It's Ours
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the gateway to India’s 21 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and over 100 top non-IIM business schools. Understanding the CAT Cut Off structure is essential for setting realistic score targets and choosing the right business schools for your profile.
Registration for CAT 2026 has closed, and the application correction window is set to open from October 5 to October 6, 2026. Candidates are now preparing for the admit card release on November 4, 2026, leading up to the entrance examination on November 29, 2026.
Final Chance for MBA Candidates: The exam authorities confirmed this one-week extension serves as the final opportunity for aspirants targeting IIM admissions, with the computer-based test scheduled for November 29, 2026.
Contents
- 1 1. Qualifying Cut Off vs. Final Call Cut Off
- 2 2. Sectional vs. Overall Cut Offs
- 3 3. Top IIMs: Qualifying vs. Expected Actual Cutoffs (General Category)
- 4 4. Category-Wise Expected Cutoffs (IIM ABC Reference Pool)
- 5 5. CAP (Common Admission Process) & Baby IIMs Cutoffs
- 6 6. Cutoffs for Top Non-IIM MBA Colleges
- 7 7. CAT Score vs. Percentile Estimation (Reference Scale)
- 8 8. Factors Determining CAT Cutoffs Each Year
- 9 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- 10 1. Does clearing the official IIM cutoff guarantee an interview call?
- 11 2. Do all IIMs enforce sectional cutoffs?
- 12 3. What is a safe CAT percentile for non-engineers to get an IIM call?
- 13 Conclusion
- 14
1. Qualifying Cut Off vs. Final Call Cut Off
A common point of confusion among MBA aspirants is the distinction between Qualifying (Minimum Eligibility) cutoffs and Actual (Call) cutoffs:
- Qualifying Cutoff: The baseline minimum percentile published by IIMs in their official admission criteria. Meeting this threshold simply means your profile will enter the evaluation pool; it does not guarantee an interview call.
- Composite Score Calculation: IIMs calculate a combined score weighing your CAT score, 10th/12th/Graduation marks, work experience, academic stream, and gender diversity.
- Actual / Final Call Cutoff: The real percentile at which candidates actually receive shortlists for the WAT-PI (Written Ability Test & Personal Interview) round. Due to high competition, actual call cutoffs are significantly higher than qualifying minimums.
2. Sectional vs. Overall Cut Offs
Top IIMs mandate that candidates clear both the overall cutoff and individual sectional cutoffs across all three sections in the same sitting:
- VARC: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
- DILR: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
- QA: Quantitative Aptitude
Scoring a 99.5+ overall percentile will still lead to rejection if any single section falls below its prescribed minimum threshold.
3. Top IIMs: Qualifying vs. Expected Actual Cutoffs (General Category)
| Institute | Official Qualifying Cutoff | Expected Actual Call Cutoff (General) |
| IIM Ahmedabad (IIM-A) | 85 percentile | 99.5+ percentile |
| IIM Bangalore (IIM-B) | 85 percentile | 99.5+ percentile |
| IIM Calcutta (IIM-C) | 85 percentile | 99.2+ percentile |
| IIM Lucknow (IIM-L) | 90 percentile | 97 – 99 percentile |
| IIM Kozhikode (IIM-K) | 85 percentile | 97 – 98+ percentile |
| IIM Indore (IIM-I) | 90 percentile | 97 – 98+ percentile |
| IIM Mumbai (NITIE) | 85 percentile | 96 – 98 percentile |
| IIM Shillong | 75 – 80 percentile | 92 – 95 percentile |
4. Category-Wise Expected Cutoffs (IIM ABC Reference Pool)
Reserved category applicants are evaluated within their respective pools, leading to category-specific thresholds:
| Category | Expected Overall Cutoff | Sectional Minimum (VARC / DILR / QA) |
| General (Open) | 99+ percentile | 80 – 85+ |
| EWS | 95 – 97 percentile | 70 – 75+ |
| NC-OBC | 93 – 96 percentile | 65 – 75+ |
