A safe Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 percentile for SC students is 70 or above overall, and 65 or above for ST students, to secure shortlist calls from multiple Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
SC and ST students benefit from significantly relaxed cutoffs across all IIMs. While a General category student may need 99 percentile for IIM Ahmedabad, an SC student can secure a shortlist at around 60 percentile and an ST student at around 50 percentile. Understanding these thresholds helps you set a realistic target and plan your CAT 2026 preparation effectively.
- The safe overall percentile for SC students is 70+ to get calls from multiple old IIMs.
- For ST students, 65+ overall percentile is considered safe for a broad IIM shortlist.
- Section-wise cutoffs apply independently. You must cross each section minimum.
- Newer IIMs accept SC/ST students at as low as 45 to 55 percentile.
- CAT 2026 is expected in November 2026 and results typically release in January 2027.
| Direct Link to CAT 2026 Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
What is a Safe CAT 2026 Score for SC/ST Students?
CAT does not use a fixed total marks scale. Your performance is expressed as a percentile score from 0 to 100, computed from scaled raw scores across three sections. A higher percentile means you outperformed a greater share of test-takers that year.
For SC/ST students, a safe score is the percentile at which you can expect shortlist calls from multiple IIMs, not just one borderline case. Based on CAT 2024 and 2025 trends, the recommended safe thresholds are:
| Category | Safe Overall Percentile (Old IIMs) | Safe Overall Percentile (New IIMs) |
|---|---|---|
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 70+ | 50+ |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 65+ | 45+ |
These are expected thresholds based on CAT 2024 and 2025 trends. Actual cutoffs for CAT 2026 will be set by each IIM after results are declared. Scoring above these bands gives you a meaningful safety buffer.
CAT 2026 Section-wise Minimum Cutoffs for SC/ST
IIMs screen students on all three CAT sections individually: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA). A strong overall percentile alone is not enough. You must cross each section’s floor separately.
| IIM | Category | VARC Percentile | DILR Percentile | QA Percentile | Overall Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | SC | 55 | 45 | 45 | 60 |
| ST | 45 | 40 | 40 | 50 | |
| IIM Bangalore | SC | 60 | 50 | 50 | 65 |
| ST | 50 | 45 | 45 | 55 | |
| IIM Calcutta | SC | 55 | 45 | 45 | 60 |
| ST | 45 | 40 | 40 | 55 | |
| IIM Lucknow | SC | 60 | 55 | 55 | 68 |
| ST | 55 | 50 | 50 | 65 | |
| IIM Indore | SC | 60 | 55 | 55 | 70 |
| ST | 55 | 50 | 50 | 65 | |
| IIM Kozhikode | SC | 60 | 55 | 55 | 70 |
| ST | 55 | 50 | 50 | 65 |
All figures are expected cutoffs based on CAT 2024 and 2025 trends. IIMs publish official cutoffs only after results for each year.
IIM-wise SC/ST Shortlist Cutoffs: Expected CAT 2026 Percentiles
The table below lists expected overall percentile cutoffs for shortlisting SC and ST students to the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) round, based on the trend from CAT 2024 and CAT 2025.
| IIM | SC Overall Percentile (Expected) | ST Overall Percentile (Expected) |
|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 60 | 50 |
| IIM Bangalore | 65 | 55 |
| IIM Calcutta | 60 | 55 |
| IIM Lucknow | 68 | 65 |
| IIM Indore | 70 | 65 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 70 | 65 |
| IIM Shillong | 65 | 60 |
| IIM Rohtak | 55 | 50 |
| IIM Ranchi | 55 | 50 |
| IIM Trichy | 55 | 50 |
| IIM Udaipur | 50 | 45 |
| IIM Raipur | 55 | 50 |
| IIM Kashipur | 50 | 45 |
| IIM Nagpur | 50 | 45 |
| IIM Visakhapatnam | 50 | 45 |
| IIM Jammu | 50 | 45 |
| IIM Amritsar | 50 | 45 |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | 50 | 45 |
| IIM Sambalpur | 50 | 45 |
| IIM Sirmaur | 50 | 45 |
Old IIMs vs New IIMs: SC/ST Admission Requirements at a Glance
IIMs divide broadly into three tiers and the SC/ST cutoffs differ noticeably across them. Applying strategically across tiers maximises your shortlist count from a single CAT score.
| IIM Group | Key Institutes | SC Safe Percentile | ST Safe Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old IIMs (Top 6) | IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode | 70+ | 65+ |
| Second-generation IIMs | IIM Shillong, Rohtak, Ranchi, Trichy, Udaipur, Raipur, Kashipur | 55 to 65 | 50 to 60 |
| Newer IIMs | IIM Nagpur, Visakhapatnam, Jammu, Amritsar, Bodh Gaya, Sambalpur, Sirmaur | 50+ | 45+ |
An SC student scoring 50 to 60 percentile has strong chances at newer IIMs. Crossing 70 percentile makes you competitive at all six old IIMs as well. ST students benefit from thresholds that are typically 5 to 10 percentile points lower at every IIM.
How SC/ST Students Can Reach the Safe Percentile in CAT 2026
Reaching the safe percentile band requires balanced preparation across all three CAT sections. These strategies are most effective:
- Treat all three sections as equally important. A section-wise disqualification eliminates you even with a strong overall percentile.
- Build a mock test habit from September 2026. Full-length timed mocks sharpen section-switching speed and time management under exam conditions.
- Prioritise accuracy over attempts in DILR. Four well-solved DILR sets can push you past the 70 percentile mark in that section.
- Daily reading for VARC. Reading quality editorial and analytical content improves Reading Comprehension speed and vocabulary.
- Cover core QA topics first. Arithmetic, algebra and geometry form the majority of QA questions. Master these before moving to number theory or permutation and combination.
- Apply across all IIM tiers. A broader application list increases shortlist count and gives you more WAT-PI practice opportunities.
CAT 2026 SC/ST Safe Score FAQs
Ques. What is the minimum CAT percentile for SC students to get into IIM Ahmedabad?
Ans. Based on CAT 2024 and 2025 trends, IIM Ahmedabad shortlists SC students at around 60 overall percentile. Section-wise cutoffs of approximately 55 in VARC and 45 each in DILR and QA also apply and must be cleared independently.
Ques. Is 70 percentile in CAT enough for SC/ST students to get into an old IIM?
Ans. Yes. A 70+ overall percentile is the safe zone for SC students to receive shortlist calls from most old IIMs including IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore and IIM Kozhikode. For ST students, 65+ overall percentile achieves the same outcome at most old IIMs.
Ques. Do SC/ST students need to clear section-wise cutoffs in CAT 2026?
Ans. Yes. IIMs apply section-wise minimum percentile cutoffs alongside the overall cutoff. SC/ST students get relaxed section-wise thresholds but must still clear each section independently to remain eligible for a shortlist call.
Ques. What is a safe CAT percentile for ST students targeting newer IIMs?
Ans. An ST student with 45+ overall percentile in CAT 2026 can expect shortlist calls from several newer IIMs. A score of 50+ percentile broadens shortlist chances across both second-generation and newer IIMs.
Ques. When will CAT 2026 be conducted?
Ans. CAT 2026 is expected to be held in November 2026 following the standard annual schedule. The official exam date will be announced on iimcat.ac.in once the notification is released.
Ques. Does a higher CAT score help SC/ST students even after clearing the cutoff?
Ans. Yes. Clearing the cutoff earns you a shortlist call for the WAT-PI round but final selection depends on a composite score that includes your CAT percentile, academic record, work experience, WAT performance and PI score. A higher CAT percentile strengthens your composite score and improves final admission chances significantly.
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