CAT Cutoff 2026: Expected Cut Off for IIMs and Top MBA Colleges
The CAT Cut Off 2026 for leading IIMs and top MBA colleges is expected to be announced in January 2026, after the successful completion of the CAT 2025 examination. The official cutoffs will be released by IIM Kozhikode on the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in, shortly after the result declaration.
The CAT cutoff refers to the minimum score or percentile that candidates must secure to qualify for the next stages of the MBA admission process, such as Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI). It helps aspirants assess their chances of getting shortlisted by top IIMs and other premier business schools.
Having an idea of the CAT Cut Off 2026 in advance allows candidates to set realistic targets and plan their preparation strategy effectively. Once the results are declared, candidates can access and download their CAT scorecards from the official website using their login credentials.
Scroll down to check the expected CAT 2026 cut off, safe score range, expected percentiles for top IIMs and MBA colleges, and minimum qualifying marks.
CAT 2025 Toppers’ List PDF
CAT Cut Off 2026: Expected Percentile for Top IIMs
The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode will publish the CAT 2026 cut off on the official IIM CAT portal after the results are announced. The cutoff represents the minimum percentile required to become eligible for the MBA selection process, which includes subsequent rounds such as GD and PI.
Based on expert analysis and previous trends, the expected CAT 2026 score vs cut off range can help candidates estimate their chances of securing admission to top business schools.
- For General category candidates targeting top IIMs such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Kozhikode, the overall CAT cutoff is expected to remain around 98–99 percentile or higher.
- For highly competitive non-IIM MBA colleges like FMS Delhi and JBIMS, the cutoff may go even higher, possibly 99 percentile and above, depending on the number of applicants and competition level.
- Sectional cutoffs for VARC, DILR, and QA are expected to remain on the higher side. For some institutes, sectional cutoffs may be around 70–75 percentile, while for more competitive IIMs, they could be higher.
- For mid-tier or newer IIMs and well-known non-IIM business schools, an overall percentile of 90–95 with decent sectional scores may be sufficient for WAT/GD/PI shortlisting. However, aspirants aiming for top IIMs should target well above 98 percentile.
Check the expected CAT 2026 cut offs below.
| Rank | Institute | Expected Cut-off Percentile (Gen) | Safe Score Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IIM Ahmedabad (IIM A) | 99 – 100 | 94 – 100 |
| 2 | IIM Bangalore (IIM B) | 99 – 100 | 94 – 100 |
| 3 | IIM Calcutta (IIM C) | 99 | 94 – 100 |
| 4 | IIM Lucknow (IIM L) | 97 – 98 | 91 – 99.5 |
| 5 | IIM Indore (IIM I) | 97 – 98 | 91 – 99.5 |
| 6 | IIM Kozhikode (IIM K) | 97 – 98 | 91 – 99.5 |
| 7 | IIM Mumbai (IIM M) | ~95 (estimate) | 95+ |
| 8 | IIM Nagpur | ~95 – 96 | 95+ |
| 9 | IIM Ranchi | ~94 – 95 | 95+ |
| 10 | IIM Rohtak | ~92 – 94 | 96+ |
CAT Exam Updates
CAT Score vs Percentile 2026 (Expected)
The CAT score refers to the raw marks a candidate obtains based on the number of correct and incorrect answers attempted in the exam. In contrast, the CAT percentile indicates a candidate’s relative performance compared to all other test-takers. For instance, scoring a 98th percentile means that the candidate has performed better than 98% of the total aspirants.
Due to slot-wise normalization and variations in difficulty levels across different exam slots, the same raw score can result in different percentiles in different years. Therefore, understanding the expected CAT marks vs percentile trend is important for setting realistic targets. The expected section-wise CAT score vs percentile is provided below.
| Percentile | VARC Score | DILR Score | QA Score | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80.00 | 18.00 | 17.00 | 11.00 | 43.00 |
| 85.00 | 20.00 | 19.00 | 14.00 | 49.00 |
| 90.00 | 24.00 | 22.00 | 17.00 | 57.00 |
| 95.00 | 30.00 | 27.00 | 22.00 | 70.00 |
| 98.00 | 36.00 | 34.00 | 29.00 | 85.00 |
| 99.00 | 41.00 | 38.00 | 33.00 | 96.00 |
| 100.00 | 59.00 | 63.00 | 57.00 | 151.00 |
IIM CAT Cut Off 2026: Calculation Process
The CAT cut-off is determined using two key components:
- Sectional Cut Off
- Overall (Qualifying) Cut Off
The following steps explain how IIMs calculate the official CAT cutoffs.
Raw Score to Scaled (Normalized) Score
After appearing for the CAT exam, candidates receive a raw score based on their responses. Since CAT is conducted in multiple slots with different question papers, the difficulty level may vary from slot to slot. To ensure fairness, a normalization process is applied.
