Complete Guide to CAT Response Sheet 2026, Answer Key and Score Calculation

After completing the Common Admission Test (CAT), the next important milestone for every aspirant is the release of the CAT response sheet 2026 and CAT answer key. These two documents help candidates estimate their performance even before the official CAT result and percentile are announced. Mockat

The CAT response sheet is one of the most important documents released after the exam because it allows candidates to review the questions they attempted, compare their responses with the official answer key, and calculate their expected score.

For most CAT aspirants, the period between the CAT exam date and the result announcement is filled with curiosity and analysis. Using the response sheet and answer key correctly allows candidates to predict their CAT raw score, scaled score and estimated percentile.

This guide explains everything about the CAT response sheet 2026, including:

response sheet release date
how to download the CAT response sheet
how to calculate your CAT score
the objection process for answer key corrections
how to analyze your performance using the response sheet Mockat

What is the CAT Response Sheet?

The CAT response sheet is an official document released by the CAT conducting authority for each candidate after the exam.

It contains the complete record of the candidate’s exam attempt, including:

questions displayed during the exam
answer options
the answer selected by the candidate
question IDs
question status (attempted or skipped)

This document acts as a personalized record of your CAT exam attempt.

The response sheet helps candidates understand exactly how they performed in the exam and where they may have made mistakes.

An important point to remember is that candidates can only download the response sheet specific to their own exam slot. This ensures that each candidate only accesses their personal exam data.

Why the CAT Response Sheet is Important

The response sheet plays a major role in helping candidates analyze their exam performance.

Using the response sheet together with the CAT answer key, candidates can:

estimate their CAT raw score
understand their section-wise accuracy
identify mistakes made during the exam
predict their CAT percentile range

Many candidates also use their response sheet to analyze question patterns and difficulty levels.

Another major benefit is that candidates can identify the types of questions they answered incorrectly to determine weak areas for future preparation.

For students planning to attempt CAT again or appear for other MBA entrance exams, this analysis becomes extremely valuable. Mockat

Overview of the CAT Exam

The CAT exam is a national-level entrance exam conducted for admission to Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and many other top management institutes in India. Mockat test series

The exam is conducted as a computer-based test (CBT) and typically takes place in three slots on a single day.

The exam tests candidates across three major sections:

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Quantitative Ability (QA)

The CAT exam typically includes 66–68 questions that must be completed in 120 minutes.

Because the exam is highly competitive, every mark can significantly affect a candidate’s percentile. Mockat

Expected Timeline for CAT Response Sheet 2026

The release of the CAT response sheet follows a predictable timeline after the exam.

The CAT response sheet is expected to be released within 5 to 7 days after the exam.

Below is the typical timeline observed in recent years.

Expected CAT 2026 Timeline

Event	Expected Time
CAT Exam Date	Late November 2026
Response Sheet Release	Early December 2026
Provisional Answer Key	Early December 2026
Objection Window	Early–Mid December
Final Answer Key	Late December
CAT Result	December / January

This timeline may vary slightly each year but the sequence generally remains the same.

How to Download CAT Response Sheet 2026

Candidates can download their response sheet directly from the official CAT website.

To download the response sheet, candidates must log in using their CAT login credentials.

Step-by-Step Process to Download the Response Sheet

Visit the official CAT website
Click on Candidate Login
Enter your CAT login ID and password
Access your dashboard
Click on CAT Response Sheet 2026
Download the response sheet PDF
Download the answer key PDF

Candidates should save the downloaded files safely for future reference.

Details Mentioned in the CAT Response Sheet

The response sheet contains multiple details that help candidates understand their exam performance.

Key Fields in the Response Sheet

Field	Description
Candidate Name	Name registered in the CAT application
Registration Number	Unique CAT candidate ID
Exam Slot	Slot 1, Slot 2 or Slot 3
Question ID	Unique identifier for each question
Question Type	MCQ or TITA
Candidate Response	Selected answer
Status	Attempted or unattempted

Using these fields, candidates can match their answers with the official answer key.

Understanding the CAT Answer Key

Along with the response sheet, the exam authority releases the CAT answer key.

The answer key lists the correct answer for each question in the exam.

There are two types of answer keys released.

Provisional Answer Key

The provisional answer key is the initial answer key released for review.

Candidates are allowed to challenge incorrect answers during this stage.

Final Answer Key

After reviewing all objections submitted by candidates, the exam authority releases the final answer key.

This final version is used to calculate the official CAT scores and percentiles. Mockat

How to Calculate CAT Raw Score Using Response Sheet

Once candidates download the response sheet and answer key, they can calculate their CAT raw score.

CAT Marking Scheme

+3 marks for each correct answer
−1 mark for each incorrect MCQ
No negative marking for TITA questions

Example Score Calculation

Section	Correct	Incorrect	Raw Score
VARC	14	6	+32
DILR	10	4	+26
QA	12	5	+31
Total	36	15	+89

This raw score is later converted into a scaled score using normalization.

CAT Score Normalization Process

Since the CAT exam is conducted in multiple slots, the difficulty level may vary slightly between slots.

To ensure fairness, the exam authority applies a normalization process.

Normalization adjusts the raw scores to produce scaled scores.

The scaled score is then used to calculate the final CAT percentile.

This ensures that candidates across all exam slots are evaluated fairly.

How to Raise Objections to the CAT Answer Key

If candidates find errors in the provisional answer key, they can submit objections.

To raise an objection, candidates must follow the official procedure.

Candidates must pay ₹1200 per objection raised against the CAT response sheet or answer key.

If the objection is valid and accepted by the exam authority, the objection fee will be refunded.

Steps to Raise an Objection

Log in to the CAT portal
Open the response sheet and answer key
Select the question to challenge
Provide explanation and supporting evidence
Pay the objection fee
Submit the objection

Only objections submitted within the official objection window will be considered.

How to Analyze Your CAT Response Sheet

The response sheet is not just useful for calculating scores.

It can also help candidates understand their performance in detail.

Candidates should analyze:

questions they answered incorrectly
questions they skipped
questions where they spent too much time

This helps candidates identify weak areas and improve their preparation strategy.

For example:

low accuracy in DILR may indicate poor set selection
errors in QA may indicate conceptual gaps
mistakes in VARC may indicate reading speed issues

Such insights are extremely useful for improving exam strategy. Mockat

Common Mistakes Candidates Make While Analyzing Response Sheets

Many candidates make the mistake of repeatedly checking their scores and comparing them with others.

Instead, candidates should focus on structured analysis.

Avoid these mistakes:

recalculating score multiple times
panicking after seeing incorrect answers
comparing slot difficulty without normalization
ignoring sectional performance

The correct approach is to analyze mistakes calmly and learn from them.

How Mockat Helps Candidates Analyze the Response Sheet

Mockat offers advanced tools that help candidates analyze their response sheets effectively.

Using Mockat’s analysis tools, candidates can:

recreate the CAT exam attempt
review solutions for difficult questions
analyze section-wise accuracy
estimate percentile ranges

Mockat also provides detailed explanations that help candidates understand why certain answers were incorrect.

This type of analysis improves problem-solving ability and exam strategy. Mockat

Key Tips After Response Sheet Release

Once the response sheet is released, candidates should:

download and save the response sheet
compare answers with the official answer key
calculate the raw score
estimate percentile range
analyze mistakes

Candidates should also start preparing for next stages such as MBA interviews and group discussions.

Summary

The CAT response sheet 2026 and answer key are extremely important tools for analyzing exam performance.

They help candidates:

calculate their raw score
estimate their percentile
identify mistakes
refine their preparation strategy

Using the response sheet effectively can provide valuable insights into a candidate’s strengths and weaknesses.

By carefully analyzing the response sheet and understanding the answer key, candidates can make informed decisions about their MBA admission strategy and future preparation plans. Mockat

FAQs on CAT Response Sheet 2026

When will the CAT response sheet 2026 be released?

The response sheet is typically released within 5 to 7 days after the exam.

How can I download my CAT response sheet?

Candidates can download it from the official CAT website using their login credentials.

What is the objection fee for challenging the answer key?

Candidates must pay ₹1200 per objection raised.

Can I see other candidates’ response sheets?

No. Candidates can only download their own response sheet for their exam slot.

Why is response sheet analysis important?

Analyzing the response sheet helps candidates identify mistakes, understand weak areas and improve future exam strategies. Mockat