IIM Ahmedabad CAT 2026 Expected Cutoff: Percentile, Academic Profile and Shortlist Criteria

IIM Ahmedabad is expected to require a minimum CAT 2026 overall percentile of 99 for General category students, with the official minimum eligibility set at 80th percentile overall and 70th percentile in each section.

IIM Ahmedabad (IIM-A) remains the most competitive IIM in India, attracting thousands of aspirants every year. For the PGP 2026-28 batch, shortlisting will factor in your CAT 2026 score, academic record across Class 10, Class 12 and graduation as well as gender diversity. Knowing where the bar sits and what academic profile supports a shortlist call helps you build a realistic preparation strategy.

• Expected overall CAT cutoff for shortlisting (General): 99th percentile
• Official minimum eligibility: 80th percentile overall; 70th percentile in each section
• Category-wise relaxation available for NC-OBC, SC, ST, EWS and PwD students
• Shortlist score accounts for CAT score, Class 10, Class 12 and graduation marks
• IIM Ahmedabad’s annual PGP intake is approximately 400 students

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IIM Ahmedabad CAT 2026 Expected Cutoff Overview

Based on previous year trends, IIM Ahmedabad is expected to maintain its highly competitive cutoffs for CAT 2026. The table below shows the expected overall CAT percentile cutoffs across categories for the PGP 2026-28 batch.

All cutoffs above are expected figures based on 2022-25 trends. Actual CAT 2026 cutoffs will be released by IIM Ahmedabad after results are declared.

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IIM Ahmedabad CAT 2026 Section-wise Expected Cutoff

IIM Ahmedabad requires students to clear both an overall cutoff and individual sectional cutoffs. CAT 2026 has three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). The expected minimum eligibility sectional cutoffs based on previous years are shown below.

Clearing the minimum sectional cutoff is necessary but not sufficient for a shortlist at IIM Ahmedabad. A student scoring 99.5th percentile overall who falls below the sectional threshold in even one section will not be shortlisted. Balance across all three sections is essential.

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IIM Ahmedabad CAT 2026 Category-wise Expected Cutoff

IIM Ahmedabad provides category-wise relaxation as mandated by government reservation policy. The table below consolidates both eligibility and competitive shortlist expectations for CAT 2026 across all categories, based on 2022-25 admission patterns.

Students from reserved categories must still clear both the sectional and overall cutoffs applicable to their category. Meeting the cutoff does not guarantee a shortlist call or a final admission offer.

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IIM Ahmedabad Shortlist Criteria: Academic Profile and Beyond

IIM Ahmedabad does not shortlist students based on CAT percentile alone. The institute uses a composite rating score that weighs your academic history across three stages of education alongside your CAT performance.

Components of the IIM Ahmedabad Shortlist Score

Work experience is not part of the formal shortlist composite score at IIM Ahmedabad, unlike some other IIMs. However, relevant experience is considered during the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) stage.

What Academic Profile Supports a Shortlist at IIM Ahmedabad?

Based on previous batch data, a competitive academic profile for a General category student typically looks like this:

• Class 10: 85% or above (or equivalent CGPA)
• Class 12: 85% or above in a standard board
• Graduation: 7.5 CGPA or above (or 75% and above aggregate)
• No academic gaps or active backlogs

Students with a lower academic score in one stage can partially compensate with a very high CAT percentile. All three academic stages carry independent weight in the composite formula.

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Factors Affecting IIM Ahmedabad CAT 2026 Cutoff

Several factors influence where the cutoff lands each year. Understanding them helps you assess your chances before results are declared.

• CAT 2026 exam difficulty: A tougher paper typically leads to lower raw scores and may slightly lower percentile cutoffs in absolute terms.
• Number of applicants: IIM Ahmedabad sees over 2.5 lakh applications via CAT each year. Rising applicant numbers push competitive cutoffs upward.
• Batch size: IIM-A’s PGP intake is approximately 400 students. Any increase in intake could ease shortlist requirements marginally.
• Category-wise applicant pool: The size of the reserved category applicant pool in each group influences the effective competitive cutoff for that category.
• CAT score normalisation: CAT uses statistical normalisation to adjust scores across sessions. Normalised scores form the basis for percentile calculation so raw performance across batches is equated.