CAT 2026 Safe Percentile for IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta

A safe CAT 2026 percentile for IIM Ahmedabad is 99.5 or above for General category students; IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta require 99 or above overall, with lower category-wise thresholds for NC-OBC, EWS, SC, ST, and PwD.

CAT 2026 will be held tentatively in November 2026, with results expected by January 2027. For IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta — collectively called IIM ABC — the admission bar is among the highest in India. All percentile figures in this article are expected estimates based on CAT 2024 and CAT 2023 shortlisting trends, since CAT 2026 has not yet been conducted. Knowing the safe percentile for your category lets you set a concrete target and shape your section-wise preparation plan.

• IIM Ahmedabad General safe percentile: 99.5+ (expected, based on 2024 trends)
• IIM Bangalore General safe percentile: 99+ (expected, based on 2024 trends)
• IIM Calcutta General safe percentile: 99+ (expected, based on 2024 trends)
• All three IIMs apply section-wise minimum percentile cutoffs in VARC, DILR, and QA alongside the overall cutoff
• Missing even one section cutoff eliminates you from the shortlist regardless of your overall percentile

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What is a Safe Score in CAT 2026?

In CAT, IIMs shortlist students based on percentile — not raw marks. A safe score is the percentile above which your probability of clearing the initial IIM shortlist is consistently high, based on historical trends. CAT 2026 will have 66 questions across three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Each correct MCQ answer carries 3 marks and each wrong MCQ answer results in a deduction of 1 mark, making the maximum possible raw score 198. CAT scores are then normalized across all slots and converted to percentile relative to all test-takers.

For IIM ABC shortlisting, you must clear both the overall percentile threshold and the individual section-wise cutoffs in all three sections. Missing either — even with a strong overall score — results in rejection at the first screening stage.

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CAT 2026 Safe Percentile for IIM Ahmedabad (Category-Wise)

IIM Ahmedabad is the most selective of the three IIMs. Its shortlisting formula weights CAT performance heavily, especially for General category students. The expected safe overall percentile for General category in CAT 2026 is 99.5 percentile or above, based on CAT 2024 shortlisting data. The table below shows the expected category-wise safe overall percentiles:

IIM Ahmedabad’s shortlisting also factors in academic performance (Class 10, Class 12, and graduation marks) and work experience alongside CAT percentile. Students with outstanding academics may occasionally be shortlisted at the lower boundary of the safe range. All figures above are expected estimates and will be confirmed when the official CAT 2026 notification is released.

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CAT 2026 Safe Percentile for IIM Bangalore (Category-Wise)

IIM Bangalore uses a composite shortlisting score that combines CAT percentile, academic record, work experience, and diversity factors. The expected safe overall percentile for General category students is 99 percentile or above. Expected category-wise safe overall percentiles for CAT 2026 are:

Because IIM Bangalore’s shortlisting is holistic, a student with a strong academic background and relevant work experience may clear the shortlist at the lower boundary of the safe percentile. Conversely, a very high CAT percentile alone cannot fully compensate for a weak academic record in their scoring formula.

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CAT 2026 Safe Percentile for IIM Calcutta (Category-Wise)

IIM Calcutta evaluates CAT percentile alongside Class 10 board marks, Class 12 board marks, graduation percentage, and work experience. The expected safe overall percentile for General category students is 99 percentile or above. Expected category-wise safe overall percentiles for CAT 2026 are:

IIM Calcutta assigns notable weightage to academics in its shortlisting matrix. Students with strong Class 10, Class 12, and graduation scores may be competitive at the lower end of the safe range for their category, since academic marks can partially offset a marginally lower CAT percentile within the threshold.

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Section-Wise Safe Percentile for IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta

All three IIMs enforce section-wise minimum percentile thresholds in addition to the overall cutoff. Failing even one section’s minimum results in automatic rejection from that IIM’s shortlist, regardless of overall percentile. The table below shows expected General category section-wise safe percentiles for CAT 2026:

These thresholds apply to the General category. Reserved categories (SC, ST, NC-OBC, EWS, PwD) have lower section-wise minimums at each IIM. Engineering students who struggle with VARC and arts or commerce students who find QA difficult must target their weakest section directly — a section cutoff miss is the most common reason for shortlist rejection despite a high overall percentile.

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Factors That Affect the CAT 2026 Safe Percentile for IIM ABC

The exact safe percentile for IIM ABC can shift slightly year to year. Key factors to keep in mind are:

• Paper difficulty: A harder CAT paper lowers average raw scores, but percentile thresholds stay consistent — the scale adjusts so the percentile cutoff remains similar even if the raw marks needed are lower.
• Total test-takers: CAT 2024 saw over 3.2 lakh registrations. A larger applicant base makes the 99 and 99.5 percentile bands more competitive in absolute raw-score terms.
• Batch size expansion: If IIM ABC increases intake in a given year, the effective shortlist percentile may ease marginally as more students are called for WAT-PI.
• Normalization across slots: CAT is conducted in multiple slots and scores are equated across sessions. Percentile therefore reflects relative performance, not absolute raw marks from a single slot.
• Profile-based adjustments: IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta factor in academics and work experience, so the effective CAT percentile needed can vary between individual applicants within the same category and shortlisting cycle.

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