Based on 2024–2025 trends, the expected IPMAT 2026 cutoff for SC category students is 65–85 marks out of 400, and for ST category students it is 45–65 marks out of 400 — these are the minimum scores needed to clear the Personal Interview shortlist at IIM Indore.
IPMAT (IIM Indore Integrated Programme in Management Aptitude Test) is the gateway to the five-year IPM programme at IIM Indore. IIM Indore releases the PI shortlist after the result, and the IPMAT cutoff works at two levels: you must clear section-wise minimums in all three sections AND reach the overall score threshold for your category. Clearing the overall score alone is not enough.
- The IPMAT 2026 expected overall cutoff for SC is 65–85 marks out of 400, based on 2024–2025 trends.
- The IPMAT 2026 expected overall cutoff for ST is 45–65 marks out of 400, based on 2024–2025 trends.
- IIM Indore reserves 15% seats for SC and 7.5% seats for ST students under government reservation policy.
- You must clear section-wise cutoffs in all three sections (QA MCQ, QA SA, and VA) along with the overall cutoff to get shortlisted for PI.
- The final merit list combines your IPMAT aptitude test score + academic record + PI performance — clearing the cutoff is only the first gate.
IPMAT 2026 Cutoff Overview for SC and ST
The table below shows the expected overall cutoff scores for all categories in IPMAT 2026. These figures are based on 2024–2025 trends and are labelled as expected until IIM Indore releases the official merit list.
| Category | Expected Overall Cutoff (out of 400) | Seats Reserved |
|---|---|---|
| General | 135–150 | Open merit |
| EWS | 110–125 | 10% |
| OBC (NC) | 100–115 | 27% |
| SC | 65–85 | 15% |
| ST | 45–65 | 7.5% |
| PwD | 35–55 | 5% (horizontal) |
Two things determine whether you make the PI shortlist. First, you must cross the section-wise minimum in all three sections. Second, your total score must meet the overall category cutoff. Missing either condition will keep you off the shortlist even if your performance in the other area is strong.
Expected Cutoff for SC Category
SC students have a 15% seat reservation at IIM Indore. The expected overall cutoff for SC in IPMAT 2026 is 65–85 marks out of 400. The table below shows the probability of making the PI shortlist at different score bands, based on how SC cutoffs have moved in recent years.
| Score Range (out of 400) | PI Shortlist Probability | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Below 60 | Very Low | Unlikely to clear section-wise minimums |
| 60–75 | Possible | Borderline; depends on section-wise scores |
| 75–90 | Good | Comfortable range; likely to make shortlist |
| 90–110 | Strong | Safe score for PI shortlist in SC category |
| Above 110 | Very Strong | Well above cutoff; focus shifts to PI preparation |
The SC cutoff has moved upward over three years. In 2023 it was around 62 marks, in 2024 it rose to around 70 marks, and in 2025 it reached around 76 marks. Based on this trend, 2026 could see a further increase. A score of 90 or above gives you a comfortable buffer. Remember: clearing the overall cutoff alone is not enough — you must also meet the section-wise minimums for QA MCQ, QA SA, and VA.
Expected Cutoff for ST Category
ST students have a 7.5% seat reservation at IIM Indore. The expected overall cutoff for ST in IPMAT 2026 is 45–65 marks out of 400. The table below shows what different score ranges mean for your PI shortlist chances.
| Score Range (out of 400) | PI Shortlist Probability | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Below 40 | Very Low | High risk of failing section-wise minimums |
| 40–55 | Possible | Borderline; section-wise performance is critical |
| 55–70 | Good | Comfortable for the ST category cutoff |
| 70–90 | Strong | Safe score; focus on PI readiness |
| Above 90 | Very Strong | Well clear of cutoff; academic record matters more now |
The ST cutoff has also risen steadily — around 44 marks in 2023, moving to around 50 marks in 2024, and reaching around 55 marks in 2025. For 2026, a score of 65 or above is a safe target. IIM Indore also sets a lower academic eligibility for SC and ST students at 55% aggregate in Class 10 and 12 versus 60% for General category.
IPMAT Previous Year SC and ST Cutoff Trends
The table below shows how the overall cutoff scores for SC and ST categories have moved from 2022 to 2025, along with section-wise minimums from IIM Indore’s published PI shortlists. These figures serve as the baseline for the 2026 expected ranges.
| Year | SC Overall | SC QA MCQ | SC QA SA | SC VA | ST Overall | ST QA MCQ | ST QA SA | ST VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 62 | 8 | 3 | 55 | 52 | 3 | 1 | 33 |
| 2023 | 62 | 1 | 1 | 48 | 44 | 1 | 1 | 24 |
| 2024 | 70 | 8 | 10 | 60 | 50 | 4 | 6 | 40 |
| 2025 | 76 | 10 | 12 | 65 | 55 | 6 | 8 | 48 |
| 2026 (Expected) | 65–85 | 10–12 | 12–14 | 58–68 | 45–65 | 8–10 | 8–10 | 49–58 |
The Verbal Ability section carries the highest weight in the cutoff. For SC students, the VA cutoff rose from 48 in 2023 to 65 in 2025 — a rise of 17 marks over two years. For ST students, it moved from 24 in 2023 to 48 in 2025. Both SC and ST cutoffs for 2026 are expected to stay close to or slightly above 2025 levels.
