Every MBA aspirant reaches the same question sooner or later: what score is actually enough? With CAT 2026 scheduled for November 2026, that question becomes urgent, because your entire revision plan depends on the target you set. And the target is not one number. It changes with the institute you are chasing and the category you belong to.
The CAT Cutoff for IIMs is best understood as a floor, not a finish line. Every IIM publishes a minimum percentile below which your application is not even looked at. Crossing it puts you in the race; converting a seat needs considerably more. This guide lays out the expected 2026 cutoff for all IIMs, category by category, and explains what those numbers mean in practice.
Quick Answer: For General category candidates, the expected minimum CAT cutoff for IIMs in 2026 falls between 75 and 95 percentile depending on the institute. IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Rohtak sit highest at 95 percentile; IIM Bangalore, Calcutta, Kozhikode and Mumbai keep their qualifying floor at 85 percentile; most newer IIMs are around 94 percentile. Reserved category thresholds are lower, with IIM Ahmedabad requiring 90 percentile for NC-OBC, 85 for SC and PwD, and 75 for ST. Meeting the floor is only the eligibility stage. Admission at IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta typically happens in the 99 to 99.9+ percentile range.
Why the CAT Cutoff Moves Every Year
No IIM decides its cutoff in isolation. The figure is a response to how the exam and the applicant pool behaved that year. Five forces do most of the work.
- Size of the applicant pool. CAT registrations have stayed above three lakh for several years. Because percentile is a relative measure, a bigger pool means the same raw score translates into a lower percentile than it did earlier.
- Paper difficulty across slots. A harder paper pulls raw marks down for everyone, so the marks needed for 99 percentile fall. An easier paper does the opposite. IIMs account for this when finalising their screening thresholds.
- Last year as the reference point. Institutes rarely redesign their criteria from scratch. Most use the previous cycle as a baseline and adjust only where the applicant profile has clearly shifted.
- Batch size and seat intake. Older IIMs run smaller, highly selective batches and can afford steep cutoffs. Newer IIMs, still expanding their intake, keep the entry bar in the 85 to 94 percentile band.
- Reservation category. Under government norms, each IIM publishes separate thresholds for General, EWS, NC-OBC, SC, ST and PwD candidates. These gaps are substantial and are revised periodically.
Expected CAT Cutoff for IIMs 2026: Category-Wise Tables
India currently has 22 IIMs, and no two follow an identical admission policy. Some publish a modest floor and then shortlist on a composite score; others set a high floor upfront. The tables below give the expected qualifying percentile for each category so you can build a realistic application list instead of guessing.
Minimum CAT Percentile for IIMs: General Category
| List of IIM Colleges in India | Minimum Qualifying CAT Cutoff |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 95 %ile |
| IIM Bangalore | 85 %ile |
| IIM Calcutta | 85 %ile |
| IIM Lucknow | 90 %ile |
| IIM Indore | 90 %ile |
| IIM Kozhikode | 85 %ile |
| IIM Shillong | 75 %ile |
| IIM Mumbai | 85 %ile |
| IIM Rohtak | 95 %ile |
| IIM Amritsar | 90 %ile |
| IIM Nagpur | 94 %ile |
| IIM Sambalpur | 94 %ile |
| IIM Trichy | 94 %ile |
| IIM Raipur | 94 %ile |
| IIM Ranchi | 92 %ile |
| IIM Kashipur | 94 %ile |
| IIM Vizag | 82 %ile |
| IIM Udaipur | 94 %ile |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | 94 %ile |
| IIM Sirmaur | 94 %ile |
| IIM Jammu | 94 %ile |
Read this table carefully before you celebrate. A low published floor at IIM Bangalore or IIM Calcutta does not mean an 85 percentile gets you a call there. It means the institute prefers to filter on its own composite score rather than on CAT alone.
Minimum CAT Percentile for IIMs: EWS Category
| Top IIM Colleges in India | Overall Qualifying CAT Cutoff |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 95 %ile |
| IIM Bangalore | 75 %ile |
| IIM Calcutta | 75 %ile |
| IIM Lucknow | 82 %ile |
| IIM Kozhikode | 75 %ile |
| IIM Indore | 90 %ile |
| IIM Mumbai | 75 %ile |
| Baby IIMs | 75-88 %ile |
Note that IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Indore apply the same threshold to EWS candidates as to the General category, while the rest offer a meaningful relaxation.
