IIM cut offs for admission to MBA/PGP programmes of top institutes are generally between 98 to 100 percentile. The IIM cutoff 2026 for MBA admission are in the same range, as reported after the release of MBA PI shortlist 2026. Check CAT cut off for IIMs (general and reserved) categories.
IIM cutoff is usually high for top campuses (BLACKI); in the range of 97 to 100 percentile for full-time MBA programme. These cut offs vary category wise. CAT cut off for IIM for General category candidates is higher than Reserved category candidates. MBA aspirants who have scored 98+ percentile in the CAT 2025 exam can expect to get admisison into IIM.
Qualifying CAT cut offs are released prior to the second stage of the IIM admission process 2026 i.e. Written Ability Test/Personal Interview (WAT/PI) round and final cut offs are known after admissions. CAT cut off for IIM is determined individually by each campus. CAT test takers are invited for WAT/PI round only if they have scored as much or above the minimum IIM cut off percentile in CAT exam. In this article, we have provided all the information related to the IIM CAT percentile cut off for MBA admission.
- What is IIM CAT Cut Off?
- IIM Call Cut Off vs Shortlist Cut Off – What is The Difference?
- IIM CAT Percentile Cut Off: Campus Wise
- IIMs with Lowest Cut Offs
- IIM Cut Offs of Previous Years
- IIM Cut Off 2025
- IIM Cut Off 2019 (Bodh Gaya)
- IIM Selection Procedure and Admission Criteria 2026
- Final Selection through IIM CAT Cut Off: Parameters and Weightage
- Campus wise: IIM CAT Cut Off, Shortlist and Admission Criteria
What is IIM CAT Cut Off?
IIM cut off refers to the minimum CAT percentile a candidate has to get as CAT score to be eligible for WAT/PI round of the institutes. The IIM cut offs are different for different categories of students. While the minimum CAT cut off for IIMs for General category is usually 95-100, the cut offs for reserved category students is 85-95. The CAT percentile for IIM admission vary campus wise. IIM BLACKI minimum percentile for CAT 2025 was between 97-100 percentile. Usually, for IIM Ahmedabad, the cut off for General category is 99-100 percentile. For IIM Calcutta, it is around 92-99 percentile (category-wise). However, if your academic record is exceptional, CAT score lower than 95 may get you an IIM.
The CAT cutoff for IIM MBA admissions vary slightly every year. Some of the determining factors that decide IIM CAT cut offs are:
- Difficulty Level of CAT exam – If the difficulty level is high, the cut off percentile for that year will be comparatively lower. This happens because of the lower average scores in the examination.
- Number of students who took CAT – The final CAT cut off percentile for IIMs would also depend on the number of students appearing in CAT. Higher the number, higher will be the qualifying CAT cut off, and vice versa.
- Number of seats available – The number of available seats in a particular IIM can vary annually. Any increase or decrease in the number of available seats will directly reflect on the cut-off percentile required for IIM.
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Commonly asked questions
IIM Jammu accepts variety of exams depending upon the course. The college accepts CAT score for admission into it's flagship course MBA. The college accepts the score of CAT/GMAT/GRE for PhD admissions. Admission into IPM programme is given based on score of JIPMAT scores.
CAT cut off is prepared by all accepting colleges individually. There is no one authorized body to do so. Even the IIMs determine their admission cut offs separately.
Yes, Class 10 marks are considered for preparing the final merit list.
The components taken into consideration of merit list are mentioned below:
- CAT Score: 0.4* Absolute CAT Percentile, Maximum marks-40
- Personal Interview: Maximum marks- 30
- Profile: Maximum marks- 30
Under profile section following things are considered:
- Academic profile: 10 marks (Class 10, Class 12, Graduation)
- Work Experience: 10 marks
- Diversity (Gender): 10 marks
IIM Kashipur CAT cutoff 2026 will be released based on the students' CAT entrance examination for admission to the MBA.PGDM programme. Considering the cutoff for 2025, the General AI category had the overall and sectional cutoff of 94. Hence, for 2026, the cutoff could be around the same percentile.
Note: The cutoff data above is an estimate, and the actual data will vary.
IIM Call Cut Off vs Shortlist Cut Off – What is The Difference?
IIM CAT cut offs are of two types – qualifying and final. Qualifying IIM CAT cutoff is released as part of IIM admission policy. It is the minimum CAT score required by a candidate of a particular category to be eligible for PI shortlisting. Clearing the qualifying CAT cut off does not mean you have been shortlisted. Your interview call will depend upon whether you meet the IIM call cut off or the final CAT cut off which way higher.
