CAT Cutoff Category Wise 2026: Iims & Top MBA Colleges, Percentile Trends & Exam Dates
CAT Cutoff Category Wise for top IIMs remained consistently high, with the General category often requiring 99+ percentile in 2025, a slight increase from the 98-99 percentile range seen in 2024 for many premier institutes. This CAT Cutoff Category Wise is the minimum percentile threshold set by IIMs and other leading B-schools for shortlisting candidates for their MBA/PGDM programs, typically ranging from 99+ for General to 35-70 for SC/ST categories in 2025. The official CAT 2026 cutoff will be updated post-release.
CAT Cutoff Category Wise 2026: Notification, Application & Exam Date Schedule
The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 schedule outlines key dates for notification, application, and the examination itself, with official cutoffs to follow post-result.
| Event | Date (Expected) |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | July 26, 2026 |
| Application Start | August 1, 2026 |
| Application Close | September 20, 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | November 12, 2026 |
| Exam Date | November 29, 2026 |
| Result Announcement | December 2026 / January 2027 |
CAT 2025 Category-wise Cutoff: General, OBC, SC, ST & EWS Percentiles for Top IIMs (Latest — 2026 awaited)
The CAT 2025 category-wise cutoff percentiles for various IIMs demonstrate the varying thresholds for different reservation categories.
| Category | Top IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta) | Tier-2 IIMs (Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode) | Newer IIMs (Amritsar, Nagpur, Trichy, etc.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 99+ Percentile | 95-99 Percentile | 90-95 Percentile |
| NC-OBC | 90-95 Percentile (Final Call) | 80-90 Percentile | 75-85 Percentile |
| EWS | 95+ Percentile (Final Call) | 80-90 Percentile | 75-85 Percentile |
| SC | 75-92 Percentile (Final Call) | 65-80 Percentile | 55-70 Percentile |
| ST | 65-80 Percentile (Final Call) | 55-70 Percentile | 35-50 Percentile |
| PwD | 60-75 Percentile (Final Call) | 50-65 Percentile | 50-60 Percentile |
CAT Cutoff Trends: Overall Percentiles 2023 vs 2024 vs 2025 for IIMs (Latest — 2026 awaited)
Analyzing CAT overall percentile trends for the General category reveals consistent high cutoffs for premier IIMs over recent years.
| IIM | 2025 (General Category Overall Percentile) | 2024 (General Category Overall Percentile) | 2023 (General Category Overall Percentile) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 99+ | 99+ | 99+ |
| IIM Bangalore | 99+ | 99+ | 99+ |
| IIM Calcutta | 99+ | 99+ | 99+ |
| IIM Lucknow | 97-99 | 97-99 | 97-99 |
| IIM Indore | 97-99 | 97-99 | 97-99 |
CAT Cutoff Category Wise 2026 Counselling Schedule: Registration, Choice Filling & Seat Allotment Dates
The CAT 2026 counselling process, following the exam results, involves several stages from shortlisting to final seat allotment.
| Event | Date (Expected) |
|---|---|
| Counselling Registration (IIMs) | January 2027 |
| Shortlisting for WAT/PI | February – April 2027 |
| WAT/PI Rounds | February – April 2027 |
| Final Admission Offers | May 2027 |
FAQs
Q: When is the CAT 2026 notification expected?
A: The CAT 2026 notification is expected to be released in the last week of July 2026, typically around July 26.
Q: What is the expected CAT 2026 exam date?
A: Based on historical trends, the CAT 2026 exam is expected to be conducted on Sunday, November 29, 2026.
Q: What is the CAT cutoff category wise for top IIMs in 2025?
A: For top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta, the General category cutoff was typically 99+ percentile in 2025, while reserved categories like SC/ST had significantly lower cutoffs, ranging from 35-70 percentile.
Q: Do IIMs have sectional cutoffs?
A: Yes, most IIMs require candidates to clear both overall and sectional cutoffs in Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) sections.
Q: What is the difference between qualifying and final CAT cutoffs?
A: Qualifying cutoffs are the minimum eligibility criteria set by IIMs for shortlisting candidates for further rounds (WAT/PI), while final cutoffs are the actual higher percentiles at which interview calls are made, depending on the applicant pool and competition.
Q: When will CAT 2026 results be announced?
A: The CAT 2026 results are expected to be announced in the third week of December 2026 or the first week of January 2027.
