The CAT Cutoff 2026 for General category candidates is expected to remain around 98–99+ percentile for top IIMs. Candidates targeting IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta should ideally aim for well above the 99+ percentile.
Non-IIM colleges such as FMS Delhi and JBIMS may require 99+ percentile. For newer IIMs and other leading B-schools, CAT cutoff is expected to remain around 90–95 percentile.
Expected General Category CAT 2026 Cutoffs for Top IIMs:
| IIM | Expected Qualifying Cutoff (Percentile) | Expected Final-Call Cutoff (Percentile) |
|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | Around 95 | 99–100 |
| IIM Bangalore | Around 85 | 99–100 |
| IIM Calcutta | Above 85 | 99–100 |
| IIM Lucknow | Around 90 | 96–98 |
| IIM Kozhikode | Around 85 | 94–96 |
| IIM Indore | Around 90 | 94–95 |
| IIM Mumbai | Above 85 | 94–95 |
- Clearing the qualifying cutoff only makes students eligible for admission, but they must also clear the higher final call cutoff set by individual IIMs.
- For example, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta have highly competitive admission processes, with 99+ percentile as a final cutoff.
- Candidates also need to clear the sectional cutoffs for VARC, DILR and QA, which may be around 70-75 percentile at several newer IIMs and non-IIM B-schools.
- Based on previous trends, IIM Ahmedabad's General-category qualifying cutoff increased from 87.10 percentile in 2022 to 95 in 2025, while IIM Rohtak's rose from 95 in 2021 to 97 in 2025.
- Beyond the CAT score, selection criteria factor in Class 10 and 12 marks, graduation scores, work experience, and gender/academic diversity.
Related Links:
- IIM Ahmedabad Cutoff CAT 2026 & Admission Criteria: Check Eligibility & Score Vs Percentile
- IIM Bangalore Cutoff CAT 2026 and Admission Criteria: Check Category-wise cutoff & Eligibility Criteria
- IIM Calcutta Cutoff CAT 2026 & Selection Process: Check Category-wise cutoff & Admission Criteria
What is CAT Cutoff?
The CAT cutoff is the minimum percentile a candidate needs to meet an IIM's or other MBA college's admission criteria. However, clearing the qualifying cutoff does not guarantee an interview call. IIMs also consider factors such as CAT percentile, academic marks, work experience and diversity while shortlisting candidates.
Final Cutoff vs IIM Minimum Qualifying Cutoff
- Always check the qualifying cutoff and the final shortlisting criteria separately.
- A candidate may meet an IIM's minimum CAT percentile but still miss an interview call because of the institute's competitive selection process.
| Aspect | CAT Final Cutoff | IIM Qualifying Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | The percentile or composite score needed to receive a shortlist or interview call. | The minimum CAT percentile required to meet an IIM's initial eligibility criteria. |
| Purpose | Helps IIMs shortlist candidates for the next admission stage. | Filters candidates who meet the minimum CAT requirements. |
| Percentile | Can be much higher than the qualifying cutoff. A 99+ percentile can be a competitive target for top IIMs, but does not guarantee a call. | Usually lower than the level needed for an actual interview call. |
| Category-wise criteria | Shortlisting requirements vary by IIM, category and candidate profile. | Each IIM sets separate minimum requirements for categories such as General, EWS, NC-OBC, SC, ST and PwD. |
| Does it guarantee admission? | No. Candidates must clear further selection stages. | No. Meeting this cutoff alone does not guarantee a shortlist or admission. |
Minimum CAT 2026 Qualifying Cutoff: IIM Ahmedabad CAT Cutoff 2026
| Category | Non-PwD sectional cutoff (VARC, DILR, QA) | Non-PwD overall cutoff | PwD sectional cutoff (VARC, DILR, QA) | PwD overall cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General/EWS | 85 / 85 / 85 | 95 | 75 / 75 / 75 | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 80 / 80 / 80 | 90 | 70 / 70 / 70 | 80 |
| SC | 75 / 75 / 75 | 85 | 65 / 65 / 65 | 75 |
| ST | 65 / 65 / 65 | 75 | 55 / 55 / 55 | 65 |
Source: IIM Ahmedabad admission criteria for 2027–29.
