CAT Sectional Cutoff 2026
CAT Sectional Cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad (Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad, Gujarat) General/EWS candidates saw a significant tightening, with the overall qualifying percentile increasing from 80 in the 2024 cycle to 95 for the 2026-28 admission cycle (based on CAT 2025 results). This represents a substantial shift in the minimum eligibility benchmark for one of the top IIMs. While IIM Lucknow (Indian Institute of Management Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh) and IIM Indore (Indian Institute of Management Indore, Indore, Madhya Pradesh) maintained high sectional cutoffs of 85 percentile in each section for 2025, IIM Bangalore (Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, Bangalore, Karnataka) and IIM Calcutta (Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal) typically required sectional cutoffs around 75-80 percentile, with an overall percentile of 85. 2026 cutoff will be updated post-release.
Exam & Application Dates 2026
The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 schedule outlines key dates for notification, registration, and examination.
| Event | Date (Expected) |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | Last week of July 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 Sectional Cutoff: IIM-wise Cutoff 2025 (Latest — 2026 awaited)
The sectional cutoff in CAT varies across different IIMs, reflecting their individual admission criteria and the competitive landscape.
| IIM | VARC Percentile | DILR Percentile | QA Percentile | Overall Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad (General/EWS) | 85 | 85 | 85 | 95 |
| IIM Bangalore (General) | 80 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
| IIM Calcutta (General) | 80 | 80 | 75 | 85 |
| IIM Lucknow (General) | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 |
| IIM Indore (General) | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 |
| IIM Kozhikode (General) | 75 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
CAT Sectional Cutoff: Category-wise Cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad 2025 (Latest — 2026 awaited)
Category-wise sectional cutoffs in CAT provide varied benchmarks for admission to IIMs, with relaxations for reserved categories.
| Category | VARC Percentile | DILR Percentile | QA Percentile | Overall Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 85 | 85 | 85 | 95 |
| NC-OBC | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 |
| SC | 75 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
| ST | 65 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
| PwD | 75 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
CAT Sectional Cutoff: Year-on-Year Trend (General Category)
Analyzing the year-on-year trend for CAT sectional cutoff reveals shifts in competitive requirements for top IIMs.
| IIM | Section | 2024 Percentile | 2025 Percentile (Latest) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | VARC | 70 | 85 |
| IIM Ahmedabad | DILR | 70 | 85 |
| IIM Ahmedabad | QA | 70 | 85 |
| IIM Bangalore | VARC | 80 | 80 |
| IIM Bangalore | DILR | 75 | 75 |
| IIM Bangalore | QA | 75 | 75 |
| IIM Calcutta | VARC | 80 | 80 |
| IIM Calcutta | DILR | 80 | 80 |
| IIM Calcutta | QA | 75 | 75 |
Counselling Dates 2026
The CAT admission process for the 2026-28 MBA batch involves several stages post-result announcement, as IIMs conduct their own selection procedures.
| Event | Date (Expected) |
|---|---|
| IIM Shortlisting (WAT–PI Calls) | January–February 2026 |
| WAT / GD / PI Rounds | February–March 2026 |
| Final Merit List & Offers | April–May 2026 |
| MBA Session Begins | June–July 2026 |
FAQs
Q? What is sectional cutoff in CAT?
Sectional cutoff in CAT refers to the minimum percentile a candidate must achieve in each of the three sections—Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA)—to qualify for the next stages of the MBA admission process at various B-schools, including IIMs. Even candidates with high overall percentiles can be rejected if they fail to clear the sectional thresholds.
Q? What are the expected CAT sectional cutoffs for IIMs in 2026?
For the 2026-28 admission cycle, IIM CAT 2026 sectional cut-offs for top-tier institutes (IIM A, B, C) are expected to remain high, typically above 75–85+ percentile. IIM Lucknow and IIM Indore often have the highest sectional cutoffs among older IIMs, requiring 80–85 percentile in each section.
Q? When will the CAT 2026 cutoff be released?
The official CAT 2026 cutoff will be released by individual IIMs and other B-schools after the CAT 2026 results are announced, which is expected in December 2026 or January 2027. The CAT 2026 notification, containing exam details, is anticipated in the last week of July 2026.
Q? Do all IIMs have the same sectional cutoff?
No, sectional cutoffs vary across different IIMs, as each institute sets its own minimum percentile requirements based on factors like the number of applicants, exam difficulty, and their specific admission policies. While some newer IIMs might have uniform and moderate sectional thresholds, older IIMs often maintain higher and distinct sectional filters.
Q? Can I get into an IIM with a low sectional score but high overall CAT percentile?
It is highly unlikely to get into an IIM with a low sectional score, even if your overall CAT percentile is high. IIMs emphasize balanced performance across all sections, and failing to meet the minimum sectional cutoff in any one area can lead to automatic elimination from the shortlisting process.
Q? What is the sectional cutoff in CAT 2025 for General category?
For the General category in CAT 2025, top IIMs like Ahmedabad required 85 percentile in each section (VARC, DILR, QA) with an overall 95 percentile. Other IIMs like Bangalore and Calcutta had sectional cutoffs around 75-80 percentile, while newer IIMs typically required around 70-73 percentile in each section.
