CAT Cutoff 2026: IIM & Top MBA Colleges Cutoff (Category & Section-Wise)

Expected IIM CAT 2026 Cutoff

Check out the following table, where we have mentioned the expected CAT 2026 cutoffs for IIMs, which are yet to be announced, for MBA admission 2027-29.

Question- What is the minimum IIM cut-off 2026 for CAT?

Answer- The CAT exam cutoffs are typically fixed at 60 percentile and above in Tier 3 colleges, and typically in the range of 70 to 80 percentile and above in Tier 2 colleges.

Question- What percentile is 40 marks in CAT?

Answer- Those who will secure 40 marks in the CAT exam can fetch 80 percentile.

Question- Is 70 marks a good score in CAT?

Answer- Securing 70 marks in CAT can get a candidate to Tier-2 management schools in India.

CAT 2026 Cutoff for Non-IIMs (Expected)

IIM CAT Cutoff 2026 for Gen/OBC/SC/ST/EWS

Check the table below for category-wise CAT 2026 cutoff for OBC, SC, ST, and EWS.

CAT 2026 Cutoff: IIM CAT Cutoff Previous Years Trends

While the exact IIM CAT 2025 cutoff based on which management aspirants can get the final IIM Admission offer is still unknown, in this table we have charted out the exact CAT Cutoff for each of the 21 IIMs of the previous years, based on which candidates were given final admission offers.

CAT 2026 Cutoff Marks vs Percentile: Previous Year Trends

For admission to the MBA course at IIM or any other B-school, they all consider the CAT percentile. For the calculation of the CAT percentile, the raw CAT scores of candidates are converted using a formula. This is done to ensure that the candidate's performance across the CAT exam session is assessed on the same scale. A high CAT score may not convert into a high CAT percentile if the difficulty level of candidates is high.

Check out the table to know the range of CAT cut-off marks vs percentile. Check out slot-wise CAT score vs percentile to know your MBA admission chances.

CAT Cutoff 2026 for Non-IIMs (Top MBA Colleges in India) (Expected)

CAT is mandatory for all candidates seeking admission to IIMs. However, many other top B-schools in India admit candidates based on CAT scores. Candidates appearing for CAT 2026 can also apply for admission to MBA programs at several MBA colleges across the country.

Apart from the IIMs, here are the expected cutoffs of other top MBA colleges, such as IMT Ghaziabad CAT cutoff, SP Jain CAT cutoff, TAPMI CAT cutoff, IIM Shillong CAT cutoff, MICA CAT cutoff, IIT Bombay CAT cutoff, IPU MBA CAT cutoff, etc., for the upcoming academic session. Check more details below.

CAT 2026 Cutoffs for IIM Admission- Section-wise

Check out the sectional as well as the overall cutoffs for the following IIMs.

IIM Ahmedabad CAT Cutoff 2026

IIM Indore CAT Cutoff 2026 (Expected)

IIM Calcutta CAT Cutoff 2026 (Expected)

IIM Bangalore CAT Cutoff 2026 (Expected)

IIM Kozhikode CAT Cutoff 2026 (Expected)

IIM Mumbai CAT Cutoff 2026 (Expected)

IIM Lucknow CAT Cutoff 2026 (Expected)

Do IIMs have a Sectional Cutoff?

As mentioned above, to get admission in IIMs, each IIM releases its minimum required IIM sectional cut-off for 2026. It is mandatory for all students selected for further rounds to meet the minimum CAT cutoff. The eligible IIM CAT cut-off will be released before the CAT result is declared. The table given below shows category-wise sectional CAT cut-offs along with overall CAT percentile released by ABC IIMs for the CAT 2026 exam.

Factors Determining the CAT Cut-off for IIM

Listed below are some of the key factors considered by IIMs for determining the CAT cutoff.

1. Difficulty level of the question paper: This is one of the main reasons why CAT 2026 is so important. The greater the difficulty level of the CAT question paper, the lower the cutoff will be, and vice versa.

2. Number of Test Takers: The total number of candidates appearing in the IIM CAT 2026 will have an impact on the CAT cutoff. This will have a direct relationship, i.e., higher CAT test-takers will lead to a higher IIM CAT cutoff, while lower CAT test-takers will have a lower CAT cutoff in 2026.

3. Seat availability: The number of seats available at the respective IIMs is also affected by the CAT 2026 cut-off. For example, if any IIM has limited seats, the published CAT 2026 cutoff will be higher for selecting candidates.

4. The reputation of the Institute: Renowned institutes ranked under the NIRF Management Rankings will set their cut-offs higher.

