• Updated on 3 Aug, 2026 by Amrita Das
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CAT Cutoff 2026 will be released by each IIM on its official website after the result is declared in the first week of January 2027. CAT cutoff 2026 refers to the minimum percentile a candidate must score in CAT 2026 to be eligible for admission to 21 IIMs and top B-schools and is of two types: the qualifying cutoff (minimum percentile to be eligible for WAT-PI rounds) and the final call cutoff (the actual percentile at which interview calls are issued by IIMs and other CAT score-accepting colleges). The CAT cutoff 2026 will be based on the number of candidates taking the CAT exam 2026, difficulty level of the exam, overall candidate performance, seat availability, previous-year cutoff trends, and institute reputation and NIRF ranking.
Meeting only the qualifying cutoff makes a candidate eligible for WAT-PI and does not guarantee a call from any IIM. The final selection will be based on the CAT composite score, which considers the candidate's performance in the CAT 2026 exam, WAT/GD/PI performance, academic record, work experience, and diversity factors (academic & gender).
- Based on CAT 2025 trends, the expected cutoff for top IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore, and IIM Mumbai may require a Qualifying Cutoff of 85–90 percentile and a Final Cutoff of 98–99.5+ percentile for General category candidates.
- The qualifying cutoff at IIM Ahmedabad is expected at 95 percentile for General category candidates (raised from 80 percentile).
- For new IIMs like Bodh Gaya, Sirmaur, and Amritsar, the expected CAT 2026 cutoff is likely to range from 90 to 95 percentile.
- There are minimum sectional CAT cut-offs for VARC, DILR, and QA at most IIMs that candidates must qualify to become shortlisted for WAT/PI. These are usually lower than the overall cut-off (70-85 percentile for IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Kozhikode and 80-85 for IIM Indore and IIM Lucknow).
- Reserved categories like OBC, SC, ST, EWS and PwD can avail significant relaxation in both overall and sectional CAT cutoff 2026 for IIMs. The safe percentiles often range from 30+ percentile for the PwD category to 95+ percentile for the EWS category.
- CAT Cutoff for IIM 2026 (Expected)
- CAT Cutoff Category-wise 2026
- All IIMs Sectional Cutoff 2026 (Expected)
- CAT Cutoff for IIM for General 2026
- CAT Cutoff for IIM for OBC 2026
- CAT Cutoff for EWS 2026
- CAT Cut-off for Non-IIM Colleges 2026 (Expected)
- CAT Score vs Percentile 2026
- CAT Previous Year Cutoff Marks
- CAT Cutoff 2026 FAQs
CAT Cutoff for IIM 2026 (Expected)
CAT Cutoff for IIM 2026 has two distinct types: Qualifying Cutoff and Final Call Cutoff. These two numbers are very different. The Qualifying Cutoff is the minimum percentile required to be considered for the next stage of the admission process, such as the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI), which determine the candidate’s basic eligibility and are released by IIMs as part of their admission policy. The qualifying CAT Cutoff for IIM 2026 for the General category is expected to range between 80 and 95th percentile, depending on the institute.
The Final Cutoff is the actual percentile at which shortlist calls are issued by IIMs to candidates with the minimum required scores. The final CAT exam 2026 cutoff of the candidate determines his/her probability of qualifying for the final IIM shortlist. Qualifying cutoffs are always much lower than final call cutoffs. High competition and limited seats are the primary reasons for the final cutoffs being much higher than the qualifying cutoffs usually.
- IIM Ahmedabad's qualifying cutoff has been raised to 95 percentile for General category candidates, up from 80 percentile in previous years. Additionally, the sectional qualifying cutoff at IIM Ahmedabad is now 85 percentile in each section (VARC, DILR, QA) for General/EWS candidates.
- IIM Calcutta's overall qualifying cutoff for General category candidates is expected to be 85 percentile. However, the final call cutoff may go as high as 99.5+ percentile.
- IIM Bangalore's qualifying cutoff for the General category is expected at 85 percentile, but the final percentile required for a PI call may typically be 99.5 to 100.
- For IIM Shillong, IIM Trichy, IIM Udaipur, IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Rohtak, IIM Kashipur, IIM Visakhapatnam, the qualifying cutoff is expected to range from 82–95+ percentile, while the final cutoff may range from 94–98+ percentile.
- A qualifying cutoff of 90+ percentile and a final cutoff between 93–95 percentile will be required for baby IIMs like IIM Amritsar, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, IIM Nagpur, IIM Sambalpur, and IIM Sirmaur.
The estimated CAT exam 2026 qualifying and final cutoff percentiles for the General category across 21 IIMs are provided in the table below.
CAT Cutoff Category-wise 2026
CAT Cutoff Category-wise (qualifying) for 2026 is expected to range from 80–95+ percentile for General category candidates, 72–95+ for EWS and OBC candidates, and 30–85+ for SC, ST & PwD candidates. However, the final interview call from top IIMs generally requires a 98–100 percentile for the General category, 94–98 for EWS, 90–96 for OBC, 75–90 for SC, 65–85 for ST, and 55–80 for PwD. Find the CAT Cutoff Category-wise for 2026 below based on the CAT cutoff trends from 2021-2025.
