Scoring 140 marks in CAT 2026 is expected to fetch a percentile between 98.5 and 99, putting you in contention for shortlists at IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, and several other top B-schools.
CAT 2026 follows a scaled scoring model with a maximum of 198 marks across three sections. Your actual shortlist also depends on section-wise percentile, academic profile, work experience, and category. At 140 marks, you are comfortably above the threshold for most new-generation IIMs and premier non-IIM institutes.
- CAT 2026 total maximum score: 198 (66 questions × 3 marks each).
- 140 marks is expected to correspond to a percentile of 98.5 to 99, based on 2023–2025 trends.
- Institutes likely to shortlist include IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, XLRI, and SPJIMR.
- IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore require 99+ percentile — shortlists at 140 marks are possible only for reserved categories.
- Section-wise percentile cutoffs (typically 85–90 per section) apply at most IIMs even for high-scorers.
| Direct Link to CAT 2026 Official Website (Active) — iimcat.ac.in |
CAT 2026 Total Marks and Score Structure
CAT uses normalised scaling across multiple sessions. The final scaled score is reported out of 198, split across three sections. Based on the structure followed in CAT 2022–2025, each correct answer earns 3 marks and each wrong MCQ attempt attracts a penalty of 1 mark. Non-MCQ (TITA) questions carry no negative marking.
| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 72 |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 60 |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | 66 |
| Total | 66 | 198 |
A score of 140 out of 198 represents approximately 70.7% of the total possible marks, equivalent to answering around 47 questions correctly with zero wrong attempts. In practice, most students reach 140 with a mix of correct and incorrect answers across all three sections.
Expected Percentile for 140 Marks in CAT 2026
Based on CAT 2023 and CAT 2024 score-to-percentile distributions, 140 marks is expected to correspond to an overall percentile of 98.5 to 99 in CAT 2026. The table below shows expected percentile ranges for key score bands, based on historical data.
| CAT 2026 Score (out of 198) | Expected Overall Percentile |
|---|---|
| 160 and above | 99.5 – 100 |
| 150 – 159 | 99 – 99.5 |
| 140 – 149 | 98.5 – 99 |
| 130 – 139 | 97 – 98.5 |
| 120 – 129 | 95 – 97 |
| 110 – 119 | 92 – 95 |
| 100 – 109 | 88 – 92 |
These figures are expected and based on 2023–2025 trends. The actual CAT 2026 percentile may vary slightly depending on the total number of test-takers and the difficulty level of each session.
Section-wise Score Breakdown for 140 Marks
Most top B-schools, especially the IIMs, apply section-wise percentile cutoffs in addition to overall percentile. Even with 140 total marks, a very low score in one section can disqualify you from an institute’s shortlist. A typical section-wise score distribution that sums to 140 is shown below.
| Section | Sample Score | Out of | Expected Section Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 52 | 72 | ~97 – 98 |
| DILR | 42 | 60 | ~97 – 98 |
| QA | 46 | 66 | ~97 – 98 |
| Total | 140 | 198 | ~98.5 – 99 |
IIMs generally require each section to cross the 85th percentile for General category students. For reserved categories, this threshold is lower. Section percentile is calculated independently within each section, not from the overall pool.
Top B-Schools That May Shortlist at 140 Marks
At an expected percentile of 98.5–99, you are competitive for shortlists at IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, XLRI, SPJIMR, IIM Indore, and IIM Kozhikode, among others. The table below lists expected overall cutoffs for General category students, based on 2023–2025 shortlisting patterns.
| B-School | Expected CAT Cutoff (General) | Shortlist Likely at 140 Marks? |
|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 99.5+ | Unlikely (General/OBC) |
| IIM Bangalore | 99+ | Borderline |
| IIM Calcutta | 98 – 99 | Likely |
| IIM Lucknow | 97 – 98 | Yes |
| FMS Delhi | 98+ | Likely |
| MDI Gurgaon | 95 – 97 | Yes |
| XLRI Jamshedpur (BM) | 97+ | Yes |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | 95 – 97 | Yes |
| IIM Indore | 95 – 97 | Yes |
| IIM Kozhikode | 94 – 96 | Yes |
| IIM Tiruchirappalli | 92 – 95 | Yes |
| IIM Udaipur | 90 – 93 | Yes |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 90 – 92 | Yes |
All cutoffs listed are expected and based on 2023–2025 shortlisting trends. Final shortlists depend on composite score calculations that include your academic background, work experience, and diversity factors specific to each institute.
Category-wise Shortlist Chances at 140 Marks
Reserved categories benefit from lower percentile cutoffs at every institute. If you belong to SC, ST, or PwD categories, 140 marks in CAT 2026 opens up shortlist prospects even at IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore.
| Category | Expected Percentile at 140 Marks | Institutes Likely to Shortlist |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 98.5 – 99 | IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, FMS, MDI, XLRI, SPJIMR, IIM Indore, and more |
| OBC-NCL | 98.5 – 99 (cutoff ~95–97) | All above plus IIM Bangalore likely |
| SC | 98.5 – 99 (cutoff ~85–90) | All top IIMs including IIM Ahmedabad |
| ST | 98.5 – 99 (cutoff ~75–85) | All top IIMs including IIM Ahmedabad |
| PwD | 98.5 – 99 (cutoff ~60–70) | All top IIMs including IIM Ahmedabad |
Category-specific section-wise cutoffs also apply at each institute. Verify exact thresholds on each institute’s official admissions page once CAT 2026 results are declared.
CAT 2026 140 Marks FAQs
Ques. What percentile is expected for 140 marks in CAT 2026?
Ans. Based on CAT 2023–2025 trends, 140 marks is expected to correspond to an overall percentile of approximately 98.5 to 99. The exact figure will depend on exam difficulty and the total number of test-takers in CAT 2026.
Ques. What is the maximum score in CAT 2026?
Ans. The maximum scaled score in CAT is 198, based on 66 questions worth 3 marks each, divided across VARC (72 marks), DILR (60 marks), and QA (66 marks).
Ques. Can I get into IIM Ahmedabad with 140 marks in CAT 2026?
Ans. IIM Ahmedabad typically requires 99.5+ percentile for General category students. At 140 marks (expected 98.5–99 percentile), a shortlist is unlikely for General and OBC-NCL students, but is possible for SC, ST, and PwD categories, which have lower cutoffs.
Ques. Which IIMs can I get into with 140 marks in CAT 2026?
Ans. With 140 marks, you are likely to receive shortlist calls from IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Tiruchirappalli, IIM Udaipur, and several other IIMs for the General category. Final admission also depends on your academic profile, work experience, and WAT-PI performance.
Ques. Does section-wise score matter if my total CAT score is 140?
Ans. Yes. Most IIMs and top B-schools apply section-wise percentile cutoffs — typically 85–90 percentile per section for General category students. A weak section score, even with a strong total, can result in rejection from shortlists.
Ques. Is 140 a good score in CAT?
Ans. Yes, 140 is an excellent score. It places you in the expected top 1–1.5% of all CAT test-takers, making you competitive for top B-schools including several IIMs, FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, XLRI Jamshedpur, and SPJIMR Mumbai.
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