IIM Cut Off 2025: Know Expected and Previous Years' CAT Cutoff Percentile

IIM cut offs for admission to MBA/PGP programmes of top institutes are generally between 98 to 100 percentile. The IIM cutoff 2025 for MBA admission are as expected to be same as IIM cutoff 2024. Check here previous years' and expected CAT cut off for IIMs (general and reserved) categories. 

IIM cutoff is the main criterion for selection of candidates for admission to India's premiere MBA institutes – the Indian Institute of Management. Selection of candidates for admission is done on the basis of the minimum percentile that a candidate scores in CAT exam. The minimum score fixed by IIMs, for shortlisting of candidates for MBA/PGP admission is referred to as IIM CAT cut off. These cut offs vary category wise. CAT cut off for IIM for General category candidates is higher than Reserved category candidates. MBA aspirants who will score 98+ percentile in the CAT 2025 exam can meet the minimum IIM CAT percentile cut off requirement.

Latest - CAT 2025 answer key out @iimcat.ac.in - live updates

The qualifying CAT cut offs will be released prior to the second stage of the IIM admission process 2026 i.e. Written Ability Test/Personal Interview (WAT/PI) round. The CAT cut off for IIM is released individually by each campus for the screening of candidates for admission. 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 set by the admission cell of the institutes. IIM cut off for MBA is always higher than other top B-Schools. In this article, we will provide all the information related to the IIM CAT percentile cut off for MBA admission.

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 (CAT 2024) 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. For CAT 2025 the number of test takers is lower than CAT 2024, so the IIM CAT cut off can dip. 
• 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.

For 2026 academic session, selection rounds of IIMs and top B-schools will begin in January 2026 with announcement of PI shortlist. The institutes will select candidates on the basis of their CAT 2025 score and academic record. 

Also read:

• CAT Score vs Percentile 2025: Know the difference
• Understanding IIM Eligibility Criteria
• What is IIM CAP 2025? Know process, criteria and participating IIMs
• What is IIM SAP? Know process, criteria and cut offs
• What is IIM JAP? Know process, participating colleges

IIM Call Cut Off vs Shortlist Cut Off – What is The Difference?

IIM aspirants must understand that the institutes release two CAT cut offs for admission to a particular academic year. First IIM CAT cutoff is released as part of IIM admission policy. This cut off is referred to as CAT qualifying cut off or shortlist cut off, as it is meant for shortlisting candidates for WAT and PI. In other words, a candidate must meet the shortlist cut off or the minimum CAT score fixed by an IIM in order to be eligible for WAT and PI rounds. Clearing the shortlist cut off doesn't mean that you will be called for WAT and PI. Your interview call will depend upon whether you meet the IIM call cut off which is always higher than the shortlist cut off and released after the declaration of CAT result. For CAT 2024, the IIM Ahmedabad qualifying cut off was 80 percentile and the final cut off was around 99-100 percentile. For CAT 2025, qualifying IIM Ahmedabad cut off has been fixed at 95 percentile and the final cut off is expected to be 99-100 percentile.

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. 

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. 

Also Read:

• CAT 2025 slot 1 answer key PDF question paper analysis
• CAT 2025 slot 2 answer key PDF question paper analysis
• CAT 2025 slot 3 answer key PDF question paper analysis
• CAT 2025 analysis and expected cut offs by CATKing
• CAT 2025 response sheet and answer key PDF download
• CAT 2025 question paper PDF download slot 1, 2 and 3
• CAT 2025 review and student reactions
• CAT 2025 exam analysis slot 1, 2 and 3 by Career Launcher
• CAT 2025 exam analysis by TIME (slot 1, 2 and 3)
• IMS CAT paper analysis slot 1, 2 and 3 (DILR, VARC, QA)

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 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 Cut Offs 2018

IIM Cut Offs 2017 and 2016

*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.

Also Read:

• Colleges Accepting CAT Score Range 50 to 60 percentile
• Colleges Accepting CAT Score Range 60 to 70 percentile
• Colleges Accepting CAT Score Range 70 to 80 percentile
• Colleges Accepting CAT Score Range 80 to 90 percentile