Minimum CAT 2026 Qualifying Cutoff: IIM Bangalore CAT Cutoff 2026
IIM Bangalore has different overall and sectional qualifying cutoffs for each category. General-category candidates require an overall percentile of 85, while the minimum is 75 for NC-OBC and EWS candidates.
| Category | VARC cutoff | DILR cutoff | QA cutoff | Overall CAT cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 80 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
| EWS | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
| SC | 65 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
| ST | 55 | 55 | 55 | 65 |
| PwD | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
Source: IIM Bangalore admission criteria for 2027–29.
Minimum CAT 2026 Qualifying Cutoff: IIM Calcutta CAT Cutoff 2026
| Category | VARC cutoff | DILR cutoff | QA cutoff | Overall cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General/Open | ≥80 | ≥80 | ≥75 | ≥85 |
| EWS | ≥70 | ≥65 | ≥65 | ≥75 |
| NC-OBC | ≥70 | ≥65 | ≥65 | ≥75 |
| SC | ≥65 | ≥60 | ≥60 | ≥70 |
| ST | ≥55 | ≥55 | ≥55 | ≥65 |
| PwD | ≥45 | ≥45 | ≥45 | ≥55 |
Source: Official IIM Calcutta admission policy for the 2027–29 batch.
Ques. Which IIM has the highest CAT cutoff?
Ans. IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta are among the most competitive IIMs. General category candidates should target 99+ percentile for these institutes.
CAT Cutoff 2026 for IIMs: Percentile List & Category Cutoffs (Expected)
The minimum CAT cutoff category wise varies by different IIMs. For example, IIM Ahmedabad's published qualifying cutoff for the 2026–28 admission cycle ranged from 95 percentile for General/EWS candidates to 75 percentile for ST candidates (non-PwD).
- General: IIM Ahmedabad's minimum qualifying cutoff was 95 percentile overall, with 85 percentile in each section.
- NC-OBC and EWS: The required percentile differs by institute; IIM Ahmedabad set a 90 overall cutoff for NC-OBC and 95 for EWS.
- SC and ST: IIM Ahmedabad set overall qualifying cutoffs of 85 percentile for SC and 75 for ST.
- PwD: Separate overall and sectional cutoffs apply, depending on category and institute.
Expected CAT Cutoff for General Category
- A CAT 2026 score of 90–95+ percentile can be an initial target for aspirants.
- Candidates targeting top IIMs should aim for higher percentiles than the minimum qualifying cutoffs.
- IIM Ahmedabad requires 95 percentile overall and 85 percentile in each section for the General Category, compared to IIM Bangalore’s 85 overall, 80 in VARC, and 75 each in DILR and QA.
- IIM Ahmedabad’s overall cutoff is 10 percentile points higher than IIM Bangalore’s.
| Cutoff parameter | CAT 2026 planning Range | IIM Ahmedabad minimum | IIM Bangalore minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall percentile | 90–95+ | 95 | 85 |
| VARC percentile | 70–85+ | 85 | 80 |
| DILR percentile | 70–85+ | 85 | 75 |
| QA percentile | 70–85+ | 85 | 75 |
Sources: IIM Ahmedabad admission information and IIM Bangalore 2027–29 admission policy.
Expected CAT Cutoff for EWS Category
- IIM Ahmedabad requires 95 percentile overall and 85 in each section for EWS candidates, matching its General-category cutoff.
- IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta have lower minimum qualifying cutoffs for EWS candidates.
- IIM Ahmedabad increased its General/EWS cutoff from 80 to 95 overall and from 70 to 85 in each section between the 2025–27 and 2026–28 admission batches.
- The increase was 15 percentile points in both overall and sectional cutoffs.
| Cutoff parameter | Expected CAT 2026 planning range | IIM Ahmedabad: CAT 2026 | IIM Bangalore: CAT 2026 | IIM Calcutta: CAT 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall percentile | 85–95+ | 95 | 75 | 75 |
| VARC percentile | 65–80+ | 85 | 70 | 70 |
| DILR percentile | 65–80+ | 85 | 65 | 65 |
| QA percentile | 65–80+ | 85 | 65 | 65 |
Sources: IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta.