All IIMs Sectional Cutoff 2026 (Expected)
All IIMs sectional cutoffs 2026 for VARC, DILR, and QA are expected to be in the 70–85 percentile range for older IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore, and IIM Kozhikode, and in the 70–75 percentile range for new and baby IIMs. However, for interview calls and final admission, the overall qualifying IIM cutoffs 2026 are expected to range from 80–90 percentile for older IIMs and 80–92 percentile for newer IIMs. The all IIMs sectional cutoffs 2026 are provided below based on the CAT cutoff trends from 2021-2025.
CAT Cutoff for IIM for General 2026
CAT Cutoff for IIM for General 2026 will vary significantly across the old, new, and baby IIMs. Candidates targeting the older IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode, and Mumbai) should generally aim for overall qualifying cut-offs ranging from 85–95 percentile and sectional cutoffs typically between 75–85 percentile, while most CAP-participating Baby IIMs shortlist candidates with overall qualifying cut-offs between 80–95 percentile and sectional cutoffs ranging from 65–75 percentile. However, for an interview call from the older IIMs, candidates should target 98–99.5+ percentile. The CAT slot-wise safe sectional scores for General are expected at 95+ percentile, 93+ percentile, and 90+ percentile in Slot 1, Slot 2, and Slot 3, respectively.
Find the CAT Cutoff for IIM for General 2026 based on the CAT cutoff trends from 2021-2025 in the table below.
CAT Cutoff for IIM for OBC 2026
CAT Cutoff for IIM for OBC 2026 (qualifying) is expected to remain relatively lower compared to the General category across all IIMs. The overall qualifying cut-offs at older IIMs are expected to range between 75 and 90 percentile, with sectional cut-offs varying from 65 to 80 percentile. For newer or baby IIMs, the overall cut-offs are expected between 72–81 percentile, with sectional cut-offs mostly between 48–60 percentile. The safe CAT cutoff for IIM for OBC 2026 can be expected to be 82+ percentile, 80+ percentile, and 75+ percentile in Slot 1, Slot 2, and Slot 3, respectively.
CAT Cutoff for IIM for SC 2026
CAT Cutoff for IIM for SC 2026 (qualifying) is expected to remain significantly lower compared to the General and NC-OBC categories across all IIMs, owing to the reservation policy. For older IIMs, candidates are expected to meet the expected CAT 2026 overall qualifying cut-offs ranging from 60 to 85 percentile, with sectional cut-offs generally between 55 and 75 percentile. In comparison, the overall cut-offs for the new and baby IIMs are expected to be between 45–66 percentile, while sectional cut-offs are expected to remain between 40–45 percentile. The safe CAT cutoff for IIM for SC 2026 can be expected to be 70+ percentile, 60+ percentile, and 50+ percentile in Slot 1, Slot 2, and Slot 3, respectively.
CAT Cutoff for EWS 2026
CAT Cut-off 2026 for EWS for IIMs & Top Non-IIMs is expected to be slightly lower than the General category. The overall qualifying cut-offs are expected to lie between 70–85 percentile for older IIMs, and between 75–85 percentile for new and baby IIMs. Candidates must score at least 90+ percentile for top non-IIMs, such as FMS Delhi, SJMSOM IIT Bombay, DMS IIT Delhi, and MDI Gurgaon, whereas at least 75–90 percentile will be required for IMT Ghaziabad, TAPMI, GIM, Great Lakes, FORE, and K J Somaiya.
CAT Cut-off for Non-IIM Colleges 2026 (Expected)
CAT Cut-off for Non-IIM Colleges 2026 is expected to be 95+ percentile for General category candidates at the most competitive non-IIM MBA colleges like FMS Delhi, SJMSOM IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, and SPJIMR Mumbai. Candidates must aim for an 80–92 percentile for mid-tier MBA colleges such as IMT Ghaziabad, IMI New Delhi, FORE, Great Lakes, GIM, TAPMI, and K J Somaiya. The final selection will depend on the candidate’s category, academic record, work experience, diversity, and personal interview performance. The expected category-wise and sectional CAT cut-offs for 2026 at the leading Non-IIM MBA colleges are provided below based on the last five CAT admission cycles (CAT 2021–CAT 2025).
Institute-wise Overall CAT Cut-off for Non-IIM Colleges 2026 (Expected)
Institute-wise Sectional CAT Cut-off for Non-IIM Colleges 2026 (Expected)
CAT Score vs Percentile 2026
CAT cutoff percentile is calculated based on candidates' CAT scaled scores, not raw scores. The scaled score is arrived at after normalising the raw score to account for differences in exam difficulty across the three slots. The table below gives the expected CAT 2026 score vs percentile range, estimated based on CAT 2024 and CAT 2025 trends.
Key Benchmark Data (from CAT 2025):
- A scaled score of approximately 84–87 was needed for the 99th percentile overall.
- A score of approximately 95–105 was needed for the 99.5th percentile.
- VARC is becoming more competitive year over year, with the 99th percentile requiring higher scores than in previous years.
