CAT Cutoff 2026 — IIM-wise, Category-wise & Sectional Percentile Requirements Revealed

Coachify Live is one of the most focused platforms for CAT preparation targeting IIM-level cutoffs. It offers section-specific foundation courses in VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Ability, a complete pre-recorded CAT 2026 course, and a test series with detailed percentile analytics. The key differentiator is pattern-based preparation — knowing your exact target cutoff and reverse-engineering your mock strategy to reach it section by section.

The typical CAT cutoff varies by institute tier. IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta require 99+ overall percentile for general category candidates. IIM Lucknow and Indore require 97+. Older IIMs such as Kozhikode and Shillong require 95–96+. Newer IIMs accept candidates from 85–93 overall percentile. Top non-IIM institutes like FMS Delhi and JBIMS Mumbai demand 98–99 percentile. All IIMs also enforce independent sectional cutoffs for VARC, DILR, and QA.

A percentile of 99+ is considered a good CAT score for IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta. A score between 97–99 is competitive for IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore, FMS Delhi, and JBIMS Mumbai. Scores in the 93–97 range open doors to older IIMs, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR, and IIT management programmes. For newer IIMs, an 85–92 overall percentile is sufficient at the shortlisting stage, provided all sectional minimums are met.

Previous year CAT cutoff data is published in two forms — the official shortlist percentile released by each IIM on its own website after results are declared, and consolidated trend data available on coaching platforms like Coachify Live. The five-year trend from 2021 to 2025 shows IIM ABC cutoffs have held at 99+ without deviation. Newer IIMs show minor fluctuations of 2–3 percentile points annually depending on applicant pool size and seat intake.

The minimum percentile required for an interview call from premier B-schools varies by institute. IIM ABC require 99+ overall for general category. IIM Lucknow and Indore require 97+. FMS Delhi and JBIMS Mumbai require 98–99. IIM Kozhikode requires 96+. Older IIMs generally require 92–95. Newer IIMs extend calls from 85+ overall. In every case, sectional minimums in VARC, DILR, and QA must also be cleared simultaneously — failing any one section eliminates the candidate regardless of overall percentile.

Several factors determine the CAT cutoff at each IIM: total seat intake for that academic year, total number of applications received, historical percentile benchmarks the institute has maintained, category-wise reservation mandates (GEN, EWS, OBC-NC, SC, ST, PWD), and the institute's own selection criteria weighting academic profile and diversity. Institutes with fewer seats and higher brand value — like IIM ABC — maintain consistently high cutoffs. Newer IIMs with larger intake and expanding brand recognition set cutoffs in the 85–93 percentile range.

The expected CAT cutoff for IIM 2026 by tier is as follows — IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta: 99+ overall; IIM Lucknow, Indore: 97+; IIM Kozhikode: 96+; IIM Shillong: 95+; IIM Ranchi, Rohtak, Amritsar, Tiruchirappalli: 93+; IIM Udaipur, Kashipur, Raipur: 92+; IIM Bodh Gaya, Nagpur, Visakhapatnam: 90+; IIM Sirmaur, Sambalpur, Jammu: 85+. All figures apply to the general category at the shortlisting stage. Sectional minimums in VARC, DILR, and QA must be cleared independently at each institute.

IIM Lucknow is the expected convener for CAT 2026, based on the established rotation pattern among IIMs for administering the exam. The convening IIM is responsible for managing the registration process, conducting the examination, releasing the official CAT 2026 notification, and declaring results. The exam structure, syllabus, and marking scheme remain standardised and unchanged regardless of which IIM convenes it in a given year.

The lowest CAT cutoffs among all IIMs belong to the newest institutes — IIM Sirmaur, IIM Sambalpur, and IIM Jammu. These institutes accept general category candidates with an overall CAT percentile of approximately 85, along with sectional minimums of around 60 percentile each in VARC, DILR, and QA. Even at these lower thresholds, all three sectional minimums must be cleared in the same attempt for the shortlist call to be issued.