Expected CAT Cutoff for OBC (NC-OBC) Category
- IIM Ahmedabad's NC-OBC minimum for the 2026–28 batch was 90 overall and 80 in each section.
- Its earlier 2025–27 criteria used a lower overall cutoff of 75 and a sectional cutoff of 70.
- That represents a 15-point increase in both the overall and sectional minimums.
| Cutoff parameter | Expected CAT 2026 planning range | IIM Ahmedabad: CAT 2026 | IIM Bangalore: CAT 2026 | IIM Calcutta: CAT 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall percentile | 80–95+ | 90 | 75 | 75 |
| VARC percentile | 60–80+ | 80 | 70 | 70 |
| DILR percentile | 60–80+ | 80 | 65 | 65 |
| QA percentile | 60–80+ | 80 | 65 | 65 |
Sources: IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore admission policy and IIM Calcutta admission policy
Expected CAT Cutoff for SC Category
- IIM Ahmedabad's SC minimum rose from 70 overall and 60 sectionally for the 2025–27 batch to 85 overall and 75 sectionally for the 2026–28 batch.
- The increase was 15 percentile points overall and 15 points in each section.
| Cutoff parameter | Expected CAT 2026 planning range | IIM Ahmedabad: CAT 2026 | IIM Bangalore: CAT 2026 | IIM Calcutta: CAT 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall percentile | 70–90+ | 85 | 70 | 70 |
| VARC percentile | 55–75+ | 75 | 65 | 65 |
| DILR percentile | 55–75+ | 75 | 60 | 60 |
| QA percentile | 55–75+ | 75 | 60 | 60 |
Sources: IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta
Expected CAT Cutoff for ST Category
- IIM Ahmedabad's ST minimum for the 2026–28 batch was 75 overall and 65 in each section, compared with 60 overall and 50 sectionally in the 2025–27 criteria.
- This represents an increase of 15 overall percentile points and 15 sectional points.
| Cutoff parameter | Expected CAT 2026 planning range | IIM Ahmedabad: CAT 2026 | IIM Bangalore: CAT 2026 | IIM Calcutta: CAT 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall percentile | 60–80+ | 75 | 65 | 65 |
| VARC percentile | 50–70+ | 65 | 55 | 55 |
| DILR percentile | 50–70+ | 65 | 55 | 55 |
| QA percentile | 50–70+ | 65 | 55 | 55 |
Sources: IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore admission policy and IIM Calcutta admission policy
Expected CAT Cutoff for PwD Category
- IIM Ahmedabad's PwD minimums also increased between the 2025–27 and 2026–28 admission criteria.
- For example, the General/EWS-PwD minimum rose from 70 overall and 60 sectionally to 85 overall and 75 sectionally.
- That is a 15-point increase in the overall minimum and a 15-point increase in the sectional minimum.
| PwD category at IIM Ahmedabad | Overall minimum | Minimum in each section |
|---|---|---|
| General/EWS-PwD | 85 | 75 |
| NC-OBC-PwD | 80 | 70 |
| SC-PwD | 75 | 65 |
| ST-PwD | 65 | 55 |
Source: IIM Ahmedabad admission information
Check: CAT 2026 Safe Percentile for IIM A, B and C: Score to Target
Expected IIM CAT 2026 Cutoff: Minimum CAT Percentile For IIMs Category-Wise
- Candidates targeting IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta should aim for 99+ percentile to improve their chances of shortlisting.
- A 90–95 percentile target can help candidates explore several other IIMs, including Lucknow, Indore, Raipur, Ranchi and Nagpur, depending on category and selection criteria.
- IIM Mumbai and IIM Calcutta have General-category cutoffs above 85 percentile, while IIM Raipur and IIM Amritsar list cutoffs of 90 percentile for CAT 2026 aspirants.
- IIM Udaipur and IIM Bodh Gaya require 94 percentile for General-category candidates in the supplied table, while IIM Jammu lists 91 percentile.
