CAT 2026 Safe Percentile for IIM A, B and C: Score to Target

To get a shortlist call from IIM Ahmedabad, you need a safe overall CAT percentile of 99.5 or above for the General category; IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta each require 99 percentile or above.

CAT 2026 is expected to be conducted in November–December 2026, with results likely in January 2027. IIM Ahmedabad (IIM A), IIM Bangalore (IIM B), and IIM Calcutta (IIM C) each set independent overall and sectional CAT percentile cutoffs for shortlisting. Knowing the safe percentile target for your category — before the exam — helps you prepare with a clear goal in mind.

• IIM A expects 99.5+ overall percentile for General category students and 99+ sectional percentile in each of VARC, DILR, and QA.
• IIM B and IIM C shortlist at 99+ overall with lower sectional thresholds than IIM A.
• For OBC-NCL students, a safe target is 97–98 percentile overall across all three IIMs.
• SC students can target 85+ overall while ST students need 65–70 percentile at IIM A, B, and C.
• Clearing the overall cutoff is not enough — failing any single sectional cutoff eliminates your application from shortlisting.

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CAT 2026 Safe Percentile for IIM A, B and C: Quick Reference

The table below shows the expected safe overall CAT percentile by category for each of the three top IIMs. These figures are based on 2023–2025 shortlist trends and are expected to hold for CAT 2026 results.

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IIM Ahmedabad Safe Percentile for CAT 2026

IIM A is the most selective of the three top IIMs. General and EWS category students need 99.5+ overall and 99+ in each section to safely expect a shortlist call. A single weak section disqualifies a student even with a strong overall score — IIM A applies its sectional cutoffs strictly.

The shortlisting process at IIM A uses a composite score that includes CAT performance, academic record across Class 10, 12, and graduation, and work experience. A strong academic history improves your composite score, but it does not substitute for clearing the CAT percentile threshold.

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IIM Bangalore Safe Percentile for CAT 2026

IIM B requires an overall CAT percentile of 99 or above for General and EWS category students, based on past shortlist patterns. Its sectional thresholds are lower than IIM A, making it slightly more accessible for students with uneven section scores.

IIM B’s composite shortlisting formula includes an academic and gender diversity adjustment. Female students may benefit from a marginal reduction in the effective CAT percentile required, due to IIM B’s diversity-inclusive scoring matrix. Work experience of 12–36 months also adds to the composite score.

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IIM Calcutta Safe Percentile for CAT 2026

IIM C has overall percentile cutoffs similar to IIM B — 99 or above for General and EWS category students. IIM C places significant weight on academic consistency across Class 10, 12, and graduation when computing its composite shortlist score.

Students with a dip in academics, such as graduation marks below 60%, may need a higher CAT percentile to offset the lower composite score. Sectional thresholds at IIM C are expected to stay around 80 percentile for General students, based on 2023–2025 patterns.

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Why Sectional Cutoffs Matter for IIM A, B and C Calls

All three IIMs apply section-wise cutoffs in addition to the overall CAT percentile. Clearing the overall threshold while missing one sectional cutoff disqualifies your application entirely. This is the most common reason high-scorers do not receive calls despite a strong overall percentile.

At IIM A, the sectional bar is nearly as high as the overall bar — there is almost no room to compensate a weak section with a strong one. At IIM B and IIM C, the sectional thresholds offer more headroom, but students who simultaneously target all three IIMs should aim for balanced scores across sections.

• VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension): Often the hardest section for non-humanities students. IIM A requires 99+ for General; IIM B and IIM C require 80–85+.
• DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning): Has high difficulty variance year to year. IIM A requires 99+; IIM B and C require 80+.
• QA (Quantitative Ability): Typically stronger for engineering students. IIM A requires 99+; IIM B and C require 80+.

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Factors That Affect Your IIM Shortlist Beyond CAT Percentile

Your CAT percentile is the primary filter, but all three IIMs use a composite score to build their final shortlists. These additional factors can either strengthen or weaken your candidature.

• Academic performance: Class 10, 12, and graduation marks are scored separately in the composite formula. Consistent performance above 75–80% across all levels strengthens your composite profile.
• Work experience: IIM A and IIM B value 12–36 months of work experience. IIM C also considers it but weights academics more heavily in the composite score.
• Gender diversity: IIM B and IIM C apply a diversity bonus for female students, which can marginally reduce the effective CAT percentile needed for a call.
• Application category: All three IIMs maintain separate shortlists for each reservation category. Your category determines which cutoff row applies to your application.