CAT Percentile | VARC Score (Approx.) | DILR Score (Approx.) | QA Score (Approx.) | Overall Score Range (Approx.) |
99.9 | 50–53 | 44–48 | 43–46 | 118–126 |
99.5 | 43–46 | 39–42 | 40–43 | 103–110 |
99 | 38–42 | 34–38 | 29–34 | 84–95 |
98 | 29–32 | 28–32 | 21–24 | 72–80 |
95 | 24–27 | 24–28 | 15–18 | 58–65 |
90 | 20–23 | 19–22 | 12–15 | 48–54 |
85 | 17–20 | 17–20 | 10–13 | 42–47 |
80 | 15–17 | 15–17 | 9–11 | 38–43 |
75 | 13–15 | 13–15 | 8–10 | 34–38 |
70 | 11–13 | 11–13 | 6–8 | 29–33 |
Note: These are estimates for CAT 2026 based on CAT 2024 and CAT 2025 data. The actual mapping shifts every year based on exam difficulty and normalisation. Do not use any single year's data as your only benchmark. If CAT 2026 is easier, the score needed for the same percentile will be higher. If it is harder, scores will be lower.
CAT Previous Year Cutoff Marks
CAT previous year cutoff trends have not witnessed any major differences over the last five years apart from a key update for CAT 2026: IIM Ahmedabad has raised its qualifying cutoff from 80 to 95 percentile for General category candidates — the biggest single-year jump at any IIM in recent years.
- Till 2025, the CAT cutoffs for top IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta consistently stood at 99+ percentile.
- A CAT score between 97–99 percentile was required for final interview calls at IIM Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode, and Mumbai.
- The CAT qualifying cut-offs for new and baby IIMs varied between 80–92 percentile, while the final cutoffs ranged from 92–97 percentile for General category candidates.
- For General category candidates, the CAT sectional cut-offs have been observed to remain stable at most IIMs, usually ranging from 70–85 percentile.
- 95–99+ percentile was required for General category at non-IIM institutes such as FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, DMS IIT Delhi, SJMSOM IIT Bombay, and SPJIMR Mumbai.
CAT Cutoff 2025 Category-wise
CAT Cutoff 2024 Category-wise
CAT Cut Off 2023
CAT Cut off 2023 Category-wise
CAT 2022 Cut Off
CAT 2021 Cut Off
CAT Cut Off 2021 for IIM
CAT Cut Off 2021 Category-wise
CAT 2020 Cut Off
CAT Cut Off 2020 Category Wise
CAT Cut Off 2019
CAT Cutoff 2026 FAQs
What is the expected CAT cutoff 2026 for top IIMs?
For top IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta, General category candidates need 99+ percentile to realistically receive a PI call. IIM Ahmedabad has raised its qualifying cutoff to 95 percentile for General candidates. For newer IIMs, a score between 90 and 97 percentile is generally competitive.
What is the LBSIM CAT cutoff 2026?
The LBSIM CAT cutoffs 2026 can be expected at 80–85 percentile for General, 75–80 percentile for EWS, 70–75 percentile for NC-OBC, 55–60 percentile for SC, 50–55 percentile for ST, and 45–50 percentile for PwD.
What is the CAT cut-off for SP Jain 2026?
The CAT cut-off for SP Jain 2026 is expected to be 85+ for all categories, including General, EWS, NC-OBC, SC, ST, and PwD.
Which other institutes accept CAT scores besides IIMs?
More than 1,600 institutes across India accept CAT scores. The top non-IIM colleges include FMS Delhi (99+), MDI Gurgaon (97–99), IIFT Delhi (95–99), IMT Ghaziabad (95–97), SPJIMR Mumbai (85+, profile-based), DMS IIT Delhi (92–95), and XIM Bhubaneswar (90–93).
What is the CAT cut-off for MICA 2026?
The CAT cut-off for MICA 2026 is expected to be 80–85 percentile, 75–80 percentile for EWS, 75–80 percentile for NC-OBC, 65–70 percentile for SC, 60–65 percentile for ST & PwD.
What are the CAT colleges with no sectional cutoff?
CAT colleges with no sectional cutoff are IIM Rohtak, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, MICA Ahmedabad, IMI New Delhi, IMT Ghaziabad, Goa Institute of Management (GIM), Great Lakes Institute of Management, TAPMI Manipal, K J Somaiya Institute of Management, LIBA Chennai, BIMTECH Greater Noida, LBSIM New Delhi, Welingkar Institute of Management, IRMA, DMS IIT Delhi, DoMS IIT Madras, VGSoM IIT Kharagpur, DoMS IIT Roorkee, and IME IIT Kanpur.
What is the sectional CAT cutoff for IIM Lucknow?
IIM Lucknow has the highest sectional cutoffs among all IIMs. For General category candidates, the sectional cutoff is 85 percentile in every section- VARC, DILR, and QA. This is the toughest sectional bar at any IIM and means candidates must prepare uniformly across all three sections.
Which IIM has the lowest CAT cutoff?
Among older IIMs, IIM Shillong has the lowest qualifying cutoff at 75 percentile for General category candidates. Among baby IIMs, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Bodh Gaya, and IIM Jammu have qualifying cutoffs in the 90–93 percentile range, which are the lowest in their tier. However, the actual call percentiles at these institutes are still 90 percentile or above for General candidates.
What is the CAT 2026 cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad?