- CAT 2026 aspirants should target balanced scores in VARC, DILR and QA because meeting the overall cutoff alone does not guarantee an interview call.
| IIM | General | NC-OBC | EWS | SC | ST | DAP/PwD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 95 | 90 | 95 | 85 | 75 | 85 |
| IIM Bangalore | 85 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 65 | 55 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 85 | 75 | 75 | 65 | 55 | 55 |
| IIM Lucknow | 90 | 82 | 82 | 65 | 60 | 60 |
| IIM Mumbai | >85 | >75 | >75 | >70 | >65 | 55 |
| IIM Calcutta | >85 | >75 | 75 | >70 | >65 | 55 |
| IIM Indore | 90 | 80 | 90 | 60 | 45 | 45 |
| IIM Raipur | 90 | 80 | 80 | 65 | 55 | 65 |
| IIM Ranchi | 95 | 81 | 72 | 66 | 42 | 42 |
| IIM Udaipur | 94 | 77 | 77 | 60 | 40 | 40 |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | 94 | 77 | 77 | 60 | 40 | 40 |
| IIM Sirmaur | — | — | 77 | — | — | 42 |
| IIM Amritsar | 90 | 80 | 90 | 55 | 55 | 40 |
| IIM Shillong | — | — | 80 | — | — | — |
| IIM Nagpur | 95 | 85 | 85 | 65 | 40 | 40 |
| IIM Jammu | 91 | 74 | 81 | 54 | 32 | 32 |
Related Links:
- CAT 2026 Cutoff, Good Scores & Marks vs Percentile Analysis for IIM & Top MBA Colleges
- IIM Call Predictor 2026: Calculate Admission Chances
Ques. Is 72 a good score in CAT 2026?
Ans. A score of 72 marks in CAT 2026 may be competitive for several MBA colleges, depending on the exam difficulty and score-to-percentile conversion. Candidates targeting top IIMs should also consider their category, sectional scores and overall percentile.
Ques. Is 40 a good score in CAT 2026?
Ans. A score of 40 marks in CAT 2026 may be sufficient for some MBA colleges, depending on the percentile achieved and admission criteria. Admission to top IIMs may be challenging, so candidates should compare their expected percentile with the qualifying and shortlisting cutoffs.
This video breaks down category-wise minimum qualifying percentiles vs safe percentiles and scores for IIMs.
CAT 2026 Cutoff: IIM CAT Cutoff Previous Years Trends
- IIM Rohtak had the most stable General cutoff, which is between 95 and 97 percentile from 2021 to 2025.
- IIM Visakhapatnam has not much increase in its General cutoff, just increasing from 80.34 percentile in 2021 to 82 percentile in 2025.
- The category-wise gap was highest at IIM Rohtak in 2025, where the General cutoff of 97 percentile was 47 points higher than the ST cutoff of 50 percentile.
- IIM Ahmedabad saw its General cutoff increase from 90.98 percentile in 2024 to 95 percentile in 2025, while its EWS cutoff declined from 97.30 to 95 percentile.
- IIM Indore's General cutoff remained within the 90–92.43 percentile range during the years covered, with the 2025 cutoff standing at 90 percentile.
