Written by Pranshul Verma
July 31, 2026
Aiming for an IIM or a top B-school in 2026? Your CAT score is just the beginning—what truly decides your interview call is the CAT cutoff. Every year, thousands of aspirants crack the Common Admission Test, but only those who meet or surpass the required cutoff percentiles make it to the next stage of selection, which usually includes the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI). Get your desired college, join out CAT online coaching at Percentilers.
So, what exactly is a CAT cutoff? Simply put, it’s the minimum percentile you need to score in the CAT exam to be shortlisted by a particular institute. These cutoffs vary from one B-school to another and even across different categories of applicants.
While the official CAT 2026 cutoffs are yet to be announced, aspirants can get a head start by understanding previous year trends and expert predictions. This helps in setting realistic targets and preparing smarter for the exam. To ensure your preparation is on track, use our Daily Study Planner for a personalized schedule.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through:
- Expected CAT 2026 cutoffs for IIMs and other top B-schools
- Previous year trends and how they influence upcoming cutoffs
- Category-wise cutoff details (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwD)
- Factors affecting CAT cutoffs and how to align your preparation with them
By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap of what percentile to aim for in CAT 2026 to secure your dream B-school seat.
What is CAT Cutoff and How is it Calculated?
The CAT cutoff is the minimum percentile you need to secure in the Common Admission Test to be considered for the next stage of the MBA admission process. Every IIM and top B-school releases its own cutoff, which acts as the first filter to shortlist candidates for WAT (Written Ability Test), GD (Group Discussion), and PI (Personal Interview) rounds.
Curious about your raw marks? Our CAT score calculator converts your correct and incorrect answers into an accurate estimated score before scaling. Once you have your estimated score, use our CAT Percentile Predictor to understand your potential percentile and how it stacks up against cutoffs.
Types of CAT Cutoffs
Qualifying Cutoff
- This is the minimum percentile announced by each IIM or B-school to be eligible for the selection process.
- Meeting this cutoff only means you are eligible to be considered—it does not guarantee you will be shortlisted.
- For example, an IIM may set a qualifying cutoff at 90 percentile, but the actual shortlisting might happen at a much higher level.
Final Cutoff
- This is the actual percentile of the last candidate shortlisted for the WAT/GD-PI round.
- It is usually higher than the qualifying cutoff.
- For example, if the qualifying cutoff is 90 percentile, the final cutoff for shortlisting may go up to 97 percentile or more for general category candidates.
Factors That Determine CAT Cutoff
The CAT cutoff for a particular year depends on several factors, including:
Difficulty Level of the CAT Exam – If the paper is tougher than previous years, the cutoff may be slightly lower, and vice versa.
Number of Candidates Appearing – More test-takers generally increase competition, potentially pushing cutoffs higher.
Total Number of Seats Available – Institutes with fewer seats often have higher cutoffs.
Previous Year Trends – Past cutoffs serve as a benchmark for deciding the new year’s cutoff expectations.
Institute’s Ranking & Reputation – Top-ranked IIMs and B-schools usually have the highest cutoffs because of higher demand.
Top IIMs — Expected Cutoffs for General Category
Cracking CAT is only half the battle—meeting the cutoff is what truly decides your IIM call. Each institute sets its own minimum overall and sectional percentile requirements, and for the most sought-after IIMs, these numbers can be sky-high. Based on previous years’ trends and expert analysis, here’s a look at the expected CAT 2026 cutoffs for Tier‑1 IIMs (BLACKI) and the newer CAP-participating IIMs.
| IIM | Overall Percentile (General) | VARC | DILR | QA |
| Ahmedabad | 80 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| Bangalore | 85 | 80 | 75 | 75 |
| Calcutta | 85 | ≥80 | ≥80 | ≥75 |
| Lucknow | 90 | 85 | 85 | 85 |
| Kozhikode | 85 | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| Indore | 90 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
Disclaimer: These are predictions based on previous years’ cutoffs and expert analysis; official cutoffs for CAT 2026 may vary.
New & Baby” IIMs (IIM CAP 2026 participating institutes)
These IIMs participate in the Common Admission Process (CAP): Bodhgaya, Jammu, Kashipur, Nagpur, Ranchi, Sirmaur, Trichy, Udaipur.
| IIM (CAP) | Overall Percentile (General) | VARC | DILR | QA |
| Trichy | 94 | 73 | 73 | 73 |
| Udaipur | 94 | 73 | 73 | 73 |
| Kashipur | 92 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| Ranchi | 92 | 73 | 73 | 73 |
| Nagpur | 90 | 72 | 72 | 72 |
| Sirmaur | 92 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| Jammu | ~91 | 72 | 72 | 72 |
CAT 2026 Expected Category‑Wise Cutoffs (Examples from Top IIMs)
| IIM | Category | Overall Percentile | VARC | DILR | QA |
| IIM Ahmedabad | General | 80 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| NC‑OBC | 75 | 65–70 | 65–70 | 65–70 | |
| SC | 70 | 60 | 60 | 60 | |
| ST | 60 | 50 | 50 | 50 | |
| PwD | 70 | 60 | 60 | 60 | |
| IIM Bangalore | General | 85 | 80 | 75 | 75 |
| NC‑OBC / EWS | 75 | ~70 | ~70 | ~70 | |
| SC | 70 | ~65 | ~65 | ~65 | |
| ST | 65 | ~60 | ~60 | ~60 | |
| PwD | 60 | ~55 | ~55 | ~55 | |
| IIM Lucknow | General | 90 | 85 | 85 | 85 |
| NC‑OBC / EWS | 82 | 77 | 77 | 77 | |
| SC | 75 | 70 | 70 | 70 | |
| ST | 65 | 60 | 60 | 60 | |
| PwD | 60 | 55 | 55 | 55 |
To truly excel and meet these demanding cutoffs, consistent practice is essential. Our Practice Lab offers speed drills, topic-wise sets, and an accuracy tracker to hone your skills efficiently. Additionally, preparing for the actual exam environment is key. Consider taking full-length simulated tests from our Test Series, which includes 30 CAT mocks to help you build stamina and refine your test-taking strategy.
Tools That Help With This
- Daily Study Planner: Get a personalized, day-by-day study schedule to keep your CAT preparation organized and on track.
- Practice Lab: Improve your speed and accuracy with targeted drills, topic-specific question sets, and a detailed performance tracker.
- Flashcards: Master essential formulas and concepts quickly with over 800 digital flashcards covering all CAT sections.
- Test Series: Simulate the actual CAT exam with 30 full-length mocks to build endurance, identify weaknesses, and perfect your strategy.
- 1-on-1 Mentorship with Pranshul: Receive personalized guidance and strategy sessions from an experienced CAT expert to maximize your potential.