| SC | 80 – 85 percentile | 55 – 65+ |
| ST | 70 – 75 percentile | 45 – 55+ |
| PwD / DAP | 60 – 70 percentile | 40 – 50+ |
5. CAP (Common Admission Process) & Baby IIMs Cutoffs
Newer IIMs (such as Udaipur, Trichy, Raipur, Ranchi, Kashipur, Jammu, Bodh Gaya, Sambalpur, and Sirmaur) participate in centralized processes like CAP:
- General / Open: 92 – 95 Percentile
- EWS: 75 – 80 Percentile
- NC-OBC: 75 – 80 Percentile
- SC: 55 – 65 Percentile
- ST / PwD: 35 – 45 Percentile
6. Cutoffs for Top Non-IIM MBA Colleges
Premier non-IIM institutes accept CAT scores with competitive admission benchmarks:
| Institution | Expected Cutoff (General) | Highlights |
| FMS Delhi | 98.5 – 99.5 percentile | Very low fees, top ROI, heavy weightage on VARC |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | 85+ (Profile) / 97+ (Score) | Early shortlists based on academic and work profile |
| MDI Gurgaon | 94 – 96 percentile | General management programs with strong corporate focus |
| IIT Bombay (SJMSOM) | 97 – 98 percentile | Excellent ROI for engineering/tech backgrounds |
| IIT Delhi (DMS) | 96 – 98 percentile | High weightage for Quant and analytical skills |
| JBIMS Mumbai | 98 – 99 percentile | Maharashtra state and All-India open quota seats |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 90 – 92 percentile | Prominent for Marketing & Sales specialization |
| IMI New Delhi | 88 – 90 percentile | Established private management institute |
7. CAT Score vs. Percentile Estimation (Reference Scale)
Percentiles represent relative rank across all test-takers after score normalization across slots:
| Target Percentile | Estimated Raw Score (Out of 198) | Target Sectional Net Correct Questions |
| 99.9 %ile | ~110 – 118 marks | ~37–40 questions correct |
| 99.0 %ile | ~78 – 85 marks | ~27–29 questions correct |
| 95.0 %ile | ~58 – 65 marks | ~20–22 questions correct |
| 90.0 %ile | ~46 – 52 marks | ~16–18 questions correct |
| 80.0 %ile | ~35 – 40 marks | ~12–14 questions correct |
8. Factors Determining CAT Cutoffs Each Year
- Total Number of Applicants: Variations in registrations influence percentile distribution.
- Exam Difficulty Level: Tougher test slots lower the raw marks required for a specific percentile.
- Seat Matrix & Intake: Expansion of batch sizes or new program offerings across campuses.
- Academic Diversity Policies: Added composite weightage for non-engineers and female candidates, adjusting the effective cutoff for target cohorts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does clearing the official IIM cutoff guarantee an interview call?
No. Official cutoffs on IIM websites are minimum qualifying criteria. Actual shortlist calls depend on your Composite Score, which accounts for 10th/12th/Graduation marks, work experience, academic stream, and gender diversity alongside CAT performance.
2. Do all IIMs enforce sectional cutoffs?
Yes, nearly all IIMs enforce minimum sectional cutoffs in VARC, DILR, and QA. Non-IIM institutions like FMS, MDI, and certain IITs place varying weightages on individual sections rather than a strict uniform cutoff.
3. What is a safe CAT percentile for non-engineers to get an IIM call?
Non-engineers receive academic diversity points at IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, and Kozhikode, allowing many to receive calls in the 96 – 98.5 percentile range, compared to 99.5+ required for general engineering candidates.
Conclusion
Securing an admission call to premier business schools requires balancing sectional consistency with high overall scores. While top IIMs maintain an actual threshold of 99+ percentile for the General category, diverse options remain across New IIMs, IITs, SPJIMR, FMS, and MDI starting from the 85th percentile upwards. Building a balanced preparation strategy across all three sections is the most reliable way to clear both sectional and composite shortlists.