Top IIMs: CAT Cutoff Comparison (2021–2025)
| IIM / College | Category | CAT 2025 | CAT 2024 | CAT 2023 | CAT 2022 | CAT 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 95 | 90.98 | 93.76 | 87.10 | 93.90 | |
| EWS | 95 | 97.30 | 98.20 | 99.39 | 98.94 | |
| NC-OBC | 90 | 77.53 | 79.02 | 86.50 | 87.87 | |
| SC | 85 | 85.39 | 73.68 | 82.86 | 76.90 | |
| ST | 75 | 73.14 | 74.52 | 72.40 | 60.10 | |
| General | 85 | 95.45 | 91.97 | 86.18 | 93.26 | |
| EWS | 75 | 91.03 | 90.16 | 89.88 | 79.50 | |
| NC-OBC | 75 | 81.70 | 82.65 | 81.01 | 83.53 | |
| SC | 70 | 73.04 | 75.12 | 76.21 | 71.83 | |
| ST | 65 | 76.33 | 74.52 | 73.91 | 67.04 | |
| General | 85 | 91.03 | 88.14 | 91.94 | 90.85 | |
| EWS | 75 | 82.26 | 85.67 | 80.45 | 76.51 | |
| NC-OBC | 75 | 75.20 | 75.42 | 79.01 | 75.41 | |
| SC | 65 | 67.80 | 67.06 | 65.11 | 66.81 | |
| ST | 55 | 55.17 | 57.02 | 55.16 | 56.54 | |
| General | 90 | 91.02 | 92.48 | — | — | |
| EWS | 82 | 90.13 | 88.18 | — | — | |
| NC-OBC | 82 | 86.20 | 83.74 | — | — | |
| SC | 65 | 67.20 | 67.36 | — | — | |
| ST | 60 | 60.30 | 62.51 | — | — | |
| General | 90 | 92.43 | 92.92 | 90.72 | 90.75 | |
| EWS | 90 | 92.14 | 92.50 | 92.99 | 91.73 | |
| NC-OBC | 80 | 81.26 | 80.44 | 80.17 | 80.21 | |
| SC | 60 | 64.71 | 68.93 | 63.31 | 65.38 | |
| ST | 45 | 49.25 | 52.30 | 48.34 | 51.90 | |
| General | 85 | 97.04 | — | — | — | |
| EWS | 75 | 90.55 | — | — | — | |
| NC-OBC | 75 | 92.07 | — | — | — | |
| SC | 70 | 80.94 | — | — | — | |
| ST | 65 | 68.62 | — | — | — |
Mid-Ranked IIMs: CAT Cutoff Comparison (2021–2025)
| IIM / College | Category | CAT 2025 | CAT 2024 | CAT 2023 | CAT 2022 | CAT 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 94 | 95.26 | 95.85 | 92.03 | 92.01 | |
| EWS | 81 | 86.43 | 88.36 | 81.28 | 76.51 | |
| NC-OBC | 81 | 81.20 | 80.43 | 77.42 | 75.88 | |
| SC | 66 | 70.76 | 60.76 | 56.44 | 55.06 | |
| ST | 42 | 43.09 | 43.55 | 55.16 | 40.51 | |
| General | 97 | 97.00 | 96.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 | |
| EWS | 93 | 93.04 | 92.02 | 90.12 | 90.05 | |
| NC-OBC | 83 | 83.19 | 84.76 | 78.00 | 78.14 | |
| SC | 60 | 63.61 | 68.62 | 57.20 | 57.53 | |
| ST | 50 | 50.00 | 54.01 | 54.71 | 42.50 | |
| General | 95 | 95.09 | 94.00 | 92.00 | 92.00 | |
| EWS | 81 | 81.48 | 77.37 | 71.54 | 70.16 | |
| NC-OBC | 81 | 81.04 | 77.37 | 74.01 | 74.07 | |
| SC | 66 | 66.43 | 60.76 | 54.25 | 54.03 | |
| ST | 42 | 42.59 | 40.18 | 44.71 | 40.09 |
Other IIMs: CAT Cutoff Comparison (2021–2025)
| IIM / College | Category | CAT 2025 | CAT 2024 | CAT 2023 | CAT 2022 | CAT 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 91 | 90.06 | 89.01 | 87.03 | 93.14 | |
| EWS | 74 | 78.36 | 72.75 | 67.06 | 91.48 | |
| NC-OBC | 74 | 78.44 | 72.08 | 71.13 | 78.87 | |
| SC | 54 | 63.16 | 52.24 | 51.07 | 78.98 | |
| ST | 32 | 39.05 | 30.57 | 36.46 | 37.88 | |
| General | 82 | 82.03 | 82.03 | 80.92 | 80.34 | |
| EWS | 72 | 73.22 | 72.05 | 72.04 | 70.50 | |
| NC-OBC | 72 | 72.90 | 72.11 | 72.65 | 70.51 | |
| SC | 50 | 50.42 | 51.33 | 46.62 | 46.85 | |
| ST | 40 | 40.09 | 41.54 | — | — |
Check:
Do IIMs Have Sectional CAT Cutoffs?
