CAT 2026 Answer Key – Slot 2
This page tracks the CAT 2026 Slot 2 answer key. CAT 2026 is held on 29 November 2026 by IIM Indore. The provisional answer key and candidate response sheets are expected in early December 2026 on iimcat.ac.in. The fastest way to use the key is to paste your response sheet link into our calculator, which matches every answer for you.
Calculate Your CAT 2026 ScoreSlot 2 answer key status
Expected around 4 December 2026
CAT 2026 Slot 2 answer key at a glance
IIM Indore publishes a provisional answer key first. After the objection window closes, experts review every challenge and the final key is used to compute results.
Coaching institutes also release memory-based keys within hours of each slot. These are useful for a first estimate, but only the official key decides your score.
| Event | Date (CAT 2026) |
|---|---|
| CAT 2026 exam (3 slots) | Sunday, 29 November 2026 |
| Response sheets released | Expected early December 2026 |
| Provisional answer key + objection window | Expected early December 2026 |
| Final answer key | Expected before results |
| CAT 2026 result and scorecard | Expected early January 2027 |
How to download the official answer key
- Go to iimcat.ac.in and log in with your CAT User ID and password.
- Open the Candidate Response / Answer Key link in the dashboard.
- Make sure the key shown is for Slot 2 (your slot is printed on the admit card).
- Download or keep the page open alongside your response sheet.
How to calculate your score with the answer key
Count correct answers, wrong MCQs and wrong TITAs in each section, then apply the marking scheme. Doing this by hand for 68 questions is slow and error-prone; our calculator reads your response sheet link and does it in seconds.
Each correct answer earns +3. A wrong MCQ costs −1. A wrong TITA (type-in-the-answer) question and an unattempted question both score 0.
| Response | MCQ | TITA |
|---|---|---|
| Correct | +3 | +3 |
| Wrong | −1 | 0 |
| Not attempted | 0 | 0 |
Raising an objection
IIM Indore usually opens a short window to challenge provisional answers for a fee per question. You will need the question ID from your response sheet and supporting reasoning.
Check the official notice on iimcat.ac.in for exact dates and fees; we do not publish unofficial figures. If a key is changed or a question dropped, recalculate your score.
What to do after checking your score
- Convert your score into an estimated percentile with the CAT Percentile Predictor.
- Compare sectional scores with IIM sectional cut-offs.
- Check likely IIM and B-school calls with the IIM Call Predictor.
- Start shortlisting non-CAT and CAT-accepting colleges with deadlines in December and January.
CAT 2026 marking scheme
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 72 | 40 min |
| DILR | 22 | 66 | 40 min |
| QA | 22 | 66 | 40 min |
| Total | 68 | 204 | 120 min |
+3 per correct answer · −1 per wrong MCQ · 0 per wrong TITA · 0 unattempted
Frequently asked questions
When will the CAT 2026 Slot 2 answer key come out?
The provisional key is expected in early December 2026 together with response sheets. We update this page as soon as it is published on iimcat.ac.in.
Is the answer key the same for all slots?
No. Each slot has a different paper, so each slot has its own answer key. Use the key for the slot you appeared in.
Does a wrong TITA answer reduce my score?
No. Wrong TITA answers score 0. Only wrong MCQ answers carry a −1 penalty.
Are coaching answer keys reliable?
They are a good early estimate, but they can contain errors. Your official score is based only on the IIM Indore key.
What happens if a question is dropped?
IIMs announce how dropped or changed questions are treated in the final key notice. Recalculate your score after the final key is out.
Can I calculate my score without the answer key?
Yes. Once the response sheet is out it already shows the correct option for each question. Paste its link in our calculator for an instant section-wise score.