5. Last year's CAT cutoff trends: The CAT cut-off for IIM is based on the previous year’s cut-offs released by IIMs. The CAT 2026 cutoff may be somewhere around past cutoff trends.

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What is the CAT cut-off for IIM? What is the CAT percentile for IIM?

• The CAT cut-off for IIM is generally the 99-100 percentile for general category students. For reserved category students, the CAT cut-off ranges between 97 to 98 percentile.

What is the CAT cutoff for IIM A?

• The qualifying CAT cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad is 80 for General, 70 for SC/ PwD, and 60 for ST candidates. The final CAT cutoff percentile is usually around 95 for the reserved category and 99 to 100 for the General category.

Which IIM has the lowest cutoff?

• IIM Ahmedabad has the lowest sectional cutoff in the CAT requirement, i.e., 70 percentile or above for each section.

What is the minimum cut-off for CAT?

• The CAT cutoffs are typically fixed at the 60 percentile+ in tier-3 colleges, and for tier-2 colleges, the CAT cutoff ranges between 70 and 80 percentiles.

Will CAT 2026 be tough?

• Going by past year trends, the CAT 2026 exam is expected to be easy to moderate.

CAT Qualifying Cut-off vs CAT Final Cut-off

IIM candidates should be aware of the difference between the two types of CAT cut-offs that play an important role in the admission process. There are two types of cut-offs: Qualifying CAT cut-off for IIM and Final CAT cut-off (IIM call cut-off). Below, we have listed the differences between the two:

Related Articles:

• What after the CAT Result?
• IIM Admission: Process Start, Criteria, Selection Process, Top Colleges List

List of Colleges: CAT Cutoff Percentile Range

Is 80% good for IIM A?

• Yes. But students with less than 80% marks in Class 10 and/or Class 12 and/or less than 60% marks in graduation have lesser chances of admission than other candidates.

How much score is needed to clear the CAT?

• The CAT cut-offs are typically fixed at the 60 percentile and above for Tier 3 MBA colleges and 70 to 80 percentile and above in Tier 2 B-schools.

Which IIM is the toughest to get into?

• The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore is considered to be one of the toughest IIMs to get into, considering the weightage to candidates' academic records, and it also emphasises work experience.

Can I get IIM with 60 percentile in CAT?

• A CAT score of 90 percentile or above is considered ideal for IIM MBA admission, but tier 2 colleges provide MBA admission at 70-80 percentile as well. Of these, many colleges offer admission at the 50-70 percentile to the MBA aspirants.

Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score 90-99 Percentile

Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score 80-90 Percentile

CAT Expected Cutoff for Arts Students (General Category)

CAT 2025 Cutoff

IIMs and other top B-schools have different CAT cutoffs for MBA admission. Check out the overall CAT cutoff for IIMs.

What was the CAT previous-year cutoff of Top IIMs?

Based on the data of last year CAT cutoff trends, the table below shows the IIM cutoff category-wise and CAT sectional cutoff along with the overall MBA admission cutoff that the IIMs expect for admission for the academic year 2025-27. This is only to help in analyzing the CAT college's cutoff for IIM for different categories. Check out the CAT sectional cutoff of all IIMs.

IIM Ahmedabad 2025 Cutoff

IIM Bangalore CAT Cutoff 2025

IIM Calcutta Cutoff 2025

IIM Lucknow Cutoff 2025

IIM Kozhikode Cutoff Criteria 2025

IIM Indore CAT 2025 Sectional and Overall Percentile Cut-offs

IIM Ranchi CAT Cutoff 2025

Quick Links:

• Top B-schools Accepting CAT Scores and CAT Cutoffs

Qualifying CAT Cutoff 2022 for IIMs

What After IIM CAT Cutoff 2026 - Admission Procedure

Based on the CAT IIM cutoff, the listed candidates will have to appear for the IIM admission procedure. When calculating the CAT cutoff, IIMs consider various determinants. In the CAT 2026 result, candidates can check their CAT raw score vs percentile. Candidates who are confused about when and how to start CAT preparation are advised to check the strategy and tips followed by the CAT toppers.

After receiving the invitation for WAT/ GD-PI round, candidates must present the following documents.

• Original and self-attested copies of Class 10, 12, and Graduation mark sheet
• Original and self-attested copies of class/ caste/ disability certificate in case candidates belong to SC, ST, NC-OBC and PwD categories.
• Candidates appearing for the final-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent must present an original certificate from the Registrar/ Principal/ Director of the university/ Institution what clarify that the student has obtained a minimum of 50 percent or its equivalent (45 percent if a candidate belong to reserved category).

Browse Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score: Location-Wise