The CAT 2026 qualifying cutoff is expected to remain around 85-95 percentile for several older IIMs. Candidates targeting interview calls from IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta generally need a much higher percentile
IIMs will release their respective admission criteria and shortlisting details after the CAT 2026 result. Until then, previous-year qualifying cutoffs and recent admission trends can be used to estimate the CAT 2026 cutoff.
Based on the published cutoffs of CAT 2021 to CAT 2025:
- IIM Ahmedabad has a qualifying cutoff of 95 percentile for General candidates in the latest available criteria.
- IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta have had qualifying cutoffs around 85 percentile in the latest available criteria.
- Candidates need 99 percentile or above in CAT 2026 for an interview call at the three oldest IIMs.
- The CAT 2026 sectional cutoff at the older IIMs is expected to be between 75 and 85 percentile in each section.
- IIM Ahmedabad raised its General category cutoff from 90.98 in CAT 2024 to 95 in CAT 2025.
- Candidates should clear each sectional cutoff, since one weak section ends the application.
Note: IIM Ahmedabad raised its CAT 2025 qualifying cutoff to 95 percentile from 90.98
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 the CAT 2026 Cutoff?
The CAT 2026 cutoff is the minimum percentile required to remain eligible for consideration by an IIM. However, clearing the qualifying cutoff does not guarantee an interview call. .
- Each IIM sets an overall cutoff and a cutoff for each of VARC, DILR and QA.
- The qualifying cutoff and the percentile that earns a call are two different figures.
Each IIM publishes its CAT 2026 cutoff in its admission criteria after the result in January 2027.
Check: CAT Cutoff 2026: Sectional and Category-wise Percentile for All IIMs
Ques: Is the CAT qualifying cutoff the same as the percentile required for an IIM call?
Ans. No. The qualifying cutoff is only the minimum eligibility threshold. The percentile required for an interview call is usually higher and depends on the IIM's shortlisting criteria.
Ques: Does every IIM have the same CAT cutoff?
Ans. No. Each IIM determines its own overall and sectional qualifying cutoffs.
CAT 2026 Cutoff: Expected IIM-wise Percentile
Based on recent cutoff trends, the expected qualifying cutoff for major IIMs may range from 85 to 95 percentile for General candidates. However, the percentile needed for an actual shortlist can be higher.
| IIM | Expected CAT 2026 Cutoff | Competitive Target |
|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 95+ | 99+ |
| IIM Bangalore | 85+ | 99+ |
| IIM Calcutta | 85+ | 99+ |
| IIM Lucknow | 90+ | 97-99+ |
| IIM Kozhikode | 85+ | 97-99+ |
| IIM Indore | 90+ | 97-99+ |
| IIM Mumbai | 90+ | 97-99+ |
| IIM Shillong | 90+ | 95+ |
| IIM Udaipur | 90+ | 92-95+ |
| IIM Trichy | 90+ | 92-95+ |
| IIM Raipur | 90+ | 92-95+ |
| IIM Ranchi | 90+ | 92-95+ |
| IIM Kashipur | 90+ | 92-95+ |
| IIM Nagpur | 90+ | 92-95+ |
| IIM Amritsar | 90+ | 92-95+ |
Also Check:CAT Cutoff 2026: Sectional and Category-wise Percentile for All IIMs
Ques. Which IIM has the lowest expected CAT 2026 qualifying cutoff?
Ans. IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta and IIM Kozhikode, at around 85 percentile. The call at all three still needs 97 to 99 percentile or above.
Ques. What CAT 2026 percentile do the newer IIMs call at?
Ans. Around 92 to 95 percentile at IIM Udaipur, Trichy, Raipur, Ranchi, Kashipur, Nagpur and Amritsar. The qualifying cutoff there is 90.