- IIM Ahmedabad has a higher sectional cutoff than several other IIMs, which is 10 points above IIM Bangalore's 85 percentile.
- For example, IIM Ahmedabad needs at least 85 percentile in VARC, DILR, and QA. So, a candidate scoring below 85 in any section may not clear its initial screen
- A candidate with a strong overall percentile can not qualify because of a low VARC, DILR or QA percentile.
- The sectional cutoff is not the same as a safe sectional percentile. Candidates should aim above the minimum.
| IIM | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 85 | 85 | 85 | 95 |
| IIM Bangalore | 80 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
| IIM Calcutta | 80 | 80 | 75 | 85 |
| IIM Lucknow | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 |
| IIM Indore | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 75 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
Related Articles:
- CAT PI in IIMs: Preparation Tips, PI Questions, Weightage
- IIM CAP 2026 Calls Out, Link @cap2026.iimj.ac.in , CAT 2025 Cut off, Admission Criteria
Ques. Is sectional cutoff compulsory for IIM admission?
Ans. Yes, when an IIM specifies sectional cutoffs, candidates must clear the required percentile in VARC, DILR and QA, along with the overall cutoff.
CAT Cut off Marks vs Percentile: Expected
- QA requires around 15 marks for the 90 percentile benchmark and 27 marks for 99 percentile, showing a 12-mark increase across these two levels.
- VARC requires a higher score at each percentile benchmark, rising from around 26 marks at 90 percentile to 45 marks at 99 percentile.
- DILR shows a relatively gradual increase, from 15 marks at 90 percentile to 30 marks at 99 percentile.
- Around 39 marks is shown as the 99.99 percentile benchmark in both QA and DILR, while VARC requires around 54 marks in the cited analysis.
| CAT Percentile | QA Score | QA Correct Questions | VARC Score | VARC Correct Questions | DILR Score | DILR Correct Questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 Percentile | 15 | 5 | 26 | 9 | 15 | 5 |
| 95 Percentile | 18 | 6 | 33 | 11 | 21 | 7 |
| 98 Percentile | 24 | 8 | 39 | 13 | 27 | 9 |
| 99 Percentile | 27 | 9 | 45 | 15 | 30 | 10 |
| 99.99 Percentile | 39 | 13 | 54 | 18 | 39 | 13 |
Source: Youtube
CAT Cut off Marks vs Percentile: Last 5 years
The CAT marks vs Percentile data of 2026 shows that the top percentile has slightly increased in 2025, indicating exam difficulty is tough, requiring 118-136 to secure a 99.9+ percentile.
- Candidate with 99 percentile, scored 85-110 marks, slightly higher than previous years.
- For 98 percentile, candidates scored in a score range of 79-85, showing consistent high performance to stay in the top percentiles.
- 95 percentile: 64-66 marks, indicating that scoring above 65 ensures a strong percentile.
- 90 percentile: 52-61 marks, suggesting that candidates with moderate accuracy has secured good ranks.
| Percentile | CAT 2026 (Expected) | CAT 2025 | CAT 2024 | CAT 2023 | CAT 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9+ | 115 – 130 | 118 - 136 | 100 - 110 | 101 - 112 | 109 - 118 |
| 99.0 | 88 – 100 | 85 - 110 | 92 - 101 | 94 - 103 | 101 - 108 |
| 98.0 | 78 – 87 | 79 - 85 | 80 - 89 | 82 - 90 | 88 - 95 |
| 95.0 | 65 – 72 | 64 - 66 | 69 - 75 | 70 - 76 | 75 - 81 |
| 90.0 | 53 – 60 | 52 - 61 | 58 - 65 | 59 - 66 | 63 - 69 |
| 85.0 | 46 – 52 | 45 - 49 | 50 - 56 | 51 - 57 | 54 - 60 |
| 80.0 | 40 – 45 | 39 - 44 | 43 - 49 | 44 - 50 | 46 - 52 |
Also Read: CAT Score Vs Percentile: Check Section-Wise, Slot-Wise & Previous-Year Detailed Analysis
Ques. What is the expected cutoff score for the CAT exam in 2026?