Minimum CAT Percentile for IIMs: NC-OBC Category
| Best IIM Colleges in India | Minimum Criteria For CAT Cutoff |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 90 %ile |
| IIM Bangalore | 75 %ile |
| IIM Calcutta | 75 %ile |
| IIM Lucknow | 82 %ile |
| IIM Kozhikode | 75 %ile |
| IIM Indore | 80 %ile |
| IIM Mumbai | 75 %ile |
| Baby IIMs | 74-80 %ile |
Minimum CAT Percentile for IIMs: SC Category
| IIM Colleges in India | Mandatory CAT Cutoff for IIMs |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 85 %ile |
| IIM Bangalore | 70 %ile |
| IIM Calcutta | 70 %ile |
| IIM Lucknow | 65 %ile |
| IIM Kozhikode | 65 %ile |
| IIM Indore | 60 %ile |
| IIM Mumbai | 70 %ile |
| Baby IIMs | 54-60 %ile |
Minimum CAT Percentile for IIMs: ST Category
| IIM Institutes | CAT Cutoff Criteria For IIMs |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 75 %ile |
| IIM Bangalore | 65 %ile |
| IIM Calcutta | 65 %ile |
| IIM Lucknow | 60 %ile |
| IIM Kozhikode | 55 %ile |
| IIM Indore | 60 %ile |
| IIM Mumbai | 65 %ile |
| Baby IIMs | 35-40 %ile |
Minimum CAT Percentile for IIMs: PwD Category
| Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) | PwD Qualifying CAT Cutoff |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 85 %ile |
| IIM Bangalore | 60 %ile |
| IIM Calcutta | 55 %ile |
| IIM Lucknow | 60 %ile |
| IIM Kozhikode | 45 %ile |
| IIM Indore | 55 %ile |
| IIM Mumbai | 55 %ile |
| Baby IIMs | 30-42 %ile |
Expected CAT Cutoff for Non-IIM B-Schools in 2026
Restricting your application list to IIMs alone is a risk most aspirants cannot afford. Several non-IIM institutes match or beat newer IIMs on placements, and their cutoffs sit in a comparable band. Use the table below to add depth to your shortlist.
| Top Non-IIMs in India | Qualifying CAT Cutoff For Non-IIMs |
|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | 99+ %ile |
| DMS, IIT Delhi | 98+ %ile |
| FMS Delhi | 98.20 %ile |
| IIT Madras | 95+ %ile |
| MDI Gurgaon | 95+ %ile |
| National Institute of Industrial Engineering | 95+ %ile |
| BITSOM | 94 %ile |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 90+ %ile |
| XIMB | 90+ %ile |
| LIBA | 90+ %ile |
| IMI | 85-90 %ile |
| TAPMI | 85+ %ile |
| Great Lakes | 85+ %ile |
| SP Jain | 85+ %ile |
| NIRMA | 75-85 %ile |
| IMS Ghaziabad | 75-85 %ile |
| Welingkar | 70-80 %ile |
For candidates based in Gujarat, NIRMA in Ahmedabad is worth a serious look. Its 75 to 85 percentile band makes it an achievable backup while you chase a higher percentile for the IIM shortlist.
The Percentile Range That Actually Converts a Seat
The qualifying cutoff tells you who is allowed to apply. This next table tells you who typically gets in. The difference between the two is where most aspirants lose a year, because they plan around the floor instead of the conversion range.
| IIMs | Expected Maximum CAT Percentile 2026 |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta | 99-99.9+ %ile |
| IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore, IIM Mumbai | 97-99+ %ile |
| Other New IIMs | 93-97 %ile |
| IIM Visakhapatnam, IIM Nagpur, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Sambalpur, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Amritsar, IIM Jammu | 90-95 %ile |
Reputation and cutoff move together. The older IIMs receive far more applications per seat, so they can raise the bar without running short of strong candidates. Set your personal target from this table, not from the qualifying one.