IIM Ahmedabad has raised its overall qualifying cutoff to 95 percentile for General/EWS candidates, with a sectional cutoff of 85 percentile in each section. Candidates must also have a positive raw score in every section and meet the graduation percentile threshold. Despite the qualifying cutoff being 95, actual PI call percentiles for IIM Ahmedabad are typically 99.5 percentile and above for General category candidates.
What was last year's (CAT 2025) qualifying cutoff?
For CAT 2025, IIM Ahmedabad raised its General category qualifying cutoff to 95 percentile (from 80). Other top IIMs maintained the same cutoffs as previous years — IIM Bangalore and Calcutta at 85, IIM Lucknow and Indore at 90. IIM Rohtak's qualifying cutoff remained at 95.
Does IIM Rohtak have sectional cutoffs?
IIM Rohtak is different from most IIMs. Unlike other IIMs, it primarily focuses on the overall CAT percentile during shortlisting and does not apply strict published sectional cutoffs in the same way. However, maintaining reasonable performance across all sections remains important for building a strong overall percentile.
What MBA colleges accept 60–70 percentile in CAT 2026?
With a 60–70 percentile in CAT 2026, candidates can target Tier-2 and Tier-3 MBA colleges such as BIMTECH Greater Noida, IMT Hyderabad, IMT Nagpur, JIMS Rohini, NDIM Delhi, Amity Business School, and various other reputed private management institutes.
Can I get into an IIM with 90 percentile in CAT 2026?
A 90 percentile in CAT 2026 is below the qualifying cutoff of most IIMs except IIM Shillong (qualifying cutoff: 75). However, with a 90 percentile and a very strong profile, excellent academics, relevant work experience, non-engineer background, or female candidate, some IIMs may still consider the application. For most IIMs, a 90 percentile is insufficient for a PI call in the General category.
Is a high overall percentile enough if one sectional percentile is low?
No. Most IIMs apply independent sectional cutoffs during shortlisting. Even a 99.5 overall percentile will not get you shortlisted at IIM Bangalore if your DILR sectional percentile is below 75. Meeting all three sectional cutoffs (VARC, DILR, QA) is mandatory at virtually every IIM. Always aim for balanced preparation across all three sections.
CAT Cutoff 2026 will be released by each IIM on its official website after the result is declared in the first week of January 2027. CAT cutoff 2026 refers to the minimum percentile a candidate must score in CAT 2026 to be eligible for admission to 21 IIMs and top B-schools and is of two types: the qualifying cutoff (minimum percentile to be eligible for WAT-PI rounds) and the final call cutoff (the actual percentile at which interview calls are issued by IIMs and other CAT score-accepting colleges). The CAT cutoff 2026 will be based on the number of candidates taking the CAT exam 2026, difficulty level of the exam, overall candidate performance, seat availability, previous-year cutoff trends, and institute reputation and NIRF ranking.
Meeting only the qualifying cutoff makes a candidate eligible for WAT-PI and does not guarantee a call from any IIM. The final selection will be based on the CAT composite score, which considers the candidate's performance in the CAT 2026 exam, WAT/GD/PI performance, academic record, work experience, and diversity factors (academic & gender).
- Based on CAT 2025 trends, the expected cutoff for top IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore, and IIM Mumbai may require a Qualifying Cutoff of 85–90 percentile and a Final Cutoff of 98–99.5+ percentile for General category candidates.
- The qualifying cutoff at IIM Ahmedabad is expected at 95 percentile for General category candidates (raised from 80 percentile).
- For new IIMs like Bodh Gaya, Sirmaur, and Amritsar, the expected CAT 2026 cutoff is likely to range from 90 to 95 percentile.
- There are minimum sectional CAT cut-offs for VARC, DILR, and QA at most IIMs that candidates must qualify to become shortlisted for WAT/PI. These are usually lower than the overall cut-off (70-85 percentile for IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Kozhikode and 80-85 for IIM Indore and IIM Lucknow).
- Reserved categories like OBC, SC, ST, EWS and PwD can avail significant relaxation in both overall and sectional CAT cutoff 2026 for IIMs. The safe percentiles often range from 30+ percentile for the PwD category to 95+ percentile for the EWS category.
- CAT Cutoff for IIM 2026 (Expected)
- CAT Cutoff Category-wise 2026
- All IIMs Sectional Cutoff 2026 (Expected)
- CAT Cutoff for IIM for General 2026
- CAT Cutoff for IIM for OBC 2026
- CAT Cutoff for EWS 2026
- CAT Cut-off for Non-IIM Colleges 2026 (Expected)
- CAT Score vs Percentile 2026
- CAT Previous Year Cutoff Marks
- CAT Cutoff 2026 FAQs
CAT Cutoff for IIM 2026 (Expected)
CAT Cutoff for IIM 2026 has two distinct types: Qualifying Cutoff and Final Call Cutoff. These two numbers are very different. The Qualifying Cutoff is the minimum percentile required to be considered for the next stage of the admission process, such as the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI), which determine the candidate’s basic eligibility and are released by IIMs as part of their admission policy. The qualifying CAT Cutoff for IIM 2026 for the General category is expected to range between 80 and 95th percentile, depending on the institute.
The Final Cutoff is the actual percentile at which shortlist calls are issued by IIMs to candidates with the minimum required scores. The final CAT exam 2026 cutoff of the candidate determines his/her probability of qualifying for the final IIM shortlist. Qualifying cutoffs are always much lower than final call cutoffs. High competition and limited seats are the primary reasons for the final cutoffs being much higher than the qualifying cutoffs usually.