Ans. The expected CAT 2026 cutoff for General category candidates may be around 95–99+ percentile for IIMs, while the final shortlist cutoff for top IIMs can go higher. The exact cutoff will depend on the institute, category, sectional performance and applicant pool.
Ques. Is 37 a good score in CAT?
Ans. A 37-mark CAT score may be competitive for some colleges, but it is unlikely to be enough for the top IIMs. The percentile corresponding to 37 marks can change each year based on the difficulty level and normalization.
Ques. What percentile is 43 marks in CAT?
Ans. A score of 43 marks does not have a fixed CAT percentile. The percentile depends on the difficulty of the paper, slot-wise performance and normalization. Candidates should use the final CAT marks vs percentile data for an accurate estimate.
CAT Score vs Percentile 2026: Reddit Discussion
According to a Reddit post, a user wanted to know the college options he might be getting based on the CAT 99.42 percentile in the OBC NCL category. As per the response, he/she might be getting a call from old IIMs and was advised to prepare well for the WAT/PI round.
Source: Reddit
Check: CAT 2026 99 Percentile: IIMs That Will Shortlist You and College List
CAT 2026 Cutoffs: Expected Percentiles for non IIMs & Top B-Schools
- 98+ percentile is considered highly competitive for options such as FMS Delhi, SJMSOM IIT Bombay and DMS IIT Delhi. Actual shortlisting depends on the applicable admission criteria.
- 95-98 percentile is mostly for candidates in MDI Gurgaon, and selected IIT management programmes may be worth exploring.
- SPJIMR, IMT Ghaziabad, XIM University, IMI Delhi and other institutes may be good options for 85-95 percentile, depending on their selection processes.
- Candidates with 70-85 percentile can explore institutes such as BIMTECH, Welingkar and Nirma University, while comparing fees, placements and programme eligibility.
| S. No. | MBA College | Expected CAT 2026 Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FMS Delhi | 98.5–99.5+ |
| 2 | SJMSOM, IIT Bombay | 97–99 |
| 3 | DMS, IIT Delhi | 97–98.5 |
| 4 | SPJIMR Mumbai | 85–95+ |
| 5 | MDI Gurgaon | 95–97 |
| 6 | IIT Madras, DoMS | 90–95+ |
| 7 | IIT Kharagpur, VGSoM | 90–95 |
| 8 | IIT Roorkee, DoMS | 90–95 |
| 9 | IIT Kanpur, DoMS | 90–95 |
| 10 | IIFT Delhi | 95–98 |
| 11 | IMT Ghaziabad | 90–93 |
| 12 | XIM University, Bhubaneswar | 85–93 |
| 13 | IMI New Delhi | 85–90 |
| 14 | TAPMI Manipal | 85–90 |
| 15 | K J Somaiya Institute of Management | 85–90 |
| 16 | MICA Ahmedabad | 80–90 |
| 17 | Great Lakes Chennai | 80–90 |
| 18 | FORE School of Management | 85–90 |
| 19 | Goa Institute of Management | 85–90 |
| 20 | TISS Mumbai | Check programme-specific criteria |
| 21 | LIBA Chennai | 80–90 |
| 22 | BIMTECH Greater Noida | 70–80 |
| 23 | Welingkar Mumbai | 70–80 |
| 24 | Nirma University | 75–85 |
| 25 | LBSIM New Delhi | 75–85 |
Related Links:
CAT 2026 Cutoff: Good score
- In CAT 2025, a raw score between 102-120+ was considered an excellent score, which placed the candidate in the percentile range 99+, providing an opportunity to get admission into Top IIMS like IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta.
- A score range between 80-100 in the CAT is considered a very good score, with the percentile range between 95–98. The candidate can get into mid-tier IIMs like Shillong and IIM CAP.
- A score ranging between 72 and 84 can place the candidate in the 90th-95th percentile and is considered a good score.
