CAT exam-day guide
CAT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admit card / hall ticket printout
Print at least two copies and check that your name, photograph, registration number, test centre address, and reporting time are correct. If any detail is wrong, contact the conducting body before the exam day rather than at the gate. Keep one copy in your bag and one with your ID.
Original photo ID matching your application
Carry the original (not a photocopy or a phone image) of the ID document you declared in your application. The exact list of accepted documents and whether photocopies are allowed varies by cycle and centre, so confirm with the provider's current instruction sheet. A mismatch between application details and your ID is a common cause of entry refusal.
Recent passport-size photographs
Carry two or three copies in the same specification as the photo uploaded with your form. Some centres paste a photo on the attendance sheet; requirements change between cycles, so confirm with the provider whether photos are needed.
Transparent water bottle (no label)
Many centres allow only clear, unlabelled bottles; some prohibit liquids entirely. Confirm with the provider. If allowed, fill it before you leave so you are not dependent on centre facilities.
Simple analogue or basic digital watch
Wall clocks may be out of view. Smart watches, fitness bands, and any device with connectivity are almost always banned. Confirm with the provider whether wristwatches are permitted in your slot.
Black or blue ballpoint pens
Carry two or three of the same type. For computer-based tests a pen is still useful for rough work on the sheets the centre provides; for paper tests check whether the centre supplies pens or you must bring them.
Know the reporting time and gate-closing rule
Reporting time is usually well before the start time, and gates typically close before the paper begins. Arrive at the centre at least 60 to 90 minutes early. Confirm the exact cut-off with the provider, since late entry is usually refused with no appeal.
Plan and rehearse the route to the centre
Do a dry run or check the route on a map the day before. Note the exact gate, building, and landmark given on the admit card; large campuses often have multiple gates and candidates lose time at the wrong one.
Leave prohibited items at home or with a companion
Phones, smart devices, Bluetooth earbuds, calculators, books, notes, and metal jewellery are typically barred, and centres often have no secure storage. Do not rely on being able to deposit valuables.
Read the current instruction sheet end to end
Instructions on dress code, footwear, jewellery, sanitisation, and permitted items change between cycles. Read the version published for your specific test date, not an older one from a previous attempt.
Check the mock test or interface tutorial
If a computer-based test, use the official practice or tutorial link to learn the navigation, on-screen calculator if any, and how to flag and review questions. This removes interface surprises on the day.
Confirm the scoring and negative-marking rule for your section
Know whether wrong answers cost marks and how many options are correct. Confirm with the provider if the current cycle's marking scheme is not stated clearly in the information bulletin.
Plan the day
Re-read the information bulletin sections on eligibility, permitted items, and marking. Confirm your centre address and reporting time on the admit card. Do one full-length timed mock under exam conditions, then spend the remaining time on error review rather than new topics. Sort out logistics: transport, who is dropping you, and a backup route. Sleep on a normal schedule from tonight so you are not resetting your body clock at the last minute.
Do a lighter revision pass: formulas, shortcuts, and the summary sheets you have already made. Stop opening new material or new question sets. Verify that your ID, admit card, photos, and pens are physically in one bag. Check the weather forecast and any local transport disruptions for the route.
Do a short route rehearsal or confirm the travel time at the same hour as your commute. Set two alarms and arrange a backup wake-up. Prepare clothes that comply with any dress code and avoid metal accessories. Pack the bag and place it at the door. Eat a normal dinner, avoid heavy caffeine after midday, and aim for a full night's sleep; do not study past the early evening.
Eat a normal breakfast you are used to, not an experiment. Leave earlier than the map suggests, targeting arrival 60 to 90 minutes before the reporting time. Keep the admit card and ID accessible rather than buried. At the centre, use the waiting time for calm review of summary notes only, not for solving hard problems that can dent confidence.
Read the on-screen or paper instructions and confirm the number of questions and time. Do a first pass on questions you can solve quickly, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Keep an eye on the clock at fixed checkpoints, for example after every quarter of the time. If negative marking applies, guess only when you can eliminate options. If a technical problem occurs in a computer-based test, raise your hand immediately and get it logged by the invigilator before time runs out.
Note your section-wise attempt count and any questions you were unsure about while memory is fresh; this is the most useful input for your next attempt. Do not spend the following days re-litigating individual questions. Wait for the official answer key and result notification from the provider, and check the published process and deadlines if you intend to raise an objection.
Rules to check
Carry the original ID document declared in your application; photocopies, screenshots, and expired documents are commonly refused. The accepted ID list varies by cycle, so confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Follow the reporting time strictly. Gates usually close before the test starts and late candidates are not admitted; there is normally no provision for a re-test because of traffic or weather.
Electronic devices including phones, smart watches, and earbuds are generally prohibited in the test hall. Possession, even switched off, can lead to disqualification, so leave them at home or with a companion.
Do not communicate with other candidates once inside the hall, and do not look at another candidate's screen or paper. Invigilators can cancel your candidature for malpractice, and the decision is usually final at the centre level.
Breaks are generally not permitted during the test; if you need to leave the hall for a medical reason, expect to be escorted and to lose test time, and confirm the centre's policy in advance if you have a medical condition requiring accommodation.
Scoring follows the marking scheme in the current information bulletin, which may include negative marking for wrong answers. Do not assume the scheme from a previous cycle; confirm with the provider if it is unclear.
Rough work must be done only on the sheets or space the centre provides. Carrying notes, paper, or written material into the hall is treated as unfair means.
If you face a technical failure or a disturbance during a computer-based test, report it to the invigilator immediately and ask for it to be recorded; claims raised after leaving the centre are hard to substantiate.