The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer-based test conducted annually by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to their MBA programs and other management courses.
Important details about CAT 2026:
CAT cutoffs vary across different IIMs and categories. Here are the expected cutoffs for CAT 2026:
| IIM | Expected Cutoff |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 99.5+ percentile |
| IIM Bangalore | 99+ percentile |
| IIM Calcutta | 99+ percentile |
| IIM Lucknow | 97+ percentile |
| IIM Kozhikode | 96+ percentile |
Understanding the relationship between raw scores and percentiles is crucial for CAT preparation:
| Percentile Range | Expected Marks | Performance Level |
|---|---|---|
| 99+ percentile | 160+ marks | Excellent |
| 95-99 percentile | 130-160 marks | Very Good |
| 90-95 percentile | 110-130 marks | Good |
| 80-90 percentile | 90-110 marks | Average |
| Below 80 percentile | Below 90 marks | Needs Improvement |
Sectional cutoffs for top 7 IIMs - candidates must clear these minimum percentiles in each section:
| IIM | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
| IIM Bangalore | 80 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
| IIM Calcutta | 80 | 80 | 80 | 85 |
| IIM Lucknow | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 |
| IIM Indore | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 |
| IIM Shillong | 75 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
Several factors influence CAT cutoffs each year:
Higher number of candidates generally leads to higher cutoffs due to increased competition.
Easier papers result in higher cutoffs, while difficult papers lead to lower cutoffs.
Available seats in each IIM directly impact the cutoff requirements.
Historical cutoff patterns influence current year expectations and preparations.
Category-wise reservations create different cutoff levels for different groups.
The general performance level of all candidates affects percentile calculations.
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