IIM CAT Percentile Cut Off: Campus Wise
The final IIM cut offs are not released public ally by the institutes. Given below are estimated CAT cut offs based on previous years' trends. Nonetheless, candidates can use this table as a reference point to plan their MBA admission.
| IIM campus | Expected CAT Cut Off 2025 (in percentile) |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | IIM Bangalore | IIM Calcutta | 99-100 |
| IIM Lucknow | IIM Indore | IIM Kozhikode | 97-98 |
| IIM Amritsar | IIM Nagpur | IIM Sambalpur | 95-96 |
| IIM Trichi | IIM Raipur | IIM Ranchi | IIM Kashipur | 94-95 |
| IIM Vizag | IIM Udaipur | IIM Bodhgaya | 92-94 |
| IIM Shillong | IIM Sirmaur | 94 |
Commonly asked questions
IIM Raipur cutoff 2025 was released for admission to the MBA/PGDM course based on the CAT entrance examination. As per the estimated CAT cutoff for the General AI category, the percentile required was 94 to be eligible for the next rounds of admission, which involve WAT, GD and PI rounds.
Note: This is the estimated cutoff; the actual cutoff is only visible for the candidates with login credentials.
It is not possible to join IIM Bangalore directly after Class 12 since the institute mostly offers postgraduate and doctoral level programmes in the field of Management. However, a student who has completed his/ her Class 12 can complete the final graduation and then look out for admission to IIM-B.
The institute offers MBA, Executive MBA, and other courses at PG, doctoral and certificate level courses in the field of Management. Interested applicants are required to go through the national-level entrances and then appear for the institute-level selection rounds for final admission. Admission to the flagship course, i.e. MBA of IIM Bangalore is based on a valid score in the CAT exam, followed by a Personal Interview (PI) and Written Ability Test (WAT) round. IIM Bangalore offers admission to Indian students via CAT and international students via GMAT/ GRE. IIM Bangalore conducts IIM-B tests for admission to Executive MBA (EPGP) and PhD courses.
To be eligible for admission to PGP courses, aspirants must meet the criteria as mentioned below:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification from a UGC-recognised university after at least 12 years of school education with at least 50% aggregate or equivalent CGPA (45% in case of SC/ST/PwD candidates).
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology (4 years after 10+2/Post BSc/Post Diploma) or BE/BTech equivalent examinations, of Professional Societies, recognised by MHRD/UPSC/AICTE (eg. AMIE by Institution of Engineers - India, AMICE by the Institute of Civil Engineers India) can also apply.
- Moreover, any qualifications recognised by the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi which is equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree awarded by UGC recognised University/Institutions are also acceptable.
For MBA MBA in Entreprenueship & Innovation, aspirants with a valid Bachelor's degree in any discipline can apply. For more details about IIM Lucknow PGP/MBA programmes, Click Here.
Explore colleges based on CAT
IIMs with Lowest Cut Offs
In newer IIMs, the CAT cut offs are lower as compared to rest of the campuses. Given below are IIMs with lowest cut offs.
- IIM Ranchi - 92+ percentile
- IIM Raipur - 90 + percentile
- IIM Kashipur - 90+ percentile
- IIM Udaipur - 90+ percentile
Even for Reserved category students, the IIM cut offs don't drop. Which is why it is imperative to score 90+ percentile in CAT for IIM admission.
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IIM Cut Offs of Previous Years
Those who shall have an idea of their performance in the CAT exam and know the expected score, they can guess which IIMs will take them in. The knowledge of CAT cut off for IIM is of great help in this process. It allows students to make an informed decision when the application window for WAT and PI rounds opens. In case you want to calculate your expected CAT score, use this CAT Percentile Predictor by Shiksha. Download Institute and category-wise CAT cut off PDF
IIM Cut Off 2025
Given below are the qualifying CAT cut offs and final cutoffs (estimated) for all IIMs, for 2025 batch. CAT cut off for IIM MBA batch 2026 are expected to be same.
| IIM |
Qualifying CAT Cut Off for IIM |
Final CAT Cut Off for IIM |
|---|---|---|
| 95 |
99-100 |
|
| 85 |
99-100 |
|
| 85 |
98-99 |
|
| 90 |
97-99 |
|
| 90 |
97-98 |
|
| 85 |
97-98 |
|
| 75 |
90 |
|
| 92 |
92-94 |
|
| 95 |
96-97 |
|
| 80 |
94-95 |
|
| 93 |
94-95 |
|
| 92 |
94-95 |
|
| 85 |
94-95 |
|
| 90 |
94-95 |
|
| 92 |
94-95 |
|
| 92 |
95-96 |
|
| 92 |
94-95 |
|
| 85 |
95-96 |
|
| 92 |
94-95 |
|
| 92 |
94-95 |
IIM Cut Off 2019 (Bodh Gaya)
Of the 21 IIMs, IIM Bodh Gaya released official CAT cut offs publicly in 2019. Check the tables below for section-wise cut offs for male and female candidates.