This normalization adjusts raw scores across different slots and converts them into a scaled score, allowing all candidates to be evaluated on a common scale. The scaled score is then used for percentile calculation and further selection processes.
Percentile Calculation (Overall and Sectional)
Based on the scaled scores, both overall and sectional percentiles are calculated for:
- VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)
- DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning)
- QA (Quantitative Ability)
The overall percentile reflects a candidate’s performance compared to all test-takers, while sectional percentiles compare performance within each individual section. Candidates must clear both overall and sectional percentiles to meet the cutoff criteria set by individual IIMs.
CAT 2026-27 New Batches
IIM CAT Qualifying Cut Off
Each IIM releases a qualifying cutoff, which specifies the minimum overall and sectional percentiles required to be eligible for the next stage of the admission process, such as WAT, GD, or PI.
Meeting the qualifying cutoff makes a candidate eligible for shortlisting, but it does not guarantee final admission. These cutoffs vary across institutes and categories, including General, OBC, SC/ST, EWS, and PwD, and may change every year depending on factors such as exam difficulty, number of applicants, and seat availability.
CAT Final Cutoff (Composite Score Based)
After completing the WAT/GD/PI rounds, institutes prepare a final merit list using a composite score. This score may include:
- CAT percentile or score
- Performance in WAT/GD/PI
- Academic background
- Work experience
- Diversity factors
The final cutoff for admission depends on the number of seats available, the quality of the applicant pool, and performance across all stages. In most cases, the final cutoff is higher than the qualifying cutoff.
CAT Previous Years’ Cut Off Marks: Score vs Percentile
The previous years’ CAT cut-off trends highlight how required scores fluctuate annually based on exam difficulty and competition levels. Generally, higher raw scores are needed to achieve top percentiles in easier exams.
Candidates are advised to refer to the score vs percentile trends from 2019 to 2024 to better understand patterns and plan an effective CAT 2026 preparation strategy.
| CAT Percentile | Marks CAT 2024 | Marks CAT 2026 | Marks CAT 2022 | Marks CAT 2021 | Marks CAT 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 127 | 101 | 109 | 124 | 196 |
| 99.5 | 104 | 84 | 92 | 110 | 170 |
| 99 | 95 | 76 | 84 | 98 | 157 |
| 98 | 86 | 70 | 78 | 90 | 148 |
| 97 | 80 | 65 | 73 | 85 | 142 |
| 95 | 74 | 59 | 68 | 78 | 132 |
| 90 | 65 | 52 | 60 | 70 | 120 |
| 85 | 58 | 46 | 54 | 64 | 110 |
| 80 | 52 | 42 | 49 | 58 | 103 |
| 75 | 47 | 38 | 45 | 53 | 96 |
CAT Category-Wise Minimum Qualifying Cut Off 2026
The CAT Category-Wise Cut Off 2026 helps candidates understand the minimum percentile required to qualify for the next stage of the MBA admission process across different categories. These cutoffs vary depending on factors such as level of competition, exam difficulty, and seat availability.
Since each IIM sets its own cutoff criteria, the category-wise cutoffs differ for General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and PwD candidates. Candidates can refer to the table below to check the expected CAT 2026 category-wise cutoffs, including sectional and overall percentile requirements.
| Category | Overall Percentile Cut Off | VARC Cut Off | DILR Cut Off | QA Cut Off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 98 – 99 percentile | 80 – 85 percentile | 75 – 80 percentile | 80 – 85 percentile |
| EWS | 96 – 97 percentile | 70 – 75 percentile | 65 – 70 percentile | 70 – 75 percentile |
| NC-OBC | 94 – 96 percentile | 65 – 70 percentile | 60 – 65 percentile | 65 – 70 percentile |
| SC | 80 – 85 percentile | 55 – 60 percentile | 50 – 55 percentile | 55 – 60 percentile |
| ST | 70 – 75 percentile | 45 – 50 percentile | 40 – 45 percentile | 45 – 50 percentile |
| PwD | 60 – 65 percentile | 40 – 45 percentile | 35 – 40 percentile | 40 – 45 percentile |
CAT & Non-CAT 2026-27 Mock Tests
CAT 2026 Cutoffs for IIMs
Candidates can use the expected CAT 2026 cutoffs to estimate the score or percentile required to qualify for MBA admissions at top IIMs. However, it is important to note that these figures are indicative and not final, as the actual cutoffs may vary each year.
For General category candidates, the CAT cutoff for IIMs typically ranges between 99 and 100 percentile. For reserved category candidates such as SC, ST, and PwD, the cutoff is usually lower and may fall in the range of 97 to 98 percentile, depending on the institute.
Based on previous years’ CAT cutoff trends, the tables below present the expected sectional and overall CAT cutoffs for various IIMs, category-wise.
