Gem CAT Cutoff 2026: IIM Percentiles, Sectional Scores & Admission Trends
For General Engineering Male (GEM) candidates, the CAT cutoff for top Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta consistently remains above the 99th percentile, with IIM Calcutta’s 2025 actual interview calls typically extending to candidates with 99+ percentile. The GEM CAT Cutoff is the highly competitive percentile threshold required for admission to premier MBA programs, often exceeding 99.7 percentile for the most sought-after institutes. While official 2026 cutoffs are still awaited, trends from 2025 indicate similar stringent requirements across all sections.
2026 cutoff will be updated post-release.
Gem CAT Cutoff 2026: Notification, Application & Exam Date Schedule
The table below outlines the expected schedule for the CAT 2026 examination, crucial for GEM candidates planning their application process.
| Event | Date (Expected) |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | July 2026 |
| Application Start | August 2026 |
| Application Close | September 20, 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | First week of November 2026 |
| Exam Date | November 29, 2026 |
| Result Announcement | Third week of December 2026 |
CAT 2025 Category-wise Cutoff for GEM: General, OBC, SC, ST & EWS Percentiles (Latest — 2026 awaited)
The following table presents the 2025 CAT cutoff percentiles for various categories, including the highly competitive General Engineering Male (GEM) segment, for shortlisting by top IIMs.
| Category | Overall Percentile (IIM ABC) | VARC Percentile (IIM Calcutta) | DILR Percentile (IIM Calcutta) | QA Percentile (IIM Calcutta) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General (GEM) | 99+ | 80 | 80 | 75 |
| NC-OBC | 75 (Estimated IIM A) | 65 (Estimated IIM A) | 65 (Estimated IIM A) | 65 (Estimated IIM A) |
| SC | 70 (IIM Calcutta Qualifying) | 60 (Estimated IIM A) | 60 (Estimated IIM A) | 60 (Estimated IIM A) |
| ST | 65 (IIM Calcutta Qualifying) | 50 (Estimated IIM A) | 50 (Estimated IIM A) | 50 (Estimated IIM A) |
| EWS | 80 (Estimated IIM A) | 70 (Estimated IIM A) | 70 (Estimated IIM A) | 70 (Estimated IIM A) |
CAT Cutoff Trends: IIM Percentiles 2023 vs 2024 vs 2025 for GEM
This section illustrates the year-on-year trends in CAT cutoff percentiles for General Engineering Male (GEM) candidates at prominent IIMs, highlighting the consistent high benchmarks.
| IIM | 2023 Percentile (GEM) | 2024 Percentile (GEM) | 2025 Percentile (GEM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 93.76 | 99.76 | 99+ |
| IIM Bangalore | 99+ | 99+ | 99+ |
| IIM Calcutta | ~92.4 (Lowest Admitted) | 85 (Qualifying) | 99+ (Actual Calls) |
| IIM Kozhikode | 91.94 | 88.14 | 99+ (Expected) |
FAQs
Q: What does GEM stand for in the context of CAT?
A: GEM stands for General Engineering Male candidates. This demographic typically faces higher cutoffs due to the large number of applicants and lack of reservation benefits.
Q: What is the expected CAT 2026 cutoff for GEM candidates?
A: For top IIMs, the CAT 2026 cutoff for GEM candidates is expected to remain above the 99th percentile, consistent with previous years’ trends.
Q: When will the official CAT 2026 cutoffs be released?
A: The official CAT 2026 cutoffs are typically released by individual IIMs after the CAT 2026 results are announced, usually in December 2026 or January 2027, and with the official notification in July 2026.
Q: Do IIMs have sectional cutoffs for GEM candidates?
A: Yes, most IIMs apply sectional cutoffs in addition to the overall CAT percentile. For example, IIM Calcutta’s 2025 general category required 80 percentile in VARC and DILR, and 75 in QA.
Q: What percentile do I need for top IIMs as a GEM?
A: As a GEM candidate, you generally need to target a CAT percentile above 99.7 to have a competitive chance for interview calls from top-tier IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta.
Q: Are CAT cutoffs for GEM candidates higher than other categories?
A: Yes, CAT cutoffs for General Engineering Male (GEM) candidates are typically higher compared to those for reserved categories (OBC, SC, ST, EWS) due to intense competition and no reservation advantages.