- IIM Ahmedabad's qualifying cutoff has been raised to 95 percentile for General category candidates, up from 80 percentile in previous years. Additionally, the sectional qualifying cutoff at IIM Ahmedabad is now 85 percentile in each section (VARC, DILR, QA) for General/EWS candidates.
- IIM Calcutta's overall qualifying cutoff for General category candidates is expected to be 85 percentile. However, the final call cutoff may go as high as 99.5+ percentile.
- IIM Bangalore's qualifying cutoff for the General category is expected at 85 percentile, but the final percentile required for a PI call may typically be 99.5 to 100.
- For IIM Shillong, IIM Trichy, IIM Udaipur, IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Rohtak, IIM Kashipur, IIM Visakhapatnam, the qualifying cutoff is expected to range from 82–95+ percentile, while the final cutoff may range from 94–98+ percentile.
- A qualifying cutoff of 90+ percentile and a final cutoff between 93–95 percentile will be required for baby IIMs like IIM Amritsar, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, IIM Nagpur, IIM Sambalpur, and IIM Sirmaur.
The estimated CAT exam 2026 qualifying and final cutoff percentiles for the General category across 21 IIMs are provided in the table below.
CAT Cutoff Category-wise 2026
CAT Cutoff Category-wise (qualifying) for 2026 is expected to range from 80–95+ percentile for General category candidates, 72–95+ for EWS and OBC candidates, and 30–85+ for SC, ST & PwD candidates. However, the final interview call from top IIMs generally requires a 98–100 percentile for the General category, 94–98 for EWS, 90–96 for OBC, 75–90 for SC, 65–85 for ST, and 55–80 for PwD. Find the CAT Cutoff Category-wise for 2026 below based on the CAT cutoff trends from 2021-2025.
All IIMs Sectional Cutoff 2026 (Expected)
All IIMs sectional cutoffs 2026 for VARC, DILR, and QA are expected to be in the 70–85 percentile range for older IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore, and IIM Kozhikode, and in the 70–75 percentile range for new and baby IIMs. However, for interview calls and final admission, the overall qualifying IIM cutoffs 2026 are expected to range from 80–90 percentile for older IIMs and 80–92 percentile for newer IIMs. The all IIMs sectional cutoffs 2026 are provided below based on the CAT cutoff trends from 2021-2025.
CAT Cutoff for IIM for General 2026
CAT Cutoff for IIM for General 2026 will vary significantly across the old, new, and baby IIMs. Candidates targeting the older IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode, and Mumbai) should generally aim for overall qualifying cut-offs ranging from 85–95 percentile and sectional cutoffs typically between 75–85 percentile, while most CAP-participating Baby IIMs shortlist candidates with overall qualifying cut-offs between 80–95 percentile and sectional cutoffs ranging from 65–75 percentile. However, for an interview call from the older IIMs, candidates should target 98–99.5+ percentile. The CAT slot-wise safe sectional scores for General are expected at 95+ percentile, 93+ percentile, and 90+ percentile in Slot 1, Slot 2, and Slot 3, respectively.
Find the CAT Cutoff for IIM for General 2026 based on the CAT cutoff trends from 2021-2025 in the table below.
CAT Cutoff for IIM for OBC 2026
CAT Cutoff for IIM for OBC 2026 (qualifying) is expected to remain relatively lower compared to the General category across all IIMs. The overall qualifying cut-offs at older IIMs are expected to range between 75 and 90 percentile, with sectional cut-offs varying from 65 to 80 percentile. For newer or baby IIMs, the overall cut-offs are expected between 72–81 percentile, with sectional cut-offs mostly between 48–60 percentile. The safe CAT cutoff for IIM for OBC 2026 can be expected to be 82+ percentile, 80+ percentile, and 75+ percentile in Slot 1, Slot 2, and Slot 3, respectively.
CAT Cutoff for IIM for SC 2026
CAT Cutoff for IIM for SC 2026 (qualifying) is expected to remain significantly lower compared to the General and NC-OBC categories across all IIMs, owing to the reservation policy. For older IIMs, candidates are expected to meet the expected CAT 2026 overall qualifying cut-offs ranging from 60 to 85 percentile, with sectional cut-offs generally between 55 and 75 percentile. In comparison, the overall cut-offs for the new and baby IIMs are expected to be between 45–66 percentile, while sectional cut-offs are expected to remain between 40–45 percentile. The safe CAT cutoff for IIM for SC 2026 can be expected to be 70+ percentile, 60+ percentile, and 50+ percentile in Slot 1, Slot 2, and Slot 3, respectively.
CAT Cutoff for EWS 2026
CAT Cut-off 2026 for EWS for IIMs & Top Non-IIMs is expected to be slightly lower than the General category. The overall qualifying cut-offs are expected to lie between 70–85 percentile for older IIMs, and between 75–85 percentile for new and baby IIMs. Candidates must score at least 90+ percentile for top non-IIMs, such as FMS Delhi, SJMSOM IIT Bombay, DMS IIT Delhi, and MDI Gurgaon, whereas at least 75–90 percentile will be required for IMT Ghaziabad, TAPMI, GIM, Great Lakes, FORE, and K J Somaiya.
CAT Cut-off for Non-IIM Colleges 2026 (Expected)
CAT Cut-off for Non-IIM Colleges 2026 is expected to be 95+ percentile for General category candidates at the most competitive non-IIM MBA colleges like FMS Delhi, SJMSOM IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, and SPJIMR Mumbai. Candidates must aim for an 80–92 percentile for mid-tier MBA colleges such as IMT Ghaziabad, IMI New Delhi, FORE, Great Lakes, GIM, TAPMI, and K J Somaiya. The final selection will depend on the candidate’s category, academic record, work experience, diversity, and personal interview performance. The expected category-wise and sectional CAT cut-offs for 2026 at the leading Non-IIM MBA colleges are provided below based on the last five CAT admission cycles (CAT 2021–CAT 2025).
Institute-wise Overall CAT Cut-off for Non-IIM Colleges 2026 (Expected)
Institute-wise Sectional CAT Cut-off for Non-IIM Colleges 2026 (Expected)
CAT Score vs Percentile 2026
CAT cutoff percentile is calculated based on candidates' CAT scaled scores, not raw scores. The scaled score is arrived at after normalising the raw score to account for differences in exam difficulty across the three slots. The table below gives the expected CAT 2026 score vs percentile range, estimated based on CAT 2024 and CAT 2025 trends.
Key Benchmark Data (from CAT 2025):
- A scaled score of approximately 84–87 was needed for the 99th percentile overall.
- A score of approximately 95–105 was needed for the 99.5th percentile.
- VARC is becoming more competitive year over year, with the 99th percentile requiring higher scores than in previous years.
CAT Percentile | VARC Score (Approx.) | DILR Score (Approx.) | QA Score (Approx.) | Overall Score Range (Approx.) |
99.9 | 50–53 | 44–48 | 43–46 | 118–126 |
99.5 | 43–46 | 39–42 | 40–43 | 103–110 |
99 | 38–42 | 34–38 | 29–34 | 84–95 |
98 | 29–32 | 28–32 | 21–24 | 72–80 |
95 | 24–27 | 24–28 | 15–18 | 58–65 |
90 | 20–23 | 19–22 | 12–15 | 48–54 |
85 | 17–20 | 17–20 | 10–13 | 42–47 |
80 | 15–17 | 15–17 | 9–11 | 38–43 |
75 | 13–15 | 13–15 | 8–10 | 34–38 |
70 | 11–13 | 11–13 | 6–8 | 29–33 |
Note: These are estimates for CAT 2026 based on CAT 2024 and CAT 2025 data. The actual mapping shifts every year based on exam difficulty and normalisation. Do not use any single year's data as your only benchmark. If CAT 2026 is easier, the score needed for the same percentile will be higher. If it is harder, scores will be lower.
CAT Previous Year Cutoff Marks
CAT previous year cutoff trends have not witnessed any major differences over the last five years apart from a key update for CAT 2026: IIM Ahmedabad has raised its qualifying cutoff from 80 to 95 percentile for General category candidates — the biggest single-year jump at any IIM in recent years.
- Till 2025, the CAT cutoffs for top IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta consistently stood at 99+ percentile.
- A CAT score between 97–99 percentile was required for final interview calls at IIM Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode, and Mumbai.
- The CAT qualifying cut-offs for new and baby IIMs varied between 80–92 percentile, while the final cutoffs ranged from 92–97 percentile for General category candidates.
- For General category candidates, the CAT sectional cut-offs have been observed to remain stable at most IIMs, usually ranging from 70–85 percentile.
- 95–99+ percentile was required for General category at non-IIM institutes such as FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, DMS IIT Delhi, SJMSOM IIT Bombay, and SPJIMR Mumbai.
CAT Cutoff 2025 Category-wise
CAT Cutoff 2024 Category-wise
CAT Cut Off 2023
CAT Cut off 2023 Category-wise
CAT 2022 Cut Off
CAT 2021 Cut Off
CAT Cut Off 2021 for IIM
CAT Cut Off 2021 Category-wise
CAT 2020 Cut Off
CAT Cut Off 2020 Category Wise
CAT Cut Off 2019
CAT Cutoff 2026 FAQs
What is the expected CAT cutoff 2026 for top IIMs?
For top IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta, General category candidates need 99+ percentile to realistically receive a PI call. IIM Ahmedabad has raised its qualifying cutoff to 95 percentile for General candidates. For newer IIMs, a score between 90 and 97 percentile is generally competitive.
What is the LBSIM CAT cutoff 2026?
The LBSIM CAT cutoffs 2026 can be expected at 80–85 percentile for General, 75–80 percentile for EWS, 70–75 percentile for NC-OBC, 55–60 percentile for SC, 50–55 percentile for ST, and 45–50 percentile for PwD.
What is the CAT cut-off for SP Jain 2026?
The CAT cut-off for SP Jain 2026 is expected to be 85+ for all categories, including General, EWS, NC-OBC, SC, ST, and PwD.
Which other institutes accept CAT scores besides IIMs?
More than 1,600 institutes across India accept CAT scores. The top non-IIM colleges include FMS Delhi (99+), MDI Gurgaon (97–99), IIFT Delhi (95–99), IMT Ghaziabad (95–97), SPJIMR Mumbai (85+, profile-based), DMS IIT Delhi (92–95), and XIM Bhubaneswar (90–93).
What is the CAT cut-off for MICA 2026?
The CAT cut-off for MICA 2026 is expected to be 80–85 percentile, 75–80 percentile for EWS, 75–80 percentile for NC-OBC, 65–70 percentile for SC, 60–65 percentile for ST & PwD.
What are the CAT colleges with no sectional cutoff?
CAT colleges with no sectional cutoff are IIM Rohtak, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, MICA Ahmedabad, IMI New Delhi, IMT Ghaziabad, Goa Institute of Management (GIM), Great Lakes Institute of Management, TAPMI Manipal, K J Somaiya Institute of Management, LIBA Chennai, BIMTECH Greater Noida, LBSIM New Delhi, Welingkar Institute of Management, IRMA, DMS IIT Delhi, DoMS IIT Madras, VGSoM IIT Kharagpur, DoMS IIT Roorkee, and IME IIT Kanpur.
What is the sectional CAT cutoff for IIM Lucknow?
IIM Lucknow has the highest sectional cutoffs among all IIMs. For General category candidates, the sectional cutoff is 85 percentile in every section- VARC, DILR, and QA. This is the toughest sectional bar at any IIM and means candidates must prepare uniformly across all three sections.
Which IIM has the lowest CAT cutoff?
Among older IIMs, IIM Shillong has the lowest qualifying cutoff at 75 percentile for General category candidates. Among baby IIMs, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Bodh Gaya, and IIM Jammu have qualifying cutoffs in the 90–93 percentile range, which are the lowest in their tier. However, the actual call percentiles at these institutes are still 90 percentile or above for General candidates.
What is the CAT 2026 cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad?
IIM Ahmedabad has raised its overall qualifying cutoff to 95 percentile for General/EWS candidates, with a sectional cutoff of 85 percentile in each section. Candidates must also have a positive raw score in every section and meet the graduation percentile threshold. Despite the qualifying cutoff being 95, actual PI call percentiles for IIM Ahmedabad are typically 99.5 percentile and above for General category candidates.
What was last year's (CAT 2025) qualifying cutoff?
For CAT 2025, IIM Ahmedabad raised its General category qualifying cutoff to 95 percentile (from 80). Other top IIMs maintained the same cutoffs as previous years — IIM Bangalore and Calcutta at 85, IIM Lucknow and Indore at 90. IIM Rohtak's qualifying cutoff remained at 95.
Does IIM Rohtak have sectional cutoffs?
IIM Rohtak is different from most IIMs. Unlike other IIMs, it primarily focuses on the overall CAT percentile during shortlisting and does not apply strict published sectional cutoffs in the same way. However, maintaining reasonable performance across all sections remains important for building a strong overall percentile.
What MBA colleges accept 60–70 percentile in CAT 2026?
With a 60–70 percentile in CAT 2026, candidates can target Tier-2 and Tier-3 MBA colleges such as BIMTECH Greater Noida, IMT Hyderabad, IMT Nagpur, JIMS Rohini, NDIM Delhi, Amity Business School, and various other reputed private management institutes.
Can I get into an IIM with 90 percentile in CAT 2026?
A 90 percentile in CAT 2026 is below the qualifying cutoff of most IIMs except IIM Shillong (qualifying cutoff: 75). However, with a 90 percentile and a very strong profile, excellent academics, relevant work experience, non-engineer background, or female candidate, some IIMs may still consider the application. For most IIMs, a 90 percentile is insufficient for a PI call in the General category.
Is a high overall percentile enough if one sectional percentile is low?
No. Most IIMs apply independent sectional cutoffs during shortlisting. Even a 99.5 overall percentile will not get you shortlisted at IIM Bangalore if your DILR sectional percentile is below 75. Meeting all three sectional cutoffs (VARC, DILR, QA) is mandatory at virtually every IIM. Always aim for balanced preparation across all three sections.
CAT 2024 Category wise Rank
Score vs Percentile Predictor
Estimated percentile
99.9
General qualifying cutoff
25 - 99
Likely Colleges (Sample)
CAT Previous Year Cutoff Trends (2024 to 2022)
| Year | General | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | PwD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 - 62 | 0 - 20 | 0 - 20 | 0 - 38 | 0 - 51 | 20 - 20 |
| 2023 | 0 - 62 | 0 - 20 | 0 - 20 | 0 - 38 | 0 - 51 | 20 - 20 |
| 2022 | 0 - 62 | 0 - 20 | 0 - 20 | 0 - 38 | 38 - 51 | 20 - 20 |
CAT Cutoff Trends by College & Course
Select a college and course to view cutoff trends.
CAT Rank vs College Analysis
| Score Slab | Percentile Slab | Colleges |
|---|---|---|
| 80 - 100 | 98 - 99.9 | IIMA, IIT Delhi, IIMB, FMS Delhi, Delhi University, IISc Bengaluru, DMS IIT Delhi |
| 60 - 80 | 90 - 99 | IIMA, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIMB, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, IIM Kozhikode |
| 40 - 60 | 80 - 95 | IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIM Lucknow, IIT Roorkee, IIM Mumbai |
| 20 - 40 | 55 - 90 | IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIM Lucknow, NIT Trichy, NIT Surathkal |
| College Name | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay - Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai | 90 | 90 |
| IIT Delhi - Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi | 98 | 98 |
| IIT Madras - Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai | 85 | 85 |
| IIT Kanpur - Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur | 85 | 85 |
| IIT Kharagpur - Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur | 90 | 90 |
| IIT Roorkee - Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee | 95 | 95 |
| IIT Dhanbad (ISM) - Indian Institute of Technology (ISM), Dhanbad | 50 | 50 |
| VGSOM IIT Kharagpur - Vinod Gupta School of Management, Kharagpur | 90 | 90 |
| College Name | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy - National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| NIT Surathkal - National Institute of Technology, Mangalore | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, Jalandhar | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| NIT Silchar - National Institute of Technology, Silchar | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| College Name | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIIT Allahabad - Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad | 78 | 78 | 78 |
| Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Gwalior | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| College Name | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| IIM Bangalore Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| IIM Lucknow - Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow | 90 | 85 | 85 |
| IIM Kozhikode - Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode | 97 | 97 | 97 |
| Indian Institute of Management Mumbai, Mumbai | - | 95 | 97 |
| IIM Indore - Indian Institute of Management, Indore | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| IIM Shillong - Indian Institute of Management, Shillong | 94 | 92 | 92 |
| IIM Udaipur - Indian Institute of Management, Udaipur | 92 | 94 | 94 |
| IIM Rohtak - Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak | 95 | 95 | 95 |
| IIM Raipur - Indian Institute of Management, Raipur | 92 | 92 | 92 |
| IIM Trichy - Indian Institute of Management, Tiruchirappalli | 94 | 94 | 94 |
| IIM Ranchi - Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi | 94 | 92 | 92 |
| IIM Kashipur - Indian Institute of Management, Kashipur | 92 | 92 | 92 |
| IIM Nagpur - Indian Institute of Management, Nagpur | 95 | 90 | 90 |
| IIM Visakhapatnam - Indian Institute of Management, Visakhapatnam | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| IIM Sambalpur - Indian Institute of Management, Sambalpur | 93 | 92 | 92 |
| IIM Amritsar - Indian Institute of Management, Amritsar | 85 | 88 | 88 |
| IIM Bodh Gaya - Indian Institute of Management, Gaya | 92 | 92 | 92 |
| IIM Jammu - Indian Institute of Management, Jammu | 93 | 92 | 92 |
| IIM Sirmaur - Indian Institute of Management, Sirmaur | 92 | 80 | 94 |
| College Name | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi | 98 | 98 | 98 |
| Delhi University (DU), Delhi | 98 | 98 | 98 |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, Coimbatore | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Management Development Institute, Gurgaon | 95 | 95 | 95 |
| Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai | 96 | 96 | 96 |
| Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore | - | 98.87 | 98.87 |
| Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management, IIT Bombay, Mumbai | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| MNNIT Allahabad - Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi, Delhi | 90 | 98 | 98 |
| Nirma University, Ahmedabad | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| Christ University, Bangalore | 70 | 60 | 60 |
| DTU - Delhi Technological University, Delhi | 85 | 85 | 85 |
| Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras - [DoMS IIT Madras], Chennai | 85 | 85 | 85 |
| XIM University, Bhubaneswar | 91 | 91 | 91 |
| SOA University - Siksha 'O' Anusandhan, Bhubaneswar | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| IMT Ghaziabad - Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| Manipal University, Jaipur, Jaipur | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| International Management Institute, New Delhi, Delhi | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, Chennai | 85 | 85 | 85 |
CAT Admission Cutoff Percentiles for Top IIM
CAT Admission Cutoff Percentiles for Top IIT
CAT Admission Cutoff Percentiles for Top Colleges
CAT Admission Cutoff Percentiles for Top NIT
CAT Admission Cutoff Percentiles for Top IIIT
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is CAT cutoff 2024?
Latest available cutoff year for CAT is 2024. Cutoffs vary by college, course and category (EWS, General, OBC, PwD). For General, a typical range in 2024 is 0.000000 to 62.000000 (Score).
How much percentile is enough for CAT?
There is no single fixed percentile for CAT because cutoffs depend on your category (EWS, General, OBC, PwD), target college/course and counselling round. In our latest cutoff dataset, the primary cutoff type is Percentile, so compare your value using the same metric. As a broad benchmark, for General the typical range in 2024 is 0.000000 to 62.000000 (Score). For a genuine estimate, check the cutoff trend (last 3–5 years) and shortlist options where your value is better than (or close to) the latest closing cutoff.
Which colleges accept CAT?
Some top colleges in cutoff data for CAT are: XIMB, SOA University, KIIT, JK Business School, OPJS University.
Which categories are available in CAT cutoff?
Common categories found in the latest cutoff data: EWS, General, OBC, PwD, SC, ST.
Which courses are most common for CAT accepting colleges?
Top courses (by college coverage) for CAT include: Master of Business Administration (MBA), MBA in Business Analytics, MBA in Finance, MBA in Marketing, Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM).
Which states and college categories are common in CAT cutoff data?
Top states: Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal. Top college categories: IIT, NIT, IIIT, IIM.
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