CAT Cutoff Vs Percentile 2026: IIM Admission Criteria, Selection Process & Score Analysis
CAT Cutoff Vs Percentile for IIM admissions in 2025 saw top institutes like IIM Ahmedabad set a qualifying overall percentile of 95 for the General category, a significant increase from 80 in 2024. This CAT cutoff is the minimum percentile required for candidates to be considered for the subsequent Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds, with actual interview calls often extended to candidates with higher percentiles. While the official CAT 2026 cutoff will be updated post-release, the 2025 data provides the latest benchmark for aspiring MBA candidates.
CAT Cutoff Vs Percentile 2026: Notification, Application & Exam Date Schedule
The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 schedule outlines key dates for aspirants, from notification release to result announcement.
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | July 26 |
| Application Start | August 1 |
| Application Close | September 20 (Expected) |
| Admit Card Release | November 12 (Expected) |
| Exam Date | November 29 |
| Result Announcement | December (Third/Fourth Week) |
CAT 2025 Category-wise Cutoff: General, OBC, SC, ST & EWS Percentile (Latest — 2026 awaited)
The 2025 CAT qualifying percentiles for various IIMs demonstrate the competitive landscape across different categories.
| IIM | General | EWS | NC-OBC | SC | ST | PwD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 95 | 95 | 90 | 85 | 75 | 85 |
| IIM Bangalore | 85 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 65 | 65 |
| IIM Calcutta | 85 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 65 | 55 |
| IIM Lucknow | 90 | 82 | 82 | 65 | 60 | 60 |
| IIM Indore | 90 | 90 | 80 | 60 | 45 | 45 |
CAT Cutoff Trends: Overall Percentile 2023 vs 2024 vs 2025 for Top IIMs (Latest — 2026 awaited)
Analyzing the overall CAT percentile trends for top IIMs reveals shifts in admission benchmarks over recent years.
| IIM | 2025 (Overall Percentile) | 2024 (Overall Percentile) | 2023 (Overall Percentile) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad (General) | 95 | 80 | 80 |
| IIM Bangalore (General) | 85 | 85 | 80 |
| IIM Calcutta (General) | 85 | 85 | 85 |
CAT 2026 Admission Process & Key Dates
The CAT admission process for IIMs is decentralized, with each institute conducting its own shortlisting and interview rounds post-results.
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| IIMs Begin Shortlisting for WAT-PI | January |
| IIM CAP 2026 Selection Process Start | January 21 |
| IIM CAP 2026 Interviews (PI) | February – April |
| Final Admission Offer | May |
FAQs
Q. When will the CAT 2026 cutoff be officially released?
The official CAT 2026 cutoff is expected to be released around December 2026, following the announcement of the CAT 2026 results.
Q. What is the difference between CAT cutoff and percentile?
The CAT percentile indicates a candidate’s performance relative to all test-takers, while the CAT cutoff is the minimum percentile set by an institute for shortlisting candidates for further admission rounds.
Q. Do IIMs have sectional cutoffs in addition to overall cutoffs?
Yes, most IIMs implement sectional cutoffs, requiring candidates to meet minimum percentile scores in each of the three CAT sections (VARC, DILR, and QA) in addition to the overall cutoff.
Q. What was the CAT cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad for the General category in 2025?
For the 2025 admission cycle, the overall CAT cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad for the General category was 95 percentile, with sectional cutoffs at 85 percentile each.
Q. Is a 90 percentile in CAT sufficient for admission to top IIMs?
A 90 percentile in CAT may be sufficient for reserved categories or newer IIMs to meet qualifying cutoffs, but for the General category in top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta, a 99+ percentile is generally required for interview calls.
Q. Does CAT have a centralized counselling process for all IIMs?
No, CAT does not have a centralized counselling process. Each IIM conducts its own admission procedure, including shortlisting for WAT/PI rounds, after the CAT results are declared.