CAT Cutoff Trend: 2021 to 2025
The qualifying cutoff has varied considerably across IIMs over the last five CAT cycles. For example, IIM Ahmedabad's General category cutoff moved from 93.90 percentile in CAT 2021 to 95 percentile in CAT 2025, while IIM Bangalore's cutoff fell from 95.45 to 85 during the same period.
- IIM Rohtak recorded the highest cutoff among the IIMs listed, remaining at 95 percentile or above across all five years.
- IIM Ahmedabad's cutoff increased by 7.90 percentile points between CAT 2022 and CAT 2025.
- IIM Bangalore showed the largest recent decline, falling from 95.45 percentile in 2024 to 85 percentile in 2025.
- The variation shows why a single historical cutoff should not be used as the expected CAT 2026 cutoff.
| IIM | Category | CAT 2025 | CAT 2024 | CAT 2023 | CAT 2022 | CAT 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | General | 95 | 90.98 | 93.76 | 87.10 | 93.90 |
| IIM Ahmedabad | NC-OBC | 90 | 77.53 | 79.02 | 86.50 | 87.87 |
| IIM Bangalore | General | 85 | 95.45 | 91.97 | 86.18 | 93.26 |
| IIM Kozhikode | General | 85 | 91.03 | 88.14 | 91.94 | 90.85 |
| IIM Indore | General | 90 | 92.43 | 92.92 | 90.72 | 90.75 |
| IIM Rohtak | General | 97 | 97.00 | 96.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 |
| IIM Udaipur | General | 94 | 95.26 | 95.85 | 92.03 | 92.01 |
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: Has IIM Ahmedabad's CAT cutoff increased every year?
Ans. No. It fell from 93.90 percentile in 2021 to 87.10 in 2022, before rising again to 95 percentile in 2025.
Ques. Which IIM has maintained a high cutoff most consistently?
Ans. IIM Rohtak has remained at 95 percentile or above in the five-year data shown above.
CAT 2026 Qualifying Cutoff vs Final Call Cutoff
The qualifying cutoff of IIM is 85 percentile, but IIM Bangalore calls candidates above the 99th percentile. The gap between the two figures is the composite score.
- The qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile needed to stay eligible for an IIM.
- The final call is decided on the percentile, Class 10 and Class 12 marks, graduation marks and work experience.
- Interview slots are limited, so the effective cutoff is higher than the published minimum.
- Candidates must clear the sectional cutoff in each section as well as the overall cutoff.
Ques: Can a candidate get an IIM call just by clearing the qualifying cutoff?
Ans. No. Meeting the qualifying cutoff only makes a candidate eligible for further consideration.
Ques: What factors are considered apart from CAT percentile?
Ans. Depending on the IIM, factors can include Class 10 and 12 marks, graduation performance, work experience, academic diversity, gender diversity and performance in the subsequent selection stages.
CAT 2026 Cutoff: Check Colleges Based on Your Percentile
Check: List of Top Colleges in India Accepting CAT Based on 2026 Ranking
CAT 2026 Expected Cutoff by Category
The expected CAT 2026 overall cutoff is 90 to 95 percentile for General candidates and 50 to 80 for PwD. The gap is wider at the sectional level.
| Category | Expected Overall Cutoff | Expected Sectional Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| General | 90-95+ | 70-85+ |
| EWS | 85-95+ | 65-80+ |
| NC-OBC | 80-95+ | 60-80+ |
| SC | 70-90+ | 55-75+ |
| ST | 60-80+ | 50-70+ |
| PwD | 50-80+ | 40-70+ |
Read More: CAT 2026 Safe Score for OBC-NCL: Minimum Percentile for IIM Calls
Ques. What is the expected CAT 2026 cutoff for EWS candidates?
Ans. About 85 to 95 percentile overall and 65 to 80 in each section at the older IIMs. That follows the published EWS cutoffs of recent years.
CAT 2026 Sectional Cutoff at the Older IIMs
IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Lucknow are expected to ask for 85 percentile in each of VARC, DILR and QA. A high overall percentile with one weak section does not qualify.
| 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 |
Ques: Are sectional cutoffs applicable in CAT?