- With this score range, the candidate can get admission into Newer IIMS like Nagpur, Amritsar, Visakhapatnam, and Sambalpur
| Raw Score Range | Likely Percentile | What It Means | Top Colleges You Can Expect Calls From |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102-120+ | 99+ Percentile | Excellent Score | IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore, FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon |
| 80-100 marks | 95-98 Percentile | Very Good Score | IIM Shillong, IIM CAP (Udaipur, Trichy, Kashipur, Raipur, Ranchi, Bodhgaya, Jammu, Sirmaur), IIT Bombay (SJMSOM), IIT Delhi (DMS), NITIE Mumbai |
| 72–84 | 90–95 Percentile | Good Score | Newer IIMs (Nagpur, Amritsar, Vishakhapatnam, Sambalpur), TAPMI, GIM Goa, FORE Delhi, IMT Ghaziabad, K J Somaiya Mumbai |
Check: CAT Cutoff 2026 Expected: Category-wise IIM and Non-IIM Percentile Cutoffs
Ques. Can I get IIM with 70 percentile?
Ans. A 70 percentile can qualify for some IIMs in certain categories, but it is generally not enough for a General-category candidate targeting an IIM. For example, the 2026 CAP cutoff is 90 percentile for General candidates, while the minimum is 75 for EWS/NC-OBC, 60 for SC and 38 for ST/PwD.
Ques. Which IIM has the lowest CAT cutoff?
Ans. Among the IIMs, IIM Visakhapatnam has one of the lowest General-category cutoffs at around 82 percentile based on the latest admission trends. However, the cutoff only indicates the minimum eligibility level and does not guarantee an interview call or admission.
CAT Cut off 2026 for IITs
CAT 2026 scores will be accepted by 8 IITs to offer admission to MBA/ PGDM programme
.
| IIT | CAT Cut off for General | CAT Cut off for SC/ST/PwD |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Kharagpur | 90 percentile | 75 percentile |
| IIT Madras | 90 percentile | - |
| IIT Bombay | 90 percentile | 60 percentile |
| IIT Delhi | 90 percentile | 60 percentile |
| IIT Kanpur | 80 percentile | 55 percentile |
| IIT Roorkee | 90 percentile | 70 percentile |
| IIT Dhanbad (ISM) | 80 percentile | 60 percentile |
| IIT Jodhpur | 98th percentile (direct admission based on CAT percentile score) | - |
Also Check: CAT Cut Off 2026 for IITs, MBA Admission Criteria 2026-28, Dates, Percentile, Selection Process
CAT 2026 Cutoff: Check Colleges Based on Your Percentile
Check: List of Top Colleges in India Accepting CAT Based on 2026 Ranking
CAT Cutoff 2026 FAQs
Ques. Is CAT cutoff 2026 released?
Ans. No. The final CAT 2026 admission cutoffs will depend on the criteria released by individual IIMs.
Ques. What is the expected CAT cutoff 2026 for General category?
Ans. A 90–95+ percentile can meet the minimum screening range at several IIMs, while 97–99+ percentile is a stronger target for competitive IIM calls.
Ques. Is 99 percentile enough for IIM Ahmedabad?
Ans. A 99 percentile is highly competitive, but it does not guarantee a call. IIM Ahmedabad also considers academic profile and other shortlisting parameters.
Ques .What is the minimum CAT percentile for IIMs?
Ans. The minimum varies by IIM and category. Several IIMs publish minimum overall cutoffs around 90–95 percentile for General candidates, while some have lower thresholds.
Ques. Can I get IIM with 90 percentile?
Ans. Yes, depending on the IIM, category and profile. However, 90 percentile is generally not a strong target for the older IIMs.
Ques .Can I get IIM with 95 percentile?
Ans. Yes. A 95 percentile can make candidates eligible for several IIMs, but the actual shortlist depends on the institute's admission formula.
Ques .Do IIMs consider sectional percentile?
Ans. Yes. Many IIMs specify separate VARC, DILR and QA sectional cutoffs.
Ques .Does CAT cutoff change every year?
Ans. Yes. IIMs can revise their minimum cutoffs and selection criteria. The effective competitive percentile can also change with candidate performance and competition.
Ques.Does CAT cutoff guarantee admission?
Ans. No. Meeting the CAT cutoff only makes a candidate eligible for further consideration. Final admission depends on the IIM's complete selection process.
Comments