IIM Ahmedabad Admission Test (IAT) 2026: Dates, Interview Schedule, Admission, Sample Paper

With a CAT 2025 percentile of 99.27 and all sectional percentiles above 93, your son has a strong and competitive profile, but calls from IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta depend on more than just CAT score.

For IIM Ahmedabad, the CAT cutoff for the general category is usually very high (around 99+ overall and strong sectionals). However, IIM A gives very high weightage to academic consistency, especially Class 10 and Class 12 marks. With 10th at 89% and 12th at 80%, his academics are decent but not exceptional by IIM A standards, where many shortlisted candidates have 90%+ in both. A call from IIM Ahmedabad is possible but not guaranteed, and would depend on how his profile compares with others in the same academic category.

For IIM Bangalore, the chances are better. IIM B places significant weight on work experience, and 2 years of experience is considered ideal. His CAT percentile, good sectionals, engineering background, and work experience together make him a strong contender for an interview call, provided he meets the institute’s academic eligibility and normalization criteria.

For IIM Calcutta, the selection process is more CAT-score driven, especially for engineers. With a 99.27 percentile and strong sectionals, he stands a fairly good chance of getting a call, as IIM C traditionally gives relatively less weight to Class 12 marks compared to IIM A.

Overall, while calls from all three are not guaranteed, he has realistic chances for IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta, and a borderline but possible chance for IIM Ahmedabad. In addition, he is very likely to receive calls from other top IIMs such as IIM Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore, Shillong, and several top non-IIM B-schools like FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, and IIT Bombay/Delhi.

The final conversion will depend heavily on performance in the personal interview, clarity of goals, quality of work experience, and communication skills, so focused PI preparation will be crucial at this stage.

With an NC-OBC category, 85.77 percentile in CAT, a strong 9/9/8 academic profile, and a graduation background in Horticulture, you do have some chances, but they differ significantly between IIM Ahmedabad FABM and IIM Lucknow ABM.

For IIM Ahmedabad – FABM, the institute usually has a very high CAT percentile requirement, even for reserved categories. In recent admission cycles, NC-OBC candidates shortlisted for FABM typically had CAT percentiles closer to 88–92+, along with strong sectionals. Although your academic profile and relevant horticulture background are definite positives, a CAT percentile of 85.77 is on the lower side for IIM Ahmedabad’s FABM shortlisting. Therefore, getting a call from IIMA FABM at this percentile is unlikely, unless there is an exceptionally favorable normalization or sectional performance and cutoffs drop unexpectedly.

On the other hand, IIM Lucknow – ABM is more achievable for your profile. IIM Lucknow gives significant weightage to academic consistency, relevant agricultural background, and category reservation. For NC-OBC candidates, ABM shortlists have historically gone slightly lower than flagship PGP cutoffs, especially for candidates from agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and allied sciences. With 85.77 percentile, a 9/9/8 profile, and a core horticulture degree, you stand a reasonable chance of getting a call from IIM Lucknow ABM, provided you meet sectional cutoffs.

If you do get shortlisted for IIM Lucknow ABM, your final selection will depend heavily on the PI, academic relevance, work exposure (if any), and clarity of career goals in the agri-business domain. Candidates with strong domain understanding often convert ABM calls even at relatively lower CAT percentiles compared to general MBA programs.

In summary, IIM Ahmedabad FABM is unlikely at 85.77 percentile, but IIM Lucknow ABM is a realistic possibility for you as an NC-OBC candidate with a horticulture background. You should also consider applying to other ABM programs like IIM Kashipur (ABM), IIM Sambalpur (ABM), and other agri-focused management institutes, where your profile would be competitively strong.

Yes, if you appear for the CBSE improvement exam as a private candidate and score higher marks, then the latest marksheet will be considered as your valid Class 12th result. For IIM A, B, C and other top IIMs, they look at the final updated marksheet that you present at the time of admission.

So, if you improve your percentage from 70% to 90%, then definitely the improved score will be counted in your profile evaluation. Just make sure you give the exam through the official CBSE improvement route and keep the valid documents.

Hey Ramesh! Looking at your profile—10th: 92%, 12th: 93%, Master’s CGPA: 8.3, no work experience, SC category—you have a solid academic record. For top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta, SC category candidates usually need a CAT percentile of around 92–94 to have a realistic chance at admission. Other IIMs like Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode may require slightly higher percentiles, around 94–96. For FMS Delhi, SC candidates typically need 95+ percentile.

Remember, these percentiles are approximate and can vary slightly each year depending on the competition and number of seats. Sectional cut-offs also matter, so make sure to perform well in all sections of CAT. Since you have no work experience, your academic record will carry more weight, which is in your favor. My suggestion is to aim for 95+ percentile to keep your options open across IIMs and FMS. Also, consider applying to other top MBA colleges alongside, to maximize your chances. With focused preparation, your profile is competitive for SC category seats.

Hi Lokendra

As you are from SC category and also a PWD candidate, your chances of getting a call from IIM A,B,C will be very good at 60 - 65 percentile. The official minimum percentile required for your category (cutoff) is 50 percentile but the safe percentile for getting a call from IIM ABC is 65 percentile. The safe percentile to guarantee your admission would be 80 percentile.

To know more about CAT: CAT by CAREERS360

Hope this answer helps! Thank You!!!