the document you planned to carry is not accepted
3. Photograph instructions
Recent admit cards have included instructions around affixing the same/recent photograph used in the application.
Check CAT 2026's exact wording.
If a photograph must be attached, do it before leaving home.
Do not carry glue and hope to solve it outside the centre.
4. Reporting and gate-closing time
The time printed on your admit card matters more than a generic internet article.
Plan to arrive with a comfortable buffer.
Work backwards:
Gate closing
↓
Safe arrival target
↓
Travel buffer
↓
Departure time
If the map says 42 minutes, do not leave 45 minutes before your reporting target.
Traffic has no sympathy for percentile goals.
5. Centre route
If practical, locate the centre earlier.
Recent CAT admit-card instructions have explicitly advised candidates to identify the test centre/accessibility in advance.
Check:
- exact gate
- landmarks
- route
- cab/public transport
- alternate route
- weather/travel risk
If another city is involved, travel the previous day when needed.
6. Do not carry prohibited items casually
Recent CAT instructions have prohibited items such as:
- mobile phones
- electronic gadgets
- watches
- physical calculators
- personal stationery
- wallets
- certain metal items/jewellery
Exact CAT 2026 rules must come from the current admit card.
The safest approach is minimalism.
Do not bring valuables assuming the centre will safely store them. Recent instructions have warned that secure storage may not be available.
7. Clothing and footwear
Recent CAT instructions have restricted items such as jewellery/metal and footwear with thick soles or garments with large buttons.
Do not overcomplicate this into a fashion crisis.
Wear simple, comfortable clothing that complies with CAT 2026's current instructions.
Comfort matters because you will also spend time in verification/reporting processes before the two-hour test.
8. Rough work
Recent CAT exams have provided a writing/scribble pad and pen for rough work, with instructions to return them.
Practise neat rough work before CAT.
VARC
Minimal notes only if they help.
DILR
Set number, structured tables/cases, clean separation.
QA
Question number beside calculations.
Do not turn the rough pad into chaos just because paper is limited.
9. Use only permitted interface tools
Do not carry a physical calculator.
CAT has provided an on-screen calculator in recent cycles.
Use the official mock/tutorial beforehand so that:
- calculator
- question palette
- mark for review
- TITA entry
- scrolling
are familiar.
Exam day is not interface-learning day.
10. Bio-break strategy
Recent instructions have discouraged breaks except where necessary and indicated that security/re-entry processes can cost time.
Use the washroom before entering the lab.
Manage water and food sensibly beforehand.
If you have a medical requirement, follow the official accommodation/instruction process rather than generic advice.
11. Your first five exam minutes
Do not think:
> “This is CAT.”
Think:
> “This is VARC Question 1.”
The scale of the exam is psychologically irrelevant once the timer starts.
Your job is one decision at a time.
12. Between sections
When VARC closes:
VARC is over.
When DILR closes:
DILR is over.
Do not calculate imaginary scores.
Do not predict percentile.
The next 40 minutes still contain marks you can control.
13. What if the centre experience is imperfect?
Maybe:
- the queue is slow
- the seat is uncomfortable
- another candidate is coughing
- you feel more nervous than in mocks
Do not wait for perfect emotional conditions.
Your simulation practice should have taught you to begin anyway.
The night-before bag check
Only include what CAT 2026 officially permits/requires.
A generic preparation checklist: