Cochin University of Science and Technology Common Admission Test • Conducted by Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT)
Complete Timeline from Application to Counselling & Seat Allotment
CUSAT releases its official academic calendar for CAT every year around late January, with the application window typically remaining open for about five to six weeks. The examination itself is conducted over multiple days in May, with different Test Codes (covering different programme groups such as B.Tech, M.Tech, MBA, MCA, LLB, and integrated M.Sc.) scheduled on separate days or shifts so that candidates appearing for multiple test codes do not face a clash.
| Event | Tentative 2026 Schedule |
|---|---|
| Notification & Application Form Release | Last week of January |
| Last Date for Online Registration | First week of March |
| Edit/Correction Window | Second week of March |
| Admit Card / Hall Ticket Release | Last week of April |
| CAT Exam - B.Tech Paper (Test Code 101) | 9 - 11 May (two shifts: 9:30 AM-12:30 PM and 2:30 PM-5:30 PM) |
| Provisional Answer Key Release | Within a week of the exam |
| Answer Key Challenge Window | 2-3 days after provisional key |
| Final Answer Key & Result/Rank List | Early June |
| Online Option Registration (Choice Filling) | Mid-June onward |
| Trial & Final Allotment / Admission | Late June - July |
| Commencement of Classes | August |
Since CUSAT conducts tests for multiple programme streams (B.Tech, M.Tech, MCA, MBA, LLB, Integrated M.Sc, PhD) under the single CAT umbrella, candidates must select the correct Test Code corresponding to their target programme while filling the application form. Selecting the wrong test code or missing the registration deadline for Test Code 101 (B.Tech/PCM) means losing the opportunity to compete for engineering seats that year, since CUSAT does not usually offer a late-entry window for CAT.
CUSAT deliberately keeps its CAT application-to-admission timeline tighter than KEAM's, since it only needs to populate seats across its own campuses and a limited affiliated network rather than coordinate statewide allotment across hundreds of institutions. This means CUSAT's rank list, option registration, and seat confirmation typically wrap up within 6-8 weeks of the exam, compared to KEAM's longer multi-month counselling process.
Since CUSAT CAT typically falls in May, shortly after Kerala Plus Two board exams and around the same window as KEAM and JEE Main Session 2, students should plan their final months of preparation to peak simultaneously across all three exams rather than treating CUSAT CAT prep as a separate, sequential phase.
CUSAT generally does not offer a late registration window for CAT once the deadline closes, given the compressed downstream timeline for exam logistics and counselling. Missing the application deadline means losing the opportunity to compete for a CUSAT CAT-based seat that admission cycle, making early registration (rather than waiting until the last date) a sensible precaution against technical glitches or last-minute document issues.
Revise chapter-wise mathematical formulas before launching your test: