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Common Admission Test (CAT)

• Updated on 4 Sept, 2026 by Kollegeapply

The CAT 2021 cutoff has been released by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) along with the results. Candidates can check the category-wise, college-wise, and course-wise cutoff percentiles on the official website https://iimcat.ac.in/.

This page provides the detailed CAT cutoff analysis for 2021, helping students estimate admission chances in top colleges.


CAT 2021 cutoff for General category ranges from 80 to 99 percentile, while EWS, OBC, PwD, and SC cutoffs are lower based on category reservations. Candidates with percentile under 99 have high chances of getting top colleges like IIMA, IIMB, and IIM Lucknow.


CAT 2021 Cutoff Highlights

The CAT 2021 cutoff represents the minimum percentile required to qualify for admissions into participating colleges.

The cutoff is released by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and is used for counselling and seat allocation.


Key Highlights

  • Exam Name: CAT 2021
  • Conducting Body: Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
  • Cutoff Type: Percentile
  • Total Counselling Rounds: 1
  • Total Colleges Participating: 175
  • Top Courses: Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Post Graduate Program in Management
  • Categories Covered: General, SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwD
  • Quota Types: All India

CAT 2021 Cutoff Overview

The table below provides complete details of the CAT 2021 cutoff including exam structure, categories, and admission scope.

ParticularsDetails
Exam NameCAT
Conducting BodyIndian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
Cutoff TypePercentile
Courses AcceptingMBA, PGDM, MBA/PGDM
Categories CoveredGeneral, SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwD
Total Rounds1
Total Colleges Participating175
Official Websitehttps://iimcat.ac.in/
QuotasAll India
Top CoursesExecutive Master of Business Administration (EMBA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Post Graduate Program in Management

Status

  • Cutoff Status: Released
  • Last Updated: August 2026

CAT 2021 Cutoff Category Wise for Government and Private Colleges

The CAT 2021 category-wise cutoff highlights the opening and closing percentile range for admission into government and private colleges across different categories. The cutoff varies based on factors such as category reservation, seat availability, and college type, with government institutes generally having more competition compared to private colleges.

CategoryGovernmentPrivate
General80 - 9985 - 94
OBC70 - 82-
SC45 - 75-
ST35 - 75-
EWS70 - 90-
PwD35 - 76-

Can You Get a College with Your Percentile?

The CAT 2021 percentile plays a crucial role in determining your chances of admission into top institutes across India. Based on previous cutoff trends, the table below highlights what type of colleges you can expect at different eligibility ranges.

Eligibility RangeTop Colleges
Below 1,000IIMA, IIMB, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, FMS Delhi

CAT 2021 Score vs Percentile

The table below shows the relationship between score scored and the corresponding percentile in CAT 2021. Understanding this mapping helps candidates estimate their expected percentile based on score scored and compare it against historical cutoff trends.

  • A percentile of 99+ in CAT corresponds to approximately 85 - 92 Score.
  • A percentile of 95+ in CAT corresponds to approximately 62 - 75 Score.
  • A percentile of 90+ in CAT corresponds to approximately 51 - 61 Score.
ScorePercentile
93 - 204100
85 - 9299 - 100
76 - 8498 - 99
62 - 7595 - 98
51 - 6190 - 95
38 - 5080 - 90
20 - 3755 - 80
0 - 190 - 55

CAT Cutoff Trend (2021)

The CAT cutoff trend over the last few years helps candidates understand how competition and qualifying percentiles have evolved.


Year-wise Cutoff Trend

YearGeneralOBC-NCLSCST
202199827575

Key Insights

  • Overall Stability: General cutoff remains stable around 90-91 percentile
  • Increase from 2022 to 2023: Due to higher competition post-COVID normalization
  • Minor Fluctuations (2021-2021): Caused by normalization and paper difficulty
  • Reserved Categories: Gradual increase in cutoff due to rising participation
  • ST Category: Shows highest variation due to lower applicant pool

Insight: Cutoff trends show consistent competition growth with slight yearly variation


Marks vs Percentile (CAT 2021)

The CAT marks vs percentile gives a clear idea of score required to achieve a target percentile.

  • 99 Percentile -> ~85 - 92 marks
  • 95 Percentile -> ~62 - 75 marks
  • 90 Percentile -> ~51 - 61 marks

Insight: Aim for 180+ marks for top colleges and 120+ for safe options.


College wise CAT 2021 Cutoff (Category-wise Opening & Closing Percentiles)

The CAT 2021 college-wise cutoff includes opening and closing percentiles for top colleges like IIM Raipur, PIBM Pune, and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Kochi across categories. These cutoffs are released during counselling and vary based on college, branch, category, and quota

CollegeBranchCategoryOpening PercentileClosing Percentile
IIM RaipurExecutive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)General9292
PIBM PuneMaster of Business Administration (MBA)General5050
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham KochiMaster of Business Administration (MBA)General6060
SMS VaranasiMaster of Business Administration (MBA)General6565
LBSITMMaster of Business Administration (MBA)General2525
Vishwa Vishwani Institute of Systems and ManagementMaster of Business Administration (MBA)General5050
ISBR Business SchoolMaster of Business Administration (MBA)General6060
INMANTEC InstitutionsMaster of Business Administration (MBA)General4040
JGBSMaster of Business Administration (MBA)General2525
North Eastern Regional Institute of ManagementMaster of Business Administration (MBA)General5050

Insight: IIM Raipur, PIBM Pune, and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Kochi close within top 50-92 percentiles for core branches.

Key Insights

  • Cutoffs vary significantly by college tier and branch popularity.
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) has the lowest closing percentile (25), indicating highest competition.
  • 10 colleges close within top 20,000 percentiles, while 10 are within top 30,000 percentiles.
  • Final cutoff depends on counselling rounds, preferences, and seat matrix.

College-wise CAT 2021 Cutoff (Category-wise Opening & Closing Percentiles)

CollegeGeneralSCSTOBC
IIMA99---
IIMB99---
IIM Lucknow85 - 9065 - 7060 - 6577 - 82
IIM Kozhikode97---
FMS Delhi98---
IIM Indore90605080
MDI Gurgaon94---
JBIMS Mumbai96---
IIM Shillong94---
SJMSOM90---

Safe Score for CAT 2021

The CAT safe score is the minimum marks range required to secure admission into good colleges without high risk. It varies based on category, branch preference, and competition level.


Safe Score for IIMs

62-75+ marks

What this means:

  • Strong chance in top colleges with competitive branches.
  • Possible entry into Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) in good institutes.
  • Percentile range typically under 25-50 for stronger options.

Safe Score for Other Good Colleges

51-61+ marks

What this means:

  • Good chance in institutes offering Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA).
  • Access to mid to top institutes with strong placement records.
  • Percentile range typically under 50-60.

Pro Tip: Always keep a buffer of +10-20 marks above the safe score due to normalization and yearly cutoff variation.


What Percentile is Required for Top Colleges?

The CAT percentile is the most critical factor in securing admission to top colleges. Based on previous trends, the table below shows what percentile is required for LBSITM, JGBS, and INMANTEC Institutions across categories.


Percentile under 65

College NameGeneralSCSTOBC
IIMA99---
IIMB99---
IIM Lucknow85 - 9065 - 7060 - 6577 - 82
IIM Kozhikode97---
FMS Delhi98---
IIM Indore90605080
MDI Gurgaon94---
JBIMS Mumbai96---

Percentile under 50

  • Strong chance in colleges like LBSITM, JGBS, and INMANTEC Institutions.
  • Likely branches: Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA).
  • Category advantage applies for better branch outcomes.

Insight: Best range for highly competitive colleges in current trends.


Percentile under 40

  • Admission possible in colleges like LBSITM, JGBS, and INMANTEC Institutions.
  • This range keeps more realistic options open across counselling rounds.
  • Wider branch flexibility is usually available compared to lower percentile bands.

Insight: Ideal for balanced college and branch targets with strong placement potential.


Final Takeaway: Under 65 percentiles target top-tier options, under 50 percentiles strengthen access to IIM, and under 40 percentiles open broader options like other iim.

  • Under 50: 6 strong cutoff outcomes in current trend set.
  • Under 40: 3 broader cutoff outcomes in current trend set.

Top Colleges Accepting CAT 2021 Cutoff

Explore the top management colleges accepting CAT 2021 scores. Click below to check detailed branch-wise opening & closing percentiles and cutoff trends.

CollegeFeesMedian SalaryCoursesRanking
IIM Raipur₹ 20.00 Lakhs₹ 17.50 Lakhs13Times #3
PIBM Pune₹ 30.00 Lakhs-14BusinessToday #63
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Kochi₹ 1.29 Crores₹ 7.13 Lakhs207-
SMS Varanasi₹ 5.39 Lakhs-14-
LBSITM₹ 1.30 Lakhs-15-
Vishwa Vishwani Institute of Systems and Management₹ 8.81 Lakhs-36BusinessToday #222
ISBR Business School₹ 16.94 Lakhs₹ 5.00 Lakhs30Times #80
INMANTEC Institutions₹ 2.36 Lakhs-10-
JGBS₹ 22.50 Lakhs₹ 6.60 Lakhs10Outlook #1
North Eastern Regional Institute of Management₹ 4.09 Lakhs-4-

Top Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) Colleges - 2021 Cutoff (Category-wise Opening & Closing Percentiles)

The CAT 2021 cutoff for Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) highlights the closing percentiles required for admission into top colleges across categories. Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) remains highly competitive in most exams, with lower closing percentiles compared to many other streams.

CollegeGeneralSCSTOBC
IIM Raipur92544074

Key Insights

  • Top 3 colleges (IIM Raipur) close within top 92 percentiles (General).
  • Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) remains a high-demand branch across top colleges.

Insight: To secure Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) in top colleges, aim for under 74 percentile, while under 166 percentile can still fetch strong options.


Top Master of Business Administration (MBA) Colleges - 2021 Cutoff (Category-wise Opening & Closing Percentiles)

The CAT 2021 cutoff for Master of Business Administration (MBA) highlights the closing percentiles required for admission into top colleges across categories. Master of Business Administration (MBA) remains highly competitive in most exams, with lower closing percentiles compared to many other streams.

CollegeGeneralSCSTOBC
FMS Delhi98---
SJMSOM90---
DMS IIT Delhi90---
VGSOM IIT Kharagpur90757580
IIM Udaipur92---
DoMS IIT Madras85---
IIM Ranchi94---
IIM Kashipur92544074
IIM Nagpur95---
IIM Sambalpur93---

Key Insights

  • Top 3 colleges (DoMS IIT Madras, SJMSOM, and DMS IIT Delhi) close within top 90 percentiles (General).
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) remains a high-demand branch across top colleges.

Insight: To secure Master of Business Administration (MBA) in top colleges, aim for under 72 percentile, while under 162 percentile can still fetch strong options.


Top Post Graduate Program in Management Colleges - 2021 Cutoff (Category-wise Opening & Closing Percentiles)

The CAT 2021 cutoff for Post Graduate Program in Management highlights the closing percentiles required for admission into top colleges across categories. Post Graduate Program in Management remains highly competitive in most exams, with lower closing percentiles compared to many other streams.

CollegeGeneralSCSTOBC
IIMA99---
IIMB99---
IIM Kozhikode97---
IIM Indore90605080
IIM Shillong94---
IIM Raipur92544074
IIM Trichy94---
Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai85---
Great Lakes Gurgaon70---

Key Insights

  • Top 3 colleges (Great Lakes Gurgaon, Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai, and IIM Indore) close within top 90 percentiles (General).
  • Post Graduate Program in Management remains a high-demand branch across top colleges.

Insight: To secure Post Graduate Program in Management in top colleges, aim for under 72 percentile, while under 162 percentile can still fetch strong options.


All India Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) Cutoff 2021 – Opening & Closing Percentiles


The CAT 2021 cutoff for Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) shows the opening and closing percentiles for top colleges under the All India quota. Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) remains highly competitive, with relatively lower closing percentiles in top institutes.

General Category Cutoff for Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) (All India 2021)

CollegeAll
OpeningClosing
IIM Raipur9292

OBC Category Cutoff for Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) (All India 2021)

CollegeAll
OpeningClosing
IIM Raipur7474

SC Category Cutoff for Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) (All India 2021)

CollegeAll
OpeningClosing
IIM Raipur5454

ST Category Cutoff for Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) (All India 2021)

CollegeAll
OpeningClosing
IIM Raipur4040

All India Master of Business Administration (MBA) Cutoff 2021 – Opening & Closing Percentiles


The CAT 2021 cutoff for Master of Business Administration (MBA) shows the opening and closing percentiles for top colleges under the All India quota. Master of Business Administration (MBA) remains highly competitive, with relatively lower closing percentiles in top institutes.

General Category Cutoff for Master of Business Administration (MBA) (All India 2021)

CollegeAll
OpeningClosing
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Kochi6060
INMANTEC Institutions4040
ISBR Business School6060
JGBS2525
KGI4040
LBSITM2525
North Eastern Regional Institute of Management5050
PIBM Pune5050
SMS Varanasi6565
Vishwa Vishwani Institute of Systems and Management5050

OBC Category Cutoff for Master of Business Administration (MBA) (All India 2021)

CollegeAll
OpeningClosing
IIM Amritsar7575
IIM Bodh Gaya7575
IIM Jammu7474
IIM Kashipur7474
IIM Sirmaur7474
VGSOM IIT Kharagpur8080

SC Category Cutoff for Master of Business Administration (MBA) (All India 2021)

CollegeAll
OpeningClosing
IIM Amritsar5555
IIM Bodh Gaya5555
IIM Jammu5454
IIM Kashipur5454
IIM Sirmaur5454
VGSOM IIT Kharagpur7575

ST Category Cutoff for Master of Business Administration (MBA) (All India 2021)

CollegeAll
OpeningClosing
IIM Amritsar4040
IIM Bodh Gaya4040
IIM Jammu4040
IIM Kashipur4040
IIM Sirmaur4040
VGSOM IIT Kharagpur7575

Course-wise Cutoff Range (All India Quota) 2021

CourseGeneralSCSTOBC
Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)92544074
Master of Business Administration (MBA)85 - 9854 - 7540 - 7574 - 80
Post Graduate Program in Management85 - 9954 - 6040 - 5074 - 80
Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM)85 - 94---
MBA in Business Analytics85 - 94554075
MBA in Finance95---
PGDM in Banking and Financial Services90---
MBA in Human Resource Management94---
PGDM in Financial Management85 - 90---
PGDM in International Business85 - 94---

All India and Home State Cutoff 2021

All India Cutoff 2021

College TypeGeneralSCSTOBC
IIM80 - 9945 - 7035 - 6570 - 82
IIT90757580

College Wise Cutoff 2021

Explore college-wise cutoff pages for 2021 to check detailed branch-wise opening & closing percentiles and admission trends.


CAT Cutoff Percentiles for Top IIM

NameCutoff Links
IIM VisakhapatnamView Cutoff
IIM AmritsarView Cutoff
IIM LucknowView Cutoff
IIM IndoreView Cutoff
IIM UdaipurView Cutoff
IIM RaipurView Cutoff
IIM KashipurView Cutoff
IIM SirmaurView Cutoff
IIM SambalpurView Cutoff
IIM JammuView Cutoff

CAT Cutoff Percentiles for Top IIT

NameCutoff Links
VGSOM IIT KharagpurView Cutoff

CAT Cutoff Percentiles for Top Colleges

NameCutoff Links
VBS MumbaiView Cutoff
XIMBView Cutoff
LBSITMView Cutoff
JK Business SchoolView Cutoff
MIMA Institute of ManagementView Cutoff
IES MCRCView Cutoff
Teri School of Advanced StudiesView Cutoff
KIIT School of Rural ManagementView Cutoff
JGBSView Cutoff
IBIView Cutoff

CAT 2021 Cutoff FAQs

What is the cutoff for CAT 2021?
The cutoff for CAT 2021 is expected to be around 80-99 percentile for General category, while reserved categories may have lower cutoffs based on previous year trends and exam difficulty.
What is the expected cutoff for CAT 2021 (category-wise)?
The expected cutoff for CAT 2021 is:
  • General: 80-99 percentile
  • OBC: 70-82 percentile
  • SC: 45-75 percentile
  • ST: 35-75 percentile
These values are based on trend analysis and difficulty level.
What was the cutoff for CAT 2020?
In 2020, the cutoff for CAT was:
  • General: data not available yet
  • OBC: data not available yet
  • SC: data not available yet
This helps estimate the expected cutoff for 2021.
What marks are required for top percentile in CAT 2021?
To achieve 99 percentile in CAT 2021, candidates typically need around 85-92 marks, depending on exam difficulty and normalization.
What marks are required for 90 percentile in CAT 2021?
Candidates scoring around 51-61 marks can expect approximately 90 percentile in CAT 2021, based on previous session data.
Is 95 percentile good in CAT 2021?
Yes, 95 percentile in CAT 2021 is considered good, and may allow admission to good to excellent colleges, depending on category and branch preference.
What percentile is required for top colleges through CAT 2021?
For top colleges accepting CAT 2021:
  • Top tier colleges: Percentile under 50
  • Mid-tier colleges: Percentile under 50
Admission depends on branch and category.
What is a safe score for CAT 2021?
A safe score for CAT 2021 is typically 51-61 to 62-75, which increases the chances of admission to top colleges based on previous year trends.
Will the cutoff for CAT 2021 increase or decrease?
The cutoff for CAT 2021 is expected to stable due to factors like similar difficulty level, candidate participation, and seat availability.
What factors affect the cutoff for CAT 2021?
The cutoff for CAT 2021 is influenced by:
  • Difficulty level: similar difficulty level
  • Total seats: 175+ participating college options
Can I get a top college with my percentile in CAT 2021?
With a good percentile, candidates may get into IIM Raipur, PIBM Pune, and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Kochi, depending on branch preference and category cutoff trends.
What is the difference between qualifying and admission cutoff in CAT 2021?
The qualifying cutoff for CAT 2021 is 80-99 percentile, while admission cutoffs vary by college and can go much higher depending on demand and seat availability.
Where can I check college-wise cutoff for CAT 2021?
Candidates can check detailed college-wise and branch-wise cutoff for CAT 2021 on KollegeApply, including opening and closing percentiles for top institutes.

Related Cutoff Links