| IIM Bodh Gaya cut off for male candidates |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category |
Overall |
QA |
DILR |
VARC |
| General |
91 |
80 |
80 |
80 |
| EWS |
70 |
60 |
60 |
60 |
| NC-OBC |
73 |
60 |
60 |
60 |
| SC |
50 |
45 |
45 |
45 |
| ST |
38 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
| PWD |
35 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
| IIM Bodh Gaya cut off for female candidates |
||||
| Category |
Overall |
QA |
DILR |
VARC |
| General |
88 |
75 |
75 |
75 |
| EWS |
70 |
55 |
55 |
55 |
| NC-OBC |
70 |
60 |
60 |
60 |
| SC |
50 |
43 |
43 |
43 |
| ST |
35 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
IIM Cut Offs 2018
| IIMs |
CAT cut off 2018 (in percentile) |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad |
98 |
| IIM Bangalore |
99 |
| IIM Calcutta |
98 |
| IIM Lucknow |
97 |
| IIM Indore |
92 |
| IIM Kozhikode |
95.5 |
| IIM Rohtak |
94 |
| IIM Kashipur |
93 |
| IIM Shillong |
92 |
| IIM Trichy |
93 |
| IIM Udaipur |
94 |
IIM Cut Offs 2017 and 2016
| IIM | CAT cut off 2017 (in percentile) | CAT cut off 2016 (in percentile) |
|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 100 | 100 |
| IIM Bangalore | 90.72 | 92.48 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 95.16 | 94.82 |
| IIM Indore | 90.05 | 90.01 |
| IIM Trichy | 95 | 96 |
| IIM Raipur | 95 | 96 |
| IIM Rohtak | 95 | 96 |
| IIM Udaipur | 95 | 96 |
| IIM Sirmaur | 95 | 81.23 |
| IIM Nagpur | 90.09 | 90.08 |
| IIM Visakhapatnam | 90.09 | 90.02 |
| IIM Amritsar | 94.76 | 94.9 |
| IIM Sambalpur | 95 | NA |
*These cut-off scores have been obtained by Shiksha through Right To Information Act.
IIM Selection Procedure and Admission Criteria 2026
The three main criteria for selection are CAT score, WAT/GD-PI, academic record. IIM admission process includes selection in three phases. Check below:
- First phase: Shortlisting of candidates on the basis of CAT score
- Second phase: Conduct of WAT and PI
- Third phase: Final selection on the basis of performance in CAT exam, WAT-PI, academics, etc.
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Student Forum
Answered Yesterday
Yes. Candidates can apply for Executive MBA course at IIM Kashipur Dehradun campus, without CAT or GMAT score, because the institute also accepts candidates score in EMAT exam, which is conducted directly by IIM Kashipur.
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered Yesterday
T.I.M.E., Career Launcher, Bulls Eye and Kautilya Academy offer weekend coaching in Bilaspur.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
To choose the best CAT Coaching institute in Bilaspur, candidates must consider the following points:
- Final fee structure and refund/installment policy.
- Compare classroom vs. online/hybrid formats
- Ask about batch size, number of full-length mocks, recorded sessions/notes
- Success Rate of the centre
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
The average fee ranges in Bilaspur from ₹50,000 to ₹65,000 for offline classroom courses and ₹18,000 to ₹35,000 for online courses.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Coaching centres in Bareilly, like Career Launcher, BIGS ADDA Education and TF Classes, have not specifically mentioned their weekend classes. Candidates must visit these coaching centres or contact them to know about the classes.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
To choose the best CAT Coaching institute in Bareilly, candidates must consider the following points:
- Success Rate of the centre
- Compare classroom vs. online/hybrid formats
- Ask about batch size, number of full-length mocks, recorded sessions/notes
- Final fee structure and refund/installment policy.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
The average fee ranges in Bareilly from ₹30,000 to ₹75,000 for offline classroom courses and ₹18,000 to ₹35,000 for online courses.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, students can get merit-based scholarships (based on CAT or NBSAT Composite Score). Check below eligibility and scholarship amount offered:
| Composite Score Percentile | Scholarship Value |
|---|---|
| Above 95%ile | INR 4,00,000 waiver |
Above 90%ile | INR 3,00,000 waiver |
Above 80%ile | INR 1,00,000 waiver |
The composite score is calculated using CAT or NBSAT along with admission parameters defined by NBS (subject to ≥80% in Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation).
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
No, CAT is not compulsory for MBA at SOA University. Candidates without CAT scores can appear for SAAT conducted by SOA for admission in MBA. Aspirants can choose any of these of admission pathways.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered a week ago
Yes, candidates can get admission to specific executive or online MBA programs at IIM Mumbai without the CAT by using alternative exams like GMAT or GRE, or by clearing the institute's own entrance test. However, the regular, full-time flagship MBA programme strictly requires a valid CAT score.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Vipra Shrivastava is MA in English Literature from Delhi University with extensive experience in content writing of over 14 years. She has been handling content for Management, Accounting and Commerce streams for 8
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