Section-wise Cutoff for SC and ST
You must clear the minimum score in each of the three sections separately. IPMAT 2026 has 400 marks in total: QA MCQ carries 160 marks (40 questions × 4 marks), QA SA carries 80 marks (20 questions × 4 marks), and VA carries 160 marks (40 questions × 4 marks). Negative marking of ?1 applies to wrong answers in QA MCQ and VA MCQ; there is no negative marking for QA SA.
| Section | Total Marks | SC Expected Cutoff | ST Expected Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| QA MCQ (40 questions) | 160 | 12–20 | 8–14 |
| QA SA (20 questions) | 80 | 4–12 | 0–8 |
| VA MCQ (40 questions) | 160 | 32–48 | 24–36 |
| Overall (out of 400) | 400 | 65–85 | 45–65 |
The QA SA section is the most forgiving — there is no negative marking, so you should attempt every question. Even a score of 4–8 marks in QA SA is often enough for SC and ST students to clear the section cutoff. VA is the section where most students need consistent preparation; the expected VA cutoff of 32–48 for SC means netting at least 8–12 correct answers after penalties.
Factors Affecting IPMAT 2026 Cutoff
Several variables decide where the final cutoff lands each year. Understanding these helps you set a realistic target score.
- Number of students appearing: More students taking the exam increases competition. A larger pool generally pushes the cutoff upward across all categories.
- Exam difficulty level: A tougher paper leads to lower scores across the board, which can pull the cutoff down. An easier paper has the opposite effect.
- Number of seats available: IIM Indore has around 150 seats in the IPM batch. The SC and ST quotas are fixed at 15% and 7.5% of total seats respectively.
- Performance of the reserved category pool: The cutoff is set so that enough students from each category qualify to fill reserved seats. If more SC/ST students score high, the cutoff tends to rise.
- Marking scheme and section difficulty: A year where QA MCQ is very hard will lead to more negative scores and lower QA section cutoffs.
- Year-on-year preparation trends: As coaching material specific to IPMAT becomes more widely available, average scores tend to rise and push cutoffs up over time.
What Happens After Clearing the Cutoff
Clearing the section-wise and overall cutoff gets you shortlisted for the PI round — it is the first gate, not the final one. Here is the full process after you clear the IPMAT cutoff.
- PI Shortlist: IIM Indore releases a provisional list of students shortlisted for the Personal Interview, typically a few weeks after the result.
- Personal Interview: Shortlisted students appear for a PI at IIM Indore. The interview tests communication skills, general awareness, and aptitude for the programme.
- Final Merit Calculation: IIM Indore combines your IPMAT aptitude test score, your academic record (Class 10 and Class 12 marks), and your PI performance into the final merit score.
- Final Admission List: Based on the final merit score, IIM Indore publishes the admission list category-wise. SC and ST seats are filled from their respective merit lists.
- Document Verification and Fee Payment: Selected students complete document verification and pay the admission fee to confirm their seat.
For SC and ST students, clearing the PI cutoff sets a lower bar for the aptitude score component. But the academic record and PI performance apply equally to all categories. A strong Class 10 and Class 12 score helps your final merit rank even if your IPMAT score is near the cutoff.
IPMAT 2026 SC and ST Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected IPMAT 2026 cutoff for SC category?
Ans. The expected IPMAT 2026 cutoff for SC category is 65–85 marks out of 400 for the overall score. You also need to clear section-wise minimums: around 12–20 in QA MCQ, 4–12 in QA SA, and 32–48 in VA. These figures are based on 2024–2025 trends.
Ques. What is the expected IPMAT 2026 cutoff for ST category?
Ans. The expected IPMAT 2026 cutoff for ST category is 45–65 marks out of 400 for the overall score. Section-wise minimums are expected to be around 8–14 in QA MCQ, 0–8 in QA SA, and 24–36 in VA. These are expected figures based on 2024–2025 trends.
Ques. Does IIM Indore publish an overall cutoff or only section-wise cutoffs?
Ans. IIM Indore publishes both section-wise minimum scores and an overall score threshold. You must meet both. Students who clear section-wise cutoffs but fall short of the overall threshold are not shortlisted for PI, and vice versa.
Ques. How many seats are reserved for SC and ST at IIM Indore IPM?
Ans. IIM Indore follows government reservation norms. SC students get 15% of total seats and ST students get 7.5% of total seats in the IPM programme. With approximately 150 seats in a batch, around 22–23 seats go to SC students and 11–12 to ST students.
Ques. Is the IPMAT cutoff the only criterion for admission to IIM Indore IPM?
Ans. No. The cutoff is the first gate for the PI shortlist. Final admission is based on a composite score that includes your IPMAT aptitude test score, Class 10 and Class 12 academic performance, and your Personal Interview score. Clearing the cutoff means you get a PI call, not a confirmed seat.
Ques. What is the minimum academic eligibility for SC and ST students for IPMAT?
Ans. SC and ST students need a minimum of 55% aggregate in Class 10 and Class 12 to apply for IPMAT. General category students need 60%. The relaxation applies at the application stage itself, not just at the cutoff stage.
Ques. Can I get into IIM Indore IPM if my IPMAT score is just at the SC cutoff?
Ans. Clearing the cutoff gets you a PI shortlist call, but a score right at the boundary is a risk. A stronger score gives you a better final merit rank. Your Class 10 and Class 12 scores and your PI performance will play a bigger role in final selection if your IPMAT score is near the cutoff.
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