Note: The cutoffs mentioned below are expected values and should not be treated as absolute figures.
IIM Ahmedabad Cut Off 2026
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
| NC-OBC | 65 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
| SC | 60 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
| ST | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
| PwD (General/ NC-OBC/ SC) | 60 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
| PwD (ST) | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
IIM Amritsar Cut Off 2026
| Category | QA | DILR | VARC | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 80 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 65 | 60 | 60 | 75 |
| SC | 55 | 50 | 50 | 55 |
| ST | 35 | 35 | 35 | 40 |
| PwD | 35 | 35 | 35 | 40 |
IIM Bangalore Cut Off 2026
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 80 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
| EWS | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
| SC | 65 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
| ST | 55 | 55 | 55 | 65 |
| PwD | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
IIM Calcutta Cut Off 2026
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | ≥75 | ≥80 | ≥80 | ≥80 |
| NC-OBC | ≥65 | ≥65 | ≥70 | ≥75 |
| EWS | ≥65 | ≥65 | ≥70 | ≥75 |
| SC | ≥60 | ≥60 | ≥65 | ≥70 |
| ST | ≥55 | ≥55 | ≥55 | ≥65 |
| PwD | ≥55 | ≥55 | ≥55 | ≥65 |
IIM Lucknow Cut Off 2026
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 |
| NC-OBC | 77 | 77 | 77 | 82 |
| SC | 55 | 55 | 55 | 70 |
| ST | 50 | 50 | 50 | 65 |
| PwD | 50 | 50 | 50 | 65 |
| EWS | 77 | 77 | 77 | 82 |
IIM Kozhikode Cut Off 2026
| Category | Class 10 | Class 12 | Sectional Percentile | CAT Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 60 | 60 | 75 | 85 |
| NC-OBC/ EWS | 60 | 60 | 65 | 75 |
| SC | 55 | 55 | 55 | 65 |
| ST/ PwD | 55 | 55 | 45 | 55 |
IIM Indore Cut off 2026
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 |
| EWS | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 |
| NC-OBC | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
| ST | 45 | 45 | 45 | 50 |
| SC | 55 | 55 | 55 | 60 |
| PwD | 45 | 45 | 45 | 50 |
IIM Udaipur Cut off 2026
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 80 | 80 | 80 | 95 |
| ST | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
| SC | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
| Differently Abled Person | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
| NC-OBC | 60 | 60 | 60 | 78 |
IIM Nagpur Cut off 2026
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 72 | 72 | 72 | 85 |
| EWS | 72 | 72 | 72 | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 65 | 65 | 65 | 76.5 |
| SC | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
| ST | 35 | 35 | 35 | 40 |
| PwD | 35 | 35 | 35 | 40 |
IIM Visakhapatnam Cut Off 2026
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 85 | 80 | 80 | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| SC | 50 | 50 | 50 | 55 |
| ST | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
| PwD | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
IIM Kashipur Cut off 2026
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 80 (80.2) | 80 (80.12) | 80 (80.56) | 94 |
| SC | 45 (46.05) | 45 (45.42) | 45 | 55 (55.03) |
| ST | 30 (30.64) | 30 (30.21) | 30 (30.82) | 40 (40.25) |
| NC-OBC | 60 (61.19) | 60 (60.61) | 60 (60.66) | 75 (75.02) |
| PwD | 30 (32.43) | 30 (31.96) | 30 (30.82) | 40 (40.18) |
| EWS | 60 (61.19) | 60 (61.19) | 60 (60.66) | 75 (75.01) |
IIM Raipur Cut off 2026
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 80 | 80 | 80 | 94 |
| EWS | 60 | 60 | 60 | 75 |
| NC-OBC | 60 | 60 | 60 | 75 |
| SC | 45 | 45 | 45 | 55 |
| ST | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
| PwD | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
IIM Ranchi Cut off 2026
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 80 | 80 | 80 | 94 |
| NC-OBC | 60 | 60 | 60 | 75 |
| EWS | 60 | 60 | 60 | 75 |
| SC | 45 | 45 | 45 | 55 |
| ST | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
| PwD | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
IIM Sirmaur Cut off 2026
| Category | QA | DILR | VARC | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 80 | 80 | 80 | 94 |
| EWS | 60 | 60 | 60 | 75 |
| NC-OBC | 60 | 60 | 60 | 75 |
| ST | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
| SC | 45 | 45 | 45 | 55 |
| PwD | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
IIM Rohtak Cut off 2026
| Category | DILR | VARC | QA | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General/ EWS | >=70 | >=70 | >=70 | 95 |
| NC-OBC | >=60 | >=60 | >=60 | 78 |
| SC | >=50 | >=50 | >=50 | 60 |
| ST | >=30 | >=30 | >=30 | 40 |
| PwD | >=30 | >=30 | >=30 | 40 |
IIM Trichy Cut off 2026
| Category | QA | DILR | VARC | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 80 | 80 | 80 | 94 |
| NC-OBC | 60 | 60 | 60 | 75 |
| EWS | 60 | 60 | 60 | 75 |
| Scheduled Tribes | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
