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CATAnnual (November)

CAT

Common Admission Test

CAT is India's premier MBA entrance exam, conducted by one of the IIMs on rotation. It is the gateway to IIMs and 1200+ other B-schools. The exam tests Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability.

MBAIIMManagementVARCDILRQA
5Mock Tests
4Free Tests
5Books
4Top Picks

Best Mock Tests for CAT (2026)

Top 5 practice tests for Common Admission Test, ranked by aspirant rating and exam relevance.4 are completely free. Taking full-length mocks is the single fastest way to improve your score.

#1

CAT Full Mock Test — IIM Pattern 2024

by 2IIM

HardFREE

Exact CAT 2024 pattern mock — 40 min each section with VARC, DILR, and QA.

66 questions120 min450K attempts4.9
VARCDILRQuantitative Ability
#2

CAT Official Mock Test by IIMs

by IIM CAT Official

HardFREE

The official mock test released by IIMs — closest to the actual exam experience.

66 questions120 min1.2M attempts5.0
VARCDILRQuantitative Ability
#3

CAT DILR Intensive Mock — Sets & Games

by Career Launcher

HardPaid

DILR sectional mock focusing on complex sets, arrangements, games, and tournaments.

24 questions40 min185K attempts4.7
Logical ReasoningData Interpretation
#4

CAT QA Speed Test — Arithmetic

by iQuanta

HardFREE

Arithmetic-focused QA mock with ratio, percentage, profit-loss, time-work, and geometry.

22 questions40 min220K attempts4.6
ArithmeticAlgebraGeometryNumber System
#5

CAT VARC Reading Comprehension Drill

by Cracku

HardFREE

Dense RC passages with inference, tone, and vocab-in-context questions at CAT difficulty.

24 questions40 min310K attempts4.8
Reading ComprehensionVerbal AbilityPara-Jumbles

Best Books for CAT Preparation (2026)

Top 5 books recommended by toppers and educators for Common Admission Test.4 are marked as top picks. Each link takes you directly to the book on Amazon India.

1
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT
📚

How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT

Arun Sharma·McGraw Hill

10th Edition

★ Top Pick

The definitive CAT Quant preparation book with LOD-classified exercises and shortcuts.

ArithmeticAlgebraNumber SystemGeometry+1
4.8(24.5K)695
Buy on Amazon
2
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT
📚

How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT

Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay·McGraw Hill

Latest Edition

★ Top Pick

Comprehensive VARC guide with RC strategies, vocabulary, and verbal ability practice.

Reading ComprehensionPara-JumblesCritical ReasoningVocabulary
4.7(18.2K)645
Buy on Amazon
3
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT
📚

Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT

Nishit Sinha·Pearson

Latest Edition

★ Top Pick

The best DILR book for CAT with hundreds of sets at different difficulty levels.

ArrangementsSetsGames & TournamentsDI Charts
4.7(15.8K)625
Buy on Amazon
4
Word Power Made Easy
📚

Word Power Made Easy

Norman Lewis·Goyal Publishers

Latest Edition

★ Top Pick

The timeless vocabulary builder — an absolute must for CAT VARC and any MBA entrance exam.

VocabularyEtymologyWord RootsUsage
4.9(62.0K)240
Buy on Amazon
5
CAT 28 Years' Chapter-wise Solved Papers
📚

CAT 28 Years' Chapter-wise Solved Papers

Arihant Experts·Arihant

2024 Edition

Chapter-wise arrangement of 28 years of CAT papers — excellent for identifying patterns.

All CAT Topics — PYQs
4.6(11.2K)420
Buy on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions — CAT

Everything aspirants ask about Common Admission Test — answered clearly.

1

What is the best mock test for CAT?

The best mock tests for CAT are: 1. CAT Full Mock Test — IIM Pattern 2024 by 2IIM; 2. CAT Official Mock Test by IIMs by IIM CAT Official; 3. CAT DILR Intensive Mock — Sets & Games by Career Launcher. 4 of these are completely free. Practising at least 10 full-length mocks before the exam is the single most effective way to improve your score and time management.

2

Which books are best for CAT preparation?

The most recommended books for CAT are: How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma, How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit Sinha, Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis. These are chosen based on topper reviews, educator guidance, and complete syllabus coverage. Focus on understanding concepts deeply rather than reading many books.

3

What is CAT?

Common Admission Test (CAT) is CAT is India's premier MBA entrance exam, conducted by one of the IIMs on rotation. It is the gateway to IIMs and 1200+ other B-schools. The exam tests Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability.

4

Who conducts CAT?

CAT is conducted by IIMs (on rotation). The exam is held on a annual (november) basis.

5

What is the eligibility for CAT?

To appear for CAT, candidates must meet the following criteria: Bachelor's degree with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwBD). No age limit.

6

What is the salary after clearing CAT?

Candidates selected through CAT receive a pay of N/A (Entrance Exam). This may vary based on posting location and allowances.

7

How many vacancies are released for CAT?

CAT typically notifies ~4,000 IIM seats + thousands of other B-school seats. Always check the latest official notification at https://iimcat.ac.in for the exact vacancy count for the current cycle.

8

What is the application fee for CAT?

The application fee for CAT is: ₹2,400 (General) | ₹1,200 (SC/ST/PwBD). Fee payment is usually done online through the official portal.

9

How to crack CAT in the first attempt?

To crack CAT in the first attempt: (1) Understand the syllabus thoroughly, (2) Use the best books listed above, (3) Take full-length mock tests regularly, (4) Analyse your mistakes after each mock, (5) Revise weak areas, and (6) Stay consistent. Starting mock tests at least 3 months before the exam is highly recommended.

10

Where can I find the official CAT notification and syllabus?

The official CAT notification, syllabus, admit card, answer key, and result are published on https://iimcat.ac.in. Bookmark this page and check it regularly for updates.