C A T

What C A T does

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is India's premier standardized entrance examination for admission to postgraduate management programs at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other participating B-schools. CAT is a computer-based test administered annually by the IIM consortium on a rotational basis, with IIM Indore serving as the convening institution for the 2026 cycle. The exam assesses candidates on quantitative ability, verbal ability and reading comprehension, data interpretation, and logical reasoning, and is accepted by all 22 IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Indore, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Mumbai, and others) as well as over 100 non-IIM B-schools. The underlying technology is an online registration and testing platform hosted at iimcat.ac.in, which supports candidate enrollment, document submission, admit card distribution, score card login, and non-IIM institutional registration.

CAT operates as a non-profit cooperative initiative among the IIMs, which are autonomous public bodies established under the Indian Companies Act. It is not a commercial entity and has no venture capital, private equity, or external institutional investment. Revenue is generated from candidate registration fees collected during the August-September registration window, plus fees from non-IIM institutions that register to use CAT scores for their admissions. Pricing is structured as a one-time annual registration fee per candidate, with the exact fee amount not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is event-driven and self-serve: candidates discover the exam through the official website, newspaper advertisements (Hindi and English), and IIM institutional channels, then register directly through the portal and sit the test at designated centers across India. CAT 2026 registration opened August 3, 2026, with the test scheduled for November 29, 2026.

Name

C A T

Legal name

Common Admission Test (CAT)

Website

https://iimcat.ac.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is India's standardized computer-based entrance exam for MBA admissions, administered annually by the Indian Institutes of Management consortium and accepted by all 22 IIMs and 100+ B-schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Standardized Entrance Examination Services

akta.pro primary industry

University/College Entrance & Admissions Testing Authorities (EDADAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Assessment Platforms & Computer-Based Testing Authorities (EDADAFAK), National/State Examination Boards & Testing Agencies (EDADAFAA)

Keywords

• Standardized entrance testing
• MBA admission exam
• Computer-based assessment
• Management education screening
• IIM admissions gateway

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Examination Fees: Revenue generated from candidate registration fees for CAT examination. Fees are collected during the registration window (August-September) from aspiring MBA candidates. Additional revenue streams include fees from Non-IIM institutional registrations for participating in the exam.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CAT conducts an annual computer-based standardized entrance examination for admission to postgraduate management programs at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other participating B-schools. The exam is administered through an online registration portal at iimcat.ac.in, with admit card distribution and score reporting handled digitally. Test administration occurs at designated exam centers across multiple Indian cities on a scheduled test day.

Product overview

CAT is a single standardized examination product administered by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). The offering consists of a computer-based test for admission to postgraduate management programs, accompanied by a registration portal, admit card distribution system, and score card login services. The official website serves as the central platform for candidate registration, document downloads, and examination information dissemination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Common Admission Test (CAT) An annual computer-based standardized entrance examination for admission to postgraduate management programs (MBA/PGP) at the 22 Indian Institutes of Management and over 100 other participating B-schools across India. The test assesses candidates on quantitative ability, verbal ability and reading comprehension, data interpretation, and logical reasoning, and produces a unified score accepted across the participating consortium.
• Non-IIM Institutional Participation Registration

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• IIM AhmedabadflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026One of the premier participating institutions in the CAT examination consortium. IIM Ahmedabad is India's top-ranked business school and serves as a key member of the CAT governing body.
• IIM BangaloreflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Second-ranked IIM and key consortium member that participates in CAT for admissions to its flagship PGP program.
• IIM CalcuttaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026One of the original IIMs and founding consortium members. Uses CAT as the primary entrance exam for its PGP admissions.
• IIM KozhikodecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Established IIM participating in CAT for PGP admissions. Known for its strong marketing and international programs.
• IIM LucknowcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Premier IIM in North India participating in CAT consortium for admissions to its management programs.
• IIM IndorecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Host institution for CAT 2026 examination. Manages the CAT help desk ([email protected]) and administers the exam logistics.
• IIM MumbaicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Relatively newer IIM (established 2015) that participates in CAT for its PGP program admissions.
• Non-IIM InstitutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Over 100 B-schools across India use CAT scores as part of their admission criteria. These institutions register with CAT to receive score reports and use them for their respective programs.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• Prometric: Prometric is a computer-based testing delivery platform that likely provides the underlying CBT infrastructure for CAT. As a testing services enabler, it is comparable to CAT's operational backbone.
• Pearson VUE: Pearson VUE is a global computer-based testing services provider operating test centers across multiple countries. It is comparable to CAT's operational model of delivering standardized tests through a network of physical test centers.

Direct peers

• GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council): GMAC administers the GMAT, the global standardized exam for MBA admissions. Like CAT, GMAC provides a unified standardized test accepted by a global consortium of business schools—a directly comparable business and operating model.
• NMAT by GMAC: NMAT is a computer-based MBA entrance exam administered by GMAC for admission to NMIMS and other Indian B-schools. It competes directly with CAT and is recognized by a growing number of institutions.
• XLRI (XAT): XAT is the entrance exam for XLRI and 100+ other Indian B-schools, directly competing with CAT for the Indian MBA admissions market. It is the most significant alternative to CAT in India.
• College Board (SAT): College Board administers the SAT, the standardized college entrance exam accepted by US universities. Like CAT, it operates as a not-for-profit standardized testing organization with a single test accepted across a consortium of institutions.

Broad incumbents

• ETS (Educational Testing Service): ETS administers the GRE, the dominant standardized test for graduate school admissions globally. Like CAT, ETS provides computer-based standardized testing and scoring services accepted across a network of institutions, though at a broader scale.

Emerging players

• Symbiosis International University (SNAP): SNAP is the entrance exam for Symbiosis institutes and a growing number of other B-schools. As a competitor to CAT in the Indian MBA admissions market, it targets a similar candidate segment with a separate testing infrastructure.
• NTA (CMAT): CMAT is the Common Management Admission Test conducted by the National Testing Agency, accepted by AICTE-approved B-schools. It is a government-administered alternative to CAT with similar functional design.
• AIMA (MAT): AIMA conducts the Management Aptitude Test (MAT), one of India's oldest MBA entrance exams accepted by 600+ B-schools. It is a broader-based alternative to CAT targeting a wider range of institutions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/c-a-t

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about C A T