How to Build a Percentile That Clears the IIM Cutoff
With the exam in November 2026, the months ahead are less about learning new theory and more about converting what you already know into marks under pressure. A few habits separate candidates who reach 99 percentile from those who plateau in the eighties.
Treat mock analysis as the real study session
Two to three full-length mocks a week is the right frequency, but the mock itself teaches you nothing. The learning sits in the review. Spend longer analysing a paper than you spent attempting it, and go through the questions you got right by luck as carefully as the ones you got wrong.
Keep an error tracker from day one
Log every mistake under one of four heads: concept gap, calculation slip, misread question, or poor selection. After a month, the pattern tells you exactly where your percentile is leaking. Most aspirants discover that fewer than five recurring errors account for the bulk of their lost marks.
Protect your accuracy
CAT penalises wrong answers, so an extra attempt is only worth making if you are reasonably confident. Twenty attempts at high accuracy will almost always beat thirty attempts with scattered guessing. Fix a personal attempt range for each section during mocks and hold to it on exam day.
Do not let one section sink the application
Nearly every IIM enforces a minimum percentile in VARC, DILR and QA separately. A strong overall score with one weak section can still cost you the shortlist. If any section consistently trails the others by ten percentile points or more in your mocks, that section deserves the larger share of your study hours until the gap narrows.
Cover the high-return topics first
Arithmetic and algebra in Quant, reading comprehension in VARC, and arrangement-based sets in DILR carry disproportionate weight. Secure these before spending time on low-frequency areas.
Preparing for CAT 2026 in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad aspirants start with a real advantage. The city hosts IIM Ahmedabad, has an active MBA community, and offers easy access to alumni and mentors. The challenge is the flip side of the same coin: Gujarat sends a large engineering and commerce cohort to CAT every year, which means you compete inside one of the most crowded academic categories in the country.
At Ekoching, the CAT programme in Ahmedabad is structured around that reality. We begin with a sectional diagnostic so weak areas surface early rather than in October, run guided mock-review sessions instead of simply issuing mock papers, and help each student build a shortlist that matches both percentile and profile. Alongside CAT, we also coach students for CLAT and IPMAT, so families planning an entrance strategy from Class 11 have a single point of guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions on CAT Cutoff for IIMs
What is the minimum CAT percentile required for IIMs in 2026?
For General category candidates, the expected minimum ranges from 75 to 95 percentile. IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Rohtak require 95 percentile, IIM Lucknow, Indore and Amritsar require 90 percentile, and most newer IIMs are around 94 percentile. Reserved category candidates have lower thresholds.
When is CAT 2026 being held?
CAT 2026 is scheduled for November 2026. Each IIM publishes its qualifying percentile in its admission policy, and results are declared a few weeks after the exam.
Does clearing the cutoff mean I will get an IIM seat?
No. The qualifying cutoff only makes your application eligible for consideration. Shortlisting and final selection depend on the composite score, which factors in your academic record, work experience, written ability test and personal interview.
What percentile do I need for IIM Ahmedabad?
IIM Ahmedabad sets its qualifying cutoff at 95 percentile for General category candidates. In practice, the institute admits candidates in the 99 to 99.9+ percentile range, so treat 99+ as your working target.
Are sectional cutoffs separate from the overall cutoff?
Yes. Most IIMs require a minimum percentile in VARC, DILR and QA in addition to the overall percentile. Falling short in any single section can disqualify you even if your overall score is high.
Is 90 percentile enough for an IIM?
A 90 percentile keeps you eligible at institutes such as IIM Shillong, IIM Vizag and several newer IIMs, depending on category and profile. It will not be sufficient for IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore or Calcutta.
Why do IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta show a low cutoff of 85 percentile?
These institutes prefer to screen on their own composite score rather than on CAT percentile alone, so they publish a modest floor. The percentile at which calls are actually issued is far higher, usually 99 and above for General category candidates.
Where can I verify the official cutoff for each IIM?
Check the admission policy section on the official website of each IIM. Institutes publish category-wise qualifying percentiles and sectional requirements there before results are declared.
All percentiles given here are expected figures based on recent admission cycles and current trends. Confirm them against each IIM official admission policy before finalising your application list.