Ans. Yes. IIMs can prescribe separate minimum percentiles for VARC, DILR and QA.
Ques. Can a high overall CAT percentile compensate for a low sectional percentile?
Ans. Not if the candidate fails to meet an IIM's prescribed sectional cutoff.
CAT 2026 Score vs Percentile (Expected)
- A 99 percentile in CAT 2026 is expected at 88 to 100 marks out of 204. A 90 percentile is expected at 53 to 60. The score for a percentile changes with the difficulty of the paper.
- A 99th percentile in CAT has required about 90 marks in recent years. That is about 30 correct answers with no incorrect MCQs.
| Percentile | Expected CAT 2026 Score | CAT 2025 | CAT 2024 | CAT 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9+ | 115-130 | 118-136 | 100-110 | 101-112 |
| 99 | 88-100 | 85-110 | 92-101 | 94-103 |
| 98 | 78-87 | 79-85 | 80-89 | 82-90 |
| 95 | 65-72 | 64-66 | 69-75 | 70-76 |
| 90 | 53-60 | 52-61 | 58-65 | 59-66 |
| 85 | 46-52 | 45-49 | 50-56 | 51-57 |
| 80 | 40-45 | 39-44 | 43-49 | 44-50 |
Also Read: CAT Score Vs Percentile: Check Section-Wise, Slot-Wise & Previous-Year Detailed Analysis
Ques. How many marks give 95 percentile in CAT 2026?
Ans. About 65 to 72 marks out of 204 are expected. CAT 2025 needed 64 to 66 and CAT 2024 needed 69 to 75.
CAT 2026 Percentile and Colleges
A 99 percentile in CAT 2026 opens IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta and FMS Delhi. A 90 to 95 percentile opens the newer IIMs and the top private B-schools.
| Percentile | Colleges |
|---|---|
| 99+ | IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, FMS Delhi |
| 95 to 99 | Older and newer IIMs, MDI Gurgaon, IIFT, JBIMS |
| 90 to 95 | Newer IIMs and top private B-schools |
| 80 to 90 | CAT accepting private and university institutes |
| 70 to 80 | Selected MBA colleges accepting CAT scores |
Also Check:
- Top MBA Colleges in India: Fees, Ranking and Placement
- CAT 2026: Is 95 Percentile Safe for IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta?
- 97 Percentile in CAT: Which IIMs Accept It, Score vs Percentile
CAT 2026 Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected CAT 2026 cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad?
Ans. The qualifying cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad is expected around 95 percentile. The percentile that earns an interview call has been 99 or above.
Ques. When will the CAT 2026 cutoff be released?
Ans. After the result in January 2027, when each IIM publishes its shortlist criteria. The figures on this page are expected values from CAT 2021 to CAT 2025.
Ques. What is a good CAT 2026 percentile?
Ans. A 99 percentile or above is needed for the three oldest IIMs. A 95 to 99 percentile is enough for the other IIMs and top non-IIM colleges.
Ques. Do IIMs have sectional cutoffs in CAT 2026?
Ans. Yes. Most older IIMs set a minimum of 75 to 85 percentile in each of VARC, DILR and QA.
Ques. What marks give a 99 percentile in CAT 2026?
Ans. Between 88 and 100 marks out of 204, on the score bands of CAT 2023 to CAT 2025. A harder paper pulls the figure towards 88.
Ques. Is the CAT 2026 qualifying cutoff the same as getting a call?
Ans. No. The qualifying cutoff only keeps the application eligible. The call is decided on CAT percentile, academics, work experience and diversity.
Ques. What is the CAT 2026 cutoff for OBC and SC candidates?
Ans. The expected overall cutoff is 80 to 95 percentile for NC-OBC and 70 to 90 for SC. The sectional cutoff is lower than General.
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