CAT 2026 dress code: 6 rules to follow before the Nov 29 exam
By TUF News Desk · Published 8 November 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
CAT 2026 is three weeks away, and the last thing a candidate needs on November 29 is a problem at the gate. IIM Indore, which is conducting this year’s exam, has set out dress code rules for the day: plain clothes, flat footwear, and nothing metal or electronic on your person. The guidance, reported on November 8, warns candidates to follow the instructions printed on the admit card to avoid disqualification.
The Common Admission Test will be held on Sunday, November 29, 2026, as a computer-based test in three sessions at centres in 170 cities. Admit cards have been out since November 6 and can be downloaded from the official CAT website till November 29. The admit card carries the candidate’s session, centre address and reporting time, so it is the document that settles the details for each candidate.
What the dress code says
The rules are short:
- Wear simple, comfortable clothing.
- Avoid heavy jackets with a lot of pockets.
- Wear slippers or sandals, and avoid shoes with thick soles or metal buckles.
- Leave smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, calculators and phones at home. They are banned inside the centre.
- Do not wear metallic jewellery, watches or other accessories.
- Avoid outfits with multiple pockets.
Candidates are also told to read the instructions on their admit card and on the official website and follow them.
What to carry, and what to leave behind
Take a printed copy of the admit card, with the same photograph affixed that was uploaded at registration, and a valid photo ID. Digital copies on a phone are not accepted.
Phones, calculators, Bluetooth devices and smartwatches are banned. The centre gives each candidate one scribble pad and one pen for rough work, and the test screen carries an on-screen calculator. Rough work anywhere else, including on the admit card, counts as using unfair means. Our admission documents checklist covers the papers centres commonly ask for.
The paper, and the mock test
The paper runs 120 minutes, split into three 40-minute sections in a fixed order: verbal ability and reading comprehension, data interpretation and logical reasoning, and quantitative ability. A section cannot be left early, and there is no going back to one once it is done. Multiple-choice questions carry three marks for a correct answer and minus one for a wrong one; typed answers carry three marks for a correct answer and no deduction.
The official mock test has been live on the CAT website since November 6, with the on-screen calculator included, so candidates can practise the exact interface before the day. The November 4 media release also said the IIMs would use face matching and mobile jammers at select centres.
Two practical points from the exam instructions are worth knowing in advance. Bio-breaks are allowed only in an emergency, and the time lost is not made up. If a computer fails mid-test, the invigilator locks the system and moves the candidate to another one, with the timer paused, so no time is lost.
Check the admit card now
The download window stays open till November 29, but there is no reason to wait. Check the name, photograph, centre address, session and reporting time against the registration form as soon as the PDF is downloaded, and use the mock test before the week of the exam. The result is expected in the first week of January 2027, according to the CAT bulletin.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear for CAT 2026?
Simple, comfortable clothes and slippers or sandals. Avoid heavy jackets, outfits with many pockets, thick-soled shoes, metal buckles, jewellery and watches.
Can I carry a phone or a smartwatch to the CAT 2026 centre?
No. Phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices and calculators are banned inside the centre.
What must I carry to the exam centre?
A printed admit card with the same photograph affixed as uploaded at registration, and a valid photo ID. Digital copies of the admit card are not accepted.
When will the CAT 2026 result be declared?
The CAT bulletin puts the result in the first week of January 2027.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear for CAT 2026?
Simple, comfortable clothes and slippers or sandals. Avoid heavy jackets, outfits with many pockets, thick-soled shoes, metal buckles, jewellery and watches.
Can I carry a phone or a smartwatch to the CAT 2026 centre?
No. Phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices and calculators are banned inside the centre.
What must I carry to the CAT 2026 exam centre?
A printed admit card with the same photograph affixed as uploaded at registration, and a valid photo ID. Digital copies of the admit card are not accepted.
When will the CAT 2026 result be declared?
The CAT bulletin puts the result in the first week of January 2027.
Sources: NDTV, CareerBox, NDTV Profit