| Scheduled Castes | 45 | 45 | 45 | 55 |
| Person with Disability | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
IIM Shillong Cut off 2026
| Category | PwD | SC | ST | EWS | Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 10 | 50 | 55 | 50 | 80 | 80 |
| Class 12 | 50 | 55 | 50 | 80 | 80 |
| Graduation | 50 | 55 | 50 | 65 | 65 |
| DILR | 50 | 60 | 50 | 75 | 75 |
| VARC | 50 | 60 | 50 | 75 | 75 |
| QA | 50 | 60 | 50 | 75 | 75 |
IIM Jammu Cut off 2026
| Category | QA | DILR | VARC | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 |
| NC-OBC | 60 | 60 | 60 | 78 |
| EWS | 80 | 80 | 80 | 85 |
| SC | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
| ST | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
| PwD | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
IIM Bodh Gaya Cut off 2026
| Category | QA | DILR | VARC | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 |
| NC-OBC | 60 | 60 | 60 | 78 |
| EWS | 80 | 80 | 80 | 85 |
| SC | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
| PwD | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
| ST | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
IIM Sambalpur Cut off 2026
| Category | QA | DILR | VARC | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 80 | 80 | 80 | 94 |
| EWS | 60 | 60 | 60 | 75 |
| NC-OBC | 60 | 60 | 60 | 75 |
| SC | 45 | 45 | 45 | 55 |
| ST | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
| DAP | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
How to Download CAT Cut Off 2026
Candidates can check and download the CAT Cut Off 2026 from the official IIM CAT website at iimcat.ac.in by logging in with their registered credentials. The cutoffs are released after the final CAT result is declared and are published separately by each MBA institute. The cutoff details are available in the scorecard section of the official portal.
Follow the steps below to check the official CAT cutoff:
Step 1: Visit the official CAT website at iimcat.ac.in
Step 2: Click on the link for “CAT Cut Off 2026”
Step 3: A new page will open displaying the cutoff percentiles for different categories
Step 4: Check the section-wise and category-wise cutoff applicable to you
Factors Affecting CAT Cut Off 2026
Several factors influence the CAT cutoff every year. The key factors that affect the IIM CAT Cut Off 2026 are listed below:
- Difficulty Level of the Exam:
A more difficult CAT paper generally leads to a lower cutoff, whereas an easier paper may result in a higher cutoff. - Number of Candidates Appearing:
An increase in the number of test-takers raises competition, which can push the CAT Cut Off 2026 upward. - Total Seats Available:
Limited seat availability in top IIMs and leading B-schools often results in higher cutoffs. - Normalization Process:
Since CAT is conducted in multiple slots, score normalization is applied to balance variations in difficulty, which can impact the final cutoff marks. - Category of the Candidate:
CAT cutoffs differ across categories such as General, OBC, SC, ST, and PwD, as per reservation norms. - Overall Performance of Candidates:
If a larger proportion of candidates perform well in the exam, the CAT Cut Off 2026 is likely to increase.
Minimum Qualifying Score for IIMs in CAT 2025
The minimum qualifying marks for IIMs in CAT 2025 refer to the lowest percentile required for candidates to be shortlisted for the next stages of the selection process, including Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI).
Each IIM determines its own CAT 2025 cutoff based on factors such as exam difficulty, number of applicants, and seat availability. Typically, the minimum cutoff for top IIMs falls in the range of 95 to 99 percentile for General category candidates.
Scoring above the minimum qualifying marks significantly improves a candidate’s chances of receiving shortlisting calls from leading IIMs and other top MBA colleges in India.
Conclusion
The CAT 2026 expected cutoffs indicate a highly competitive landscape. For premier IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta, general category aspirants typically need close to 99 percentile overall with strong sectional scores. For other categories and newer IIMs, cutoffs may be slightly lower but still rigorous. It’s essential to understand that cutoffs are eligibility benchmarks — true success depends on performance in the complete admission process including GD/PI.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the difference between qualifying cutoff and final cutoff?
Qualifying cutoffs are the minimum percentiles required to be considered for GD/PI. Final cutoffs include performance in all stages, and are often higher.
Q2. Will sectional cutoffs matter more than overall?
Both matter — missing sectional minimums can disqualify you even with a high overall percentile.
Q3. Is scoring 95 percentile enough for IIM calls?
For top IIMs (Ahmedabad/Bangalore/Calcutta), 95 may be low; usually 98+ is needed. For newer IIMs, 95 can be competitive.
