an aspirant targeting a highly competitive MBA programme should not reduce their target percentile simply because registrations have fallen. Instead, they should continue working towards a score that supports their target colleges and category-specific eligibility.

Also Practice: CAT VARC Sample Paper

How Should CAT Aspirants Change Their Preparation Strategy?

With CAT 2026 scheduled for November 29, aspirants should use the remaining weeks to improve their performance in timed conditions. The following changes can help candidates make their preparation more focused.

1. Set Targets Based on Mock Test Performance

Candidates should begin by taking a full-length CAT mock test under exam-like conditions. The purpose is to establish a baseline, not to judge whether they are ready for the actual examination.

After the test, review the overall score, sectional scores, accuracy and time spent on different questions. A candidate scoring well in VARC but struggling with DILR needs a different plan from someone losing marks because of calculation errors in QA.

Use the results to divide topics into three groups:

• Strong topics: Revise them and solve timed questions to maintain accuracy.

• Topics with avoidable errors: Review the concepts and practise similar questions.

• Weak topics: Focus on basic concepts and selected question types that can realistically improve before the exam.

Repeat this assessment after every few mocks. If a topic continues to consume time without improving accuracy, change the solving approach instead of increasing the number of questions blindly.

2. Prioritise Accuracy Over the Number of Attempts

Aspirants sometimes judge their preparation by how many questions they attempt. However, a high attempt count is not useful if it comes with too many incorrect answers.

Under the recent CAT exam pattern, incorrect MCQ answers attract negative marking, whereas non-MCQ questions do not carry the same penalty. Candidates should review the CAT exam pattern and marking scheme to understand how marks are awarded and plan their attempts accordingly.

During mock analysis, classify attempted questions as correct, incorrect due to a conceptual gap, incorrect due to misreading, or incorrect because of a rushed calculation. This helps candidates identify the source of lost marks.

For instance, a candidate who knows how to solve a question but repeatedly makes arithmetic errors should spend time checking calculations and writing intermediate steps. A candidate who attempts questions without understanding the concept needs more revision.

The aim is to improve the quality of attempts, not simply increase their number.

3. Prepare for All Three CAT Sections Separately

CAT tests candidates in three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Each section requires a different approach, so candidates should plan separate practice sessions.

Candidates should not spend all their remaining preparation time on their strongest section. A high score in one area may not fully compensate for a weak performance in another, especially when a target institute uses sectional cut-offs.

Review the admission requirements of target colleges and give additional practice time to sections where performance is consistently below the required level.

4. Change the Way You Approach DILR Sets

DILR can be challenging because candidates must often interpret information, organise data and identify relationships before solving the questions. Spending too long on a difficult set can leave insufficient time for more manageable ones.

During practice, first read the set and identify what information is available, what needs to be determined and whether the conditions can be organised clearly. If the set appears too time-consuming, move to another one rather than continuing out of frustration.

Regular practice with CAT DILR practice questions can help candidates recognise different set types and improve their approach to data interpretation and logical reasoning.

After each DILR mock, review not only the sets you solved but also the ones you skipped. Check whether you rejected a solvable set too quickly or spent too long on a set that offered little progress.

This analysis improves set selection, which is particularly useful when the examination clock is running.

5. Revise QA Concepts Instead of Chasing Every Topic

Candidates who have already covered most of the QA syllabus should focus on revising concepts and improving their ability to recognise the right method. There is little value in collecting new study materials during the final weeks if previously studied topics remain weak.

Start with topics that appear regularly in your practice tests and that you can improve with revision. Arithmetic and algebra are useful areas to review, alongside geometry and other topics already covered in your preparation.

Candidates who need to identify gaps in their preparation should revisit the CAT Quantitative Aptitude syllabus and prioritise topics according to their current performance.

Maintain a formula sheet and solve a short set of mixed questions each day. This helps you practise choosing the appropriate method rather than solving questions only when their topic is obvious.

Candidates with major syllabus gaps should set realistic priorities. Cover the fundamentals of selected topics before attempting advanced questions, and retain time for mock tests and revision.

6. Make Mock Test Analysis a Fixed Part of Your Routine

Taking more mock tests is not always the answer. Candidates need enough time to understand their mistakes and apply the lessons in the next test.

After every full-length mock, prepare a short analysis covering:

• Questions you answered correctly but took too long to solve.

• Questions you got wrong despite knowing the underlying concept.

• Questions you skipped that you could have solved.

• Questions that were too difficult or time-consuming for your current level.

Use this analysis to decide what to practise over the next two or three days. For example, if your VARC score falls because you misinterpret inference-based questions, review those questions and practise identifying the evidence that supports each answer. If you lose time in QA, work on recognising familiar question types and choosing shorter solving methods where appropriate.

Candidates can also practise with CAT previous year question papers to understand the types of questions asked in earlier examinations and assess their readiness under timed conditions.

Keep a record of your mock scores and sectional performance. The goal is to identify a consistent improvement in your decision-making, not to expect every mock score to be higher than the previous one.

7. Follow a Study Schedule Until CAT 2026

Candidates should plan their remaining preparation according to their current level, daily availability and target percentile. A working professional who can study for three hours a day will need a different schedule from a full-time aspirant.

Here is an example of a five-hour CAT study plan that can be adapted to individual needs.

On mock-test days, candidates can replace these individual practice sessions with a full-length mock and detailed analysis. They should avoid taking a full mock every day if doing so leaves no time to review mistakes.

Aspirants with less time available can shorten each session while retaining all three sections in their weekly plan. Candidates who need a more detailed routine can follow a CAT 2026 study plan for beginners and adjust the schedule to their strengths, weaknesses and daily commitments.

8. Keep the Final Week for Revision and Exam Readiness

The final week should not become a race to complete the entire syllabus. Candidates should revise formulas, revisit important concepts, review their error logs and practise familiar question types.

A CAT revision strategy should include reviewing frequently repeated mistakes, revising formulas and practising selected questions from each section. Candidates should avoid taking on several new resources at this stage.

Take a mock early enough to make useful adjustments, but avoid exhausting yourself with repeated full-length tests immediately before the exam. Check the exam centre details, reporting time, admit card instructions and required documents once the admit card becomes available.

What Should CAT Aspirants Avoid After the Registration Decline?

The registration figures should not encourage candidates to make sudden changes to their preparation. Avoid these common mistakes:

• Lowering your target percentile: Continue preparing according to your target colleges and their selection criteria.

• Ignoring a weak section: Review sectional performance and address gaps before they become difficult to correct.

• Taking mocks without analysis: Use every mock to identify specific improvements.

• Collecting too many resources: Stick to a manageable set of study materials and practise consistently.

• Assuming cut-offs will fall: Wait for official admission criteria and results rather than predicting cut-offs from registration numbers.

• Neglecting other MBA entrance exams: If you are also targeting XAT, SNAP or NMAT, review the relevant MBA entrance exams after CAT and plan your preparation around their schedules without compromising your immediate priorities.

Attempt Here: CAT DILR Sample Paper

What Else to Use for CAT 2026 Preparation

Get the download links of the latest CAT 2026 ebooks from the table below: