CAT Cutoff 2026: Category-Wise Expected Percentile for IIMs, Top MBA Colleges & Admission

CAT 2026 registration is open from August 3 to September 15, 2026, while the result is expected in the first week of January 2027 for admission to 21 IIMs and over 1,300 MBA colleges across India. The table below highlights the important dates, expected CAT cutoff percentile, and admission details for CAT 2026 .

CAT cutoff for IIMs is expected to range between 85 and 99+ percentile for the General category based on previous admission trends. The CAT cutoff for IIM for the General category is highest at older IIMs, while the CAT cutoff for IIM for OBC is comparatively lower due to reservation norms. Displayed below is the expected CAT cutoff for top IIMs across different categories.

CAT Cutoff for General Category 2026

CAT cutoff for IIM for the General category is expected to remain between 95 and 99+ percentile, while newer IIMs may shortlist candidates with 85–90 percentile. The table below provides the expected CAT cutoff for General category candidates at leading IIMs.

CAT Cutoff for OBC Category 2026

The expected CAT cutoff for IIM for OBC may range between 75 and 90 percentile, depending on the institute. The table below lists the expected CAT cutoff for OBC candidates across top IIMs.

CAT Cutoff for SC Category 2026

CAT cutoff for IIM for the SC category varies across IIMs and usually falls between 55 and 85 percentile, depending on the institute and admission policy. The table below shows the expected CAT cutoff for SC category candidates at leading IIMs.

Along with the overall CAT cutoff percentile, candidates must also clear the CAT sectional cutoff in VARC, DILR, and QA. Most IIMs prescribe sectional cutoffs between 70 and 85 percentile for General category candidates during the shortlisting process.

Based on previous years' trends, a 99+ percentile generally requires around 78–82 marks, while a 90 percentile can be achieved with approximately 44–48 marks. The table below shows the expected CAT cutoff marks vs percentile.

The qualifying CAT cutoff percentile is the minimum score required for shortlisting, while the final admission cutoff depends on academics, work experience, WAT, and PI performance. At several top IIMs, candidates with 98+ percentile receive the majority of final admission offers despite lower qualifying cutoffs. The table below explains the difference between the CAT qualifying cutoff and the final admission cutoff.

The General category cutoff for older IIMs has consistently remained between 90 and 99+ percentile over the last four admission cycles. The table below presents the previous year's CAT cutoff trends for the General category.

CAT Cutoff 2026 is determined by multiple factors, including the number of candidates, exam difficulty, and seat intake. The factors below influence the expected CAT Cutoff 2026.

A good CAT percentile depends on the institute you are targeting. While a 99+ percentile offers the best chance of admission to top IIMs and FMS Delhi, candidates with 85–95 percentile can also secure interview calls from several reputed MBA colleges. The table below shows the expected admission opportunities across different CAT percentile ranges.