Every IIM releases its own cutoff after the result and uses it to shortlist candidates for WAT/PI. Below are expected overall percentiles for the General category, built from last year's pattern.
Expected CAT 2026 cutoff
| College | Expected percentile (General) |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta | 99 - 100 |
| IIM Lucknow | 96 - 98 |
| IIM Indore | 94 - 96 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 94 - 96 |
| IIM Mumbai | 94 - 95 |
| IIM Shillong | 90 - 92 |
| IIM Raipur, Ranchi, Rohtak, Trichy, Kashipur, Udaipur, Visakhapatnam | 85 - 90 |
| IIM Bodh Gaya, Amritsar, Sirmaur, Nagpur, Sambalpur, Jammu | 80 - 85 |
| IIM group | Sectional cutoff |
|---|---|
| IIM A, B, C | About 70-80 per section |
| IIM L, K, I, Mumbai | About 70-75 per section |
| Newer IIMs | About 60-70 per section |
These are projections, not official numbers. Check each IIM's website for the final cutoff matrix after the result.
How cutoffs work
- You must clear both the overall and the sectional cutoff.
- Category-wise cutoffs are lower for reserved categories.
- A cutoff only gets you a WAT/PI call; it is not the final admission cutoff.
- The real competition happens at the interview and composite score stage.
More on CAT 2026
CAT 2026 Cutoff FAQs
What percentile is needed for IIM Ahmedabad?+
IIM Ahmedabad usually shortlists around the 99-100 percentile for the General category. The official number comes after the result.
Is the cutoff the same for all categories?+
No. Each IIM sets separate cutoffs for General, EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST and PwD candidates.
Source & Disclaimer
Official source: iimcat.ac.in
Information on this page is compiled from the official CAT notification at iimcat.ac.in and trends from earlier cycles. Dates marked Expected are estimates, not official announcements. Please confirm all details on the official website.