General Cutoff For CAT 2026: Category-Wise Percentiles, Exam Dates & Admission Process
At 99+ percentile, the General Cutoff For CAT is the qualifying threshold for top Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta, reflecting intense competition for MBA admissions. While the official CAT 2026 cutoff is still awaited, the 2025 data indicates that candidates often need to exceed 95 percentile for calls from newer IIMs, with sectional cutoffs also playing a critical role in the shortlisting process.
General Cutoff For CAT 2026: Notification, Application & Exam Date Schedule
The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 schedule outlines key dates for notification, application, and the examination.
| Event | Date (Expected) |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | July 26, 2026 |
| Application Start | August 1, 2026 |
| Application Close | September 20, 2026 |
| Correction Window | Fourth week of September 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | November 12, 2026 |
| Exam Date | November 29, 2026 |
| Result Announcement | Late December 2026 |
CAT 2025 Category-wise Cutoff: General, OBC, SC, ST & EWS Closing Percentiles (Latest — 2026 awaited)
The following table presents the minimum qualifying CAT 2025 percentiles for various IIMs across different categories.
| IIM | General Percentile | NC-OBC Percentile | EWS Percentile | SC Percentile | ST Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 80 | 75 | 80 | 70 | 60 |
| IIM Bangalore | 85 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 65 |
| IIM Calcutta | 85 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 65 |
| IIM Lucknow | 90 | 82 | 82 | 65 | 60 |
| IIM Indore | 90 | 80 | 90 | 60 | 50 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 85 | 75 | 75 | 65 | 55 |
CAT Cutoff Trends: Overall Percentiles 2023, 2024 & 2025 for Top IIMs (General Category) (Latest — 2026 awaited)
CAT cutoff trends for the General category demonstrate consistent high percentiles for premier IIMs over recent years.
| IIM Category | 2023 Percentile | 2024 Percentile | 2025 Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top IIMs (A, B, C) | 99+ | 99+ | 99+ |
| Tier-2 IIMs | 95-97 | 95-98 | 95-99 |
| Newer IIMs | 90-93 | 90-95 | 90-95 |
General Cutoff For CAT 2026 Counselling Schedule: Registration, Choice Filling & Seat Allotment Dates (Latest — 2026 awaited)
The CAT 2026 counselling process, based on the 2025-26 admission cycle, involves several stages for MBA admissions.
| Event | Date (Expected) |
|---|---|
| Counselling Process Starts | January 2026 |
| Shortlisting for WAT/PI | February – April 2026 |
| Interviews Conducted | February – April 2026 |
| Final Admission Offers | May 2026 |
| Document Verification/Formalities | June 2026 |
FAQs
Q: When is the CAT 2026 exam expected to be conducted?
A: The CAT 2026 exam is expected to be conducted on November 29, 2026.
Q: When will the CAT 2026 notification be released?
A: The official CAT 2026 notification is expected to be released in the last week of July 2026.
Q: What is the general cutoff for CAT for top IIMs?
A: For top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta, the general cutoff for CAT typically exceeds 99 percentile for actual admission calls.
Q: Do IIMs consider sectional cutoffs for CAT?
A: Yes, most IIMs specify both overall and sectional cutoffs for 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 cutoff?
A: The qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile required to be eligible for consideration, while the final cutoff is the actual percentile of the last candidate shortlisted for subsequent admission rounds like WAT/GD-PI, which is usually higher.
Q: What factors influence the CAT cutoff each year?
A: Factors influencing the CAT cutoff include the total number of applicants, the number of available seats, the difficulty level of the exam, and the reservation policies.
